The Advisor Was Satisfied With You - 2
Margeta remained flustered long after the sudden remark. Her face had calmed by now, but her ears still burned a vivid red. I never imagined she would be this delighted by such brief praise. I almost felt guilty for how stingy I had been with compliments until now.
I considered starting to praise her freely from this point on, yet hesitated—it might feel like dangling false hope in front of her. How to treat Margeta was a complicated, rather apologetic puzzle.
"Th-then, shall we go now?"
Margeta carefully held out her hand. I had waited, thinking that speaking first would only fluster her again; thankfully she seemed to have composed herself in the meantime.
"Yes, let's."
I smiled and took her hand. Partners only needed to hold hands when entering the banquet hall, yet ignoring even a small gesture like this would have been unforgivable. A lady offering her hand first and being ignored? That was the mark of a complete madman.
"With such a beautiful lady, her partner looks far too drab. I hope Mar doesn't end up getting laughed at because of me."
Comparing her outfit to mine naturally brought the worry. Against that brilliant red, I was far too black. The only formal attire I possessed was the Audit Department uniform, after all.
"I wonder if anyone would dare laugh at us."
"We can't know what's in their hearts."
"It doesn't matter. No matter how anyone looks at us, in my eyes Young Master Karl is more splendid than anyone."
She thrust out her chest with pride, though her cheeks flushed again as she spoke, and I couldn't help smiling. When she ducked her head in embarrassment at the sound of my laughter, I lightly bit my lip. Laugh any louder and she might bolt.
If you're going to react like this, why say it at all?
She grew shy at the slightest response from me, yet she had spoken so boldly. Margeta, it seemed, was the type with plenty of drive but not enough endurance.
Still, to comfort her embarrassment I opened my mouth. If her own words made her shy, then hearing something equally embarrassing from the other person ought to even things out.
"I think the Mar before me right now is more beautiful than anyone, so I suppose we're even."
"Uuugh!"
She tried to let go and flee, but I tightened my grip and refused to release her. For the rest of the walk to the banquet hall, Margeta stared only at the ground and said not a word.
Margeta Barenti… strong on offense, weak on defense… noted.
No, come to think of it, her offense wasn't all that strong either. A pity.
The banquet hall was not merely a room inside some building; an entire structure had been erected solely for banquets. Given that it had been built at the height of Apelles-era extravagance, that was only natural. The fact that it was still smaller than the main building was perhaps the last remaining shred of sanity.
Even so, it was enormous, and as we drew nearer more students came into view. Some strolled alone, some in pairs, others in little clusters, all heading for the hall. Seeing them dressed to the nines instead of in school uniforms made it feel less like the Academy and more like a stroll through the Imperial Capital.
Ah—come to think of it, even the Capital felt unfamiliar to me. Stuck inside the Audit Department, I rarely had the chance to see the streets.
"Young Master Karl really is the best."
As I looked around with mixed feelings, Margeta whispered quietly. Then she squeezed the hand she herself had first taken, as if determined never to let go.
"I feel the same as I did earlier."
At my reply she did not try to run; she simply nodded. With so many eyes watching, she seemed intent on acting with composure.
Seeing that, I suddenly felt grateful. The Audit Department had just finished its work successfully, and a little of the knot in my chest had loosened—enough that I could answer Margeta's boldness like this.
If the banquet had been even one day earlier, what then? I would never have been able to respond properly to her daring. Of course Margeta would still have kept smiling. But what expression she might wear somewhere I couldn't see was anyone's guess.
"A perfect day for a banquet."
"Hehe, is it?"
She laughed and agreed with my sudden murmur. Yes—truly a perfect day. A satisfying day as well.
And just then, far ahead, Luise's pink hair fluttered in the breeze like cherry blossoms embroidered across the sky. As if she somehow knew the advisor's heart had lightened since yesterday, she looked as though she had come to offer congratulations and comfort herself.
…Pink hair?
"Luise?"
Why are you alone?
Where are the others?
I had naturally expected her to arrive with the club members.
"Brother!"
Luise had spotted me as well; she gathered her skirts in both hands and ran. No—running in that dress? And those weren't even her usual shoes.
For an instant I saw the Academy newspaper club's headline flash before my eyes: Miss Luise of House Naiad Trips Undignifiedly in Front of the Banquet Hall…
"Mar, I'll be right back."
Faced with that highly plausible and thoroughly miserable future, I released Margeta's hand for a moment and dashed toward Luise. Sure enough, mid-run she staggered and pitched forward. Panic kept her from even letting go of her skirts. If she fell like that she would be badly hurt.
"Trying to spend the banquet alone in the infirmary while everyone else enjoys themselves?"
"Th-that…"
Thankfully I caught her before she hit the ground and spared her the injury. Good thing I was right there—what would have happened otherwise? Though if I hadn't been here she probably wouldn't have been running in the first place.
