Chapter: 346
Arthur, who had been frozen for quite some time, snapped back to reality when a hand like a rock landed on his shoulder.
Turning his head slowly to the thick, unhuman touch, he stumbled back at the sight of Benedict’s stern gaze, which seemed to be a few heads taller than him.
“Greetings, Third Prince Arthur. What brings you here?”
“Um, I came to express my gratitude for the precious gift I received from the young lady of the Allen family.”
“Your eyes seem off for someone so grateful.”
“Duh! Father! Don’t you remember what I said not too long ago?!”
“N-no! Lucy! It’s not like what you think!”
“Not like that? Does my idiot father see me as blind?!”
Even while kneeling, Arthur felt the urge to look up at his father being scolded by his daughter, who was at least two heads shorter than him; he couldn’t help but let out a snicker at how ridiculous it all seemed.
He wondered if that truly was Lucy Allen, as she was so beautiful.
“Is my idiot father turning into a weird goldfish? Why do you forget stories in less than a day?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“I feel like I’ve heard that before in broad daylight. Is my memory going haywire? Am I becoming a fool because I’m the daughter of a foolish father?”
She was right. Only she could treat Benedict like this.
After a while, as Benedict’s eyes began to redden, Lucy sighed and reached out to gently stroke his head, telling him to do better next time.
Benedict, smiling through tears at his daughter’s touch, glanced cautiously at her and spoke carefully.
“Thank you so much, Lucy. Um, but I have just one question.”
“What is it? Go ahead and ask.”
“Are you going to go up on that stage dressed like this? Isn’t it too noticeable?”
“Is my idiot father truly an idiot? If not, why would I have brought that perverted apostle?”
“…Perverted apostle?”
“Long time no see, Lord Benedict.”
As Prete cheerfully wiped the blood off his face, Benedict’s expression twisted into a grimace once again.
The difference from when he had been with Arthur was that this time, Lucy did not stop him.
“An apostle of the Arts Church.”
“…Yes?”
“I think we need to have a serious talk.”
“Lord Benedict, does ‘talk’ mean raising fists in the Allen family?”
“A conversation with a father who has a daughter goes like this.”
“Indeed. Understood. Please just let me live long enough to get a chance for an explanation when all is said and done.”
*
“I never planned to come back to this disgusting place.”
“…Second Queen, there are many people around.”
“I know that. That’s why I specifically spoke quietly.”
Senar Soladin stepped into the graduation party venue, smiling and waving to her allies from a distance while spitting out thorny words.
“Damn it. What a hardship because of that crazy girl.”
Senar’s feelings toward the First Queen, Kabadi Soladin, were anything but pleasant, despite her soft eyes.
How could one like someone who had been a stumbling block since childhood?
“Just hold on a little longer. It’s only for one evening.”
“I know. I just can’t help but complain.”
It had already been several years since she, as the kingdom’s second queen, had plotted to make her son king to achieve various goals.
Senar was not an idiot who couldn’t distinguish between public and private matters after enduring endless social engagements.
However, the mere fact that she had returned to the Academy put her in a bad mood. Yet it wasn’t entirely negative.
“Thank goodness that Cecil has finally started to become somewhat of a person.”
After countless disappointments, her son was finally displaying royal behavior for the first time.
Ever since he lost to Lucy Allen, he had gradually changed and was now showing maturity like never before.
Even noble elders who had previously looked down on Cecil now glanced at him with newfound respect.
“Thanks to that, I can do what I need to do without appeasing those noblemen.”
Turning her gaze from Cecil and his entourage, Senar slowly surveyed the hall.
“While Lucy Allen is absent, I should subtly woo those around her.”
The first thing her gaze fell upon was the Ducal Young Lady Partlan, smiling with ritualistic charm among many young ladies.
Partlan’s sharp looks put even the strongest of noblemen on edge, possessing not just physical beauty but magical talent that showed the strength of her bloodline.
With her appearance, she had become a central figure among the noble young ladies.
Looking at the crowd around her, it was clear that the power of the name Partlan had only grown stronger.
Her accomplishments at Soul Academy and her refined appearance from her studies had made it all possible.
It would be hard to approach her now. If I stepped in, my intentions would be too transparent.
I’d have to wait until the party reached its peak.
By the way, that outfit she’s wearing is incredibly beautiful.
Where on earth did she get something like that?
