Tomorrow is my debut in the upper society at last!
Even though I had been asking mother for a long time, she didn't let me to because it was still too early for me she said . But, at last . Yes, I've finally gotten permission to attend the ball at last .
"You're really lucky Lina . "
It looks like Onee-sama is vexed to see me debuts at my 12 years old age since Onee-sama didn't debut in the upper society until she was 14 .
But, but, but . Since the permission comes suddenly, I have to use an old dress that mother used during her childhood . I can't say such spoiled thing like wanting a new dress like Onee-sama . If I said that, the talk about going the ball would be likely gone .
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Uwah, the castle! It's the castle!
"Wait, Lina . Your mouth . You're a lady from today on, pay attention to child-like gestures . " "My, oh Fia, you were also like that when you saw the castle for the first time . You two are really siters~" "Hey, Teena . Please don't do that in front of Lina . There's this thing called older sister's dignity--"
Onee-sama is talking about something with Teena-san of viscount Brates house, but it passes through my ears . Cause you know, look how many carriages there are in the castle! I wonder which house is that carriage from . Its round body is cute . My, there is even a golem carriage! Amazing, I want to ride it at least once~
"Now then, young lady, please your hand . "
The castle footman opened the door, and father who was waiting outside held out his hand . Father is going to be my escort today .
"Hey, Fia . Why isn't the next baron Eto-sama escorting you . " "No way, Teena . That love is already over . Today the prince has especially come from the royal capital . " "If you're aiming too high, you'll miss your chance to get married you know?" "You're one to say that Teena . Rather than that! Even if aiming for the prince is impossible, I can still go for his accompanying holy knight or the other attendant who has a promising future . "
There are a lot among influential nobles who are engaged even before they're 10, but for middle nobles like us, many are still unmarried even after they become adult . There are some who have too high of ideals, they remain single even after they're over 20, but as for myself, I want to to get married by 17 years old at least . I'm alright with the other person looking ordinary, he just has to be gentle .
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Uwah, amazing .
I have a bad head if I do say so myself, I don't have any other word beside that . Father escort me to the ball room with more than 100 gentlemen and ladies who are having pleasant talks .
But! It was too early to be surprised .
"Lina, this small hall is a waiting room for people who are debuting in the upper society . "
There's this many people who are debuting! I wonder if everyone is aiming for the prince after all? I go around the small hall greeting everyone while father introduces me .
Ah, this is the first time I call my name this many times .
"You're in the way . Move it . " "I, I'm sorry . "
When I was standing on the passage to the hall, I got scolded . He's a scary person wearing a white armor . I wonder if he's a knight? I apologized and conceded the way .
"You're not bad . Were you trying to immediately greet the prince?" "Ah, Onee-sama . It's not like that, I was scolded for blocking the way . " "Blocking the way you said, a thin girl like won't be enough to block the way even if there are 10 of you right?"
When I think about it again, that's true . I wonder if there's some kind of reason?
Together with Onee-sama and her friend, we're sitting on the sofa inside the ball room, and watch the ball . I didn't think that the ball I had always wanted to go was this hard . I don't remember most people whom I introduced myself to .
"Of course that would be so . I was seeing from the side, you were looking down the whole time you were being introduced right?" "I mean, everyone was older than me, it was a bit scary . "
I quench my throat with the fruit water that the maid-san's brought . As expected of duke-sama, not only it has fruit that I rarely eat, it even has ice .
"Mou, you two, it's too early to become tired . " "I'm sorry Teena . Leaving that aside, what is with the crowd earlier?" "It seems there were specialties delicacies from baron Muno territory, but nothing had remained on the plates when I got there . It might have been really delicious, uncles and his friends were competing to eat it . "
To even make the older men who are used to gourmet food to compete with each other, I wonder if it's that delicious . I want to eat it even only for a mouthful .
