First of all, I change out of the clothes I was wearing for my audience, and on my way home I decide to stop by the inn where Sylvia and her friends are staying.

　The purpose, of course, is to invite Sylvia and the others to an evening party and give them an invitation.

　It was too urgent a suggestion, so maybe they already have a packed schedule, but even so, they can't just pretend it wasn't there without even explaining it.

　Hild and Ambrose, who were returning to their temporary base, and Chandler, who was acting as an escort, parted ways on the way, taking Garnett and Mark with them to their destination, the inn.

　On the way there, as the three of them walked along the main street along the canal, they brought up a subject they had failed to discuss in the anteroom with Mark.

'You looked kind of dead after the audience was over,'
Of course. Who in the world do you think he was meeting with? I'm rather surprised that the Commander-in-Chief wasn't concerned.

　Mark emphasized the phrase 'Lord Commander' and said back to me with a tone of voice that was also laced with a bit of sarcasm.

　To be honest, I'm surprised that I was able to get through an audience with His Majesty so calmly.

　I wonder if he had gotten used to it while he was unaware of it, having gained experience many times.

''That's right, you, the white wolf's have been meeting His Majesty for some reason or another. Was this the third time?　No, four times?

　Garnett laughs merrily and speaks up beside me and messes with Mark.

'You came here because Sir Sophia told you to 'go study society as a knight', right?　In that case, you should get used to it while you still can. You're going to be my sister's brother-in-law sooner or later.
...... Yes, that's it!　I still can't believe it now!

　Raising his voice, Mark turned to Garnett.

'If you've only found someone to marry, you're still good!　It's rather late, actually!　But the Lady Argentea's daughter?　And a stunningly beautiful girl?　I still don't get it!
"Oh, hey ...... you're having a hard time in your own way ......
You can't say that in front of him.

　I couldn't help but chuckle at Garnett's sudden loss of momentum.

　You pull your own sister (Alma) out of the equation, but when it comes time to hit her with an objective assessment, you're at a loss for words.

　I'm tempted to tell you that you should get in the habit of looking in the mirror a little more.

　By the way, the 'himself' in this case was phrased in such a way as to make Mark think it was me, but of course I really had Garnett in mind.

'Enough about Alma for now. More importantly, Mark. What are you going to do about the nightclub?　I think you should be in it for the experience.
...... That's right. If you don't participate, Sir Sophia will probably yell at you later. But it might just be an ornament, like before.
'I think just getting used to the air is a win-win. If you want, you can just stand there like an amulet to keep the weirdos from talking to Sylvia and the others.
I see. ...... You have a point.

　The second half was the part where I added quite jokingly, but Mark responded in an oddly convincing way.

　Thinking back to last night's incident, he probably thinks that while I'm talking to the duke and the senator, Sylvia and the others will need to play guardian.

　In reality, both Sylvia and Marida are accustomed to dealing with being approached by troublesome customers due to their professions in the hospitality industry, and because of the location of the place, the trouble of running out of power can't happen.

''By the way, Commander-dono. You seem to be accustomed to not only audiences but also evening parties, by any chance you have a lot of experience in that area as well?
'No way. I've only been in one such venue.
'Oh, I see. May I ask how it all came about?

　As part of a very natural banter, Mark has brought up a very difficult topic to answer.

　There's no reason why I shouldn't explain it.
　Everyone who attended that nightclub knows about it, and the rumors must have spread from there.

　I casually looked at the party involved (Garnett) while connecting the scene with a suitable sarcasm.

　However, when Garnett blatantly averted his gaze, he slowed his pace in an understandable manner and tried to follow behind us.

　I'm not going to stop her, but I'm not going to stick my neck out either, I guess.

　The expression on her face when she remembered that incident shows her determination not to let Mark see it, even if she means to.

''Well, ...... I can't give you any detailed background. Do you know the former head of the Argentia family, who is still very influential, the former head of the Silver Wing Knights?
'It was Lord Rembrandt, I believe. I know his name only.
"Lord Rembrandt was an old-fashioned man who believed that the power of the family should be strengthened by marriage, and he wanted to make his daughter Alma useful for that purpose.

　Mark raised his eyebrows just slightly.

　He was a brother who hadn't seen each other for a long time, but apparently this guy isn't steeped in the old ideas either.

　Is it the influence of Sir Justin's values that have raised him as a knight?

''So, Sir Rembrandt had already married another daughter, and he tried to use a certain Earl's soiree to mend Alma's fiancée. With complete disregard for his own wishes.
I don't mean to be horrible, but you don't think Lord Commander will be at this party?
'Yeah. I only realized it was going to happen right before I realized it was going to happen, so I had to rely on a messenger from one end to the other, as much as a break-in.

　I have to admit, that was one hell of a forced march, even looking back on it now.

　I obtained information from Leila, a clerk who is a member of a clan of the powerful knights, in exchange for an introduction to Travis, an A-rank adventurer she has feelings for and who is also my friend.

　Theodore, an A-ranked adventurer who is also a legitimate son of a powerful nobleman, writes me a letter of introduction to the nightclub on the condition that I help him in his quest.

　He rode into the hall almost as if he was slipping in and took the hand of Alma (Garnett), who kept rejecting the men.

'That's the only reason I got in, to tell you the truth, I didn't do anything at all like a nightclub. So this is practically the first time I've attended one.
...... Okay, that's enough.

　Mark let out a disgusted sigh and shook his head in disgust.

'I just wanted a reference for how to behave at a night party. I don't even want to hear about my foolish brother's love life. Utterly and utterly graphic.
"Haha, bad, bad.

　Garnett, walking behind me, slams his fist into my back with Mark's eyes.

　It wasn't with enough force to be described as a punch, a contact that only conveyed a protest that I was talking too much.