Naro and Mellian stood in front of the door, taking about five deep breaths before finally stepping forward. When they handed over the invitation sent by the Keitner family, the attendants recognized Mellian as the daughter of the Hernia ducal house and bowed their heads respectfully. Then they raised their heads and looked questioningly at the two people standing beside her.
“These two are from my household.”
When Mellian, noticing their gazes, gave a simple explanation, the attendants opened the doors to the banquet hall wide without another word.
Naro gulped. Since dimensionally traveling to this world, he had never once thought he would have occasion to attend such a banquet. To think he would come directly to this world exclusive to them, a world he’d never have reason to set foot in his entire life.
Though he had attended because he wanted to help Mellian, who seemed anxious about going alone, he couldn’t help feeling nervous.
Passing by the attendants who bowed deeply, Mellian entered first. Naro and Ray followed her.
As they set foot inside the banquet hall, the door slowly closed. With a thud, the opening completely disappeared, and at the same time, a scene Naro had never seen before unfolded before his eyes.
People filling the spacious hall, people dressed perfectly from head to toe—above them, a dazzling chandelier showed its magnificent form while emitting bright light.
Following the sound of water coming from somewhere, he found a small fountain installed in the center of the hall. The sound of water falling from top to bottom seemed like a single melody.
On tables placed at regular intervals were adorable bite-sized desserts and beverages, and the decorations and artworks adorning the walls felt rare and precious at a glance.
From one side, a beautiful and gentle melody flowed. As the orchestra’s performance streamed into his ears, it finally hit home that this was a party for nobles.
People were holding glasses, clinking them together, and engaging in pleasant conversation.
“My lady, if you feel even slightly unwell, you must tell us, okay?”
“I understand.”
Before coming here today with Ray to accompany the lady, Naro had heard something from Hayla. She had asked him to please watch over Mellian carefully, as even a slight drop in her energy would make her easily tired and weak.
“Ray too…”
Naro, about to tell Ray that since he was maintaining his human form for a long time, he should speak up if he felt even slightly tired, hesitated. The moment their eyes met, the same embarrassed feeling from before arose, and he unconsciously averted his gaze.
“If, if you’re tired, make sure to tell me.”
“…Yeah.”
But something seemed strange. He felt like the interior of the banquet hall had become slightly unsettled. And Naro realized after looking around. The people inside were glancing at Mellian and whispering among themselves.
The rumors surrounding the daughter of the Hernia ducal house were already famous even within high society. That Mellian spent almost all her time recuperating inside the mansion and didn’t engage in any outside activities at all. And because of that, even that her personality had become sensitive—everyone knew it all.
Since she had appeared at a high society party, everyone couldn’t help but look at her with half surprise, half curiosity.
Today, Mellian had to face the gazes of others that she had been avoiding all this time.
Naro looked at Mellian. Her skin, already pale, appeared even more pallid. Before long, the atmosphere of the banquet hall that had been free and enjoyable began gathering around a single person. People who had been scattered here and there enjoying themselves were now busy exchanging words about a common subject of interest.
“My lady…”
“Stubborn girl.”
Before Naro could step forward, Ray called out to Mellian. Of course, it was still a strange nickname rather than her name.
“Are you going to keep standing there like that?”
When he saw Mellian’s brow furrow slightly, Naro quickly called out quietly, “Ray.”
“What kind of mindset did you have when you came here today?”
Mellian hesitated. The crack in her brow disappeared, and the sensitive look that had appeared on her face slowly subsided.
“And your family, it’s an incredibly powerful house, right? Then aren’t you number one here?”
Naro, who had been trying to stop Ray until just now, didn’t step forward anymore. His words were somewhat blunt, but they contained a clear meaning. What reason do you have to be intimidated here right now?
Mellian let out a small laugh. Then the distinguished guests who had been only looking at her, waiting to see what she would say, exchanged puzzled glances with each other.
“Good evening.”
Mellian’s clear and confident voice rang through the banquet hall.
“Since you’re all not enjoying the banquet and only looking at me, I’ll introduce myself directly. I, Mellian Hernia, was invited to the Marquis Keitner family’s banquet and have attended today.”
