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On the night marking the end of winter, I trembled slightly beneath my robe, facing my first social gathering.
The chill of the night had already started to fade, and the early summer sunlight would soon flood the surroundings. Despite the slight chill in the night breeze, it wasn't the reason for my trembling.
"Sheriel will surely outshine any noble at the gathering tonight. Perhaps I should ask Julius to create an instant portrait. It would be wonderful to immortalize this moment of Sheriel forever."
Didier, with slicked-back hair loosely tied behind, spoke enthusiastically with a radiant smile, resembling a character from a storybook.
Opposite him, Dior's skin was lustrous without a hint of powderiness, her ruby-red hair intricately braided. Escorting Dior was Sergio, impeccably groomed, exuding an air of flawless handsomeness.
This was the nobility in earnest... My sense of stature, sandwiched between their overwhelming auras, seemed to vanish.
I shouldn't have a modest appearance except for my hair color. However, one can't control their aura. I was anxious it might lend credibility to the rumor of my slave origin, making me feel uneasy.
First time in the capital, first time in the palace. Tonight, nobles invited from across the kingdom would celebrate the end of winter in glamorous attire.
However, not all nobles were invited. Directly invited nobles were mostly upper-class, and a house with an invitation from the palace could invite up to three other nobles. Being invited to the capital's night event on Walpurgis Night was a kind of status symbol.
At the entrance, Sergio presented the invitation, handed over the robe, and obtained permission after inspection of weapons and magical tools.
"Sheriel, are you scared? Don't worry, I'll protect you."
"Thank you, big brother."
Unable to express how intimidating they were, I reluctantly steeled myself. If I continued to shrink, even a timid cat would surpass me.
A bell rang, and a composed voice announced, "The Beriard family, please enter." The gazes of many people already gathered at the venue focused as Sergio walked, and a path naturally formed.
"That's Beriard's..."
"Truly devoid of color."
"Doesn't it look like a silver thread? I wonder if the rumor about having no magical power is true."
Whispers, just loud enough to be heard if you intended to listen, reached my ears one after another due to my enhanced hearing. For someone not as skilled in mind-reading as Didier, it was a valuable source of information.
"Here comes Lady Sheriel! Let's go greet her!"
"Hey, wait!"
I recognized the lovely voice and involuntarily stopped to search for its owner. Yes, that voice is...
"Is this Sheriel's friend candidate? Show me."
"Please don't say anything rude, okay?"
In response to Didier's unsettling remark, I tightened my grip on his arm.
Walking to the back of the long carpet laid in the center, I bowed to the royal seat in the sky before turning around. Coming through the crowd was Giselle, whom I met at the debut tea party. Hurriedly following her from behind would be her brother, Virgil.
For my first participation this year, I had Giselle's family, who left a good impression at the tea party, invited.
"Lady Sheriel, greetings on Walpurgis Night. I've been looking forward to meeting you. How long I've yearned for this day."
Giselle, with a small bird-like voice, cutely greeted and expressed joy with an innocent smile, lightening my heart.
"Lady Giselle, good day. I'm also delighted to be with Lady Giselle."
I could tell that the surroundings were focused on our exchanged words. Giselle, whose expression changed slightly, seemed to be alarmed by Didier's gaze, but the owner of the glance turned out to be Didier next to him.
Despite telling him not to be rude!
"I, I sincerely apologize, Lord Didier. Nice to meet you. My name is Giselle."
Realizing that Didier was scrutinizing her as if inspecting, Giselle probably noticed she got the order of greetings wrong. However, Didier was merely observing, so I discreetly nudged him with my elbow, urging him not to exert unnecessary pressure.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Giselle. So, you're Virgil's little sister, Sheriel's friend?"
Didier smiled warmly, causing Giselle to blush. No, don't be fooled by that face...
Even though he knew from the beginning that she was Virgil's sister, he intended to dispel Giselle's wariness with a feigned joy in the coincidence.
Sergio and the others also received greetings from Giselle's parents. They exchanged words with smiles, taking glasses.
"Sergio, was it appropriate for us to receive this precious slot?"
"Of course. Having Giselle here will be reassuring for Sheriel, especially since it's her first night event."
Yet, Giselle's father, Githon, still seemed apologetic, sweating on his forehead.
Escort knights are not allowed at the night event. Therefore, directly invited upper-class nobles can invite the families of escort knights within one or two slots. It's rare for a family to not have any guards at all.
Of course, with a magic barrier in place, safety inside the venue is guaranteed. Kingdom knights are on guard for potential external attacks.
"Virgil, if you keep staring at Sheriel like that, I might have to use your eyeballs as a snack with my drink."
Unexpectedly, my grip tightened upon hearing unsettling words.
"I apologize; manners slipped my mind due to your overwhelming beauty."
"I like that sincere part of yours."
What an odd conversation...
Virgil already seems drunk, blushing like Giselle. However, his soft smile, similar to Giselle's, brings a comforting sense of relief.
"Brother Didier has finally made a friend, too."
"Virgil is not a friend. He's supposed to become a deputy assistant from next term."
Currently in the background investigation period, Didier adds, "It's not confirmed yet," implying that Sergio's invitation to Giselle might have been to avoid a private interview.
