And then, the Vibolt Marquis family party arrived...
The reason for holding the party was to celebrate the Vibolt Marquis family's award anniversary and the couple's wedding anniversary. Apparently, in order to cut down on the number of parties they held and save money, they deliberately chose to hold their wedding on the Marquis's anniversary.
No, I can understand that a baron or a poor viscount would resort to such a tactic. ...But even a wealthy Marquis family would do something so stingy?
"Ane-sama, it's not you're wealthy then you're stingy. It's 'because you're stingy, you're wealthy'." (Sabine)
"Ah, I see..." (Mitsuha)
As expected from Sabine-chan. Her words are persuasive. ......Sasu-Sabi! And don't read my mind!!
"Well, you said it out loud?" (Sabine)
There we go again!
"Well, shall we just try not to draw attention and keep quiet...?" (Mitsuha)
"I don't think it's possible to stay inconspicuous when Ane-sama the Lightning Archpriestess, and I are together." (Sabine)
"I know, right!" (Mitsuha)
…Yeah, I knew it…
This day was not Theresa-chan's birthday, so the members of 'Sorority' were not invited.
Normally, I wouldn't have been invited either... Of course, I'm sure you would want to call on 'Lightning Archpriestess (me),' 'The Third Princess (Sabine-chan),' and 'The Great Saint (Beatrice-chan)' if you could. It would be useful to emphasize that you're on friendly terms with these three people.
However, the best they could do to invite royals or the Great Saint just because they were in the same social circle as their daughter would be to their daughter's birthday party. It's not something they could invite for reasons like their parents' wedding anniversary or the anniversary of the family's founding.
...Well, the same goes for "Lightning Archpriestess-sama (me)"...
But that's why I was curious about it, so I accepted the invitation—I thought there might be some talk about Theresa-chan at this party. I couldn't think of any other reason why they would bother to invite me.
…The fact that the Third Princess (Sabine-chan) was added as an added bonus was either a pleasant surprise for the Marquis' family, or a huge nuisance and cause for chaos… It's not my fault.
Unlike modern Japanese parties and banquets, where all the participants gather and the event starts with a greeting from the host, this time people began eating, drinking and talking one by one, so many people spoke to me and Sabine-chan.
However, these people also seemed to find it odd that Sabine-chan and I were attending the party, and although they looked at me with a puzzled expression, no one asked me any specific questions. Yes, that sort of thing was considered impolite behavior according to the rules of the nobility. It seemed that this kind of thing involved casually, narrowing the scope of a conversation from something that didn't seem directly related and guiding the topic in that direction.
However, there were so many people gathered around me and Sabine-chan who seemed to want to talk, and they couldn't just continue talking leisurely and monopolize us, and since I was not good at aristocratic conversation, I couldn't follow their lead, and Sabine-chan was good at dodging the conversation...
Well, I don't even know the reason why we were invited in the first place, so no matter how much we try to find out, it's pointless...
"Thank you everyone for coming to Vibolt Marquis family's investiture anniversary and wedding anniversary party today!"
Ah, it seems most of the invited guests have arrived, and the host begins the greeting.
A few people might be late, but they probably couldn't wait for people who had broken a carriage axle, or got their dress dirty and had to go back to get changed, so this was probably the end of the line.
...Then there're the usual greetings, time for conversation, and people gather around us again... No, of course they are nobles who follow proper etiquette, so there will be no pushing or shoving. They take turns properly, don't talk for long periods of time, and take turns as appropriate...
But even though they're taking turns one after another, this one just keeps talking all the time! Let me try some of the food!!
"Ane-sama, if you eat too much, you'll get fat again?" (Sabine)
"What do you mean, 'again'? 'Again'! It makes it seem like I was fat before!!" (Mitsuha)
Since I've been invited to a party hosted by a high-ranking noble, what good is it if you don't eat your fill of expensive looking food!?" (Mitsuha)
……Ah…….
