Even the servant playing the role of the gatekeeper seemed to have shaky eyes.
‘I’m embarrassed too!’
I wanted to say. The servant cleared his throat and spoke.
“The master of the South has arrived, the Duke.”
“Show respect to the Duke.”
The banquet hall was arranged with a large table in the shape of an inverted “U,” with a dance floor set beneath it.
It was a structure that captured both the banquet and the ball.
The nobles, dressed splendidly, all placed their hands on their chests and simultaneously bowed.
All eyes were focused on me. That gaze of ‘Is that her?’
And as soon as I lifted my head, I saw the bewildered expression on their faces when they saw me in Collen’s embrace.
“You still look genuinely rustic. This is Southern culture. It’s the era of territorial war, isn’t it?”
Collen muttered quietly.
“Why?”
“This kind of banquet is very old-fashioned. We don’t have balls during meals in the capital.”
Ah, I see.
Finally, Collen let me down. As Collen absentmindedly stroked my head, I clung to his clothing, standing there.
Collen then headed towards the seat where Elena was seated.
“Take a seat, Collen. That way, others will also sit.”
Elena said.
“The seating order is still based on the hierarchy. The South is really conservative.”
“If you don’t like it, come and make a change. You still hate the South, don’t you? It will be regrettable if the master treats you like that.”
Elena spoke well.
“I can’t argue with my aunt.”
Collen first seated me next to him and then took his own seat.
Elena spoke again.
“It seems that these days they don’t even serve food to the guests in the capital.”
“Well, who would want to have a comfortable meal at a ball anyway?”
The seats of the Southern Gathering began to fill one by one. Naturally, most of them were adults and elderly individuals.
‘What about the seat next to me?’
My seat is right next to Elena and Collen’s. It’s one of the main seats. And the seat on my right is empty.
‘It seems like the seat is reserved.’
I became curious about who it might be. The meal started even before that seat was filled.
“We will serve the food.”
A servant spoke politely.
I looked at the food in front of me. The roasted piglet was glazed with honey.
‘Oh, there’s also black chicken soup.’
It looked delicious.
The servants placed the food in front of me. Looking around, it seemed like everyone was starting to eat. I picked up a spoon to have the warm chicken soup first.
“The results of the meeting have come out.”
Collen nodded quietly.
“If you say so, you can make this child a member of our family, but there are conditions.”
“Conditions?”
Collen smirked.
“Listen up, Collen.”
“I don’t think I’ll like it for some reason, but I’ll listen to it for now.”
The atmosphere started to become slightly tense. I avoided eye contact.
But then.
“Sorry for being late.”
A man in navy blue attire suddenly stood behind me.
I turned my head.
‘This person… Where have I seen him before?’
He wasn’t as impressive as Collen, but he was a slightly intimidating person.
“Count Gallian, welcome.”
An old man next to me said, and I knew who he was.
“It seems like this is my seat.”
Count Gallian sat down next to me.
A servant immediately brought the soup.
“Get this out of here. Don’t they understand the taste of the Southern Gathering members yet?”
Count Gallian frowned as if he didn’t like the food, showing signs of irritability.
‘Isn’t this the man who scolded the coachman in the woods?’
A strange feeling came over me, remembering a violent person. Yes, I definitely recognized that voice.
‘But it doesn’t feel like the first time I’ve heard it. This person, surely…’
Count Gallian had a stylish mustache that curled up from below his nose. I carefully observed his face revealed under the chandelier.
Thump. Suddenly, my heart started pounding.
“Hello, you’re the rumored adopted daughter.”
He smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth on both sides.
‘I know this person.’
This person…
My body began to tremble uncontrollably.
<Uh, this wallet…>
<What? Are you a pickpocket? You little rat!>
<I will call the guards, Your Lordship.>
<No need for that. I’ll take care of it myself. I’m in a bad mood, but it’s okay.>
At that time, I became a helpless child after my mother died.
It was a time when I didn’t know what treatment I would receive if I picked up a wallet dropped by a passerby.
<It’s not stolen. I just wanted to return it…!>
I was mistaken for a pickpocket, and the man in front of me struck me directly.
<I did wrong, I did wrong.>
I received too many slaps on my cheeks and fell to the ground multiple times. Kicks landed on my body.
<Hmph! I didn’t like the Cortizan year. But today, there’s something special. Oh, this little girl is quite feisty. Consider yourself lucky for being young. Let’s go.>
His words poured down on my trembling head.
‘I almost died that time.’
