Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Duke Helian's Invitation
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A few days after returning to the territory following the end of the Three Lions War.
My daily life had changed because of that war.
First, Master Ilya could no longer remain in our territory.
She had been singled out as the only person with access to the enigmatic master tactician Wade, drawing far too much attention.
It was simply too risky for her to stay here and continue instructing me in martial arts.
—I’ll head to Crossing to gather information. We don’t know what that bastard Juras Pamilion might pull next.
Master Ilya departed for Crossing.
And amid this flow, the political situation within Kalliper Kingdom was changing rapidly.
The dramatic reconciliation between the Salleon faction and the Helian faction was one such development.
With the external situation in turmoil, the king had urged the two factions to make peace, deeming it no time for infighting. The matter concluded with the noble house responsible for Erina’s kidnapping utterly ruined, allowing the factions to join hands—at least temporarily.
From that point of agreement onward, noble society was in an uproar.
Mid- and small-tier nobles who had aligned with one side were now frantically cozying up to the other. It was an unavoidable survival tactic.
The high nobles found it infuriating but accepted it nonetheless. Ruthlessly casting them out would only drive them fully into the enemy camp. Instead, they moved swiftly to win them over.
High noble houses began hosting parties one after another, sending invitations flooding to the mid- and small-tier nobles.
Our house was no exception.
“Ugh….”
Father groaned as he stared at the arrived party invitation.
“A party at Duke Helian’s estate. It’s been ages since we last received an invitation from a ducal house.”
“A ducal house party!”
Max’s mouth watered with excitement.
“With a party like that, noble ladies seeking marriage prospects will flock there. Father, please let me go!”
Now nearing thirty, Max was starving for a match.
Father seemed to think it a fine opportunity and nodded, but there was a problem.
“Als, the invitation is addressed to you. What do you plan to do?”
“Yes?”
I had been eating quietly but finally looked up.
“An invitation for me?”
“Indeed. It’s clearly stated: To Als Ilrain, fourth son of Baron Ilrain’s house. It seems they’ve invited all the promising noble cadets. Given the times, they want to scout future military talents.”
“Hmm.”
There were surely other intentions as well.
“I’m not really keen on going….”
I was still using illness as an excuse to avoid Marquis Millias, so attending a party felt iffy.
At my words, Max deflated.
If the invited honoree didn’t go, even the stand-in couldn’t tag along.
“Little brother. Can’t you somehow make this work? Please! A ducal house party is like… a ray of salvation shining on me!”
“Sigh….”
Max’s marriage had become a major family affair.
Until the heir apparent, Max, wed, his siblings couldn’t marry.
For nobles, continuing the bloodline was paramount. If another sibling married first and had children, Max’s succession would be jeopardized.
Even second brother Miller gave me a look pleading for understanding.
“No helping it, then. I’ll attend.”
“Truly grateful, little brother. You’re the only one I can count on!”
Max began bustling about.
Miller shrugged helplessly and said to me.
“If it’s like that, Als, you’d better find an entry partner quickly too.”
Adult nobles needed a partner to enter social parties.
The capital victory party hadn’t required one, but this was different.
“Couldn’t I just go with Max?”
“Not quite. Nobles seeking matches enter alone by custom. There’s an unwritten rule against leaving in threes. Unless it’s Mother or Julia escorting him—otherwise, Max goes solo.”
“Then….”
“Right. You’ll need a partner. But for you, it should be easy.”
As Miller said.
I didn’t need to agonize over a partner.
*
*
*
Two days before the party.
No longer able to use health issues as an excuse, I headed to the academy and sensed the buzzing atmosphere.
Evidently, most noble academy students had received invitations to that party.
Noble cadets were actively securing partners and preparing, while commoners gazed longingly, hoping someone might take them.
Soon, one female cadet approached me.
“Ilrain. You’re going to the party too, right?”
“Probably.”
“Perfect timing, then. Let’s enter together. You’ve got a good face, at least. I’ll be your partner.”
She blurted it out. My response was set.
“But… who are you?”
“What?”
“No other meaning. Just been away from the academy so long, my memory’s fuzzy. I know the face. The name’s slipping my mind.”
“You…!”
Her face flushed crimson. She kicked my desk with her toe—thud!—to vent her displeasure, then stormed off.
‘What the hell was that supposed to be?’
If she wanted recognition, she should’ve chatted me up more often.
“Turning down Kate’s partner offer… Talk about guts.”
“Is he not scared of the fallout?”
Murmurs rippled around me.
Fortunately or not, rejecting her killed further offers from other girls.
No one wanted to hear what Kate might say after proposing to me.
A strange tension centered on me as a result.
Then, another bombshell rocked the classroom.
“Attention, please.”
An academy instructor entered with twenty students in tow.
Two faces among them were familiar.
“Huh?”
