“Later,” Leorino whispered to Julian.
Leorino and his relatives stepped into the hall. The hosts around them sent them off with deep bows.
Julian’s words weighed on Leorino’s mind, but most of all, his thoughts were occupied by the shocking revelation he had learned from his grandmother.
Still, Leorino decided to stop pursuing that train of thought and focus on the soiree. He never got used to such events. He could not afford any careless mistakes that might cause trouble for his grandmother, or his aunt and uncle.
Accompanying Eleonora was very comfortable. She was the highest-ranking person in the room, and no one could talk to her unless she spoke to them first.
The Duke and Duchess of Wiesen had gone off on their own and were already talking to people. They indicated the back of the venue with a glance. They wanted Leorino to escort his grandmother there.
The Duke of Wiesen knew what he was doing. He was worried about leaving his all-too-beautiful nephew alone at the soiree, but he could rest assured if Eleonora were by his side. Eleonora was also thrilled to be able to show off her beautiful grandson.
Chairs lined the back wall of the venue. Eleonora promptly sat down on one of them.
As soon as she did, several elderly ladies gathered around. They bowed deeply before Eleonora and waited for her to speak.
Leorino’s grandmother greeted them with a smile. They must have been close friends.
“Ladies, please lift your heads.”
With Eleonora’s permission, the ladies excitedly swarmed Leorino and his grandmother.
They seemed to be younger than Eleonora, but they were all older than his mother. Leorino was unfamiliar with high society and had no idea who they were.
Leorino meekly stayed close to his grandmother, smiling without saying a word. He was trying to keep his emotions from showing, as Maia had strictly taught him to do, and forced his face into an appropriate expression.
“I’m so glad to see you all. I’m glad I came.”
“We are also pleased to see you, Princess Eleonora.”
“It’s such a shame we haven’t been able to see you lately.”
There was no doubt they were his grandmother’s friends. They were calm enough seeing Leorino’s beauty up close, but they still glanced at him with adoration and curiosity. When Leorino smiled in response to their glances, the ladies gasped as if they were several decades younger than they were.
“Princess Eleonora, please introduce us to your beautiful grandson.”
Seeing her friends marvel at her grandson’s beauty, Eleonora grinned.
“This is Leorino, Maia’s youngest son. Leorino, meet my friends.”
Eleonora introduced the women to him one by one. All of them were wives of high-ranking noblemen whom Leorino only knew by name.
“I am Leorino Cassieux, fourth son of August Cassieux, Margrave of Brungwurt. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Leorino straightened his back and bowed, and all the ladies sighed in delight.
“Perhaps it’s rude of me to say this to a man, but your beauty is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
“What a gorgeous grandson you have.”
Leorino felt awfully self-conscious hearing these elderly ladies rave about his appearance.
He thought his grandmother and mother were much more delicate and beautiful, but it must have been unusual to see a face that looked so much like theirs on a man’s body.
“He certainly resembles Madame Maia as well, but he must have inherited his hair color and his aura from Princess Eleonora.”
Eleonora grinned. “It’s a shame for August, but Leorino has completely taken after his Wiesen blood. Brungwurt blood carries dark hair and blue-green eyes. He received his hair color from me, and his violet eyes come from my late husband. My husband’s eyes were more like Maia’s, perhaps a little more blue.”
The ladies replied with another admiring gasp. The innocent conversation between the old ladies was so trifling, it was almost as if they were young maidens again.
Meanwhile, the band began to play and the soiree began in earnest.
“Leorino, I’ll be here with my friends, so it’s all right. Go enjoy the party for a little while.”
“Yes, Grandmother. But…”
Leorino surveyed the venue and tilted his head in trepidation. There wasn’t much for him to enjoy—he didn’t know anyone here except for the Duke and Duchess of Leben, Julian, and his own aunt and uncle.
There were a few faces he had seen at the Palace of Defense, but he didn’t have the courage to talk to anyone he hadn’t been formally introduced to.
