Chapter: 210
“…Ducal Young Lady Partlan?”
Lord Serlan’s face was a picture of bewilderment, as if he had encountered something he shouldn’t have.
“Could you please answer?”
Usually, Joy would give the other person space to calm down and respond, but not this time. She urged an answer in an oddly cold tone.
“…Uh. So, I just saw Lady Allen for the first time at this festival. I was impressed.”
Just a moment ago, Serlan Prince had been flustered from my provocation, but after Joy appeared, his expression changed completely.
His face turned as pale as a corpse.
I couldn’t understand it.
Is Joy really that scary? It’s true her looks are cold, but inside, isn’t she just a foolish young lady?
Why is Serlan, who is from a similar Ducal family and surely older, sweating and reacting like that towards Joy?
“I see. Thank you, Lord Serlan. For passing on my compliments to my friend.”
“It was nothing much.”
“If you have nothing more to say, could you please leave? I have something to discuss with my friend.”
Lord Serlan seemed like he had plenty to say as he fumbled his words, but he held back.
After reluctantly leaving, Joy put down the fan hiding her face.
“Lady Allen, just dismiss people like him. Don’t sit around watching how long he can hold on.”
‘What did that guy do?’
“Foolish Young Lady, what did that pervert Prince do to warrant such treatment?”
“Don’t you know?”
Of course not. He barely got a mention in the game.
The Serlan family itself wasn’t very significant in the game either.
Wasn’t there a mention of a Serlan Prince?
I tried to recall, but nothing came to mind.
I usually remember names of characters that play significant roles in the game. If there are illustrations, I could remember their faces too.
Yet, I couldn’t think of anything about Serlan Prince.
He must have had no significance at all.
“Oh, right. Lady Allen, you’re inexperienced when it comes to this sort of thing.”
Joy, nodding to herself, told me that this guy had recently caused a huge incident.
“He’s in a situation where he might be kicked out of his family, so he’s trying to sort things out.”
Only after hearing her words did it come back to me.
Serlan Prince.
That guy who kept complaining every time Serlan’s family showed up because of his useless younger brother! That’s him!
“Once we graduate from the Academy, we won’t ever meet again, so there’s no need to worry about him.”
After Joy said that, she stopped talking about Serlan Prince.
At the Academy, I had only thought of her as foolish and cute, but now I could see Lady Allen’s true colors.
“Wow, way to go, Joy.”
“Hey, Foolish Young Lady. Are you trying to look cool right now? Like ‘Look how awesome I am~’?”
“W-What?! Not really…”
Huh? Was she serious?!
Was she thinking something like “I might seem cool?”?!
Scratch that. Joy, you must have always been Foolish Young Lady no matter where or when.
As my gaze turned lukewarm, Joy cleared her throat.
“Ahem. Anyway, Lady Allen, you don’t have anything to do right now, do you?”
‘No.’
“Right. So?”
“Could you please come with me for a moment? My father has something to discuss.”
Duke Partlan? Why him? Is it something suspicious-related?
If so, this time around, I’ll definitely become the sickly Mesugaki. I’m going to hit my own head and faint!
Following Joy, we headed toward the reception room outside the party area.
There, besides Duke Partlan, Benedict was also present. After the party started, I had wondered where he had gone, and it turns out it was with the Duke.
With those two together, the atmosphere was intense. It felt like being in the presence of a mob boss and his henchman.
I could easily believe they had just discussed who to dispose of.
It might be because it was my first time meeting Benedict after the incident with Taboll. He seemed like he had plenty to say but held it in.
“Father, as you requested, I’ve brought Lady Allen.”
It was Joy who broke the silence in the room. I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination, but the sharpness in her tone made Duke Partlan smirk.
“Thank you, Joy. You may return now.”
“No, I’ll stay here. It’s okay, right?”
“…Yeah. Do as you please.”
What’s this? Is Joy going through a rebellious phase?! Why is she acting like she hates her dad?!
I didn’t understand how the situation had turned this way, but since Joy took the lead, I sat down in a chair behind her.
“I apologize for calling you during the party, Lady Allen. I have something to discuss.”
‘It’s alright.’
“It’s fine. Sloppy Duke. I was just bored with nothing but shoddy people around.”
“I’m relieved to hear that. Well, first, I must say… I’m sorry, Lady Allen. I’ve caused you unnecessary trouble.”
Why is this guy apologizing to me?
At first, I couldn’t comprehend it and tilted my head, but as the conversation continued, my thoughts began to change.
