Kill the Author, Then to Hell - Chapter 14.1

“Why is this… Ah, I must have forgotten it after tucking it away to not lose it…”

“Haha, luckily, right? Now you can go in.”

“T-Thank you.”

Feeling a bit awkward, I casually looked around.

Something felt off.

This was just a nondescript, secluded corner with hardly any flowers planted.

Why had Lola been here in the first place?

“Lady Lola, why were you staying out here instead of going in?”

“Oh, well… you might find it a bit odd, but I actually…”

However, I couldn’t hear her answer anymore as the men tasked with escorting us, our relatives, appeared at that moment.

One from the left.

“Lola! How many times have I told you? It’s almost time to start, and where the hell is your mind…”

And simultaneously from the right.

“Edith! Weren’t you supposed to stay put…”

And upon seeing each other, the two exchanged cold smiles as if meeting their nemesis on a narrow bridge.

“…Well, meeting here of all places.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

“I thought the heir of the Dayton family would be too busy attending to His Majesty to bother with such places?”

A man with a far more obnoxious gaze than Lola sneered.

‘Arthur Chester, was it?’

The ‘Chester family’s eldest son’ Simon always mentioned when comparing him to Johan seemed to be this man.

“Likewise…”

Clearly, Johan’s temper was boiling over.

“Oh my, Brother! I wonder if the banquet is starting now! Can’t you hear the music?”

I quickly intervened to prevent the atmosphere from worsening.

It would be troublesome if my efforts made Lola wary of me.

And indeed, I could hear the orchestra tuning up, even with my [Perkily Perked] buff.

Who would want to ruin someone’s debut?

“…Let’s go inside.”

“…Lola, let’s go.”

As I was dragged away to the opposite side like luggage, I thought to myself,

‘I guess I’ve left a reasonably good impression on Lola?’

I hadn’t yet broached the subject of meeting her mother, but it wasn’t something that could be accomplished at first attempt.

The social season was just beginning, and above all, I had plenty of time.

Another opportunity would surely come.

* * *

The grand ballroom, large enough to easily fit two basketball courts, was the epitome of opulence.

Freshly cut flowers exuding a vibrant fragrance were placed everywhere, and magnificent chandeliers brightly illuminated the entire hall.

“Miss Edith Dayton and Lord Johan Dayton, your invitations have been verified. Please follow me inside.”

Our assigned seats offered a commanding view of the dance floor, reserved for young ladies of high-standing families making their debut.

‘Lola’s at the far end.’

Unfortunately, it was virtually impossible to converse from one end to the other. Considering the grumbling between Arthur and Johan earlier, it might have been for the best.

Moreover, there was another person I had to meet today.

‘Delia Aimesworth.’

The daughter of the Aimesworth Marquisate, to whom my mother had sent her last letter, was also making her debut today.

“We thought we were late, but there are still empty seats.”

Johan whispered to me, glancing around. And coincidentally, the name tag placed on that empty table was…

‘Uh, but Aimesworth? That’s actually Aimesworth, right?’

It was exactly the name I had been searching for.

‘Yesss, jackpot. I can approach her naturally.’

No longer needing to look around, I sighed in relief, whereas Johan grumbled that he should have checked the seating arrangements earlier.

Of course, it was to be expected.

I recalled an unwelcome memory.

<Listen. To Father, I’ll say you died because you failed to control your power. If we say we got a confession that the Aimesworths were behind the assassination, he won’t be too harsh. It’s probably them anyway, right?>

When I was killed by Johan’s hand while attempting to eliminate Father from the story with [Chekhov’s Gun].

Johan had planned to pin the blame on Aimesworth.

It was clear there was no love lost between them.

‘Sigh.’

Just as I was pondering why I had to approach two families that didn’t get along…

“Excuse me for doubting, but even with an invitation, if a lady isn’t accompanied by a man…”

“It’s fine. As I’ve said before, my partner will surely come, so there’s no need to worry.”

From the entrance, someone brushed off the cautious warnings of the attendants, catching my [Perkily Perked] radar.

‘Could it be…?’

My guess was spot on. The woman who walked in alone and stopped at the seat next to me pulled out a chair and sat down.

It was Delia Aimesworth, whom I had been waiting for.