Chapter 60: Stars' Ball (6)

Just after Yulian and Charlotte disappeared into the reception room with the princely couple.

The banquet hall began to stir like a poked beehive.

“What did he just say? Give the gift of a baby?”

“Has the baronial family's adopted son finally gone mad?”

“His Highness called for him separately. No matter how you look at it, this looks like big trouble...”

Some from behind their fans, others from over their wine glasses.

The eyes of the nobles' children were fixed on the reception room door.

It was the same for the other nobles' children who had been enjoying a friendly chat with Freya.

“I thought he was extraordinary when I heard about the Belheim Incident, but I didn't think he was this much of a character.”

Young Master Haide, who was standing by the terrace, muttered as he pushed up his eyeglasses.

Then, he shifted his gaze to Yulian's party.

“Young Lady Freya. Is Lord Yulian always like that?”

“Pardon? Ah. Yes. My older brother sometimes says strange things. This is probably one of those times.”

“Strange, you say...?”

“He sometimes speaks without context, stating the result first. It often makes people's hearts sink.”

Beside Freya, Erika, who had been silently chewing on a sausage, swallowed and opened her mouth.

“That's how geniuses are, you know. He was like that with me, too.”

“Indeed, they say that is often the case with geniuses.”

Young Master Haide nodded, stroking his chin.

“In that case, Young Lady Freya, is Lord Yulian truly saying that His Highness can have a child?”

“Yes. My older brother isn't the type to make an irresponsible claim he can't back up.”

“Hoh. First Count Belheim, and now His Highness the Imperial Prince...”

Young Master Haide's gaze remained fixed on the reception room door.

Before they knew it, 30 minutes had passed since they disappeared into the reception room.

Creak.

The tightly shut door opened.

The eyes of everyone in the banquet hall focused on one spot.

The first to emerge were the Imperial Princess Consort, Charlotte, and the Imperial Guard Knights.

The young nobles noticed that the Imperial Princess Consort's eye area was red.

It wasn't hard to guess that she must have had a good cry in there.

Though the meaning of those tears was still unknown.

The Imperial Princess Consort and Charlotte returned to their seats.

And the reception room door closed again.

Yulian and Edmund did not come out.

“They're still not out?”

“Is he left alone with His Highness the Imperial Prince?”

“For them to talk alone after sending out even the Imperial Princess Consort...”

“This must not be an ordinary matter.”

More time passed.

It wasn't long before the door opened again.

Edmund came out.

Walking side-by-side with Yulian, no less.

Edmund, who had walked with his back to Yulian on the way in, was now walking alongside him.

The prince even had a broad smile on his face!

There was only one meaning behind the prince's radiant smile.

“Good heavens...”

“Did he really do it?”

“The thing that even High-rank Healers said was impossible?”

In the center of everyone's gaze.

Yulian and the prince were having a friendly conversation.

“I understand your concern about Her Highness the Imperial Princess Consort's blood spots. However, they will disappear soon if she takes the medicine I'm prescribing, so you don't have to worry too much.”

“That as well?”

“Yes. From then on, she won't need to cover them with a lace collar and can comfortably wear whatever clothes she likes.”

“To think you'd take care of such things. As expected of you, Lord Yulian. Say, do you have any intention of becoming my exclusive healer?”

Exclusive Healer.

A shiver ran down the spines of the nobles' children who heard that term.

An exclusive healer is a position entrusted with the life of a member of the Imperial Family.

That's why the position of an exclusive healer for the Imperial Court was an offer that even High-rank Healers, who had proven their integrity and neutrality over a lifetime, rarely received...

And yet, such an offer was made to the adopted son of a baronial family, in the middle of the Founding Festival banquet hall.

But even more surprising was Yulian's response.

“That is undeserved praise, Your Highness. But as a doctor, it is difficult for me to be exclusive to one person.”

“Why is that?”

“If I were to become Your Highness's exclusive healer, I would have to spend my entire daily routine on standby for you.”

“That's true.”

“However, you are not the only one who needs me, Your Highness.”

“Hah.”

Edmund let out a sigh.

“Now that you put it that way, insisting would be impolite.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“But hearing you say that makes me want you even more. You really should be my exclusive...”

“...”

“...It's a joke. Please don't look at me like that.”

Ha ha.

Edmund laughed and patted Yulian's shoulder.

It was a soldier's greeting, one reserved only for trusted comrades who had been through the battlefield together.

“Exclusive or not, it doesn't matter. Let's maintain our connection. I'll be waiting at the Annex Palace tomorrow.”

Edmund returned to the Imperial Princess Consort's side.

The next moment, as Yulian turned to return to his seat.

A wall of people blocked his path.

Yulian was momentarily flustered by the crowd blocking him.

A young lady approached him, smiling from behind her fan.

“Lord Yulian. Would it be possible for you to grant me a dance today?”

