CHGD 50

Episode 50

A childish script.

But it would definitely work.

The moment I heard about the Marquess’s family through Columbus, I was certain.

The Marquess’s household was, more than I expected, an ordinary family. A hollow and carefree father, an incompetent but loud-mouthed son, a timid daughter, and a mother suffering between them.

The mother—the Marquess’s wife—being the most sensible person became the key to the best solution.

*’And I had just the right ingredients, too.’*

The script needed an incident of that scale. The servants of the Count’s house helped prepare the sea shellfish that would serve as the catalyst for that incident.

Apparently, since I usually enjoyed seafood, there was plenty of ingredients stored for travel.

I disguised it as a gift and had Columbus put it on the dinner menu. Columbus, who had wanted attention anyway, readily agreed to my request.

*’As for how they refrigerated it… let’s not ask. It’s probably some strange magic.’*

The Marquess, who would eat anything if it was a high-end ingredient; the Marquess’s daughter, who had allergies; and our servants’ foresight in always having seafood on hand—everything fit into the script perfectly.

The only unexpected thing was that Loina, the Marquess’s daughter, had tried to hold back her fear and touch the dish anyway.

Of course, our servants had said they could handle the allergies, so there was no chance of failure, but it was still startling.

“Countess, my lady has instructed me to escort you to a special seat.”

“Please tell her I’m grateful. I’ll prepare and join shortly.”

And so, I was able to secure the best seat at the ball.

Because it’s called a ball, one might imagine everyone standing, but in fact, high-ranking nobles had seats near the orchestra. The dance hall and the banquet hall were distinctly separate.

*’With this, I can rest comfortably at the ball.’*

After all preparations were complete, I put on the prepared dress and entered the ballroom.

“Welcome, Countess Aheim. Please, this way.”

Passing through the splendid ballroom, I headed toward a seat near the Marquess’s party. The Marquess was already engaged in conversation with influential figures and seemed to have no time to spare a glance at me.

As I sat down, I made eye contact with the Marquess’s wife, who had invited me here.

She was conversing with an elderly gentleman and seemed unable to come over, as she nodded apologetically. I politely bowed, indicating it was no concern.

Miridi and a maid took their places beside me.

The maid whispered cautiously in my ear.

“My lady, shall I get you something to drink?”

“No, it’s fine. More importantly, when will the Count arrive?”

“He’ll be here soon. We received word when you left the dining hall.”

I had thought he might not make it for dinner but would attend the ball, and thankfully, it seemed he would arrive within the expected time.

The ball would last for five days total, but missing even a single day was bound to invite gossip.

A newlywed husband leaving his wife alone at a ball—it was perfect fodder for gossip.

I could already see several people looking down on me, but the seat I was in kept them from approaching. As I was relaxing and waiting for the Count, someone spoke to me.

“U-um.”

“Young master?”

It was Columbus, the Marquess’s eldest son. He was dressed in what was clearly an effortful outfit, and his appearance wasn’t bad, so it suited him decently.

“Ahem, ahem. I thought the Countess might be feeling a bit bored.”

The ballroom was full of people, but there was no one around me except the maid and the knight. Seeing that, Columbus puffed out his chest and said,

“I came to introduce the Dennis Marquess’s household to you.”

“Ah, an introduction.”

Isn’t that usually done on the first visit? It didn’t seem like the right topic for a ball.

I wasn’t the only one who thought so; several nobles eavesdropping nearby also looked bewildered.

*’Refusing would look bad…’*

A Countess of a house no one had ever heard of rejecting the goodwill of the Marquess’s heir without reason wasn’t a good look. Besides, I had already drawn attention by securing a seat with preferential treatment.

I gave a polite smile as a sign of cooperation.

Columbus’s face brightened. He then sat on the sofa opposite me and began a long-winded explanation.

“Our Dennis Marquess’s house is one of the oldest and most distinguished families in the North…”

*’He finally looks his age. But his personality seems a little different from when we first met.’*

Just then, Miridi whispered in a voice only I could hear.

“His soul color has shifted a little. It must be because of the color.”

“……Can souls change because of something like that?”

“Ordinary human souls are fragile, after all.”

“I’m human too, you know.”

“Are you ordinary?”

What was that supposed to mean? I pretended not to hear Miridi’s teasing joke.

Columbus’s explanation was surprisingly worth listening to. Since the knowledge I’d gained at home was fragmentary, well-organized historical information was quite valuable.

