Chapter 278: Opening
“Ah…! So this is the venue for the event being hosted by Elizalina-sama…!”
After getting down from the carriage and taking in the sight before me, I couldn’t help but let those words out with force.
It seemed the event was being held in the vast garden of a grand mansion.
Countless tables had been set up, and each one was covered with an array of dishes.
But even more than that, what truly surprised me was…
Most of the people standing around each table and chatting were dukes.
“W-what should I do…!”
I feel so out of place… R-right!
“I should look for Elina-san…!”
With that thought, I scanned the area, but…
There were far more people than I’d expected, and it didn’t look like I’d be able to find any one person quickly.
For now, just standing around here would probably get in someone’s way, so I decided to move over to one of the tables like everyone else.
Still feeling out of place, I walked forward and stopped in front of a table.
…That was when.
“Huh, Rodwell-kun?”
I heard my name called from beside me, and when I glanced over…
Standing there was a student from the same noble academy.
It was Nora Ashwell-san, the girl with long, beautiful blonde hair who’d crossed swords with Florence-san in the swordsmanship tournament and praised my sword.
“A-Ashwell-san!?”
As I stood there in surprise, Ashwell-san spoke with a bright smile.
“I knew it! Rodwell-kun, you were invited to Elizalina-sama’s event too?”
“Y-yeah, technically… but honestly, seeing the people around here, I’m a little worried about whether this is really a place someone like me belongs…”
“Rodwell-kun was the runner-up in the swordsmanship tournament. No, even better. To me, you were the real winner, so of course you’re worthy of being invited to Elizalina-sama’s event!”
“I-is that so…”
The winner… to her?
…I don’t really get it, but…
“Either way, having someone I know like you here, Ashwell-san, really puts me at ease. Thank you so much for calling out to me!”
“Ah! R-Rodwell-kun…!!”
When I said that with an unthinking smile, Ashwell-san called my name with an oddly moved expression.
…Come to think of it.
“Why wasn’t Florence-san, the winner of the swordsmanship tournament, invited to this event?”
If Ashwell-san and I were invited, it wouldn’t be strange for Florence-san to be invited too. But before, she’d said no one had contacted her.
And while it’s possible I just haven’t spotted her yet, I still don’t see Florence-san anywhere at this venue.
When I asked that, puzzled, Ashwell-san replied.
“Elizalina-sama has a keen eye, so maybe she realized that I, Nora Ashwell of the Duke Ashwell house, am more capable than someone like Florence. Of course, I think she noticed how capable you are too, Rodwell-kun!”
I don’t think that’s the reason, but…
Still, there has to be some kind of reason, or so I thought.
Just then, the people at the venue who’d been chatting among themselves suddenly fell silent and turned their gazes toward the mansion in front of us. Ashwell-san and I followed their line of sight.
“Ah…!”
There, on the second-floor terrace, stood Elizalina-sama.
From all around us, quiet voices rose from people of all ages.
“It’s Elizalina-sama…”
“How beautiful…”
“What a delicate lady…”
“She’s gorgeous…”
As everyone stared, utterly captivated by Elizalina-sama’s appearance.
Seemingly accustomed to such attention, Elizalina-sama calmly looked over the venue. When her eyes met mine for just a moment, she smiled at me.
Then, after surveying everyone, she opened her mouth and spoke in a bright voice.
“Everyone! Thank you very much for attending this event hosted by me, Second Princess Elizalina, today! Without further ado, I’d like to begin the event now, so I hope you’ll all enjoy yourselves!”
As Elizalina-sama bowed toward us, the venue filled with applause, and with that as the signal, the event began.