The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies

82 – Dance at the Ball (15)

083.

The banquet continued for a week.

From the beginning, when Sinat spoke about the banquet, he said he would hold a week-long banquet a month later.

A week-long banquet is not common, but it’s not unheard of either.

It was said to be the most appropriate way to celebrate the revival of Dranus.

Those who were nervous at the beginning of the banquet gradually began to enjoy it.

They met people they hadn’t seen yesterday and enjoyed the banquet in their own ways.

Kallen was no exception.

He often spent time surrounded by six young ladies.

Occasionally, he dealt with young ladies who approached him nervously.

Although his appearance was somewhat sharp, it was not intimidating enough to cause fear.

It was strange for them to approach Kallen while watching his reactions.

Among them, the prince was the most impressive.

He only had brief conversations with those he was already acquainted with.

He took no other actions.

He just stood quietly in a corner of the banquet hall, observing those enjoying the banquet.

He drove away those who approached him to catch the big fish that was the prince.

It was natural for people to be cautious of him.

But if he was uncomfortable, he would have requested something from Sinat, so they thought there must be a reason.

Anyway, like that.

The banquet reached its final day.

*

If asked whether the banquet was enjoyable for a week.

Well.

It didn’t seem to be just that.

It was fine until the fourth day.

Kallen received some education from Blamia about the various behaviors of the nobility.

Such banquets were also part of that education.

Experiencing firsthand what he had only heard about was quite satisfying.

Eating and drinking were enjoyable.

Although he mainly talked with the six young ladies, conversing with people he met for the first time wasn’t bad either.

Especially.

“What are you thinking about, Master?”

“Ah. Selina.”

Meeting Selina was like that.

Kallen had tried to bring Selina to the banquet.

After all, he had become the master… so wouldn’t it be good to get help with things he didn’t know well?

But Selina refused.

She gave the reason that it wasn’t a place she belonged, as Kallen had pointed out.

And amidst all that, Selina had said something meaningful.

Was this what she meant?

Thinking about it, it might have been obvious.

Selina was the head maid of the Dranus family.

It wasn’t strange for her to work in a place that illuminated the family’s affairs.

Kallen had spoken to Selina, who was replenishing snacks and wine.

“It’s nothing.”

“Understood.”

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And so it came to this.

The heat of the banquet had cooled down, unlike at the beginning.

Now, instead of seeking new relationships, everyone was savoring the lingering warmth of the heated banquet.

Kallen looked at the scene and asked Selina.

“By the way, where did everyone go?”

Eliana, Selassie, Sinat, Daphnis, Richessa, Laris.

The ladies who never parted during the banquet.

At first, the pouring gazes were a bit bothersome, but after about four days, it was just enjoyable to talk with them.

Those who stayed together all the time.

Now, they are not by my side.

It’s not that the banquet is completely over.

Nor that they said their goodbyes and left.

They just disappeared in an instant.

As time passed, Kalen became curious.

For that reason, he asked Selina.

Selina just smiled leisurely and said nonchalantly.

“Well? I was with the master, so I don’t know.”

“Hmm…”

It made sense.

When he found Selina, she was working.

And since then, they had been together.

Kalen nodded in agreement.

Then where are these ladies?

While pondering over that unresolved question.

“Um…”

Five pairs of eyes turned to Laris.

“Why am I here?”

Raising her hand meekly, as if she really didn’t know.

Laris asked the five ladies who brought her here.

“Because we can’t leave you alone!”

“What?”

“You never know… Kal is a man who can’t be trusted. It’s not strange if he shows up anytime.”

Kal?

Is she talking about Lord Kalen?

Sinat’s answer was not enough.

What does it mean to be a man who cannot let his guard down, and what does it mean to increase?

Laris tilted her head at the answer, which was full of incomprehensible things.

“That’s not important right now.”

“What…?”

Sinat said that and turned around.

It meant that he could no longer waste time answering Laris.

In front of the turned Sinat were four other young ladies.

Each one more beautiful than a jewel.

Girls who were not yet adults or had just become adults.

Their beauty was undoubtedly the highest in the empire.

And such amazing girls were very nervous.

