Chapter Three Hundred and Ten: Day of Blessings
“And now—I announce the betrothal of Julius Ehlertt and Karen Himmel.”
By the time Helfried made the announcement of Karen and Julius’s engagement, Thor was already in the middle of a loud celebration over Karen’s ennoblement. The adventurers had been swept up in the mood and had started drinking, so the reaction to the betrothal was swallowed up in the general uproar.
Unlike a party held exclusively for nobles, the New Year’s Festival mixed in adventurers and commoners alike—which was exactly the kind of atmosphere Karen found easy to be around. From what drifted to her ears, the adventurers’ reception was broadly warm. Since they had known about Karen’s feelings from a year ago, their reaction was basically, “Finally.”
Among the nobles, too, there were those who happily remarked that the Ehlertt family had gained many things tonight. However, a number of noblemen seemed less enthusiastic. There weren’t enough of them to make a scene over, but Karen couldn’t help noticing them because she could hear their comments.
It wasn’t about the engagement. As far as that was concerned, the noblemen’s response was little more than, “So the seduction campaign is finally over?” Karen almost wished they had more to say about it.
“…Had it been Master Julius, or Master Zenkel, I could have accepted it.”
What they were stuck on was Karen having acquired a territory and a title. Julius leaned down and murmured in her ear:
“Shall I go silence them, Karen?”
“Let them grumble behind my back if they want. If they pick a fight openly, then I’ll fight back!”
Karen returned him an unbothered smile. For nobles, conquering a dungeon and claiming land and rank was the ultimate ambition. And Karen—whose role in actually defeating the black dragon was dubious at best—had swooped in and taken it. A little muttering seemed fair enough.
Besides, Karen was quietly pleased with the whispered reactions to the betrothal announcement.
“Rather than Master Julius seducing her, it seemed more like…”
“What a surprise.”
She could hear the noble ladies exchanging meaningful nods. Karen desperately wanted to run over and ask, “Are you saying Master Julius was the one who got seduced?” but somehow managed to restrain herself.
The noblewomen, if anything, seemed more interested in the engagement itself. Though given the prickly atmosphere around the noblemen nearby, they were keeping their voices low.
“Honestly… I saw this coming from the beginning!”
“And yet, strangely, I don’t feel bitter. Even though I used to admire Master Julius.”
“Me too!”
Karen had braced herself for noble daughters still pining for Julius to confront her directly. Having mentally prepared herself with a “Bring it on if you dare,” she now felt as though all that readiness had been for nothing.
“Master Julius has seemed rather… childish lately for someone his age, don’t you think? I wonder why.”
“Even at the hunting festival, he was rather…”
“I never imagined he wouldn’t even accept a handkerchief.”
Julius’s breach of noble etiquette hadn’t been received as a fatal flaw in his character as a nobleman—rather, it had come across as something childlike.
“That appears to be Master Julius’s true self. It seems that around Lady Karen, he is able to simply be himself. They truly care for one another—they suit each other very well.”
The one offering this defense among the gathered young ladies was Rosine.
“No matter how boyish he acts, his face and his strength alone make him worth a fortune!”
The only voice Karen could clearly hear was Petra’s, shamelessly shouting, “I’m so jealous of Karen!” Despite not actually getting along with the real Julius, Petra still envied Karen, which probably meant she valued Julius purely for his impressive attributes.
Karen let out a snort of laughter at Petra’s refreshingly straightforward attitude.
“I’m glad you seem to be enjoying yourself, but I behaved as I pleased, and as a result, my worth has apparently diminished somewhat. It seems fewer people envy you now, and I’m sorry for that.”
Julius’s shoulders drooped slightly, and Karen stared at him.
“You were only being sincere toward me—don’t you dare feel bad about that! …It doesn’t matter anymore if people don’t look at me with envy!”
“Is that truly all right with you? You did use to enjoy that sort of thing, didn’t you?”
“It’s fine. The reason I was first drawn to you was that you were the kind of perfect man that anyone—man or woman—would envy… but that’s not why I love you now.”
“And what is the reason now?”
Julius’s golden eyes gleamed with quiet delight, and at the sight of it, something shifted softly inside Karen’s chest. It was excitement, certainly, but she was also simply happy that Julius himself was so pleased.
Just as Karen leaned close to Julius beside her and was about to answer in a small voice, Helfried continued:
“Though the Crimson Thunder did not become the heroes of this New Year’s Festival, the conquest of the thirtieth floor of the territorial capital dungeon was an achievement no less remarkable. Thor, leader of the Crimson Thunder—step forward.”
“That’s right—they deserve a reward too, and rightfully so!”
“Outsiders or not, a fellow adventurer’s achievements are something to be proud of!”
The adventurers broke into cheerful noise, and a nearby noble cut in to dampen it:
“That is not quite right.”
Karen recognized the voice and looked over. It was Alban.
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