Chapter 86
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Mirror (1)
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I paced back and forth in front of the mirror for quite a while.
The black-based formal attire reached down to my thighs, with a blue cloak draped over my left shoulder.
The shoulder ornament securing the cloak was shaped like a small bird, making it feel awkward and unfamiliar, as if some strange new bird had perched right on my shoulder.
The formal clothes I hadn't worn in ages looked downright odd no matter how I looked at them.
I tried taking off the blue cloak and messing up my neatly combed blond hair, but that alien feeling just wouldn't fade.
"Lib? You ready?"
The door flew open without so much as a knock. I whipped around in surprise, and there was Shuren, frowning deeply.
"What's with your hair?"
Shuren clicked his tongue and raked his fingers through my disheveled locks, combing them back into place.
While he was at it, he straightened out the creases in my sleeves, adjusted the crooked ornament, and even managed to drape that ridiculous cloak over my back in a way that looked halfway decent.
"It looks weird..."
"Doesn't look weird at all. There, let's go."
Ignoring my lingering unease completely, Shuren grabbed my arm and pulled me along.
I had no choice but to follow him out of the room.
Shuren had gotten a new formal outfit tailored for tonight's banquet as well, and it gave him a surprisingly fresh look.
His light gray attire featured intricate embroidery, topped with a luxurious black cloak draped over his shoulders.
The stiff white collar hugged his neck in a neat circle, making his usually slightly overgrown black hair look more composed.
It reminded me of how his father, the head butler, used to look back at our hometown estate when I was a kid. Aside from the sword he was wearing under the formal wear, that is.
"This banquet's a real anomaly. They've invited every single Prius knight, and they're even allowing us to carry swords. Normally, weapons are forbidden inside the palace for banquets, but they've made a special exception."
I guess I should exclude the part about him being so talkative.
It had been four days since we arrived in Elgrace.
In that time, I'd been dragged all over the place with the White Guard Knights— to the palace, the noble assembly, the judicial offices, you name it— dealing with everything that had happened.
By the time the whirlwind schedule wrapped up, four days had already flown by.
And now, as the grand finale, tonight's banquet hosted by King Karon Lesis of Elgrace was set to take place in the royal palace.
We'd nearly been branded traitors and chased out before even entering the city, only to save the king and crown prince from a terrifying dragon. Needless to say, the Prius Knights were the hottest topic around.
So hot, it was almost too scorching to touch.
Two days ago, a swarm of tailors had descended on the branch office like they were raiding the place, grabbing Prius members left and right to measure and sew at will.
Apparently, nobles with a keen interest in Prius had sent them over to outfit us in the latest Elgrace fashions— sleek, trendy formal attire.
"Ah, Weddy! Over here."
Shuren waved toward Wedin, who was emerging from the opposite corridor.
Wedin's expression wasn't great either; he clearly had major gripes with how refined his formal wear looked.
His outfit was cream-based, accented with decorative buttons and a prominent red collar. Predictably, a cloak draped over both shoulders, with subtle red wave patterns lining the inside.
He'd combed his usually tousled brown hair back as hard as he could, but I had a feeling it'd be back to normal by the time we reached the venue.
It was such a novel look for him that I couldn't stop snickering.
"Don't laugh."
I clamped a hand over my mouth and turned away, but quick-as-ever Wedin still shot me a glare.
"Sorry. It suits you."
Wedin's glare was downright murderous, but even that couldn't stop the laughter bubbling up— it felt like a life-or-death situation.
"Hurry up, both of you. No time for chit-chat."
Shuren called up to us from the bottom of the stairs, just as Wedin was about to grab my collar.
The first floor of the Prius branch was buzzing with clusters of people all decked out in formal attire.
Mostly envoys, knights, and clerks from the delegation, but there were some branch regulars mixed in too.
Everyone affiliated with Prius had been invited, so the entrance hall had a lively, excited vibe.
We exchanged brief greetings with familiar faces from the delegation as we crossed the hall.
They were all wearing the latest Elgrace formal trends— diverse shapes, colors, vibrant and varied.
And without fail, every man's outfit came with a cloak, confirming that this pesky thing really was the style here.
"Wow, but seeing everyone in these dumb outfits kinda makes us look less dumb together."
Wedin scanned the formally dressed knights and spat out his biting assessment.
I nodded inwardly in agreement and replied mildly.
"Guess that's what fashion is."
The main entrance stood wide open.
The branch courtyard, bathed in the glow of the afternoon sunset, was packed with countless carriages and horses waiting to depart.
Most were sent from the palace, complete with drivers, but some nobles connected to Prius had sent their own as well.
"Ah, there they are!"
A cheerful voice rang out amid the bustle.
Clemence hopped down from a carriage with a white roof and blue curtains. She rushed toward us in a few quick steps.
With her silver hair fluffed out and cascading down, Clemence looked like a completely different person.
Her head was adorned with countless flower and bird ornaments, her made-up pale face more radiant than usual. A sheer blue shawl draped her shoulders, and her ankle-length cream dress swayed delicately.
"Why are you so late? I've been waiting forever."
"Sorry, these two took forever. But wow, Clemence, it really suits you."
Shuren openly admired her appearance, and she covered her mouth, giggling.
"I just feel awkward in it. You three got new formal wear too, huh? I heard they sent tailors over."
"I'm dying of awkwardness here."
Wedin groaned, which only made Clemence laugh harder.
