The Knight of Clingy Young Ladies

088.

While Kalen was conversing with Laris in front of the teahouse.

To be precise, it was shortly after Kalen heard the news that Laris, who originally belonged to a different salon, had submitted an application to Eclecia Salon.

The door of the teahouse opened.

Since Laris and the other young ladies were facing Kalen, only Kalen was unaware of the sight, while everyone else could see it clearly.

And from within emerged the distinguished young ladies of the current social circle, renowned for their association with Eclecia Salon.

“Kal?”

At the forefront were three young ladies.

Eliana, Serasie, and Sina.

Considering their families and their powers, it was only natural for them to take the lead.

Upon spotting Kalen, Sina greeted him cheerfully, and Kalen turned around in response.

Eliana, Serasie, and Daphnis followed with greetings to Kalen as well.

Licheisa merely nodded her head lightly.

After the greetings were exchanged, Sina glanced back.

“Hello! Lady Laris!”

“It’s nice to see you again, Lady Sina.”

“Hi.”

With a bright smile, Sina shifted her gaze to Laris and the other young ladies.

“Were you waiting for a response?”

“Yes. Although I wasn’t expecting so many applicants despite Eclecia gaining fame, I myself only learned about this upon arriving here.”

“Aha…”

“So, can we hear your answer?”

To Laris’s question, Serasie, and not Sina, replied.

“It’s not possible right now. Too many young ladies have applied.”

“Is that so?”

“There seem to be quite a few who haven’t arrived yet. Based on the number of applications alone, it’s evident that there are more people than just those present here.”

“Oh…”

Concern flickered in Laris’s expression.

Originally, it was already difficult to even approach the doors of Eclecia.

However, now Eclecia had become too renowned, and there were many who hastily applied to follow other young ladies.

If Eclecia succumbed to this trend and accepted those of lower caliber, it would undoubtedly tarnish its good name.

It wasn’t a pleasant thought for Laris to imagine the salon where she intended to reside transforming in such a way.

As if reading her thoughts, Serasie smiled faintly.

“Don’t worry. That’s why we’ve postponed the decision. We’ll carefully and slowly review the applications. In fact, those from distant families have already arranged to stay at the inn nearby for now.”

Upon hearing the answer, Laris’s expression brightened.

After all, there were three distinguished young ladies from the Five Great Families.

Moreover, though these young ladies had caused shock in their debut, the original young ladies who had supported Eclecia from the start were not to be underestimated.

One could rest assured that the feared scenario wouldn’t come to pass.

Laris bowed her head in gratitude, and Serasie graciously accepted it.

While Sina and Serasie were talking with Laris,

a slightly different atmosphere flowed a short distance away.

“…Kalen.”

“Eliana.”

“Did you… hear what Serasie said?”

“About staying at the inn?”

“Yeah… Sina and Serasie mentioned they would be doing the same.”

“Is that so?”

Strictly speaking, the Dranunus Family wasn’t extremely far from Mulrand City.

However, it wasn’t exactly easy to travel back and forth without any fatigue.

By the sounds of things from Eliana, there were many things to take care of, so Sina’s judgment was correct.

If Sina were to stay at the inn, naturally, Kalen would need to stay there as well.

Because he served as the Dranunus Family’s knight.

Eliana was counting on that.

Thus, while Laris discussed with Serasie and Sina, she quickly snuck away to talk with Kalen.

“I need to go too.”

“Yes… You should.”

Eliana couldn’t hide the smile that crept onto her face.

Alone, she rarely experienced joy, and even when she did, she wouldn’t often smile.

But in front of this young man, mere conversation brought her laughter.

She wanted to smile beautifully and present her bright side.

Eliana happily shared her time with Kalen as they met eyes.

“When did you slip away?”

Unfortunately, their sweet moment was brief.

Serasie, who had already finished her conversation, was approaching them.

When Eliana glanced sideways, Sina seemed to be informing Laris and the other young ladies about the meeting results.

Had her new position as the head of the Dranunus family sparked a desire for power?

Sina subtly enjoyed orchestrating things.

Eliana, however, wasn’t particularly interested.

Spending time with Kalen was hundreds, even thousands of times better than anything else.

Apparently, the mature young woman ahead did the same.

“Kalen. It’s unfair that you talk only with Eliana…”

“She seemed busy to me.”

“Were you thinking of me?”

“…Is that what happened?”

