Episode 126
The debutante ball. A mandatory event for all graduating nobles, even royalty.
It was finally happening.
Elonia still felt uncomfortable in social settings. Until Sarah mentioned it, she had almost forgotten about it, a distant and irrelevant world.
Sarah, sensing her apprehension, asked gently,
“Your Highness, do you dislike the idea that much?”
“Yes.”
Elonia replied instantly.
Olivia, who had experience with Heilan’s social circles, had told her stories.
“Spilling wine on someone you hate is considered a harmless prank. Dumping cake on their head, tripping them… you wouldn’t believe the things they do.”
And according to Llewellyn and Alberich, even families who seemed close could betray each other in an instant. It was a cutthroat world.
The academy was considered a miniature social circle, but it was nothing compared to the real thing.
Elonia would rather have a life-or-death duel than participate in such petty squabbles.
‘I’m not worried, but Garnethia…’
Elonia paused, then remembered Garnethia cursing out Dianne’s group. Perhaps she wasn’t as harmless as she seemed.
Sarah, sensing her unnecessary worry, gently massaged her scalp.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. There are more kind people than you think.”
“Sarah…”
“And I’m your godmother, and you’re the future Empress. Everything will be fine.”
Sarah smiled reassuringly.
But her words sounded like she was encouraging Elonia to abuse her power and crush anyone who dared to challenge her.
Sarah, the mind reader, chuckled.
“Well, everyone is nervous about their debutante ball. How about a change of pace?”
“A change of pace?”
“Yes. His Majesty is planning something special to celebrate your debutante ball.”
“Oh?”
“He’s been preparing for a while now. He should be presenting it to you next week.”
So look forward to it.
Sarah smiled, her eyes twinkling.
A sense of foreboding washed over Elonia.
“A dress, perhaps?”
Elonia, discussing the potential gift with the Asta brothers, was met with their anxious whispers.
“Should we change our gifts?”
“…That might be a good idea.”
Elonia, overhearing them, asked, her eyes widening,
“What did you two get me?”
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you. But I’m sure my gift is better than his.”
Llewellyn boasted, and Alberich, his eyebrow twitching, retorted,
“Shouldn’t you be back at the academy?”
“Come on, it’s break time! Can’t I relax?”
“There’s no such thing as a break at Gaia Academy.”
“Ugh.”
“So that’s what it was? Llewellyn, go back to school.”
“Elonia, you too!”
Llewellyn whined. He was a grown man now. Why did his younger sister have to tell him to go to school?
‘Well, it’s always fun to tease him, even though he’s acting his age.’
But Llewellyn, as if he had no classes to attend, showed no signs of leaving. Elonia, knowing it was Llewellyn, not her, who would suffer the consequences, gave up on trying to get rid of him.
The topic shifted from graduation gifts to social circle anecdotes.
“El, did you know Brother got a proposal?”
“Pfft.”
Elonia choked on her tea.
Alberich? A proposal?
“From who?”
“Lady Benedict.”
Lady Benedict was Elonia’s classmate, although they were in different departments.
Elonia looked at Alberich, who quickly waved his hands dismissively.
“I rejected her.”
Lady Benedict had apparently fallen in love with Alberich at first sight during the entrance ceremony. But she hadn’t had a chance to confess her feelings until his graduation.
And during this year’s graduation ceremony, when Alberich returned to the academy, she had seized her last chance.
Alberich, looking slightly embarrassed, said,
“I don’t know why she would propose to an old man like me. She should find someone her own age.”
‘That’s true, but… that’s a rather harsh rejection.’
Twenty-six was old? Elonia, who was thirty-six, mentally, felt a pang of annoyance.
Llewellyn, his face a mask of disbelief, chimed in,
“Exactly! He’s so old, and he’s never even been in a relationship! And she’s six years younger than him!”
“You little…”
“Ow!”
Alberich flicked him on the forehead.
He then changed the subject, trying to dispel the awkward silence.
“Your Highness, what about His Majesty’s birthday present—?”
“Ah.”
Elonia gasped. The Asta brothers, recognizing her reaction, exchanged glances.
“…You forgot?”
“…Did you forget, Your Highness?”
They, as good siblings, always knew how to hit each other where it hurt.
Elonia had been so preoccupied with recent events that she had completely forgotten.
And Artius’s birthday was February 14th, which meant…
“Next week.”
Another meteor was about to crash into her.
Time always seemed to fly by when you least wanted it to.
Which meant it was Artius’s birthday.
‘I’m doomed…’
Elonia sat by the window, basking in the warm winter sunlight.
They said that when faced with a crisis, people tended to forget about the urgent matters and focus on the small comforts. It was true.
Elonia, looking up at the clear blue sky, thought,
‘He’ll be sulking if I let it slip that I forgot.’
Had he been hinting at it by offering her the debutante gift in February, instead of March, the start of the social season?
She shook her head, glancing towards the Main Palace.
Artius’s birthday banquet was already underway. It wasn’t a grand celebration like before.
‘It’s more like a large-scale luncheon.’