“Everyone… hasn’t forgotten, right?”

Sinat solemnly opened the conversation.

Laris knew nothing about what she was saying.

It was rare for such young ladies to converse, and even more so with such solemnity, so she became interested.

“…Of course.”

It was Eliana who responded.

She answered calmly, in her characteristic cautious tone.

“You can’t complain later. Everyone?”

This time it was Selassie.

Her ruby-like eyes, which seemed bored at first glance, shone darkly.

“Not complaining about what Kallen chooses, and following it.”

Daphnis seemed a little nervous.

Even though she was from a somewhat lower family, she met their eyes.

“I know.”

Richeza answered simply.

The atmosphere was becoming more and more intriguing.

Before she knew it, Laris had become immersed in this secret meeting.

What on earth was the sensitive topic they were discussing so cautiously?

What did their incomprehensible words mean?

Hearing Kallen’s name, it was clear that it was related to him.

Did they make some promise after the banquet?

It’s something unknown for now.

Clap!

Sinat, who confirmed some promise with all the young ladies, clapped briefly.

He smiled brightly.

“Shall we go then?”

The young ladies each nodded.

Laris, who unknowingly nodded along, followed behind them.

The time had already darkened.

The young ladies, who brightly illuminated the darkness, moved towards a boy.

*

A little late.

Sensing that the banquet was about to end, Kallen looked for the young ladies but couldn’t find them.

It was unreasonable to leave first.

But there was one thing he couldn’t understand.

The banquet always ended at this time during the past week.

People who knew this were starting to leave.

Since such a grand banquet was held.

It was polite for Sinat to conclude it as he did with the opening speech.

People didn’t seem to be waiting for that.

If they were, everyone would be looking forward.

Instead, their faces were filled with anticipation.

As if they were expecting something.

Feeling something strange, Kallen was about to grab the person next to him and ask.

Snap.

The glowing spheres, maintained by magic, that brightly lit the banquet hall, went out.

Not all of them went out, so a soft darkness began to settle in the banquet hall.

At the same time, someone appeared at the front of the banquet hall.

Eyes beautifully tinged with indigo.

Even in the darkness, those lively eyes scanned the banquet hall.

“Ah.”

The voice that followed was one Kallen knew well.

A girl he had met a few years ago, the granddaughter of his benefactor.

Now, she was the lady who would bear the name Dranus.

“Everyone, did you enjoy the banquet?”

There was no answer.

Because she wasn’t asking with the expectation of a response.

Those attending this banquet were well-versed in noble etiquette.

They simply listened to Sinat’s words.

“I sincerely thank you for enjoying the event prepared by an inexperienced, young head of the family.”

Sinat continued her thoughts slowly.

When she finally spoke them out loud after much refinement,

She was no longer just a lively young girl.

As a dignified head of the family,

As the head of one of the five great families that would support the empire,

She was declaring to the world.

Kallen quietly watched Sinat.

Sinat, who spoke her thoughts slowly and properly, was impressive.

She seemed perfectly suited for the position of the head of the Dranus family.

“…Kallen.”

“Ah. Eliana.”

As he looked ahead,

Kallen turned his head towards Eliana, who had quietly approached.

There were also Selacia, Daphnis, Richeza, and Laris.

He wondered where they had gone.

It seemed they had something to do together.

As his curiosity was resolved,

Just as Kallen was about to look ahead again,

Swoosh…

Eliana wrapped her left arm around me.

“Elly…”

“So, please enjoy yourself.”

Was it a coincidence that Sinat’s words echoed in my ears just as I was about to call out to Eliana?

Kallen felt several pairs of eyes watching him from behind.

“The ball that Dranus has prepared.”

Sinat said those words and then came forward.

The reason he seemed urgent was because this was not the usual way to come down.

He was coming down through the back space.

What could be so urgent that he had to skip over it all at once?

No, more importantly, what did he mean by a ball?

Wasn’t the banquet supposed to end today?

Kallen, who now understood the atmosphere of the young lords and ladies filled with anticipation, who had not yet left the banquet hall.

Squeeze-

Eliana’s action of pressing down while wrapping her arm around his felt a bit unfamiliar.