141 The turbulent social period (season) begins





 A few days after the 18th prince of the Stanza Empire broke into the palace...

"Master Diana. I'm ready for you, sir.
I understand. Thank you.

 I'm sure you'll be able to understand that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this. It's been almost half a year since the soiree at the end of last year's social period (season).
 This is the first time in almost half a year since the end of last year's social season. Looking at Diana, who has been polished from head to toe, all of the palace attendants let out a deep breath of emotion.

I've almost forgotten about it lately, but when you're dressed in formal attire like this, you really do look powerfully beautiful, don't you think?
Yes, she is indeed the incarnation of the goddess of beauty.
...... Don't be rude to a real goddess of beauty. But thank you.

 But thank you." At Yuri and Lurie's praise, Diana smiled back. To be honest, as a person who knows the real beauty of Rifania, I think my face is objectively beautiful, but not of the kind that can be called "divine".
 In contrast to the royal court ladies, Rita, who was also staring at Diana, sighed gloomily.

I hope the prince of the stanzas is so overwhelmed by this power that he slips away.
"Regardless of the power, I'm sure he'll wake up to the fact that I'm not well received at social gatherings.
"That's just the Deanna of last year. I'm sure that the Diana of today is at least reasonably well-liked by the new nobility who have their daughters in the royal court.
I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot more information on this in the coming weeks.

 --The other day, after accidentally encountering the prince of the Stanza Empire in a corner of the palace, Diana was swept up in a somewhat unexpected situation. Every day first thing in the morning, a representative of the Stanza Empire's Goodwill Mission would send a request to see the Red Rose, which was thought to be a sycophantic gesture or a way to win Deanna over. Even if it was because they had arrived earlier than planned and were bored, this frequency was unusual.
 The expression on the face of Madame Magnom was grim, and there was no way Deanna could say "yes" no matter how many times she was asked (no matter how much she was the first in line, there was no way she could have a personal meeting with a foreign envoy when she was only a side wife). ...... The prince of Stanza has been invited as a guest of honor to today's soiree, which marks the start of the social period (season). Unless Deanna is very good at avoiding them or they avoid her, they will probably see each other.

Stanza's delegation has done a lot of damage, and it seems that they're being held back in the royal palace. No matter how much of a prince you are, you can't really do anything bad in public. Don't worry.
I'm sure the people of the Elgrande Kingdom can read the atmosphere at a night party, and they understand that a screw-up at a night party can have repercussions later on, so maybe it's okay. Prince Stanza is a foreigner who is only staying here temporarily, and no matter what he does in this country, he is in a position where he can just run back to his country. It's dangerous to put him in the same category as the nobles of Elgrand.
"I understand that, but they are here in the name of goodwill. We don't want to attract any more hostility in the palace. ......
The other day you said that your goal might be to gather that 'hostility' so that Elgrand can attack Stanza. If that's the case, there's no telling what they'll do at the night party.

 Rita's advice was met with a nod from Diana, who lowered her eyebrows. --Diana nodded her head in response to Rita's advice, "In fact, the pundits have concluded that it is not at all unlikely.