Even the servant playing the role of the gatekeeper seemed to have shaky eyes.
‘I’m embarrassed too!’
I wanted to say. The servant cleared his throat and spoke.
“The master of the South has arrived, the Duke.”
“Show respect to the Duke.”
The banquet hall was arranged with a large table in the shape of an inverted “U,” with a dance floor set beneath it.
It was a structure that captured both the banquet and the ball.
The nobles, dressed splendidly, all placed their hands on their chests and simultaneously bowed.
All eyes were focused on me. That gaze of ‘Is that her?’
And as soon as I lifted my head, I saw the bewildered expression on their faces when they saw me in Collen’s embrace.
“You still look genuinely rustic. This is Southern culture. It’s the era of territorial war, isn’t it?”
Collen muttered quietly.
“Why?”
“This kind of banquet is very old-fashioned. We don’t have balls during meals in the capital.”
Ah, I see.
Finally, Collen let me down. As Collen absentmindedly stroked my head, I clung to his clothing, standing there.
Collen then headed towards the seat where Elena was seated.
“Take a seat, Collen. That way, others will also sit.”
Elena said.
“The seating order is still based on the hierarchy. The South is really conservative.”
“If you don’t like it, come and make a change. You still hate the South, don’t you? It will be regrettable if the master treats you like that.”
Elena spoke well.
“I can’t argue with my aunt.”
Collen first seated me next to him and then took his own seat.
Elena spoke again.
“It seems that these days they don’t even serve food to the guests in the capital.”
“Well, who would want to have a comfortable meal at a ball anyway?”
The seats of the Southern Gathering began to fill one by one. Naturally, most of them were adults and elderly individuals.
‘What about the seat next to me?’
My seat is right next to Elena and Collen’s. It’s one of the main seats. And the seat on my right is empty.
‘It seems like the seat is reserved.’
I became curious about who it might be. The meal started even before that seat was filled.
“We will serve the food.”
A servant spoke politely.
I looked at the food in front of me. The roasted piglet was glazed with honey.
‘Oh, there’s also black chicken soup.’
It looked delicious.
The servants placed the food in front of me. Looking around, it seemed like everyone was starting to eat. I picked up a spoon to have the warm chicken soup first.
“The results of the meeting have come out.”
Collen nodded quietly.
“If you say so, you can make this child a member of our family, but there are conditions.”
“Conditions?”
Collen smirked.
“Listen up, Collen.”
“I don’t think I’ll like it for some reason, but I’ll listen to it for now.”
The atmosphere started to become slightly tense. I avoided eye contact.
But then.
“Sorry for being late.”
A man in navy blue attire suddenly stood behind me.
I turned my head.
‘This person… Where have I seen him before?’
He wasn’t as impressive as Collen, but he was a slightly intimidating person.
“Count Gallian, welcome.”
An old man next to me said, and I knew who he was.
“It seems like this is my seat.”
Count Gallian sat down next to me.
A servant immediately brought the soup.
“Get this out of here. Don’t they understand the taste of the Southern Gathering members yet?”
Count Gallian frowned as if he didn’t like the food, showing signs of irritability.
‘Isn’t this the man who scolded the coachman in the woods?’
A strange feeling came over me, remembering a violent person. Yes, I definitely recognized that voice.
‘But it doesn’t feel like the first time I’ve heard it. This person, surely…’
Count Gallian had a stylish mustache that curled up from below his nose. I carefully observed his face revealed under the chandelier.
Thump. Suddenly, my heart started pounding.
“Hello, you’re the rumored adopted daughter.”
He smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth on both sides.
‘I know this person.’
This person…
My body began to tremble uncontrollably.
<Uh, this wallet…>
<What? Are you a pickpocket? You little rat!>
<I will call the guards, Your Lordship.>
<No need for that. I’ll take care of it myself. I’m in a bad mood, but it’s okay.>
At that time, I became a helpless child after my mother died.
It was a time when I didn’t know what treatment I would receive if I picked up a wallet dropped by a passerby.
<It’s not stolen. I just wanted to return it…!>
I was mistaken for a pickpocket, and the man in front of me struck me directly.
<I did wrong, I did wrong.>
I received too many slaps on my cheeks and fell to the ground multiple times. Kicks landed on my body.
<Hmph! I didn’t like the Cortizan year. But today, there’s something special. Oh, this little girl is quite feisty. Consider yourself lucky for being young. Let’s go.>
His words poured down on my trembling head.
‘I almost died that time.’