I had no idea that the reason Duke Partlan had pressured me for my thoughts on the occasion was to land me in trouble!
Hey! Dude! Is it okay to treat your daughter’s friend like that?!
What gives you the right to harass this cute little girl?!
Is it because of that?!
‘Could it be you don’t like the nickname Sloppy Duke?!’
“Could it be that Sloppy Duke’s nickname, which I came up with, upset you? I can’t believe a man leading a Ducal family would be so petty.”
“Would I be that childish?! Lady Allen, you are the benefactor who saved Joy’s life! I wouldn’t act petty because of a mere nickname! Besides, I actually quite like the nickname Sloppy Duke, so I have no reason to hold a grudge!”
The Duke passionately explained why he had acted in such a manner.
So basically, he thought Joy cared for me too much and wanted to evaluate if I was trustworthy?
Listening to him talk, with unexpected events piling up, I recalled why he had been treated as a comedic character back in the community.
The Duke was clearly a capable person, backed by power to support that ability, but whenever he tried to take charge, he would mess things up.
Just listening to his story brought up memes from the past communities, making it impossible for me to be angry.
In any case, he had apologized, the incident was behind us, and we even had a promise of compensation, so I had no reason to be angry anymore.
By the way, if the Duke was the one leading this whole incident, doesn’t that mean it’s unrelated to the First Prince?
I thought for sure he’d be the hidden villain!
To think the one who reaped the benefits in the end had no connection at all! Isn’t that dereliction of duty?!
“Let’s postpone the talk about compensation for later. If we’re not careful, we might end up chatting until the party is over.”
With that, the Duke sent us back.
On the way back to the party, Joy apologized to me.
From what I heard, Joy had been called by the Duke just before the party started.
She was said to have been completely stuck due to the Duke’s magic.
After somehow escaping back to the party, she found Taboll raising his voice.
Joy wasn’t cold to the Duke for no reason. This was something that could make even the kindest person angry.
“I’m really sorry, Lady Allen.”
Her apology carried a lot of meaning.
She was apologizing for what her father did, for not being able to help sooner, and there were probably other things I couldn’t even guess.
Though her words were undoubtedly sincere, I didn’t welcome the apology.
Joy had nothing to apologize for.
‘Why are you apologizing?’
“Foolish Young Lady, why are you making a whiny sound instead of talking?”
“…Huh?”
‘Right now, it’s actually me who should be thanking you!’
“Why are you whining when you helped me? Are you turning from a Foolish Young Lady into a timid Foolish Young Lady?”
“Are you not even going to call me Young Lady anymore?!”
Seriously. She became so foolish that I couldn’t even call her a Young Lady anymore.
Finding Joy’s reaction funny, I was chuckling both inside and out, and soon Joy was also smiling along.
Her smile was still a bit fierce, but it was definitely better than her whining.
After lifting Joy’s mood, we returned to the party, where the atmosphere was lively.
The grand and beautiful orchestra’s music, nobles dancing in the center, and groups laughing together all around.
As I was in awe of the movie-like scenery, I heard Joy sigh beside me.
“I’m sorry, Lady Allen. It seems I have some work now.”
Joy said that and headed towards a group of Young Ladies exchanging sharp glances.
Does a Ducal Young Lady have such duties as well? Well, Joy is the leader of several noble Young Ladies, so she must have her responsibilities.
If possible, I wanted to help Joy, but if I interrupted, it would only add to her workload.
So, I quietly made my way to a corner of the party.
Wouldn’t me not being noticed help to relieve Joy’s worries?
Maybe it’s because I went through so much in such a short time, but I was feeling hungry. I craved something sweet.
I thought there might be delicious desserts in the party hall, so I headed over there when I ran into Frey and her younger sister.
The sight of Frey piling her plate again and her sister scolding her was quite fresh.
Aren’t they at the point where they should be giving each other the cold shoulder?
“Hey! Are you listening?! … Oh. Lady Allen.”
“Hello, Lucy.”
The younger sister of Frey, who had been raising her voice, quickly shut her mouth upon seeing me, but Frey merely greeted me while holding onto her plate.
Is she really planning to eat all the food in the party hall by herself?
I knew Frey could eat a lot, but I never thought it would be to this extent.
She must have been born in the modern age. If she had done an eating broadcast, she would surely have become a sensation.
“Excuse me! Lady Allen!”
While gaping in amazement at Frey, her sister rushed over to me.
“Thank you! For turning my sister back into a person!”
And then she suddenly bowed her head.
This wasn’t a light greeting but a fully loaded one, filled with gratitude.
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