Chapter 55. Snack Party

Early afternoon.

“Time to go?”

“Yes.”

As planned, I stood before the carriage, ready to accompany Young Lady Aria to the tea party we were invited to.

The carriage before my eyes was Young Lady Aria's personal one, something I’d only seen a few times before. A luxurious carriage with a gleaming black body and engraved silver patterns.

It was so extravagant, it felt almost inappropriate to take it just to another mansion within the Capital. Two black horses and a dedicated coachman stood waiting before it.

This kind of carriage in broad daylight in the Capital… truly befitting of the Void Family.

It’s going to draw a lot of attention wherever it goes.

“Get in!”

“Understood.”

Well, it’ll be a comfortable ride for *me* at least.

“Take care, you two.”

“...Yeah.”

I exchanged greetings with Daren and Kaiden, who were on close protection duty outside, and boarded the carriage.

Those guys have to follow on horseback.

If a bodyguard knight rides in the carriage with the Young Lady, they can’t detect danger in advance, can they?

My role is Lowell, so it's fine for me to ride along.

"Sit comfortably."

"Thank you, Young Lady."

The carriage ride was incredibly comfortable.

Soft seats, luxurious curtains.

With shock absorbers to lessen the bumps and soft lighting, it seemed perfectly suited for long journeys.

“Do you know whose tea party we’re going to today?”

“Yes, it’s a tea party hosted by the Young Lady of the Rosewill Family.”

Today’s destination was the Baron Rosewill’s mansion.

A newly rising noble family, as I recall, having amassed considerable wealth during the last war.

Well, they weren’t the only nobles who profited from the last war.

It’s a pretty common case in the Adel Kingdom, since the war ended not too long ago.

“We’ve arrived.”

The journey from getting into the carriage to arriving at the Baron’s mansion was remarkably short.

Honestly, the locations of the mansions within the Capital are all pretty close.

We could have walked, to be honest.

“Welcome. Please come in.”

We were given a grand welcome at the mansion upon arrival.

From the servants to the Head of the Rosewill Family himself, they were all outside to greet us.

“It is an honor to meet you.”

…It seemed a bit much for the Head of the Family to personally greet guests for a tea party, but…

Considering Young Lady Aria is from the Void Family, it's probably appropriate.

“The honor is all mine, Baron Rosewill.”

I stood beside Young Lady Aria, watching her awkwardly but politely greet the Baron, and naturally, the surrounding gazes shifted to me.

“Excuse me, but who is this…?”

“This is my bodyguard knight, Sir Rain.”

“Ah! The knight who made a great contribution in defeating the Demon Worshippers in the Kain Mountains.”

“Ho ho, you recognize him.”

…Has my name spread that far?

It’s a bit surprising that a noble lord recognizes me.

Anyway.

After the conversation with the Head of the Family concluded, we were finally led to the garden where the tea party was being held.

“You’ve arrived, Young Lady Aria.”

“Please, have a seat here.”

The elaborately dressed young ladies had been waiting for Young Lady Aria and immediately offered her the seat of honor.

“Thank you.”

And Young Lady Aria accepted the treatment as if it were her due and sat down.

…Isn’t Young Lady Rosewill the host? Is this okay?

Well, considering the difference in social standing, I guess it's appropriate.

"Thank you all for coming today."

"Oh, it was only natural to come since my classmate sent the invitation."

"It's wonderful seeing everyone outside of school…"

Anyway.

Now that we had arrived at the garden for the tea party, I thought I could finally relax… but…

“Oh, isn’t he the one we saw that time…?”

“Yes, the *dog*.”

“He’s such a handsome knight.”

“How can he be so dignified?”

This time, the noble young ladies took an interest in *me*.

“My *dog* *is* quite handsome, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he looks just like a knight from a fairytale.”

…As expected of young ladies, their comparisons are straight out of fairytales.

Do I really look like that?

I guess I’m well-built, but I'm pretty tall, wouldn't I be intimidating?

Comparing me to the other knights around… there *are* no other knights around.

Of course, who would bring bodyguard knights to a tea party in the garden?

Young Lady Aria just brazenly brought me along, which is why I’m attracting attention.

Looking around, the only other servants present were the maids quietly waiting to the side.

Even Daren and Kaiden were probably waiting outside the garden.

Honestly, I’d also prefer to be outside the garden, but…

To be frank, I’m not entirely comfortable, even if it is a noble’s garden.

Who knows if there are Demon Worshippers hiding, ready to tunnel up and cause Terror.

Of course, Young Lady Aria has learned a lot of magic at the Magic School, but real combat is a different matter.

