“Welcome.”

Baroness Lirald threw out a short, obvious greeting, then paused briefly as if giving time for applause.

People responded to her expectation with light cheers, applause, and smiles… and the Baroness raised her hand slightly with a satisfied expression.

“As some of you may know, I’ve been staying indoors lately because I haven’t been feeling well. In the old days, I couldn’t stand it if I didn’t dance even for a day, but it seems that even I can’t deceive age.”

Then, she burst into such hysterical laughter that it startled people.

For a moment, the atmosphere nearly turned cold, but someone reflexively laughed along, and the mood became cheerful again.

People thought, “That’s right. The Baroness, who can’t resist parties, has been rumored to be in seclusion for about a month now. If she had been that quiet for so long, she might have gone a little crazy with excitement.”

Ellit was one of those who thought so.

If there was anyone who didn’t think that way, it was only Charlotte, who was standing barely ten steps away from where Baroness Lirald was.

‘Something is definitely a bit odd. She looks just like a drunk person even though she hasn’t had a single sip of alcohol. Moreover, as more people gather… she seems to be getting anxious somehow. Hmm, it seems that maid’s words weren’t entirely a lie. I’m sorry for Taemi, but this needs to be investigated.’

Charlotte thought.

She thought that ‘something’ had changed Baroness Lirald from her previous self, that is, into some kind of strange state.

By the time the Baroness on the platform rambled on for the third time about how important this party was and how happy she was to meet people here today, that thought had turned into a strong conviction.

“…So all of you, everyone invited here today, are lucky. Because I’m preparing something really wonderful! Please enjoy yourselves until then. Eat, drink, dance, and sing to enjoy yourselves!”

The Baroness raised one arm high.

As Charlotte watched her acting like a ridiculous clown, she thought of the last leader of the revolutionary government that had collapsed twenty years ago.

He was a man with a loud voice and little in his head, more suited to be a bandit leader than a national leader.

She had read a mocking article about how he had rambled on before being shot dead. She was 7 years old at the time.

‘The leader before him was smart. After all, he had protected the revolutionary government, full of all sorts of characters, for nearly 20 years.

If that fool hadn’t gone mad with jealousy and assassinated him, the monarchy would never have been restored in Roynoke.’

The current King Lyuen, who took the throne as soon as the revolutionary government stepped down, was a talented individual who quickly reorganized and corrected the country that had been in a mess due to the poor governance of the last leader.

Despite being the first king to ascend the throne after the great event of the republican revolution, she did not put much effort into establishing an absolute monarchy.

Rather, she actively embraced those aspects of the revolutionary government’s policies that could help the people’s livelihood and strengthened the bureaucracy.

The class system distinguishing nobles and commoners was revived, but it was not as strict as before the revolutionary government, and even that boundary was becoming more blurred.

It was amusing that these generous and broad-minded policies had the greatest impact on solidifying King Lyuen’s position.

Charlotte often thought about how contradictory it was when she heard people praising King Lyuen endlessly while simultaneously cursing the extravagant lives of the nobles.

It was because of that very king that the nobility existed. It was essentially the same as the gentle and thoughtful King Lyuen granting titles to the nobles, giving them authority and the right to be luxurious.

“Excuse me.”

Charlotte, who had been looking at the Baroness and clapping appropriately, turned her head at the voice that sounded right above her face.

It was Ellit. He didn’t know Charlotte, of course, but Charlotte recognized him immediately.

It was hard not to know who Ellit Persbon was while living in the Kingdom of Roynoke, especially in the heart of the capital, Yuril.

‘There are posters of him everywhere, after all.’

“I’m sorry for suddenly speaking to you, miss. I am…”

“I know, Mr. Ellit. You’re the son of Baron Persbon’s family, but you prefer to be called ‘Singer Ellit’ or ‘Actor Mr. Ellit’.”

As Charlotte smiled and spoke, Ellit’s ears turned slightly red.

But instead of being shy, he smiled genially – the kind of smile that people, especially young female fans, liked – and asked for a handshake.

“It’s an honor that such a beautiful lady recognizes me. That’s right. I’m Ellit.”

“The honor is mine. To think that a famous actor, whose shows require booking a ticket a month in advance or paying an enormous premium, would speak to me first.”

As she lightly shook his hand, Ellit thought he had made the right decision to come to this boring and noisy party today.

In fact, the reason he came here was because of Matiel.

If he hadn’t suddenly asked to go together, Ellit wouldn’t have been interested in something like Baroness Lirald’s party either.

