There was a commotion around me. I heard a murmur and felt dozens of eyes looking at me.
This kind of attention is burdensome, but let's put it into words, in words. ...Not. It's a burden to say it, so just don't worry about it.
The guard looked at me like a weirdo, and held out the back of the invitation so that I could see it.
Belial Serena Meinhardt.
He came at the invitation of the Crown Prince. So don't make a spectacle and let them in as soon as possible.
"Wait here for a while."
"I have an invitation, but you want to wait?"
Sen, who was fiddling with the nape of his neck that was clearly exposed for the awkwardness of his hair tied up, asked irritably.
"You got it directly from the prince?"
The guard responded bluntly.
"A maid and an unidentified man came with an invitation, would you believe it? If it was stolen, the banquet hall would be in a mess, so how can you handle it?"
"How could that be? I checked it like this, but if it's true, are you going to handle it at that time?"
"Yes, yes. I'll handle it... Woe, Prince."
The guard hurriedly lowered his head.
When I turned around, I saw Belial, dressed in fancy clothes, with his arms folded. The tiger also said that if I said it, it would come. I can't be a gentleman.
Belial's green eyes narrowed as he looked at me and Sen alternately.
"Good fit. Do you like the clothes you prepared?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
I answered honestly.
"It's so good that it's awkward."
Is it possible to guess so accurately with just the eyes of the public? Not an ordinary pervert.
"I have a good eye. But what are you doing when you don't go in?"
At this point, the guards had no reason to stop us anymore. It's best not to get caught in trouble.
He gave way with a humble expression. Sen and I finally entered the banquet hall. The person behind you may not have an invitation, but you can't stop it. How do you block that face?
"...Wow."
To be honest, the banquet hall was amazing. I wondered if I had spent all the money I spent playing in the North.
The gray ceiling and walls, which felt stark, were lit up and felt bright. Countless people roamed underneath, and every table was filled with food and alcohol.
It's a once-a-year luxury, isn't it?
I heard that there are people who came up from the capital, but if you treat them like this, they will want to come again. Considering the money they will spend in the North during the festival, it is more of a bold investment than a waste.
I fiddled with my uncomfortably stiff collar and looked around.
...One hour. Can I do it in an hour?
Compared to the past, it has become more spacious, but that doesn't mean it's more relaxed.
If I'm unlucky, the chandelier might fall off as soon as I walk out of the banquet hall. I glared at the ceiling.
[A surprise event for you! ٩( ᐛ )و]
Wow, I'm surprised.
I snapped back. I was surprised to see something in my sight. Pretend to be a little bit and show up!
[｡ :ﾟ(;´∩`;)ﾟ:｡ ]
Yes, the system can't knock on the door...
What is his surprise event?
[Miracle Milestone 10%! (*However, all items are one-time.※)]
What kind of fruit shop? Nuts?
...For what? I didn't even eat the walnuts that were there, so I put them under the sawdust.
[Can I show you the product?]
If you look at the explanation like this, is there something different?
I looked around a little and nodded my head slightly. Sen seems to be talking to Belial, and Kyle is sitting at the table, so he has a little more time to spare.
I went to the table full of food and began to take away the appetizing things little by little.
Soon, the items of the 'nut shop' appeared in the system window.
[Levitating Pecan Pie | Miracle Consumption 4% | You can fly for 10 minutes.]
[Chameleon Pistachio Sabre | Miracle Consumption 3% | Hide Yourself for 30 Minutes.]
[Detox Balm Manju | Uses 2% Miracle Value | Neutralizes all kinds of poisons, and can also cure hangovers!]
...No, wait a minute.
It's not money, it's a miracle. Isn't that mean? This is like my life.
Other items were lined up below, but most of them were useless now.
Later, if I really need something by consuming miracles, I can use it to help... Right now, I have only 11 percent of the miracles.
Huh?
At that time, there was an item that caught my eye.
[Lasting Acorn Cookie | Miracle Consumption 1% | 'Load' Time Extended by 1 Hour]
It was an item that increased the 'loading' time.
But eating 1 percent of miracles while extending it by just one hour? Even if it's a one-time thing? It was at a level where it was dead because it was not cost-effective.
I'm going crazy.
I can only hope that I don't have to buy anything to eat.
"Let's eat it first."
Yes, Mt. Kumgang is also an after-dinner view. He starved all day and died hungry. I began to eat the food that was piled up like a mountain on my plate.
The chandelier in question was hanging above the dance hall anyway, but no one was up there right now. Belial is talking to the other nobles, and Kyle is... What, are you looking at this place now? Oh, I don't think so.
I dipped the fish dish with my fork and stuffed it into my mouth. The sour and tangy taste spread from the tip of my tongue.
