Flower of Steel

Speaking to myself like that made me feel a lot better. Yeah, I’m still me. I just need to pull my chin up and live proudly. With that in mind, I figured my raised eyebrow wasn’t all that bad after all, so let’s enjoy the party later today.

***

I busily prepared myself when it became noon and headed over to the House of Harsen with Lumi. After a bit of time, we were now close to the duke’s estate. I saw it appear through the carriage window. Compared to the Chancellor’s mansion, it wasn’t lacking. While the home of the Siccains was elegant and noble, the Harsen estate was so grand to the point it hurt my eyes. Now, I found out why Rave had such taste in his clothing. Well, it was fortunate that he at least wore his officer uniform with a simpler style.

“Welcome, ma’am. Can I please have a look at your invitation?” asked a servant who worked for the Harsens. I handed him the invitation, and he looked surprised. I tried to interpret the meaning behind his expression just now.

“Please, head in.”

I walked through the gate with his guidance and heard a loud voice announcing our entrance, “Illumina von Reclan of the House of Reclan and Internal Affairs Secretary Marina von Harrant of the House of Harrant are joining our party!”

I looked around and realized the meaning behind that look. The attention we were receiving wasn’t friendly. However, I expected as much. Elise was with her cronies in the hall. Unlike how they were at the House of Siccain, there was confidence in their expressions.

‘Are they confident because this is their territory?’ I wondered.

I glared at them with disdain until I heard a voice welcoming us, “Welcome, Lady Illumina and my dear assistant!”

I noticed Rave was wearing some grand-looking clothing. Well, it looks great on him, actually. He looked like a ferocious predator with striking markings on him. I didn’t know this when he was in uniform, but he looks really good with such eye-catching clothing.

“My, Viscount Harsen. You look wonderful today,” complimented Lumi.

Rave burst into laughter, “Hahaha! You’re also very beautiful. And of course…” Rave then stopped in the middle of his words, then grabbed my hand, kissed it, and added, “You truly are gorgeous.”

Hmph. And there he goes flirting again. Now, I don’t really think much about it. To him, flirting with a woman was like breathing. I told him, “Happy birthday.”

Rave revealed his perfect teeth and smiled. He seemed to be in a great mood as he replied, “Thank you, Marina.”

“You’re welcome.”

As Rave fixated his gaze on me, I heard another familiar voice, “Secretary Harrant! Good to see you here!”

It was my other superior, Second Secretary Lynel with his boyish and cute appearance. I replied, “Secretary Lynel. I knew you were coming too.”

“Yeah, Rave and I have a personal relationship,” answered Lynel.

Then, Rave placed his arm around Lynel and smiled victoriously, “You know, Cedric, here was actually my junior at the Central Academy.”

“…Yeah.”

I looked at them and noticed Lynel looking at Rave unpleasantly. But the catch was that he still looked cute. He was like a male elf. Anyway, women were mesmerized by these two good-looking men. That’s when Lumi loudly introduced herself.

“GOOD EVENING, SIR CEDRIC VON LYNEL!”

“O-oh, good evening, Lady Illumina von Reclan,” answered Lynel awkwardly.

It was for sure he still found himself awkward around Lumi. She then walked over to Cedric and spoke in a low voice, “Just call me Lumi, heh.”

“H-huh? N-no, I-” Lynel tried to reply, but Lumi interrupted him.

“You don’t need to be embarrassed!”

“N-no, it’s not that! Oh, I forgot I had business to attend to! Please have a great day, ladies.”

Lumi seemed disappointed by his clear rejection. Then Rave told her, “It’s okay, Lady Illumina. There’s a lot of men out there. Or do you want me to comfort you instead?”

Even with his words that were either to comfort or to seduce her, Lumi had her head down with her shoulders shivering. Then a chilling voice came out from her, “Kekeke… He’s so cute. He looks like a small embarrassed bird.”

It sent chills down my spine. How could she speak like a perverted old man with that adorable little face! What’s even scarier was that Lumi was still very doll-like even then. With her lovely face, she kept on mumbling, “I will make that adorable man mine.”

“I will make that adorable man mine.”

Hearing Lumi’s words, Rave and I stood there astonished and looked at her. Then with a smile, Lumi, who was going to grab a drink, added, “Sister, please excuse me for a minute.”

With a shaky voice, Rave commented, “…I don’t think I can ever make jokes to Lady Illumina from now on.”

I looked at Rave with pity, and then the horn rang through the hall.

“The Crown Prince of the Great Genorium, His Highness Clyde Sieghart Urd Genorium is now joining us!”

I froze on the spot, and so did Rave. Well, the imperial family were nobility, so they didn’t need an invitation to join any party they wanted to go to. The Crown Prince slowly walked in, stepping on the carpet.

Everyone around him watched him. I knew things would have been the same even if he wasn’t a crown prince. He was beautiful enough to captivate anyone’s gaze. Pitch dark black hair, with lazily-brought-up eyelids and the purple-colored eyes beneath them. The beautiful face that seemed to be carefully chiseled by an artisan- No, by a god himself. The Crown Prince was like a living masterpiece.