chapter 49
“Somehow, I have a good feeling about this.”
I looked up at the clear sky.
“Why?”
At Tirie’s indifferent question, I pointed up with my finger.
“Look at that! A rainbow!”
A huge rainbow stretched across the ducal mansion, and it felt like something good was about to happen.
“I really don’t understand why Father suddenly decided to accept the invitation.”
I pretended not to know anything and changed the subject.
I had delivered the list of three families to the Grand Duke.
If there was a family among them that had sent an invitation, we were told we should attend. The order had been firm.
Fortunately, all three families had sent invitations. All that was left was to accept them, but the Grand Duke suggested something different.
“If those three families are trustworthy, it would be better to invite them here instead. It would be safer that way.”
It was the first time since Her Highness the Princess that we had welcomed guests to the ducal residence.
“…They’re families we’ve never even had contact with before.”
“Tirie, it’ll be fine! They’re all families who sent invitations anyway.”
Count Bevento, Viscount Segrane, and Duke Lantbel.
These three families would surely become a strength.
The son of Count Bevento would later become an outstanding knight.
He had the talent to rise even to the position of Captain of the Knight Order, but tragically he would lose his life due to the Duke’s schemes.
The Segrane Viscount family served as secretaries, but got caught up in something unpleasant and eventually resigned.
Duke Lantbel was the family that resisted until the very end when the rebellion occurred, mobilizing their private soldiers in an attempt to block Duke Victuar.
His son led the knights from the front, so he must have shared his father’s will as well.
If the early signs of rebellion had been noticed sooner, the Lantbel knights were strong enough that the uprising might have been suppressed.
“Tirie, you have to behave yourself.”
“…When have I ever been badly behaved?”
He had never been badly behaved. He had run away or gotten angry plenty of times, but still.
I was fine, but the children meeting him for the first time might be startled.
“That’s because Tirie doesn’t have any friends, so I’m worried.”
“It’s not that I don’t have friends—I just didn’t make any.”
Isn’t that the same thing?
At banquets too, he never talked to anyone. He just stared at me the whole time.
“Tirie, I know you like me, but today you can’t stick to me the whole time.”
“What? And why not?”
“Because today we’re going to help you make friends! So be kind.”
Tirie didn’t answer. His expression was full of dissatisfaction, but I decided to trust he would do well.
‘If it doesn’t work, I’ll just help him!’
Honestly, I had never made friends before either, so I wasn’t sure how this worked.
But maybe it would be fine if I acted like when I met Her Highness the Princess and the Empress.
In truth, Tirie was kinder and more considerate than he seemed, so I wasn’t too worried.
One by one, guests began arriving in the reception room.
“Pleased to meet you, Your Grace. I am Gardner Lantbel of House Lantbel.”
He had sharp eyes and a rather intense impression.
‘He must train in swordsmanship a lot.’
A sword at his waist caught my eye. Since Tirie also trained constantly, he would probably be a good sparring partner.
I smiled brightly and greeted him.
“Hello, I’m Ariel Berenice. You must be good with a sword!”
“I’ve taken interest in it due to my father’s influence. Thank you for your kind words, Lady Berenice.”
Lady. That was the first time I had heard that title.
“Lady Berenice… that’s the first time I’ve heard that!”
“Then may I call you by your name more casually?”
That would probably be more comfortable.
“Yes, please!”
“Thank you. Then I’ll call you that, Ariel.”
He looked intimidating at first, but he was actually very cautious.
“Ariel, you….”
Tirie looked at me with a complicated expression.
“Hm? Why?”
“…No, never mind.”
He sighed?!
Did I do something wrong? Tirie’s expression looked even worse than before.
“Thank you for inviting us, Your Grace. I am Aselion of House Segrane.”
So this is the child who would become a secretary.
Wow, he’s tall.
Standing next to Tirie, I glanced up at him.
“Hello, Lady Ariel. I hope it’s alright if I also speak casually? I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s an honor to meet you like this.”
“Ah… hello. Please speak casually! We’re going to be friends.”
“You’re even cuter in person.”
Hehe.
Feeling pleased at the compliment, I smiled brightly.
He seemed like he would become a good friend for Tirie.
Aselion was ten years old.
He was four years older than Tirie, but he looked like he would become a very dependable advisor.
Already so reliable!
I looked at Gardner and Aselion with satisfaction.
Finally, the most important person arrived.
The one who would stay right beside Tirie and protect him.
“I am Rihart Bevento, son of Count Bevento. I came with great joy upon Your Grace’s invitation.”
Rihart stared at Tirie.
“My dream is to become the commander of the Imperial Knight Order. That’s why I wanted so badly to meet Your Grace.”
Then he shyly confessed his feelings.
A smile kept forming on my face.
‘These three will definitely become good friends.’
I had a good feeling about this.
Today, I must absolutely leave a good impression on Tirie!
Tirie was dissatisfied with everything.
From the sudden invitation of the three noble families, to Ariel attending the gathering—it all annoyed him.
More than anything, Ariel smiling brightly while welcoming them bothered him.
‘What is going on?’
What was making her so excited? Even the rainbow in the sky felt annoying.
He couldn’t understand the talk about making friends either.
He had lived just fine without friends until now. And now even his father had suddenly changed.
He said he would help him make friends, but the one who looked happiest was Ariel.
“Ariel, what do you like? You really resemble that person. I feel like I can hear the sea near you.”
“Really? When I close my eyes, I sometimes hear the sound of waves! What about you, Aselion?”
The sound of the sea? It’s not like she was holding a seashell to her ear—how was that even possible?
Tirie sipped his tea with an indifferent expression.
Pretending not to care, he still kept his ears wide open.
“Do you still train in swordsmanship, Your Grace?”
Rihart’s eyes sparkled.
Feeling pressured by that gaze, Tirie leaned back slightly.
“Yes. I’ve trained since I was young so it would become natural.”
“Impressive!”
“That’s right! Tirie is an excellent heir!”
Tirie nearly spat out his tea.
Ariel immediately agreed with Rihart’s words.
Then the two of them began chatting as if they already shared the same thoughts.
“Even the way you hold a sword is amazing. Rihart would be impressed too.”
“Please invite me next time!”
Amazing…?
At Ariel’s praise, the corners of Tirie’s lips twitched upward.
Well… maybe that guy Rihart wouldn’t be so bad after all.