Eyes still darting in shock, Luise finally gave a sheepish little laugh, stepped free of my arms, and straightened her posture. Her face was as red as Margeta's had been outside the dormitory.
Whether she was embarrassed at nearly making a fool of herself in front of others, or at having been held—even if only to keep her from falling—I couldn't tell. Possibly both. Either would be mortifying for a noble young lady.
"Thank you, Brother."
"You ran in high heels?"
"I-I'm sorry…"
Even as she thanked me I frowned slightly. Seeing her wilt and hang her head made me want to stop, yet considering how badly she could have been hurt, a proper scolding was only right. The thought of the club president getting injured while I was nearby was something I never wanted to imagine.
"But thanks to you I'm fine, so isn't it all right?"
"Want me to scold you more before we even go inside?"
"I'm sooorrrry…"
I almost pinched her lips the way I did with Section Chief One when she said something ridiculous, but held back. Berating her too harshly for a first mistake would have been excessive.
In the end I settled for the usual "be careful next time" and let it go. She wasn't normally the sort to make mistakes like this. Today she had won the expo; her spirits were simply running high.
"But why alone? I didn't expect you without the members."
"If we came together everyone would have to wait for me. I told them to go ahead."
True enough, women took longer to prepare than men. And that dress of hers looked as though it had been a struggle to put on.
"You look lovely. Pink really does suit you best."
I nodded at the pink dress that had practically become her trademark. Even before the transmigration I had never seen anyone pink looked so good on.
"Young Master Karl?"
While I watched Luise smile happily at the praise, Margeta's voice came from behind me.
Oh no.
I had left my partner alone far too long. I spun around in a hurry to find Margeta narrowing her eyes and looking back and forth between Luise and me.
Seeing Luise nestled in Karl's arms nearly sent me bolting forward on the spot.
I-I've never even been held like that yet…!
But I forced myself to stay put. House Barenti is strict about rewards and punishments. Merits and demerits are weighed with absolute clarity.
The merit of the Baking Club's victory that had brought their advisor Karl to the banquet; the demerit of being held in his arms. The scale had been balanced until I remembered that Karl was obligated to look after the club president with all his might—then it tipped toward merit. Yes. Karl had acted solely for his club president. It was simply the unavoidable result of his kindness.
Once I concluded that Miss Luise's merit outweighed everything else, I finally calmed down. Still, watching Karl continue talking with her while leaving his partner standing there left me a little hurt.
"Young Master Karl?"
I called him with that resentment in my voice. He turned with an awkward expression.
So he knows he did wrong.
In that case I could be generous. Showing leniency to someone who openly admits fault is no great hardship. And in the end Karl had moved for the club, not because he failed to put me first.
"It's been a while, Miss Luise. Ah, I heard the news. Congratulations on the victory."
"Thank you, Senior."
I watched Luise bow in greeting, then shifted my gaze to Karl. The awkward little smile he forced was deeply satisfying. He was watching my reaction.
I casually held out my hand; Karl stepped closer and took it again. Immensely satisfying.
"Miss Luise, did you come alone?"
"Ah, yes. I thought I'd take a long time getting ready, so I sent the others ahead."
"I see."
A quick glance at Karl's face showed him looking at Luise with open worry. Of course he would be uneasy leaving the club president he was responsible for—especially one who had nearly fallen just moments ago. She seemed fine now, yet she might still have twisted an ankle.
"Then shall we go in together?"
"Pardon?"
"Mar?"
Their surprised reactions told me the suggestion had been unexpected. Fair enough—it was unexpected.
Looking far ahead is what matters.
Karl was already in my hand; there was no need to force anything. In the Academy, Karl and I were linked. That future was as certain as fate.
On the contrary, excessive pressure, heavy-handed checks, and jealousy might only earn Karl's dislike. That could never be allowed. I could not afford even a minor demerit with the man I would spend my life with over some petty action.
I must show magnanimity.
Right now Karl was worried about Miss Luise yet also felt guilty toward me. If in that situation I myself extended a hand to Miss Luise? Yes—that would move him. It would absolutely work on Karl.
Magnanimity that did not blame him for a moment's distraction. Magnanimity that actively resolved the awkward situation for him. Magnanimity that treated the whole thing as nothing at all.
A perfect image!
In such a short time I had refused to be ruled by anger and had found the best possible solution. I felt proud of myself.
"Mar, will you be all right?"
"Of course. She seems fine now, but Miss Luise might still have been hurt, you know?"
"S-Senior…"
And I even expressed concern for a junior younger than myself. Karl must have been impressed by that line just now. Miss Luise's eyes sparkled as though she too had been moved.
"Hehe, if you really feel bad… perhaps we could dance together at the banquet?"
"If that's enough for you, then as many times as you like."
And just like that I had secured a natural pretext to dance with Karl.
Hehehe…
Truly perfect.