Hmm, that's fine.
As it is a cold region, the fish meat is fatty and fragrant.
I also tried a salad with grilled vegetables and dried plums. I thought the tomatoes didn't have a good texture, but they felt different when they were roasted.
"I thought it would be a bit spicy because it's in the North, but it's surprisingly mild."
It seems that it is because the meat is fat. The masu meat, which looks like it is neither beef nor mutton, is fried to a crispy surface and covered with a lot of hot sauce. When I took a piece and put it in my mouth, it melted without even having time to chew it.
...It tasted better than I expected, so I was honestly a little curious about what kind of meat it was. But somehow, I feel like I shouldn't know. There is a saying that ignorance is bliss.
[((00))]
Don't say anything you don't know. If you don't eat now, you won't be able to eat it later, even if you want to.
While others chatted moderately, I ate eagerly. When I get thirsty, I moisten it with soft champagne and go around again. When I felt like I was running out of sugar, I soothed my mouth with a cake with plenty of milk cream. Then I went around the soup again.
Yes, I have to do this.
If you go to a buffet, it usually takes about two hours to fill your stomach. At least I did. It took me thirty minutes, and by my standards, I saw a lot.
As I dipped a piece of soft bread into the chocolate sauce, I made eye contact with Kyle.
Looking at their pensive eyes, they seem to be thinking that they wish our hamsters ate well like that. Yes, hamsters are eating well. Don't worry.
"There."
...that? Isn't that right?
Kyle's expression is quite unusual.
He gently raises his hand to those who were talking to him and asks them to wait for a while, and then strode over to them.
I thought the distance was quite wide, but perhaps because of my long legs, I got closer in an instant with just a few movements.
"...Me?"
The nape of my neck suddenly went cold, and I felt the manjo instinctively. ...No way.
"Where have we met?"
There is. Is it because he doesn't wear a maid outfit? I answered dryly, avoiding my gaze.
"No, I don't."
I hope not.
"Think about it."
"Well, I have thought about it."
Kyle's red eyes flashed dangerously.
Oh, I won't be fooled.
There are a few people here, so let's skip the trivial things. Yes? Catching a pervert here doesn't make the world a better place.
No, and it's not a pervert in the first place. I'm a victim too.
"Half..."
No, no! Not!
I hurriedly stretched out my arms to cover his mouth. Companions! You're talking too much. Isn't it? When you're a human, let's take off the pet modifier, take it off!
Kyle looked down at me. The meaning of that gaze was clear. Look, I met you.
...Smart bastard. Dig a trap in this way?
"Northern food was delicious."
I shivered as much as I could and stepped back.
"Then I'm going to have another dish..."
But Kyle squeezed my arm as if he had no idea. His big hand squeezed his forearm once, but he couldn't move. Wow, that's powerful. It seems that the Northern Grand Duke is not for everyone.
But you can't do it, man. I have no excuse for it, so I'm in need. I saw the wrong person for a moment, I can't do it. Like I said originally, it's your pet hamster, Hagi is a bit like that. You have to run away as soon as you say that, but that's not the case. ...I was crazy.
"Let go of this..."
In this case, Morsö is the best.
Okay. I don't know. I don't know.
It was when I was wriggling and trying to get away from him even a little.
"My guest is in trouble."
Belial was staring at me with Kyle's wrist in his hands. There was a triumphant smile on his well-groomed face.
Kyle looked at me with disrespect, as if he wanted to hit Belial at any moment, but instead he let me go.
This is a good thing. If I were a hamster now, Belial might have lost one of his wrists.
"Guest, did you say that?"
"Yes, Archduke. He is precious to me."
I sneaked into Belial's back, and Sen quickly approached and gave me a white flower and a red flower. Perhaps because it grew through the cold northern soil, its petals were harder than other flowers. It looks just like a camellia.
"There will be a flower ceremony soon."
Sen whispered softly.
"After the ceremony, the main dance will follow. Have you ever had a ceremony?"
"...Nope."
"The meaning of the white flower is 'respect,' and the meaning of the red flower is 'dear.' Usually, white flowers are given to His Highness Kyle, and red flowers are used to make confessions or dance requests."
I nodded as Sen explained. A large basket was already sitting on Kyle's seat.
The people of Blake's estate would usually give Kyle a white flower. Not only that, but even if you are an invited nobleman, it may be polite or common sense to pay respect to him as the host of the banquet and the owner of the land.
So... I should give this flower to Belial, not Kyle.
I could feel Kyle staring at me over Belial's shoulder. Why are you doing this?
"Then, there will be a flower ceremony from now on!"
With the host's declaration, I felt two pairs of eyes turn to me.
...Oh boy.
I think it's ruined.