“I apologize, but I have a fiancée...”

Before Yulian could even finish his polite refusal.

Another voice cut in from the side.

“Lord Yulian. I am Fritz of the Baron Wolf's Family. My father has a long-standing connection with the Nihilrit Baronial Family, so I wanted to greet you.”

Behind the young master requesting a handshake, another young lady subtly took her place.

“I heard about the Belheim Incident. If you have time...”

People asking for a dance, offering a handshake, trying to start a conversation.

The forms were different, but they all had one thing in common.

Those who hadn't given him a second glance during the friendly chat earlier were now showing fervent interest in Yulian.

Erika skillfully reheated her cold meat with magic and tilted her head.

“Why is everyone suddenly acting like that?”

Hearing this, Freya narrowed her eyes.

Because even as she spoke, Erika's fork never stopped moving.

A deep sigh escaped Freya's lips.

“Unnie. Don't you realize what an incredible thing just happened?”

“That our Teacher caught the eye of the highest-ranking person?”

“Yes... well... that's not entirely wrong.”

Freya barely resisted the urge to touch her forehead and continued her explanation.

“He is someone who established outstanding military prowess on the Southern Front for three years. As the twelfth prince, he has virtually no right of succession, but it's almost certain that he will become independent from the Imperial Court and receive the title of Marquis for his military merit.”

“So?”

“And Her Highness, the Imperial Princess Consort, is the daughter of a ducal family.”

“I see.”

“The Imperial Court was also trying to push for a breaking of their engagement because of the miscarriage issue. But they couldn't proceed easily since the other party is a ducal family. But if my older brother solved that problem...”

“He's gained a strong backer. That's a good thing.”

“Is this something to be so casual about, Unnie!?”

Erika chuckled at Freya's reaction.

“Actually, I don't understand why you're surprised.”

“Pardon?”

“It's strange that you're so surprised. I've been watching Teacher from his side for so long. This is only natural. No, I should say it's rather late.”

Nom.

Erika finished her plate, tossing the last piece of meat into her mouth.

Seeing that, the words "Is food that important to you?" rose to Freya's chin.

But before Freya could say a word.

A sharp scream suddenly erupted from Yulian's direction.

“Ah-!”

Freya turned her head.

In front of Yulian, a young lady was crouched down, holding her dress shoe.

“Ex-Excuse me, Lord Nihilrit... I think I twisted my ankle because of my shoe... Could you possibly take a quick look?”

Yulian knelt as if it were the most natural thing in the world and began to examine the young lady's ankle.

He pressed various spots on her ankle with his fingers to check for tenderness,

held her calf firmly with one hand while pulling her heel forward,

and moved her heel back and forth.

The young lady who had claimed to have twisted her ankle was taken aback by Yulian's unexpectedly thorough medical examination.

“Tsk.”

And watching this, Freya clicked her tongue briefly.

“On the way home, I'll have to tell my older brother about that young lady's relationships with men. He's just too nice.”

Erika, grabbing a new plate and moving toward the desserts, replied nonchalantly.

“You don't have to worry about that.”

“Pardon?”

Erika had already returned with a tart.

She spoke as she poked the tart on her plate with a fork.

“Do you know how many women in the lower town threw themselves at Teacher, hoping to improve their lot? But he never gave them a second glance. There was something he always said.”

“What did he say?”

“A patient is in their most vulnerable state in front of a doctor. That's why it's easy for them to develop feelings for the doctor who treats them. Because they're grateful. Because they rely on them.”

“I suppose that's true.”

“But Teacher said he must not accept it. The moment a doctor accepts a patient's goodwill, the doctor loses their objectivity. And a relationship that starts like that can easily turn into exploitation.”

“Ah.”

Freya slowly nodded her head.

It was a logic she could certainly understand.

And she also had faith that the older brother she knew would adhere to that logic to the very end.

“If that's the case, I'm relieved.”

“Right? That means the girl's ploy was never going to work from the start.”

Nom.

Erika finished off the tart.

Just then, the music changed.

A grand performance centered on string instruments began to fill the banquet hall.

The ball had begun.

The tables in the center of the banquet hall were pushed against the walls by the attendants.

The cleared center became the ballroom, and the buffet and seating were rearranged to surround it.

Erika and Freya took a spot near the buffet corner.

It was a good position for both eating and watching, with a clear view of the entire ballroom.

Of course, the reason Erika chose this spot was for the former, not the latter.

As the music began, Yulian barely escaped the crowd and headed toward Charlotte.

Yulian extended a hand to his fiancée.

Charlotte took his hand, her cheeks puffed out.

The two of them advanced to the center of the ballroom.

“I will permit you to dance over here.”

The prince permitted them to dance near the spot where he and his wife were dancing.

With that, Yulian's standing also skyrocketed to the heavens.

The young masters and ladies, no longer able to approach Yulian, naturally found their next target.

