Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: They Hate Outsiders
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The Eastern Knights were laughing and chatting in the conference hall where the dukes had gathered. It was because Rin had ordered them to eat and make merry right there, as he brought out the alcohol and meat. Rin, who had issued the bizarre and utterly tasteless command, watched the knights making a racket until the main dishes arrived. Then he rose from his seat. He sent away the adjutant who had followed him to the door and entered the room alone. Once he was completely by himself, Rin swallowed a sigh that escaped him unwittingly.
“It’s over…….”
Shaking off the dukes’ provocations. That had been the most important task he needed to handle today. The dukes from the north, south, and west—being imperial kin—looked down on Rin with contempt. As a result, the East was dismissed along with him, and Rin had no choice but to chase after the dukes, barking like a dog. It was better to be hated than ignored.
“I’m tired.”
Rin covered his eyes with both hands. He had acted fiercely in front of the dukes, but in truth, his nature was far from violent. Originally, he was a child of a people even farther east than the East itself—a gentle folk who placed great emphasis on courtesy.
“Was calling him a rat pup too much……? The Southern Duke is a grown man, after all.”
Rin, who knew courtesy well, reflected on how rowdy he had been today. But that thought didn’t last long, and he ended up just letting out long sighs repeatedly. The imperial palace was utterly exhausting. And it was only just beginning—already this tormenting. Feeling suffocated, Rin rested his chin on his hand and gazed out the window. The sky, just past noon, was bright. It would be a while before the sun set. He wished night would come soon. Night was quiet. And when night came, would he get to see her again? It was then, as Rin faintly smiled while recalling the previous night.
“Your Grace, Sir Deka Monil has arrived.”
“Come in.”
At the report from beyond the door, Rin straightened his disheveled form. He was exhausted. But his eyes sparkled at what Deka said upon entering.
“I’ve confirmed who invited Lena Rubel to the palace.”
Rin showed interest without realizing it, and Deka was inwardly surprised. It was rare for the Eastern Duke to react so openly.
“Southern Duke Bill Alles invited her personally in his own name.”
Deka added this while observing Rin’s expression. But there was no further special reaction. He merely nodded indifferently, as usual. Deka was curious about what that meant but couldn’t bring himself to ask and withdrew. And once alone again, Rin blankly repeated to himself.
“The Southern Duke invited Lena…….”
Rin mulled over the conversation he’d had with Lena the night before and covered his forehead.
“So she was the enemy.”
Rin laughed hollowly. He had only cautiously probed that she was the daughter of the North, but an unexpected background had emerged. A guest of the Southern Duke, of all things. That must have been why she turned down the offer to come to the East. The Southern Duke’s gaze from their recent encounter came to mind. That contemptuous look. Lena was a guest of someone with eyes like that. The young man, feeling even more isolated, gazed out the window. The sky, just past noon, was still bright. But even if night came, what use would it be now?
***
It was about an hour before the dukes’ conference began.
“Why is she a lady knight? The weak are just weak. Urgh.”
Uni, emerging from the Southern Duke’s reception room, grumbled while mimicking the Southern Duke.
“He calls me because he needs me, then acts all high and mighty.”
Uni strode across the corridor without restraint. Her speech and behavior were utterly unmaidenly, but Lena just smiled as she followed and didn’t scold the child. Soon, the two arrived at their quarters. There, Uni spotted a card tucked into the door crack.
“Huh? Miss, look at this!”
Uni held out the card with a startled face. It was none other than an invitation to the imperial ball. Lena flipped it over with a puzzled expression. There was no sender. Just the time and place of the ball, along with the clichéd request to grace the evening.
“Wow, Miss, you’ve been invited to the ball?”
“It seems so.”
When Uni asked with shining eyes, Lena smiled awkwardly. At that lukewarm response, Uni blinked.
“Isn’t that good?”
Unfamiliar with high society etiquette, Uni thought an invitation meant welcome. But Lena, versed in social graces, shook her head.
