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“Senpai, how do I look? Like a noble lady?”

Luna spun around happily in the dress provided by the castle, proudly showing it off to me. It was true that she looked a bit younger considering her age, but her inherently cute face gave her the air of a distinguished lady nonetheless.

“Looks good. Just wearing that should be enough.”

Of course, while she might have looked like a noble lady on the outside, the moment she opened her mouth, her true self would be revealed, but I didn’t bother to point that out. Luna can do as she pleases; I could cover for her any day.

“Hehe. You look really pretty too! Like a real noble lady!”

“I am a real noble lady, you know…”

Although I had grown up as an assassin since being kidnapped at a young age, I came from a noble family. And now, as the last survivor of a fallen house, I had even received the title of Count directly from the Emperor. I wasn’t just some insipid noble lady riding the coattails of my family; I was a noble in my own right.

Ah, but to get technical, given that I was male on the inside, it might be hard to call me a noble lady.

However, since Luna was quietly muttering to herself, she began looking around for accessories that would match her dress without responding to my comments. I couldn’t help but chuckle and grabbed some random props as well.

*

“Count Elysia Frentz and her party are entering.”

As I stepped into the salon noted on the invitation, someone who seemed to be the host’s attendant opened the door and introduced me with an appropriate level of volume. However, since I was the only one invited, Luna, who accompanied me, wasn’t even mentioned and was simply referred to as my “party.”

Well, I wasn’t too bothered since I had brought her without prior notice. Besides, we were a tad late.

It’d be polite to arrive a bit early for an invitation, but since this wasn’t a strictly scheduled party filling with ostentation, it hardly mattered. Plus, I had already checked the list of noble ladies attending the gathering through the butler, Noir. Aside from the lady who hosted this party, there weren’t any big-name aristocrats I needed to worry about as a Count and Hero.

Did they not expect me to come, or did they know and that’s why they were acting this way?

As soon as I walked in, the gazes of the young ladies gathered in groups caught my attention. After confirming my identity with their eyes, they began whispering among themselves.

I felt oddly like a spectacle, but I pretended not to notice and walked in with a proper, confident stride. Reacting to such stares would only demean me further.

My purpose in coming was singular: to win the favor of the noble ladies and strengthen my position with the Emperor. Unless they crossed the line first, there was no need for me to draw any lines myself.

“Thank you for accepting the invitation, Lady Elysia.”

One young lady from the noisy crowd in the center of the hall approached me and spoke.

“I’m Rizeria Endive. Please feel free to call me as you please.”

The one who spoke was the host of this party and the one who invited me. Most likely, she took the initiative to greet me as a guest. But even before she spoke, I had already recognized her.

After all, she was the daughter of the House Endive. Not a collateral branch, but a direct line, and I believed she was even a distant relative of the Emperor.

And most importantly, the biggest reason I recognized her was that she had once been a target during my life as an assassin.

She became a target because she was the daughter of Mila Endive, the head of the House Endive. It could be likened to my reason for assassinating Yuli.

Grand General Mila Endive.

A Sword Master and the supreme commander of the Empire’s military. Especially her independent knight order, which served as the last shield to protect the royal family and the Emperor, apparently had no public knowledge of its existence.

But thankfully, I had not attempted to assassinate Rizeria or Mila in my previous life. Unfortunately for both of them, Mila had already lost her life on the battlefield against the demonic race long before I had the chance to make a move. Consequently, there was naturally no reason to target Rizeria, Mila’s daughter.

On the flip side, it was good news for the two that I had eliminated the high-ranking demon who took Mila’s life just a few months ago. Although I couldn’t share this with either of them, it was enough retribution for my failed attempt on their lives.

“Actually, I should be the one thanking you for inviting me to such an occasion, Lady Rizeria.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear that. Please, enjoy yourself.”

Rizeria said that and headed to the most lavish table with her entourage in tow. While it wasn’t customary to leave a guest unattended after sending an invitation, the grace she exuded made her apparent rudeness seem regal. It truly matched the atmosphere I sensed just from the invitation alone.

But seeing as I didn’t know anyone here anyway, what was there for me to enjoy at such a party? Unless you count Luna, who was excited by her own self….

“Oh?”