 After an unexpected encounter with Stanza's group in the palace, Deanna immediately returned to her room and began to gather information. The Marquis of Stresia also visited the palace in secret late that night, and in the "Waterlily Room", he and Juke and Diana discussed the report and future measures. The Marquis of Stresia also visited the palace in secret late that day and discussed the report and future measures with Juke and Diana in the "Waterlilies Room", so there was no need for Diana to take an active role. I guess this proves that this situation is very important and unusual for everyone involved.
 What I learned from the conversation was that the stanza delegation was making unorthodox demands and behaving in an arrogant manner. Even so, as the representative of the delegation was a member of the royal family, there was a limit to how much they could protest, and they were dealt a severe blow by Diana, who was also unexpectedly encountered by the other side. But it seems that the palace of Stanza is a little different from that of Elgrand, where even the maidservants and maidservants do not have a set clothing, but rather a set of costumes and ornaments. Even maidservants and maidservants don't have a set of clothes, and they show off their rank by the gorgeousness of their costumes and ornaments. In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site. In the event that you have any kind of questions regarding where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site. If that makes her look like a maidservant, I'm curious to see how glamorous Stanza's palace is.
 --Anyway, from Stanza's point of view, the fact that one of the poorly-dressed daughters who were alone with him in such a deserted place was, of all people, the Red Rose, the highest-ranking member of his side family, was not only out of the ordinary, but it was even upside down. It's not just out of the ordinary, it's an upside-down thing. The fact that Deanna was relatively quiet until she introduced herself may have spurred their misunderstanding. The result was the arrogance of Prince Stanza. It was fortunate that we were able to exploit the gap thanks to their stereotypes, even if it was by accident. ...... But before that, the question of "Why do they, who are supposed to be friendly ambassadors, behave in such a way that antagonizes the Kingdom of Ergeland? I'm not sure what to make of that. As long as we don't know, Rita is right, it wouldn't hurt to be overly cautious.

The Stanza Empire would be happy to find a clear reason to fight the Ergeland Kingdom. "The Stanza Empire would be happy to find a clear reason to fight against the Ergeland Kingdom. If we make the Ergeland Kingdom feel bad by repeatedly behaving rudely in the name of goodwill, and they attack us, it will be a good reason to fight in the name of 'defense.
"In reality, no matter how annoyed the Ergelanders are by a foreigner, they will have to choose between 'rejection' and 'acceptance'. It's not easy to attack a country because you're angry.
It's hard to attack a country because you're angry. It's also true that, in the past, the Kingdom of Ergeland is rife with extremism. If even a few people with loud voices start saying 'destroy Stanza', there's no guarantee that people won't be incited.
In any case, when we don't know what the Stanza Empire's goal is, the fact that Diana-sama is being lured away is in itself creepy. Please be as vigilant as possible.

 She smiled and nodded at Rita's worried words. Deanna, to tell you the truth, is creepy and anxious, but we can't let the enemy know that. In the battlefield of socializing, the one who is pushed by feelings loses. Whether you are anxious or afraid, you have to pretend that you are not.

"Miss Diana, may I? It's time.

 I gave Mia a flawless Red Rose smile as she came to greet me.

"Thank you, Mia. --Shall we go?
"Godspeed, Master Diana.

 I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've seen it before.


 ***************


 In the event that you have any questions regarding where and the best way to get in touch with us, please do not hesitate to contact us. The only difference is that Juke and I are dramatically better friends. Last year, they went their separate ways immediately after the first dance, but this year, she and Juke are doing something that is typical of the acting queen, to the extent of receiving the debutante's greeting.
 In the social circles of the Kingdom of Ergeland, priority is given to those with higher titles in all matters. The same goes for the debutante's greeting. The sons and daughters of the older noble families with the highest ranks among the marquises, in order, solemnly make their speeches and receive the Juke's blessing and recognition as nobles. Since the families of the debutantes were standing behind them, it was very easy to match the names and faces of the families.
 --Most, but not all, of the old marquises are conservatives. Therefore, almost no one has a good feeling for Deanna, who is in charge of the entourage from the new noble families in the rear court. When Deanna and Juke nodded at the debutante with a smile on their faces as if they felt nothing, hatred and disgust poured out of them, which they thought they were hiding but couldn't quite hide. It's not hard to find the source of the hatred and disgust.


 I'm not one to show my fatigue on my face, but I'm starting to feel tired. ...... When I started to feel tired, my malice was suddenly interrupted. When I looked back to the front, I saw a familiar boy with lustrous red hair kneeling in a graceful gesture.

I greet His Majesty the King and the Red Rose. My name is Abel Eustace, eldest son of the current Marquis of Eustace. I hereby report that I have reached the age of fifteen this year and have come of age.
"Hmm. --Abel Eustace. Congratulations on reaching adulthood. I welcome you as an adult nobleman of my kingdom of Ergeland. You may spend this night at leisure in the palace.
"Thank you for your kind words.

