Flower of Steel

“Welcome, Your Highness,” greeted Rave, who had walked over to the Crown Prince first.

The Crown Prince looked down on him unimpressed. He then looked at him for a long time before he spoke in a low voice, “I hope you are having a wonderful birthday, Viscount Harsen.”

“It is an honor to have you here, Your Highness,” answered Rave.

“Do you truly mean that?”

Nutjob. Why is he asking back like that?

“Of course, I am. How would I not be?”

Rave responded flawlessly, but the Crown Prince remained emotionless as he looked down at him. Then he blurted out, “It’s good that you know your place.”

To talk like that to the successor to the house of a duke. It’s hard to understand, even if he’s the crown prince. Rave, however, didn’t even flinch and just kept his head down. The Crown Prince then scanned around the party with the same expression and stopped briefly in my direction, where I was looking at him secretly.

I didn’t even have to think, ‘Maybe he’s looking for me,’ here. There was no way he could find me among all these people.

“Please continue with the party. I’m here to be entertained, so I wish for all of you to enjoy the party as well.”

And with that, the party resumed.

***

Lumi’s eyes sparkled as they fixated on Lynel. Her eyes were like that of a bird of prey, eyeing on its target. But she still drank even with her eyes on him.

“It’s okay, sister. I have to keep staring at him like this, so he learns about how I feel for him!”

I think he’ll just think you’re a frightening being, my beautiful doll-like cousin. Then I asked her, “What part of Cedric makes you like him so much?”

“Well, you might not know this, but he’s… not an ordinary man! I don’t know why he has such magical powers, but I think I can figure it out. We aren’t in a fantasy world.”

Magical powers? Does she mean that he has some kind of magical ability to charm others? And what does she mean that he’s not ordinary? What does she mean by fantasy? I absolutely have no idea what Lumi is talking about.

“What are you-” I was about to ask her what she meant when Lumi clenched her teeth and drowned my words. Her expression became frightening, like a military general glaring at her enemy.

“That vulgar woman! How dare you come close to my Cedric! Nngh!” Lumi fiercely clenched her teeth as she glared at Elise von Schuteiner, who approached Lynel.

“C-calm down, Lumi. Maybe she just wants to have a word with him.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying! Cedric’s magical powers naturally attract people! I’m sure that vulgar woman found out about his true potential and is now trying to flirt with him!”

No way. I was completely fine with him. But I couldn’t say to Lumi that Lynel had no such magical powers, as she seemed to truly believe he was a magically charming man.

“Y-yeah, I suppose Secretary Lynel has such powers, but you can’t just walk up to her and grab her by her hair. Let’s calm down and see where it’s going, alright?”

Lumi then let out a deep breath and nodded. I was relieved to see my cousin calming down a bit and glared at Elise to find out her intention behind it. ‘But why is she trying to get close to Secretary Lynel?’

However, it was proven that Lynel was a very shy man. If it wasn’t for that, there was no reason why else Elise would be leaving with such an embarrassed look on her face. I wasn’t sure what conversation took place between them, so I guessed that his shyness had played a role in making her retreat hastily. I was about to relax when Lumi gave me no time to stop her and went over to Lynel.

“Sir Cedric von Lynel!”

“Y-yes?” Lynel flinched at Lumi’s fierce approach.

Lumi then made a bright smile and offered him her hand, “You seem bored. Why don’t we dance? I’ll make it enjoyable!”

Gosh, Lumi… A lady asking for a dance? What in the world was that? I know I have done that before, but I didn’t do that in front of everyone else. She was acting bizarrely in front of everyone, which surprised me.

“H-huh? Wait…!”

However, Lumi didn’t wait for his reply and grabbed his hand. I saw Lynel’s face become completely red from blushing. Maybe Lumi’s method is working!

“Now, don’t be so nervous. Just feel the music!” said Lumi.

She smiled like a gentleman courting a shy lady, and I almost felt the chills. Oh, Lumi, how are you going to clean up after this mess?

Lynel already seemed to have lost his mind because of Lumi’s bold actions and was being pushed around. But the two of them, at least appearance wise, were like a prince and princess from a fairyland. Even the people around them looked pleased watching them.

The man, who was now dancing with Lumi, was 20 years old. He was two years older than me. However, he looked so young that it was plausible if he were to claim that he was 15, so there was nothing strange with the two of them dancing together. But with my cousin finding someone to be with, now I had no one around me. I mean, the hall had an air of hostility toward me after all.