I Am a Ruined Noble of a Ruined Kingdom

Chapter 11: Social Debut (3)

People reacted exactly as expected.

"Marquis Yustiha bringing a partner to a social event?"

"I thought I was dreaming."

"Isn't that man the owner of the mansion?"

With each step we took, stories about us could be heard. It was only natural, as people who had been like rumors and mist had finally revealed their true forms.

Even after Duke Fayta's brief greeting, people observed us like animals in a cage. But this was a place for socializing. There was no way that only those kinds of people would be here forever.

A young man approached us with great enthusiasm. He was wearing a light green shirt and emerald cuff buttons, looking luxurious and wealthy.

The man greeted us with an awkward smile.

"It's been a while, Marquis Yustiha. I am Euro of the Vilone Earldom, do you remember me?"

"I have no reason to attend social events except for guarding His Imperial Majesty. Please understand."

It was a roundabout way of saying, 'Excuse me, but who are you?' Euro Vilone couldn't maintain the balance of his lip corners at Iruealfi's response.

It must have taken considerable courage to be the first to speak, so I felt a little sorry.

"It's been a while. It feels like only yesterday that you tormented countless men after your debutante ten years ago. For such a Marquis to... bring an escort and attend today!"

Euro's gaze turned to me. I smiled as naturally as I could and responded. Because my image would soon become Iruealfi's reputation. I didn't want to cause trouble.

"Keuk."

Despite such efforts, Euro showed the opposite reaction to what I wanted. He stared at me with an expression that was hard to tell whether he was glaring or sneering. Maybe I made a mistake.

I opened my mouth to make up for it.

"I am Nephi Alteon, Iruealfi's exclusive doctor. I look forward to working with you."

I extended my hand towards Euro. But my hand only grasped the warm air of the banquet hall, not the warmth of a person.

"I heard you became a Marquis this time? And even received a mysterious mansion."

Euro crossed his arms and had an attitude of interrogating a wrongdoer.

"That's right."

As records and oral traditions about the Ruined Nobles had been lost, our mansion remained a mysterious structure. Euro's mention of the mysterious mansion was in that context.

"But I heard you don't have territory or considerable wealth. Am I wrong?"

"Yes, well... you are right."

In reality, I was only given the title and the mansion. All the servants were people belonging to the Imperial Family, and my allowance was also managed by the Imperial Family.

I received an allowance that was too much for me on a weekly basis, but I was always troubled because it was always left over. It was because Iruealfi and I were both ascetic and had almost no personal time with each other.

I was by Iruealfi's side as a target of surveillance, and Iruealfi was always overwhelmed with work. From surveillance to escort to documents, even if the day was twice as long, it wouldn't be enough for her.

"A title of honor with nothing to back it up."

"I think it's appropriate."

That was my true feeling. If I ever parted ways with Iruealfi, it would be the beginning of a life where there were only rights and no obligations. I was always looking forward to that day.

I asked a question, grabbing any topic to change the subject.

"By the way, where did you buy those emerald cuff buttons? They look quite luxurious."

"W-what? You have an eye for things. Ahem... To be precise, this is not a cuff button, but a communication stone! How ignorant of the world..."

"Hoo."

I showed interest with shining eyes. In fact, I didn't care about cuff buttons, but I asked as a matter of courtesy.

But communication stones were a different story. Wasn't it like a smart watch in this world? I thought I should buy one of these.

"It's a lack of knowledge of the world, which is disrespectful to Marquis Yustiha..."

"Haha. We can learn from now on, right? That's why we come to places like this."

Iruealfi looked at me with a slightly puzzled look as I coolly accepted it. As I shrugged, her cherry-like lips gently approached her ear.

"Nephi, aren't you upset? You used to be the second-in-command of the Empire, even if it was 400 years ago."

"Heup."

I made an unsightly noise at Iruealfi's sudden whisper. It was a sensation of her sweet breath directly hitting my brain. In particular, Netionpies's five senses were in the realm of the inhuman, so I felt an unnecessarily thrilling pleasure.

'Is it a secret story?'

Thinking so, I also whispered in Iruealfi's ear.

"It's all true."

"Hiyang!"

It was a reaction as if a pure white snow rabbit was startled. She didn't seem to be used to whispering either. Iruealfi grabbed my ear with an enraged attitude.

It was a passionate momentum.

"It doesn't matter how Nephi accepts it, the intention is slander."

"Eup!"

"You can be a little more assertive... huh?"

I quickly escaped from the sweet pleasure that directly hit my brain through my ear canal to break away from Iruealfi's breath. Then I recited like a machine gun next to her ear.

It looked like I was counterattacking if someone saw it.

"Reacting to this kind of thing is foolish."

"Hig?"

"A person who knows real style will lightly ignore their own insults..."

While I was whispering, Euro's angry cry was heard.

"What are you two doing, embarrassingly!"

Euro's eyes contained clear jealousy. I couldn't understand what the problem was at all. Did my whispering with Iruealfi seem to ignore Euro?

"Ah, it's not that it was on purpose..."

