Cornelia Sharon, the eldest daughter of the House of Count Sharon, possessed the capabilities of a noble lady that ranked somewhere between the upper-middle and lower-high tiers. Thanks to a rigorous education appropriate for a high-ranking noble and her own persistent efforts, she was certainly more competent than most, yet she had not quite reached the rarefied heights of someone like Eris.
At the very least, she lacked the sheer breadth of knowledge and the information-handling capacity that Eris commanded, which made it difficult for her to navigate her current circumstances with precision. However, she had accumulated her own share of experience within noble society, and she was not entirely without a survival strategy.
It sounded as though Nizbel-sama and Eingana-sama have taken a genuine interest in the Victor Trading Company, she thought, feeling as if the blood had completely drained from her face. When I think about the implications for the future, I feel as if a hole is about to open in my stomach… but this has far exceeded my capacity to handle. I must put it out of my mind for now. Even if I have to face the consequences eventually, there are times when one must temporarily avert one's eyes simply to survive.
Indeed, Cornelia lacked the mental bandwidth to organize her thoughts regarding so many monumental events at this very moment. Consequently, she chose to push the majority of these concerns aside. While it was undeniably a form of escapism, it allowed her to stop her frantic mind from agonizing over the future of the Victor Trading Company in relation to Nizbel and Eingana. This, in turn, granted her a small measure of mental composure.
Naturally, there were cases where an immediate response was critical and some matters that simply could not be ignored. Even in this situation, she would likely end up clutching her head in despair alongside her family once she returned to the Count’s estate. For now, however, she decided that this was better than letting her thoughts spin into a chaotic spiral while being tossed about by the overwhelming circumstances.
The only thing I should focus on right now is listening to the Allegra Symphony with Kaito-sama. I will defer everything that doesn't require an immediate conclusion. Once I do that, the path I must take should become clear.
Having gained some breathing room by shelving her anxieties, Cornelia quietly checked the clock and then spoke to Kaito.
"My apologies for interrupting your conversation, Kaito-sama. It is nearly thirty minutes until the performance begins."
"Ah, you're right. We still have a bit of time, but we should probably start heading toward the front of the concert hall soon."
They had originally stopped at the cafe to kill time because of an awkward gap in their schedule, so they didn't have much leeway left for extended chatting.
In reality, the concert hall was just a stone's throw away, and they would have had plenty of time even if they didn't move for another fifteen minutes. However, it was also true that it was better to enter early, and this realization provided a natural opportunity to conclude the high-stakes conversation with the two Six Kings' Executives.
It is incredibly draining to maintain a focused conversation with Nizbel-sama and Eingana-sama while under such tension. I’m truly glad we can wrap this up, Cornelia reflected. Still, Kaito-sama’s conversational skills are truly magnificent. He engages them so naturally, without a hint of calculation, in a way that genuinely seems to entertain them. As someone who lives in the social circle, I’d love to use him as a reference, but the fact that he does this out of pure kindness and sincerity rather than calculation is the most incredible part… It seems it would be difficult, if not impossible, to imitate.
As Cornelia recalled how genuinely delighted Nizbel and Eingana had looked, she found herself filled with admiration for Kaito’s extraordinary interpersonal finesse. However, since it didn't seem like something she could replicate through sheer will, she simply allowed herself to be impressed.
Kaito was the sort of person whose emotions were written plainly on his face, yet the mental calculations behind his words and thoughts during a conversation never surfaced in his expressions. This wasn't a trait he had possessed originally; it was a skill he had acquired through a very specific trial.
While Kaito had grown through many experiences, the primary catalyst was his habit of talking five days a week with a deity who was essentially a walking hazard—where a single poor choice of words could trigger an immediate catastrophe. Exposure to this "dangerous god" had evolved his communication skills to a point where he could maintain a natural, relaxed state while his mind worked at high speed. From Cornelia’s perspective, it was a level of mastery worthy of absolute praise.
Of course, his actual feelings still leaked onto his face with almost comical clarity, so it wasn't as though he had become a master of the "poker face" or deceptive noble maneuvering.
If anything, it was as if his natural ability to make others like him had been polished to a blinding sheen.
As a side note, Kaito used to judge the severity of Eden’s—or Machina’s—outbursts in broad phases. Lately, however, he had become far more precise. If one were to imagine a "Rampage Gauge" that caused an explosion when it hit maximum, Kaito could now read the numerical values of that gauge almost perfectly. He could see the signs of an impending rampage and gauge exactly how much time he had left.
Even more recently, he had learned how to identify the warnings of an outburst and successfully prevent it by steering the topic of conversation in the right direction.
Naturally, there were still instances where she would explode instantly, patterns that were unstoppable once they began, or times when she appeared already in a state of rampage. Because of those variables, his success rate for prevention sat at roughly thirty to forty percent.
Regardless, by constantly engaging in what was essentially conversational explosive disposal, Kaito’s mental agility in dialogue had experienced explosive growth.
"That's right. We need to head over to the hall as well, so shall we head out?" Eingana suggested.
"Mm… Indeed. There is still time before the appointment, but we cannot risk keeping them waiting for even a moment. It is only right that we arrive first to receive them," Nizbel added.
"Yes. I’m sure they wouldn't truly mind, but we would feel uncomfortable otherwise."
"Indeed… Now then, my comrade, we are also leaving, and our destination is the same. Why don't we walk together? We would only run into each other again the moment we arrive anyway."
"Oh? I don't mind heading to the hall together. Is that alright with you, Cornelia-san?"
"Y-Yes, of course. That is fine."
As Cornelia gave her answer alongside Kaito, she felt a cold sweat prickling down her spine.
The suggestion to walk to the concert hall together was predictable. Since they were all going to the same place, there was no reason to part ways here.
However, that wasn't what was troubling her.
Wait… Nizbel-sama just said they 'cannot risk keeping them waiting'… which means they are scheduled to meet someone in front of the concert hall, doesn't it? And both Nizbel-sama and Eingana-sama are speaking with tones reserved for those who are clearly their superiors… No, surely not. That’s impossible…
Cornelia was currently trembling at the implications of their words, but Kaito seemed to have the same thought. He voiced the very question she was too terrified to ask.
"…You mentioned you can't keep them waiting. Are you two meeting up with someone?"
"Ah, Magnawell-sama and Megiddo-sama have also come for the performance. We are scheduled to meet the two of them in front of the concert hall."
"Wait, really? Magnawell-san and Megiddo-san are coming too?"
"Hyuuh…"
The moment those names reached her ears, Cornelia felt as if her heart had momentarily stopped. She looked up at the sky, her face a mask of total, hollow despair.