Chapter 122
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: The Perfect Entrance
Dillingham.
He was a member of the imperial family, but his political foundation was weak, and he harbored no ambitions for power.
However, he showed a particular fondness for drawing people's attention, which led some in society to mock him as an "attention seeker," or even more harshly, an "attention addict."
Yet there were also those who viewed his demeanor—wanting only to be noticed without revealing other desires—quite favorably.
'This setup is just too perfect.'
At any rate.
His instincts, honed from years of carving out a niche in high society by craving the spotlight, told him that this current arrangement was ideally suited to capture everyone's attention.
"Um... is it really okay for me to stand this close?"
"Of course! This is exactly the picture I wanted!"
Standing side by side were Dillingham, a member of the imperial family, and Lena, with her silver-white hair and ears and stunning beauty. Right beside them stood Jeon, his radiant golden hair gleaming.
He was dressed in perfectly tailored formal attire, adorned with flashy accessories, and his hair slicked back impeccably.
'Is there a more perfect combination for drawing attention?'
At a glance, it even looked like a foxkin noblewoman standing between two imperials.
For Dillingham, who hoped to monopolize attention the moment they entered, there was no better setup.
On the other hand, the situation was utterly awkward for Jeon.
'This is driving me insane.'
Though he was close to Lena, Jeon's status was that of a mere commoner.
By all rights, he shouldn't even be attending such a party, and if he were, he'd be standing quietly behind Lena like Risar or the other knights.
But Lena, inexplicably excited, had him fully outfitted in custom formal wear and accessories, creating a butterfly effect that led to Dillingham selecting him to boldly take the lead.
As a result, he was about to receive attention he never sought.
Jeon felt like losing his mind and jumping around in frustration.
But he couldn't actually do that.
"The entrance time is approaching soon."
All he could do was force an awkward smile beside the beaming, expectant Dillingham.
"3, 2, 1... Now!"
Meanwhile, the people nearby counting down the entrance time all turned toward the doorway as it arrived.
The knights blocking the entrance stepped aside, and the main entry began in earnest.
Just as Jeon and Lena moved to head toward the doorway without delay.
"No, wait."
"Pardon? Weren't we going right in?"
It was none other than Dillingham who stopped them.
His unexpected action puzzled not only the two but also the attendants preparing to follow, yet Dillingham shook his head with a relaxed smile, indicating it wasn't time yet.
He simply watched as people entered one after another.
'What's this guy doing?'
Given his usual personality, he'd be the first to charge in, yet here he was, deliberately holding back.
Despite the bewilderment around him, Dillingham waited until everyone at entrance number seven had gone inside.
"Um... when do we go in?"
"Just a bit longer, a little more."
Finally, unable to bear it, Lena cautiously asked Dillingham, but even after the crowd thinned, he held out a little longer.
"3, 2, 1... Shall we head in now?"
Completing his own countdown at last, Dillingham slowly stepped toward the doorway.
With their leader finally moving, Jeon and Lena followed behind.
Still, they couldn't shake the question of what this was all about.
But that doubt was resolved shortly after entering the doorway.
Passing through the entrance into the garden at first brought no particular sensation.
Jeon's group had just arrived, and those already inside had exchanged greetings and were engaged in light small talk.
"Oh, more people entering over there."
"Isn't that Lord Dillingham?"
The first to notice Dillingham and his group were those near the entrance.
They turned at the sound of newcomers and instantly recognized Dillingham, the empire's infamous attention seeker.
Normally, that would have been the end of it.
Dillingham was well-known, but not quite a big enough deal to draw everyone's eyes.
"Next to him... a foxkin?"
"Wait, who's that man beside him? Is he imperial too?"
However, the attention sparked by Dillingham's arrival naturally spread to Jeon and Lena.
Lena's rarity as a beautiful foxkin noble with silver-white hair appealed to the crowd, while Jeon's refined appearance, easily mistaken for imperial nobility, drew gazes.
"Whoa, my first foxkin!"
"Never seen that guy before? But damn, he's handsome. Who are they?"
The growing interest spread from person to person, and those near the entrance began conversing about Dillingham, Jeon, and Lena.
"To be invited to a birthday party like this, they must be quite prominent."
"This is intriguing."
"Introduce us; you're making us curious."
Yet amid the attention, Dillingham acted oblivious, proceeding deeper into the garden.
His indifference to the pouring gazes only frustrated the onlookers more.
Soon, unable to restrain themselves, people began approaching one by one.
"Hello, Lord Dillingham."
"It's been a while. How have you been?"
"Hahaha! Lord Dillingham! Good to see you!"
"Who's the lady beside you?"
"And that young man? Is he imperial as well...?"
Some came to greet him, others inquired after his health, and a few boldly probed Jeon and Lena's identities.
Amid the onslaught, Dillingham maintained a calm smile outwardly, but inwardly, he was in ecstasy.
'...This could be considered a talent.'
Only then did Jeon understand why Dillingham had delayed their entry.
At the start of a party, everyone focuses on exchanging greetings.
