The Knight of Clingy Young Ladies

083.

The banquet lasted a full week.

From the beginning, when Sinat mentioned the banquet, she had announced that there would be a week-long celebration one month later.

While a week-long banquet is not common, it’s not entirely unheard of either. It was the most appropriate way to celebrate the revival of Drannus.

Those who initially felt tense upon arriving gradually began to enjoy themselves. Yesterday, many met new people and enjoyed the event in their own ways.

This was true for Kalen as well. While he often spent time surrounded by six young ladies, he also occasionally dealt with other young ladies who approached him, clearly nervous.

Though somewhat sharp, his features weren’t overly intimidating. It was strange that the young ladies seemed to approach him cautiously, unsure.

Among them, the prince left the most impression. He had only brief conversations with those he’d already met and didn’t partake in any other activities. He simply stood quietly in a corner of the banquet hall, observing the guests enjoying themselves and effortlessly warding off those who approached him in hopes of gaining favor.

It was natural for people to take notice of him, but if it had bothered him, he would have made a request to Sinat—there must be some reason behind it.

Anyway, the banquet reached its final day.

*

If someone were to ask whether the week-long banquet was enjoyable…

Hmm.

It wasn’t entirely so.

Until the fourth day, it had been fine. Kalen had received some education in noble customs from Blamia, and the banquet was part of that education.

Experiencing firsthand what he had only learned about orally was quite good. Eating and drinking were enjoyable, and even though he mainly talked with the six young ladies, conversing with new acquaintances was not bad either.

In particular, one encounter stood out.

“What are you thinking so seriously about, Master?”

“Oh. Seline.”

It was meeting Seline. Kalen had wanted to bring Seline to the banquet—since he had become the master of the household, it would be helpful to have her guidance on things he didn’t know.

But Seline refused, stating that it wasn’t an appropriate place, citing the very reason Kalen himself pointed out.

In the midst of that, she had said something rather meaningful. And this was the meaning of those words, wasn’t it?

Thinking about it now, it made sense. Seline was the chief maid of the Dranunus Family. It wasn’t strange for her to work at events that brought glory to the family.

Kalen had approached Seline while she was busy with snacks and wine.

“It’s nothing.”

“I understand.”

Thus, they reached the present moment. The fervor of the banquet had cooled compared to the beginning.

Now, rather than forming new relationships, everyone was savoring the afterglow of the grand event.

Kalen watched this scene and asked Seline.

“Where has everyone gone?”

Eliana, Serasie, Sinat, Daphnis, Licheisa, Laris—these young ladies who had never left his side during the banquet. In the beginning, the constant attention was bothersome, but after four days or so, talking with them had become enjoyable.

And yet, now, they were gone.

The banquet wasn’t fully over, nor had they exchanged farewells. It was as if they had simply disappeared.

As time passed, Kalen began to wonder. For that reason, he asked Seline.

“Hmm? I’ve been with you, so I don’t know.”

“Hmm…”

It made sense. When Kalen found Seline, she had been working, and since then, they had been together continuously.

Kalen nodded in agreement. But where had the young ladies gone? Pondering this unresolved question…

“Excuse me…”

Five pairs of eyes turned toward Laris.

“Why am I here?”

With her hand tentatively raised, Laris looked genuinely puzzled as she asked the five young ladies who had brought her here.

“We can’t leave you alone!”

“Huh?”

“You never know… Kal might let his guard down. We can’t trust him, you know.”

“Kal?”

Was she referring to Sir Kalen?

Sinat’s answer wasn’t sufficient. What did it mean that Kalen couldn’t be trusted? And what did she mean by “when he stretches”? Confused by the incomprehensible explanation, Laris tilted her head.

“It doesn’t matter right now.”

Saying this, Sinat turned around. It was clear she couldn’t waste more time answering Laris.

In front of the now turned-back Sinat stood the other four young ladies. Each an extraordinarily beautiful woman whose charm rivaled the finest gems. They were either not yet of age, or had just become adults.

