MTLNOVEL Chapter 31
Astaire’s gaze was fixed on Elsez’s ear.Suddenly, she felt the warmth of a hand touch her earlobe.And right after, a faint, stinging pain.“Ah.”When Elsez let out a small groan, Astaire flinched and checked her expression.“Does it hurt? I’m sorry. This wasn’t going in properly.”His already careful touch became even more delicate, as if handling a glass artifact.He touched the other earlobe as well, and this time, he finished smoothly before returning to his seat.Only then did Elsez reach up to touch her ear.“…An earring?”“It’s an earring with a built-in communication device.”At her fingertips, she felt an earring that hadn’t been there before.“I’d love to escort you inside myself, but since I’m just a coachman, that wouldn’t be possible. Once you’re inside the mansion, we’ll talk through this.”Astaire tapped the sapphire earring in his own ear with his long fingers.“Can you hear me? My voice?”She could hear his voice right in front of her—along with another version of it, transmitted through the earring.Perhaps due to the magical energy unique to enchanted artifacts, his usually smooth, melodic voice carried a slight hum. Yet, it was still pleasant to listen to.Elsez nodded.“Yes, I can hear you well.”“It’s not uncomfortable?”“No. It’s just… You remind me of a fairy godmother, Lord.”“A fairy godmother?”Astaire looked at her with puzzled eyes, as if he didn’t understand.‘Does this world not have a fairy tale similar to Cinderella?’Elsez explained the story to him.“In a children’s book I read as a child, the main character, dressed in worn-out clothes, is magically transformed by a fairy godmother. You’re just like that fairy godmother.”Hearing that, Astaire burst into laughter. Then, gazing intently at Elsez, he asked in a suddenly serious voice,“Instead of a fairy godmother… can’t I be the prince?”“Well, I don’t know. Since you’re a coachman today, I don’t think that’s possible.”At Elsez’s playful response, Astaire laughed again and stood up.“I suppose I have no choice but to fulfill my role as the fairy godmother for today.”He got out of the carriage, and soon, it started moving.Once left alone in the now-quiet carriage, a black haze shimmered from the brooch that had remained silent until now.“I almost attacked that human earlier, thinking he was a threat.”Hearing Ruti’s relieved remark, Elsez giggled.For someone who despised Astaire’s presence so much, it was impressive that Reti had held back.The carriage, which already looked expensive from the outside, moved with a quietness that matched its grandeur.Suddenly recalling something she needed to tell Astaire, Elsez tapped her earring twice.“Your Highness.”—Yes, go ahead.“I’d like you to keep my identity a secret from the guild and the guild master for now. At least until I break off my engagement with the Duke.”If she revealed her identity after freeing herself from Tezette’s name, there would be far fewer complications.—Are you planning to break off your engagement with him?“The Duke would find it troublesome if people knew his fiancée was working with the guild, and I need to remove the label of being his fiancée to move more freely.”—So… that means you have no feelings for him?“As I mentioned before, it was just an arrangement due to my father’s debt.”Astaire was silent for a moment before responding, a beat later than usual.—Then from now on, we are… people who share each other’s secrets.His voice, for some reason, was pitched slightly higher than usual as he said that. ***** “Welcome, my lady.”As the carriage arrived, the waiting knights of House Lort opened the door and escorted Elsez.—See you later.Leaving those words behind, Astaire and the carriage disappeared into the mansion grounds.It was headed toward a section of the front garden where the coachmen waited.Elsez carefully gathered the hem of her long dress, taking cautious steps in her unfamiliar shoes as she ascended the steps leading into the count’s mansion.She could hear whispers from the nobles who had arrived around the same time as her, but her mind was completely focused on reviewing the infiltration plan.‘The Lort estate consists of a main building and a separate annex behind the garden.’In her mind, Elsez mapped out the estate.The banquet was being held in the main building, with the garden behind it, and at the end of the garden stood the annex.‘Anything important is likely hidden in the annex. It would be too risky to keep it in the main building, where guests can freely come and go.’‘That makes sense.’‘While I investigate the annex, you’ll monitor the movements of Count Lort and his wife inside the main building.’Elsez’s task carried little risk—she only had to pretend to enjoy the banquet while keeping an eye on the count and countess.Lost in thought, she soon found herself at the top of the stairs.