2. My Social Debut

My thirteenth birthday came along. Had it been my twelfth—when I awakened to my Skill, or my fifteenth—when I would become an adult, there would have been a grand celebration. But any other birthdays were usually just celebrated with family. Since Brother Marx happened to be out on a monster extermination mission near the border, Lord Glen celebrated with me instead, as my future family.

The gift he presented me was a wide ribbon. “I thought you’d be more likely to use something you could wear every day.”

“Thank you so very much...!”

I was so happy that my birthday was being celebrated for the first time in my life—and that I’d even been given a present—I couldn’t help but smile. But for some reason, Lord Glen blushed and covered his mouth with his hand after I did.

Half a month later, the day of my social debut arrived.

For the few days leading up to it, I had been given multiple massages with perfumed oil, and had it worked into my hair as well. Thanks to that, my light pink hair was shiny and smooth, and my skin was soft.

Because the royally hosted social debut party began at dusk, preparations began after lunch. My maids shined me up even more and dressed me in the gown that I’d chosen with Her Majesty. Since I would be putting the flower she would give me in my hair, I didn’t wear any other hair accessories. To finish me up, they did my makeup lightly.

“You look wonderful.”

“This is the wonderful moment where you change from a girl to a woman, Lady Chelsea!”

“It looks super great. You’re so cute~!”

Having Gina, Martha, and Miss Micah praise me like that made my cheeks heat up.

“Take a look in the mirror~”

Urged on by Miss Micah, I stood in front of the mirror. The gown I’d chosen with the queen was a simple A-line design, but the top was decorated with lace, with the embroidery increasing as it got closer to the hem. Both the lace and the embroidery were made from shiny, pure-white thread, which appeared to sparkle based on the angle you looked at them. And with the light makeup on my face, I could scarcely recognize myself in the mirror.

Once the sun started to set outside, a knock rang out through my room. It was none other than Brother Marx in his evening party clothes. Marx was the second son of Margrave Sargent, and deputy commander of the Second Order of Knights. Though he had a fiancée who was also a member of the Second Order of Knights, she was currently heading up the security today, and was thus not available.

“You look great in anything, Chelsea,” he said, giving me his signature smile.

On the occasion of one’s social debut, they would take either their fiancé or a family member along as their partner. Though Lord Glen would normally be the one to accompany me now, our engagement hadn’t been announced yet, so I asked Brother Marx instead.

“Thank you ever so much.” Since I was going out to a social venue, I was even more careful than usual to speak like a lady.

“Let’s get going, then.”

“All right. Thank you so very much for accompanying me.”

I lightly rested my right hand on his left arm before we headed out of the Research Institute’s lodging house.

“Since we’re dressed up today, let’s go the indoor route.”

“Where is this indoor route?” I asked, tilting my head, but Marx only answered with a smile.

The only route I knew of to get to the party venue from the lodging house was walking outside along the south wall of the building. But Marx walked towards the institute itself after we left the lodging house. When we stepped inside, there was a member of the Second Order standing guard.

“As you see, today’s my little sister’s social debut, so we’re going through here.”

“Yes!” replied the knight, bowing his head slightly towards us. “Have a wonderful time,” he whispered as I passed, giving me the usual smile.

As we walked farther inside the building, we came to a stop in front of a double door at the farthest point. I’ve never been here before... After shooting me a smile, Brother Marx opened the door. On the other side was another knight standing guard. Marx explained where we were going again before we continued down the hall. Soon I could see the Great Western Garden through the windows to the north.

“The Royal Research Institute is connected to the castle.”

Which meant that we were inside the castle now.

“I had no idea,” I said in surprise as Marx smiled like a child who’d succeeded in pranking someone.

＋＋＋

Led by Brother Marx, we reached the doors to the hall. There was a receptionist at the entrance who we told that I would be debuting that day.

When attending social debut parties hosted by the royal family, it was custom to send word of your attendance beforehand, even for those who weren’t debuting themselves.

“Lady Chelsea and Sir Marxfort, children of Margrave Sargent, yes?”

Both Brother Marx and I nodded at the man’s question.

“Both of your names are on the attendance list. Now that you have been confirmed, please enter.”

After nodding at the receptionist again, both Brother Marx and I headed towards the party hall. As soon as we walked to the entrance, I got nervous. In front of us were many nobles. And not only that, but they all looked gorgeous with their party clothing. I unintentionally squeezed the hand on Marx’s arm a little bit.

“Getting nervous? Take a deep breath. Mother taught you that, right?”

Mother had indeed taught me that. After nodding, I took a few slow, deep breaths that no one would notice. I managed to calm down a little... Okay, let’s go!

When I squeezed my hand again, he gave me a smile.