Their beauty undoubtedly ranked among the highest in the empire.

And these remarkable young ladies were clearly tense.

“Have you all… forgotten anything?”

Sinat opened the conversation with an almost solemn tone. Laris knew nothing of what she was talking about, but it was rare to see these young ladies conversing this way. Moreover, the seriousness in their demeanor intrigued her.

“Of course not.”

Eliana responded, her characteristic cautious tone calm and steady.

“You won’t regret this later, right? Everyone?”

This time, it was Serasie. Her ruby-like eyes, which usually seemed indifferent, gleamed darkly.

“Kalen’s choice must be accepted without complaint, and followed.”

Daphnis appeared slightly tense but, despite her less prestigious family background, met the eyes of the others confidently.

“I understand.”

Licheisa replied simply.

The atmosphere grew more thrilling with their exchange, and Laris was somehow drawn into this secret meeting.

What could they be discussing so carefully and sensitively? What did their cryptic words mean?

Since Kalen’s name was mentioned, it was undoubtedly related to him. Did they make some kind of agreement after the banquet ended? It was unclear for now.

Clap!

Having confirmed some kind of agreement with the young ladies, Sinat briefly applauded and smiled brightly.

“Shall we go then?”

The young ladies nodded one by one, and without realizing, Laris followed suit, trailing behind them.

As the evening grew darker, these beacons of light moved toward one boy.

*

It was a little past midnight. By this point, Kalen, sensing the banquet’s closing, sought out the young ladies but could not find them. Still, it wasn’t wise to simply head home without them.

But one thing puzzled him. This week-long banquet had been scheduled to always end at this time. People who knew this understood it was time to leave.

Given the scale of the banquet, it would have been proper for Sinat to close it, as she did in the opening speech.

The crowd didn’t seem to be waiting for that, however. If they were, everyone would have been looking forward eagerly toward the front.

Instead, their faces were suffused with anticipation, as if they were looking forward to something.

Kalen was about to grab someone nearby to ask when—

Clunk.

The magic-powered luminous globes that illuminated the banquet hall dimmed.

Though not entirely dark, an elegant shade of dusk settled over the banquet hall as someone appeared at the front.

A pair of strikingly beautiful cyan eyes swept across the hall, lively even in the darkness.

“Ah.”

The voice that followed belonged to someone Kalen knew well. A girl he met years ago, the granddaughter of his benefactor, was now a young lady who bore the name Drannus.

“Did everyone enjoy the banquet?”

No reply was expected.

The participants were well-versed in noble etiquette and simply listened attentively to Sinat.

“I sincerely thank everyone for making the most of this banquet organized by a still inexperienced, young head of the family.”

Sinat paused briefly, carefully arranging her thoughts. By the time they emerged, she was no longer the frivolous young girl.

She spoke as a proud head of the house, as one of the five great houses that upheld the empire, making a proclamation to the world.

Kalen silently observed Sinat. She was impressive, speaking deliberately and confidently, truly fitting for the head of the Dranunus Family.

“…Kalen.”

“Ah. Eliana.”

As Kalen watched the stage, Eliana quietly approached from the side. Together with Serasie, Daphnis, Licheisa, and Laris, she stood nearby.

Where had they gone?

It seemed they had business to attend to together.

Just as Kalen was about to turn his attention back to the front—

Swoosh.

Eliana wrapped her arms around Kalen’s left arm.

“Eli…”

“Please, enjoy yourself.”

Just as Kalen was about to call out to Eliana, Sinat’s words echoed in his ears. Was it a coincidence?

Kalen could feel several pairs of eyes watching him from behind.

“The ball prepared by Drannus.”

After saying this, Sinat came forward. The urgency in her movement was unusual, as she wasn’t supposed to come down this way. The usual route was from the side.

What could be so urgent?

Moreover, didn’t the banquet end today?

Kalen finally understood the excited anticipation in the young nobles who hadn’t left the hall.

And the slight pressure Eliana exerted on his arm felt strange to him.

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