So, shamelessly, I stood there…

“Wow… he’s really tall.”

“He’s even taller than the knights in my Family.”

“I wonder what he eats?”

Before I knew it, the young ladies had surrounded me.

“Hmm, my *dog* *is* rather tall, isn’t he?”

Young Lady Aria was the only one calmly sipping her tea.

I wish she’d help me out instead of just watching.

I’ve been surrounded by maids before, but being surrounded by noble young ladies… I’m not sure what to do.

Even though I’m a knight of the Void Family, they are still nobles, so I have to be careful.

Moreover, they’re not grown men, but young ladies around Young Lady Aria’s age.

I have to be even *more* cautious of my actions.

But….

“Your skin is so nice.”

“Wow, your hands are huge.”

Since I just stood there quietly, the young ladies gradually closed the distance.

Finally, figuring I had no choice, I stared at the Young Lady.

“Dog, come here.”

Catching my gaze, the Young Lady helped me out by calling me as if I were hers.

“Yes, Young Lady.”

Very slowly.

I moved to the Young Lady, careful not to brush against the other young ladies.

But….

“Here.”

This time, she held out her hand.

Judging by the twitching corners of her mouth, she looked like she was itching to show off some more.

Huh.

Fine, I’ll play along.

“Good boy.”

Once again, I knelt on one knee to meet her eye level, and she gently stroked my head.

“Oh my, oh my….”

“I saw that before….”

“How can he act like that….”

And since the young ladies were watching with their jaws dropped, I wondered what the hell I was doing.

“Um… excuse me.”

Just then, one of the young ladies cautiously approached and asked,

“Why do you call him ‘Dog’?”

…She’s quick to ask, isn’t she?

I’m not even a slave anymore.

I’m a proper knight, yet they call me 'Dog,' and I wondered why they hadn’t asked sooner.

“That’s right. Is there a special reason for such a nickname?”

“I’ve been calling him that since we were young, so it stuck.”

“You must have a deep bond.”

“Yeah, I picked him up when we were little.”

“What? You mean when you were a child, Young Lady?”

Since I was also curious about that part, I listened intently.

By 'childhood,' she probably meant when I escaped the Colosseum.

Back then, the Young Lady’s red eyes were glowing, weren’t they?

“H-how did you pick him up?”

“Where did you find such a knight…?”

I wanted to hear what she thought of her actions when her eyes were glowing like that….

“Hmm, I don’t remember the details.”

The Young Lady tilted her head a few times and only gave that answer.

“It was a long time ago, after all.”

“Oh, right. Memories fade over time.”

While the young ladies nodded in understanding at the Young Lady’s vague answer, I closely observed her expression.

Did she just brush it off? Or does she really not remember?

I wasn’t sure, but I needed to find out later.

Well, more importantly….

“Um… excuse me, but… could I also pet his head?”

“Oh my, Lady Rosewill, that might be disrespectful to the knight.”

“Oh, his hair looks so soft….”

“W-well, I agree, but….”

First, I wanted to get this tea party over with.

Seeing the young ladies wanting to pet my head, I turned my gaze to the Young Lady.

“Young Lady.”

“Yeah, no petting.”

Thankfully, it seemed the Young Lady wouldn’t allow that much.

“He's a knight now, so only *I* can pet him.”

She said, stroking my head.

…What kind of logic is it that only she can pet me because I’m a knight?

Does that mean it would have been okay when I was actually a 'Dog'?

“Oh, is that so… I shouldn’t have asked.”

“It’s okay.”

Anyway.

“Rather than that, during this break, everyone….”

After they talked about me for a while, they finally started talking about themselves, as befitting a tea party.

Yeah, they have a lot to talk about since they go to the same Magic School, right?

In a way, they're like friends meeting during vacation.

“Then, excuse me for a moment.”

Since the conversation had shifted to a different topic, I quietly moved away from the tea party table.

Being so close while guarding her was the problem in the first place.

I only needed to be at a distance where I could visually confirm the Young Lady’s safety.

Next time, I should guard her from a distance.

And so.

“We had a lovely time today.”

“Yes, Young Lady, it was an honor.”

“Please come again next time.”

Thankfully, the young ladies’ tea party, which focused more on their own interests after talking about me, ended after some time.

“Let’s go, Dog.”

“Yes.”

With my exhausted mind and body, I stepped out of the garden and saw Daren and Kaiden waiting.

“How was the tea party?”

“Next time, you go in, Daren.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah.”

Daren looked puzzled, but I meant it sincerely.

I'd rather fight Devil Worshippers.

It was only a half-day tea party, but it was the most tiring time I’d had recently.