Chapter 256
“…Where are you all going?”
At my question, the three of them smiled.
“We’re attending your first capital party with you, so of course we had to dress well too.”
“Dressing up this much should be suitable as your partner, right?”
Balzac and Joshua answered in turn, while Lysmond simply smiled.
I narrowed my eyes.
“I’m going alone today.”
“What?”
“Why?”
“For what reason?”
Their reactions confused me even more.
If I had wanted company, I would have told them in advance.
Haah.
I let out a deep sigh.
“I have something to take care of alone today—”
Just as I was about to finish speaking, someone walked up behind my brothers.
It was Father.
“……”
“……”
“……”
“……”
Balzac and Joshua glared at him with deadpan expressions, while Lysmond let out a small chuckle.
I just blinked in shock.
Father spoke.
“Shall we leave now?”
…Father.
Of course, I hadn’t asked him to come either.
Still flustered, I looked at him and said,
“That outfit…”
“I decided to dress up a bit.”
“…That’s more than just a bit.”
Why was he wearing Astra’s ceremonial uniform?!
The Astra crow emblem was embroidered on his cloak.
This was an outfit reserved for victory parades or major national events!
It was like showing up to a friend’s birthday party wearing a doctor’s coat and surgical scrubs!
I placed one hand on my hip and let out a long sigh.
“I’m going alone today.”
“But you need a partner.”
Father kinda sounded desperate.
“I’m going alone.”
There was a reason I couldn’t tell them.
“If none of you have anything to do, then change out of those clothes.”
Father looked at me as if the sky had just collapsed.
My three brothers opened their mouths as if trying to persuade me, but—
“Now.”
I said it firmly.
The four of them fell silent like mute fish.
Then, looking dejected, they dropped their shoulders.
Their drooping eyebrows made them look like sad puppies.
“Don’t follow me. I’ll be angry if you do.”
With a stern warning, I left the mansion.
***
The carriage arrived at the party grounds.
As was typical, the Lily Garden gathering was held at night.
Since it was an event for children, it wouldn’t last past midnight.
The venue was extravagantly decorated.
From the entrance, lily-shaped lights illuminated the pathway.
“Shall we go inside, my lady?”
At Heidi’s words, my eyes widened.
“Oh? Ah… I’m feeling a bit nervous. Could you go ahead and get my entry permit first?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Since this was a gathering of high nobles, the entry process was strictly regulated.
Heidi took my identification badge and went to get permission.
Meanwhile, I scanned the surroundings and stepped out of the carriage.
‘I need to get to the forest near the party grounds…!’
I had a meeting there.
I quickly ran toward the forest.
Just as described in <Grandvill>, there was a fountain at the entrance of the woods.
‘Good. No one’s here.’
“When is he coming…?”
Feeling restless, I tapped my feet.
I had to return before Heidi came back.
As I muttered to myself, I suddenly heard a noise behind me.
“I’m already here.”
Along with the rustling of leaves, a man emerged.
I turned my head to look at him.
“…Ah.”
Alexis.
He was gazing at me.
‘Seriously, his face alone makes him main protagonist material.’
House Astra was known for its stunning beauty—and among them, my father and brothers were the most renowned.
But even compared to them, he stood out.
“Hello, Alexis.”
“Hello.”
He felt entirely different from when he was younger.
Back then, he had been a wounded kitten—now, he had grown into a young beast capable of attacking others.
I smiled proudly and asked,
“Are you ready to destroy the empire?”
“…Yeah.”
Tonight, I had chosen Alexis Kalsoy as my partner for the party.
Tonight would be the night of his first official appearance in the empire.
***
The Lily Garden Party—
The front of the venue was in an uproar.
It was because of the unexpected arrival of three stunning young men.
Their names were Lysmond, Balzac, and Joshua.
Erylotte Astra’s three older brothers.
The nobles around them couldn’t take their eyes off them.
‘My goodness…’
‘How can they be so… who are they?!’
But regardless of the attention, the three brothers were focused on scanning the area.
Balzac furrowed his brows.
“Why isn’t Erylotte here yet?”
Joshua responded.
“She came by carriage. It’ll take a little longer.”
Lysmond also narrowed his eyes.
“She explicitly told us not to follow her. Are you sure we should even be here?”
At that, Balzac’s expression brightened with confidence.
“She told us not to follow her! But we came before her—so it’s fine.”
“……”
“……”
Joshua and Lysmond stared at Balzac in disbelief.
It didn’t make any sense, but—
‘If Ery gets mad, we’ll just blame Balzac.’
‘He’s the one who started this anyway.’
As long as Balzac took the blame, Joshua and Lysmond were ready to step back and pretend they had nothing to do with it.
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