Cynthia's Friends
Cynthia worked with quiet determination. She greeted every distinguished guest at the party with genuine warmth, taking special care never to neglect the Veilburg family and treating them with the utmost hospitality. All the while, she deftly severed the endless stream of excessive attention from the men who swarmed her.
Yet through it all, one clear realization settled over her.
In this state, I won’t be able to speak with Rian Veilburg.
It was only natural for the protagonist of the party to draw so many eyes, but the real problem lay with the men who lunged at her like dogs in heat. She had already announced she had a fiancé and that he was present, yet it changed nothing.
“Lady Cynthia, you look breathtaking today as always.”
“Happy birthday, my lady. If you would grant me the honor, I would love to share a dance with you…”
“Miss Cynthia, I have something I’d like to say to you in private later. Could you spare me a moment…”
How annoying.
Well, she was used to it. In truth, it wasn’t only at her own birthday parties. Even when she attended events where someone else stood in the spotlight, the men’s gazes had always locked onto her alone. In the beginning she had secretly felt flattered, but as time passed their behavior began to look grotesque. Every last one of them approached her with blatant, vulgar motives.
They’re after my power or my body. Nothing more.
Having finally slipped free of them, Cynthia’s eyes found a particular man across the hall. Rian Veilburg, invited in his capacity as her fiancé. Only moments ago he had followed her lead obediently, but at some point he had vanished with his younger brother. Even as men clustered around his betrothed, he showed no interest. Instead he sat enjoying snacks with his sibling, the pair of them sharing a pleasant, carefree moment.
“Hatz, is that young lady really so captivating to you?”
“!? W-what are you talking about, brother?!”
“I can see your eyes spinning from here. If you’re that interested, why not go say something?”
“What kind of nonsense is that?! I’m not!”
“Puhuhu.”
……
He truly looked happy. It was the same vibrant smile he had shown often in the early days of their engagement. Watching it now, Cynthia realized something else.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that smile on him.
His smile was natural. Not forced or artificial, but so gentle and handsome that it could melt the heart of any woman who saw it. Yet the smile he gave his brother now revealed that every smile he had ever directed at her had been false.
Well, when she thought about it, that wasn’t strange at all.
After all, there’s no way he could have enjoyed our dates.
She had deliberately cultivated a terrible image, and not long ago she had even shown him her worst side. It was only natural that the goodwill he once felt had vanished without a trace. She had known that. She had accepted it, but…
“…Sigh.”
It wasn’t easy. She had only wanted to offer a simple apology, yet now Rian’s very presence felt strangely distant and burdensome. They had known each other for nearly half a year. They had gone on more than ten dates together, and still…
…I did intend for this, after all.
“Hey~ Cynthia. Happy birthday~”
“?”
A group of roughly ten young nobles approached her. They were all people who had known Cynthia for years—her true friends, the ones she used to gather with.
“You look busy. Why are so many young men constantly buzzing around you? Quite the spectacle.”
“Really? I’ve always been like this at parties, though.”
“Oh, of course. That’s our Miss Cynthia. I respect the confidence.”
“I only spoke the truth.”
“Sure, sure~ Anyway, do you have any time around lunch?”
“Lunch? Why?”
“What do you mean, why? We have to do it. The hunting contest.”
There was one event they always held when they gathered for Cynthia’s birthday: the hunting competition. They would release a number of monsters into the forest managed by the grand duchy and compete to see who could hunt the most.
“You want to do that today?”
“Yeah. We always did it on your birthday, didn’t we?”
“Well, the preparations are ready, but… I’m the host of this party.”
“Isn’t the party running all day anyway? Just show your face at the end. No one will mind.”
“…That’s true.”
Being the protagonist of the party did not mean she was forbidden from leaving the venue. When other nobles hosted events, many only appeared briefly before slipping away because staying for long hours was simply too difficult.
“All right. Max, I’ll slip out at the right moment, so tell the others.”
“Okey~”
“Oh, and I may bring one more person, so keep that in mind.”
“Huh? Who?”
“My fiancé.”
“Your fiancé…? Ah!”
The man’s gaze drifted toward Rian in the distance. He was enjoying the party alongside a younger companion. Though his handsome features and refreshing smile might have seemed charming to women, the male observer twisted his face into a strange grimace.
“He’s… rather ordinary, isn’t he?”
“What?”
“No, when you said fiancé I naturally pictured someone capable or even monstrous. But he looks like… well, like a pyramid.”
……
Why does that upset me?
It wasn’t exactly a wrong assessment, yet her friend’s voice grated on her nerves. A complicated emotion she couldn’t quite name swirled inside her.
“At that level, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“What now?”
“Come on, you think we wouldn’t know?”
Her friends laughed slyly, their eyes all turning toward one particular man among them—Vihar Poland.
“…Are you all insane?”
“Ah, maybe this isn’t the best place to say it?”
“Before whether it’s the right place or not, I have no relationship with Vihar. If you spout any more nonsense…”
“Yep. Shutting up.”
Crazy fools. So immature.
No matter how much they enjoyed running their mouths, there were lines that could not be crossed. The direct descendants of the Veilburg family were present in this very hall. If they had overheard such talk, they would not have let it pass.
“Still, if you’re bringing someone along, shouldn’t you introduce him first? How can we hunt together if we’ve never even met the man?”
“I’ll introduce him later.”
“That feels a little insufficient. Why not do it now?”
“You’re not wrong.”
“I’m curious about Cynthia’s fiancé too.”
“Cynthia, can’t you just introduce him right now?”