Either way, it's good for Didier to have more sensible people around him. Taking care of Didier, who is currently the only proper deputy assistant, must be challenging for Dirk.
"Please take care of my brother. If he starts saying strange things, please stop him."
"Yes, leave it to me."
Without worrying about forced conversation, the night event started smoothly. We filled our stomachs a bit with the lavish meat dishes and fruits on the table, and I sipped lightly carbonated fruit water. The lukewarm grape water, just a step before alcohol, was somewhat difficult to drink.
After enjoying a pleasant time, the sound of a bell announcing the arrival of the royal family echoed.
"His Majesty, the King, is entering."
Following the king, Alphonse and Lyra walked side by side. We kneeled on the floor, lowering our heads. We quietly listened to the king's words celebrating Walpurgis Night.
Although there was a bit of fatigue visible, the dignified low voice
 resonated within the venue.
"----I look forward to tomorrow's ceremony. Now, everyone, enjoy to your heart's content. Thank you for Walpurgis Night."
The night event, officially starting with the king's speech, was a lavish noble-like feast. Those directly invited from the palace greeted the royal family in order of rank.
The Beriard Marquis family was called toward the latter half. Considering the large territory and the amount of magical power within the family, we should have a higher rank. However, due to the capricious nature and instability of our business, we've been wandering around the lower ranks for years.
During the greetings to the king, it's enough to stay silent behind Sergio. Somehow, Alphonse's gaze feels uncomfortable. It seems my refusal of the engagement has earned me his resentment.
"......And, is this your daughter, Sheriel? Please lift your face."
The words stirred the entire venue. It's rare for the king to directly address someone, usually responding briefly to the head of the family's greetings. Ignoring the murmurs, I lifted my face smoothly.
From a distance, it might be a figment of my imagination, but I felt a sense of loneliness and sorrow in the king's eyes. Meeting his serious gaze, I returned the gaze, not impolitely.
"...The daughter from now on, do not lose to the upcoming difficulties."
"Your Majesty's words are the pinnacle of honor."
As if a thread had snapped, our gazes separated, and with a casual hand gesture, he signaled that we could rise.
Once the greetings to the royal family concluded, everyone was free to spend their time as they wished. In the night event, people engaged in dances, socialized with nobles from other regions, searched for potential marriage partners, or reveled in drinks until morning. Of course, retiring to the guest rooms early was also an option.
Sergio and Dior went out to socialize, while I decided to return to my room after a brief greeting with Alicia.
"Alicia is the eldest daughter of the Laurents, right? Was she mean to you?"
"Thanks to a certain prince, I managed to get along a bit."
"I see. Still, show me."
With Giselle tilting her head in confusion and Virgil wearing a gentle smile, we set out to find Alicia. When we heard the words "Lady Alicia," we turned towards the direction and saw a group of nobles surrounding her.
There are quite a few boys... Lady Alicia is indeed popular.
Nobles from other regions who noticed us immediately ended their conversations and dispersed like spiderlings.
When Alicia turned towards us, she exuded an air of perfection, just like when we first exchanged greetings. Perhaps she's in a bad mood.
After a brief greeting, I tried to discern her true feelings.
"Did we disturb you?"
"No, not at all. Anyway..."
Alicia frowned and leaned close to whisper in my ear.
"Is it true that you rejected Prince Alphonse's marriage proposal?"
"Uh, yes. What about it?"
"Did you do that for my sake? Are you pleased that a position you gave up went to me?"
Under her sharp gaze, I felt my heart pound even though I hadn't done anything wrong. I had clearly stated that I had no interest in becoming queen, and I had indeed turned down the engagement.
"It's a misunderstanding; I really just didn't want to..."
"Didn't want to what? Could it be dissatisfaction with the position of a queen?"
"More like the partner... Honestly, I don't think I'm suitable for someone like him. We'd have to see each other every day, right? Both my hair and my heart are precious to me."
At that moment, Alicia furrowed her brows as if unable to comprehend.
Huh? Did I unintentionally anger her more?
"Just for that? Sheriel-sama, you certainly have the qualities to be a queen, don't you?"
"Because it's a lifetime partner, isn't it natural to prefer someone relatively calm? Like 'that.'"
"...Certainly, 'that.'"
Alicia lowered her gaze as if contemplating something. For her, it might be challenging to understand a noble's daughter who doesn't aspire to be a queen. She could be trying to reconcile her values with mine.
Then, Didier, with a perfect smile, interjected with a cold tone.
"Lady Alicia, don't bully my sister too much. Whether you aim for something or not is your business, but I won't allow Sheriel to marry 'that' guy."
"Brother, please don't intimidate her. Lady Alicia is an important friend."
Defending the pale Alicia, I stood between her and Didier, who had created a perfect smile and delivered a chilling remark.
"It's fine, Sheriel-sama. As Sir Didier says, I don't want Sheriel-sama to marry 'that' guy either. I apologize; I've been a bit nervous."
After taking a deep breath and calming down, Alicia returned to the friendlier person she was when we first spoke. Didier's aura also finally softened.
With Giselle joining the conversation, we finally started chatting happily. Just when things were getting lively, an unexpected interruption occurred.
"You, what do you think you're doing?"
Although somewhat restrained, the voice contained a hint of anger. The speaker was none other than Prince Alphonse, who was earlier referred to as 'that' term.