 That's where most debutante greetings end. In short, this is a kind of coming-of-age ritual for the Elgrand aristocracy, a kind of stylistic beauty. What the debutante says, and what the king says in return, are fixed to some extent.
 --But...

"Your Majesty. I hope you will allow me to speak directly to the Red Rose here.

 In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site. He glances over at Juke next to him and gives his approval.
 He smiled hawkishly, and Juke nodded.

"I forgive you.
"I thank you. --Dear Red Rose.
"Yes, young lord of Eustace.
I've always wanted to meet you. --My sister has always been very good to me.
I've always been grateful to you, too, my sister.

 I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.
 She smiled ladylike, with the usual fearless light in her eyes.

I would also like to introduce myself. Abel here is the legitimate son of the Eustace family, and my younger brother. He has just made his debut and may not be familiar with aristocratic society, but please take care of him.
"Of course. Of course. As the younger brother of Lord Suzuran, he is very important to me.
"Thank you, my dear Red Rose.

 There was an unnatural buzz around Diana and Yolanda as they smiled at each other. Yolanda, who is also Deanna's chambermaid, introduced her brother, saying, "Take care of my brother," to which Deanna replied, "Of course I will take care of my friend's brother. The flow of events itself is not strange, but the problem lies in the fact that Diana is an infamous young lady who is externally known as the "Rose Princess of Blooming Ice and Fire", and for some reason, she made her infamy even more infamous at the recent House of Lords meeting. --It's not like she's the kind of girl that the next generation of a noble family as prestigious as the Marquesses of Eustace would declare to be friends with in public.
 ...... Of course, Yolanda, the "flower of society," would not do such a reckless thing without thinking. This is a development that she and her family have set up in advance.

"Your Highness, Marquis of Eustace! Remonstrate with your daughter!

 I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. You can find a lot of people who are looking for the best way to get the most out of their life.
 The Marquis of Eustace, who had been rudely attacked without greeting, only glanced at the other party to check, and then changed his posture.

"Your Majesty, the Red Rose. Please take care of my daughter. Please guide my son as well as my daughter as your subjects.
"Marquis of Eustace. ......
Marquis!
I'm afraid my hearing is getting deaf with age. I'm sure the day will come when I will hand over the title to my son. --Will you take my children with you into the future of this country?

 --It was a declaration that the Marquesses of Eustace, who had been neutral and kept away from the power struggles in the royal court for generations, had joined the King's side. In shock, the supposedly lively gathering of the debutantes and their families fell silent as if struck by water.
 In the space where an eerie silence had fallen, Diana...

(Yolanda-sama's "traditional raccoon dog art" is not a fluke, is it? I wonder how many birds with one stone the Marquis of Eustace is aiming for.

 (The Marquis of Yostle is trying to kill several birds with one stone, isn't he?) Without showing it on his face, the Marquis of Yostle expresses his deepest admiration and secretly signals the Jukes by leaning close to them. Juke, who had been surprised and impressed by the fine play of the Eustace family, seemed to come back to himself at Diana's signal and nodded with a joyful expression that was not just an act.

I'm grateful for your kind words, but I still need the Marquis of Eustace to be healthy. For the future I want, I need you, Madame, Suzuran and Abel. Abel still has a lot to learn from his father's back.
"......Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty. We, Eustace, will continue to do our best as your vassals.
"Yes, you can count on it.

 With one last vassal's bow, the Yustor family retreated as if nothing had happened. As she watched their majestic back, Diana applauded inwardly.

(Marquis, that was brilliant!)

