A Red-Headed Rescue
The king spoke to me while facing forward, just as the double doors were halfway open.
“I hear this is your first debut at a party?”
“That’s right. Did you hear it from the headmaster?”
That was the only possible source of the rumor.
“Marquis Lyle is quite fond of you. He told me to go easy on you even if you make a mistake.”
“The headmaster really… Anyone would think I’m some kind of reckless child.”
“Haha, indeed. That seems to be how he sees you. Perhaps because he’s known you since you were very small… Even though you’re a proper lady now.”
“You flatter me.”
“It seems a waste to have you standing guard over me today. It’s unfair to the young gentlemen as well.”
“Young gentlemen?”
“Yes. Helping with the entrance is enough, so enjoy the party yourself. Who knows? You might find your own knight tonight.”
The king had granted me my freedom early.
According to the etiquette book I’d hurriedly finished before the party, entering with someone of the same sex was considered quite odd. After all, while parties served social purposes, they also carried significant weight as opportunities for courtship. Pairing up with the same sex would throw off the male-to-female ratio.
“Your Highness.”
“Don’t forget. You’re representing Dmitry here today. If anyone tries to slight you, feel free to use my name.”
I wondered why the king was suddenly saying so much.
The answer became clear the moment we stepped into the ballroom.
People who had been waiting to see who would enter swarmed from all directions.
That brief moment on the stairs, waiting for the doors to open, had been the only time the king and I could speak privately.
“Your Highness Dikel! It’s been far too long.”
“I’m Marquis Tundra. We met in Dmitry last autumn—do you remember?”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness! I am—”
It happened in an instant. The crowd swept me away from Dikel III whether I wanted it or not.
I was pushed, shoved, and helplessly carried along.
“Wait, I’m… an attendant…”
They treated me like an unwanted object, shoving me far into the distance. By the time I regained my bearings, the king and I were already about twenty paces apart.
In between us stood a sea of foreign nobles desperate to exchange even a single word with him.
It was a moment that made Dikel III’s popularity painfully obvious.
Under his rule, Dmitry was enjoying its most stable and peaceful era in three hundred years—a fact widely known across the continent. He was rarely described as anything less than a wise and healthy ruler, both in mind and body.
The king spared me a brief glance despite being surrounded.
Even amid the throng, his expression remained relaxed and composed. With a generous wave of his hand, he signaled that I was free to go as I pleased.
I already knew an attendant was no longer necessary. With so many people lining up to speak with him, he wouldn’t have a moment alone anyway.
Still, it felt embarrassing to have insisted on following him only to end up doing nothing.
[Why not just enjoy the party, Master?]
[Somehow, I feel like I’ve become completely useless.]
[There really isn’t much for you to do.]
Besides, this was my first time at a party, so I honestly didn’t know what else I was supposed to do.
For a while, I trailed after the cluster of foreign nobles gathered around Dikel III.
Not that it gave me anything useful to do.
“Hmm.”
The king was busy entertaining the foreign nobles, and no one paid any attention to my presence.
I soon gave up following him like a fool.
The king had granted me freedom beforehand because he’d already anticipated this.
He’d known I would end up as nothing more than a decorative sack of barley.
After all, he was far more accustomed to parties than I was.
[Look! That chandelier is real crystal, Master.]
At Rai’s words, I finally stopped and looked around.
I’d been too focused on the king to notice earlier, but the ballroom ceiling was covered in gold, and each chandelier looked like a masterpiece of art.
Only then did I belatedly marvel at the sheer size and splendor of the hall.
To think such an absurdly large room existed inside the palace—typical of those Elan bastards.
Just how far did the empire’s extravagance go?
[That looks like real gold, doesn’t it?]
[Yes. It’s pure gold.]
I had originally planned to look for Ash, but my plans had gone awry from the start, leaving me with too much time on my hands.
As I glanced around, I spotted simple refreshments and drinks set up between the party areas.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. They hadn’t served lunch because, apparently, wearing a dress with a full stomach would make my belly stick out.
Who cares.
I turned toward the buffet to at least fill my stomach with some pastries— or rather, I tried to.
