The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies

76 – Dancing at the Ball (09)

077.

Contrary to what was expected.

Sinat seemed to adapt to the old life earlier than expected.

A familiar house, familiar people.

Not everything was familiar, but everyone already knew Sinat’s personality.

Whether they approached first or not.

Once they got involved, they inevitably became close to Sinat.

Of course, Sinat found the head of the family lessons difficult.

No matter how much Blamia and the retainers helped.

The name Dranus is not something easily shouldered.

There is much to learn and many situations to handle flexibly.

It was difficult to come out of the head of the family room and play freely.

More attention had to be paid to manners and etiquette than before.

Thinking back to the time when Blamia taught magic in the cabin.

It wouldn’t have been strange if Sinat had run away or lay down saying she couldn’t do it.

But she didn’t.

Even though Sinat grumbled about how hard it was, she didn’t give up learning the head of the family duties.

To the young lady who had grown so much.

The whole family gave her unreserved applause and tears.

“Oh, Carl. Today was especially hard.”

“You said yesterday was especially hard too.”

“No, no. Today was especially ‘more’ difficult.”

“I see.”

But beneath it, there was an effort that no one had thought of.

To be precise, no one except Blamia and Selina.

Always asking if Sinat was okay by his side.

A boy who takes care of things worth worrying about besides the head of the family’s work.

The boy who took on the role of Sinat Dranus’s escort had an effort that could never be ignored.

“That’s too much!”

“What is.”

“These days, you only play with Sister Selina.”

“What can I do if you’re busy? And you’re always by my side when I’m working as the head of the family.”

“I can’t play when you’re working as the head of the family…”

“That’s only natural.”

Without Kallen, Sinat would not have been able to endure.

That was the fact Sinat knew best.

Even though it could be bothersome, Kallen stayed by his side until the end.

When Sinat complained that the head of the family’s work was hard, Kallen quietly offered his arms.

Whenever he was reported that a bothersome task he didn’t even know about was resolved, it was always Kallen who had taken care of it.

How could he not rely on him?

Sinat himself had already belonged to Kallen from that day on.

Now, he can’t imagine a life without him.

“Ah. So today, you have to stay here until I fall asleep. It’s an order from the head of the family.”

“Abuse of power is the starting point of all rebellions and revolutions.”

“I don’t know such difficult words…”

Thus, Sinat’s bedroom.

A room too spacious for a girl who had not even had her coming-of-age ceremony to use alone.

Kallen, who had now become a familiar guest, was with her.

It was hard enough to break out in a cold sweat when she slept alone.

But if Kallen was by her side, she would fall asleep immediately.

“Stop talking and sleep.”

“That’s too much…”

“Selina is looking for you.”

“I am better than you… Ugh!!”

“Go to sleep quickly.”

Kallen calmed down Sinat, who was about to have a seizure.

As he left the now sleeping Sinat, Selina was waiting with Orti, Putre, and other maids.

“Is the young lady asleep?”

“Yes. She seems to fall asleep quickly because the work is hard.”

Time had passed since Sinat returned and Kallen came to the Dranus mansion.

At first, Kallen used formal language, but as he spent more time with Selina, he started using informal language.

Selina took it as a positive change.

The bond between the two began to grow stronger.

“Will you also go to sleep, Master?”

“I should.”

Sinat is the last to fall asleep in this mansion.

Except for Kallen, who has to put her to sleep, and the maids who have to assist him.

That fact is not displeasing.

No matter how late it is, Blamia would not overwork her granddaughter to that extent.

“So. Your thoughts.”

“I think it will be difficult for me. If the master is not here, I have to do other chores.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“And for such a position, someone as lowly as me…”

“Don’t say such things.”

“…I’m sorry, Master.”

The banquet was approaching.

Kallen wanted to take Selina to the event, but she said she couldn’t attend as a maid.

However, apart from refusing, it is not good to belittle oneself.

Kallen himself was also just an illegitimate child, so he asked Selina not to say such things.

“Alright. I understand.”

“Yes, Master.”

Kallen did not insist further.

That could be rather rude.

Above all, didn’t Selina say she didn’t like it?

Just as Kallen was about to nod in agreement.

Selina smiled warmly and said in a gentle voice.

“If we’re lucky, we might meet.”

“Huh?”

“No, have a good night, Master.”

“…You too, Selina.”

“Yes.”

If we’re lucky, we might meet.

Kallen tilted his head and entered the room.

Selina stood there, just smiling warmly.

*

A banquet.

Just hearing the word makes one’s heart flutter.

Delicious food and abundant spectacles.