 (Marquis, that was brilliant!) One of the few of the neutrals, an old noble family that avoided power. Although they are often ridiculed as "quiet and opportunistic," it is not as easy as it sounds to continue to be a noble family while running away from power for generations. It is necessary to keep a careful eye on the situation at all times, to maintain a good distance from the center of power, and to keep a fine balance between not being completely disliked and not being liked at the same time. The Marquesses of Eustace, who have been carrying out this task flawlessly for generations, have perhaps the best sense of power balance in the kingdom.
 Now, for the first time, the Marquesses of Eustace have declared their position in public. Neither conservative, nor innovative, nor neutral--the "royalists". It is of great significance and conceals many layers of meaning.
 At its most obvious, it is a complete break with the conservative faction of the Marquesses of Eustace. At the most incomprehensible point, it may be a "sign" of the future of the Kingdom of Ergeland. The fact that the Marquesses of Yustor, who have survived by keeping a fine distance from power, have now joined the King's side at this time is nothing but a "sign" that it would be safer to follow the King if they want to survive in the future. Also, the fact that Yolanda and Abel exchanged friendly words with Diana before the declaration implies that the Red Rose and her family, the Counts of Clester, are already on the side of the king, even though they haven't declared it. If you are not fooled by the bad reputation of the Countess of Clester and do not mock the Marquis of Eustace as a "neutralist", and if you are able to analyze the current situation by discerning the truth about each house, you will find hints scattered throughout the structure that will help you survive in the times ahead. ...... This also proves that those who discern the truth from the current exchange and approach the royalists, regardless of whether they are friend or foe, have excellent eyesight and analytical skills.



His Excellency the Marquis of Eustace was one of the people that your father said he would not want to make enemies with. I'm really glad that you've become my ally. (I have to thank Yolanda again.)

 During the last trip back home, each of the three named persons had a discussion with their families at home, and convinced them to side with Juke, whether publicly or not. In order to escape from the palace by any means, the king himself would need to be in a position of power, but right now, Juke had too few allies. He wants an ally he can trust, at least unofficially.
 The Marquis of Stresia, the Marquis of Eustace, and the Count of Kiel, who heard the story, met with Juke in secret, exchanged words directly, and promised to side with the king. First of all, the Marquis of Eustace, whose position in the palace is not that important (as he is far away from the power, it is natural), took the lead in declaring his support for the king.

The Marquis of Eustace has taken the lead in declaring his support for the king. (Not just declaring it, but making the most of it. I'm sure you're not the only one who has a problem with this.

 Yolanda and her brother, Abel, both seem to have inherited the essence of the Eustole family. The Marquise of Eustace is said to be a friend of Madame Magnum, and the advantage of having the Eustace family as an ally is great.

I would like to greet His Majesty the King and the Red Rose.

 In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site. The boy who knelt down with a much firmer gesture than the one Abel had just made was unofficially familiar to both Juke and Deanna. That's why his gestures are awkward as he tries to pretend that he's meeting them for the first time, but this level of nervousness due to his debutante status doesn't seem so unnatural.

I am Claude Mertroix, third son of the former Viscount Mertroix. I am pleased to inform you that I have inherited the title of Viscount of Mertroix and my estate from my father. In addition, I would like to participate in social gatherings, which I have refrained from until now because I am the third son.
I see. Claude, did you manage to complete the succession ceremony?
Yes, everything was fine. Thank you very much for your kindness, Your Majesty.
I didn't do anything wrong. Rather, I've placed a heavy burden on you, an adult, but unmarried and inexperienced socialite. --I know this is a difficult time for you, but I hope you will consult your guardian carefully and make every effort to revitalize the Meltrois territory.
I will take Your Majesty's words to heart and work tirelessly.
"Yes, I'm counting on you.

 Juke cut off his words and looked at the large man standing behind Claude. He looked to be in his late thirties or forties, a couple of sizes larger than the men around him of the same age, with broad shoulders and stout legs and feet, and his formal evening attire seemed to be too tight.
 His position at the Royal Court is, quite simply, "Director of the Outer Court Office. He is Keith's and Claude's boss.
 However, since he's attending the royal soiree in formal attire, and since he's assuming the position of Claude's guardian, he's naturally a member of the Elgrand nobility...