“No, this is a test.”
“A test?”
“I don’t know anyone in the palace right now.”
Strictly speaking, she was connected to the Southern Duke. But this prelude event was a young, lighthearted affair that didn’t suit the stern Southern Duke. So, there would be no one to escort her at the ball.
“You could make friends while you’re at it.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Why?”
“Nobles don’t introduce themselves directly.”
“Eh?”
Uni’s face twisted strangely at Lena’s explanation.
“In high society, speaking to a stranger is a grave breach of etiquette.”
“So you only talk to people you know?”
“Of course not. That’s why you build connections by exchanging introductions through mutual acquaintances.”
“Hmm…….”
Uni still looked confused. So Lena examined the anonymous card again.
“If whoever sent this really wanted to invite me, they would have come in person first before sending the card. That way, I could be introduced and fit in at the unfamiliar gathering.”
“Then this card is…….”
“It’s probing how much I know about society.”
“A trap?”
Uni finally understood and bristled. Lena chuckled in agreement.
“If I ignore the invitation, I’ll be seen as arrogant. If I find a partner and show up, they’ll call me cunning. If I go alone, I’ll be treated like a fool.”
People inherently dislike outsiders. Just as the imperial dukes rejected Rig-nan Aiterner, whose blood was mixed with that of foreigners, the palace social circle didn’t welcome the suspicious lady named Lena Rubel. That’s why they set this crude trap. How hilarious would it be if a rootless wench showed up all dolled up, oblivious to the trap? The foolish woman would start off excited, then gradually panic as no one paid her any mind. If she mustered the courage to speak first, everyone would awkwardly step back, and gentlemen wouldn’t ask an unknown lady to dance. While everyone else danced, she’d be a wallflower, just watching. They’d pretend to ignore her out of disinterest, but inside, they’d be dying of laughter. And later, among themselves, they’d mock her endlessly. Lena pictured the foreseeable scenario in her mind and swallowed a bitter smile.
“No matter what I do, I lose.”
“Exactly.”
“Then just go stab some people on your way back!”
“That’s not a bad idea, but…….”
Lena burst into laughter at Uni’s radical suggestion. But Uni didn’t laugh along. She was just joking out of habit, but she knew the situation was serious.
“What are you going to do?”
Uni asked worriedly. Lena thought for a moment, then said brightly.
“Uni, could you get that dress out?”
“That dress…….”
“Our fourth reason for being poor.”
“You’re going to wear that now?”
Uni asked in surprise. In truth, the executioner was a very expensive mercenary. The Southern Duke hadn’t realized, but Lena had volunteered for the southern war and received five times the usual advance pay. Afterward, the Southern Duke had also rewarded her, so she had earned a considerable sum from the South alone. Despite that, they were so strapped for travel money because she had made extravagant expenditures to become a dignified lady. One of those was a full dress fit for an imperial ball.
“Fresh flowers for decoration would be best. The court attendants can bring as many as we need if we ask.”
A lady never shies from battle. Lena smiled gracefully, her eyes gleaming. At Lena’s bold decision, Uni sighed in resignation. Then she clenched her fists in encouragement.
“You have to win!”
“If I feel cornered, I’ll try the stabbing.”
“That’s our miss.”
***
Hosting banquets or balls was traditionally the lady of the house’s duty, but the empire had no empress or dowager empress. They couldn’t entrust the imperial ball to just anyone, so Cardinal Clavis—who had lost his territory and taken refuge in the palace—handled it exclusively.
“As expected, it’s breathtaking today too.”
“Your Highness’s aesthetic sense is a divine blessing.”
The beautifully adorned ladies fawned over Clavis with exaggerated flattery. At the ticklish praise, Clavis smiled graciously.
“To be honest, when Your Highness announced a hundred days of prelude events, I was secretly worried.”
“Even the best party gets boring if held in one place.”
“Who says otherwise? But you’ve created a new stage every day, making my past worries seem not just unfounded but embarrassing.”
