“…I see. So you’ve made up your mind.”
Karen smiled, her gaze dropping slightly below Elsa’s face.
“Hmm?”
Jin tried to follow her eyes. He saw Elsa’s hands.
They were her usual slender, white fingers. On the middle finger of her right hand was the Guard Ring Jin had crafted for her. Her nails were neatly trimmed, devoid of any polish.
Jin recalled a bit of trivia from Earth: an anecdote about how high-ranking nobles would grow their nails long to prove they were of a status that never required manual labor.
“Wait…”
Jin felt a slight sense of incongruity. Her hands were so clearly visible.
“Oh, I see.”
It finally clicked. He realized that Elsa wasn't wearing gloves.
He searched his memory and recalled that noblewomen almost always wore gloves at parties.
“Elsa, did you forget your gloves today?”
“…No.”
“Then, is there a reason?”
“…Yes.”
“And that reason is?”
“…I can’t say.”
For some reason, Elsa looked away, seemingly reluctant to explain it to Jin. He decided to ask Karen instead.
“Karen-san, do you know why?”
But Karen only gave him a captivating smile.
“No, I cannot be the one to say it. Jin-sama, you really ought to figure it out for yourself.”
Leaving him with that, Karen walked away with somewhat hurried steps.
“Onii-chan, I’m not wearing gloves either!”
Hanna waved both her hands at Jin. He reached out and gently patted her head.
Still, the question weighed on his mind.
“…El—”
Just as Jin was about to ask Elsa again—
“Presenting Her Imperial Majesty!”
A voice rang out, and everyone in the room fell silent, turning toward the back.
The door on the right opened, and the Empress, Gerhardt Hilde von Rubiss Shouro, appeared.
“I appreciate your attendance, everyone.”
She offered a brief greeting before taking her seat upon the throne. Taking over for her, Chancellor Jung Fowles von Kebsler began to speak.
“Today, we have gathered to announce the elevation of four men to the rank of baron within our Shouro Empire, and to celebrate the future of our nation.”
As his voice faded, the door on the left opened, and four young men entered. They lined up in a row on a dais one step lower than the throne.
“The investiture ceremony has concluded without incident. There are four new barons.”
The voice of the Secretary, serving as the master of ceremonies, echoed through the hall.
“Lord of Kalts Village, Reinhard Randol von Adamas. Lord of Etco Town, Klalg Scheel von Dolms. Lord of Eno Village, Brause Alhause von Furt. Captain of the Imperial Guards, Mattheus Geist von Realgar. That is all.”
The four names were read aloud. The man on the far left, Mattheus, was Reinhard’s friend and Berche’s older brother.
“So Mattheus received a barony as well.”
Jin wasn't acquainted with the two in the middle, who seemed to be lords of provincial towns and villages.
And on the far right stood Reinhard.
All four wore the brown robes that represented the rank of baron in the Shouro Empire.
In the less than two minutes it took for the four to enter and have their names read, maids moved efficiently through the crowd, handing out glasses of white wine to the attendees.
By the time the Empress stood up again, everyone had a glass in hand. As a side note, Hanna’s glass contained juice.
“Then, to celebrate our new barons—cheers!”
Following the Empress’s lead, everyone raised their glasses and drained the wine.
“The rest of the evening shall be a social gathering. Please, everyone, make yourselves at home.”
With those final words, the Empress and the Chancellor retired.
The venue instantly became lively. The guests began offering congratulations to the new barons or conversing among themselves.
“Hey, Jin.”
“Jin-dono, it has been a long time.”
Reinhard and Mattheus approached Jin together. Beside them were Berche and another woman with blonde hair and blue eyes.
“This is my wife, Siara,” Mattheus introduced.
She offered a polite greeting to Jin.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Jin-dono. I hear the Hecherat family lives right across from your mansion.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“That is Siara’s family home,” Mattheus explained.
Siara’s maiden name was Hekelat. She had been Siara Hekelat von Labra—now, of course, she was Siara Geist von Labra.
“Hello, Mattheus. And Siara. Congratulations on your promotion.”
Once again, a familiar voice reached Jin’s ears.
“Jin-dono, excuse my rudeness the other day.”
It was the female knight with blonde hair and blue eyes who had been serving as the Empress’s guard. Flora.
“Flora-neesama, it’s been a while.”
“Long time no see, Sister-in-law.”
Flora’s full name was Flora Hekelat von Melante. She was the eldest daughter of the Hecherat family and Siara’s older sister.
“So Mattheus is a baron now. You’ve finally overtaken me.”
Since Flora was a female knight—a baronet—Mattheus outranked her now that he was a baron.
In military terms, Flora was in the Royal Ritter Order, while Mattheus was a captain in the 3rd Company of the Imperial Guards. It was a bit complicated, and to be honest, Jin, who was poorly versed in military hierarchy, had no idea who was technically superior.
“No, no. As someone who serves so closely by Her Majesty’s side, you are of higher standing, Sister-in-law Flora.”
“Ugh, please stop calling me by that name. I’ve never been able to stand it.”
“Oh, Sister, are you still worrying about that?”
“…?”
Jin couldn’t quite grasp the meaning behind their exchange. Noticing his confusion, Siara leaned in and whispered an explanation.
“My sister has always been a tomboy—enough to attend the knight academy. She’s always said she hates the name ‘Flora’ because it sounds far too feminine.”
“…Wh—Siara! Don’t go saying unnecessary things!”
Flora turned around, her blonde hair catching the light. Her smooth, straight hair was cut into a bob, flipping and reflecting the light with every movement.
“Anyway, she graduated in the same year as my husband, and after serving as a squire, she became a full ritter. She’s a tomboy, serious to a fault, and quite inflexible, but please try to get along with her.”
“Siara!”
Between Gloria Allstatt of the Klein Kingdom and this Flora, Jin found himself rudely wondering if there were any traditionally feminine female knights in this world.
Then again, he realized that the kind of ‘feminine’ woman he was thinking of probably wouldn't want to become a knight in the first place.
The social gathering came to an end at five in the evening, and the guests began to disperse.
As they were leaving, Jin heard from Reinhard that because the gathering was specifically for the new barons, it was held during the day and on a relatively small scale.
“Jin-dono, Elsa-dono, Hanna-dono, Reiko-dono, Her Majesty requests your presence.”
“Huh?”
The Empress’s Secretary called out to Jin and the others as they were about to head home. Even Reiko, who held the rank of squire, had been summoned by name.
“I wonder what this is about?”
Thinking about it didn’t provide any answers. Led by the Secretary, Jin and his companions headed toward the Empress’s office.
“Your Majesty, I have brought them.”
“Please, come in.”
The Empress and the Chancellor were waiting for them inside.
“I’m sorry for calling you just as you were leaving. I’ve been buried in work until this very moment.”
Even as she spoke, the Empress’s eyes drifted toward Hanna.
“Hanna-chan, hello.”
“Hello, Majesty.”
The Empress beckoned Hanna over. Hanna trotted up to her. While taking the girl’s hand, the Empress stated the reason she had summoned them.
“I have something to discuss with Elsa today. Please hear the details from the Chancellor.”