Chapter 124 - Festival of the Beginning of Spring

No sooner had Ferda finished his speech than several nobles approached him.

"Greetings, Regent Valdrova. Your words were truly inspiring."

"I only hope I managed to express myself properly."

"What are you saying? I was deeply moved by your speech just now! I would love to be a part of that great dream, Regent!"

Most simply expressed their admiration, saying it had been an excellent address, while a few reacted with genuine passion, as though they had truly been inspired.

Middle-aged people think with their heads, but the young think with their hearts.

In their hearts, the hero is still setting off on an adventure, making his way toward the princess trapped inside the castle.

With that in mind, Ferda was judging his own speech with his head.

’That was painfully cheesy.’

Hope, friendship, and all that.

Such superficial ideals didn’t suit Ferda.

He could hardly even think about such things, much less come up with them himself.

Unless someone was a seasoned politician, giving a speech like that was impossible.

His gaze drifted toward the ambitious woman.

Olivia Arken.

She stood at one of the round tables near the host of the banquet.

Naturally, she wasn’t alone.

She was chatting with several daughters of high-ranking noble families.

’The Golden Rose, was it?’

A social circle centered around Olivia Arken.

It supposedly existed to ward off the men constantly trying to approach her.

Like a golden rose, Olivia was protected by the thorns and leaves surrounding her.

Ferda watched her smile.

It was overflowing with pretense.

It was strange.

When she had spoken to him, he hadn’t sensed such artificiality at all.

’Perhaps she’s become much better at acting in the meantime.’

After greeting every noble who had gathered around him, Ferda finally made his way toward Olivia.

It was time to play his part in the scenario she had prepared.

"Thank you for helping with the Festival of the Beginning of Spring."

"Not at all. It was my honor to be of assistance."

"Then I hope you enjoy the festivities."

Olivia gave him a faint smile before slightly tilting her head.

Without saying anything unnecessary, Ferda moved on as well.

Their interaction was clean and natural, leaving no impression that they were a man and woman caught in a scandal.

’She’s handling this well.’

Quietly satisfied with her cooperation, Ferda continued making his rounds through the banquet hall, greeting people.

Though it was called a banquet for everyone, it was an unspoken rule that nobles and knights stayed in separate groups.

Their clothing made the distinction obvious.

The nobles wore extravagant attire, while the knights dressed more modestly in vests.

Among the knights, Ferda spotted two familiar faces.

Zed and Malcolm.

"Regent, your speech was truly impressive."

"I-It was amazing! Seriously!"

Despite wearing the same kind of clothes, they gave off completely different impressions.

Zed looked neat and stylish no matter what he wore, while Malcolm somehow looked like a country bumpkin regardless of his outfit.

’William would have been perfect for an occasion like this.’

William was so disciplined that even Ferda regarded him as a role model.

In truth, Ferda had wanted him to attend, but William had politely declined.

As the captain of the Public Security Force, he was determined to remain on duty throughout the Festival of the Beginning of Spring, even if it meant staying awake all night.

It was unfortunate, but Ferda respected his decision.

"Regent, may I have a word in private?"

Despite the broad smile on his face, the words that left Zed’s mouth were full of complaint.

"How long are you going to let this guy keep tailing me?"

"Tailing you?"

"Every time I try to go somewhere, he follows me around asking, ’Sir Zed, where are you going?’ "

"Does he?"

"If I want to shake him off, I’d have to tell him I’m on a secret mission. But then this idiot might blab about it to everyone, right? Which would make it not so secret anymore."

Zed glared at Ferda with bloodshot eyes brought on by stress.

Ferda had no reason to concern himself with someone else’s stress, but Zed’s point was valid.

"Go. I’ll deal with it."

"Then I’ll be on my way."

As though a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders—or perhaps as though he were fleeing before anyone noticed—Zed quickly disappeared.

"Huh? Where did Sir Zed go...?"

"I remembered something and sent him on an errand."

"Ah... I see."

"There’s no need to look for him. Why don’t you try socializing with the other knights instead?"

"Uh... well..."

Malcolm scratched his head awkwardly.

"Um... was I really bothering Sir Zed? I’m not good at gatherings like this, so I was hoping he’d help me a little..."

So that was why he had been sticking to him?

"You even became a knight of the Imperial Family. Are you saying you’ve never attended an event like this before?"