The other nobles chimed in amiably. Though laced with flattery, their words were sincere. To commemorate the hundredth founding day, Clavis had prepared a hundred days of prelude events. Even the fun-loving young nobles hadn’t exactly welcomed the news. Balls and social gatherings needed to be fresh and special, but the same host holding the same ball consecutively would be a chore. Contrary to their concerns, however, Clavis had captivated the young nobles with surprising and innovative ideas. He utilized the vast palace spaces to create a new world every day. Thanks to him, the nobles spent a full hundred days without boredom—playing like heavenly gods one day, like foreign barbarians the next.
“Today’s stunning too. Turning a lake into champagne.”
A gentleman marveled at the lake sparkling golden. The lake was filled entirely with clear champagne, with small boats bearing candles and blooming flowers drifting leisurely atop it.
“There’s already a bet going. Who’ll get drunk first, us or the lake?”
“Oh, that bet? I thought it was something else…….”
Everyone praised the ball, but one lady murmured behind her fan. The other nobles smiled meaningfully in response.
“Being the final day, there’s plenty of entertainment today.”
When a gentleman murmured decorously, the nobles burst into laughter outright. The bets and entertainment all referred to Lena Rubel. Rumors about the suspicious lady had already spread far and wide. And today, word that some powerful figure had invited her to the ball. Thus, the young nobles gathered in the social hall were eagerly anticipating whether she’d appear and, if so, in what guise.
“Indeed, entertainment we never dreamed of.”
Clavis knew about it too. But he didn’t resent his ball being used. He merely cast a gentle glance toward the youth lounging on the sofa.
“Rubid, you’re too mischievous.”
At Clavis’s gentle rebuke, the youth—Rubid, legs crossed—lightly tilted his champagne glass.
“She’s here!”
Someone whispered. As if on cue, the nobles glanced surreptitiously at the hall entrance while feigning nonchalance. A lady was entering without an escort. It was Lena Rubel.
The lady wore a pure white dress. Intricately pleated in rose shapes from the bodice to the hem, it was an outrageously lavish gown. Her exposed shoulders, smooth as if baked from clay, gleamed elegantly above the bouquet-like dress, and her straight collarbone was deep enough to pool rainwater. Priceless jewels glittered dazzlingly on her white nape. Her hair, adorned with fresh flowers and cascading down, was lush, her elbow-length gloves the finest quality, and the lace fan sparkling like midday waves was the same. Topped with a beautiful face. She was utterly flawless. That’s why the nobles found it hilarious.
“How pitiful.”
“She’s so naive.”
“She’s exactly pet kitten level.”
An ordinary fool is pitiable, but a clever fool is ridiculous. The lady, being exceptionally beautiful, drew even more mockery. What good was a flashy exterior if she knew nothing of etiquette? The nobles relentlessly ridiculed Lena. They exchanged glances with heads turned, hid laughs behind fans, peeked, then laughed again. As Lena scanned the hall, one gentleman couldn’t hold back his guffaws and fled to the terrace. A clear divide formed between Lena and the nobles, like oil on water. The hundred nobles kept stealing glances at her. They planned to mock every move she made. Lena stepped lightly into the hall. At her endearing gait, the nobles covered their mouths to stifle laughter. As expected of a country bumpkin—she seemed thrilled to be at the ball. The nobles closely observed the rare spectacle. But Lena simply walked slowly, giving no one her gaze. She too seemed tense, drawing another round of mockery from the nobles. Eventually, Lena ascended the dais higher than the floor and stood tall. That’s when it started. The nobles felt a strange sense of incongruity.
“Oh my?”
The first to notice was a sharp-eyed lady.
“That woman’s expression…….”
It was gone? Lena’s upright face bore no expression. No excitement, no tension, no flush of dreams and anticipation. Contrary to their expectations, the lady wasn’t the least bit thrilled. Far from it—she was cold. No, sharply piercing. Lena was scrutinizing the hall thoroughly, like a scout reconnoitering enemy territory.