บท 23: A Socialite Party
Sebastian would normally have headed to the student council room an hour after his classes ended to avoid everyone else. However, this time was different. He had been summoned to the student council room with the title of president and not Amy.
Sure enough, with the exception of Amy, there were three other people in the room. Sebastian recognized them all, they were prominent figures inside the academy after all.
Leonard Assheby—the student council vice-president. Famed for his wits and cunning but disliked by the students for his manipulative tendencies.
Christine Rowe—the student council secretary. Diligent, smart, and stubborn. In just her first year, she had managed to increase the student council's influence compared to their seniors.
Ursula Clare—the student council treasurer. Greedy, cheap, and only moves for profit. Rumors say that she owns a business and owns as much money as a minor house.
And lastly, Amira Luna—the student council president. To Sebastian, she might just be a playful and sweet girl but to the student council, she is an insurmountable pillar of strength.
"Sit down. Sebastian," Amy was the first to talk, "we called you here to talk about the recent goblin subjugation. Normally, it isn't a matter that the school has a say in but because of the insistence of the board, we would like to hear a report."
Sebastian didn't miss Amy's apologetic gaze. She had mostly heard everything from Rob and his group and planned to keep it a secret but the vice-president had somehow found out about it and reported it to the teachers.
If it was just a normal goblin subjugation then it'd be fine but they subjugated a goblin lord—not only that, the key figure for the subjugation is one of the school's students. Sebastian was given an alias but his face wasn't hidden.
It would be an event worthy of joy for the academy if the student were anyone but Sebastian.
"What do you want to hear?" although Sebastian tried to act calm, he was insanely tense.
"We already know about the location and the number of goblins," Christine cut in, "we've also been informed of the goblin lord and how it was defeated by you.
"What we want to know is not how you defeated it, it's how you got the power. A flaming arrow that set the entire battlefield ablaze and the user is from the House of Sol, have you awakened your power?"
Christine was very straightforward.
"...no. I used a tool to burn the tip of my arrow. The resulting flames and explosion were because of the gas in the air," Sebastian answered after a bit of consideration.
He took out the same cylindrical tool that he had used before and pressed a switch at the side. A small flame rose from the tool for a few seconds before fading.
"..." Christine didn't seem to have any other opinion as she sat down.
"So," Leonard was the next person to talk, "how were you able to make this tool? It seems far more efficient than a match after all."
Ursula added, "I'm curious too."
As Sebastian was about to tell them that he had made it with the help of Katrina, Amy cut in, "that information isn't necessary. Thank you, Sebastian, that's all that we needed from you."
—Secrets are called so because only one or a few are privy to them. Do not disclose them so easily. Something as simple as this will cause waves.
Leonard and Ursula understood that Amy was protecting Sebastian and backed down. Just as he was about to leave, Christine caught him.
"Wait. Here's an invitation," she walked over and handed Sebastian a ticket. It only had a logo in the center and words that said 'Social Night'.
"This is...?"
"It's an invitation to the party I'm hosting later tonight. You are more than welcome to attend. All you have to do is come to the Golden Rabbit at nine with a formal suit and the invitation."
Sebastian didn't quite understand the reason she invited him but looking at Amy and the other two's faces, he could tell this was a big deal.
What's more, there is nobody alive in the city who hadn't heard of the Golden Rabbit—the most prestigious gathering place. Socialites, business owners, merchants, nobles, royalty, and many other people with high status go there at least once in their lives.
Sebastian, despite being born of a major house hadn't had the chance to go there so he was very curious indeed. Amy had gone a few times before and wanted to bring him but the place's standards were strict. Nobody could enter just by being invited by a guest.
"Thank you for the invitation, I'll be sure to go," it wasn't as if he'd be in danger by attending a party so he naturally accepted. As a noble, he had to be used to such situations. What better way to practice than to attend one personally?
"I'll look forward to seeing you there," Christine flashed him an indecipherable smile as he left.
...
"Jeez!" Amy was pouting in the carriage while Sebastian kept on trying to appease her.
"Come on, I've already apologized haven't I?"
"You risked your life in the goblin subjugation, got injured, and you accepted an invitation party that you know nothing about! You're lucky that I'm attending too!" although Amy had her head turned to the side and continued to berate Sebastian, the latter had a warm smile on his face.
"I promise I won't do it again," Sebastian said half-jokingly, knowing that Amy was going to retort.
Unexpectedly, she stayed silent.
"Amy?" he tried asking again but she kept on ignoring him. He peeked at the side of her face and his eyes widened. There were tears in the corners of Amy's eyes.