That is, until I slipped on a spilled drink and felt my body tilt to one side.
Damn these heels!
Along with the ominous sensation of losing my footing, my body began to fall in a direction I couldn’t correct on my own.
Gravity was merciless.
But I couldn’t afford the humiliation of falling in a place like this.
Desperately reaching out for salvation, my fingertips brushed against the collar of someone passing by.
I tried to grab hold, but missed by a hair’s breadth. Flailing, I watched the marble floor rush toward my face.
While bracing for the inevitable pain, I thought that if I had to fall so disgracefully, I might as well pretend to be from Veylan instead of Dmitry.
“Oh dear.”
“Ah!”
With a sharp sound, someone caught and steadied me before I could hit the ground.
A large hand wrapped easily around my waist, and a man’s body pressed against my back.
“Are you all right?”
His voice was low, his grip strong.
And from the solid physique pressed so closely against me, it wasn’t hard to tell that my rescuer was a man.
He pulled me upright.
Because he had caught me from behind, I had to turn around to see his face.
“Y-Yes.”
With trembling hands, I fixed my disheveled hair and barely managed to regain my balance before looking back.
The man was tall; I had to tilt my head quite a bit to meet his eyes.
“That was nearly a disaster.”
“Thanks to you, though…”
My words caught in my throat.
What the hell is with that awful hair color!
Without realizing it, I stared at the man who had saved me with an expression that clearly said ugh, as if I wished I hadn’t seen him at all. His hair was an ominous shade of red.
***
“You must have been quite startled.”
He seemed to interpret my horrified expression that way.
For some reason, I found myself naturally holding his hand. If not for that, I would’ve already backed away.
Judging by his attire, he was clearly no low-ranking noble.
But all I could see was that glaring red hair.
It irritated me beyond belief.
The moment that red color entered my vision, my mood soured instantly.
I really was the type to hold grudges and be narrow-minded—or maybe I just had a red-hair allergy.
This guy… Not only does his hair color match, but his face vaguely resembles Robenin Pedri too. Is it just my imagination?
As I narrowed my eyes, I felt him tighten his grip on my hand instead of letting go.
What now?
“I don’t believe we’ve met. Are you from abroad?”
“Y-Yes.”
Please let go of my hand already.
And stop looking at me like that… I had no choice but to grit my teeth against his inexplicably intense gaze.
“As I thought. If I had seen such a beautiful lady before, there’s no way I wouldn’t have remembered. Where are you from?”
“From Dmitry…”
According to the etiquette book, letting a conversation die was rude to the other person.
It was apparently good manners to return questions in kind.
I hesitated for a moment.
Should I kick this man away, or maintain proper etiquette since I was here in another country as an attendant?
The dilemma didn’t last long.
“…And you? Are you from Elan?”
I asked awkwardly, forcing a smile.
After all, even though he had red hair, he was still the man who had helped me—and he seemed to be an Elan noble. Red hair aside.
Anyway, I intended to let things pass as smoothly as possible.
“Yes. This is my homeland.”
“I can tell.”
“My apologies for the late introduction. My name is Lasshamu Pedri.”
Damn it.
Did I have some kind of magnet that attracted Pedri bastards?
My ominous feeling had hit the mark with terrifying accuracy.
God, why must You give me these trials?
This damned god!
Ah, maybe I’d cursed the gods too much lately…
“My name is a bit unusual, isn’t it? My mother is a northern noble.”
This brat is that brat’s little brother! The one who lost to me in the tournament and clung to Robenin calling him “big brother”!
“Take care of me, you cowardly little runt from a tiny country.”
There was no way I could forget.
That arrogant little bastard!
When the hell did he grow this much?
“May I have the honor of knowing the lady’s name?”
“……”
“If you tell me your name, I shall remember it for the rest of my life.”
Nine years had passed since then, so I hadn’t recognized Lasshamu at all—and it seemed he didn’t recognize me either.
Unable to speak, I could only stare at him with wide eyes.
I ground my teeth lightly, then broke into a bright smile.
“Jeanie Crowell.”
It’s me, you idiot.