The Salon (1)
A salon referred to a cultural exchange hosted by nobles in their estates during the early modern era of Western Europe.
In this world, salons were mainly gatherings where nearby nobles paid respects and pledged loyalty to higher-ranking nobles.
Well, the pledges of loyalty weren't anything grandiose—just a casual way of saying, "We have no intention of defying you."
I'd been utterly clueless about such social etiquette until just yesterday, which was how I knew all this in such detail.
"So~ you have to attend, right~?"
Victor was the type who repeated himself endlessly once he got drunk.
Throughout the drinking session, I'd asked the question out of boredom, and he'd hammered the answer into me over and over until I couldn't help but memorize it.
'And this guy's the one who said we should go easy since we've got stuff tomorrow, yet he's the first to pass out.'
I'd figured he'd pace himself after the first couple of drinks, but here we were.
I let out a sigh as I stared at Victor, still out cold even though it was morning.
Honestly, I couldn't care less about attending Jessica's salon, but I'd made a promise to Mother, so I wanted to keep it as best I could.
"Hey, get up."
I shook Victor's body as he drooled on the floor in a deep slumber, but he just rolled over and mumbled in his sleep.
"Ugh... five more minutes...."
"......"
You little... Battōjutsu!
In my mind, I unleashed a Battōjutsu strike at his neck. Victor bolted upright like he'd been electrocuted, clutching at his throat frantically.
"Haa...."
"What's wrong? Bad dream?"
"Nah, I just dreamed my head got cut off...."
He must've sensed the killing intent and mistaken it for a dream about death.
"Anyway, get up already. If we're going to that salon or whatever, you need to air out that booze stench first."
"Ah! Sorry, I'll head out first."
With that, Victor scrambled to his feet and hurried back to his room.
*Sniff sniff.*
I'd drunk with him yesterday too, so I reeked of alcohol. Better wash it off before heading out.
I headed to the bathroom to at least splash my face, but suddenly felt a pang of melancholy at how pathetic this all was.
'Haa... Salon, my ass.'
If I'd been home, I'd be basking in the warm sunlight, practicing Battōjutsu in the garden right now.
What the hell was so lacking in my life that I had to attend some count's daughter's salon?
Come to think of it, I'd been ignoring it, but lately, my Battōjutsu practice time had been shrinking.
Yesterday, aside from that one session at the old man's place, I'd barely managed four hours.
I wanted to carve out at least eight hours a day minimum....
'Just endure it a little longer.'
Knight Department classes consisted mostly of sparring, dungeon clears in the academy's facilities, and personal training—except for the scant lectures.
Just a few more days... if I held out a bit longer, I'd have all the time I wanted for Battōjutsu.
Like a flower blooming anew after a harsh winter, this was the time to endure and persevere...!
With that resolve, I finished my shower in the bathroom.
I donned the dress uniform Mother had prepared and stepped out of my room, only to run into Victor—dressed in his own dress uniform, either by coincidence or because he'd been waiting.
"All changed? Let's go."
"Why? Are we late?"
"Not really, but low-rank nobles like us get side-eyed if we show up late. Better hurry."
Not an intern clocking in earlier than the boss...
Who knew I'd grasp the saying "everyone's the same" in such a way?
"Hiring a carriage will take time, so ride my horse. It'll be faster."
The academy had stables for students bringing their own horses or carriages, with fees based on facility quality.
Silence's spot was mid-tier, costing about three gold coins.
I led out Silence, who was lounging comfortably in the stables, then hopped on with Victor behind me and took the reins.
"As fast as we can. Hya!"
Kicking Silence into gear, we galloped along per Victor's directions and soon arrived at Jessica's villa.
"Whoa...."
Even though it was just a temporary residence for her academy stay, Jessica's villa was far more luxurious than my family's manor.
A crowd was gathering in the lavish garden.
They were all nobles at a glance—most had attendants carrying "gifts" that were really tribute.
"Looks like we made it on time. When did they say the delivery's coming?"
"No later than noon, so soon. Let's head in."
I wasn't eating it myself, but I had to see what a dessert worth ten katanas looked like.
After a quick identity check at the gate guards, we entered the villa without issue.
Of course, I didn't forget to mention the patissier would arrive around noon with the ordered pastries.
"Can we greet Jessica and bounce?"
"Shh! Don't call her that here! Say 'Lady' or something polite!"
Aigoo, you'd think she was a princess, not just a count's daughter.
