“Uh… well… hello?”
‘What is going on here?’
Rosaria wracked her brain, trying to keep up with the sudden situation unfolding before her eyes.
A man had abruptly stepped between her and the annoying guy who was trying to hit on her at the New Year’s party, just as she was about to beat him to a pulp.
“It’s Count Boreas…!”
‘Boreas? That Boreas?’
Then, Rosaria recognized him from the voices around her.
Jin Boreas.
The companion character of the protagonist in [Dawn’s Blaze], as Felix had told her.
Felix had mentioned that he was a regular character with considerable importance even in the original story.
“I’d like to have a word with the young lady. Would you mind stepping aside?”
Crack-
“Ugh, euk!? Yes! Yes! I understand, so please! My arm! My arm…!”
“Excuse me.”
Jin Boreas then glared at the man he had stopped, tightening his grip on the man’s arm. The young noble, who had been so indignant just moments before, now groveled pathetically.
“Darn it…!”
After Boreas gently released his arm, the young noble clutched his forearm, already turning purple, and fled.
“Ah, thank you.”
“It was nothing.”
Rosaria awkwardly bowed her head in gratitude as she watched him leave.
“But, what brings you here, Count Boreas…?”
“While I was away in the North, having temporarily left the academy due to the succession matter, some interesting things happened. I became particularly interested in the young lady and came to find you.”
“Ah… I see.”
“Yes.”
“….”
“….”
Jin Boreas immediately sat down at Rosaria’s table and told her the reason for his visit.
And then, a slightly heavy silence hung in the air.
‘What is this? Is that it? Does he have nothing else to say?’
Rosaria tilted her head, wondering why one of the key figures Felix had warned her about was just sitting there without saying anything more, even after seeking her out.
‘I can’t figure out what he’s thinking at all.’
Moreover, she couldn’t read Jin Boreas’ expression, no matter how hard she tried.
From the moment they first met, to the moment he stopped the man, and until now.
Jin Boreas maintained a dry, expressionless face.
His cold impression, with a hint of decadent beauty, was sharp and devoid of life, like a doll.
“…Young lady, your thoughts are all written on your face.”
“Excuse me?!”
“It would be best to wear a mask when discussing important matters.”
“Ah, yes…”
‘Seriously, what is this guy?’
Rosaria found it even harder to understand Jin Boreas after he suddenly pointed out her expressions.
“By the way, you’re quite tough. I heard rumors about the academy incident… and I could tell from what I just saw that the rumors are true.”
“Is that so?”
“If I hadn’t stopped you, that young noble would have ended up with at least one broken bone.”
“Ah, haha…! So, you stopped me on purpose because—”
“I don’t particularly care about that young noble. I just thought we wouldn’t be able to talk like this if there was a commotion.”
“Ah… I see…”
“….”
“….”
“Ugh, I feel like I’m suffocating. Even though there’s delicious food in front of me, I feel like I’m going to choke.”
Even when she tried to continue the conversation, it kept getting cut off, so she couldn’t bring herself to speak, and she felt like she would choke if she ate.
Just as she was starting to think about leaving this place.
“Come to think of it, young lady. Did you leave your ‘gun’ behind today?”
“Yes? Ah, yes. I couldn’t bring it to a place like this, so I left it somewhere else—”
‘Wait a minute.’
Rosaria, who had answered Boreas’ question without thinking, felt a sense of incongruity.
Rumors about Rosaria’s weapon had already spread.
A powerful weapon that had subdued the intruder in the academy in one fell swoop.
However, except for Louis, none of the academy students referred to this weapon as a ‘gun.’
Since the concept of a gun did not exist for the people of this world, they thought of it as a magical artifact at best.
But.
“This man just now. He definitely said ‘gun,’ right?’
The man in front of her, Jin Boreas, had clearly defined Rosaria’s weapon as a ‘gun.’
‘Could it be…!’
“Wait a minute, how did you know about—”
Just as Rosaria, realizing the nature of the incongruity, was about to urgently continue speaking to him.
“Well, I would like to talk more… but it’s time.”
“Ti-time?”
“Then, let’s meet again next time.”
“Wa-wait a minute! Wait!”
Jin Boreas suddenly got up from his seat and turned to leave.
And.
BBAAM-BBA-BBA-BAAAM—
“Waaah!?”
Rosaria, who had jumped up from her seat to chase after Jin Boreas, covered her ears in surprise at the trumpet sound that echoed loudly through the ballroom.
[The eternal sun of the Empire! The master of mankind! Emperor Obina Magnus enters!]
Screech-
Following the voice of the shouting person, the doors of the ballroom began to open.
Numerous knights and an orchestra lined up in an orderly manner along the red carpet, welcoming him.
Servants held the end of the heavy red fur cloak from behind so that it would not drag on the floor.
His first impression was like a brightly rising sun, with striking, brilliant blond hair.
Followed by a dignified and resolute impression, despite the passage of time.
