On the day of the evening party--the dance hall of the Count's mansion was filled with a large number of guests in brightly colored attire.

　The fewest in number, and yet the most conspicuous were the Count family members, who were of the same rank as the master of the mansion.

　They are dressed in costumes that are instantly recognizable as high-class, and they are the center of the social scene, both in name and in reality, making the evening party a great success.

　The next least numerous are the guests from the barons, who are a step lower in rank.

　They were the lowest class of nobles, and in effect, they were just landowners, but they were trying to interact with a variety of opponents in order to expand their connections.

　In addition to these two types of nobles, members of several knightly orders had also participated in this evening party.

　They wore not pretentious evening gowns or over-decorated dresses, but rather the simple and robust ceremonial garments established by the various knightly orders, so it was easy to distinguish them from the nobility by their appearance.

　It's not uncommon for modern knights to have more wealth than the average baron, but wearing 'aristocratic' fashions at these events tends to be considered unknightly.

　Of course, that's just the person who received the knighthood.

　The wives and children brought by the knights were dressed beautifully, though not as beautifully as the aristocrats, and were happily chatting with others in their position and with the wives and children of the aristocrats.

　And about a quarter of the attendees were invited guests from ordinary people who were neither nobles nor knights.

　However, they were not mere commoners.
　They are not mere commoners, but people who are worthy of being called the upper class of society, such as merchants' associations that have made vast fortunes and transportation executives that support the logistics of the royal capital.

　They are dressed in three different ways. They're not only the most expensive, but they look just as good in appearance as they do on the job.

　It's not so much a social gathering of the nobility as a social gathering of the various interested parties in the royal capital, which is probably closer to the reality of this party.

　It's not a rare night in the capital, where nobles, knights and merchants chat about politics and economics while maintaining the elegant appearance of a standing-room-only dinner party.




　I've been watching such a scene as if it were someone else's business.




　There is an expression, "the flower on the wall".
　It's a phrase that describes a young lady who attends an evening party in hopes of meeting the opposite s*x, but instead of being asked to dance, she just passes the time by the wall.

　Garnett wanted to continue being a 'wallflower' of her own accord.

　Dressed in a fluttery dress, as if it didn't fit her s*x, she sat down in a chair by the wall and waited for the evening party to end.

　No one would call out to her, no one would call out to her, and she would be a wallflower to fill in the blanks.
　That alone would be enough to fulfill his duty to his father.

　But the garnet's appearance, dressed against its will, is too beautiful(-) to get by without attracting attention.

Hey, look. Who's that over there?
'You must be Miss Alma of the Argentean family. I hear she is seldom seen in public, but it's a rare occurrence.
The Silver Wing Knights' ...... and what a beauty it is by the way.

　I was almost frightened by the accolades I didn't want.

'You're like a living embodiment of your late mother. No wonder Lord Rembrandt is so reluctant to let go.

　It's also unpleasant that the elderly baron said that with a translator's face.

　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that I'm just like my mother when I was told in the basement of the Demon King's Castle, but now I want to cover my ears.

　What is the difference between then and now?

　--I don't need to think about that. It's because the person you are told is different. I'm sure the reason why I was so happy to be told by that man is clear now.

'I can't stand the look of melancholy on your face.

　Who do you think is responsible for the depression?

'Really?　I'd love to see you laugh, though.

　I don't like it. You don't want to know.

"Maybe I'll ask her to the dance.

　With that declaration, the young knight really did come up to Garnett and bowed reverently to him, offering him an invitation.

　However, Garnett refused to make eye contact, refused to even take his hand, and shrugged off the invitation.

　It's a very good idea to be able to have a good time with your friends.

'Oh dear. This guy's tough.''
All right, I'm going to be next.

　From a wallflower to a high point that is not easily dominated.

　Her decision to cut off the attention has conversely drawn the attention of those around her, and she has fallen into a situation where men of various statuses and positions are visiting her one after another.

　Some to dance, some to eat, some to chat.

　Miss Alma. Lady Alma. Miss Alma.
　Every name I could think of was thrown at me, one after another.

　As she continued to refuse them all, gloomy thoughts built up in Garnett's mind.

　There was no guilt in rejecting them.
　However, the very status quo of being treated like this was slowly and steadily clouding his mind.

　He received empty praise like a decorated artificial flower, was lured in like a tool to test his courage, and mechanically rejected it with language that hid his true nature.

　There is no joy or pleasure in it, and even the thought process is almost eroded.

　The supposedly glamorous dance hall feels like a dark and stagnant space in Garnett's vision.

　I feel dizzy. Would it be easier if she really fell down and left the stage?

　If I did that, I'm sure there would be a flock of people planning to take care of me like a gentleman.
　I'm not sure I'd seriously want to throw up if they did that to me.

　--I don't want to be in this place. I don't want to be here.

　What came to mind was not the Silverwing Knights who had spent a long time in the Silverwing Knights, but a small weapon shop standing in the forest.

The only thing that can be said for this is that it's not a good idea to be ...... unprompted. There's no way that guy would come to a place like this. ......)

　Another man, a participant, approaches us.

　A derisive voice rises up, saying you can't do it.
　Mocking laughter ensues, saying it's useless to try.

　But the man, completely oblivious to the reactions of those around him, kneels in front of Garnett, looks up at his face and calls out softly in a voice loud enough to reach only the one person in front of him.




'Garnet. You were in this place. You've been looking for me.




As soon as his voice reached my ears, my gloomy vision cleared up in an instant.

　A vivid world. Against the backdrop of the glittering dance hall, a man who wishes to see you more than anyone else is smiling.

'What ......?'

　I can't believe my ears and eyes.
　I must have been hallucinating because I was so depressed.

　But the scene in front of me was clearly real, and as soon as I realized that it was, my heart began to race painfully.

'You ...... why are you here ......?'
'It's a pretty long story, so we'll talk later. But I have one confession to make: I [repaired] the letter you tore up. It was a force majeure. ......

　The man in front of me - Luke of the White Wolf Forest smiled awkwardly as he said that.

　Even though he was dressed in a freshly lowered ceremonial dress that he normally wouldn't wear, an outfit that was similar to the ceremonial dress of a knightly order, his inner self was no different from his normal self.

　Garnett resisted the urge to jump at any moment and leaned forward in his chair.

You know ...... why I'm here, right?
Yeah, sure.
But you came?
That's why I'm here.

　Luke held out one hand quietly, looking straight up into Garnet's moist eyes.

'I want you to stay with me. That's what I wanted to tell you.
"...... You a**h*le!

　I can't stop my mouth from breaking out. I can't stop my blushing cheeks.

　The melancholy that had been lingering in my mind vanished without a trace, and an inexpressible feeling of happiness filled my chest.

　Then Garnett clasped back her surprisingly bony hand with thin fingers, and they both stood up lightly.