It's Sherry's birthday today.

　Every nobleman in the empire and some foreign emissaries will be there for this birthday party.

　I know how hard it is to be the party's host, so I feel sorry for Sherry as she has to deal with so many people.

　And I'm not so sure I'm going to enjoy this party.

　Because even if I'm not the star of the party, I'm a son of a duke.
　So any nobleman who won't ever give Shelly the time of day comes to me.

　And what I don't enjoy is the caution about assassinations...
　After all, to this day, no burglar has ever messed with me.

　So, this time around, Uncle will be protecting the saint, and I'll be with Lena just in case.

　Even to protect her, no weapons are allowed in the party.
　So I've decided to take only Anna's goggles with me.

　That's depressing: ......

　We're on our way to the castle by carriage.
I don't think I've ever had a more leisurely ride to the castle.
　I'm talking to myself sincerely.

"Huh? How do you always get there?
　Leena heard me talking to myself and asked me a question.

"Always? Usually my uncle would take me at breakneck speed, or I'd go running by myself.

''Seriously, you're from a brave family: ..... It's just too amazing that you can run faster than a carriage!
　Leena looked at me in disbelief.

'Yes, I do.'

Sometimes I doubt Leo's age.
　Huh? You think he knows what's going on?

Yeah, why?
　Inwardly, I'm upset, but I'm at peace.

'Because you're like an adult in your thinking, and your status isn't a child at all.

Oh, yeah. Oh, I think we're here.
　But he arrived at the right moment, so I digress.

"Oh, it's true.
　Then Leena looked out.
　Phew, it looks like I was able to distract Leena: ....

　Then we were led to the party.
　Once we got inside, Grandma and the saint were separated.

　Because of the large number of people at the party, Shelly can't deal with them all, so only children of her own age are allowed to greet them directly.
　Still, it's tough because Shelly has to deal with an awful lot of people.

It's very spacious.
　As we walked in, Leena stopped and said that.

'A lot of people will come for that.

It's tough on Shelly, too.

It must be tough.
　I shudder to think what it's like to be in that situation.

　Talking about that.
Hey, hey, nice to be talking to a woman.
　A chubby guy, about my age, with three friends behind him, came to tangle with me .
　Wow! Temp. ....

'Hey Leena, is it about time to start?'

Yeah. Isn't it about time, though?

Hey! Don't ignore me!
　He got mad when we were talking about ignoring Chubby.

"Yeah, who are you?
　I can't help it, so I ask with a sigh

'You don't know me, do you? You must be a very provincial aristocrat.
　He looks at me and says he's happy to see me.

Well, what could go wrong?
　The Forster lands are on the edge of the Empire, in the sticks.

"Then let me tell you. I am Russell Philibert, the eldest son of House Philibert.

You're a country bumpkin.
　Filibert territory is also in the west end, so it's rural .

　I thought that, and when I looked at Chubby, he was pulling and trembling .
''I'm a country noble? Don't be silly!
　Chubby is getting angry again.

　It's so annoying.

　I was having trouble dealing with this when I heard a voice from the side.
"That was your fault, Russell.
　I looked in the direction of the voice and saw a man about our age.
　Oh, I think it was .... His name was Frank, I think.
　He was here for my birthday.

"Frank, why would you cover for this guy?
　Yeah, it looks like I know this chubby: ....

"It's for your own good. Because it's Leons Forster you're involved with right now.


　Frank said sympathetically.

'What? Who is that guy?
　Chubby tilted his head as he said this.

　Frank heard this.
Huh, you better take him somewhere before he becomes a problem anyway.
　I said to the three men behind me.

　The three of them got impatient.
Master Russell, let's go.
　And pulled away.

Hey, stop pulling on my leg.

　As I watched it happen.
Thanks for that.
　I thanked Frank.

"Don't worry about it. Hey, I haven't talked to you in a while. We barely spoke last time.

Do you two know each other?
　Leena asked curiously.

Yeah, your mother's little brother's kid. You're my cousin.

Really? Nice to meet you, I'm Rihanna Abelard, the saint's grandson.

Hi, my name is Frank Baudelaire.

