Finally, the day of the ball to which I was invited dawned.
The man, who identified himself as Mathieu, truly sent documents proving his title as a Count. According to the three jaks (presumably a reference to her trusted advisors or sources), he had nothing to do with Hildegard or Duke Lennox Hesmann.
I called the mobile dressing room and changed into a dress for the banquet. It was a thin, off-the-shoulder empire dress, paired with very, very pointed stiletto heels.
Waiting for the carriage, I stood by the window on the second floor and looked down. Hildegard and Lennox still showed no reaction. I could only guess that they were quietly checking my background.
But there was something more important than that. It was the fact that their general store building was being constructed right across from my stationery store. I stood by the window of the second-floor stationery store and looked out. The building was so large that its shadow reached even here, at the foot of my building.
This was a clear violation of my right to sunlight.
What is that? Isn't it the Eye of Sauron?
The scale of infringement on my business rights in the alley was also the highest ever.
"How can they build something like that so quickly?" The magical abilities of this world are truly amazing. "It's strange that the world isn't more developed in terms of general building skills."
I pulled up the curtains, turned my back, and sat down by the window. Not long ago, I had overpowered their team in the confrontation with Hildegard, but the cotton candy's magical effect would be exhausted in a week. And that huge building was already attracting attention. If I loosened the reins here, the tide could turn in an instant.
Just then, Dominic brushed off his wet hair with a towel and came out to the second-floor living room.
"There's a week left until the excommunication." These days, Dominic was practically an excommunication alarm. Whenever he had a chance, he brought up the excommunication trial to me.
"Well, it's not going to be a big deal. Things are progressing steadily." I jumped to the floor and hummed as I patted Dominic on the shoulder.
Neigh!
But suddenly, I heard a horse whinnying and a rough knock on the stationery store door. I reflexively checked my watch. It was still a long time before Mathieu was supposed to arrive.
It looks like an uninvited guest has broken in.
I rushed to the first-floor door and opened it. "Who are you?"
In front of the door stood a man wearing a knight's uniform embroidered with the Babyloa crest, looking somewhat determined.
"The Duke sent us after hearing that the Young Lady was running a shop alone with a man."
I tilted my head and replied as if annoyed. "So?"
"…Yes?" Their arrogant eyes twisted slightly. They probably expected me to give them a grand welcome.
Stupidly, they would have thought I wanted to go back to Babyloa.
Sure enough, the vassals sent by the Duke of Babyloa looked down on me with frowns.
"We were sent by His Excellency the Duke. If there are guests, it is basic politeness to let them in."
"I don't consider you my guests." Most of the Babyloa family's vassals hated me. They thought of me as a kind of contaminant. Seeing that the vassal in front of me also had a familiar look in his eyes, he was probably no exception.
I opened the door wider, walked past them, and wriggled my way outside. They followed me, their faces dazed.
"Lady Meldenik Babyloa!"
Their voices were a nuisance in my ears.
I sat down on a bench in front of the stationery store and asked, "What is the main point?"
Two vassals, approaching in a sweat, stood menacingly in front of the bench.
"Your Excellency the Duke has ordered you to bring the Princess here."
"Really?" Of course, I thought he would come himself, and sent the others away.
I chuckled as I looked at the ordinary carriage that could be seen beyond them.
It's obvious what you're thinking. You're trying to use my abilities to take advantage of me.
The Duke of Babyloa, who was indecisive about Hildegard, was now going to use me as his pawn. What if I felt mana and it turned out that I wasn't of a cursed bloodline? The Duke of Babyloa would proudly display my mana and offer it here and there like a commodity. Such a result was a given.
I felt bad just hearing the word 'Ba' in Babyloa. Just like hearing the word "bar" of a cockroach gives you goosebumps.
"It's about the excommunication." After hearing this story, they wouldn't be able to push any further.
"Your Excellency, the Duke of Babyloa, says he will reconsider the excommunication." As I grew taller, they looked down at me.
Of course you'll be grateful. You know my place.
I saw a shameless face.
"His Excellency has told you to quickly re-enter the family and manifest your abilities." He nodded his head firmly in a shameless manner.
"This is a letter written by His Excellency, please read it." One of the vassals held out a letter to me.
I accepted the letter silently. Then I began to read it aloud line by line.
"Meldenik, I know you're arrogant. I also know that you have shown your ability to return to our family. So come back to the Iman family. I will cancel the excommunication."
I see that you are curious about what exactly my abilities are.
I didn't accurately reveal my abilities on the petit debutant stage. This was because it was more advantageous for rumors to spread. Vague things that seemed to be known rather than certainties were good for inflating rumors.
Certainly, the rumors about what I did on my petite debutant day seem to be true.
The Duke of Babyloa, who heard the rumors I had deliberately spread, felt a little nervous.
I folded the letter with one hand and grinned. "…It is written."
The vassal, who heard my sonorous voice, nodded with a face that said, "Yes."
The vassal's face became triumphant. "If so, when will you set a return date?"
Another vassal, who had been like air beside him, cheekily spoke to him. "If you come back, you know that this building will belong to Babyloa, right?"
It was a stationery store building that I had carefully renovated and decorated to find somewhere.
I frowned at them. "Let's listen, let's listen, it's crossing the line."
I smiled refreshingly at the mission sent by the Duke. All this time, I had said the last word to Lennox and the same to the Duke of Babyloa. In a word, it's a dead end, this sound.
"Won't you turn it off?" I will not lose to the vassals of Babyloa.
The vassals looked at me with bewildered eyes. "What did you just say?"
"Do you really have no intention of being forgiven?"
What broke the tense confrontation was a thick voice from behind the bench.
"Lady Meldenik."
I knew without turning my head. A man stood behind me, staring at them.
"You said you were busy." There was power in every word he spoke.
"…Why don't you turn it off?" The vassals' faces turned white.
"Who are you…?" The vassals stuttered as if they felt quite intimidated. I was overwhelmed by the ferocious momentum. Unlike ordinary aristocrats, he had a strange sense of intimidation.
Those who have definitely learned are different.
I smiled contentedly, recalling his strong presence. Then, sitting on the bench, I crossed my legs and opened my mouth arrogantly.
"It's my prom escort, is there a problem?"
"Well, then to Your Excellency the Duke—!"
"It has nothing to do with the Lady." Mathieu, standing behind me, replied and pulled my shoulder hard with his graceful fingertips.
At the right time, I heard the sound of horses rumbling through the front door of the stationery store. The carriage for me and the escort to ride in the masquerade was ready.
"Hey, what kind of rudeness is this?" I jumped up.
"I'm busy going to prom, so I'm leaving." It's no longer worth talking to them.
"Tell your Excellency."
"Nothing, what—!"
"If you're curious, come in person. I'm not the Meldenik you knew."
That's all I have to say to my cowardly father. I strained my feet and walked, passing the vassals standing in the distance. Mathieu took my hand and simply escorted me to the carriage.