Chapter 126
The Galimar Banquet.
A celebration party held to commemorate the successful first semester of new students and to wish for their future academy life.
It was a fairly traditional event that had been held consistently since the academy's founding.
Students or faculty members.
A banquet where anyone who was simply a member could participate.
Perhaps because of its characteristic of not placing particular restrictions, it was also popular among students.
Social activities experienced at a young age usually become special memories.
Especially for commoner students.
Originally, banquets were the exclusive property of luxurious nobles, so it was common for those of lower status to not even be able to see them, but this banquet was an official schedule that gave qualifications even to such children.
Was it because of the academy atmosphere that valued individual ability over family reputation?
This policy incorporated the ideology of minimizing discrimination based on status and evaluating students solely on grades.
An infinitely strict meritocracy.
This was the intention put forward by Gaston, the dean and founder.
Thanks to that, children were allowed broad experiences.
"I heard there's going to be a banquet this time too."
"It's my first time at a banquet... I'm so excited!"
"Is it already that season?"
Commoner students peeked into a world they didn't know.
Noble students enjoyed the extension of socializing.
Faculty members who were tired from work put down their burdens and spent brief leisure time building bonds with students.
Like that, a time when all academy members were liberated from pressure.
It wasn't strange that the atmosphere was becoming slightly excited.
"Who are you going to have as your partner?"
"Hmm... I'll probably go with my fiancé as usual."
"Kyaa~! You two are so romantic!"
"W-well it is the Galimar banquet after all! I guess I want to spend it with someone special..."
"You'll surely match well!"
Of course.
External factors also play a role in fervent popularity.
Children usually enjoy giving special meaning.
Especially if it's a fresh love story.
Such accumulated meanings settle as a legend or superstition after an appropriate time passes.
The Galimar banquet boasting a long tradition was the same.
The superstition that event held was.
'The fruition of love.'
If a virgin and a virgin dance, that love will come true.
Good material for fresh children to chew on.
To adults it's just a trivial superstition, but children give meaning to such triviality.
Whether sincere or joking, it was content that had taken root among students.
One week until the banquet.
The academy was already full of boys and girls requesting partners.
Such freshness was similar for the original work's main characters too.
"So... who will you choose?"
The fox threw a casual question.
Gazes focused.
Girls giving silent pressure were standing nearby.
They seemed to have discussed asking together this time, as they had been watching the situation and couldn't ask rashly until now.
The snake only let out a troubled laugh.
"Ha, haha..."
Did he not understand the situation well?
The boy reacted awkwardly.
He wanted to answer lightly, but it was difficult to open his mouth because of the chilly atmosphere.
While only needless gazes went back and forth between closed eyelids.
One of the girls raised her voice.
The first to step forward was none other than the protagonist.
She spoke with wavering green eyes.
"Um... if I make such a request, I can only think of Young Master."
"Miss Regia?"
"O-of course it's a presumptuous request! But I received a ring last time... h-how should I say it. I thought it would be nice if you were by my side..."
"You don't have to speak while trembling so much."
"I'm sorry... my mouth won't move as I want, s-so..."
Should I say it's like her.
The pilot repeated rambling for a while, then soon wilted as if deflated and withdrew.
Without time to comfort such a girl.
This time the villainess standing next to the protagonist stepped forward.
She spoke while flipping her blue hair.
"Well... I just followed along for now."
"For now?"
"I wasn't planning to attend such a banquet in the first place? But if you really need a partner, I can accompany you."
"Your complexion seems quite red for saying that."
"Shut up!"
"So the Young Lady is also speaking of a partner."
"Ahem... well, you're the person who took my first... after all."
"What?"
A voice gradually decreasing.
In the end, perhaps because of the reduced volume, the boy didn't hear the last words.
Only mumbling sounds brushed his ears.
While tilting his head not understanding, Irene who had been peeking around subtly intervened.
The fox pushed aside the villainess as if treating her as an obstacle and clinging to the snake.
Her gaze was chilly.
"Step aside if you can't even speak properly."
"W-wait you...! What rudeness is this!"
"Because it's frustrating."
She answered coldly and took the spot.
Only the golden-haired boy was fully contained beyond her black pupils.
The fox whispered.
"I'm also in the choices."
"Miss Irene too...?"
"There wasn't a rule saying the partner had to be a student."
"I didn't know you'd be interested in such an event."
"I'm still a girl after all."
The self-proclaimed girl laughed quietly.
The distance was close.
As he felt the breath dyeing his ear, the last person who hadn't been seen grabbed the snake's sleeve.
It was none other than the little prince who had been quietly keeping her place.
The imperial princess spoke with an emotionless voice.
"I want to dance with Yuda too."
"Your Highness Charlotte?"
"Seeing the atmosphere, everyone's saying something. Is some kind of pledge needed or something?"
"I don't think it's a matter that needs to go as far as a pledge."
"Mm. I'll think about it too."
