Before the sunset of that day, we decided to get ready to attend the evening party.

　I heard that the participants from the White Wolf Knights had decided to borrow clothes from their respective secondments, but since I didn't have that kind of backing, I had to borrow formal wear from the Silver Wing Knights, or rather the Argentia family.

　I was allowed to use the anteroom of the royal palace, and as I was dressing up in unfamiliar clothes through the sleeves, Abigail, who was following me as a squire, knocked on the door.

'Master Luke. Miss Alma has finished dressing. Would you like to see me?
Oh ...... Yeah, we're fine too. I'm coming.

　Abigail led me to another anteroom while I gave a blatantly nervous response.

'Miss Alma. We have Master Luke here with us.
Yeah, ...... yeah, that's fine. Please come in.

　I stepped into Alma's (Garnett) waiting room, greeted by a nervous voice that sounded like I had just heard it somewhere else.

　Waiting there was a girl dressed in a pure white dress reminiscent of A(-) night(-).

　The length of the skirt was long, and the higher up you went, the more easily the contours of your body became apparent, but there was little exposure to the chest, perhaps to hide the scars.

　Instead, the necklace I gave her, which resembles a mithril feather and wolf's fangs, gleams brilliantly on the high-quality white fabric.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with us.

'Why don't you say something ......?'

　Garnett stares at me with a blush on her cheeks.

'Wow, sorry. I accidentally fell in love with you.

　He let out his true feelings and by the time he thought he'd put it away, it was too late, and Garnett swept his gaze across his face as if he'd bitten down on a bitter worm.

'Miss. You'll ruin your makeup,''
Shut up, man. There's nobody else in the building. I don't care.
Although thinly applied, if it falls apart, you'll have to start over.

　Abigail continues to respond to Garnett's disapproval with a face and demeanor that doesn't match her clothes, but Abigail continues to respond in the same manner as usual.

　I can only say that this is as good as it gets.
　It's as if she knows how to handle Garnett perfectly.

By the way, Luke-sama. Is it a problem with your next appointment?
'Yeah. There's still some time before the opening, and I hear the people I want to meet will be arriving a little late.

　The Duke of Kingswell and Senator Eil Sethlumnir of the Northern Tree Alliance.

　Both of them were busy with official and high-ranking positions, and Senator Ail was a dignitary who had come from abroad on a diplomatic mission.

　As a result, they are not busy enough to attend the meeting in time for the opening of the conference, and they will probably arrive at the venue in the middle of the meeting as soon as they have finished their respective duties. ...... We were told in advance by someone from the royal palace that they would have to arrive at the venue in the middle of the meeting as soon as they have finished their respective duties.

''First, His Majesty has arranged a meeting with the Knight Commander stationed in the royal capital. There, we'll exchange opinions on the future search plan for the 'Ark of the Elements', and after that, we'll enter the venue .......
"We'll meet up with Sylvia and the others at the venue and then when the time comes, we'll meet the guys who look like they have something to hide. You don't seem to have time to enjoy a party, do you?

　The amount of work to be done at today's evening party is just enormous, and it's all very serious.

　Regardless of whether we had a harvest or nothing to gain, it could affect the future direction of the White Wolf Knights, or even the Hollow Bottom Branch of the Adventurer's Guild, let alone the White Wolf Guild.

　As I was biting down on the tension that was bubbling up, realizing once again that a critical juncture was approaching, Garnett slapped me forcefully on the back with a hand wrapped in a long handbag.

It's a good thing that you're not too hard on yourself ...... but it might be difficult. I'm sure you'll have no problem with it. I guarantee it.
'Thanks ....... If you trust me that much, it's not cool if I don't respond somehow?

　I felt the stiffness in my body dissolve under the wild encouragement released from my neat outfit.

　If I had come to King's Landing alone, I might have been so tense and overwhelmed by the tension and pressure that I wouldn't have been able to behave properly.

　But even if I was just there without speaking, or even if I was just in a different part of the same building, just the mere fact that Garnett was there made me feel better.

''Luke-sama. Are you going to be present at the meeting with the Knights' captains after this one, Miss?

　I came to myself after hearing a casual comment made by Abigail and answered the question while maintaining my unraveled feelings.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that it's the only meeting that will be attended by the head of the knights, so you'll be separated from Garnett until you enter the venue. Of course, an exception will be made for Commander Angelica's valet of the rainbow scale knights, though.

　Sir Angelica, who has lost her sight, is always accompanied by several girl attendants as maidservants.

　That is no exception to this kind of meeting.

　The other participants exchange opinions on the premise that the squire girl will keep the secret, and it is said that there is a sort of unspoken agreement that Sir Angelica will only bring a squire that she is sure she can trust.

'Then, in the unlikely event that the meeting is so protracted that it cannot be opened in time, what should the young lady do?
"I'm sure it's only for a short time if you're late for the opening, but in that case, you'll need to get to the venue first and meet up with Sylvia and the others. As you might expect, it would not be cool to do it alone, so can you ask Abigail to accompany you?
Yes, sir. I will serve with all my heart and soul.

　Abigail bowed gracefully to me.

　She is more accustomed to public (formal) sitting than I am.

　As a squire of the Argenteer family, I wonder if she has been attending such events for a long time and has gained experience.

I wish I could have followed up with you at the meetings. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work for you.

　Scratching his hair with his fingers through his long sack, Garnett cowered his shoulders and looked up at me.

'Good luck, Luke,'

　That one word was significantly more powerful than anything else, and it pushed me back.