How to Tame That Gentle Male Lead - Chapter 3.10
Renard, dressed in formal attire, was also an uncommonly handsome man. With a face of fine lines unusual for a swordsman, he had features that well matched his characteristically gentle nature.
Under his half-combed black hair, crimson eyes shone, and his face, as if carved from sculpture, was handsome enough to make passersby turn for a second look.
“You’re well-dressed too. It suits you, Renard.”
“Thank you. Sister, you look just like an angel.”
“Hehehe. I dressed like this on purpose.”
Renard chuckled as he watched Resena pick up her dress hem and walk around.
“You’re going to follow the plan, right?”
“Yes. That presence will probably appear around the middle of the party. I’ll confront it as we discussed.”
“Don’t expose yourself too much. Let me handle it.”
“Alright.”
As they boarded the carriage at the entrance, the coachman set the horses in motion. As the wheels started rolling and the scenery began to move, Resena cast her gaze out the window.
The cool night breeze caressed her nape. The night view with lights lit between the streets approached like a painting. The street scene, as if painted with a painter’s utmost effort, contrasted with the streetlights standing at regular intervals.
“Oh, I have more information about the black mana that I investigated. Would you like to hear it?”
“Sister, sometimes I think you forget that I’m a Sword Master. I’ve faced black magicians in monster waves too, you know.”
Resena’s cheeks flushed. She fanned her cheeks to cool them down.
“Hmm. Then you know that black mana can’t penetrate those who have received consecration, right?”
“Yes. Of course, I know.”
“I thought… I was worried you might not know.”
Then Renard smiled broadly.
“Thanks for worrying, sister. Well, since you’re in a position to directly face the black mana, I guess you’re really concerned about how much will penetrate depending on what I do. …You explained it well.”
“Renard. You’re really kind.”
At that, he pulled up the corners of his mouth.
“I know.”
“Hehe.”
He too looked out the window.
The carriage sped along and soon reached the imperial palace.
As the Arnasus residence was not far from the palace, the carriage soon slowed down.
“…”
As the carriage stopped in front of the main entrance of the banquet hall, Resena gracefully alighted with Renard’s escort.
“If I need a sword, I can borrow one from there.”
Renard was eyeing the swords worn by the knights because he might need one to face the black magician.
He briefly scanned those standing guard around the ballroom.
Resena waited for his observation to end while lining up at the entrance of the hall.
Soon after, they entered.
“Lady Resena Arnasus and Young Duke Renard Arnasus are entering!”
As she took her first steps, Resena marveled inwardly once again.
The crystal-studded chandeliers hanging high and the neatly displayed ice sculptures caught her eye. Looking down, she saw servants in formal attire bustling about, carrying champagne glasses.
“…”
Moreover, finger foods were displayed on tables set up in a corner of the banquet hall. Next to them were cakes and desserts meticulously prepared by pastry chefs, arranged so splendidly that they naturally evoked exclamations.
“Sister, are you still amazed by the imperial palace’s ball?”
Renard asked in a playful voice. Resena answered, feigning composure.
“After always looking for His Highness the Crown Prince, when I open my eyes anew, it’s such a wonderful world. So I can’t help but admire it again and again. The imperial ball is magnificent every time I see it.”
“Haha. Sister, I can really feel how much you’ve changed. In the past, you would have searched for His Highness the Crown Prince with a gloomy face first.”
Resena smiled with her eyes and lightly hit Renard’s arm.
“If you know, just go along with it. Don’t tease me.”
“I’m not teasing. I’m just surprised.”
While they were exchanging such banter, people continued to enter. Using the information from her previous life, Resena had memorized the names and details of people who would approach her, so she skillfully dealt with those who came to speak to her.
“You’re truly remarkable. It’s amazing how well you know about the territory. To know the situation of the territory so well while staying in the imperial capital, you must have mastered grasping distant affairs through paperwork. It’s really incredible.”
“Hehe. You flatter me, Count Samuel.”
“It’s not flattery. I understand why Count Samuel says so. At that level, your work speed must be incredibly fast too.”
Resena answered with a faint smile.
As Resena’s reputation in social circles was high, she had to remember to maintain a slight arrogance befitting her position as a noble lady.
“I’m embarrassed to say it myself, but my speed is quite fast. That’s why I don’t have any backlog of paperwork.”
“Oh…”
A young lady listening nearby joined the conversation.
“By the way, Lady Resena, do you know about the recently popular fruit called Lai Python? It’s a new fruit grafted in the Kingdom of Shane.”
“Ah. Our guild is also handling that fruit. It’s sold as a set with Americano as a cafe dessert, and the profits are quite good, so we plan to import it on a large scale in the future.”
At this, both the young lady and Count Fleuret opened their eyes wide.
“You were already preparing for it. When do you plan to start?”
Resena smiled slightly and put her finger to her lips.
“That’s a secret. But I’ll tell you that it’s not too far off.”
“Wow…”
Another person standing nearby added.
“Do you plan to popularize Lai Python on a large scale? Do you have any other ideas besides cafe desserts?”
“That’s a secret too. If you wait a little, you’ll be able to see how it progresses directly, so I’ll leave it as entertainment until then.”
While skillfully handling the crowd around her, Resena glanced toward the entrance. It should be about time for Saint Lorona to arrive.
Before the regression, Lorona always used to enter just before the Emperor appeared. Originally, such an entrance should be avoided by nobles of lower status, but… perhaps the author wanted to portray her in a manner befitting a saint, as it was always admirably timed whenever she saw it.
“Saint Lorona Weiz, Baroness, and Holy Knight Ian Fullecher are entering!”
See?
Immediately, the crowd stirred. Resena smirked as she saw all eyes turn to Lorona, who was gracefully walking in.
It was a familiar scene.
Resena swirled her champagne glass, savoring the aroma. As she put her lips to the rim of the glass, the carbonated fruit-scented water moistened her mouth. Most of the drinks at the imperial ball satisfied her taste, so Resena contentedly took a sip.
‘Let’s not get too drunk. Just until the black magician appears… Just enough to not be afraid.’
Even she herself felt a bit nervous about taking on the black mana to save people this time. Resena felt the tension rising as the appointed time approached.
Renard would fight well, but…
Keeping the priest assigned to the ball in her peripheral vision, Resena tensed her body.
“His Majesty Emperor Inas Ridel Crevasta is entering!”
Then the servant announced.
“His Highness Crown Prince Eldis Jude Crevasta is entering!”
They say the main characters appear last.
The Emperor, wearing a stern expression, sat on the highest throne in the ballroom. As the Crown Prince sat in the chair slightly forward and to the side, the Emperor softened his expression slightly and began to speak gently.
“Thank you all for gathering here today. Welcome to the summer ball that marks the joyous beginning of summer.”
