Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Rankings and the Party Entrance
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After wrapping up the miscellaneous tasks, I needed to seriously prepare for attending the party.
Having become one of the main figures, I had to get a higher-quality tailcoat, and master the corresponding high-level etiquette.
I'd learned most of that during childhood butler training, but it had been from the perspective of serving a master, not as the master himself, so a review was in order.
The other cadets seemed to be in the same boat—faction rivalries be damned, everyone was frantically studying etiquette.
It was noon on the day of the party.
The academy's first-semester grades were announced.
The intent behind the timing was obvious. They wanted it to be a conversation starter at the party.
The officer, holding a scroll with the rankings, spoke up.
"This quarter was full of incidents, making evaluations difficult."
Spring had brought the Chimera War. Summer, the Bekavia War. I'd spent more days on the battlefield than in the academy.
I'd even missed the exams I was supposed to take.
"So, we've compiled rankings based on evaluations from your academy instructors and the superior officers who commanded you in the field. It's not entirely objective, so take it with a grain of salt. With that said, here they are."
The officer posted several scrolls on the bulletin board.
These rankings could influence future faction struggles, so everyone checked the list in tense silence.
The results were as follows.
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1. Als Ilrain
2. Dorothy Grimwood
3. Joshua Herald
4. Casper Milias
5. Ruan Chase
6. Denian Gegglysh
7. Yubel
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Gasps of shock erupted from the other cadets.
"Casper in 4th...!?"
"Ruan's 5th too!"
"Gransel Academy's top two at 4th and 5th..."
One of Duke Salleon's faction cadets shouted.
"This is biased! The military's full of Helian faction officers—that's why we got this!"
"Right! Casper was basically 1st... right?"
"Eh, at worst 2nd, don't you think?"
"Yeah! Ilrain's only good at stuff like this! Casper graciously stepped aside!"
They were busy hyping Casper as the real 1st.
They knew overturning my score was impossible. As they said, rankings 2 through 6 lacked objectivity, but mine didn't.
General Ironheart and his officers, plus General Delbadova's aides—they'd all given me top marks. With my academy performance on top of that, anything short of 1st would've been absurd.
Banningss patted my shoulder, as if he'd half-expected it.
"Well, well. Top spot here too, huh? Congrats. Not that you care."
"You know me well."
Even Yubel, who'd landed 7th, became the talk of the town.
"Right behind the six commanders! Yubel, that means you beat every other noble besides them! You're the hope of us commoners!"
"If nobles hadn't gotten bonus points just for being nobles, you'd have been 1st!"
They were rationalizing her as the true 1st, too.
The faction landscape buzzed according to the rankings.
On the flip side, one high-ranker wore a miserable frown.
"Why am I vice-top... I have a barony—no need to prop me up like this..."
Dorothy was sighing heavily. She looked a bit pitiful, so I decided to encourage her.
"It's a fair evaluation. Chin up."
"Fair how?"
"In my opinion, Dorothy, you're better than anyone else here."
"Praise like that's not gonna make me happy, you know?"
"I'm serious. You think I'm lying?"
"That's... not it. But why?"
"Personality."
That was it.
Everyone else fell short on that front. Myself included.
Plus, Dorothy had smooth relations with commoners and nobles alike.
She excelled at mediating between people.
That was another type suited to commanding armies. Stocked with good subordinates, she could thrive as a general.
The root issue was her total lack of interest.
"That must've factored into the war evaluations too. After the final battle, you didn't rest—you helped the wounded nonstop. You gave equal bonuses to all your troops, visited every disabled soldier personally, and handed out hefty consolation payments. That's no small feat."
"Don't overdo it."
Blushing from the embarrassment, Dorothy forcibly changed the subject.
"Uh, anyway, Als! Got a partner for the party tonight?"
"Yeah. Found one."
"...Really?"
Eyes wide in surprise, she glanced around and whispered.
"With Erina, maybe?"
"No way. You know the chaos that'd cause."
"True, it'd be a riot. So who? Estelle? Oh, wait—Estelle's from the Crossing, that'd be tough. Beril then?"
"Telling you alone: first time meeting her today. Name's... Lynette Pelland, I think?"
"Lynette!?"
Dorothy yelped before she could stop herself. When people stared, she dragged me to a quiet corner to continue.
"You mean Lynette, the youngest daughter of the Pelland barony?"
"If that's how you put it... she's famous?"
"Not really—the house is weak. Nothing compared to Erina or Casper. But word is, her beauty's legendary among our age group."
"Oh boy."
Duke Helian was sharp. The moment I gave an inch, he tried to make a mile. Though, I'd been careless saying anyone would do.
From what I'd heard, Lynette was two years younger than me. Freshly of age.
"She hasn't debuted in high society yet. Entering the party on your arm would count as her debut."
"Hmm."
No big deal. Unlike Erina, same faction, and no huge status gap. If eyes went to her, I could stay low-key using it as bait.
*
*
*
The party was in full swing.