Looking around the venue once more, the nobles were not only gorgeous, but so was their surroundings. There was a huge, sparkling chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and the metal fixtures on things like the doors and pillars were polished to a shine. And inside the hall were young lords and ladies dressed up in pure white party clothing, just like me. Some were my age, some seemed a year or two older, and all of them looked just as nervous as I was.

After we walked further inside to wait for both the king and queen to arrive, someone spoke to me.

“If it isn’t Miss Chelsea!”

The one to speak was Duke Bazrack, younger brother of the former king. I had once made a seed with [Seed Creation] that saved his granddaughter’s life. It was thanks to that encounter that I’d become a research fellow for the country.

Letting go of Brother Marx’s arm, I curtsied towards Duke Bazrack. “It has been so long, Your Excellency.”

“You’ve grown much taller since our last meeting. At first glance, I wasn’t sure whether you were the same Miss Chelsea—the same research fellow—that saved my granddaughter. But I spoke up after I recognized your light pink hair and purple eyes and was sure,” the duke said, smiling. “So tonight is your debut. Congratulations.”

Seeing his smile I thought, His smile is the same as His Majesty’s. They really are both members of the royal family.

“Thank you very much,” I replied.

As we spoke, I could feel the gazes on us. I glanced around without moving my head, only to see people watching us with interest.

Still smiling, Duke Bazrack nodded along. “Well then, I’ll be back to see you if anything comes up,” he said before leaving.

As I placed my hand back on Marx’s arm, my brother whispered in my ear. “It seems Duke Bazrack will protect you.”

When I looked up at him in confusion, he quietly explained things further.

The fact that the person who saved the duke’s granddaughter’s life had become a research fellow was well-known within the nobility. But since I hadn’t debuted yet, only the nobles who worked within the Research Institute had ever seen me. Because of that, no one had realized who I was when I entered. Being unknown and unnoticed might have invited scorn, so Duke Bazrack specifically spoke to me and referred to me as the research fellow who saved his granddaughter in order to avoid this.

“Showing people that you’ve got the support of a ducal family will protect you.”

So that’s what he meant...! I felt thankful to have so many different people protecting me.

After a little wait, His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen entered through a door to the deep right. The both of them stood about five steps above the rest of the hall and looked around. That was enough to make everyone go silent.

“You’ve all done well to attend. Enjoy yourselves.”

And with the king’s words, the royally hosted social debut party began. The orchestra waiting along the left innermost wall began playing. Maids set out a flower basket with flowers in all sorts of colors on a table beside Her Majesty. Seeing that, the prime minister moved to the king’s side and unrolled the scroll he’d been holding.

“We will now read off the names of those to debut tonight. When your name is called, please come to see His Majesty and Her Majesty,” the prime minister announced before he began rattling off names.

The first one called was the son of a baron. The order in which we’d be called started from the person of lowest birth. Though I was the adopted daughter of a margrave, which was equal in rank to a marquis, I was also on the level of the royal family thanks to my status as a research fellow, which meant that I’d be called last.

After I waited, heart pounding, my name was finally called. I let go of Brother Marx’s arm and headed to the royal couple alone. Slow and steady so that my posture looks elegant... I walked just as my mother had told me. I did my best not to look around, since it would’ve made me even more nervous.

After ascending the stairs and arriving before the king and queen, I curtsied before them. His Majesty smirked, while Her Majesty smiled.

“May your future be full of happiness,” the queen said, taking a noticeably bigger white lily—a Casablanca—from the flower basket and handing it to me. Taking it with both hands, I bowed my head. When I raised it back up, she spoke quietly so that no one would hear. “Your dress looks lovely.”

Happy, I smiled back at her.

After I walked back down the stairs towards Brother Marx, I saw that he was with Lord Glen. The two of them had worked together a number of times before, and were quite friendly. On my way over to the two, I saw Lord Glen lightly whack my brother on the shoulder as they chatted away happily.

“Welcome back, Chelsea.”

“I’ve returned, brother. Good evening to you, Your Highness,” I said, keeping my speech ladylike since we were in public.

“Congratulations on your debut. You look beautiful,” complimented Lord Glen with his usual soft smile after looking at me as if dazzled.

I had to hold myself back from jumping for joy when he said that.

“Thank you ever so much.” I was blushing, but I was pretty sure I thanked him like a proper lady.

“Good timing. Why don’t we let His Highness put your flower in your hair?” Brother Marx suggested, looking towards the casablanca I held.

Young lords would put the flowers that the queen gave them on their chests, while young ladies would put them in their hair. Normally, Brother Marx would be the one to do it as my partner, but...

“Ah, wonderful idea,” said Lord Glen, holding his hand out towards me.

Though I’d been thinking that I would be happier if Lord Glen was the one to put the flower in my hair, I wasn’t sure if it was all right for someone other than my partner to do it. I glanced over at Marx, only to get a nod and a smile back.

