Bullied but Popular

41 – birthday party 2

“Head of the Nerestia duchy! Duke Hamel Nerestia is entering!”

male voice

“You’re here.”

“Oh my~”

“Feeling the mana makes you feel stronger?”

“You’re still twenty-five? Why aren’t you getting married?”

At the appearance of Duke Hamel walking down the red carpet, all the aristocrats at the party started buzzing.

Aren also briefly commented on his appearance.

“… You look like Carol?”

Tia, who heard Aren’s murmur, explained his curiosity instead.

“Yes, they look alike, because Carol and Duke Hamel are distant relatives.”

“okay?”

“Yes, Carol’s grandmother was from the Nerestia family, and the duke is also Carol’s teacher.”

“Hmm.”

Aren listened to Tia’s explanation and took a closer look at Duke Hamel’s appearance.

Even if it was Carol’s grown-up appearance, it was believable.

However, unlike Carol, it gave off a somewhat dark atmosphere.

‘Is that person crazy?’

Aren recalled the conversation he had with Count Gran the other day.

I don’t know why, but the duke is said to be crazy right now.

And Aren, who saw the Duke of Hamel in person, thought he was dangerous even if he was crazy.

The dark mana that stimulated the nerves in the dark circles that had risen unknowingly, and above all, the eyes were dry as if they were dead.

‘…I’d rather not go too close.’

Aren immediately came to a conclusion and moved to change his seat.

“Huh? Where are you going?”

When Tia called for Aren, who suddenly moved away, he said in a weak voice with a tired expression on his face.

“To be alone.”

“……”

At Aren’s weak voice, Tia couldn’t say anything and only looked at Aren’s back as he walked away.

“Tia, let’s go over there.”

Then Anna approached and spoke to her, and Tia nodded her head with a sullen expression.

“…huh.”

“…?”

Anna stared at her incredulously at her reaction, but Tia silently moved on.

how long has it been like that

“The sun of my country! His Highness, King Langrit Iggent! The star of the country! The royal family of Iggent are entering!”

On the terrace in the middle of the party hall, our royal family and today’s hero are entering.

‘That person is the king.’

Aren was in the corner of the party, watching the King and his royal family come out onto the terrace.

‘The people behind are the 1st and 2nd princes.’

The first prince with short blond hair and the second prince with long blond hair were walking behind the king.

And after that, the main character of the day comes out with a graceful step.

again and again and again and again

The sound of Frey’s high heels draws the eyes of diplomats from other countries to her.

“Oh, is that person the princess of this country?”

“… that’s fine.”

“… It’s really the 7th circle…”

Wizards from other countries who saw her in person begin to hum.

Then the king’s speech began.

“Thank you all for coming here. There are also people from other countries, so let me briefly introduce myself. Jim is Langrit Iggent, the 27th king of the Iggent Kingdom. Well, today there is a main character, so I’ll stop introducing myself right away. Let’s meet the main character.”

‘You have sense.’

I certainly didn’t want to hear the principal’s speech.

As the king moved away, today’s protagonist, Prey Exgent, came forward and gracefully greeted the nobles at the party before opening his mouth.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the nobles who came to this event to congratulate me, as well as to the distinguished guests who came from distant countries. My name is Prey Exgent. In such an honored position…”

‘who are you?’

Aren smiled and looked at her atmosphere, which was so different from usual.

I watched Frey’s speech, thinking that it would look very pretty in that way.

“… So, dear guests, please have a good time.”

As Frey’s speech came to a close, she ended it with a sweet smile and a graceful bow.

Correspondingly, the distinguished guests applaud generously.

clap clap clap clap

“… Oh, what a beauty you are.”

“Hmm, I think you’ll like it if I tell the prince?”

“It’s not enough that he became an archmage at that age, and with that level of grace and good looks, he wouldn’t stay quiet even in other countries.”

‘… It’s not all about what you see.’

Aren shook his head, looking at the foreign diplomats misunderstanding Frey.

‘Let’s eat something.’

Just as Aren was about to inhale the food again, a music group came out to the party and started playing.

‘Is it dance time?’

As if Aren was right, Frey walked out into the concourse.

“Princess, first glory to me…”

“Princess Frey, I…”

“Pre…”

As Frey walked out, several young nobles came forward and began courting her to be chosen as her first dance partner.

‘Wow~ What kind of painting is this?’

As all the handsome nobles approached Frey with their heads bowed, a reverse harem-like picture was created.

Looking at them, Frey smiles kindly and says.

“I’m sorry~ The first partner for today has been decided~”

Frey refuses each one as politely as possible and then crosses the concourse.

‘…… no way?’

Frey’s direction is strange.

The moment Aren feels uneasy at the sight of Frey approaching, he tries to get out of his seat.

snap

“Where are you going?”

“… Sir Dyke?”

Dyke, who was trying to escape, grabbed Aren by the shoulder and did not let go.

When Aren tries to force himself to escape, the veins in Dyke’s grip begin to squirm.

“Be quiet.”

“I’m feeling a bit…”

“You don’t speak twice.”

“… your sister ordered it?”

“……”

Aren forced himself to escape, but every time Dyke’s veins squirmed, it felt like his shoulders were falling out.