"You weren't listening at all."
The boy smiled complicatedly.
A pledge, she says.
It seemed she had gotten stuck on another strange thought.
Soon the girl gently opened her mouth.
The answer derived after her own serious contemplation was content enough to surprise the surrounding ordinary people.
Not even a trace of wavering settled in her blue eyes.
"Want to touch my chest?"
"...?"
"As a partner pledge."
A voice proudly demanding the partner position.
Naturally, the atmosphere froze.
Girls unable to hide their shock at the shocking statement.
Even the snake who hadn't lost composure until the fox's turn had to pinch his brow at the imperial princess's bomb statement.
In the frozen time, only the person in question tilted her head.
An innocent expression.
"......"
Where should this be pointed out from?
While everyone held silence with such thoughts, Charlotte asked as if there was some problem.
It was a reaction not realizing the words she herself had uttered.
"Why is everyone like that?"
"......"
"I heard men usually like it."
"Your Highness."
"Yuda doesn't?"
"I'm sorry, but... where did you hear such talk?"
"It was in a book Tanya was reading."
"Oh my."
Tanya.
The exclusive maid who had assisted the imperial princess sisters from a young age.
I know she's only about fourteen... did she get her hands on forbidden books early?
The boy thought he should have a serious conversation later.
"Or do you prefer somewhere else? For example, below..."
"Please refrain from any more than that. My head might fly off if I'm not careful."
Quick prevention.
He didn't want to become a madman who teased a nation's imperial princess.
The boy gathered his dizzying consciousness.
'She's certainly four-dimensional.'
There was no way to know where she would bounce to.
It was fortunate she had a basically quiet personality, if she had been even a little lively it would have been troublesome in various ways.
A shocking statement.
Perhaps because she wasn't interested in that side, Charlotte rather spoke without hesitation.
What was certain.
It wasn't content the second most noble existence in the empire should contain.
The snake lightly cautioned her and took a breath.
"Phew..."
While emptying his head for a moment, someone poked his cheek from the side.
It was the rose drooping with red hair.
She who had been watching all the scenes was smiling with a feeling of serving you right.
Her characteristically sarcastic tone lightly tapped the boy.
"You're popular."
"To think such a day would come in my life."
"That's why you should have seduced moderately."
"I don't know what you mean."
"You always pretend not to know and pass it over."
"Humans are beings who cannot live without pretense."
"You speak well."
Elise bursting into quiet laughter.
Behind her mischievously curved eye corners, the girl muttered as if complaining.
"It's a bit regrettable."
"Hmm?"
"If I weren't in this wheelchair, I would have contributed to that trouble."
"...Your Highness."
"Because I can't even stand alone with this body."
An atmosphere that became somewhat bitter somewhere.
It was shackles left by illness.
The boy gently took the rose's hand with an outstretched hand.
And conveyed one word of certainty.
"I'll surely cure you."
The snake had been researching methods all along.
About how to interpret the curse without aftereffects, putting as little strain on her body as possible.
It was an illness with many uncomfortable aspects to treat recklessly.
Just then, I heard the translation of the materials I had entrusted to headquarters last time was nearing completion, so it seemed I would be able to unravel the secret of the curse in the not-too-distant future.
The boy held out his pinky finger towards the girl who had become strangely shaded.
It was the meaning of promise.
"If another opportunity arises next time... you'll be able to freely walk around the hall then."
"It's not that I particularly doubted my physician."
"I tell you with my life at stake."
"You too... saying you've never seduced while doing this."
The rose linking fingers while grumbling.
The somewhat sunken air brightened too.
The girl who seemed to be in a good mood as usual nodded as if it didn't matter and asked.
It was a question pointing out the part he had wanted to explain since earlier.
"Anyway, you should decide soon? Who you'll choose, I mean. Everyone's just waiting for an answer."
"I was about to tell you."
"What? Have you already decided on someone?"
"Actually..."
I spoke while hesitating.
A story I wanted to bring up from the start, but missed the timing due to the chaotic conversation.
It was about the partner I had already decided on.
"I've already thought of someone to ask. But the problem is..."
"The problem is?"
"They're not here."
"...?"
The children including the rose raised question marks simultaneously.
Five gazes focused at once.
I spoke while trying to maintain a brazen smile.
As if I hadn't had any particular thoughts from the start.
"I'm thinking of making a request to someone I'm usually grateful to."
It was an atmosphere that froze instantly.
"So... you mean that partner is me?"
Purple hair that had come down long to the work desk.
Red eyes blinked blankly.
The mature woman seemed rarely flustered, as even the liquor bottle she had been drinking was pushed aside.
The golden-haired boy was reflected beyond her gaze, rippling with intoxication.
"That's right."
The snake nodded.
"Will you join me? Master."
Selena Drunkard.
Towards the drunkard who had taken on the role of his master and would become his partner for this banquet.
His narrowed eyes, curved gently, were smiling meaningfully.