A luncheon that could end abruptly if someone dared to annoy Artius.
The family birthday party would be held in the evening.
Elonia, clutching the small gift box she had hastily prepared, asked her knights,
“Do you think Dad will be mad?”
“He can be petty sometimes, but he’s also understanding.”
“Are you praising him or criticizing him?”
Ricardo, baffled by Ethan’s answer, asked. Ethan, avoiding his gaze, remained silent, and Elonia chuckled.
“Well, His Majesty loves anything you give him, Your Highness. He even kept the flower and the half-heartedly written letter you gave him for Parents’ Day.”
“Ugh.”
Elonia cringed at the memory.
She had been embarrassed about the letter even back then, and now, it was even worse.
Why had he kept it?
‘Well, I understand.’
Elonia had a large family: Artius, Sarah, the Asta family, Ricardo, Ethan, and her three maids, now reduced to two after one of them got married.
But Artius only had Elonia.
He seemed lonelier as he got older.
‘What will he do when I get married?’
…Marriage?
Elonia was surprised by her own thoughts. Well, she couldn’t avoid it forever, so it wasn’t entirely impossible.
She fidgeted with the small gift box.
“Well, even if he doesn’t like it, I’ll make him carry it around.”
Elonia’s intuition was usually accurate.
She had had a bad feeling about this ever since the graduation ceremony.
She hoped she wouldn’t have to use it.
Artius arrived at the Imperial Princess’s Palace in the evening.
Both father and daughter, each carrying a gift box, entered the dining hall and burst into laughter at the same time.
“Judging by the size of these boxes, it seems like it’s my birthday.”
Artius’s gift box was almost as tall as Elonia. He smiled and said nonchalantly,
“My birthday is your birthday.”
So Elonia now had three birthdays. She chuckled and sat down at the table.
Elonia presented her gift first.
“It’s nothing special.”
She downplayed it. The box itself was indeed nothing special, hastily purchased.
Artius, his eyes sparkling with anticipation, untied the ribbon.
Inside was a pocket watch.
But that wasn’t all.
“…It’s imbued with mana.”
Artius murmured, surprised. He opened the watch, and inside, on one side, was a small family portrait. The mana was contained within the portrait.
Artius’s face was a mix of joy and concern.
Elonia chuckled.
“Come on, I’m a grown-up now. I won’t faint like I used to.”
“…Right.”
Artius nodded, a hint of sadness in his eyes, then paused, realizing something.
“Wait, Elonia, you’re not even an adult yet. What do you mean, ‘grown-up’?”
“…”
Elonia averted her gaze. He was right. She still had three years until she came of age.
She changed the subject.
“So, what did you get me?”
Artius, though his eyebrow twitched in annoyance, gestured for his attendants to open the large box.
And inside was,
“A sword and a dress?”
“The dress is for your debutante ball.”
She had expected a dress.
Her first formal gown.
She had worn dresses as a child, but this was different.
It was a lavender dress, the same color as her eyes, elegantly decorated with mint-green flowers and ribbons.
And a matching cloak, made of dark purple velvet and high-quality fur, similar to the Emperor’s cloak.
She felt a pang of guilt, realizing how much effort he had put into his gift, compared to her hastily prepared pocket watch. She blushed.
“…Thank you for the dress. But why a sword?”
“It’s time for you to replace your current rapier. You won’t be growing any taller, so I made sure it would last.”
“I’ll still grow taller!”
Elonia retorted indignantly.
She was taller than average.
But she hadn’t been able to break the 170cm barrier, despite inheriting Artius and Philemon’s tall genes. It was the result of her childhood, the sleepless nights, the jerky-only diet, and the constant physical exertion.
“You should have slept more.”
“Copy ‘The Prince’.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Artius, silenced by the magic words, clamped his mouth shut. Elonia chuckled.
Since she had received a sword, she decided to make a request.
“If you’re sorry, then spar with me.”
“…What?”
Artius was surprised again. Elonia, as if it was the most natural request, continued,
“Aunt Rosalyne and Alberich spar with me, but you never do.”
Elonia hadn’t reached the level of Sword Master yet.
It was another frustrating plateau, so close, yet so far.
She had three Sword Masters as her instructors – Sarah, Alberich, and Gunnar – and yet, she was still struggling. She sometimes wondered if she was a genius mage, not a genius Sword Mage. But she wasn’t going to give up.
‘If three times isn’t enough, then I’ll try four times.’
Artius, who had always lost to her, couldn’t refuse her request.
“…Alright.”
“Yay!”
Elonia grinned, and Artius, unable to help himself, smiled back.
They finished their meal and headed outside, their swords clashing under the moonlight.
No magic, just pure swordsmanship. The outcome was predictable.
“Are you okay?”
“…”
Elonia, not only defeated but also pinned to the ground with his sword at her throat, remained frozen, her face a mask of frustration.
She had lost.
Elonia, pouting, declared,
“…I’ll win next time.”
“I look forward to it.”
Elonia, taking his hand, stood up.
Despite her defeat, it had been fun sparring with her old rival.