The preparation for the dinner has been… more or less okay, if I have to say anything about it. I've been sewing my own dress, partly because I wanted to test out Josephine's skills. One of them is called [Hands of the Divine], which is basically just an upgraded form of [Craftsman]. At first, I wasn't sure how to use the damn thing, but I figured it out when I made that necklace for Adele at her debutante.
[Hands of the Divine]⟶ Passive skill. Threads of magic sprout like vines, enhancing dexterity, precision, and aesthetic sensibility.Steaming time: one day.
Honestly, that "steaming" period was annoying, but with my physical prowess added in, I just simplified the design. The jewelry I paired it with came from an old sketch Nephi had already designed. Recycling ideas, baby.
"Jane, can you ask the suppliers to restock my inventory?" I asked casually.
Jane dropped the tray she was holding—though, credit to her, she caught it mid-air with reflexes sharp enough to impress even me."Uh—yes, my Lady. Will that include the alchemy inventory as well as the raw materials we've been stockpiling?"
I skimmed the ledger. Honestly, I didn't need much. I barely use half the junk nowadays. If anything, these past few days I've been seriously considering a vacation after the banquet.
"Yes. And—uh—how about we go on a vacation?"
Clatter. This time, Jane actually dropped the tray on the floor.
"Jane?"
When she lifted her face, her eyes looked… teary. "To think that our Lady would be so approachable…!!"
I blinked. That's not the reaction I expected. Before I could respond, Peter shifted from where he'd been standing at attention, staring at me like I'd just declared my undying love.
"You're not included," I cut him off.
His shoulders stiffened, and he silently turned to face the corner of the room like a sulking child.
I returned to reading through the documents. The Konrow Family Dinner. Though they called it a "dinner," it was basically a full-scale banquet. It happens annually, a formal gathering meant to "celebrate the vassals and the elders." In practice? It was all about Adele.
Guests would be present, sure, but most were there to play supporting roles for the main act. The Konrow family has always been notorious for their antagonistic stances and shady dealings, but that reputation is part of the legacy that helped build the Byzan Empire in the first place. Their prestige wasn't easily erased.
This year, however, the focus was obvious: Adele.
I heard rumors that our so-called "guardian beast" had been acknowledged by Adele. And of course, this banquet was their way of formally acknowledging her as a true Konrow.
Obviously, this was a deliberate ploy to test Josephine's jealousy. Stir the pot. See what happens. But the only reason I'm attending at all is because of the "Blood Bond." As long as that exists, I'm chained to the patriarch's orders.
I slumped back onto the couch, spreading out my body like I was melting into it."Ugh."
This was honestly just a pain in the ass.
"Lady! Your dress will wrinkle!" Jane scolded.
"I'm seriously considering ripping it instead," I muttered. "Jane, get me the marriage letters."
She immediately rushed to the ledgers and returned with a neat stack. I skimmed through them briefly.
All formalities. Nothing but hollow pleasantries dressed up as serious correspondence. No hidden meanings. No secrets. Just empty words, line after line.
I sighed. "Can't believe I had to use [High-Speed Processing] for this."
[Xipe leans over your shoulder, squinting at the letters.]
Was there a question hidden in there? Maybe some kind of test?
"There was!" I snapped. "But guess what? Nothing. Just hollow praises."
[Eros chuckles darkly.]
"Oh, hollow praises are the easiest daggers. You'll see."
I tossed the letters aside. Banquet prep, formalities, Adele's show. Everything was in motion.
And I hated every second of it.
Marquis Jhake formally asked me if I could be his partner at the upcoming banquet.
"Hm…"
[Eros smirks at the suggestion.]
Well, well. Not bad. Considering Peter was your first and foremost option, having a second suitor isn't too shabby.
It's not like I'm going to say yes, but still—it's useful. First, it'll definitely throw Adele off. And second, given how she's been openly showing up at the sponsor mansion, I've been making half-hearted attempts to invite her for tea. As expected, she's ignored every one of them, brushing me off with the coldest of shoulders.
But with [Clairvoyance], I can see her expressions even when she thinks no one's watching. Her face is… addictive, honestly. No wonder she's the heroine of this damn novel. She's like a doll—perfectly sculpted, delicate, utterly huggable. If she weren't trying to kill me, I'd probably want to cuddle her myself. Unfortunately, the natural instinct of Kim Too-ra is still vengeance, and she's aiming it squarely at me.
So let's move to the second, more viable option.
I flicked my finger, and a familiar weight landed in my lap.
"Human. It seems you are remembering the kindness I extend to you—"
I stuffed a macaron into their beak before they could finish. Trynda flailed, wings fluttering indignantly, but still chewed the confection down. Their glare was almost comical.
"I know what you're going to say, Human, but the answer is no."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Didn't you hear? I am revered as the Divine Beast of the Empire! Trynda!"
"Drama queen. Okay."
"My presence is too important to simply—wait, you're just accepting that?"
"Yeah. I mean, you do have a point. And it would be suspicious if I dragged an unfamiliar face into the banquet anyway."
"Wha—are you perhaps… frustrated because you are being disregarded!?"
"What? Pfft. No."
But the way they looked away, cheeks puffing, betrayed the truth. I poked their feathery cheek. "I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention. I just don't want the Great Trynda lowering themselves for me."
"Who is lowering themselves to who?" Trynda huffed, transforming into their human form and puffing their chest out. "Have you forgotten who I am? I—"
They froze as I shoved a slice of cake into their open mouth.
"I am merely respecting your name, o' great one. Please don't take it as an insult."
Trynda narrowed their eyes but reluctantly turned back into their bird form.
Jane stormed in at that moment, tray in hand. Her eyes narrowed like sharpened blades. "Stupid Bird!, will you stop eating off my Lady's lap? You're dirtying her nightgown!"
"What—I am not a bird!"
I silenced them with another truffle, stuffing it right into their beak.
"I don't mind your attitude with me," I warned, voice sharp. "But if you so much as lay a feather on my Jane, you'll learn exactly why I'm called the God's Beloved."
For a moment, the air grew heavy. Even I could feel the aura radiating from me. Trynda actually shuddered, feathers puffing up. Jane, of course, simply adjusted her glasses and began cleaning up the crumbs Trynda had scattered across the floor.
And so, in the strangest of domestic tableaus, we sat in silence. Jane muttered under her breath while polishing the mess. Trynda sulked, nibbling quietly on the sweets I'd shoved at them.
I lounged with my chin on my palm, thinking about Banquet…