An hour before start time, people hurried in. Nobodies signed the guestbook and slipped through the side door. VIPs waited for the doorman's announcement.
I'd usually take the side door, but not tonight.
After signing the guestbook, the doorman checked the list and asked.
"Partner with you?"
"Yes."
"Then bring your partner. We'll announce you when it's your turn."
A world away from my usual treatment.
‘I'd rather just use the side door...'
Might as well get in early and snag a corner spot.
That required my partner to show, but she was later than expected.
Finally, Erina—itching to enter ahead—said with a smirk.
"Waiting so patiently, I see."
"Yeah, partner's running a bit late."
"Hmm? Who's this partner?"
"No idea. Don't know her well."
"...Hmph."
Erina snapped open her fan with a rustle and murmured low enough not to be overheard.
"You could've at least told me."
"Told you what?"
"About needing a partner. I have wide connections among the young ladies. I could've found you someone suitable."
"Then you'd grill her after the party. Feels like surveillance—I hate that."
It hit home; Erina pouted.
"Whoever she is, don't get too chummy. She might get the wrong idea."
"And if she does?"
"I'll tell Estelle everything."
"Eek."
That scared me for real.
"Don't worry about it. I'll be careful."
My romantic entanglements were overwhelming as is. Estelle and Erina, plus the mystery fiancée Mother mentioned. Any more complications, and I might actually get stabbed.
"Speaking of, where's your partner?"
Erina's was nowhere in sight. A woman attending alone screamed "husband-hunting" unless with family at least.
"No way you're entering with Casper?"
"Hehe, jealous?"
"A little, maybe."
Pleased, Erina beamed.
"My partner's Grandpa. He's off handling prep elsewhere. Besides, I'm not the star tonight. I'll slip in through the side door solo."
"Grandpa...?"
Altiore Salleon, who hadn't appeared publicly since retiring.
His attendance meant one thing.
"He's returning as a general. Appointment ceremony tonight?"
"Sharp as ever. Oh dear, time for me to head in. See you inside."
Erina paused on her way to the hall and turned back.
"If she's not a total flake, she might be in the outer garden."
"Ah... could be. Thanks!"
Following her tip, I rushed to the palace gardens.
The gardens at the palace entrance served as an unofficial meeting spot—the party's dark underbelly.
Uninvited nobles clung to coattails here, desperate to crash. Stunning commoners prowled too, hoping for a miracle.
For a grand event like this, it was massive.
Plenty of supply met demand. Like my partner woes, folks without one often paired up here.
With no prior connection, we'd agreed to play it as a chance encounter—she might've assumed we'd meet here.
‘Damn, should've asked Duke Helian to handle every detail.'
I'd said I'd manage, and he'd taken it literally.
‘Mint dress, ruby brooch, ponytail...'
Too many people—hard to spot.
Then someone called out.
"Hey, you."
"...?"
"Wanna get into the party? Come with me."
Early-30s woman. She eyed me up and down with a sticky gaze, then smiled in satisfaction.
"No thanks. Looking for my partner. I'm invited."
"Tch."
She clicked her tongue and left, but others who'd overheard pounced.
"Take me as your partner! I'm Idie of the Benheim barony!"
"Care to chat? I'm Angelica, called the top dancer of Julia."
It was a battlefield. They all craved entry that badly.
‘Big bro Max used to hunt partners here a few years back...'
Even so, he'd never succeeded. More desperate entrants than invitees.
"Sorry. Already have a partner. Excuse me."
Pushing through the crowd, I finally spotted her.
The girl in the mint dress.
She looked lost, fending off guys trying to lure her.
"I'll take you to the party. Problem solved, right?"
"N-No thanks. I already have a partner...!"
"Partner? Who?"
"Lord Ilrain."
"Ilrain? Whoever that is, making you wait means he ditched for someone else. Come with me. If this Ilrain guy complains, I'll smooth it over."
"I couldn't..."
Four guys were hitting on her like that.
‘Oops, kept my partner waiting—sorry about that.'
I hurried over and cut in.
"What's your business with my partner?"
"What...?"
They flinched and glared. I shrugged lightly, took Lynette's arm, and hustled out of the garden.
"Whew! Thought we'd never escape."
Never coming back. Their desperation was next-level.
"Ah, sorry. Gripped too tight?"
I let go of her hand. She'd been staring at me, entranced, but snapped to.
"Th-Thank you for the help. But I need to wait for my partner, so I should head back."
"Oh? Ah."
It was hot—I'd ditched my jacket.
I draped my white overcoat over her shoulders. Purple flower ornament at the chest.
"There. Nice to meet you. Als Ilrain. Dorothy told me about you. Two years younger than me. Casual's fine, right?"
"Ah...!?"
Lynette's eyes went wide in disbelief.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing! It's just... Father forced me to come, so I figured it'd be some old guy..."
"Happens."
Low-house ladies often picked that route for high-society events.
"Shall we head in?"
"Yes!"
I headed for the hall, inwardly praying it'd all go smoothly.