Not to mention, he could feel the passionate gazes of both men and women on him from all over the room.
It was the same as at the Vow of Adulthood ceremony. While none of the attention felt malicious, Leorino’s defensive instincts awoke when he saw the overt interest and the faint hint of desire in their gazes.
“Grandmother, shall I get you something to drink?”
“Oh, no, thank you, I’m all right.”
So that was that.
Ugh, what should I do…?
At that moment, Leorino caught sight of a very large man. Walking with a majestic gait, the man looked like a lion.
“…Lucas.”
As Leorino uttered his name in surprise, the man noticed his gaze and turned his head toward him. Lucas seemed equally shocked to see Leorino.
For some reason, he furrowed his brow, put on a stern expression, and strode toward him through the crowd.
Lucas was not wearing his usual military garb, but a highly decorated ceremonial uniform. He was a powerful, imposing man with a somewhat threatening air about him.
“Luc… Lieutenant General Brandt, how do you do, sir?”
Leorino was happy to see a familiar face. His smile elicited another sigh from the guests around him.
Lucas’s expression, on the other hand, was rigid.
“Leorino, why are you here?”
“I’m accompanying my grandmother… Oh, here she is.”
Eleonora watched Lucas from where she sat. Leorino rushed to introduce her, but before he could, Eleonora spoke to Lucas herself: “Have we met before?”
Lucas knelt down and offered her the deepest bow, afforded only to royalty.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Lucas Brandt. I am the lieutenant general of the Royal Army.”
“Ah, you must work with His Highness Prince Gravis… I presume you’re from the family of Count Hexter, given how you’re a member of the Brandt family.”
“Yes, I am. My brother currently holds the title.”
“Yes. I was quite close with your father. How many years has it been since he passed away? I am sorry for your loss.”
“I appreciate it.”
It was the first time Leorino had seen Lucas behaving in such a proper, aristocratic manner.
He could only widen his eyes at the sight, which had not even been present in any of his memories.
“Princess Eleonora…may I borrow Lord Leorino for a moment?”
“Of course. Leorino, you’re at a party. Go enjoy yourself a little.”
“Yes… Thank you, Grandmother. I will be right back.”
Eleonora offered them a smile that was very similar to her grandson’s, and entrusted Leorino to Lucas.
“Lieutenant General Brandt, this boy is ignorant of the ways of the world. Please keep an eye on him.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
Lucas understood the unspoken order in her gentle smile and bowed deeply. He quickly stood up and placed his hand on Leorino’s waist.
“Come, Leorino. Let’s have a little stroll around the venue.”
The touch startled Leorino, and he tensed before he could help it.
“Of course, Lieutenant General Brandt. Grandmother, if you’ll excuse us for a moment.”
As Leorino began to walk across the hall, there was a stir among the guests, but Lucas and his fierce looks acted as a deterrent, and no one dared approach Leorino.
Lucas smoothly led Leorino to a more discreet location and spoke to him in a quiet voice so that the people around them wouldn’t hear.
“…I must admit, I was quite shocked to see you here.”
“And I to see you. What brings you to the soiree?”
“Oh…I’m here to do business on behalf of my brother—he hardly leaves our domain nowadays. Much like him, the Duke of Leben is a horse lover without equal. He owns several horses from my brother’s estate and is a close friend of our family. Sometimes one must fulfill one’s duty to the family.”
Come to think of it, it was at the horse auction that Lucas, Julian, and Leorino had met.
Leorino recalled that beautiful dapple-gray filly.
“How is Amancera doing? Who chose her in the end?”
“No one. I bought her. She’s too good to give to a half-hearted buyer. I’ll take you to see her sometime.”
“I’m very happy to hear that,” Leorino said, and suddenly remembered Lucas’s sophisticated behavior in front of his grandmother. “I didn’t know you could act like a true nobleman.”