Yulian's party.

“Young Lady Freya. If you wouldn't mind—.”

“I'm sorry, but I didn't come for that today. And it's still too early for me.”

Freya politely declined with a smile.

Such proposals naturally came to Erika as well.

“Miss Erika. Would you grant me a dance?”

“I'm sorry, but I already have someone in mind.”

““Pardon?””

The young master and Freya were surprised at the same time.

Erika paid them no mind and tossed a piece of tart into her mouth.

Thus, the two repelled the first requests for a dance.

But when one retreated, another approached them.

“Then perhaps the next dance—.”

“I told you I have someone in mind.”

“Miss Erika, I am of the Lilienthal Viscount Family—.”

“I have someone in mind.”

It was the same cookie-cutter answer.

The situation was not much different for Freya.

“Young Lady Freya, just one dance—.”

“I'm truly sorry."

“If that's the case, perhaps I could contact you later—.”

“I'm afraid that will also be difficult.”

The young masters retreated, approached, retreated, and approached again, countless times.

Erika placed her fork down on the plate with a clatter.

“This is endless.”

Erika looked back at Freya.

“Dance with me.”

“Pardon?”

Freya was momentarily stunned.

She realized Erika's intention.

Dancing with someone of the same sex, or with family, was a signal in this high society.

— ‘I am not here for courtship activities today.’

Although there were occasional real same-sex couples, that was an extremely exceptional case.

Normally, ignoring this signal and asking for a dance was considered a discourtesy.

This was why Erika had asked Freya to dance.

“...Alright.”

Freya took Erika's hand.

As the two moved to one side of the ballroom, two young masters who had been about to follow them stopped in their tracks.

A dance between two people of the same sex.

The young masters, understanding the meaning, bowed their heads one by one and retreated.

In a corner of the noisy banquet hall.

A space for just the two of them, Erika and Freya, was created.

Erika's dancing was clumsy.

She was leading, but it was the lead of someone who had never received formal training.

If Freya hadn't adjusted her steps in between, they would have gotten tangled several times.

Then, Erika opened her mouth.

In a voice only Freya could hear.

“Freya. You know what?”

“...Pardon?”

“There's a mister I know in the lower town who always says this. That not everyone can start from the same starting line.”

Freya's feet missed a beat.

“...What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“To Teacher, I'm still a patient and a commoner.”

Freya's hands stopped.

In that moment, Erika's chronic illness came to mind.

That was right.

From the beginning, until now, Erika had always been Yulian's patient.

Bodyguard, dependent retainer, assistant. Even if numerous social statuses overlapped.

The fact that Erika was Yulian's patient always remained.

And Yulian always...

As her thoughts reached that point, Freya's dance faltered for half a beat.

But Erika didn't stop.

She continued her clumsy lead and spoke calmly.

“All I can do right now is eat well and sleep well to get healthy as soon as possible. I have to check if my feelings are still the same then.”

Freya looked up at Erika.

At that moment, a scene flashed through Freya's mind.

— “Unnie, please just grow up healthy.”

Every time she heard those words, Erika would let out a small chuckle.

“Don't tell me...”

At Freya's reaction, Erika let out a small chuckle.

A laugh no different from usual.

Freya didn't ask the meaning of that laugh.

The two danced in silence for a while.

Then, as the song reached its climax, Freya asked Erika a question.

“Unnie, what do you want to do when you're healthy?”

“Well...”

Erika looked up at the ceiling.

The chandelier light reflected in her crimson eyes.

“For starters, maybe I'll try to become a hero. Or a knight or a mercenary. If I achieve something great outside the wall, I might become a noble too, you know?”

At those words, Freya stared blankly at Erika.

It was a night where Erika's profile, as she continued her clumsy lead, seemed exceptionally large.

*

After the dance ended.

The two left the ballroom and returned to the buffet corner.

As soon as she sat down, Erika picked up a new plate.

And she began to pile food from the buffet onto it.

“Dancing makes me hungry.”

Sausage, a chunk of cheese, a tart, smoked salmon, meat, and bread.

When Erika first brought her plate, Freya had looked at her with pitying eyes.

Because she thought that was the best effort Erika could make right now.

But the tower on her plate grew higher and higher.

Watching this, Freya opened her mouth.

“Um... eating well and sleeping well to get healthy quickly is good, but... isn't that a bit too much, Unnie?”

“Huh?”

Erika stopped her fork and tilted her head.

“That's that, and this is this.”

“...Pardon?”

“No, I'm eating this just because it's delicious. It's not like people can live on healthy food alone, right?”

Leaving those words behind, Erika stood up to fill her plate once more.

Blink.

Freya blinked her eyes.

Just what was the extent of Erika's depth?

Freya's mind was in turmoil at that ambiguous sense of depth.

Regardless.

Erika just continued to empty her plate with the vigor of someone determined to make history tonight.