AS they talked, there was eventually a toast, and the party began.
Cesia secretly looked around. The guests here tonight are different from usual. That must be why I don’t feel many people looking at me, she thought. Most of the guests were members of the Hilton family, relatives, or knights. In general, there were more high-ranking nobles there, and few of the nobles who regularly attended parties were there that night. “Even though we’re having them go undercover, it looks like tonight is a swing and a miss,” Cesia mumbled.
Marcus looked uncertain. “Maybe. But we can’t let down our guard.”
“Yeah.”
As they whispered to each other, Rosary and the viscount’s son came up to them to greet them; Marcus was the highest-ranking guest in attendance, so they were the first ones to be greeted.
“I’m a bit early, but best wishes in your marriage,” Marcus said.
“Congratulations,” Cesia said.
Rosary nodded, satisfied with Cesia’s response.
“Thank you very much, Your Royal Highness,” Rosary’s fiancé said. “My entire family is greatly honored to have you here.”
“That’s too much… My fiancée depends a great deal on your wife, so of course we would come running to celebrate you two,” Marcus said.
As the men engaged in friendly conversation, Rosary quietly said to Cesia, “How is it, Baroness?”
“You look very pretty, Rosary!”
Rosary paused. “I wasn’t asking for your impression; I was asking about those gazes…” she said, frowning.
Cesia shook her head. “That’s important, but your wedding matters more, right?”
Rosary smiled bashfully. “Well…”
Cesia smiled and took her hand. “Congratulations, Rosary. I’m sorry I took a bunch of time away from you. You really do look beautiful, and I know you’ll be happy.”
“Why, when you behave so admirably, it knocks me off balance.”
“And to think you don’t understand that I’m trying to be kind. It’s the least I can do on an occasion like this. Hmph, how uncouth of you, Lady Hilton,” Cesia said, speaking to her as they usually did. At that, their bout began with a sharp ding ding ding.
“I was saying that part of you still needs work, Baroness.”
“I’ve always thought this, but can you stop with the ‘Baroness?’ It feels like you’re being distant.”
“I’m trying to put distance between us. I was your lady’s maid and served you, after all.”
“But you aren’t now, right? You can call me Cesia.”
“I can’t be so disrespectful as to call someone who will be a princess consort by only her first name,” Rosary said hesitantly.
“Really…” Cesia frowned, annoyed. “That’s too bad. Your Royal Highness, she’s not listening to me even though I’ll be royalty!” she said as if she was going to tattle on Rosary to Marcus.
“Hold on, really, please!” Rosary said hurriedly, looking afraid. “That’s some personality you’ve got there!”
“All right, use my name, then. We won’t be lady’s maid and baroness anymore; we’ll be friends,” Cesia said forcefully, trying to secure a promise out of Rosary, who nodded reluctantly.
Ever since Mavis had acknowledged her as a friend, Cesia had gotten more unashamed in that regard. And now that her and Rosary’s old conflict had been put to rest, she had been eagerly waiting for her opportunity to become friends with Rosary. Their previous master-servant relationship would have been an excuse for Rosary to refuse, so tonight had been the perfect chance for Cesia to make her move. She had been pushy, but it had gone well, and she was pleased.
“Very well,” Rosary said. “But now that we’re friends, that means I don’t have to hold anything back.”
“Huh? You were holding back?” Cesia said, her expression quickly shifting. This time, it was Rosary’s turn to look pleased.
“Oh, come on.”
“I might’ve rushed things a bit…”
“You know, you really…” Rosary glared at her. Watching the two of them, her fiancé and Marcus laughed.
“B-But, we’re fine tonight, right?” Cesia asked, hurriedly checking her own clothes. She wanted to be someone Rosary could be proud of, so she had gotten advice from Mavis and her maids to make sure her outfit was perfect.
Rosary exaggeratedly stared at Cesia with a troubled look. Cesia had always gotten Rosary to do the final check on her outfit, so she felt anxious. But she had nothing to be worried about.
“Well, not bad,” Rosary said.
Cesia sighed, relieved to get a passing grade. Then, Rosary poked her shoulder.
“Don’t look so uneasy every time. You’re the woman with the highest status here. Your smile will protect you, and here, at least, if you say ‘Jump,’ everyone will be in the air before they ask, ‘How high?’”
Cesia hesitated. “But I can’t.”
“I know you hate that side of nobility, and you think it’s unfair. But remember, it’s just another one of your tools, like magic or martial arts. They can all be powerful weapons for you as long as you use them right.”
Rosary’s advice struck a chord somewhere deep inside her.
After Rosary and her fiancé left to greet other guests, Cesia and Marcus took the opportunity to dance and went out onto the floor. With the recent succession of soirees, Cesia had gotten markedly better at dancing, and in front of everyone, she gracefully stepped and executed a perfect turn.
“You’ve really improved,” Marcus commented.
“Constantly stepping on Your Royal Highness’s feet paid off.” Cesia grinned, and Marcus smiled, too. She hadn’t actually ever stepped on Marcus’s feet, but she had made many beginner mistakes when first starting.
“At the soiree to celebrate our wedding, we’ll be dancing the first dance, but if you can dance this well, I’m confident it’ll be all right,” Marcus said.
“I didn’t want to know about that yet!” Cesia paled. First Rosary earlier, now this. Do nobles always raise you up before sending you crashing down to earth? she thought. With her commoner upbringing, she still had much to learn.
In that way, the night progressed unexpectedly peacefully. By the time the moon had made it a fair distance across the sky, Layne appeared. He was immaculately dressed in his full uniform, which brought looks from women across the hall.
“Your Royal Highness, my apologies for being late,” he said to Marcus.
“I’m sorry, Layne,” Marcus replied.
“Not at all…” Layne glanced at Cesia, then quickly averted his eyes. Remembering their exchange several days previously, Cesia also awkwardly lowered her gaze.
Marcus watched them, then continued without paying any special attention to it. “Have you found out anything new?”
“Well… If you don’t mind, sir, can you come this way for a moment?” Layne asked. He guided Marcus to the small room Rosary had prepared in advance for them. Cesia tried to follow, but Layne halted her with a look.
She was disappointed, but on the other hand, it might have been something he didn’t want her to hear, so she smiled at them and said, “I’ll be waiting over here, Your Royal Highness.”
Marcus looked at Layne and her, then nodded. Cesia watched him and Layne enter the room, then leaned against the wall and surveyed the venue. She wouldn’t make the mistake she had last time; she would confidently stand out in front of everyone as she waited for Marcus.
She didn’t know anyone else there and had already greeted everyone along with Marcus, so she didn’t have to speak to anyone. Left with absolutely nothing to do, she could only observe her surroundings. She got a glass from a server and slowly sipped from it, killing some time. Marcus and Layne still weren’t back, and she couldn’t very well go up to Felix and Ada and talk to them, but at the same time, she also couldn’t just walk around as she pleased. This excess of free time left her feeling she had been cut off from the rest of the world.
As she gazed vacantly at the other guests dancing, someone abruptly stood next to her. When she nonchalantly looked over her shoulder at them, her eyes widened. Standing there was, as if reflected in a mirror, a woman whose face looked very much like hers. Cesia was surprised because she had been letting her thoughts wander, but this was no supernatural phenomenon—she knew this woman well. “Selene,” Cesia said after a pause.
“It’s been a while, Cesia. Or should I say, Baroness?” Selene Diane, Cesia’s cousin, said with an unsightly grin.