‘A banquet… this is my first time attending one.’In her first life, she had been too busy training heroes, and as she wasn’t a noble, she had never been invited to such events.So in this life, this was her very first banquet.Taking a deep breath, Elsez looked into the dazzlingly bright hall and slowly stepped inside.The banquet hall was already bustling with nobles who had arrived earlier.Just as she was momentarily overwhelmed by the impressive crowd, a well-dressed middle-aged couple approached her and spoke.“Well, well, if it isn’t Lady Rohan! I haven’t seen you since your father’s funeral.”“Welcome, Lady Rohan. It’s so good to have you here.”Elsez had no idea who they were, but given that they were welcoming guests, it was clear they were the hosts.Observing how other noble ladies greeted them, she lifted the hem of her dress slightly and offered a polite bow.“Good evening, Count, Countess.”The Countess of Lort took Elsez’s hands in hers, her expression filled with sympathy.“I hesitated to invite you, thinking you might still be grieving, but I’m so glad you could join us tonight.”“It’s quite alright. I truly appreciate being invited to such a beautiful mansion.”“By the way, where is Duke Rittenhouse…?”The count, his balding head gleaming under the chandelier’s light, glanced around in search of the duke.‘Of course, they only invited me because I’m his fiancée. It’d be strange if they didn’t ask about him.’She had expected this question. Elsez smoothly delivered her prepared response.“He’s busy with work. As someone trusted by His Majesty, he seems to have a great deal of responsibilities.”“Ah, I see. That’s unfortunate. I was hoping to see the duke tonight.”The count smacked his lips in disappointment.The countess, noticing her husband’s reaction, gently nudged him aside and quickly smoothed over the conversation.“Still, with so many guests here, I’m sure you’ll have an enjoyable evening. Please, make yourself at home.”After offering a courteous nod to Elsez, the couple moved on to greet the next guests.Now free, Elsez made her way toward a table in a quiet corner of the banquet hall.‘It’d be troublesome if someone who knew the previous Elsez recognized me.’Surveying her surroundings, she approached a nearby table.The table was set with fine wine, cheese, cookies, and delicate madeleines.She picked up a delicious-looking madeleine and took a bite, then reached for a glass of wine.At that moment, a black haze seeped from the brooch on her chest and swiftly swallowed an entire madeleine.“Oh, this is good! What’s it called?”“Lemon madeleine.”“What about that one?”Reti’s dark mist pointed to a plate nearby.“That’s a chocolate bonbon. It’s a confection where various fillings are coated in chocolate.”Smiling, Elsez placed the entire plate right in front of her.Reti discreetly nibbled on the treats, staying out of sight.Meanwhile, Elsez kept an eye on the room—and soon felt a gaze on her.She turned toward the source of the staring and found a group of noble ladies her age whispering as they looked her way.‘Do I know them?’Judging by their expressions and the way they were glancing at her with disdain, they didn’t seem to be on friendly terms with the original Elsez.‘I don’t even know their names. No point in approaching them and giving them a reason to pick a fight.’Still, it felt wrong to ignore them completely when their eyes had already met.Elsez offered a small nod in greeting before turning her gaze elsewhere.Then, she sensed another stare—this time from a man among the young noblemen.‘Who’s that? Do I know him?’As she studied his face, his thick lips and strong jawline gave her a clue.He bore a striking resemblance to Count Lort.‘Ah, he must be the young viscount of Lort.’He was chatting with the men around him while blatantly staring at her.Something about his gaze unsettled her.Feeling an instinctive sense of unease, Elsez decided to move to another spot to escape his attention.But just as she was about to leave, someone stepped in front of her.“Lady Rohan, it’s been a while.”It was a brown-haired woman from the group of noble ladies who had been whispering about her earlier.However, despite greeting her, the woman’s expression didn’t show the slightest hint of warmth.Rather than a friend, she felt more like an adversary.Still, Elsez chose to be polite.“Good evening.”“That’s quite a late greeting.”The woman smiled, but her words carried a sharp edge.‘What? I literally just greeted her.’Elsez raised an eyebrow, confused by the woman’s passive-aggressive remark.Then, the woman continued, still wearing her practiced smile.“When you arrived, you should have come over to greet us properly.”“But I already did greet you.”“When?”The woman pondered Elsez’s words for a moment before scoffing.“Don’t tell me you consider that little nod an actual greeting?”“Isn’t it?”At that, the noble lady clicked her tongue in disbelief and shot her a disdainful look.“You must think you’re already the Duchess of Rittenhouse, don’t you?”