"You’re the only one who’s ever invited me to something like this, Regent. I wasn’t even allowed to attend the knighting ceremony—I only received the appointment letter. So I figured I’d spend the Festival of the Beginning of Spring back at the lodging, eating leftovers and going to sleep. But then you invited me. I wanted to help uphold your honor... I wanted to ask Sir Zed what I was supposed to do, but I guess I just ended up bothering him."

He might never have been close to becoming a proper knight in terms of pedigree, but his determination surpassed anyone else’s.

Ferda had briefly considered sending him back to his room, but changed his mind.

"So you’re saying you’re more comfortable carrying out orders than mingling at gatherings like this."

"Yes! If there’s anything I can do, I’ll do it!"

"Then I have an order for you."

Malcolm’s imaginary tail wagged like an excited country puppy in the morning.

"Keep watch and see if any trouble breaks out here. Understood?"

"And if something happens, do I step in and handle it?"

"No. There’s no need to intervene. Just observe. Eat the food, drink the refreshments, and keep watching. Understood?"

"Yes, sir! Understood!"

Although he accepted the order, Malcolm belatedly felt that something about it was odd.

Still, believing that all he had to do was obey, he quickly dismissed his doubts.

In reality, nothing had changed from before he received the order, but the aimlessness that had surrounded Malcolm had vanished.

That was enough to settle the matter—for now.

After greeting countless unfamiliar faces, Ferda finally spotted someone he knew.

Arwen.

His name hadn’t even been on the guest list, but Ferda had deliberately added him.

"Arwen Wolfheart, knight of the County of Consilus, greets Regent Valdrova. Thank you for inviting me to the Festival of the Beginning of Spring."

"Count Consilus holds you in high regard. It would only be right for me to lend you a hand."

"You flatter me."

Count Consilus had never explicitly asked for it, but Ferda knew the old man had grown especially fond of Arwen.

He was already advanced in age and would eventually need someone to inherit his territory.

One day, Arwen would no longer merely be a knight.

He would be recognized as Ulvera Consilus’s adopted son and inherit the county.

Which meant Arwen had to become one of Ferda’s people.

And someone he looked after.

"Zed mentioned that there’s a woman you’ve taken a liking to."

"C-Cough... Well... nothing has really progressed yet..."

A perfectly fitting reaction from a bachelor who knew nothing but the sword and honor.

Then his eyes quietly drifted elsewhere.

A young woman in a green dress met his gaze and smiled brightly.

Ferda was certain he had seen that carefree-looking noble lady before at the Grand Ducal Council.

"She’s from House Purity, isn’t she?"

"Yes. She’s the family’s third daughter."

She looked like a princess straight out of a fairy tale.

Not in a good way.

Rather, she gave off the impression of being somewhat naïve.

Unlike her sharp-minded older sisters, who had been raised like carefully crafted strategic weapons, this one felt more like someone who had been left to grow freely inside a greenhouse.

Which also meant she held no value as a political asset.

Arwen likely wouldn’t suffer any hardship because of her.

Even so, just in case, Ferda offered him a quiet warning.

"Don’t do anything foolish here."

"Of course not. Why would I cause trouble at a place like this?"

"If you insist on doing something, wait until you’ve returned to the county."

"Huh? Ah... understood."

Arwen had no idea what Ferda meant.

After their conversation ended, Arwen walked over to the young noble lady.

Arwen smiled bashfully.

She responded with a sweet smile of her own.

Watching them somehow made Ferda’s chest ache.

Some people couldn’t even hold hands with their fiancée...

While others laughed together so happily.

’Maybe it’s because of the atmosphere.’

What had it been like before he returned to the past, when he attended banquets like this?

Not a single person had approached Ferda, despite him being a guest.

It was as though they had only sent him an invitation out of courtesy, and his actually showing up had made things awkward.

’Just like Malcolm.’

That was probably why he had subconsciously felt sympathy for him.

Because he himself had once experienced the very same thing.

Because he knew exactly what that feeling was like.

Even at this very moment...

Ferda felt alone.

He felt even lonelier than he had back then.

It was as though he had left half of himself somewhere else.

A moment later, a signal rang out from the orchestra.

Everyone had spent enough time laughing and chatting, so it was time to truly liven up the atmosphere.

It was the beginning of the ballroom dance that would set the banquet ablaze.

The finely dressed bees began buzzing around the flowers that caught their fancy.

’The host’s duty.’

