Coming of Age - 3
“Wowwwww!” “Hahaha!” “Hohohoho!”
Brilliant flower petals rained down from the sky like a colorful storm. The streets had been transformed into a dazzling spectacle. Unlike their usual appearance, the avenues were now covered in lavish decorations, overflowing with vibrant hues. Most of those brilliant colors were gold—perhaps a natural reflection of the Franz territory itself. In this festively adorned city, crowds of people laughed merrily, dressed in ornate garments, dancing, drinking, and reveling without restraint. The entire city buzzed with excitement as the atmosphere steadily grew feverish.
“Harvest day is right around the corner.”
If they’re cutting loose this wildly now, they’ll just end up throwing another festival later. Is that really okay?
“Hehe. Wouldn’t it be perfectly fine?”
From the balcony, the distant cheers carried clearly even without magical enhancement. I inhaled the sweet aroma rising from my teacup, savoring the moment. As I passed the time with my tea, I lifted my gaze forward. There stood a stunning beauty with voluminous golden hair and a figure that seemed almost too perfect. It was my sister-in-law Grace—the woman I had already shared many passionate nights with—as we held an afternoon tea gathering together.
“The Franz domain has never had many festivals in the past.”
“That’s true.”
Our faction was powerful now, and our knight order stood strong, but there had been no time for such luxuries before. It was the same in the distant past, and the same during the wars that had raged since my grandfather’s era. These days, aside from symbolic occasions like the New Year or harvest, there were almost none. In other territories, a coming-of-age ceremony wouldn’t warrant a festival of this scale, yet…
“Coming-of-age ceremonies are so rare in Franz. Everyone’s been looking forward to it.”
“Hmm.”
I had only used Princess Amelia as an excuse, but the event had grown far larger than I anticipated. Still, since everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, maybe it didn’t matter?
“Then I’ll leave tonight’s arrangements to you.”
“Would I be acceptable?”
A partner was required for the coming-of-age ceremony. For a woman, a fiancé or male family member would suffice, but I had no suitable lady to accompany me. No matter how much authority I held, bringing Chloe would be completely unacceptable. It wasn’t that I looked down on her, but I needed someone from a family of appropriate standing. A family event would have been different, of course.
“What about the daughter of the Boran family?”
“You mean Lady Irina?”
Grace spoke with a smile. But noona, your eyes aren’t smiling at all.
“Lady Irina and I aren’t in a formal engagement yet.”
Though in practice, we essentially were. Father and Count William must have their own thoughts on the matter. I wasn’t sure of the details, but Count William—playful as he could be—was ice-cold when the situation demanded it. He was the type who would use even his own daughter if it benefited House Boran.
…Still, since he genuinely loved his daughter, nothing too terrible would happen to Irina.
“Then what about Her Highness Princess Amelia?”
“That person…”
Her status was more than sufficient—it practically overflowed. But even for me, having a foreign royal as my partner for a coming-of-age ceremony would be…
When I looked at her with a troubled expression, Grace burst into laughter.
“Hehe. I was only joking.”
“Please don’t tease me like that.”
She covered her mouth as she laughed, but the genuine delight in her eyes made me sigh. If that suggestion ever became reality, it would cause enormous trouble. Not just for me, but for Princess Amelia’s position as well.
“Very well. Let’s meet again this evening, then, Leo.”
“Thank you, noona.”
In the end, the only suitable partner I could choose right now was Grace. Since she understood my circumstances perfectly, she accepted without hesitation.
-Scrape.
With a playful smile, Grace rose from her seat and slowly approached me. Leaning close to my ear, she whispered softly.
“…To appear on the official stage as another man’s partner. I truly never imagined this would happen before we were married.”
“Thank you for accepting such a troublesome request. I love you, noona.”
“…Hehe. I’m the one who’s happy to be by your side. Now, I need to prepare as well, so I’ll take my leave.”
-Chu!
After we lightly kissed each other’s cheeks, I watched her depart. The situation wasn’t ideal for her either, but there truly was no other choice.
“At least the important matter is settled.”
The partner issue had been resolved more smoothly than expected. It only worked because Grace was willing. Otherwise, I might have had to ask Irina or Princess Amelia, which would have created political complications.
-Wowwwww!
The joyful cries of the territory’s residents echoed from afar once more.
“…Well, as long as it’s peaceful, that’s what matters.”
* * *
A pure white dress. Though it was adorned with countless sparkling jewels, could they truly outshine their owner? She had become so beautiful that she could now be called a full-fledged lady. In short, Irina Boran was breathtaking.
“But why aren’t I his partner?”
“My lady…”
Oblivious to her maid’s troubled expression as she tried to gauge her mistress’s mood, Irina Boran continued staring into the mirror. Her hair was a vivid blue—faint enough to be called sky-blue, yet all the more beautiful for it. And her eyes? They held a steadfast, brilliantly shining core. Those blue pupils sparkled like precious gems.
“I’ve only met Lady Grace in passing, but I don’t think I fall short… Could it be that Lord Leoric prefers older women?”