And the numerous golden ornaments and the crown symbolizing the ruler, which supported him, caught her eye.
Thud-thud—
The Emperor, who had appeared in such a manner, simply walked across the ballroom without saying a word.
Nevertheless, his every step was heavily laden with an indescribable spirit, and no one dared to open their mouths easily.
The Emperor walked to the end of the ballroom and sat on the golden throne.
[The 1st Empress enters!]
Following the Emperor, the imperial family members began to enter one after another.
Each time one of them entered, the trumpets blared madly, and there was an enthusiastic reaction.
As time passed.
[The 4th Princess enters!]
‘Is it still the 4th Princess’s turn?’
Rosaria listlessly watched the imperial family members who continued to appear even after so much time had passed, and muttered inwardly.
She had been so overwhelmed by the Emperor’s spirit when he first entered that she had felt a thrill, but there were too many of them.
The time would have taken even longer if they hadn’t briefly introduced and moved on from everyone except the Emperor.
[The 5th Princess enters!]
‘Ah, it’s Rachel.’
As a result, Rosaria’s stiff body relaxed, and she lost all tension as she saw a familiar face.
‘Seeing her like this, she really is a princess.’
Rachel, whom she usually saw at the academy, felt like a well-to-do aristocratic elite young lady with a magical obsession, but seeing Rachel dressed up in the imperial palace like this gave her a very different feeling.
It was like a sense of dignity that she didn’t usually feel.
It seemed that the saying that the place makes the person was true.
As the tedious entrance ceremony of the imperial family was coming to an end.
“…Everyone, have you been well?”
Finally, the Emperor opened his mouth.
“The reason why our Obina Empire has been able to prosper to this extent is, as always, because of your efforts, as I have come to realize again today.”
Similar to his appearance, his weighty and dignified voice quietly filled the ballroom.
“There have been many events this year, but thanks to their hard work, we are able to hold another New Year’s party like this, and my heart is overflowing with emotion.”
“There are those here who will further brighten the future of the Empire in the new year, and among them, I would like to commend the efforts of those whom I have heard much about.”
“Let’s begin.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Ahem…! First, the Cromwell Marquisate, Marquis Bel Cromwell!”
“May the Empire have endless glory.”
After exchanging simple greetings, the Emperor nodded to a vassal who was standing slightly in front of him, who then took out a document from his arms and began to call out the names of the noble families.
“The Cromwell Marquisate has worked hard to improve the treatment of the territory granted by His Majesty and to arrest thugs—”
The New Year’s party had several meanings, but the biggest meaning was this.
It was to gather the achievements of each noble that had been reported to the capital over the past year and praise them in front of the other nobles.
Of course, they not only praised them with words, but also received medals of honor and rewards according to their rank, but it was basically closer to an honorary award.
But the key was not that.
The fact that they had been mentioned by the Emperor in a place where all the nobles were gathered meant that they could consolidate their position in the political world afterward.
However, there were not many opportunities to achieve remarkable achievements in just one year, and the current New Year’s party had long become a league of their own for those who already occupied a position, so it was closer to a formality to some extent.
“Count Boreas!”
“Jin Boreas!”
Then, as Jin Boreas, the next noble to be called, came forward to the Emperor, Rosaria watched him closely.
“May the Empire have endless glory.”
“Yes, the current head of the Boreas County.”
“Yes, I have been given an excessively heavy burden.”
“Show me your face.”
“….”
“Count… that friend of mine was a truly reliable man. Of course, he would also be satisfied that his son has grown up to be such a reliable head of the family.”
“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”
“By the way, you really look just like that friend of mine. Haha! You look very much alike!”
Unlike the other families, who were being passed over somewhat formally, the Emperor continued to talk to Jin Boreas with a different look in his eyes.
Since the Boreas County was located on the barren northern border, acting as the Empire’s shield against monsters and demons that could cross over, it was obvious that the Emperor was treating them specially.
“I had many things happen with the previous Count Boreas since we were young. After he became the head of the family and left for the North, I couldn’t meet him easily, but seeing you reminds me of my younger self.”
“I am but a humble and insignificant being, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, Count Jin Boreas. I hope you will continue to be a strong shield for the Empire.”
“Jin Boreas. As the head of the Boreas County, I will become the Empire’s shield and block any enemy.”
“Haha! You’re certainly spirited! It’s good to be young.”
In particular, the Emperor seemed to cherish Jin Boreas, the son of the previous Count Boreas, with whom he had a close relationship.
Just as Jin Boreas was about to step back.
“Oppa.”
“Oh? When did you get here?”
“I’ve been standing behind you since a while ago. Mom and Dad are here too.”
Felix, who had appeared behind Rosaria at some point, whispered to her.
“Next… the Evergarden County!”
“Everyone, are you ready?”
And finally, the Evergarden County was called.
“Then, let’s go.”
Following Freya’s words, the Evergarden family strode forward.
It was the moment when the final stage of the plan they had been envisioning until now was approaching.