The Grand Duchess of the North Is Obsessed With Me

23 – Grand Duchess’ Birthday Party (5)

Move a step.

The more you move, the more you feel the noise of the party.

For some reason, I moved toward the light, hiding my tension.

Illencia’s smiling face, as if she wasn’t nervous, should be called a grand duchess or she’s still young.

Taking her breath and trying to calm her mind, she started to walk into the party.

“Grand Duchess Illencia Khan Derdamius and Cain Valencia are entering!!”

Inside the party, all the invited guests were now gathered.

Starting with the count family, the top lord of the upper ranks in this area, the most famous adventurers and the heads of large guilds.

To celebrate an 11-year-old girl’s birthday party, celebrities with heavy buttocks are worthy of their names.

To celebrate the grand duchess’ social debut.

To secure loyalty to the Grand Duchess of Derdamius.

And when the door to the noisy party hall opened and noise and light poured in, Illencia slowly led me and moved her steps.

Ttogak——.

One step.

The moment the sound of Illencia’s small shoes resonates inside the lavishly decorated party hall, the noise stops like a lie.

Ttogak——.

It takes away people’s gaze, breath, admiration, and awe in one step.

At this moment, the light of her world existed to shine on her.

What is quality?

Illencia was telling everyone about it just by stepping into her party.

This is the dignity of a grand duchess.

Ttogak——.

Admiration pours out from everyone at the party, both women and men, at the beauty of simple luxuries and trinkets that fade.

“That is the one, Grand Duchess Illencia… !”

“You are more beautiful than rumors?!”

“Huh… That beauty is only 11 years old….”

In the appearance of Illencia crossing the party hall, defying all the admiration and stares, there was no innocent and innocent girl like before.

Only the image of the monarch who confidently appeared to those under his rule remained.

An intense light that engulfs me in darkness.

Brilliant light that blinds everyone so that only you can see yourself, and covers the person standing next to you with darkness so that you can escape from fear.

As I gazed at the shining Illencia, I took a step without even realizing it.

Is this arrogance, envy, or jealousy?

I think as I take a step.

“That kid standing next to me….”

“I see. Is that child Valencia?”

“… I heard that she is always with Illen Xia-sama?”

At the moment you step out of the darkness and step towards the light, you may not be able to take away all of the attention around you, but you may be able to steal some.

That’s a foolish Icarus flying towards the sun, not looking at another light next to the light… Or, it was like watching a fire moth leaping towards a fire.

By doing so, I desperately realize my position.

“Cain.”

Illencia’s aloof expression cracked.

Voluntarily or unwillingly, Illencia was emitting more and more light to cover me, but my single step ruined it all.

Smiling at Illencia, I stepped beside her.

Quit it, don’t do it.

Again.

What was the comfortable life I wanted?

In this life, I was fortunate enough to be born as the second son of a baron family. It was great luck for me, who had neither the will to rise nor the will to become stronger.

Because the second son of a weak and weak family in the cold and cold north was far from both politics and war.

Just spending the family’s money… I thought that one day I would meet someone and live a comfortable life helping my older brother, who became the new head of the family, not bad.

In my previous life, I lived a fierce, restless life.

And then I thought it was right.

[I need to earn more and prepare a house.]

[I have to work harder to buy a car.]

[I have to work harder and get promoted this year.]

Money, car, house… Those things always tied me up and I poured everything into my work, saving even the days off.

My time, my health, and eventually even my life.

In that way, I and no one else were aware of the rest, and when I opened my eyes again, I was in this world.

Even in the form of a newborn child.

Since the only thing left is time, I naturally immersed myself in many thoughts, and in the process, all that was left was regret.

What is left of me after I died like that?

The money I worked so hard to earn, the house I couldn’t buy in the end, and the new car that I only repeated with the company.

Good memories, memories, good friends, and lovers.

There was nothing left. Was there anyone who would cry when I died? If not, were there any memories you could recall after you died?

Again.

Nothing.

It was an empty, empty life.

The moment I realized that, it felt like a huge hole had been opened in my heart.

A huge hole that seems like it won’t be filled no matter what money or fame you put in it.

So I didn’t do anything.

I didn’t want to do anything.

Even if he was interested in magic, he wouldn’t have learned it even if he could learn it.

Even when Berman told me to teach him the sword, he didn’t want to learn even his fingernails.

[I’m so tired. I don’t want to do anything now.]

In fact, even if I had lived like that, I would have lived an easy life and ended my life without a problem.

It must have been a peaceful and safe life.

Thud——.

But let’s admit it.

Yes, I have no choice but to admit it honestly.

“Is Cain okay?”

Looking at Illencia, who tilted her head at me and expressed a small question, I had no choice but to admit it.

That Illencia, who shines brighter than me and is in a much higher position than me, has filled the hole in my empty heart.

I’m relying on this very little and beautiful girl.

Everyone thinks I unilaterally helped Illencia, but….

“Yes. Thank you.”

“… What?”

Rather, it may be the opposite.

“No.”

I smile at Illensia, who is looking at me with a puzzled expression, and move her steps in line with her.

I was helped by Elencia.

Illencia was helped by me.

We have lived by helping and leading each other, not someone giving someone unilateral help.

Our steps stopped.

Escorting Illencia, I move behind her and disappear to where I should be, leaving only Ilensia on the stage.

“… First of all, I would like to thank everyone who came to celebrate my birthday. I am Illencia Khan Derdamius.”

Illencia’s clear and elegant voice resonates throughout the party.

“I am the Grand Duchess of the North.”

Pair, pair, pair.

At the sound of her light applause, Elencia grabbed the hem of her skirt and slightly bent her knees as she continued her words.

I pass the table where the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess are and head to her mother.

Grand Duke Atrian spoke to me as she moved her steps with her eyes focused on Illencia.

“It won’t be easy.”

“…… I know.”

Turning her head slightly, she looked at Illensia, who was shining brightly.

“Don’t look forward to it.”

It’s obviously not going to be easy. To stand next to such a bright light.

Up until now, I had only avoided it without making any effort, and it was obvious that it would be even more difficult for me to rise to that position.

However, I know very well that it was harder to admit my feelings.

It was more difficult than anything else to admit that I, who was considered to be exceptionally smart, had foolishly ignored my heart.

‘I want to stand by your side.’

I want to stand by your side with my own strength, not by borrowing your light and hiding in the darkness created by that light.

I have finally admitted that.

So, from now on, I will have to do whatever it takes to cut my bones.

“You’ve worked hard.”

I smiled faintly as I sat down on the chair next to my mother.

A corner of the party hall where no one’s eyes can reach unless you’re conscious.

That was my current position.

She could have used the same table as Lady Anna or the Grand Duke, or else she could have sat at the table in the middle, but her mother did not.

Probably because he knows very well that standing out isn’t such a good thing.

I also deeply sympathize with that part, but I also know very well that from now on I have to renew my mindset.

In the center of the party, on the podium, Illencia was constantly talking to the people around her.

“… You get to see a lot of new faces today.”

Unknowingly, I smiled at the dignified and mature appearance of the Grand Duchess.

To me, he was always a cute and child-like person, but standing in front of others, he was a worthy heir to the grand duchy.

I should be different too.

When I turned my gaze to the back of Elencia, Berman was standing there.

He was staring at me as if he knew I would be looking at him.

Nod.

I looked at Berman and nodded, and I saw him grinning.

For some reason, Berman didn’t feel very good because he seemed to be doing what he wanted, so he turned his head and looked at Illensia again.

Her infinitely radiant, her infinitely beautiful.