"All right!"
"Ah... I see,"

　When Ray hears a woman wearing makeup scream happily, he replies briefly.
　Makeup isn't all that exaggerated, it's just a light application of cosmetics on your face.
　...and honestly, Ray doesn't understand why it takes more than an hour to paint. He can't, but he doesn't complain that it's a while.

"Look, look, isn't it a great job, isn't it?"

　That's what she says, and she looks in the mirror to Ray.
　A mirror is a very expensive thing, but it is the residence of the Duke of Kelebel, one of the three great factions of the Milliana Kingdom.
　Naturally, there are also mirrors that are too expensive to buy.
　Ray saw his face reflected in such a mirror...

"Well... has anything changed?"
`It's changed!'

　The woman shouts reflexively at the words that come out of Ray's mouth.
　Normally, you can't shout at someone who has a different name like this way.
　The reason I was able to do it was probably because I was ridiculed for my hard work.
　To be exact, Ray didn't make a fool of himself, he just muttered that he didn't understand.
　In fact, looking at my face in the mirror doesn't seem that different from an hour ago.
　When she sees Ray's expression, she looks depressed.

"Well, I don't understand why you want to say that. In fact, my skin is pretty, and I wouldn't have had any problems without makeup. ... But you know. With a little light like this, you don't know?"

　Moving close to the window, Ray looked in the mirror at his face in the light, a little... but a little different from what he had just seen in the mirror.
　Ray's face was originally a woman's face, and it was not so much a fierce one as a woman's face.
　It was just a subtle difference in nuance, but that's how Ray thought of his face.
　But when I look in the mirror at my present face in the light, I feel somehow more masculine than usual.
　It's not obvious, but there's no doubt it will look like that.
　However, in Ray's eyes, there is also a feeling that it may be within the margin of error.
　That's what the other person who put on makeup says...

(He says he cares about his illness... but in this case, is it a little different?)

　Thinking that way, for the time being, he decided to assume that his face was more masculine than usual, and looked at Miranda, who was assigned as his caretaker.

"So what are you going to do now? I'm done with my makeup."

　A little... indeed a little, Ray didn't notice that there was a color of satisfaction in the tone, but the others in the room were rightly.
　The reason why he still doesn't say anything to Ray is probably because he knew professionally that makeup can change his mental state.

"Well. I don't think it's too early to change into party clothes, so I don't think it's too much of a preference for party etiquette."

　She must have noticed that the word "manners" made Ray look slightly unpleasant. Miranda thinks about what to do, but eventually gives up on learning manners.
　One of the reasons is that even if you study, it would be better for Ray to act like an adventurer without letting him do such a thing as long as he is only a fake blade.
　Normally, Miranda doesn't have to think that much about Ray.
　Still, Miranda, who was supposed to be in charge of Ray and often acted with him, was somewhat moved toward Ray.
　...but it's no mistake that I felt indebted to you for getting a lot of money in the mock war.
　Miranda, however, feels for Ray only as a friend, not as a man and a woman.

(Leodannis must know that, too.)

　Miranda remembers Leodanis, who is jealous of Miranda's approach to Ray, but the idea soon settles down.
　That's because I decided that now it's better to think about Ray than that.

"Well, shall I tell you what kind of people are coming to the party today?"
"Ah... should I know that? If possible, I refrained from doing that."
"I understand Ray doesn't like it, but in addition to aristocratic aristocrats... there are also a few aristocrats who are neutral and royal."
"Is that so?"

　The words surprised Ray, too, or did they really?
　As long as it was a party held by Liberte, who led the aristocracy, he took it for granted that everyone would attend it.

"Yes, though, it seems that there is no such thing as a party because it is very important to wait and see what the aristocrats are doing."
"Do you come from the neutral faction? Then, let alone the royal faction, you had better show your face and greet the neutral aristocrats."
"Well, the aristocrats and the neutrals are forming friendly relations these days."

　Miranda says, looking at Ray meaningfully.
　Though he said nothing, his gaze clearly showed that it was Ray who created the friendly atmosphere.
　That kind of gaze forces Ray to nod to the words.
　It's because they don't want to take it in a strange direction at their own discretion, because the aristocrats and neutrals are doing well.
　However, there are some aristocrats who wish to get along with the neutrals, and on the contrary, there are some who do not want to be associated with the neutrals.
　It's the same among the neutrals, and it would be unacceptable, if not very much, for the royalists to have friendly relations with them.
　...however, since today's party is strictly for the aristocracy, it would be impossible for the royal faction to act outright.