“Ugh… I said I’d do it later…”
“That’s a good idea.”
As Cynthia’s irritation rose at her friends’ persistent urging, Vihar, who had remained silent until now, smoothly entered the conversation. Staring intently in Rian’s direction as though deep in thought, he continued.
“It’s already been half a year since you became engaged to Cynthia, hasn’t it? It’s strange that we, her friends, still know nothing about him.”
“…Yes. Then I’ll go speak with him first.”
“Why? We can all go together.”
“If we suddenly crowd him, he’ll feel uncomfortable.”
“Huh? Since when do you care about someone else’s feelings, Cynthia?”
Her friends stared at her with odd expressions. The fact that she, who normally paid no attention to others’ moods, was now considering her fiancé’s comfort struck them as strange.
Cynthia felt a peculiar spike of annoyance under their gazes, but she could think of no graceful way to refuse. In the end she nodded. She could hardly snap at friends who had come to celebrate her birthday.
Well, if things stay like this the party will end without any progress anyway. I’ll bring my friends and naturally ease the atmosphere.
“…Rian, brother.”
“Yes?”
“Are you really going to keep eating nothing but snacks?”
“Why? If you want something else…”
“That’s not what I mean. Shouldn’t you go to your fiancée soon?”
Rian’s younger brother, Hatz Veilburg, cast an anxious glance toward Cynthia. With her brilliant golden hair and striking red dress, she stood receiving guests. She was beautiful enough to steal one’s breath, yet the problem lay in the people surrounding her. Most of the guests were young men, and despite knowing she had a fiancé they showed no sign of stopping their advances.
Cynthia herself didn’t appear particularly bothered, but to Hatz the scene looked incredibly precarious.
“At least keep them in check! Don’t just sit here calmly stuffing your face with cookies.”
“…Crunch. Munch munch~”
“You said you’d work hard for the family, but are you actually planning to break the engagement?”
“Don’t say strange things here.”
“No, can’t you see what’s happening over there?”
Hatz’s face twisted into a scowl as he looked at the group gathered around her. As a fellow man, he understood perfectly. Every male among Cynthia’s so-called friends harbored clear affection for her. Of course a few women were present as well, but right now Hatz could only see the men. His voice grew grave.
“At first I thought it would be better if you broke the engagement, brother. But honestly, if she’s that beautiful, I could forgive her for acting arrogant.”
“Are you insane? She is your future sister-in-law, for now.”
“Is my tone that bad? Anyway, if you stay idle like this you’ll really lose her. Well, if you’ve already made up your mind, I won’t interfere anymore.”
This kid is worrying about useless things.
Seventeen was not exactly a child’s age, yet to Rian, Hatz still looked like a boy. It was slightly embarrassing to have his younger brother worrying about him. Consulting his sibling about women was not a pleasant experience for Rian.
I suppose I should talk to her… If she truly wants to break the engagement…
“Mr. Rian.”
“Huk!?”
“…Yes, Lady Rebellion.”
When had she approached? Both Rian and Hatz turned to her with startled expressions at the sudden voice. Cynthia stared silently at Rian’s face for a moment, then looked back at the friends gathered behind her.
“There are people I would like to introduce.”
“Introduce?”
“Yes. These are my friends.”
…Friends, she says.
The son of a high noble house, the legitimate heir of a prestigious knight family, a distant relative of the imperial treasurer, and even a current diplomat. Every one of them came from an extraordinary background.
What is she planning?
Rian’s expression remained completely unchanged. He simply watched Cynthia with open suspicion as she made the introductions. Introducing one’s friends was, on the surface, a perfectly natural act. Yet after witnessing her previous misdeeds, every single movement she made now seemed calculated.
Is she trying to intimidate me by showing off her connections?
If that was her goal, she had chosen the wrong target. The Veilburg County was no insignificant house, and he was its heir. He might not surpass them in status, but he felt no sense of inferiority whatsoever.
“So you are Cynthia’s fiancé.”
“?”
The last man Cynthia introduced stepped forward. A handsome noble with an elegant air offered a friendly smile and spoke first.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Vihar Poland.”
The second son of the Poland Marquis family.
Rian naturally knew the name. The Poland Marquisate was one of the great houses that governed the western territories. Though they had never met personally, as the heir of a count family it was only proper that he recognize the man.
“I am Rian Veilburg.”
When Vihar offered his hand, Rian accepted it. He could hardly refuse in front of everyone.
But then—
Squeeze!!
“…!”
Vihar’s grip was astonishingly powerful. Pain shot through Rian’s hand. He lifted his gaze to the other man’s face.
As if asking What is the meaning of this? with his eyes, he met only that same courteous smile. Vihar spoke in a light, pleasant tone.
“It seems our Cynthia has been in your care.”
“…Pardon?”
“If there is anything you don’t know about Cynthia, please feel free to ask me, Rian. Since we have known each other for so long, I know everything about her.”
“Wait, Vihar…!”
The friends let out impressed murmurs at Vihar’s words. Their clear attempt to seize control of the atmosphere had crossed the line from playful teasing. Cynthia’s face hardened.
“All of you, be quiet.”
……
“Stop saying things that could cause misunderstandings, Vihar.”
“Of course. It was merely a comment between friends.”
Vihar released the handshake with a sly smile. Cynthia quickly glanced at Rian’s expression. No matter how one interpreted it, Vihar’s tone had been nothing short of provocation.
But Rian
“……”
“……”
said nothing to Vihar at all. He simply looked at Cynthia with an expression utterly devoid of emotion, like a doll.
…Throb!
Ah……