Mellian’s expression was confident. She looked relieved, like someone who had pushed far away the heavy stone that had been weighing down her heart. Naro and Ray stayed by her side. Naro thought this might be exactly what the spirited personality from the past that Bern had mentioned looked like.
After Mellian’s greeting ended, people’s gazes changed somewhat. Since the lady who had only been the subject of rumors had completely shed the intimidated and extremely prickly atmosphere she had shown, everyone widened their eyes in surprise.
“So you are Lady Mellian.”
Then a middle-aged woman approached and greeted Mellian.
“I haven’t seen you since you were young, so it took time to greet you.”
“Viscountess Roben?”
“I’m very honored that you remember me.”
From that moment, the atmosphere completely reversed. People who had been acting distant toward the lady began gathering around Mellian one or two at a time to greet her.
“Mellian!”
And then a young lady who appeared to be Mellian’s age approached her with quick steps.
“Soret.”
Soret Keitner. The youngest daughter of the family hosting today’s banquet greeted Mellian happily upon seeing her.
“You don’t know how much I looked forward to hearing you were coming to the banquet. This is the first time seeing you like this since the academy, right?”
Mellian nodded awkwardly. Soret had consistently approached Mellian since their academy days wanting to become friends with her, but Mellian had been defensive toward everyone at that time.
“I really wanted to see you.”
“Me? Why?”
“Because I want to become friends.”
Soret smiled brightly. Mellian blushed slightly and cleared her throat for no reason. Naro watched that scene and smiled contentedly.
“That’s good, right?”
Naro naturally looked at Ray and whispered. At Naro’s smile, Ray’s lips relaxed as well.
“Yeah.”
When he faced Ray’s gently smiling face, Naro hesitated and then turned his head elsewhere. Feeling that unnaturalness, the smile instantly disappeared from Ray’s lips.
“But Mellian, these two people are…”
“Ah, they’re from our household. Since I’m attending a banquet after such a long time, I asked for some assistance.”
“I see!”
Starting from Mellian’s appearance, the frozen atmosphere of the banquet hall regained its previous freedom. But it wasn’t completely the same as before. While pretending not to and pretending to enjoy themselves, people didn’t stop glancing at Mellian.
Those gazes weren’t only directed at Mellian. Eyes also gathered on the two people she had brought along as her so-called assistants.
“Were there people like that in the Hernia ducal house?”
“I wonder. But look at that man. He’s incredibly tall and his appearance is amazing, isn’t it?”
“It’s the first time I’ve seen someone more handsome than Count Netenberry.”
Count Netenberry was a man who received all the young ladies’ attention in high society. He was also someone who always ranked first in the unofficial appearance rankings of high society.
“The person next to him too. How can a man’s face be prettier than a woman’s? And he’s a man?”
People were busy pouring out their impressive thoughts while looking at Ray and Naro.
And Ray, whose senses were superior to humans, couldn’t help but feel all those gazes.
“Naro, the humans keep staring.”
“Hm?”
“I saw in some book that staring continuously can also mean picking a fight. Are those humans trying to pick a fight with me?”
“That’s absolutely not it.”
Naro shook his head without even 0.1 seconds of hesitation.
“Then why are they staring at me?”
“That’s because…”
Naro trailed off for a moment. His eyes looking at Ray shook violently. After acting like he would say something, he suddenly closed his mouth, so perhaps curious, Ray persistently asked again, “Because what?”
“Because you’re too… so that’s why.”
“Naro, I can’t hear you.”
Ray bent his waist further, bringing his ear close to Naro. Only then could he hear his slightly trembling voice clearly.
“Because you’re too cool, that’s why…”
Naro glanced at Ray anew. Ray just tilted his head, seemingly unable to perfectly connect being cool with the reason people kept staring at him.
Actually, Naro had been feeling it since earlier too. That gazes kept gathering only around this area. And that it wasn’t only directed at Mellian.
Objectively speaking, the most eye-catching person in this banquet hall was Ray. His appearance already drew attention even without being dressed up, but having received the devoted care of the ducal house’s attendants, he even created the illusion of shining right now.