“May I ask for your name, my lady?”

Charlotte nodded as if to say, ‘Of course.’

“Please call me Sheri. I can’t tell you my family name. There are complicated circumstances.”

Ellit was very curious about what circumstances, but he couldn’t ask.

The moment she said ‘complicated circumstances,’ a fleeting expression as lonely and ephemeral as a faded autumn passed over Charlotte’s face.

He suddenly felt a solemn excitement filling his chest.

It was a feeling like resolve, that if she had some secret and needed to keep it, he would do whatever it took to protect it…

“It doesn’t matter at all. Things like family names are of no concern. I don’t mention my family name anywhere either.”

“We have something in common then, Mr. Ellit.”

Charlotte replied, and Ellit felt momentarily ecstatic.

They exchanged brief conversations after that, but he could hardly remember them… And he was unaware that throughout his conversation with Charlotte, he felt as if his body was floating.

He could never have imagined the reason for this, even in his dreams.

The fact that, due to Charlotte’s magic, his mind became mushy – if only for a very brief moment – like melted and stirred butter.

“Then I’ll see you next time, Mr. Ellit.”

“Certainly, Sheri. Next time. Definitely.”

Ellit turned away obediently. She had worried he might be more persistent, but it was an unfounded concern.

Charlotte watched his retreating figure disappearing into the crowd with a sigh of relief.

She wondered what on earth could have brought him, who never set foot in trivial social gatherings, to Baroness Lirald’s party…

“Sheri!”

While Charlotte was lost in thought, Baroness Lirald, having finished her speech, came down from the platform.

It was now the official start of the party.

People checked the names of their first dance partners on their cards and exchanged glances with partners they found agreeable.

Glasses were passed from hand to hand, and music began to play.

“That was a wonderful speech, Baroness.”

“Oh my, it feels good to hear that from you! Sheri, you’re the one who knows countless witty jokes. But now is not the time for that. Go and dance! Shake hands with people, show off that beautiful face of yours. You must show it off as much as you can! You should make men, and even women, unable to take their eyes off you!”

The Baroness was much more excited than before. Her words didn’t make sense, and she even repeated the same things several times.

No matter how much she loved parties and how her voice tended to get louder when there were many people around, this couldn’t be considered a normal state.

She was acting as if she had drunk crates of strong whiskey, or like a dog in urgent need, constantly looking around.

There’s something going on. Charlotte thought.

She firmly grabbed the Baroness’s arm and linked arms with her before she could disappear elsewhere.

“We can dance later, can’t we? First, I want to see who this ‘big shot’ you mentioned is. What kind of person is it? Won’t you introduce me?”

“Big shot?”

Baroness Lirald asked back. However, her voice sounded somehow dazed.

As if wondering when she had said such a thing. Or as if she didn’t know what the word ‘big shot’ meant…

Charlotte spoke again.

“You mentioned it earlier, didn’t you, Baroness? That a ‘big shot’ would attend the party today. You told me to look forward to it. Don’t you remember?”

The Baroness’s eyes wavered a little at her words. She looked like someone trying to come to her senses… then suddenly, the Baroness smiled brightly.

“Oh my, look at me! Ah, yes. That’s right, isn’t it? Come to think of it, I saw him coming in earlier, but I can’t see him now. He might have gone to meet my husband. He’s not the type to gladly attend a party like mine!”

The Baroness laughed again like a malicious crow that had succeeded in tormenting a cat.

It was a completely different impression from when she had laughed strangely while giving her speech on the platform.

Charlotte pulled her arm even harder.

“Won’t you tell me about this person as we walk, Baroness?”

“Oh my, Sheri. You didn’t budge even when countless men got down on their knees and courted you.”

The Baroness made a mischievous expression that didn’t suit her age.

“Was it because none of them caught your eye? You’re more cunning than I thought.”

Charlotte smiled – a smile that looked as kind and pure as could be – and shook her head.

“That’s not it. I’m just curious about who could be so great that the Baroness would call them a ‘big shot’. You know how much I enjoy meeting new people and exchanging greetings.”

“Right, that’s true. You do. It’s quite unique. That uniqueness is your charm. He might have gone to my husband’s study, shall we go check together? I think things will run smoothly here now even without me.”

“Of course, I’d love to. My heart is pounding!”

When she spoke brightly, the Baroness’s gaze became peculiar.

It was a look similar to looking at a cute child you want to bite, or a fruit so tempting you want to take a bite out of it right away.