Madam, we're ready for you.

　One of the butlers came into the room and approached Alberta and the others.
　The girls turned to Val and Mina and smiled.

'Thank you for your patience. 'We're ready for you, and we'd appreciate it if you could change your clothes. We'll show you around now.

　Alberta led Val and Zonya led Meena to another empty room.
　There were neatly folded clothes and two butlers and two maids waiting for them each.
　I don't need to confirm that they are members of the group to help me change clothes.
　This is because for the imperial aristocracy, clothes are something they are forced to wear.
　After changing clothes, Val walked out and met with Jurgen who was waiting in the corridor.

''Master, didn't you go first?''

　He wondered what the guest of honor at the banquet would be doing here now, but Jurgen gave him a nonchalant look.

'It's a private party with only one family, so it's fine.

That reminds me of this guy.

　Val chuckles.
　The steward near them remained expressionless and stood by without saying a word.
　They knew Jurgen's character well, too, and they must have given up.
　Five minutes after Val stepped out into the hallway, Meena came out in a beautiful lacy green dress.
　Her hair was tied back and there was a magnificent diamond shining around her neck.
　When she sees Val, she bows her head in a great hurry.

'I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Master Bal.

　The fact that she was aware of Jurgen's presence here but didn't mention his name was very typical of Meena.

''Hey Meena, you're my mentor.

　Val cautioned, but Jurgen, in his own right, chuckled in amusement.

'Good. It is a fact that the Goddess of Repentance bows only to Bartholomeus. No wonder those who don't care about the Emperor feel no differently about me.

　Seeing his master, who seemed to even be pleased, Val wanted to hold his head up.

'That's why I wanted you to keep your manners.

　He didn't criticize his master for his rudeness to him, but rather he knew his master's character and warned him to be careful.
　He explained to Meena, who didn't really understand the situation.

''He's also generally a problematic person who doesn't know how to be polite. In a way, he's a good match for you.

'How dare you take your master and call him a troublemaker, Bartolomeus?

Please stop biting me for pointing out the facts.

　To Jurgen, who falters with a disgruntled look on his face, Bal returns with a dumbfounded look.

(Is this Master Bartolomeus's master ......?)

　Meena looked at Jurgen with wonderment in her eyes.
　It was new to see Val like this, and she was very happy to see it, but she also felt somehow uncomfortable.

Shouldn't you two be there?

　Meena didn't show her attitude, but intervened in their playfulness.
　The stewards were relieved and Val and Jurgen both had a momentary look of utter confusion on their faces.

'Then let's go, Bartolomeus.

Yes, Master.

　The two had a conversation, however deliberately, but no one put in a point of order.

'It's over here,'

　The sight of the butler smiling at her, Meena felt that she had seen the spirit of a professional.
　However, if you weren't this good, there's no way you'd be able to serve as a butler for an imperial nobleman.
　It takes more than five minutes to walk from the hallway to the banquet hall.

''It's as spacious as ever,''

　Val says in a whisper.
　There was a lot of nostalgia in his tone of voice.