I fiddled with my blue cloak, seriously debating whether to rip it off right then and there.
"Let's get going. We were supposed to arrive even earlier— we're already late as it is."
Shuren and Wedin headed to the carriage first.
Clemence grabbed my arm and tugged me along, and I flinched at the unfamiliar, vibrant floral perfume wafting from her.
"...Perfume?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
Clemence's face flushed a bit as she pulled away.
"Feels weird, right? I didn't want to, but I had no choice. If I skipped the makeup or perfume, Mom and I would've had another huge fight."
"I see."
I'd meant to say it suited her perfectly, that it didn't feel awkward or weird at all, but the words wouldn't come out right.
Still pink-faced, Clemence chattered on.
"Every day's like a battlefield. 'Eat in this order,' 'Greet like this, keep your hands here when you speak'— all these little things that supposedly show your grace."
Clemence had been staying at the Lesis Ducal estate since the day after we arrived in Elgrace.
The White Guard Knights had worried, but she wouldn't budge. She insisted on keeping a close eye on her parents so they couldn't scheme anything.
The Lesis Duke couple were under house arrest until the noble assembly's trial proceedings ended, so they'd be facing each other every day inside the manor.
Considering what her parents had done to us, just being in the same space would be tough. I could only think she was remarkable.
"I think grace comes from character, but my parents are all about the superficial stuff."
"You're right."
I smiled and agreed with Clemence as she pouted and vented.
"Le-Lea, what are you doing here?!"
Wedin, who'd reached the Lesis Ducal carriage first, bellowed out of nowhere.
A black-haired maid stood in front of the carriage, hands neatly clasped together.
Wearing the Lesis family's blue maid uniform, she gave a slight bow toward us.
"Kalia? That's you, right?"
I was just as shocked.
The maid who'd dragged us to Cornik on behalf of the Duchess. We hadn't seen her since.
"Ahaha... Yeah. Mom assigned me as your attendant. Get in the carriage first. I'll explain on the way."
Clemence gave a wry smile and shoved us into the carriage one by one.
As we settled into our seats, Clemence climbed in last, followed by Kalia, who shut the door.
With Wedin and me staring daggers at Kalia, the driver started moving the carriage.
"What the hell's going on? Why is she your attendant?"
Even to Wedin's harsh question, Kalia didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow.
Inside the rocking carriage, she sat perfectly steady in the seat across from Clemence, eyes slightly downcast.
As if keeping a close watch on Clemence's every move.
"They must think she's the right person for it... even after everything."
"You agreed to this?"
Even after all that? I know I wouldn't have been able to shake the unease.
"Not many things in that house happen with my consent. I haven't fully forgiven Mom and Dad for what they did, but I decided to believe them when they swore it wouldn't happen again. Kalia apologized sincerely too."
Clemence smiled bitterly as she spoke. The moment she finished, Kalia quietly opened her mouth.
"Miss. May I say a word to your friends?"
"Oh? Uh, sure."
Clemence seemed a bit flustered but nodded.
Kalia lifted her head toward us. Memories flooded back of her knocking us out with a single gesture in Clemence's room.
I just tensed my shoulders a little, but Wedin visibly flinched and let out an embarrassed groan.
Without a sound, Kalia rose from her seat and knelt straight down on the carriage floor.
Even I jolted at that.
"Master Liberic, Master Wedin, and Master Shuren. I am truly sorry for harming you and causing you worry. Even if it was an order, it was wrong, and something I never should have done."
"Ka-Kalia..."
Clemence's eyes went wide in surprise.
Kalia looked at Wedin and me before bowing her head with a somber expression. She was usually so emotionless and stoic, but that fleeting look was profoundly human.
"I will never do such a thing again. And I beg your forgiveness once more, Miss."
A heavy silence settled over the carriage after Kalia's words.
"Hmph."
As we scrambled for what to say, Shuren— leaning against the window with his chin propped up— spoke up.
"What if a similar order comes down next time? Can you refuse it?"
"Shuren."
I called to him, but Shuren stared down at Kalia with a coldly set face.
Come to think of it, Shuren and his father must have been shocked and furious when we vanished too.
It seemed like that old anger was surging up in him again.
Kalia kept her head bowed silently, unable to respond. Her clasped hands trembled faintly in front of her knees.
"When you asked Miss Clemence the same question while seeking her forgiveness before..."
Even her voice quivered slightly.
"...I couldn't answer. Because I'd been taught that orders are absolute. But Miss taught me otherwise."
Kalia raised her head to meet Shuren's gaze.
"She said it's just the easy way out, a path to shirk responsibility and run away.
That I must judge the situation myself, weigh right and wrong, take responsibility for my actions... and only then can we build a relationship of mutual trust."
"...Ugh."
Clemence groaned and clutched her flushed face. Oblivious, Kalia continued.
"I swore to follow those words with all my heart. Even so, if you cannot trust me, I will inform the Madam and leave the ducal house."
Kalia finished calmly and bowed her head deeply once more.
Wedin and I turned silently reproachful stares on Shuren. What now? What are you gonna do? She's apologizing sincerely...!
Shuren cleared his throat awkwardly, looking flustered.
"If Clemence says so, then I guess we can trust and leave it to her."
"Master Shuren, thank you..."
Kalia's face visibly brightened.
Wedin flinched again at that— looks like it'll take him some time to get used to her.
"I will do my utmost not to burden Miss Clemence."
Kalia bowed deeply one more time.