Chapter 281: Complimenting Each Other
When the applause that had kept echoing finally died down.
Just as Elizalina-sama had said, everyone began happily chatting and starting on their meals, celebrating in grand fashion.
“Elizalina-sama’s speech was amazing, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
Ashwell-san, who was standing beside me, nodded at my words and then continued.
“There are a lot of people here from duke, marquis, and count families, and even those who aren’t from those ranks seem to belong to houses with strong information networks, so I think this story will spread across the entire country by tomorrow at the latest.”
“I see…! Just from one glance, you can even tell what kind of people are gathered here. That’s incredible!”
“Rodwell-kun praised me…!!”
Ashwell-san widened her eyes and muttered something in a voice I couldn’t hear, then continued speaking.
“Also! There’s no way this many information-savvy houses just happened to gather by coincidence, so I think Elizalina-sama deliberately brought them all together!!”
“That’s another way to look at it! As expected, Ashwell-san, you’re amazing!!”
“Guh…! Rodwell-kun’s smile…!!”
After that, Ashwell-san kept muttering nonstop with sparkling eyes and a bright expression.
W-what’s going on…?
Ashwell-san sometimes gets like this when I run into her at the noble academy too, and when I consulted Florence-san, who was with me at the time.
She said,
“I recommend ignoring her and leaving immediately.”
That was all she told me.
But since I was finally able to meet Ashwell-san here, I didn’t want to just ignore her and walk away.
…That’s it!
“Ashwell-san!”
“…And he’s so gentle!? W-what is it, Rodwell-kun!!”
“Just like Elizalina-sama said, this seems to be a place for celebration, so if you’d like, would you like to enjoy the food here together?”
“With Rodwell-kun!? E-eat!!”
“Thank you.”
Together with Ashwell-san, who accepted my suggestion,
we served ourselves from the dishes lined up on the table, and then we both started eating at the same time.
“It’s delicious…!”
“Yeah!”
As we continued eating while sharing our impressions, something occurred to me, and I spoke up.
“The sword you used in the swordsmanship tournament was really strong, Ashwell-san.”
“Huh!?”
When I said that, Ashwell-san let out a surprised voice, then shook her head.
“N-no! Compared to you, Rodwell-kun, I’m nowhere near that good!!”
“That’s not true! It might’ve just been bad luck that your semifinal opponent was Florence-san, but if Ashwell-san’s opponent in the semifinals hadn’t been Florence-san, who went on to win the tournament, you might’ve made it all the way to the finals!!”
Her movements were that refined, the kind that clearly showed she’d been training diligently day in and day out.
So when I spoke what I truly felt from the bottom of my heart, Ashwell-san faltered slightly.
“I-I only lost to Florence by chance anyway, but still! Rodwell-kun is way more amazing! I’ve said it before, but when I first saw your sword at the tournament, Rodwell-kun, I thought it was so beautiful I couldn’t take my eyes off it!”
“Th-that’s not—”
“No, Lux’s sword really is so beautiful it makes you want to stare at it.”
“…Huh?”
Suddenly, from behind me, came a gentle female voice that wasn’t Ashwell-san’s.
And since it was a voice I’d been hearing just moments ago, I turned toward where it came from.
“Exactly! That’s right! You really get it, don’t you— huh?”
Ashwell-san, who also turned her gaze behind me, let out a confused sound.
But… I didn’t stop at being confused.
When I saw who it was, I cried out in shock.
“E-Elizalina-sama!?”