"Count Pajero. I'm grateful to you for accepting the guardianship of the new Viscount Meltrois despite your many duties at the royal court. He may be young and inexperienced, but I hope you will guide him to the right path from time to time.
Yes, sir. --Claude has always been my subordinate. I just need to raise him as a nobleman while raising him as a full-fledged official.
I'm glad you said that.

 I'm not sure what to make of that.
 The head of the Outer Court Office - his name is Norton Pajero. Although he is listed on the nobility list as the current Earl of Pajero, he says that the Pajero estate is no bigger than a cat's forehead, and after deducting the tax revenue from the estate to be paid to the royal court, there is only enough money left over to run the estate the following year. The Count Pajero family itself was established right after the Azure Civil War, and has a history of over a hundred years.
 In the event that you have any kind of questions regarding where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.

It's been a while, Red Rose. My sister has always been a great help to me.
Thank you for your kind greeting, Claude. Thank you for your polite greeting, Mr. Claude. ...... No, I'll have to call you Viscount Mertroix now.
No way. I ...... am still a young man, not even half a man. Please, call me as you have always done.
"If you wish. But don't be intimidated by a viscountcy, Mister Claude. For the sake of your sister Mia, please call yourself Viscount Mertroix. A person is a creature that grows to be worthy of the position they are given, not the position that suits them. Since you are still half a man, I believe that you should take the proper name of Viscount and study hard as a Viscount.

 The former Viscount of Mertroix, Claude, and the father of Mia, the lady of the Red Rose Room, had been ordered to give up their titles to their children and be placed under house arrest after a number of wrongdoings were exposed by the former head mistress. Originally, the House of Mertroix itself could have been dismantled, but Claude's great contribution to the investigation of the former High Priestess's wrongdoings in the Outer Court, and Mia's last-minute siding with Diana and the others, allowed the House itself to survive.
 In the event of such a punishment, the eldest son would normally inherit the title. However, in the case of the Mertrois family, the eldest son and even the second son were complicit in their father's misdeeds, and were not in a position to be allowed to inherit. As a result, the position of Viscount was passed on to Claude, who had no intention of succeeding to the throne and was ready to spend the rest of his life as an official in the royal capital. At first, Claude was said to be reluctant to accept the position, but with the support of the outer court chamberlain, the Cresters, and even Juke, he was able to inherit the title and make his debut in this social season.
 However, Claude is a young boy who has not yet come of age, is unmarried, and is the third son. It is impossible for him to suddenly stand as a viscount or lord. It is customary in aristocratic society to ask the guardianship of an adult nobleman with whom you have a relationship when an immature person succeeds to a title due to unexpected circumstances, and the head of the office, Norton, has agreed to guard him as a friend of his boss. As long as the head of the Outer Court's office was listed as the guardian, the entire office seemed to be ready to support Claude and the Viscount de Mertrois, and Diana remembers that Mia was very happy.

 --Claude seemed to have accepted Mia's encouragement to do his best for her. He nodded with a serious face and said, "I will take your words to heart. He and Norton bowed one last time, and then the two men quietly retreated.
 There were only a few debutantes left in the queue. After this greeting, he would be separated from Juke for a while. Of course, Juke knew that the prince of Stanza had repeatedly asked for a meeting with Diana, so he was worried about her going alone, but it was a privilege that only a real queen who was not a "proxy" could monopolize the king's presence from the beginning to the end of the soiree. It was a privilege that only a real queen, not a "proxy," could enjoy. This was the limit for Diana, who was merely acting as a substitute since she was not the queen.
 With this thought in mind, I was greeted and finally there was only one debutante left. I could feel the eyes of the people around me focusing on the young boy in his debutante-like formal attire who stepped forward with his family.
 Without showing it in her expression or gaze, Diana nodded deeply, only in her heart.

