Kapitel 88: [Chapter 88] The Queen of the Ball
Typically, old families tended to possess secrets that outsiders were not well aware of.
Old families often had ancestral lands, and with that came the knowledge of using the strong local flora and fauna from those lands.
In the royal family, there were several such secrets. The potion that Valentine gave to Neris, claiming she received it from Kamil and fed it to Neris when she visited her in prison in her previous life, was one of them.
Maindlandt was already known for being a closed-off place, so it wouldn't be surprising if they had developed various types of poisons with unknown effects.
Cladwyn chuckled at Neris's suspicious gaze.
"If I were to offer it, would you accept it?"
"You wouldn't offer it directly, would you?"
Did Valentine directly sprinkle something on Megara's head? Judging by the fact that Megara hit Delma's cheek, it seemed that Delma, who had been coming and going in the ballroom at the owner's behest, had used her hands.
"As it happens, what they need over there matches what my subordinate has."
The answer was clear from his tone.
Neris didn't know how to react and ended up laughing. Even though she found it childish to laugh in such a situation, she couldn't help it.
Diane watched Neris and Cladwyn whisper to each other with a meaningful look. After a slow dance tune started playing, Diane slowly stood up and said to Bran,
"It looks like Megara is heading back to the dormitory, so she can't be the queen of the ball. I might have a chance too. Right, Bran?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah, Diane."
Bran, being an honest person, couldn't bring himself to boast that Diane would outshine many graduating seniors and become the most prominent heiress at the ball.
Neris thought Diane was the most outstanding heiress at the ball, but she also had the ability to see beyond the surface from Diane's current words.
"Do you think I'll be the queen?"
Diane was truly adorable. Neris sincerely replied,
"I would be really happy if you became the queen, Di."
From Diane's tone, Neris understood Diane's determination that if anyone else became the queen, it wouldn't be her.
Normally, Diane might have broken down, but she chuckled. Neris, who hadn't visited the voting booth yet, was unaware of the situation.
Megara, who had been leading in the mid-vote tally on the magical scoreboard, would now be removed, and Valentine, who was next in line, might drop in rank due to her hasty actions.
Since the queen election using magic allowed for a revote, perhaps someone who had quietly garnered subtle points without the glare of household or status could become the queen.
Everyone could see that the most beautiful and outstanding lady, fitting the title of 'ruler,' was there today.
As Diane went to dance, she glanced at the magical scoreboard. Although it wasn't clear from a distance, it was evident that there were changes in the rankings.
'If that's the case.'
There was no need to rush in. Neris just needed to wait a little longer.
***
Diane McKinnon was clever. In fact, she was likely the smartest among her family members.
Thinking so, Cladwyn smiled beneath the crystal glass with covered lips. The clear golden liquid emitted a rich fragrance.
As the ball neared its end, the floor was filled with graduating class couples embracing each other. Perhaps half of them would marry entirely different people based on their family's interests after the graduation ceremony.
"Family. Glory. Wealth that will continue for generations.
They were trivial names. Their parents must have thought they would get what they wanted through the traditional marriage ceremony. But would what they truly desired endure on that path?
Neris was half-dozing in her seat next to Cladwyn. She had seen her dozing off before, but back then, she was much younger.
So, even though her face was the same as before, this current vulnerable appearance felt entirely different.
'I should put her to sleep quickly.'
Turning off all the magically created lights, the ballroom was illuminated only by the soft candlelight. Cladwyn lowered his eyes and quietly called out.
"Neris."
The tip of his tongue calling her name was electrifying. It felt like he was calling out the name of a very mysterious ancient being, not a person's name.
Just by calling out her name, one could receive eternal blessings or curses, making her a very, very special being.
"Why?"
Neris replied, opening her eyes slightly. Cladwyn smirked.
"Is this how you'll properly wear the queen's tiara?"
"Why would I wear that? Did you do something?"
"If you ask what means I used to make you a queen, no."
There was no need for that.
Whether Neris truly understood his words or not, she started counting the petals of the centerpiece with a face that showed little interest.
As the final dance tune began and the last votes were cast, Megara Liceandros headed back to her dormitory, and Valentine Elendria, who had seemed momentarily happy, now had a distorted expression as the voting results became clear. Perhaps she was already intoxicated with the thought of wearing the crown of the ball.
The kings and queens of the ball were given crowns with dazzling designs.
While the men's crowns were mere toys with a hint of gold, the women's crowns were adorned with jewels, meticulously prepared by the graduation ball organizing committee each year.
No matter how trivial the item, there was no reason for it to be placed on anyone's head other than Neris.