Even the artisans I know wouldn’t be capable of making something like this.
I’ll have to ask her about it later.
Senar’s next target was the Saintess of Jushin Church.
Having acted selflessly in the world according to the Will of God for so long, she was now surrounded by numerous admirers, even though no one from the church had come to seek her out.
What they conveyed were words of gratitude.
Thanks for saving the territory in the past.
Thanks for saving someone’s life.
Thanks for unraveling the grievances of the wrongfully dead.
The endless stream of gratitude reminded one of someone’s evaluation that questioned the goodness of the Church of Jushin while not being able to deny the goodness of the Saintess herself.
I can’t approach her just yet. There are landmines there, more than among those noble elders around Cecil.
…Huh? Today she seems to be dressed more flamboyantly than usual.
If it looks similar to Partlan’s outfit, could it be a gift from a friend?
That’s really pretty too.
I wonder which artisan made that? My curiosity keeps growing.
I guess I’ll have to shelve that curiosity for later.
Now, let’s see… who is there now leisurely hanging about?
The Young Lady of Kent. Born into a famous swordsmanship family, she has overwhelmed her peers, displaying stunning talent.
She was regarded as a future glory of the kingdom, still possessing overwhelming sword skills despite being overshadowed by Lucy Allen.
She is more like a beast than a noble, giving no regard to her surroundings.
Seeing the Young Lady of Kent stuffing her face in the corner made Senar quietly turn her gaze away.
Recalling her past encounters with her, it was obvious that approaching her would only lead to frustration.
Then the only one left is that Arthur guy.
Where the heck is he? The party is about to start, yet I can’t find him anywhere.
He’s been getting a lot of attention lately, so there should be more people eyeing him now.
That was when the lights in the hall suddenly went out.
Is it starting now?
Finally, I’ll get to see Lucy Allen.
Let’s see that face that got praised for its beauty even by the apostle of the Arts Church.
As Senar was scanning the stage looking for a way to pick at her, her thoughts scattered the moment a figure shining alone in the darkness appeared.
Until now, Senar had replaced all her admiration for beauty with mere words as the kingdom’s second queen.
She had merely added adverbs like “too” or “immensely” without ever wondering if there could be expressions beyond beautiful.
In the past, she had praised such efficiency in herself, but not now.
At this very moment, all her words were lost, and she regretted her previous laziness.
How could she possibly describe the scene before her?
What words could convey this sight that could make one’s mind go blank just by taking it in?
How could she put into words this beauty that sparkled even in darkness?
Should she painstakingly describe every detail?
How could she talk about how beautiful this figure was from head to toe?
Or should she use metaphors like a poet?
Shining?
Brighter than the stars?
Like a warm sun descending in a hall plunged in darkness?
Like an angel sent by God upon the earth?
I don’t know.
How is it that this being, which silent fills the hall with tranquility, appears before me?
This person, whose tiny footsteps draw my attention.
Each gesture captures my focus.
Every gaze that passes makes my heart clench.
Even her maddening smile is somehow charming.
What should I even say to describe this?
Ah, I see.
I was under an illusion.
The word beautiful hadn’t replaced all admiration at all.
It was only because I knew the word beautiful that I had dragged the many things I saw into the realm of beauty.
And now, facing a being that cannot possibly be contained within the word beautiful, I’ve realized how foolish that single word truly is.
I start to hate myself.
Here’s a beauty that cannot be captured by the word beautiful right in front of my eyes.
A beauty that demands a richer and more diverse vocabulary stands there.
Yet I’m stuck repeating just the word beautiful as always.
“Ah.”
As the angel concealed in wings stood in the middle of the stage and raised her voice, the stillness of the party hall did not flow.
The silence created by the angelic child seemed unbreakable until she concealed herself once again.
“Hehe. Hello, sloppy folks. It’s so creepy how you’re all looking at me with perverted eyes. Gazing at such a beautiful person after only staring at mirrors must be a dream come true for you? Oh? What should I do? I’m going to be terrified of looking in mirrors from now on~”
“…What?”
“…What in the world is that?”
“…Is my ear malfunctioning?”
And it was none other than the girl who created that firm silence who shattered it.
As numerous people felt bewilderment between remarkable beauty that couldn’t be described and shockingly uncultured words, the center of that chaos, Lucy Allen, giggled while looking down at the hall.
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