Among the flowers the bees ignored, Ferda searched for someone standing quietly alone.

A thin young noble lady with freckles and black hair.

She was neither beautiful nor unattractive—simply the sort of woman who naturally faded into the background.

Naturally, he had no idea which house she belonged to.

Ferda walked over and extended his hand.

"As the host, I would like to invite you to a dance. Would that be acceptable?"

The freckled young lady looked around before pointing at herself.

"My, are you truly asking someone like me to dance?"

"It would be a shame if you couldn’t enjoy such a wonderful occasion."

"If you truly don’t mind, Regent, then I would be delighted."

The freckled young lady shyly took his hand.

Once most people had found partners, the orchestra transitioned from the introduction into the main piece.

It wasn’t a passionate dance, but a light waltz.

The music was also soft enough for couples to hold conversations while dancing.

The paired men and women naturally began exchanging introductions and learning about one another.

Of course, Ferda said nothing.

He believed that simply fulfilling his duty as the host was enough, so he had no intention of making idle conversation.

"Regent, you’re engaged to Grand Duchess Valdrova, aren’t you?"

The freckled young lady was the first to speak.

"That’s correct."

"Have you actually met Grand Duchess Valdrova in person?"

"Yes."

"Um... weren’t you afraid? I know it’s probably a silly question."

"I wasn’t."

The young lady’s eyes widened.

"Is that even possible? She’s a Dragon."

"..."

"Oh dear, I keep saying such rude things. But for insignificant people like us, the idea of marrying someone of such magnificent stature is simply unbelievable..."

"It’s alright."

Just as she had said, no one could truly understand his engagement to Valdrova.

Only Ferda knew what kind of being she truly was.

"She is wiser and kinder than any human I have ever known. I know that because I have seen it with my own eyes."

"Is that so?"

"She also takes an interest in many things and always strives to understand and empathize with others."

The side of Valdrova that only Ferda knew.

The side he wanted others to know as well.

So he quietly told the freckled young lady about her, one story at a time.

After listening in silence, she finally said,

"Listening to you... Regent, I think you’re a very warm-hearted person as well."

"...Pardon?"

He had no idea what she meant.

"I can tell you love her with all your heart."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because you’re smiling whenever you talk about Grand Duchess Valdrova."

Smiling?

Ferda was so startled by those words that he missed a step.

Fortunately, it didn’t turn into a complete disaster.

The freckled young lady skillfully turned with the rhythm, effortlessly bringing them back into step.

Naturally, Ferda asked,

"Am I really smiling?"

"Yes. You didn’t realize?"

He hadn’t.

For Ferda, who rarely smiled at anyone, it came as a surprise even to himself.

"Ah... your face is starting to go back to normal."

The young lady gently caught his attention.

"Please keep smiling like that. It shows that the man engaged to Grand Duchess Valdrova is someone who truly knows how to love."

"You think that would be better?"

"Of course. Please keep telling me about Lady Valdrova—about what kind of person she is."

Hearing her words, the tension naturally left Ferda’s expression.

Following his heart, he revealed his genuine self as he continued speaking about Valdrova.

Before long, the music came to an end.

"Thank you for granting a humble young lady the honor of sharing a dance with you, Regent."

"No... I should be the one thanking you."

He meant it sincerely.

The freckled young lady met his eyes, smiled softly, and quietly disappeared.

As he watched her leave, Ferda suddenly realized something.

’Come to think of it, I never asked her name.’

Because he had spent such a comfortable and relaxing time with her, he had completely forgotten to learn anything about her.

Of course, suddenly chasing after her just to ask her name would be rather rude.

The ball was still in full swing.

There would be plenty of time afterward.

Ferda resumed following the scenario, his highest priority.

’Now I ask Olivia to dance.’

It was all part of the plan to put an end to the scandal.

She would reject him, making it clear that their relationship was not romantically close.

Ferda made his way toward the table where the Golden Rose was gathered.

Just as planned, he approached her like an ordinary acquaintance.

Showing that they were familiar with one another, but shared no affection...

He extended his hand toward a single flower.

"As the host, I would like to invite you to a dance. Would that be acceptable?"

Olivia, hiding her lips behind her fan, gave the reply he had expected.

"Yes."

"...Y-Yes, then... Excuse me?"

No.

"Gladly."

She had just destroyed the very scenario she had devised herself.

"I’ll dance with you."