He was well-versed not only in the Dennis Marquess’s household but also in the history of the North.

In particular, the history of the region called the “Dead Wasteland” was the most striking.

*’It was once a Grand Duchy, but now it’s a place where no one lives.’*

The land with no water, trees, or resources—that abandoned land was the Dead Wasteland where the Aheim Count’s castle stood.

I glanced at Miridi, who was smiling the whole time, and thought:

*’So the Aheim Count’s household inherited the castle from the Grand Duchy. No wonder it didn’t look like something a monster built.’*

This was information I couldn’t have learned in the castle. There were few history books in the library, and the monsters didn’t know anything about the past either.

“Of course, that Grand Duchy also fell. For reference, in the East, there’s the example of the Independent State of Venice…”

“I’m sorry, young master, but would you mind if I stepped out for some fresh air? This is my first time at such an event, and I’m feeling a little dizzy…”

“Ah, yes! Of course.”

The subsequent explanation wasn’t very substantive. It seemed like it would take too long to keep listening, so I made a suitable excuse and headed outside the ballroom.

Columbus looked disappointed, but he didn’t follow me.

*’The garden here is splendid, too.’*

Adjacent to the ballroom was a large garden.

Fortunately, since the ball had just started, there was no sign of anyone in the garden.

*’I’m getting tired.’*

I sat on a suitable bench and took off my shoes to rest my feet. Even though I hadn’t danced or had any meaningful conversations, I was mentally exhausted. I definitely wasn’t the type of noble suited for high society.

After asking the maid to bring me a drink, I leaned back against the bench and looked up at the sky.

*’Maybe I’ll just rest here until the Count arrives.’* I was thinking that, when—

*BOOM—!*

“KYAAA—!”

“Intruders! Call, call the soldiers!”

“Where are the knights— AARGH!”

With a sudden explosion, screams began to erupt from all directions.

Startled, I put my shoes back on and stood up, scanning the ballroom. Dozens of people in black masks, armed, were breaking in through the rooftop and the back entrance of the ballroom.

“Ah, assassins?”

Their appearance felt surreal, but I couldn’t think of any other word for them.

At a loss for words, I stared at the ballroom, which had become noisy with screams and the sounds of battle, my mouth agape. Just moments ago, it had been a luxurious social gathering for nobles; now it had turned into a scene of carnage.

In the meantime, the maid had calmly returned, the ballroom behind her.

“My lady, I brought your drink.”

“……”

I accepted the drink, unable to even bring myself to say thank you.

“Sir Miridi.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“That’s not a performance, is it?”

“Hmm, judging by the killing intent, I’d say not. Or perhaps they’re just very good actors.”

“Do you know those assassins?”

“No, we didn’t send them.”

*’That’s not what I asked. I asked if they were targeting us.’*

It was so monster-like of him to naturally think from the perspective of the perpetrator. He probably thought human assassins wouldn’t dare target them.

My head was already hurting. I put my hand to my forehead and closed my eyes tightly.

*’So this is all just a coincidence, then?’*

Incredible as it seemed, no one in our party appeared to have anticipated this. Miridi still had that innocent look, and the maid who’d crossed the assassins seemed utterly uninterested.

Assassins on my first trip, my first ball, my debut into high society.

Somehow, the days spent with monsters in the castle felt more peaceful.

“Ah, they’ve noticed us.”

Following Miridi’s gaze, I saw several assassins who were trying to break into the ballroom spot me and start running toward me.

I glared at them with an irritated expression and gestured. Like swatting away a dirty bug.

*’Don’t come.’*

“We can’t leave witnesses!”

*’I said don’t come this way.’*

Ignoring me, the assassins ran even faster.

“Oh dear, killing intent is heading toward my lady.”

Miridi muttered in a tone that was almost scolding, as if that wouldn’t do, and raised his arm.

I didn’t want to see any more, so I squeezed my eyes shut and muttered.

“That’s why I told you not to come.”

It wasn’t because I was afraid of the assassins.

I was warning them because there were things more terrifying than assassins here.

“Wait! I sense magic— th-that shadow! The shadow is—!”

“Give me back my legs!”

“Who are you stabbing right now…!”

“Ahah, ahyaha, haek!”

The hell created by humans was nothing compared to the real thing. As screams, laughter laced with madness, and wet, squelching sounds began to echo, I raised both hands and covered my ears.