'You are from the Baudelaire family, my country is indebted to you.
　Leena said with a surprised face when she heard Frank's name. 　

　Incidentally, I heard that the Baudelaire family has been in charge of trade with the Church for generations.

No, no, I haven't done anything yet. By the way, Russell is really an idiot.

Why?

"Because of what he did to the saint's granddaughter. If you're not good at it, you'll have an international problem ....

'Well, I don't think about it.

I know. Oh, here comes the princess.
　Frank told me to look at the entrance: ..... Sherry came in wearing a beautiful dress.

'Wow~ Sherry looks so beautiful in her dress.

Yeah, I guess so.

Have you two ever talked to a princess before?

Yes. We met last week.

And Leo?

'I've seen you many times since the Emperor came to visit.

What? You're a Forster...
　And he looked at me enviously.

You think so? Oh, I need to go say congratulations to Sherry soon.
　I see Chubby talking to Shelly and say

Yeah, yeah. If we don't go, they can't go.
　The three of us are going to Sherry's.

　We get to Sherry's.
Your Highness, I'm a wonderful man. How would you like to be engaged?
　The chubby is embarrassingly stupid.

Huh?
　Shelley asked back.

'Are you too happy for words? So what, "Come on, man. You don't want to do this.
　I was so pissed off that I interrupted you.
　Well, since you're being so rude, it's okay to interrupt me, right?

You're the guy from earlier, why are you messing with me?

Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I'll see you later.
　Then he shoves the chubby thing at a nearby attendant.

　And then...
'Yes, the one who's done is here.
　With that, Chubby was led away by an attendant.

"Phew.

Thank you. Leo.

You're welcome. I'm having a hard time dealing with a guy like that, aren't you?
　And I looked at him with pity.

"It's true. This is no fun at all.
　Shelley then gets an angry look on her face.

'Yeah, yeah, I guess so.'

I've never experienced anything like this before, so I don't know how hard it is, but good luck with that.
　Leena encourages Shelly to do so.

"Thank you, Lina.



'Yes, remember my cousin Frank's name.
　I want you to meet Frank, who was standing right behind me.

Uh, well, Frank Baudelaire.
　Frank bowed hurriedly.

'Phew, it's nice to see you again.
　Sherry replies with a laugh .
　I feel like a princess in these parts: .....

'Oh, I didn't tell you the whole point.
　As I was saying that, I remembered something.

What did you forget to say?
　Then Shelly tilts her head in that direction.

"Happy Birthday 'Doggone'

What?
　In a panic, I looked towards the explosion: .....

　An uncle and a man I didn't know were fighting near the saint .


　SIDE: Damien.
　Currently, Allen and I are in a standoff, not moving or looking at each other.

　Then Allen spoke to me.
I knew you were hiding, Damien.

Personally, I'm not too happy with the prediction.

'Don't say that - it's been so long since we've seen each other.

I didn't expect to see you again like this.

Oh, yeah - I'm the one you want to see again.

Why did you... Why are you...

Why am I doing this? It's easy to do. I wanted to have a fight with you.

'What are you talking about? Did you go all the way into a ninja shop for that?

That's right. If you're going to be righteous, I'm going to be evil.

Why do you care about beating me?

When I was at school, all I cared about was beating you. When I was a student, we fought every day, so it was great fun. But after I graduated and started working, I was really bored working with you. Everything always seemed to get done so easily when I worked with you. And when I stepped through the dungeon in the tower with you, I thought. My life was going to end in boredom if I didn't do something about it! So I've decided to go down the opposite evil path to you rather than become one.

　Allen was thinking that behind his back: .....
'I see. ...... Then I'll beat the crap out of you so much that you'll regret that decision.

Oh, scary, scary, but I didn't say it was a one-on-one fight.

What?

The real party is about to begin.
　Allen says so: .... Dan! and the door burst through and a large group of black men came in.
　But Damien's men, who were guarding the hall, stood in front of them.

"Where do these men come from?
　Wasn't there supposed to be a guard of honor outside?

Now, why is that?

You...

From now on, if you can protect your target in this hall, you win... and if you can't, I win... so let's have some fun and let the party begin.
　Allen said happily: ......