At the dinner party
The reception of Elise’s party in Karin took an unexpected turn. Therefore Yui and Co. escorted the party with an extreme cautiousness and had arrived at Count Samuel’s detached residence way too late than was initially planned.
“Well then, I’ll leave the rest to you.”
When, upon arriving at a small castle, he finished introducing Elise to Count, Yui left all the remaining work to his subordinates and went toward the room provided by the Count at full speed. And then, when he finally managed to get to the room, he threw himself onto the bed without even taking off his outer garment.
In a little while Yui brought all his thoughts to a standstill. Thereupon, the drowsiness struck him in a flash.
“Ahhh…. it’d be so easy to fall asleep as I am now.”
After arriving at the residence and introducing Elise, Yui got an invitation to the dinner party from Samuel as if he was making sure that Yui will come.
Thinking about it now, he had a suspicion that Samuel’s emphasized proposal was a hint from Ernst. In fact, it was the dinner party he really didn’t want to attend himself, but more so than being pushed to be a person in charge of escort from Karin’s side, there was no way he could decline the attached pretense of welcoming the princess’ party.
That’s why, leaving regrets onto the bed’s soft texture he could enjoy for only a little bit, Yui reluctantly got up and changed into a Formal wear of Karin’s army that was prepared for him. And then, for the sole reason of being able to eat the dinner for free, he forced himself to comply, and with a sorrowful expression, left the room and walked to the assembly hall.
“Please, help yourself to anything you like.”
The meeting place has already been crowded with the local personages and the Royal guards that were working as this time’s escort.
Being overwhelmed by this scene, Yui was standing in a daze at the entrance when he received champagne for a toast from the waiter that had thoughtfully approached him. And then he leaned against the wall by the entrance to the room and waited there until the party began.
“Everyone, thank you for waiting.”
When the bubbles of champagne started to rise to the surface and disappear, a clear voice has reverberated and all the gazes in the venue were now turned to one point.
What appeared before everyone’s eyes was the figure of Elise, clad in a snow white dress, wearing a gentle smile. Everyone there unintentionally held their breaths at the sight of her standing posture that cannot be exhaustively described by just the word ‘pretty’ alone.
In turn Elise, who got everyone’s eyes on her, looked around the assembly hall with a smile once, not letting even a bit of discomposure from the recent incident out to the surface.
And then she nodded once and, accompanied by her chamberlains and Eins, who was the representative of his father, archduke Rein, she slowly walked toward the platform prepared at the back of the venue.
As if only she could stir the world where time has stopped, everyone halted all their actions and followed her figure with their eyes. Thus Elise ascended the platform, and when she saluted softly bowing her head, the time in the room has suddenly started to move and the assembly hall was engulfed in a storm of applause.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much today for such a warm welcome. I express my apologies for this visit happened to be so sudden again.”
While she was wearing a calm smile, her gentle voice resounded in the venue. At that time everyone there had smiles slowly spreading on their faces and the venue was beginning to be covered in a peaceful mood.
However that mood where relaxation was taking control has instantly vanished in an explosion of Elise’s next words.
“Well, almost no time has passed since I came to this town, but there is one thing I am convicted of. And that is the fact that I hate you all.”
Because of that brief comment no one’s ever anticipated, the venue that was in a friendly reception mode, froze and was wrapped in silence as if time has stopped.
Seeing the reaction of the venue, Elise nodded once as if she was satisfied, and her noble lips shot a spark to the fuse of the bomb once again.
“I’ll say it again. I hate all of you. With that being said, I am sorry but let me excuse myself here for today.”
She said so bluntly, not holding back, and then bowed to everyone with the grace no one could imitate. And then, forming a derisive smile on her mouth, she descended the platform and walked thus toward the entrance of the assembly hall.
Her movement made the people standing on the way from the platform to the entrance move out from the path scattering in all directions like little spiders. Thus Elise quietly walked the path they’ve cleared.
However, when she neared the entrance she noticed Yui who was leaning on the wall and their gazes have suddenly met.
Up until that moment Elise was wearing a fixed smile, but when her eyes met Yui’s, she frowned a little. Then she slightly bowed her head in the manner no one could understand, and left the reception hall.
People who were left behind just stood there petrified in a daze without being able to come to grips with what just had happened before their eyes. But as the time has passed, the atmosphere that was waiting for a chance to lift the freezing curse has started to fill out the space of the room.
And so, people’s eyes were naturally concentrated on Count Samuel and archDuke’s representative Eins for they were the highest ranking people among them to shoulder the responsibility.
After recovering from an unexpected commotion, Samuel exchanged looks with Eins in order to somehow actually hold the dinner party he had organized himself. With an expression saying “It can’t be helped”, Eins who understood his intention, walked up to Samuel and deeply bowed.
“Thank you very much for this time’s undeservedly warm welcome. Princess got a bit tired in a long trip, so once again I would like to express a deep gratitude to everyone from me.”
“The Deputy Archduke Eins, we are greatly obliged for your solicitude. I do not understand Princess’s real intentions but I do believe that rather than being directed at us, the scolding was her saying that she expects an excellent territory management from us, and we plan to continue devoting our loyalty to the Kingdom hereafter as well.”
Samuel couldn’t find an excuse for Elise’s behavior, so he came out with a fairly positive interpretation.
Eins, on the other hand, who inferred that Samuel’s thinking was accurate, smoothed over the situation by bringing up a far superior existence.
“My Father will certainly pass along those words to His Majesty the King as well.”
“We’re much obliged. Well then, everyone who is tired from a long trip, and everyone from Karin as well, I want you all to restore your spirits and have fun to your heart’s content today. Let’s say it together: ‘Cheers!’ ”
The moment Samuel said those words, everyone’s cheers were uttered in several tones lower that they were originally supposed to be.
Even though there was an unforeseen incident, as the time had gradually passed, everyone in the venue soon had plenty of alcohol entering their bodies. And so, the voices of criticism toward Princess’s recent statement now could be heard from the mouths of those who became more expansive as the result.
“The first princess or whatnot – I don’t care, but she was raised being treasured too much, and for a woman she’s quite big-headed!”
“Hmph, why do we have to put up with that kid’s intrusive behavior? In the first place, since Count Samuel is being treated with contempt, even we of the same Karin are being put down as well! ”
“I bet if it were Count Tarim, he would turn down such an inspection with dignity!”
People from Tarim’s faction , who were anti-Samuel vanguard centering Count Tarim, a plumpy man in the middle of 50th, have begun to spread such topic all over the venue.
Thereupon, Yui, who felt the mood of the place, let out a big sigh as the things in that room have gradually become annoying.
“….I guess it’s about the right time.”
The luxurious meals he doesn’t get to eat everyday have gotten into his stomach, and before long, thinking that he’s probably earned his salary, he left the glass he was holding in his hand to the nearest waiter.
And then, in order to leave the reception hall, he has turned toward the entrance. But suddenly someone grabbed his right shoulder from behind.
“Yui, come with me for a sec.”
Hearing a familiar voice, Yui turned his head having a certain degree of expectations.
Thereupon, just as he thought, there was Lute, dead drunk and red-faced, and a figure of a pitiful archduke representative whom he grabbed by the nape of his neck.
ErikaWalker 