Abandoned by my Childhood Friend, I Became a War Hero

95 – Imperial Palace Ball

I walked back to the Opal Black Dormitory. This is because the bike exploded along with the airship and disappeared.

To be honest, it was true that I felt regretful after it disappeared. I didn’t know that I would like Dr. Brown’s invention….

Due to the explosion of the airship, the system was still in chaos, and the central avenue and trams were overflowing with people, so they deliberately returned far away from the crowds. Thanks to that, by the time I arrived at the dormitory, the sunset was already setting.

As soon as I entered the dormitory, I immediately heard Titania’s voice greeting me.

“Instructor Ion!”

“Did you wait all this time?”

“Yes! Because the instructor told me to wait in the dormitory. I’m glad you’re okay!”

Every single student, including Titania, was gathered in the common room.

Unsurprisingly, their expressions showed signs of relief rather than worry. It was as if I had heard beforehand that I had saved Elizabeth.

Marianne asked, revealing her concern with her gaze as she confirmed my condition.

“I’m glad you didn’t get hurt.”

“Because it wasn’t a big deal. Did you already hear?”

“Yes. They kept talking about it on the radio. The 3rd Princess escaped safely and there were no casualties. Thanks to that, the parade went ahead… Well, it went all the way as planned.”

Did you decide to go ahead with the parade? It was also fortunate that we avoided the central road.

Gwynn said cautiously.

“Instructor. So what happened? The radio said it was an accident… Is that really true?”

“Um….”

I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for me to talk about it myself. It wasn’t a good story to hear about an insidious fight over the imperial throne. Even more so, it was questionable whether this information was necessary for students who turned 18 this year.

As if he had read my hesitation, the quick-witted Schurz soothed Gwynn.

“Gwynn. Elizabeth and the instructor will tell you when the time is right. Instructor must have been working hard too, so let’s give it a rest.”

“Ah, that’s right… I’m sorry, Instructor.”

“No, it’s okay.”

I didn’t say anything, but Marianne and Schurz, who had experienced an aristocratic society, and Saladin, who were from different countries but came from royalty, seemed to guess what the situation was.

From noble mtl dot com

In particular, Saladin had an unusually uncomfortable expression, probably because of his experience of being assassinated repeatedly in the past.

At that time, I met eyes with Oznia, who had been looking at me without saying a word.

She opened her words in a quiet voice with little change in emotion.

“Was my magic helpful?”

“Yes.”

It was fortunate that there was a magician who could teleport in an emergency. I would have had to endure considerable effort to rise to such a high position by myself.

“It was very helpful.”

Oznia smiled lightly at my sincere tone.

If my intuition wasn’t wrong, the emotion contained in that smile was definitely proud.

***

Students chatted with each other as if they were really relaxed after I came back.

Titania belatedly proposed to go enjoy the parade, but most of the students showed an indifferent attitude, so she had no choice but to withdraw her proposal. In fact, Titania only wanted to change the mood, but she didn’t seem to really want to go, so she didn’t particularly regret it.

Marian and Schurz had to leave the dormitory to attend the Imperial Palace Ball held after the parade. In fact, the two of them should have already started preparing for the prom, but they had been staying in the dorms all this time, following my orders to stay there until things calmed down.

A few students showed interest in the word “Imperial Palace Ball”, But Marianne said with disapproval.

“It’s better not to come.”

“Why? It looks fun….”

At Titania’s question, Marianne rather hated her answer.

“It’s not just a place to enjoy. It is a place of power struggle where the shady and soggy war of nerves of nobles takes place. If you really want to go, I can take a few people at my discretion, but… A place where naive kids like you can open their eyes and cut their noses?”

“Um, um.”

Shurtz also seemed to agree silently.

“To be naive… I’m not that naive….”

At Marianne’s words, Titania had no choice but to nod. Other students have lost her interest in her prom as well.

So the two of them left the dormitory to attend the prom.

Everyone went back to their rooms or dispersed for work, so I was about to go back to my room.

By the way, it’s a prom….

Hearing the word prom, I couldn’t help but remember the past. More precisely, it is a funny promise from an immature childhood.

‘There is such a thing as a ball with the Imperial Palace. I’ll take them all.’

I shook my head lightly and shook my memory away.

It was once one of the goals of life and an object of longing, but now it is a place that has no meaning to me. I’ve never thought of going there, and I’m sure I will in the future. I’ll probably never go to a ball until I die.

Just as she was thinking about that, Titania, who had gone out to tend the plants in her garden, came in through her front door.

The look on her face was clear, as if she was somewhat perplexed.

“Instructor. Someone came outside….”

“Hmm?”

Looking at the front door, I immediately understood why Titania was flustered.

