I was riding on a carriage right now.
It was a comparatively large box-shaped carriage. The exterior was glossy black in color, decorated by gold and silver pattern.
This was apparently a carriage that the dukes used to move within the castle. There were palace guards riding on their horses surrounding the carriage, so I couldn’t really see the scenery outside the window. Though the horses had cute faces and the palace guards were cool, but if I were to gaze outside, my ‘coarse’ attitude might be judged negatively.
The carriage went back and forth within the spacious castle. Only people with high social statuses would be able to use their exclusive carriages, and the rest were carriages used for official business. The dukes’ carriages were distinguished through their color: black for Duke Evangelista, navy blue for Duke Odile, and green from Duke Rumsfeld. The three colors seemed to have become the dukes’ symbolism, so they were also applied in terms of military uniforms’ color.
Speaking of military uniforms, I tried one for the first time this morning. I had tried wearing them many times during the fitting (I guess they were order-made), but it was such a beauty that raised my spirit. Since I was a military official, wearing a knight’s clothes seemed to be the best.
The military shoes, the pants, the coat, everything was all black. However, the belt’s buckle and the coat’s button were silver in color. There was also small fine embroidery in silver on both shoulders, passing through the chest part. The stiff and tall collar was also decorated in silver. Only the duke’s outfit was embroidered in golden. As for those above the field officers, the color would be silver. Therefore, as I was a commodore, my color was black x silver.
I have already seen Orgueil’s figure in a knight’s outfit, and although it was a beauty that was enough to damage my mind, wearing one myself was an entirely different fun. It gave the feeling of cosplaying.
When I was looking at myself in front of the mirror after wearing my knight’s outfit well, I saw from the mirror how the maids who were looking here had their faces turned as red as tomatoes.
I coolly smiled. I was already used to this. I have already accepted how the garden of lilies are blooming in their minds.
“—How is it? Does it suit me? Don’t you think it’s stylish?”
“Not even words can describe—”
“It’s a top-notch beauty—”
When I turned around to ask them, the maids replied with sparkly eyes that seemed to be full of stars.
I’ve had enough of this kind of feelings.
“What about a change of phrasing? It’s tomboyish. –Don’t look at me with such gazes. I can’t answer to your expectations.”
“Wauu!!”
“Hiii!!”
The two maids let out such strange voices, as they held their noses and squatted. Did I go too far with the joke?
“Hey, hey, I’m sorry… It was just a joke.”
When I was trying to have them stand up, the two of them violently shook their heads.
“No, it’s initially our fault.”
“Riviere-sama doesn’t need to apologize. Please, please….”
Please stay the way you are.
The two of them sang the last sentence in a chorus that made me falter. Do they want me to do that again?
It was spacious inside the carriage, and the ceiling was taller than what I thought. The people of this world mostly had large builds, so the livingwares they built were large as well. That applied in carriages, too.
Next to me was Leon-sama who was wearing a gorgeous black jacket embroidered in golden, very befitting of a high aristocrat sitting comfortably (because it would be difficult if I were to sit on his lap), while Orgueil—wearing the same knight outfit as me—was sitting in front of me. Looking to my side granted me such a superb view, and so did looking to my front, so I was in an extremely good mood.
–Well, actually, I was quite nervous.
After the announcement that stated I would be treated as a commodore went out, an audience with Duke Odile and his close aides was arranged right on the very next day. That was today. We were moving within the castle using a carriage, headed towards Duke Odile’s castle.
The castle area was too spacious that I still couldn’t grasp where should be where yet (although I could understand the area immediately if I were given a map to study), but it seemed like the three dukes’ respective castle was built in a gentle arc so that the view won’t be obstructed. Duke Odile’s castle was about half period of time (T/N: one hour modern time, based on my understanding) by carriage. Just how spacious is the castle area? Still, I wonder if we are about to arrive soon?
“—Let me remind you one more time, Riviere-sama.”
Orgueil said with a voice as cold as an ice.
“After the audience, you’re going to meet the soldiers, then there will be some matches. That goes in order. Again, don’t be reeled into their provocation and have matches due to them, and don’t let things advance based on curiosity alone.”
He had told me this several times already since the morning, but this time, he said it full of emphasis. It’s not like I’m that hot-blooded, nor am I very curious like a child that can even cause me to get lost. At least I’m not supposed to be like that.
I intended to just stare at him without answering, but Orgueil returned my stare with a more frightening gaze, so my self-confidence gradually disappeared and I hung my head downward.
“—I’m also begging you, Riviere.”
Leon-sama said with a voice stifled with laugh. Begging me, huh? He didn’t seem to be serious when saying that, but I’d be happy to follow his request.
“Don’t be rash. We have prepared the time and place for you to show your true power.”
He gently patted my head. But why did he word it as ‘rash’?
“You are nervous, aren’t you? I feel bad for you, but that’s better than suddenly jumping into a match. Go and be nervous, then.”
Was he referring to that incident where I jumped into a match before?!
It seemed that my nervousness was quite obvious, but I still felt bad that my nervousness was considered better than my acting rashly.
I remained silent and let my head be patted. Then, the carriage stopped. It seemed like we finally arrived.
Before long, a voice resounded from outside, “Please excuse me,” and the carriage’s door was opened.
Orgueil was the first one to get down, followed by Leon-sama, leaving me to be the last to go down.
When I got down the carriage with the help of Leon-sama’s hand, I became disoriented due to the sun’s brightness and its reflection from the surrounding palace guards’ spearheads.
As I reflexively narrowed my eyes and shifted my gaze frontward, a castle made of stones, the soldiers’ backs in some rows, and a dignified charming man entered my field of vision.
“Leon, Colonel Karnak. And, Commodore Tuura. Welcome to my castle.”
Duke Odile immediately greeted us.
Translator’s Note:
Is this the beginning of Riviere’s involvement with the second (or third??) male lead?
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