But after some time, a craving for novelty inevitably arises.
And Dillingham had timed it perfectly.
The result was a resounding success.
He and his group drew everyone's attention instantly upon late arrival, and as they moved, the interest swelled further.
Dillingham strode confidently to the garden's center, already stirring murmurs before arriving.
His entrance captured even those conversing in the central area.
"Oh, Dillingham! It's been ages."
"Good to see you, Count Loren. How have you been?"
Among them, those who recognized him greeted first, and only then did Dillingham begin responding.
'This is the main stage.'
In that moment, Jeon realized this spot was the primary stage for today's birthday party.
Even among invitees who held esteemed positions elsewhere.
This was where the truly honored gathered.
Dillingham, having amassed attention along the way, now relished the greetings pouring in from all sides.
Jeon and Lena had to field some of it too, but to Jeon, it wasn't entirely bad.
'This might be the ideal environment for gathering information.'
The reason he'd come at Morgan's request was to obtain info on the missing Towns.
Asking passersby was far less efficient than querying the crowd flocking to them.
"Your name is Jeon? That's it?"
"A commoner?"
"Lady Lena's attendant? My goodness! I thought he was imperial."
"Hmm~ Is that so? Then perhaps a family retainer? If not, I could treat you even better."
Of course, there were downsides.
The attention was overwhelmingly burdensome to Jeon—enough to feel smothered.
Revealing his commoner status disappointed some quickly, while others displayed possessiveness.
For Jeon, experiencing this for the first time, it was maddening.
"Oh, hello. I'm Lena Silvermont."
"Yes, nice to meet you. Ah, Jeon here is my attendant."
"Not officially family, but it's practically the same. Hehe."
Fortunately, Lena handled most of the attention herself.
Especially those eyeing Jeon possessively—she intervened fiercely, cutting them off.
Thanks to her, Jeon managed to endure the deluge.
And while Jeon endured, those he'd targeted began taking interest in him too.
"Lord Kirilen, you look unwell. Are you alright?"
"Pardon? Oh, do I? I've had trouble sleeping lately..."
"Oh dear! You must have a lot on your mind."
At the Garden of Peace, hosting Imperial Princess Katrina's birthday party.
The central area, awaiting the princess's appearance, was filled with nobles too prominent to call mere bigwigs, but riffraff weren't absent either.
Those who couldn't mingle with the elites but had some familiarity, lingering as background figures.
And among them was Kirilen Abselle, who had taken the same train to the capital as Jeon.
'A lot on my mind, my ass.'
She flashed a smile and assured the fellow riffraff noble she was fine, while inwardly cursing.
'I'm exhausted to death.'
The cause was insomnia starting from the capital-bound train.
The moment she lay down to sleep, nightmares plagued her, leaving no proper rest lately.
Yet she couldn't miss Princess Katrina's grand-scale birthday party, so she dragged her near-collapsing body here.
"Oh, Lady Kirilen, that necklace is lovely!"
"Isn't it? I picked it up on a recent business trip. They say it's hard to come by."
"Ah, as expected! I envy traveling the continent like you, seeing such rare treasures."
"Hehe, it's a wonderful experience."
In truth, the insomnia stemmed from the necklace emitting a faint glow around her neck.
Oblivious to that, she wore it proudly to the party and was subtly boasting.
Despite dragging herself to this party.
There was no real gain.
She hadn't even greeted the elites, only exchanging pleasantries with familiar faces from other events.
'Is Lady Helena not coming?'
She longed for Helena, her sole elite acquaintance.
The moment Helena appeared and they greeted, others witnessing it would take notice of Kirilen, giving her a chance to network with the bigwigs here.
It was practically why she'd attended.
So Kirilen eagerly awaited Helena.
"Hm? Who's that over there?"
"The princess hasn't appeared yet... What's the commotion?"
"Maybe another prince or princess?"
Suddenly, murmurs arose from one side, not long after the party began.
The elites in the center, and riffraff like Kirilen, turned their attention there.
'Lady Helena?'
Hoping it was the Helena she'd waited for, Kirilen hurried over.
"...Huh?"
But it wasn't Helena.
Instead, a face she never wanted to see again was there.
'That rude guy from the train...!'
It was Jeon and Lena—the ones who'd humiliated her.
At the same time, she realized they were causing the stir.
'Why all the fuss?'
She knew Dillingham well.
And knew he alone couldn't draw this much attention.
'Because of them?'
Kirilen grasped that the pair with him were the key to the buzz.
Though to her, harboring grudges, she couldn't fathom why they drew such interest.
'This could be my chance...'
If she played it right, she might snag some attention before Helena arrived.
No one here knew them.
Everyone was just trying to identify the newcomers drawing fresh interest and make connections.
But what if someone who knew them suddenly appeared?
Some of that attention would surely trickle her way.
"Oh, hello. We're acquainted, aren't we?"
Assessing the situation, Kirilen decided to brazen it out.
To her now, the bigwigs' notice mattered more than petty pride.