The people who had gathered around us looked uncomfortable and then dispersed...
"Ane-sama... As someone who wants to eat the food, I want to say 'good job,' but... as a senior who has received a lady's education, I have to say that what you just said is the equivalent of not eating for three days..." (Sabine)
"…………" (Mitsuha)
That's quite a blunder, hahaha...
But do the instructors have the authority to hand out such punishments? I'm sure the young ladies would be overwhelmed by their tutors... What? Water, a little bit of disgusting stale bread, and some dried meat? That's true, right? But still, it's pretty tough for the daughters of nobles...
And then, after some time had passed...
"Everyone, please pay attention to the stage at the front!"
Something has begun!!
On the raised stage were Marquis Vibolt and Arsha-chan, a maid from the Vibolt household who was now closer to me than I was to his daughter—Theresa-chan—a member of Sorority group. Her left arm was covered with a cloth.
"This girl is a maid for our Vibolt Marquis family. She was just an ordinary maid, nothing special. ...Until a while ago... However, recently, while trying to protect my daughter from an attack by bandits, she was seriously injured and lost her left arm." (Marquis)
Oohs and aahs could be heard coming from the party venue. It would be one thing if she was a bodyguard or a high-ranking servant, but a mere low-ranking servant risking her life to protect her master's daughter. Feelings of envy and admiration for having such a loyal person—And perhaps it was a voice of pity for the girl who had lost an arm...
No matter how much a noble looked down on commoners, it was impossible for them not to feel gratitude and affection for those who risked their lives to protect them and their families. So, although he seemed genuinely impressed, the Marquis had more to say.
"...And the Goddess, impressed by the maid, Arsha's actions, bestowed her with a replacement for her lost left arm. Arsha, show it to everyone." (Marquis)
"Yes!!" (Arsha)
Then, she unwrapped the cloth that was wrapped around her, revealing her hidden left hand, and raised it high above her head.
Gitchon, gitchon...
Since she had only just started training, she was not yet skilled enough to use it freely in her daily life. However, Arsha-chan, who was now able to open and close her fingers as a demonstration, moved her myoelectric prosthetic arm. She opened and closed her fingers, rotated her shoulders widely, and did everything she could at the moment.
Arsha-chan is missing a forearm, so rotating her shoulders shouldn't be related to an injury at all...
In any case, even though she still couldn't move as she wanted, Arsha-chan was performing well, as if she could move freely.
Wow, that took quite a bit of practice... Rather than training in how to operate the prosthetic arm, she practiced acting to demonstrate that she could move it freely...
A year or two... No, with this kid, I'm sure with a few months of practice she'll be able to move it quite freely, so I'm not lying. However, the movements are simply calculated to look good even with minimal movement... There's a choreographer or instructor for this, right? And speaking of those who can give orders... Was this a setup by the Marquis?
...Well, that's fine. The fact that he made this announcement with such pomp means that the Marquis will never be able to treat Arsha-chan poorly again. If you so easily fire your daughter's benefactor, who knows what people will say behind your back? Good, now Arsha-chan is safe. Even if she were to be fired, she would be a maid who would use her life as a shield to protect her master's family, so there would surely be a noble family willing to hire her. ...And it comes with the goddess' blessing.
Author's Note
Announcement! (^^)/
A novel by Mamori Akira, a long-time colleague of Akata Itsuki, who is in charge of the illustrations for my work, "Didn't I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?!", was published by SQEX Novel on November 7th!
"The Black Witch Arness' Familiar's Favourite ~I've been summoned and reincarnated, so I'm going to make my master a national idol!~"
It's a newly written novel, and the illustrations are, of course, done by Akata Itsuki-sensei!! (^^)/
Yoji is summoned by the young black witch Arness as a familiar in the form of a small dog.
Now, in another world, the battle to become two idols begins!!
...Involving the White Witch, the Sacred Fire Dragon, and the Magic Knights...
Thank you very much! (^^)/