Deciding it must be okay, I gently placed the casablanca on Lord Glen’s outstretched hand. “Please do.”

Giving me a happy smile, Lord Glen leaned towards me. I closed my eyes out of surprise at the sudden lack of distance between us, and I heard something like a gasp from him before I felt something be pushed into my hair.

“It’s in,” he said, prompting me to open my eyes. I touched the spot he’d put the flower with my right hand. “No wonder Her Majesty chose that. It looks great on you.”

“Thank you...ever so much?”

Just as I was thanking him, I saw a young lady I’d never seen before acting strange behind him. The girl, with her fluffy and wavy honey-colored hair and azure eyes, was peeking out at me from behind Lord Glen’s back, and whenever our eyes met, she’d instantly shrink back into hiding. Not just once, but a few times. She was wearing a scarlet-colored gown, so she must not have been one of the debutantes.

While I stood there confused, someone spoke from behind me. “Congrats on your debut, Miss Chelsea! Your dress looks great!”

Looking back, I saw Lord Tris waving to me, dressed in his evening finery.

“Thank you ever so much, Lord Tris,” I thanked him, only for him to look just as confused as I was.

“So what’s with Miss Noel acting all weird behind His Highness?”

It seemed the girl’s name was Lady Noel. From the way Lord Tris spoke, he seemed to know her, but... When I looked back to her, she hid behind Lord Glen again, who heaved a heavy sigh before turning to look at her.

“I’d been pretending I didn’t notice, but... What are you doing, Miss Noel?”

“No, I, er, I mean...”

“If you’ve got anything to say, just come right out and say it,” Lord Glen said. From the way he spoke, he must have known her as well.

Lady Noel dodged him, facing me with her entire body. When our eyes met, she smiled brightly.

“Then I’ll just say it!” After walking a few steps towards me, she held her right hand out. “I’ve fallen for you at first sight! Please be my friend!”

＋＋＋

Having become the center of attention thanks to Lady Noel’s loud exclamation, we moved from the hall out to the gardens.

“You’ve never met Chelsea before, Miss Noel. You should introduce yourself first,” chided Lord Glen strictly from where he stood beside me.

“Th-That’s true! Please excuse my rudeness!” Lady Noel quickly straightened herself up, giving me a ladylike smile. “My name is Noel, daughter of Marquis Wisteria. I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“I am Chelsea, daughter of Margrave Sargent. I am a researcher at the Royal Research Institute.”

When I introduced myself in return, Lady Noel clutched her hands in front of her chest. “Oh, Lady Chelsea, you’re even cuter up close! Too cute! Please, be my friend!”

“U-Um...”

Seeing as this was my first time having anyone react to me like that, I had no idea how to respond. I took a step back from her overflowing vigor, and accidentally bumped into Marx behind me.

“Could you please stop scaring my little sister?” he said, hiding me behind him. He was smiling, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He might have been a little mad.

“Scaring her? Perish the thought! I just want to worship her adorableness and—”

“Just stop right there, Miss Noel.” Lord Tris spoke up before she could finish what she was saying, putting himself between us. “You’re always so abrupt!” he continued, starting up a lecture.

Brother Marx, Lord Glen, and I took a few steps back and watched.

“Err, this might seem a tad rude, but is Lady Noel always like this?” I asked Lord Glen, since he seemed to know her.

“She passes as a normal noble lady if she keeps her mouth shut, but...” With a wry smile, he began to tell me all about her.

Miss Noel was the only daughter of Marquis Wisteria, who awakened to the rare Skill [Special Appraisal] on her twelfth birthday and spent a year in special training for it. When she came to the Royal Research Institute for her training, she met Lord Glen.

“Her father is a marquis, just like Tris’s, so they’ve known each other since they were little. She’s also fifteen years old, same as his little sister, so he’s always been the one to lecture her whenever she goes wild.”

“That...seems like a difficult job,” I replied, getting another wry smile from Lord Glen.

Seemingly finished with his lecture, Lord Tris and Lady Noel came back over to us.

“Apologize, okay?”

Urged on by Lord Tris, Lady Noel stepped forward, shoulders hanging piteously. “I’m sorry, Lady Chelsea. I didn’t realize that my suddenness shocked you,” she apologized, lowering her head. “I’ll watch out for that from now on, so please, be my friend!”

“All right. Please treat me well.”

Since she apologized so honestly, she probably isn’t a bad person. Thinking that, I nodded back to her.

“Yay! We’re friends now! Come to play at my house sometime!” Lady Noel cried, bouncing in place happily before using that momentum to run back to the party hall.

“...She was abrupt to the end,” I murmured, getting an awkward smile from Lord Glen as Lord Tris covered his face with a hand and Marx sighed.