Is this the sorrow of lowborn nobles?
Victor covered his mouth dramatically and whispered.
"And no, we can't leave right after. They might think we didn't enjoy the gathering."
"Ridiculous.... So we just loiter around like decorations?"
"Nah, we network with other nobles like us. That's the point of these things."
"Haa...."
Looked like we'd be stuck here for a while.
Sighing, I entered the mansion. Waiters with trays of wine glasses roamed about like in some Western movie party scene.
"Hey, no drinking for you."
"...Ahem, everyone slips up once in a while, right?"
Even as he said it, Victor's eyes were glued to the passing glasses.
This guy was gonna cause a huge mess someday if he didn't kick his booze habit.
"Victor, when do we greet the lady? I wanna get it over with quick."
"Greetings are by rank order. We're... well, you're already heir, but baronet's dead last, so we wait."
Make us greet last but arrive first? The more I learned, the less sense this nonsense made.
"Got it... Where's the lady anyway? Not seeing her. Upstairs?"
"Probably. Servants will call us when it's our turn. Chill till then."
Chill? Not with everyone openly sizing each other up.
Every noble here was furtively gauging the competition.
Few eyes lingered on me, but it still grated, so I leaned against the wall, ears tuned to the drifting chatter.
"It's been ages since I last saw the lady. Since her birthday party, right?"
"Yeah, I remember. You brought the flashiest gift then too. Same today?"
"Of course! A necklace of Groshla garnets, perfect for her. She'll love it."
Necklace...? Mother and Victor both said desserts were best, but this guy's going with jewelry.
'Even a dog from the old school recites poetry after three years.' No need to ask Victor—I got it.
Low-ranks like barons probably had unspoken rules to avoid outshining higher ones. Like, baronet: dessert; baron: necklace.
'Wait... so what'll they think of a ten-katana dessert?'
Nah, unless it was gold-plated, no one would clock the value.
I shrugged it off, sipping occasionally from waiter trays to kill time.
Hours later, Victor approached from chatting with other nobles.
"Our turn now. Let's head upstairs."
I set my glass back on a tray, and we climbed to the second floor—finally meeting Lady Jessica von Grind hours after arriving.
'Huh? What?'
There she was, surrounded by maids, lounging elegantly in a plush chair.
One hand holding a fan, legs demurely uncrossed. I froze solid at the sight, but Victor didn't falter.
A bit stiff with nerves, he bowed smoothly as if nothing was amiss.
"F-First time meeting you. I'm Vic— Hey...!"
"...Huh?"
Mid-greeting, Victor nudged my ribs as I gawked at Jessica.
"Sorry. Think my friend's just lost in your beauty for a moment."
"No harm done. Such a reaction is the highest compliment, no?"
"Haha...! He'd be grateful you put it that way!"
As she spoke, Jessica fanned her face, but the subtle twitch of her cheeks made it obvious she was smirking at me behind it.
Jessica was stunning—the kind a hundred people would call beautiful without hesitation. But that wasn't why I'd frozen.
A bit higher up, on her head—that was the real culprit.
'Fuck, that's roll-bread hair, isn't it?'
Roll-bread hair. Not realistic, but straight out of a cartoon.
Twin massive rolls split from either side, long enough by eye to reach her waist standing up.
'No way the author overlooked this. Was there seriously a girl with hair like that wandering around, and he didn't describe it?'
Even a blind man would turn at those monster rolls passing by.
"Allow me to greet you properly. I'm Victor de Bow, freshman at the academy, come to pay respects."
"So you're the eldest of House Bow. Jessica von Grind. Pleased to meet you."
"Haha...! No need for such kind words to a nobody like me. Ian... hurry up...!"
"Huh? Uh...."
Prodded by Victor, I shelved my novel thoughts, stepped forward, and stood before Jessica.
"Ian Bar Tow, uh...."
Just say your name and "pleased to meet you," done. But those rolls made my words trail off.
Was this the infamous roll-bread hair reality shock?
"And? Go on, no need to be nervous. Speak freely."
"Alright then...."
At her prompting, I voiced the thought bubbling in my mind, perfectly at ease.
"...Do you style that hair every morning? And at night, do the rolls tangle up or anything?"
"......Pardon?"
"Uwooo...!!"
I could feel Victor's scorching, reproachful glare without even turning.
But whatever, dude—what was I supposed to do with actual roll-bread hair right there? How do you not ask?