“Well…”
Irina glanced down at the cleavage subtly revealed by her dress. Her milk-white breasts were, she believed, comparable to those of any woman her age. She thought so, but…
“Is it really because of my chest?”
“Y-you mustn’t say such things so carelessly, my lady!”
The maid turned deathly pale and nearly fainted at Irina’s words. It wasn’t the sort of thing a grown young lady should say. Of course, there was no one around to overhear, and even if there were, it wasn’t a woman who would mind.
After casually inspecting her own body, Irina suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to face her maid.
“More importantly, what about the Bahn Kingdom’s royal? Well? Did you get a look at her?”
“I-I approached as carefully as I could, but…”
The maid shook her head. She had drawn near the area where the second princess of Bahn was staying, but she wasn’t the only one there. Many people from other invited territories had already gathered. Even they couldn’t get close to the building. Strictly speaking, as a mere maid without any official title, she naturally couldn’t approach at all.
“This is a disaster. I thought I wouldn’t lose when it came to appearance, but…!”
But she was royalty! And a beautiful girl with lovely brown skin!
Most people in this region had pale skin. Of course, many carried mixed blood from other regions, so there were various complexions, but still…
“Should I get a tan…?”
“Absolutely not!”
The maid was horrified by Irina’s outrageous suggestion and desperately tried to dissuade her. Anyone else might have doubted whether a nobleman’s daughter would actually tan her skin, but the maid who had cared for this young lady for years knew better. You could never underestimate her determination once she set her mind on something.
“It is absolutely not allowed!”
“I know. What’s truly special stands out because it’s unique. Even if I tanned now, it wouldn’t make me particularly special.”
“That’s not the problem at all!”
Standing before the mirror, Irina turned this way and that, striking various poses. She clasped her hands together and stretched, emphasizing her chest in a seductive stance. As expected, she really was a beautiful girl.
After confirming this once more, Irina gazed out the window at the sky. The heavens were gradually darkening—it was almost time for the coming-of-age ceremony to begin.
“They really have swarmed like bugs, though.”
“My laaaady!”
The waves of magic power radiating openly from the surroundings made Irina frown. Seeing her reaction, the maid nearly jumped out of her skin again.
“Just because my brother-in-law isn’t here, they’re running wild so brazenly. Should I discipline them in Lord Leoric’s place?”
“Absolutely! Absolutely not!”
“As I thought… If Lord Leoric is remaining quiet, it would be difficult for me to step forward. It would damage my husband’s dignity.”
Protecting her husband’s reputation was part of a wife’s duty, after all. Irina Boran murmured this to herself as she stood up.
“Right! Let’s survey the venue first! A wise strategist always begins by understanding the battlefield!”
“M-my lady, this isn’t a battlefield!”
With sparkling eyes and fan in hand, Irina immediately left the room. And immediately regretted it.
“Oh! If it isn’t Lady Irina of House Boran! Do you remember me? We exchanged greetings at the ball held in Boran last time. I am from the Blair Viscount family…”
“Ooh, Lady Irina. It has been too long. You grow more radiant with each passing day, like a flower blooming ever more brilliantly.”
“A pleasure to see you, Lady Irina. Did Count William choose not to attend this time? What a shame. I was hoping to speak with him again about our business ventures…”
Bugs. Swarming, disgusting bugs. Should she just kill them all?
“My lady! No! You must endure!”
Only the maid seemed to sense her true feelings. While Irina maintained a bright, cheerful smile, her maid followed behind in a cold sweat, like someone carrying a bomb that could detonate at any moment.
-Whiiiing!
“Hmm?”
“What was that sound…?”
Irina suddenly turned toward the source of the noise. The sun had set, and the moon now hung in the night sky. A streak of light shot upward into that darkness.
“Fireworks?”
“Haha. Oh dear. This really is a rural territory. To think they would only prepare mere fireworks for a coming-of-age ceremony…”
Idiots. Irina barely suppressed the curses rising in her throat at the men’s chatter. Yes, she was an elegant lady. She mustn’t speak vulgarly.
“Lady Irina, what do you say? Would you care to accompany me…”
“Fu…”
“Pardon?”
-Baaaaang!
At that exact moment, a firework exploded, allowing Irina to swallow the curse that had nearly escaped. She looked up at the sky. A massive firework had burst open. It bloomed like a magnificent flower, and then more fireworks followed in rapid succession. Brilliant sparks filled the air. But the spectacular display wasn’t over yet.
“Is that… a golden lion?”
“My word. How is something like that even possible?”
The people around her also stared upward in pure astonishment. Following the exploding fireworks, a colossal golden lion had appeared in the sky. Countless magic stones floating overhead began emitting multicolored light, gradually forming the shape of a majestic lion. If it had simply been a magically suspended lion shape, they might not have been so shocked. This was a matter of art.
Against the backdrop of Franz City, on the vast canvas of the night sky, the golden lion began to move. It was as beautiful as a painting come to life.
If Leoric Franz had been present, he would have said this:
Yes. People of this medieval world. This is what’s called a drone art show.