Serasie approached even closer, smiling gently.

Eliana found her presence somewhat irksome.

To Eliana, Serasie’s mood could be divided into two states: smiling leisurely or smiling purely.

She mostly smiled leisurely whenever, for no specific reason.

But she smiled purely only when speaking with Kalen.

It was already clearly evident after the trio had spent just a short amount of time together.

And the sight of it reminded Eliana of herself, smiling genuinely only in front of Kalen.

Thus…

“…Serasie. Aren’t you too close…?”

“Huh? Oh…”

Serasie seemed to realize something upon hearing Eliana’s words.

She had intended to stay as close as Eliana but somehow ended up almost reaching Kalen.

She took a small step back, hiding her slight embarrassment.

She didn’t quite understand why she always wanted to get closer whenever Kalen was around.

Withdrawing her thoughts, she stepped back.

It seemed their trio regained a balanced distance.

“Kalen. Starting today…”

“I already said it.”

“Did you?”

“About staying at the inn?”

“Yes. I guess I didn’t realize I had mentioned it already.”

Serasie turned to Eliana with a smile, and Eliana stared at her intently.

Kalen found it strange how they seemed to have grown so close recently.

They both starting with the same words upon arrival was quite unexpected.

Anyway, since everyone was staying at the inn, they needed to discuss with Sina.

Just then, having dismissed the other young ladies, Sina approached with Daphnis, Licheisa, and Laris.

“Ugh… I’m tired…”

“Thank you for your hard work, Lady Sina.”

“Yes… Thank you as well, Lady Daphnis.”

Sina rolled her shoulders, then approached Kalen and extended her shoulder.

“Kalen. As part of my guard duty, could you massage my shoulders a bit?”

“Shoulder?”

“Yes… Oh.”

With a sigh, Sina leaned her shoulder toward Kalen, creating a strange aura around them.

From Eliana and Serasie’s direction, a chilly atmosphere could even be felt.

“…Hmm. Never mind, I’ll have you do it later.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Are we all gathered?”

It was Licheisa’s voice.

As they appreciated reuniting after the last banquet, Daphnis nodded.

“Yes, Lady Licheisa.”

“Then, let’s head out soon? It’s better to start while it’s still bright, isn’t it?”

The young ladies collectively nodded at her words.

Kalen, however, was the only one who couldn’t follow the conversation.

From the words of Eliana and Serasie, he could guess they were heading to the inn.

However, the idea of starting while it’s still bright was perplexing.

Rather than brooding alone, Kalen opted to ask.

“Are we all going together?”

“Yes. We are the ones who ultimately need to make the most important decisions.”

“Oh.”

After hearing that, it made sense.

The young ladies gathered in front of the teahouse all wanted to join Eclecia Salon.

For these girls leading the salon, the only thing they needed to decide was that.

“Lady Laris?”

“Don’t you know already? Lady Laris has no reason to refuse. Even if not, she’s at least on the same level as Lady Eliana, Serasie, and Sina.”

“Same level? Licheisa…”

“…My mistake. Yes, for similar reasons.”

Serasie’s correction after Licheisa’s remarks cleared everything up for Kalen.

With Kalen having fully understood the flow, the young ladies moved on.

Mulrand City was one of the main hubs of the social circle.

Naturally, aside from the exclusive contract-bound teahouse, there were many places that exuded Eclecia’s prestige.

The largest inn in the capital of Mulrand was one of such places.

It was more of a grand palace than an ordinary inn, easily surpassing most families’ mansions.

The flowers of the empire entered the inn, together with a single young man.

Daphnis took the lead.

The young ladies, including Eliana who had made a significant debut upheaval, had never used the inn collectively under the name of Eclecia.

Sometimes, only the necessary members from Eclecia used it.

This made it the most fitting choice.

Daphnis approached the innkeeper, wearing a slightly pleased expression.

Little conversation was exchanged, and when Daphnis returned, she held several numbered tokens in her hand.

Daphnis distributed them one by one.

Eliana, Serasie, Sina, Licheisa, Laris.

Finally to Kalen.

Kalen’s number was 3-4.

“The first number is the floor, and the second is the room number. We can all find our respective rooms.”

Third floor, room four.

With seven people, room four meant it was right in the middle.

Ordinarily, wouldn’t the token with the last number be given to Kalen, the only male?

Kalen tilted his head slightly without much thought and headed up to the third floor.

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