Kaito’s intervention had been a lifesaver, but Cornelia couldn't ignore the fact that she had missed her window for a proper introduction.
(What should I do? Once he finishes speaking with Kaito-sama, I can’t exactly avoid a formal greeting. But is it really acceptable to use my house name? Kaito-sama is a special case, but if I include my family name, it might look like I’m soliciting a formal relationship between noble houses… No, but if I give only my first name, I’ll be contradicting Kaito-sama’s own introduction. U-Ugh, which one is the right answer...?)
As it stood, Cornelia was only being permitted to stand before two of the Six Kings because she was Kaito’s friend; she hadn't been granted an audience as a representative of the Sharon Count House. Using her house name might suggest she had an ulterior motive, but since Megiddo already seemed to know of her family, omitting it now felt equally unnatural. Cornelia was caught in a paralyzing loop of indecision.
Just as the conversation between Kaito and Megiddo reached a natural lull, Magnawell spoke up. His voice was quiet yet resonated with an unmistakable authority.
"Now then… if she is a friend of Miyama Kaito, it is only right that we show her due consideration. I shall permit you to include your house name in your greeting. You have no objections, Megiddo?"
"Huh? Oh, I see what you're getting at. Fine by me. She’s Kaito’s buddy, so it’s whatever."
Sensing Cornelia’s hesitation, Magnawell had proactively granted her permission to use her family name and even checked with Megiddo to ensure they were on the same page. Though boisterous, Megiddo was far from dim-witted; he immediately grasped Magnawell’s intent and nodded his agreement.
"I offer my deepest gratitude for your immense generosity. Once again, I offer my greetings to the great Kings of the Demon Realm. I am Cornelia Sharon, eldest daughter of the Sharon Count House."
"Umu. I am Magnawell Baskus Lard Kartzbald. I permit you to address me by my name, Magnawell."
"I’m Megiddo Argetes Crane. Good to meet ya. You can just call me Megiddo too."
As Magnawell and Megiddo responded to her greeting, Kaito suddenly took on a puzzled expression.
"Wait, Megiddo-san, wasn't your family name—or the part that sounds like one—Argetes Borgness?"
"Hm? Nah, that’s not a family name. Borgness is the name of the form I usually use for my day-to-day business. This form is Crane. That other humanization you saw before, Kaito, was named Presion."
"Ah, I see. So they’re the names of your specific forms."
"Yeah. Well, as long as you remember Megiddo, the rest doesn't really matter."
Watching Megiddo and Kaito go back and forth, Cornelia desperately tried to steady her racing heart.
(I understand the meaning of Eris-sama’s words now, and it’s a painful realization. Simply by being Kaito-sama’s friend, I’ve been allowed to use my house name and even granted permission to call the Six Kings-sama by their names… His influence is absolutely staggering. I’ve been dragged up to a social standing that is completely inappropriate for a mere daughter of a Count. R-Regardless, now that I’ve given my family name, I have to act with the awareness that every word and gesture from here on out will reflect upon the Sharon Count House…)
Cornelia had identified herself as a Sharon to both Magnawell and Megiddo. Naturally, this meant that her conduct would determine the Six Kings' evaluation of her entire family.
She braced herself, believing the weight of her house's reputation rested on her shoulders… but even that thought was woefully naive.
It wasn't that her logic was flawed. It was simply that the inexperienced Cornelia had underestimated the sheer weight of Kaito's personal favor.
"Still, the Sharon Count House, huh…" Megiddo mused. "They’ve been stable lately, sure, but they stopped doing anything interesting a while ago. I figured they’d just faded into the background. But I see… so the current Sharon family has someone Kaito likes…"
"Eh? U-Um, M-Megiddo-sama?"
"Fumu. If I recall correctly, the Sharon Count House owns one of the major magic tool associations, do they not? My interest is piqued. But putting that aside, Miyama Kaito—did you come to this city today specifically for the symphony?"
Cornelia felt a chill that froze her to the marrow. Because Kaito was on friendly terms with her, both Megiddo and Magnawell were already shifting their scrutiny toward her entire family. Her stomach throbbed with a warning of impending agony.
Yet, that was only the beginning. A second blow was already on its way.
"Ah, no. I was visiting a place called the Victor Trading Company—they handle monster-related goods—on Cornelia-san’s recommendation. They make specialized brushes for monsters, and they’re essentially a subsidiary operating under the umbrella of Cornelia-san’s Sharon Trading Company."
"Ho… now that is intriguing. These brushes you speak of…"
A casual conversation had begun, sparked by Magnawell's simple question, but the content of Kaito's answer made Cornelia feel as though every drop of blood was draining from her face.
(Kaito-sama? Kaito-samaa?! W-Wait, wasn’t that wording a bit strange?! The way you just said that makes it sound like I hold a position of extreme authority within the Sharon Trading Company! I’m just a daughter, and the Sharon Trading Company is the family business… I don't actually have that kind of power! I-I know I haven’t explained the internal structure to Kaito-sama, so I can’t blame him for misunderstanding! I know that! But still!!)
Her silent scream never reached Kaito’s ears, and since she couldn't exactly cut in while he was speaking to a King, the window to correct him slammed shut. Cornelia was left standing there with an expression of pure, unadulterated despair.
Serious-senpai: "To think that all of this could have been avoided if she’d just fainted when they first met… It really highlights just how much of a 'Stomach Pain Devil' the protagonist is for sealing her ability to lose consciousness."