But when I casually turned my head, I noticed that Luna, who should have been right next to me, had vanished without a trace. As I looked around, I spotted her excitedly chatting away with some kids her age in the distance. I wondered if I should go check on her since she didn’t know the finer points of noble etiquette, but fortunately, the girls gathered around her seemed to be welcoming her.

It would be silly for an older guy like me to interrupt that, so eventually, as Luna drifted away, I made my slow way toward Rizeria’s location. Given that she had merely exchanged formal greetings with me before moving on with her group, she likely didn’t feel any need to talk to me, but here, I felt a bit brazen about it.

Ultimately, my reason for being here was simply to turn noble ladies to my side.

If I could win over her, the daughter of Duke Mila, it would be a much bigger win than simply getting the support of all the ladies at this party.

Coincidentally, there was a chair at the table where Rizeria had settled that appeared as if it had been left open just for me.

“Lady Rizeria? May I sit here?”

Of course, I intended to sit even if she said no, and without waiting for her permission, I pulled the chair out and sat down. It’s generally easier to act and ask for permission afterward than to seek permission first and then act.

“…If you insist.”

See? Even she ultimately allowed it. Although her tone was somewhat curt, the important thing was that I was now sitting beside her.

“Lady Elysia! You don’t need to worry about Rizeria’s demeanor! Even though she looks like this, she was thrilled to hear last night that you accepted the invitation! She was so happy that the rumored Hero would be present!”

“Don’t say such nonsense!”

However, it seemed as though one of the ladies at the table picked up on my lamentation and shouted towards me. Almost immediately, Rizeria’s voice stammered out in denial.

“Well, it’s just that I was happy that it could elevate my social gathering! If a Hero attends, it is an achievement no social event on the continent can claim!”

Well, that makes sense. Even though I was a Hero, my actions weren’t widely known, and there was no reason for the daughter of a Duke to show interest in a Count like me who was nothing special aside from the title of Hero.

“More importantly, is that a Holy Sword you’re carrying on your waist?”

In addition, the way she addressed me had downgraded from Lady Elysia to “you.” She already didn’t seem fond of me for crashing the party, and now she looked even more displeased as if she had misunderstood something strange. The only reason she was refraining from kicking me out immediately was likely that she still needed my name as a Hero.

With her head turned away, she didn’t even glance at me, just sneeringly eyed the Holy Sword at my waist.

“Oh, yes. Would you like to take a look?”

Noticing her curiosity about the Holy Sword, I undid it from my waist and placed it gently on the table. However, she merely stared at it blankly for a long time, saying nothing. Instead, the other ladies gathered around me with curious expressions, eagerly inspecting the sword. As the Holy Sword suddenly became the center of attention, it shivered uncomfortably, as if it would rather not be ogled too much.

“You explicitly listed it as a tea party on the invitation, yet you brought a sword. You truly have no basic manners.”

It seemed that her inquiry about the Holy Sword was more about reproaching me rather than sharing in the other ladies’ curiosity.

This wasn’t a casual gathering of friends; and as she pointed out, showing up with a sword at a tea party was indeed not proper etiquette. Most importantly, a sword with such a dress would be the most mismatched combination in the world.

“I apologize for that, Lady Rizeria.”

Thus, I quickly offered her an apology.

Even though I knew it was wrong, the reason I had the Holy Sword with me was simple. I was a Hero.

“However, please understand that before I was a noble lady of a noble house, I am a Count who protects the Empire, and furthermore, I am a Hero of the Continent. The Holy Sword is more than just a sword to me; it is a symbol of my existence as a Hero. Even though I am here now in this dress sipping tea, it is impossible for me to part with the Holy Sword.”

Even if it were a chance to meet the Emperor, I wouldn’t set it aside either. At least, not until I defeat the Demon King.

“Just as Lady Rizeria must wield her beauty like a sword on the battlefield of high society.”

Some might say, “What war are you talking about at a social gathering?” But this venue was indeed a battlefield where the sharpest swords could be exchanged. There were countless rivalries even among nobles. The words thrown at an enemy carried far more sharpness than any well-honed blade.

“Just as you cannot separate your beauty from your identity, I too cannot part with my Holy Sword.”

Thus, I pleaded for her understanding. With firmness, yet in a somewhat gentle tone, but without submitting.

Fortunately, she seemed to have no rebuttal to my explanation as she simply widened her eyes, gazing at me in silence.

 

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