A dozen maids were waiting outside the dormitory, each carrying a heavy-looking bag. Among them, one maid who looked the most elegant and composed came forward as a representative and spoke to me.

“Hello. I am Louisa, the head maid of the princess’s palace. Is Instructor Ion Graham right?”

“… That’s right, but what is all this about?”

“The Princess has invited Instructor Graham to the Imperial Palace Ball. Also, thinking that the instructor might not have a proper outfit, the princess entrusted us with a tailcoat and the role of helping the instructor dress up.”

What?

I tried to suppress my embarrassment.

“I haven’t heard anything.”

“If I were to pass on the message from the princess, she said that since she has prepared a decent place, I hope you keep your promise. Of course, it’s absolutely not compulsory, so if the instructor refuses, we’ll go back as it is… What would you like to do?”

“… ….”

Is this what Elisabeth meant when she said, ‘I will prepare a suitable place for you’?

Then when she asked if I could give her some time, I said yes. I don’t think I answered this knowing that something bothering me would happen, but….

A promise is a promise. And, if you ask me why I was so reluctant to go to the ball, even going against my own words, it was not so.

There are definitely people who are hard to see, but to be honest, there was no reason for me to avoid them.

I don’t know if they have reasons to avoid me.

In the end, I made a decision in my heart.

“I will attend.”

Maid Jean-Louis politely bowed her back and replied.

“Thank you, Instructor. Then, excuse me for a moment as I have to prepare for the dressing up.”

“No, even simply… You can just wear the instructor’s uniform.”

“I can’t do that. There is a dress code at the prom. To be honest, to be born with such a look and not decorate it is like throwing jewelry on the ground…… Uhm, I was saying that it would look much better with makeup.”

“You seem a little excited.”

“Not at all. Come on, eat inside. There is not much time left until the prom. One hour is urgent.”

As Luisa beckoned, the maids led me inside. Their power wasn’t that great, but the strangely powerful atmosphere they gave me was hard to refuse.

“Eh… Instructor?”

Titania had a bewildered expression as she watched me being dragged away by the maid half of her will.

I didn’t know how to answer that expression, so I stayed silent.

***

The maids dressed up really quickly and quickly. I can only say that I am a professional in that field.

It was okay to travel by tram, but at the entrance of the academy, there was even a luxurious carriage with the imperial crest on it. It was a huge chariot pulled by eight horses.

Compared to the wagon I rode when I came to Jedo, I could feel the difference between a soldier’s tent and a palace.

It was the first time coming to the Imperial Palace Emperatos, but there was no time to leisurely look around. It was because the maids hurried their steps, saying that 1:00 was urgent until the start of the ball.

I thought I was being guided to the ballroom right away, but it wasn’t.

The place I arrived was the princess’s palace. Louisa bowed politely and said.

“The princess is waiting inside.”

Louisa said, knocking lightly on the door.

“The Princess. Instructor Graham has arrived.”

“Come in. Because it is open.”

After Elisabeth’s answer came back, Louisa carefully stepped back as she opened the door. At the gesture to go in first, I nodded and went inside, wondering what the situation was.

There was Elizabeth wearing a pure white silver dress.

The silver fabric that shimmered softly contrasted with her white skin. The appropriately exposed banquet dress, which did not reveal too much skin but did not cover it too much, showed Elizabeth’s elegant body line as it was, but did not lose her dignity.

Elisabeth saw me and her eyes widened slightly, then her usual red lips were drawn up in a loving smile.

“Oops… The tailcoat really suits you, Instructor.”

I didn’t know what to answer at a time like this.

After thinking for a while, she finally spoke frankly. Because she had no reason to lie.

“You look good in a dress too.”

“… I didn’t expect the instructor to say something like that. It’s nice to hear though.”

Elisabeth held out her hand to me without saying a word, and I stared blankly at it. Because she couldn’t figure out why she suddenly held out her hand.

I wondered if he meant to hold her hand, so I put my hand on top of hers, and Elizabeth said with a small smile.

“Whoops… Instructor. Escorts don’t do that. Maybe I should help.”

“What?”

After saying that, Elisabeth boldly embraced my arm. She was, as they say, folded arms.

From noble mtl dot com

Since she was wearing a thin dress and was so close to her, I could clearly feel the parts of her that men and women shouldn’t touch, but… Elizabeth didn’t notice it, but she didn’t seem to care at all.

She folded the corners of her eyes neatly, her eyes twinkling.

“Shall we go? Instructor.”

“… Okay.”

Is this an escort?

I was completely unfamiliar with escorts, so in the end I had to do as Elizabeth wanted.

We got into the carriage arm in arm like that.

The destination was the ballroom of the imperial palace.