Vol. 3 - Ch. 104 - Katariona Attends the Royal Ball (Part 2)
The Falsely Executed Marquis’ Daughter Wants to Live Peacefully with Fluffy GodThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
Translator: Jpkuroneko-chan
Editor: Jpkuroneko-chan
When making one’s debut in society, it is customary to greet His Majesty the King and Her Royal Highness the Queen, accompanied by one or both of one's parents.
I was granted special permission to be shown into the audience hall with my parents. An exception was made for me since I was invited to talk to Chris. It seemed that my uncle, Prime Minister Paulford, had arranged it.
Among the noble children who would be making their debut in society this year, my brother ranked first. We were the first to enter the audience hall.
At the front, His Majesty the King and Her Royal Highness the Queen were seated upon their thrones.
Below the thrones stood my uncle. When he saw our family, he winked at me. What is he doing? Uncle .......
We stepped forward and bowed as subjects.
"Marquis de Grandeur, you have done well. I understand that your legitimate son makes his debut today?"
His Majesty the King called out to Father.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Our eldest son, Siegfried, is here to greet you."
"'Umu. Siegfried, lift your head."
Siegfried raised his head and gave a gentleman's bow.
"I greet His Majesty the King and Her Royal Highness the Queen. Thank you for inviting me here today. I am Siegfried the eldest son of the Marquis de Grandeur."
It was a dignified greeting.
"My son has been indebted to you, Siegfried."
"His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, has been a good friend of mine."
Her Royal Highness addressed Brother in a clear and firm voice.
"As I have heard, he is a wonderful nobleman. Eleonora."
"I am honored by your praise, Your Majesty."
Did Mother brag to Her Royal Highness about elder brother?
"So, is this the young lady who came to speak to my daughter, Katriona-jou?"
His Majesty the King called out to me and permitted me to look up, so I curtseyed and introduced myself.
"Greetings to His Majesty the King and Queen. My name is Katariona, the eldest daughter of the Marquis de Grandeur. I have come here today to serve as a companion for Her Royal Highness Princess Christina."
His Majesty the King nodded in satisfaction and smiled good-naturedly.
His majesty is a kind gentleman with platinum hair and blue eyes.
In comparison, Her Majesty the Queen is a beautiful woman with golden hair and purple eyes, sporting a confident bearing. The Crown Prince and Chris take after their mother.
"My goodness! You truly look like Eleonora, I can tell. You're the spitting image of Eleonora when she was a little girl."
Her curious but friendly eyes look just like Chris's. No, I mean. Chris looks just like Her Majesty the Queen.
His Majesty the King cleared his throat. He cautioned her that she had reverted to natural tone of voice. The Queen covered her mouth with a fan.
"Katariona-sama, please continue to be good friends with Christina. Please help take care of my daughter tonight."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
I curtseyed once more in acknowledgment.
"Enjoy the ball this evening."
His Majesty the King addressed our entire family.
This concluded the audience.
Leon, dressed as a personal escort knight, was waiting for us outside the audience hall.
Since there are a lot of eyes around, Leon gave a respectful bow of a loyal servant.
There was still some time before the ball started, so I decided to move to the antechamber prepared by the royal palace.
When I entered the antechamber, I slumped onto the sofa.
"I was so nervous."
"But Rio looked magnificent. I wouldn't be surprised if today was your first debut into society."
"My, big brother was very impressive."
My parents looked at us smiling as we complimented each other.
"I'm very proud of you both."
Father began to shed tears. How silly of him.
Suddenly, the door to the anteroom swung open, and Chris jumped inside.
"You've done this before. Can't you act like a princess?"
Leon gave Chris a dumbfounded look.
It brought to mind the magic attribute judgment ceremony. Chris had jumped in like this before the ceremony.
''Run! Rio!"
That was the first thing Chris said after seeing me for the first time today.
After calming Chris down, I gave her a glass of water, which she drank in one gulp.
The water was not poisoned. I've already checked.
"Calm down, Chris. What do you mean, run away?"
Chris sat down next to me and held my hand, apparently feeling more relaxed after drinking the water.
"I strongly suggest that you go back to the townhouse today, Rio."
"Why?"
"Because I think the Prime Minister is up to something."
After getting ready this afternoon, Chris went to the Prime Minister's office to mess with Uncle, the Prime Minister.
Uncle seemed to be used to being pestered and gladly welcomed Chris.
For a while, Chris and Uncle talked about the ball while drinking some tea that was served.
At that time, my uncle nearly announced that tonight might be a celebration. However, he was hit by Joseph-sama, the Prime Minister's aide, with a paper fan.
"If only Marcus Wright had not hit me with a paper fan, I might have heard the rest of it."
Chris gnawed on her nails in frustration.
It was amazing that the aide had hit the prime minister with a paper fan. Normally, he would be accused of disrespect. But seeing that Chris didn't say anything, I guess that was a normal occurrence.
"I'm sure he's up to something."
"Are they planning a surprise for the girls making their debut in society?"
Because a debut is something to celebrate.
But Chris wagged her finger.
"The Prime Minister, you know. He has a habit of blowing his nose when he's planning something."
"It's true that my brother has always had a habit of blowing his nose when he's up to something."
Mother is the younger sister of my uncle, the Prime Minister, so she knows his habits. If Mother says so, then Uncle might be plotting something.
"But what does that have to do with me?"
"We were talking about Rio before he mentioned it. My intuition is very good."
Indeed, Chris's intuition was often right. It wasn't a 100% surety, but it was very likely to be right.
"I want you to run away, at least for tonight. I'll make up a good reason for your absence."
The story I heard from my brother in the carriage and the story I just heard from Chris. I felt nothing but anxiety.
But...
"Thanks for the advice, Chris. But I'm going to the ball."
"Rio!"
I have a purpose.
I'll tell Chris about the family meeting in the carriage.
There was something like this. But doesn't that endanger Rio even more?"
"It can't be helped. Rio is very stubborn. No matter how hard we try to persuade her, she won't listen."
Chris looked at the adolescent Leon and frowned, "Who?"
"Ah! Could it be, Fluffy-kun? You look like a boy now."
Chris seemed to have come up with an idea after a while.
"You saw me when you burst in a little while ago, didn't you?"
Chris didn't seem to recognize Leon when she burst into the antechamber. Leon's brows furrowed. He looked unhappy.
"Is this Chris's first time seeing Leon as a young man?"
"It seemed familiar? Or maybe not? I always thought of him as having odd eyes and fluffy fur."
Well, those are Leon's distinctive features. He is mainly seen as a cat .......
"You should at least be fluffy while staying here."
"Mu-! That's also true," Leon said, turning into a cat.
And so too came the descent of the ladies.
TL Note: -jou is used when referring to an unwed lady. The English version would be like calling someone Miss instead of Mrs.
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