“…Heh.”
One familiar face, Erina, smirked at me.
Her appearance hushed the room.
“These students are from Gransel Academy. They’ve come to participate in Duke Helian’s party in Julia.”
It was an event to foster unity between the factions.
Just seeing Erina Salleon and Ruan Chase—leaders of the Salleon faction youths—taking part in this exchange class said it all.
“I’m Ruan Chase. We’ll share classes for just two days, but pleased to meet you.”
“Some of you may know me already. I’m Erina Salleon. Please! Don’t forget that name!”
Joint classes with Gransel students.
More than enough to set the academy abuzz.
After the lively morning classes ended.
A voice stopped me as I headed to the garden for lunch.
“Wait, Wade!”
I flashed a grin at her blunt call.
“What’s up, Miss Heina?”
“Only one letter matched! Makes it even more infuriating knowing you did it on purpose this time!”
Salleon’s pampered princess drew eyes from everywhere, which was burdensome for me.
But with no onlookers now, we could talk freely.
“And you got every letter wrong, plus the count. I’m not Wade.”
“Still denying it, huh.”
“Denying what….”
“It’s not just guesswork. I looked into where you were during the Carrington battle. Want to see the results and deny it still?”
“Phew… Do you know what ‘stalking’ means?”
“Stalking? What’s that?”
“Nothing. More importantly… Did you actually read the letter I sent last time?”
The reply telling her to quit the sloppy Serodrip nonsense.
Erina bit her lower lip lightly, as if realizing.
“Y-Yes, of course I did. Confirmed that very strange, fateful coincidence too.”
“If so, could you stop approaching me like this?”
“Eek! If you admit it, it stops being a coincidence!”
“Ah, true enough.”
I brushed it off lightly while dealing with her.
Outmatched in banter, she let out a frustrated breath.
“Anyway, you. Got a partner for the party? If not, I could be yours.”
“Thanks for the concern, but I’ll pass.”
Entering with the Salleon duke’s daughter? I didn’t want to imagine the fallout.
“Hmph!”
As if expecting rejection, she showed no disappointment.
“Just a heads-up out of kindness: this party’s no small affair. One slip, and you’ll be the talk of the town. Plus, there’s a vassal contest just for cadets, so put in some effort.”
Vassal contest.
I sighed at the headache.
It was like a show of strength.
Young nobles fresh into adulthood compared the vassals their houses assigned them, indirectly boasting their influence.
Held only at high-level parties—and this one was undoubtedly that.
‘Who to bring.’
Personally, I wanted Ymir, but beastkin faced prejudice in the kingdom.
Too risky for nitpickers to pounce on, so Ymir was out.
Master wasn’t here, and even if she were, unfit for this—so off the table.
That left one option.
*
*
*
Afternoon classes were special etiquette lessons.
Given the grand party, the academy had scheduled them to prevent blunders.
Leading the temporary class was Joan, who’d accompanied Erina.
“I’m Joan Diela, in charge of today’s lesson. I serve as steward for House Salleon.”
Joan glanced at me and smiled faintly.
“First, table manners.”
As befitting a ducal steward, she covered the finest details.
“Next, dance etiquette. Any volunteers for a demonstration, young lord and lady? If not, I’ll assign. You there, Lord Ilrain. And….”
Erina shot her a look urging selection, but Joan coolly ignored it.
Her criteria favored lesser houses from the start.
Pairing high houses risked unwanted gossip.
“Miss Milstein.”
“Yes.”
A girl with neatly braided blonde hair.
She smiled slyly at me onstage.
“Long time no see, Als.”
“Yeah. Been a while, Beril.”
The other Gransel student I knew besides Erina: Beril Milstein.
We’d known each other since we were little. Mother hailed from House Milstein.
“How’s Aunt? Heard she’s pregnant with twins. Father said he’s worried about her age.”
“She’s fine now.”
“Good to hear. Oh, we’re visiting Revel with the grandparents soon.”
“That’d be almost a year, then. Mother will be thrilled.”
Unlike us, Milstein—aligned with Salleon—had cut ties for over a year, but exchanges were resuming.
“Ahem. No side chatter, please.”
“Ah, yes!”
Beril straightened at Joan’s cue.
Per instructions, I asked her to dance, led lightly.
“Ease your hold on her waist a bit there. Yes, well done.”
Joan nodded approvingly, as if her butler lessons had paid off.
Beril relaxed into my lead.
‘Perfect.’
Ideal partner for the party.
Similar house status, Salleon-aligned, so no sabotage from that Kate girl.
Whispering this mid-dance, Beril giggled, ears tickled.
“Gladly. I was in a bind without a decent partner myself.”
Her soft whisper carried in the quiet room.
“Eeek…!”
“Hmph.”
Kate ground her teeth; Erina gripped her fan tightly.