"Disappointing huh . However, this is the first time I've heard baron Muno territory, is it a distant territory?" "What are you saying, it's next to the duchy . There was a rumor of it getting attacked by the demon's army right . " "Ah, that! It was an epic about a magician with demi-human mercenaries who repulsed ten of thousands monster herds wasn't it . "
"However, since the story came from sir Toruma, it's better if you take it with a grain of salt . "
I've also heard about it . The opponents who annihilated the army without even letting them get ready were turned around in a blink of an eye with just a small troop . He must be a giant man with scars covering his whole body . There are beautiful women on his side at beck, and if he wears an eyepatch, his atmosphere might be even strong--
"Lina, are you tired?"
--Ha . I indulged in my delusion . Since different dish are being displayed on the place with baron Muno cooking a while ago, we're going there to look around .
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Sweet smell tickles my nose . What smell is this? Thin batter is spread and fried on top of a heating magic tool, some kind of red fruit and white soft thing are put on top of it and it gets enclosed . What a skillful movement! I've seen the chef in my house cooks before, but it's completely different .
"Okay, here you go . Small lady-san . " "T, thank you very much!"
The chef presents the cuisine while smiling sweetly . I accept the plate that the black-haired attendant gives me . When I look closer, this chef person isn't a servant is he? I mean, he's wearing such expensive-looking clothes . He's young, but he's surely from an influential noble house . Even Onee-sama, and Teena introduce themselves before they receive the cuisine .
I also give my name in panic . I understand when we are talking that he's a honorary chevalier-sama . Onee-sama and her friend seem to change their interest toward the dish after they've heard his peerage, but I think it's amazing to acquire a peerage with his own power even though he's this young .
I think of such thing until it's time to eat the dish . I sit down on the chair near Onee-sama and her friend, and use a small knife and a fork on the plate to put the dish on my mouth .
Delicious!
White soft sweetness melt in my mouth . I wonder if I'm chewing that red fruit? The slightly sour taste mixed with that white soft sweets are mixing, the inside of my mouth is in bliss . It's no very ladylike, but my lips begin to open involuntarily, and a smile leaks out .
"U, um, nice to meet you!" "Y, yes, nice to meet you!"
When I've finished eating and handed the plate to the maid-san, a young gentleman calls me out . He also looks nervous, but my heart is shaking to the point like it'll explodes . I was invited to my first dance by that person . Although I stepped on his foot since I was nervous, he also stepped on mine, so we were even . After we had finished dancing, his friend tried to invite me, but since he was a bit overbearing, I was afraid and somehow able to decline .
Men are a bit scary after all .
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I wanted to eat the [Crepes] from before once again, but it was already over . It seemed that the white soft things were all used up, "I'm sorry . " he apologized kindly . It's strange . Even though his nose isn't high, the area around his eyes aren't deep, and he can't be called handsome, I can't take my eyes off . I wonder if it's because of his calm demeanor, and his gentle expression?
"C, chevalier-sama! Would you dance with me if it's alright with you!" "Yes, I'll be glad to . "
I've invited him to a dance involuntarily . My voices were loud because I was too nervous, the eyes of everyone around were gathered to us . Ah, my face is hot . Chevalier seemed to be slightly surprised, but he immediately agreed .
"Please don't be so nervous, it's fine to think the people around as trees and stones . Please think of me like your brother or father, and be at ease . "
He patted my tense shoulders gently, and whispered so . Just a bit, really a bit of the tension in my shoulders come out, and I've become relaxed . When the music starts, I'm dancing unlike falling like before . While we're dancing like fish in the water, he whispers "It's alright", "Be more relaxed there . ", "Like a princess riding on the flow" which feel good, and then the music stops . To have this much fun in dancing with a skillful person! I have to exercise dancing more seriously from now on . I wanted to dance for another tune, but since other girls were waiting for their turns, I refrained myself . It looks like I'll get bullied if I monopolize him .
"Lina, were you that skillful?" "It was because Chevalier-sama was very good, I danced spontaneously . " "Fu~n, I have a rule against someone younger, so I'll pass . "
Onee-sama is smiling badly while hiding bottom half of her face with a folding fan . She must be thinking of something, but if you don't do it moderately, you'll be late to get married you know?