"Okay. I'll have nothing to do until the party begins. I'll follow your instructions."

　For Ray, there's nothing to be done.
　Now that you've had your hair done with make-up like this, it would be outrageous to run around in such a situation, let alone combat training.
　So I accept Miranda's words, judging that it's a good opportunity to learn about the nobility.
　However, it's troublesome for me to study manners and other things, so it's not surprising that I compromised there.

"Hmmm, I wanted to see them interact a little more, but unfortunately they don't."

　A woman wearing Ray's makeup muttered to me, looking at the door.
　There was a man there whom Ray had never seen before, but it was obvious what he had come to do if he understood what the room was like.
　And as long as the woman in Ray's makeup is a professional, it's not natural that Ray is the only one who cares in this situation.
　No, there are a lot of other people who put on makeup, but the reason why they still stick to it is probably because they are professionals.
　Ray and Miranda decide they don't need to be here anymore after finishing their makeup and leave the room.
　...when Ray and Miranda showed their surprise at the man who had just come into the room passing Ray, but he and Miranda did not seem particularly concerned.

(I'd like to show up in the kitchen, but I'm sure you're busy cooking for the party.)

　I'd love to hear a little bit about ramen, but today is the busiest day of the year.
　Georgima and her men must have been busy cooking by now.

(Elena and Arra must be busy, of course.)

　Elena, as a princess general and Duchess of Quelevel, needs to prepare parties and meet early guests.
　Arra needs to be on Elena's side as captain of the Knights Guards.
　Both are busy and, if not very much, won't be able to deal with Ray.
　No, there's no doubt that Ray's going to see him, but that's definitely a burden to Elena and Arra.
　Then Ray doesn't want to bother them either.

(If you think about it, it's because I'm not from the Duke of Quevel, but rather a guest. Well, it's impossible to ask me to be a nobleman or to decorate a party.)

　Walking down the corridor thinking like that, I pass by some people who I consider to be aristocratic.
　The aristocrats open their eyes wide the moment they see Ray.
　Despite some doubts about the aristocrats, Ray doesn't know them.

(No, have you seen it somewhere...?)

　I don't know the name clearly, but I still remember Ray, who felt like I'd seen him somewhere.
　The aristocrats who were in the barons during the mock war?But why am I so surprised when I see myself... or more precisely, I don't understand why Ray looks so frightened when he sees me.
　...that's natural, too. Ray didn't have any direct connection with these nobles.
　The aristocrats, looking at Ray, hurriedly leave the scene.

"What's that?"
"Now?"

　Miranda nods in wonder at Ray's words.
　Ray had no idea, but today's aristocrats saw Set in mock warfare and were wondering if they could secure Set by themselves.
　But in reality, before the nobleman could take any action, the Earl of Caseres acted first, resulting in the expulsion of the nobleman.
　Knowing it, the nobles hurried away from Ray.
　The expulsion of the Count of Caseres was a great shock to those who thought so disturbingly.
　If the Earl of Caseres had not moved, and they had moved themselves.
　In that case, it would be hard to believe that it was themselves who had been expelled from the nobility.
　If we are expelled from the nobility, we are only waiting for our own destruction.
　With the Duke of Kelebel welcoming them as guests, who, though notorious, is more important to the adventurers?
　These nobles considered themselves unconditionally important, but when they saw that the Count of Caseres, who was superior to them in rank and ability, had been easily abandoned, there was no guarantee that they would not be abandoned by the Duke of Quebel.
　No, they judge that if they were lower in the aristocracy than the Count of Caseres, they would naturally be cut off.
　...but in fact, because of the strong influence of Count Caceles had on the aristocracy, I dismissed him as a good opportunity.
　For Ray and Miranda, who don't know what's going on in the neighborhood, all they can do is to look at the hastily leaving nobles with indescribably.

"Didn't something go wrong with Ray?"

　Without knowing the reason, Miranda can expect such a situation from the eyes of the aristocrats.
　It's been some time since I served the Duke of Kelebel.
　Therefore, it was not difficult to read the feelings of the nobles.

"It's dark... ...though I can think of many things."

　I understand that many others don't enjoy Ray's close relationship with Elena.
　It's no surprise that Ray may have a grudge against him for reasons he doesn't understand.
　Miranda looks at Ray's attitude with a little... or rather strong feelings of stupidity.
　I don't think Miranda would want to go out of her way to make the aristocracy think that she is a member of the aristocracy.

"Let's go for now. Fortunately, there doesn't seem to be anything in particular right now."

　Miranda's words nodded and Ray moved his feet again to speak.