After a while, Frey approached.

“Hello! My brother!”

“… Really, why are you like this?”

As Frey approached and said hello, everyone at the party turned to the two of them.

Aren breaks into a cold sweat at those gazes, but Frey says with a smile on his face, as if it was funny.

“Who said that my older sister wants to dance with her younger brother?”

‘What should I do?’

Not a good place to refuse.

However, it seems too conspicuous to be taken lightly.

“Will you be my first dance partner, gentleman?”

“… It’s an honor, Lady.”

this is sh*t

When Frey first asked for a dance, Aren reluctantly accepted and took her hand and moved to the central hall.

And, of course, the gaze of the distinguished guests.

“Who is that person?”

“Well? It’s the first time I’ve seen it.”

“Didn’t the princess ask for a dance first?”

“Can I dance if I kill him?”

“No, Bocchan.”

‘I’ll turn around.’

During the brief moment of moving to the central hall, the sound of people’s voices seemed to penetrate Aren’s head.

And it was Tia who was watching the scene as well.

“……’

“Tia! Tia! Look at that!”

“… I’m watching.”

“Wow~ I thought you two were close, but seeing it in person is surprising~”

Luke asked when Anna was excited and chattered for some reason.

“Did you think we were close?”

“Yeah! I went to visit Aren before…”

“What!? Why are you going there?”

“That’s not what’s important! How was it back then…”

Tia couldn’t take her eyes off Aren while Anna visited Luke and Ron in the hospital and told them what had happened.

throbbing

‘…!? Come on?’

Tia tried to calm herself as her heart suddenly felt tight.

‘… no.’

The performance started while Tia was trying hard to deny something.

Twice

From noble mtl dot com

“I’m not good at dancing.”

“Leave it to your sister.”

As the music started, Frey and Aren moved their bodies to the rhythm.

knock knock knock

“You’re doing surprisingly well~”

“If you thought you couldn’t dance, you shouldn’t have called me.”

“This is fun~”

“I knew you would~”

“Whoop whoop.”

Aren and Frey continued their conversation while dancing.

“It’s a dungeon.”

“yes.”

“There’s a hidden room~”

“Hmm, I guess there was.”

“Oh, did you know?”

When Aren said it unexpectedly, Frey asked in surprise.

bang bang bang

“I only expected it, because I was not feeling well at the time and couldn’t investigate properly.”

“Um~ yeah? But in the dungeon…”

“You have all your sisters.”

“You know what?”

When Frey spoke meaningfully, Aren spoke calmly.

“Whatever it is, it’s right for you, and I’m sorry.”

“What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“I mean Baekho.”

Tak Hwiik

Aren looked at her with an apologetic expression.

“Honestly, I don’t know what’s going on, but I know that noona is moving for us right now.”

“……”

“I’d like to help, but…”

“It’s done~ It’s already almost finished~”

“Really? Then, as a younger sister, I’ll just say thank you.”

“Fhh.”

“And sister.”

When the music was almost over, Aren supported Frey as if he were lying down and took a nice finish posture to the music.

“happy birthday.”

“……”

clap clap clap clap

When the music ended, the audience clapped and Aren and Frey saluted each other and left the hall.

Aren hurriedly came out of the hall and wiped away a cold sweat.

“Huh, I was scolded because I was nervous.”

“Are you good?”

“huh?”

Tia approached Aren as he stepped off the stage.

“what?”

“Is it good to dance with the princess?”

“…what happened to you?”

Feeling the annoyance in Tia’s voice, Aren asked cautiously, but she snorted and said:

“Heung! What’s going on? Ask because you don’t know?”

“You’re asking because you don’t know?”

“… it’s okay.”

“…?”

When Tia spoke in a weak voice and turned her back, Aren called out to Tia in embarrassment.

“Hey, why are you doing that all of a sudden?”

“It’s okay.”

“therefore…”

At that moment, the music rang again, as if it was time for the partygoers to dance.

“Ron, dance with me.”

“okay.”

As the music played, Tia asked Ron to dance and went into the concourse.

Aren, who looked at Tia for a moment, turned around and walked to the corner of the party.

“I don’t know why you’re doing that.”

Feeling tired again, Aren leaned against the wall with a wine glass brought by the maid.

gulp

“Whoa.”

As the wine went down his throat, Aren, slightly relieved, looked at Tia dancing in the hall.

“… you’re good.”

That’s when Aren admires her dancing.

“Okay, His Highness the King!”

“…?”

A knight hurriedly entered the party hall and called for King Langritte.

At that voice, King Langritte frowned and said.

“Where are you raising your voice?”

The king’s low voice threatened the knight, but the knight went straight to the point, perhaps because it was really urgent.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but something really urgent is coming.”

“… come closer.”

At the king’s words, the knight hurriedly stood up and approached him, reporting in a low voice.

Upon hearing the report, King Langritte widened his eyes in surprise and jumped up from his seat.

“What!? Britannia…”

The moment the king spoke.

“B-Your Majesty the Emperor of Britannia! Lisbeth Britannia is entering!!”

“……”

“……”

‘…Emperor?’

Let Aren’s eyes turn to the entrance of the party hall.

again and again and again and again

His Majesty the Emperor of Britannia is entering.