The lively interactions of the distinguished.

The benefits that can be created at that place are truly indescribable.

If the host is someone like Dranus, there’s no need to say more.

All the influential people in the world will gather.

Even the prince of the Claire Empire has expressed his intention to attend this banquet.

Of course, what that means is unknown.

But no one would refuse a banquet that even the prince attends.

Families with any reputation eagerly awaited the day the banquet would be held.

And today.

Finally, the day everyone has been waiting for has arrived.

The most prosperous street in the territory.

Among them, the largest cathedral.

That sacred place is transformed into the venue for the banquet.

It signifies a blessing for Dranus’s future.

And it is a display of the power to use the cathedral as a banquet hall.

Since Dranus was located in the center of the empire, many people gathered for the banquet.

As the grand golden carriage symbolizing the imperial family entered, the grand curtain finally opened.

In a small space at the back of the banquet hall.

Kallen and Sinat were quietly talking.

“I’m nervous… Kal…”

“Just say a few words and come down to enjoy the banquet. Just like you do with me.”

“That’s impossible. What I do with you, I can only do with you.”

“…”

“Heh.”

It was a trivial conversation, but it was the most appropriate to ease the tension.

Sinat gradually felt the tension easing and nodded firmly.

“Are you ready to become the head of Dranus?”

“Yes. The position that should have been inherited by my brother, I will take over from my father.”

“Then it’s fine. Go comfortably. I’ll be waiting below.”

“Kallen.”

Sinat called Kallen seriously.

“You’ll protect me, right?”

An anxious but confident statement.

Kallen looked at Sinat for a moment and then smiled awkwardly.

“Of course, my lord.”

“I’m off.”

“Go ahead.”

Sinat responded to that smile.

With steps firmer than ever, she headed towards the banquet hall.

Kallen, who was watching Sinat’s back, quietly turned around.

That place is the stage for the girl who will lead Dranus in the future.

It is a place where he cannot stand.

He just hopes the girl will move forward without getting hurt.

The boy pushed the girl towards the light and disappeared into the darkness of the back space.

Kallen quietly entered the front door of the banquet hall, leaving the small space at the back of the cathedral.

Fortunately, since the prince had already entered, Kallen’s name was not called when he came in.

Looking ahead, Sinat was proudly making his appearance.

It somehow didn’t seem to suit him, and Kallen couldn’t help but chuckle.

“…Kallen?”

A quiet, calm voice.

When Kallen turned towards the sound, a beautiful lady, as if the sky had been dyed by clouds, was looking at him in surprise.

“Lady Eliana.”

“Ah…?”

It would be more natural to talk to someone he knew rather than standing awkwardly.

Sinat seemed to have started his welcome speech safely, so it seemed okay to focus on Eliana.

With that thought, Kallen approached Eliana.

But Eliana hesitated and stepped back.

“Wa, wait… don’t come closer…”

“Yes?”

“Ah…”

Eliana was just as surprised.

She had been looking at the entrance in boredom, unable to find Kallen at the banquet.

Then Kallen had come in.

Moreover, because he was attending the banquet.

Kallen, wearing clothes she had never seen before, was too much to face properly.

She needed to meet his eyes.

She wanted to talk about the times she couldn’t bear the loneliness without Kallen and be comforted.

But because the banquet attire suited him so well.

She kept lowering her eyes.

“Lady Eliana. Are you okay?”

“Ah… your face… it’s close…”

“Pardon?”

“Ah…”

Did Dranus do it?

With light basic makeup.

Kallen, who had touched her head, seemed like a being from another dimension.

Even if all the young lords of this banquet hall were gathered and compared, they would not match.

Eliana slowly lifted her head, suppressing the feeling of being tightly inflated.

And then.

She looked at Kallen, who had come right up to her and was meeting her eye level-

“Your face is red. Are you really okay…”

Suddenly.

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Her hands reacted faster than she thought.

She hugged Kallen.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Her heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.

She turned her head over her shoulder to hide her wide-open eyes and flushed cheeks.

Wouldn’t he hear this heartbeat?

If he did, it would be so embarrassing.

Even with such thoughts, as Kallen’s embrace, which she had desperately wanted, became a reality,

Her body began to cling to his, as if never to let go.

“…Eliana.”

Clink.

At the same time, Kallen’s monocle string descended onto her shoulder.

Eliana glanced at the three family crests attached to it.

She quietly opened her mouth.

“I held back in Ecclesia… so I’ll say it now…”

“…”

“I missed you, Kallen…”

Eliana felt like she might cry because his embrace was so warm.