She wasn't interested in events like the ball. However, she was still a student and had plans to attend the ball.
Moreover, wasn't this her debut in society?
That alone was reason enough for this ball to be the best possible experience for Neris Trued.
She needed a bit more time to be alone. And so did he.
The students of the graduating class ascended the stage on one side of the ballroom to give thanks.
They awarded each other with comical prizes they had created within their class, such as the most entertaining student or the best singer. Cladwyn paid little attention to all of it.
Finally, it was time to announce the king and queen of the ball.
"I will announce the king of this year's graduation ball."
The announcer was the boy who had escorted Neris to the terrace earlier. He read the card containing the voting results.
"Um... His Highness Maindlandt."
A look of uncertainty briefly crossed the announcer's face as he made the announcement."
"Can the Duke be awarded at the school ball? And since direct royals do not hold the low positions of 'king' or 'queen,' can the Duke also be treated as 'Your Highness'?
But in the end, it was what it was. The students clapped politely. Neris threw a congratulatory remark as if teasing.
"Well done. Everyone is watching."
Despite his bad reputation, Cladwyn was undoubtedly the most handsome man here. In fact, there was no one more beautiful, male or female.
As for other prominent candidates this year, such as Eustace Grunehalls and Colin Ganielo, two viscounts, how could they compare?
Still, an esteemed Duke at a student ball as a 'king.' Cladwyn lazily replied to Neris, who jokingly mentioned it.
"Better treatment than when you were a student."
It might have been a thoughtless comment, but Neris suddenly felt a bit melancholic at his expression.
That's right. In his student days, Abelus couldn't control him.
Although she knew he had never attended a graduation ball, even if he had, it would have been difficult for students to elect him as king in front of Abelus.
The king had to step forward, give a speech, and receive the crown. However, Cladwyn, despite subtly hinting at it, did not rise from his seat. The students in the ballroom were stunned.
But well, if such high nobility had no interest in student awards, so be it. It was fortunate that he didn't cause any trouble, given his fearsome reputation.
"Yes, um, I will present the crown to His Highness. You don't need to come all the way up here."
The announcer quickly muddled through the situation. Since it wasn't a student from the graduating class who was chosen, there was no need to get too excited. Although the handsome nobleman's votes were absolute.
"Next, the spotlight is on today's heroine. The honor goes to... Miss Neris Trued."
Neris was stunned.
Queen? Who?
"Please applaud!"
Unlike Cladwyn Maindlandt, who graduated a while ago, Neris Trued was still a student. And she was also part of the graduating class.
Although she was in a different grade from the other graduating class students, her drawing wasn't bad, so the announcer tried to liven things up this time. The other graduating class students clapped thunderously.
Feeling pushed by the atmosphere, Neris tried to stand up. However, Cladwyn made a slight gesture to her.
"No need to go out. I'll bring it to you."
"Really?"
It seemed like the student council wanted her to come out... And the other students who received awards earlier went up to receive them?
Neris was confused. However, since it was her first time receiving an award that wasn't for academic excellence, she found it hard to trust her judgment.
Before she could come up with a plausible hypothesis for the situation, the announcer quickly intervened.
"We will present the crowns to both winners."
Is that so... Neris decided to accept it for now.
The usher tasked with transferring the crowns approached the table where Cladwyn and Neris sat and politely extended the crown. Then, in a tone as if making a greeting, he whispered very softly.
"I have handled it as you instructed."
"I see. I saw that earlier. Well done."
Cladwyn also whispered back to his subordinate disguised as an usher.
Cladwyn quickly realized that Neris had been concerned about Megara since their collision earlier."
It wasn't anything special, but Neris couldn't understand why she reacted that way, but really, what did it matter?
If there was someone who disliked Megara and wanted to somehow outshine her but was struggling because they lacked the means, it wouldn't be difficult to sell a few tools they happened to have.
And while selling the items, it wouldn't be that difficult to leave a trace of the person who wanted to outshine Megara in that way.
There was no way to avoid being trivial and childish. After all, he had never thought of himself as particularly mature and composed. He couldn't stand things that bothered him in the first place.
Regardless of what Neris might think, the queen's position returned to her through this 'handling' was not what he had intended.
'That's a secondary issue.'
Just by existing, she was captivating all the attention right now.
The box containing both the king's and queen's crowns was quite elegantly decorated. It was a fitting item for a suspicious student to keep as a lifelong memory from their school days.
Cladwyn took out the queen's crown and briefly placed it on Neris's head.
Neris blinked awkwardly. In her puzzled violet eyes, Cladwyn sweetly whispered,
"Congratulations, my queen. I offer you my crown as well."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein