The Noble Lady Without Magic Aims to Become an Adventurer! - Chapter 46

“Senior, you’re a wonderful dancer.”

“Well, I am a noble, after all, even if just barely. You’re quite good yourself, Marloa. I can see all the jealous looks coming my way. They’re probably wishing they could dance with you.”

“Fufu, but it seems the young ladies are sending you quite a few admiring glances, Senior Arnold. As for me, I’m here to guard His Highness, so I’ll only be dancing with you tonight.”

“Only with me, huh? That’s a flattering thing to say. Well, I don’t plan on dancing with anyone else either. Once the song ends, let’s step out onto the balcony for a moment. Afterward, you can return to your guard duties. I’ll make a quick round of greetings and join you shortly. Fars will be guarding His Highness, and he’ll do a fine job of it.”

“Understood.”

As the music drew to a close, Senior Arnold spun me around gracefully, finishing the dance with a flourish. I couldn’t help but open my eyes wide in surprise. Arnold flashed a mischievous smile, looking like a child who had just successfully pulled off a prank.

The cheerful squeals from the audience weren’t my imagination, were they?

“Senior, you startled me!”

“Fufu, but wasn’t it fun?”

With those words, he escorted me briskly away from the dance floor, not allowing anyone else to stop us.

Out on the balcony, I let out a breath of relief.

The cool evening breeze felt refreshing against my skin, still warm from the dance. Despite his often active lifestyle due to expeditions and monster hunts, Senior Arnold’s dancing had shown me a different side of him.

I suppose he might feel the same about me.

The ball was still in its early stages, so we were alone on the spacious balcony.

“Senior, that was such an enjoyable dance.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I do feel a little bad, though. Your first dance partner should have been someone from your family—like your father.”

“I’ve always felt distant from my family, so I’m glad my first dance was with you, Senior Arnold. I was supposed to attend tonight alone, after all. I’m nothing but grateful.”

“The pleasure is mine. Thank you for indulging me. Now, it’s about time you returned to your guard duties. I’ll join you soon. If anything happens, step out to the balcony and call for Yele.”

“Understood. See you shortly.”

We returned to the ballroom together, but once inside, Senior Arnold spotted someone he knew and went off in another direction. Meanwhile, the royal family had finished their dances and were now receiving greetings from the other nobles.

Having nothing specific to do, I positioned myself near His Highness, blending in as one of the “wallflowers.”

Fars approached me with a tray in hand.

“I’m thirsty. Do you have any fruit water?”

“Here you go, this fruit water should do. By the way, your dancing was excellent.”

“Fufu, did you make sure to memorize it? It’s a rare sight, after all—a once-in-a-lifetime event, even!”

“…Indeed.”

I took a sip of the fruit water to quench my thirst while subtly observing the surroundings. There didn’t seem to be any suspicious individuals. High-ranking nobles rarely resort to direct action, after all.

Still, after the earlier attempt to summon magical beasts, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something might happen.

Could they be planning something from above?

Perhaps Yele is keeping watch. Or poison?

Surely there wouldn’t be an outright attack… would there?
Lost in thought, I was startled by a voice calling out to me.
“…Ro—Marlowa.”

When I looked up, I saw my father and mother standing before me.
“Father, Mother. Good evening.”

“Marloa, where did you get that dress?”

“This dress? His Highness kindly had the royal seamstresses customize one I brought from home.”

“How embarrassing. Our household is perfectly capable of providing dresses. Don’t disgrace us like this.”

“I apologize, Mother. This was a last-minute arrangement, so we couldn’t have a new dress prepared in time.”

“Shas, don’t scold her too harshly. It couldn’t be helped this time. We’ve ordered new dresses already, so wear those next time.”

“Understood.”

“Marloa, I saw you being escorted by Arnold Gaus, the marquis’s son. How do you know him? Properly introduce him to me.”

Usually flustered, my mother was suddenly playing the role of a composed marchioness in public.

“The marquis’s son is my senior at the academy. Since I was planning to attend the ball alone, he kindly offered to escort me.”

Just as Mother was about to press for more details, Father intervened.

“Shas, enough. Don’t ask any more questions here. Leave it for when we’re back at the estate. Marloa is busy, so don’t interfere.”

“But… fine. Marlowa, return home soon. You still have much to learn as a proper lady. It’s troublesome, really. As if it wasn’t enough that—”

“Shas.”

“…Very well. I’ll return once things settle down.”

Father led Mother away. Perhaps it was his way of showing consideration, though I wished he could extend that to how they treated me at home.

I understood that my lack of magical power weighed heavily on both of them.

For Mother, I was a reflection of her failure—a “defective daughter” born to a “defective mother.”

Sighing heavily, I glanced around the ballroom to distract myself.

It seemed the royal family was preparing to leave the venue. Normally, they would stay until late at night, but given the recent threat, they planned an early exit.

I discreetly moved from my position near the wall and followed His Highness, keeping an eye on my surroundings.

The royal family was quickly surrounded by royal guards as they left the venue. With this many knights around, my presence felt almost unnecessary.

The royal family was escorted to their living quarters, marking the end of my guard duties. I returned to the ballroom as inconspicuously as I had left.

Earlier, His Highness had mentioned that I was free to leave after my duties were complete. Naturally, I intended to go home as soon as possible.

Fars had likely finished his duties as well and was probably heading back to the knights’ quarters.

“Marloa, welcome back. You’ve worked hard. Are you hungry? Let’s grab some light snacks before heading out.”

As soon as I re-entered the ballroom, I reunited with Senior Arnold.

“Senior Arnold, are you done making your rounds?”
“Yes, I’ve finished.”

I eyed the array of light snacks available, eventually picking a sandwich, roast beef, and terrine.
“Marloa, are you sure that’s enough meat?”

Arnold looked at me with concern. I wasn’t that obsessed with meat, was I?

“Senior, do I really look that desperate for meat? There’s roast beef here—it’s plenty. I’m keeping a low profile tonight, you know!”

Arnold nodded, seemingly convinced. What kind of impression did he have of me, anyway?

As we chatted and ate, a group of young nobles approached us to strike up a conversation.