"It's not on purpose! Are you saying it's normal on a regular basis? Ha, it's not even funny. That's enough, that's enough!"

Euro muttered 'Damn it...' and left as if running away. Not only me but even Iruealfi stared blankly at Euro's back.

Then people started talking openly. It was a topic about me and Iruealfi. They were talking so openly that even Iruealfi could hear it.

"Oh my god, it's not just a doctor-patient relationship!"

"To do such a thing in front of so many eyes...!"

"Keuek, I'm jealous of that doctor."

"Haa, I'm jealous of Marquis Yustiha. What does it feel like to have a gentleman with such decadent beauty whisper in your ear?"

Those were the kinds of things that were said, and me and Iruealfi finally realized the seriousness of the situation.

"What's going on, Nephi? Why is the scandal growing?"

"You don't know that...! No, I didn't know either, but this wasn't the intention, kheuheuk."

"I haven't thought much about it until now, but I feel ashamed to hear it so openly."

"... I agree."

The memories of being teased by those around me when I talked to a girl who became my classmate when I was a child are revived. Are the people in the social circles just at that level of mental age...?

The Ruined Noble was the second-in-command of these people.

"Now that it's come to this, let's talk to as many people as possible and explain."

"His Majesty has already spread rumors about my injury and doctor. What can we explain here?"

"What? If I hadn't known, I could have done something!"

If it was before the rumor spread, I could have glossed over the situation as a private conversation between a doctor and a patient. But if it was after the rumor spread, it would mean that I did such a thing despite being a doctor and a patient.

The meaning of the two situations was completely different.

"Weren't you supposed to be a socialite veteran? Do something...!"

"Actually, I haven't even opened my mouth at social events since my debutante because I was only guarding His Majesty. I'm not all-powerful."

"You were so confident, you selective strongest!"

"What did you say?"

Saying that, I recalled Iruealfi's actions so far. A foolish and unquestioning attitude, a taste for dad jokes, and an oblivious superior.

Not only that. Until recently, she hasn't even opened her mouth in social circles due to her escort duties. In addition, she suffers from a serious princess disease. According to my observations, she has no friends either.

'This girl, isn't she actually suffering from a huge communication disorder?'

It was an unexpected truth. Perhaps she had solved everything with the name Iruealfi Yustiha, beauty, and power.

While me and Iruealfi were bickering, a savior came running towards us from afar. It was Charles Milote, with her blonde hair, green eyes, and impressive red dress.

Charles hugged Iruealfi tightly as always.

"Elfi!"

"Cha, Charles?!"

Iruealfi was surprisingly surprised. Since we were invited as guests to the banquet, Charles' attendance was certain.

The reason why Iruealfi was surprised was that she didn't expect Charles to act immaturely even in public.

Such actions are not allowed for Iruealfi, who guards the Emperor in public. Today was a special day when she didn't, so Charles would have treated her as usual.

But in the current situation, it was actually a good thing. Because she hates me, she will strongly deny the relationship with Iruealfi.

There was a time when I had such hope.

"Hey Charles, about Iruealfi just now..."

"Shut up, Marquis Alteon. I have eyes too. What is it, those affectionate acts? I should have known from the time you lived with Elfi and called each other by your names intimately!"

"Cha, Charles? No, Miss Milote?"

I was able to guess that the situation was going wrong, very wrong. Charles's mouth, once opened, showed no signs of closing.

At this moment, the mouth of disaster had arrived at the banquet hall.

"Is it the affection that arose from comforting Elfi's wounds? Or is it still that handsome face? Is Elfi's taste like that? I... I...! I believed in Elfi... but yes. If Elfi likes it, I will bless her as much as I can... Heuheuk."

Charles was grinding her teeth and talking at the end. I had no idea and no answer, so I just stared at the current situation with my mouth open.

'Nephi. What do we do now?'

As Iruealfi winked, I winked back.

'Haha, I don't know. Me neither.'

A childish young lady is pushing a grand plan into the sewer... Is it true that people make plans, but success or failure depends on heaven?

I could only look up at the sky and lament.

The disaster was not over. To make matters worse, the performers were now checking their instruments. Soon the time will come to hold hands with Iruealfi and dance.

Originally, there was no problem at all, but the timing was bad. The combination of me and Iruealfi would clearly drive a wedge into the controversy that had arisen.

While Charles was grabbing Iruealfi and appealing to her, further fueling the controversy, I started talking to a few people and having conversations. I didn't remember any of the conversations.

Then at some point, the music started playing, and Iruealfi approached me with a bored expression. The expression desolate couldn't be more fitting.

"Iruealfi."

"Yes..."

"I don't know either. Let's go with the triple axel. We need to divert people's attention with dance."

"Yes..."

I didn't even know what I was saying. Iruealfi didn't even hear what I was saying properly. It was the result of each other losing their minds.

Today was a night when the full moon brightly illuminated the Fayta Duke's mansion. At the same time, it was a night when the history of the dance god and dance king duo of the social world was newly written.

Two Marquises who turned the stage upside down.

That day, we became a legend in the social world with the moniker Black and White Dance.