(Ah, ......, here's another boy who's going to stand out.

I'd like to say hello to His Majesty the King and the Red Rose. My name is Rudolph Crockett, eldest son of Baron Crockett. My name is Rudolph Crockett, the current eldest son of Baron Crockett. I came of age last year, and I am pleased to report that I will be joining the social scene this year.


"Well. Rudolph, I'm glad you've come of age. Is there a reason why you postponed your debut for a year?
No, it's nothing much. ...... My sister, who is behind me, was honored with a place in the royal family last year as one of Her Majesty's consorts. I've decided to delay my debut for a year to allow my sister and the family to settle down.
"I didn't know that. You're a family man, aren't you?

 Rudolph smiles back at Juke's words, and the people around him sigh in admiration and admiration at the same time.
 In the event that you're not sure what to do, you can always ask your doctor.

I've heard that the Red Rose has been a great help to my sister. Thank you very much for your concern.
"I am also grateful for your help, Nasha-sama. You're a wonderful sister.
Thank you very much for your kind words.

 I'm sure my sister is happy to be praised, and her beautiful, clear, youthful eyes sparkle. Her silky brown hair swayed as she moved, shining brightly and forming a ring that reflected the lights in the hall. Her white skin, rosy cheeks, shapely nose and lips, and perfect balance of her double-pupil eyes make her look as beautiful as an angel descended from the heavens. And yet, her voice is low, so the imbalance makes her even more attractive.
 --(Rudolph Crockett - current Baron Crockett)

(Rudolph Crockett, son of the current Baron Crockett, and sister and brother to Nasha through a second marriage between stepchildren. He is a remnant of the Baron's previous wife, who remarried to Master Nasha's mother about six years ago, I believe.

 Nasha's mother was a commoner, but her late husband had been the heir to a large nobleman's store, and she had acquired the manners and etiquette that were accepted in noble society. After her husband's death, she worked as a waiter for the aristocracy at a high-class restaurant that paid well in order to raise Nasha by herself, and it was there that Baron Crockett saw her mother. The two sisters were born and raised differently, the younger brother a nobleman from birth and the older sister a commoner who suddenly became a nobleman one day, but judging from the current Rudolph and the Baron's words and actions in the House of Lords, it seems that the family does not get along badly.

(Hmmm ......?)

 I'm not sure what to make of this.
 It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

(The impression I get from what Shayla told me is different from what I get from ......?

 I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea. Although Nasha is a member of the Red Rose faction, she is a moderate person who doesn't like conflict and doesn't try to stand out at salon gatherings.
 This is why Diana herself has never spoken to Nasha so openly. ...... In fact, she is very close to Shayla. In the event that you've got any questions regarding where and how to use the internet, you can contact us at the web site.

In the event that you've got a lot of questions, you'll be able to contact us at our own web site. In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.

 Nasha, bowing deeply behind Rudolph, is unnaturally motionless. In contrast to her brother, who seems to be behaving in a more dignified manner than a debutante, she gives the impression of being smaller.
 --Rudolph suddenly gave a small laugh, wondering what Diana was thinking with her "Red Rose" smile still on her face.

The Red Rose is just what my sister told me she was. --With all due respect, I don't think I've ever met a young woman who could smile at me and not have her cheeks turn red.
"I was impressed by your very eye-catching appearance. I was impressed by your very striking appearance. No one would feel bad if a beautiful boy like you smiled at them. --But I'm not really interested in people's looks.
"...... I see. No wonder my sister is so fascinated.

 It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It's not hostile, but it's not a good feeling either. ......
It's a good idea to have a good idea of what's going on in your life. --At any rate, this was the end of the debutante's greeting.
 Once she and Juke returned to the King and Queen's seats, Diana stood up again.

"Well, Your Majesty. I'm going to take a moment to chat with my ladies.
"All right. --Be careful with that.
Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for your concern.

 Thank you for your concern." After bowing deeply, Diana rowed out alone into the crowd.