"Wait, don't cry! Please!" Sebastian was thrown into a panic. Any thoughts of teasing Amy were thrown out the window.
"L-look, I have your favorite snack! I also have some candy from the capital..."
For the next minute, Sebastian listed out various promises of food and deeds but Amy continued to ignore him. Just when he had given up hope, he suddenly heard her snicker.
"..."
Sebastian looked at Amy speechless.
"You..."
"Hahaha!" Finally, Amy couldn't take it anymore and burst out in laughter.
"You... you were tricking me?!" Sebastian exclaimed in surprise and disbelief. That was the most unexpected thing that he had witnessed today.
"Fake tears," Amy said while holding up a small bottle and sticking out her tongue.
"Who's been teaching you these things?" Sebastian felt that she had gotten more shrewd lately. First, there was the reward of a kiss which he regretfully, had to forsake to kill the goblin lord, and now fake tears?
"It's a secret~ They seem to be working very well though," Amy giggled in laughter causing Sebastian to sigh.
"Young master, we've arrived," Baritos' voice accompanied the stopping of the carriage. Amy would've been in a carriage from the House of Luna but she had gone to Sebastian's house the moment they were about to leave and hitched a ride with him.
Amy was the first to step out of the carriage and Sebastian followed her. Under the moonlight, her navy-blue dress accompanied by her porcelain white skin only served to accent her already beautiful visage. Sebastian felt his heart skip a beat. He had seen her in the dress an hour before and inside the carriage but this would be the first time he had truly seen her wearing something like it.
"Hm? What are you waiting for?" Amy looked back to see Sebastian stand perfectly still by the carriage's door.
"Ah, nothing... Baritos, we won't be very long, we'll be done by midnight."
"Yes, young master."
"Let's go!" Amy walked up to him and hooked her arm around his. Feeling the sensation of Amy so close to him, he coughed in embarrassment but didn't try to shake her off.
The Golden Rabbit was very grand, to say the least. Sebastian had seen it from the outside but now that he looked at it from this close, 'grand' was just an understatement. It was only one building with a large garden at the entrance. There was even a fountain in the center and arches leading towards it.
The foyer was even more amazing than the outside. Sebastian even felt the air change from just entering. The mild noise that came from outside was drowned out by the noise in the inside.
"Invitations?" one of the employees by the door held out his hand to Sebastian and Amy.
Once they handed them over, they were led to one of the ballrooms by another employee where the party was being held.
"You two made it," Christine went to greet them while holding a glass filled with a red drink. The normal assumption would be wine but it didn't smell like one.
"The Maisons and Selwyns are the main stars for this evening if you want to make a connection," she told Sebastian. It was obvious that it was his first time attending this kind of party after all.
Christine had another look around the venue before continuing, "I've heard the Draytons are looking for a spouse for their eldest daughter, do you want me to arrange a meeting? She's only seventeen this year and quite the beauty—"
"No need!" Amy coldly cut her off causing Christine to giggle.
"Well then, be sure to enjoy the party," Christine left those parting words and walked away with glass in hand.
"Listen, Sebastian, don't separate from me. You may think that attending a party is harmless but it's actually a very dangerous place. Especially if it's for people like us, heirs of major houses. Without energy, you won't be able to counter anything mixed in your drink."
"You sound responsible..." Sebastian uttered.
"I can be responsible too!" Amy snapped back in anger.
"Hahaha... sorry. Well, what are we going to do today, Miss Responsible?"
"Uhh... eat!"
"It really would be a pity if we won't eat after having a feast laid out in front of us. Let's go then," Sebastian held out his arm and Amy once more hooked hers in his.
"You're bullying me again..." Amy grumbled.
"Sorry, you're just too cute when you're mad so I can't resist," although he said he was apologizing, his tone suggested otherwise.
"C-cute? I see... Well, I suppose I could forgive you this one time," said Amy while wearing a foolish smile on her face.
Sebastian continued to glance at Amy repeatedly until they reached the buffet table. He felt the calmest when with her as if all his worries would get blown away.
Although their banter wasn't really that of friends and more lovers, the two of them felt content.
Sebastian took the food for both of them. Since they've been with each other for so long, they knew what the other liked and disliked better than their own.
Once they were going to sit at a nearby table, Sebastian caught a figure by the corner of his eye and the next thing he knew, the suit that the person wore was stained with the food and soup.
"Oh~ Looks like the House of Sol's second young master sure has guts."
Gilbert Walt stood in front of Sebastian with an evil smile on his face.
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