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"Thank you for inviting me today--"
When I saw the person who visited the tea party I was having with Onee-sama and her friends at the salon, I almost dropped my cup .
Why is chevalier-sama here?
"Ufufufu, since he looked like Lina's favorite, I sent a written invitation together with your letter of thanks . " "You should thank Fia . A lot of girls from other houses have sent their invitations, it seems they're still competing even now . "
Onee-sama, and Teena-sama whispered to both my ears . Even though Chevalier-sama is surrounded by Onee-sama and her friends who look so attractive, he seems very calm not befitting of his age like always .
Tetra-sama! Pushing your b, breasts on him while pretending to talk is cheating . Ah, even Shiona-sama, are you two aiming for chevalier-sama who's of the same age? I feel annoyed somehow in my chest .
If the house maid didn't come while bringing the present brought by chevalier-sama, I might cut myself inbetween them like a child .
The sweets are called Muno roll, and it taste like between the crepes from before and gururian . It's a bit heavier than crepes, but it suits the blue tea well . The blue tea are presents from Teena-sama, so I've never drank one with a brand though .
I was surprised to hear the story about the time he's granted the peerage when we were talking about the story concerning the cake . I mean, chevalier-sama is the hero of that defensive war of Muno city! He doesn't like it at all . I mean, his hair is silky, his arms are slender and supple, they hardly look like they swing a staff or a sword .
Since he had some business, he unfortunately couldn't accept the invitation to a dinner tonight . When chevalier-sama was going back, father handed him a bag with fruits and they had a long talk about something . Those fruits are something from the orchard of our house . It's really bitter, and on top of being sour, it looks bad, so insects don't harm it, making it non-labour intensive fruits, but it can only be eaten by making it into pickles, however nowadays gabo fruits pickles have dominated the market . I wonder if that's why our house's fortune is slightly slumping .
I was surprised to meet chevalier-sama when I came out of the passage out of the garden . Because of that, I fumbled . Ah, it's embarrassing . Father looks restless, I wonder what happens? It smells really nice . It looks like the black-haired attendant of chevalier-sama hands over a white box . What kind of sweets are those I wonder? Ah, even though I know it's improper, my lips are loosing .
"This is, sir Pendragon! W, were you really able to make a new use for that fruit?" "Yes, I baked a cake using that fruit . "
That white soft thing can certainly hides the sour fruits, but isn't that because of the white soft thing, not the fruit? As a proof, that fruit's color become completely different because the slices have been wrapped with a lot of that white soft thing .
"This is, it doesn't look like that fruit, have you put something else inside?" "No, the one on the top is that fruit . It changes color when heated . "
Heating fruits? You usually cool them with well water . To make that brown fruit becomes pink . The color looks really beautiful .
The maids cut it, and I timidly put the [Cake] on my mouth . People are just staring at it, and no one eats it .
Amazing! It softly melts . The texture is different than crepes, it's different than any sweets I've ever eaten . This time, I put the sour part of the fruit on my mouth while being prepared . It's soft sweet and smooth . As I chew, the fiber feels different than strawberry, or apple .
I want to eat a bit more . However, unfortunately, it seems to be over with one slice . The fork on the plate with the remaining white soft thing is taken, I endure the impulse to eat it . I'm already a lady who's made her upper society debut .
"I'm thinking of presenting this cake for the wedding of Tisrad-sama . "
Ah, father is trembling with chevalier-sama's bomb remark . It's a terribly great honor to have the fruit used as a dish for the wedding of the next-next duke-sama . I understand the feeling of father who nods with trembling body from the unexpected offer . Perhaps, this cheap fruits can sell more, and our house's finance will become better maybe .
I was called to father's room this night, and got asked if I wanted to send marriage proposal to chevalier-sama . Even though father hated and called honorary nobles shams in all his life .
Ehehehe, Lina Pendragon eh . It'd be nice if Chevalier-sama accepts . And then, the two of us will dance every night . It must be fun, no doubt about it .
I've eaten a delicious cake, and heard a wonderful story, it seems I will sleep pleasantly today . It'd be nice if tomorrow is also a good day .
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