Chapter 83: The Banquet (First Part)
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The lady hadn’t locked the door when she just ca in, and I was only wearing pajamas at this mont, looking disheveled. There was no sound of servants at the door either, they should all be busy at this ti. But even if soone were there, they probably couldn’t stop him. I was afraid he would suddenly barge in like this, so I quickly shouted.
“I’m here! Don’t co in!”
Parsifal’s voice sounded very anxious.
“Hurry up and get dressed! Let tell you, mom will definitely call us out to greet guests in a bit. You probably don’t even rember, it was always the two of us every ti before. So unlucky, that feeling was so painful, having to stand for so long! Hurry up and get dressed and co out. While she hasn’t co over yet, let’s sneak off to the snowy mountains and catch birds with Goat Cheese—”
I saw the lady’s face darken, and I couldn’t help but stifle a laugh.
“Parsifal! How dare you say that again!”
“……”
Suddenly there was silence outside the door.
After a while, I heard Parsifal say.
“I’ll go see who has arrived…”
“If you dare to run away, you’ll stay at Pagos’s place for three years!”
“I won’t run…”
Then he fled in panic.
“This child never changes, always thinking about playing no matter how old he gets! He’ll give a heart attack soday…” the lady said irritably, then turned around and gently rubbed my face. “Our Peipei is still the good one.”
“Hehe, that’s right.”
I showed her my pearly white teeth.
Then got slapped on my little bottom wrapped in the blanket.
“Then hurry up and get up!”
…So she was waiting for here all along.
Fine, I was already wide awake by this point anyway.
I reluctantly got out of bed, and what followed was an hour-long ntal torture.
There were quite a few formal dresses in the room’s wardrobe. The lady picked and chose among them, spending a full 20 minutes just deciding which one to wear today. Finally, she selected a sowhat Rococo-style goose-yellow ball gown with a hem long enough to cover the feet… Originally, the lady even wanted to take another longer one. Her idea was to have two maids dress up and then do nothing today except follow behind holding up the train, but I desperately stopped her.
My goodness, if that really happened, I think I’d rather be killed.
Seeing my absolute refusal, the lady finally settled for second best, choosing this dress that looked quite elaborate and showy yet very eye-catching. She also had soone bring a headband made of fresh flowers, pure white lace gloves, and finally… tied my hair in twin pigtails.
After packaging from head to toe in dazzling splendor, the lady was finally satisfied. She pushed in front of the mirror.
I stared at the lovely figure reflected inside.
A pair of jet-black, crystal-bright eyes, clear and pure, brilliant as stars, as if their spiritual essence was overflowing. Long eyelashes trembled slightly, flawless white skin revealed a faint rosy tint, thin lips like a mouth-watering honey peach. On both sides of her head, a pair of playful pigtails hung down naturally, like two strips of precious silk, perfectly draped over her delicate fragrant shoulders.
Alright, I admit it.
The mont I saw myself in the mirror, I shalessly blushed.
This was really… too beautiful.
I really wanted to kiss myself.
“There, this is our brightest little star at today’s banquet. How is it?”
“…Not bad, I guess.”
My eyes started dodging, fingers fidgeting in front of my chest.
“If you feel happy, you should honestly say so.” The lady pinched my nose. “I understand you better than you understand yourself.”
Then she pushed all the way out, and I ca to the dining room with awkward steps. After seeing the situation before , I was suddenly stunned.
Besides the expected Duke, Lafayette, and Parsifal, I didn’t expect Carlos to also be there, along with that old man in robes from that day. At this mont, they were all sitting at the dining table, and after I entered, their gazes all turned to in unison.
“Wow—”
Carlos widened his eyes very dramatically, then covered his chest with one hand. “Whose arrow has struck my beating heart—”
I covered my face with my hands.
“Please shut up.”
“Sylvia… no, I should call you Miss Peylo. Don’t be shy, you’re very beautiful.”
The old man in robes seed sowhat happy today. His usually stern face now actually had a sowhat kindly old man’s flavor… Was it because he wasn’t wearing robes today but had changed into formal wear?
“Thank you…”
“Peipei, so pretty~”
“You swordsman, I won’t allow you to have designs on her!”
“Parsifal, what nonsense are you talking!”
Lafayette and Parsifal were also dressed in pure black formal wear today, their hair slicked back and shining, looking more spirited than usual, especially Parsifal, he looked like a completely different person.
It seems clothing has a very significant impact on a person’s overall appearance.
Of course, the above was just what I saw from a quick glance at the dining table, then I lowered my head and took small steps… It’s not that I’m effeminate, it’s just that the dress design doesn’t allow to take big strides, otherwise it would pull at the crotch.
Just like that, covering my face and taking small steps, I sat in the seat next to the Duke.
“Peipei, hurry up and eat. After this, you and Parsifal need to go greet guests together.”
“I don’t want to—”
Parsifal imdiately wailed.
“Nonsense. House Wintermoon cannot be impolite. You must go.”
“Let Lafayette go!”
“Lafayette needs to receive guests. Do you want to switch with him?”
Upon hearing this, Parsifal imdiately wilted.
Receiving guests was much more troubleso than greeting them, because among today’s visitors were several family heads of major houses. Dealing with them required considerable ntal effort, not sothing just anyone could do well, at least not Parsifal.
At this mont, Lafayette also smiled and said: “Actually, I’d love to switch with you. Greeting guests is great, you just need to stand there, smile, bow, and say hello. You don’t need to do anything else. How relaxing.”
After weighing his options, Parsifal finally sighed.
“Sigh, I don’t want to receive guests.”
At this mont, I suddenly frowned: “Ouch, my stomach—”
But before I could finish speaking, before I could even make an expression, I was interrupted by the lady.
“Peipei, don’t you cause trouble either. Usually when you’re mischievous I don’t scold you, but today is a very important day. You can’t be willful.”
“…Oh.”
So I had no choice but to nod reluctantly. It seed I had no choice but to be Shanter Castle’s poster girl today.
“Little Syl, I think among the people entering Shanter Castle today, half will trip and fall, and among the remaining half, one-third will get beaten by their female companions, and two-thirds will try to chat you up.”
Carlos said teasingly, with an expression that made want to punch him.
But I think he was right.
Just thinking about this made even more tornted. I then looked at the Duke with pleading eyes.
He laughed.
“Don’t look at . At tis like this, your mother has the final say.”
“……”
There was clearly no room for struggle.
So after breakfast, I had no choice but to obediently take Parsifal’s arm and, under the lady’s supervision, walk toward the outside of Shanter Castle.
“Hey.”
I said quietly.
“Hmm?”
Parsifal lowered his head like a thief.
“Is there any chance we could slip away?”
“…Not really possible…”
“You two, what are you whispering about?”
The lady’s words ca from behind us.
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