Chapter 163: So Cool—I Want to Learn That Too
Leah raised one hand to cover her mouth, letting out a yawn.
"Haaah..."
Gwen stood before her with utmost seriousness, hands clasped together, her expression one of boundless distress as she spoke:
"Leah!"
"Right now, you're the only one I can rely on."
Leah placed one hand on her hip, looked Gwen up and down, and let out a sigh, looking thoroughly exasperated.
"You dragged over here first thing in the morning—for this?"
"Just because my brother wants to take you to dinner, and you're worked up into this kind of state?"
"Please, pull yourself together!"
Gwen pressed her lips together, her feelings impossibly tangled.
"But..."
"If I show up dressed like this, isn't that terribly rude?"
She spread her arms and looked down at the light Knight armor she was wearing.
There was no helping it—Gwen had never owned a single formal gown of her own, let alone known anything about makeup.
Even at the last Banquet, she'd only worn one because Kavra had forcibly dragged her into it and shoved her into one of her old gowns.
But if Big Sis Kavra were here, she wouldn't have to worry herself half to death like this.
Leah stared at Gwen with the look of soone utterly fed up with soone who refused to improve:
"If this were before, you wouldn't have given it a second thought."
If it were the old Gwen, she would have given Viktor a single cold-faced refusal and been done with it.
Nothing like right now—carrying on like a...
Like a little girl who'd just fallen in love and had her relationship confird, completely at a loss the mont she was called out on a date.
"What kind of love potion did Viktor feed you?"
Leah pressed one hand to her forehead.
"Leah! I can't break my word!"
Gwen brought both hands down heavily onto Leah's shoulders and looked at her with grave solemnity.
That weighty blow nearly sent Leah straight into the next life.
She struggled to peel Gwen's hands off her own shoulders and held them in her grip.
"This is a matter of a Knight's conviction!"
"?"
Leah stared at Gwen with an expression of complete incomprehension, yet profound shock.
What did this have to do with a Knight's conviction?
Are you sure you're not just making up excuses to brush off?
But joking aside.
Since Gwen was asking for help, she naturally had to pitch in.
She reached into her breast pocket and pulled out a pocket watch, glancing down at the ti.
"Let see...counting from now to this evening."
"Alright, it should be enough ti."
She snapped the pocket watch shut and spoke to Gwen.
"Have your household Servants take your asurents. I'll go find a few Mages right now—I'll pay whatever they ask."
Gwen gave a slight start.
Find Mages for what?
Leah let out a weary sigh.
"Is your head full of nothing but muscle? There's no way a tailor can make sothing in ti now."
"Mages charge a bit more, but they can use magic to make far more beautiful clothing, and they work fast."
"Oh, oh..."
Gwen nodded, sowhat understanding, and rather obediently at that.
"As for makeup and all that—well, I'll just do it myself."
Looking at Gwen's naturally beautiful face, Leah felt a twinge of envy.
A Knight who had weathered years of hardship, yet her skin remained impossibly smooth—giving her an appearance that was radiant and full of life.
Simply, terribly enviable.
Leah reached out and placed her hand on Gwen's shoulder, intending to press her firmly down into a chair.
But even throwing her full weight into it, she couldn't push Gwen down even an inch.
Gwen tilted her head with a look of mild confusion, then saw Leah smiling with her mouth but most definitely not her eyes, one eyebrow arched.
"Would you mind..."
"Cooperating a little?"
"Ah, s—sure."
Gwen hurriedly sat down, taking a proper seat in front of the mirror.
Leah let out a breath and pulled the makeup case from her pouch.
"Close your eyes."
Gwen obediently closed them.
She felt a succession of faint, tickling sensations on her face—soone dabbing and drawing for a while.
Hmm...
This feeling was just like when Kavra used to do her makeup.
Very uncomfortable.
Then she heard Leah's voice beside her.
"By the way, Count Angus passed away, so you're a Countess now."
"You should have the freedom to handle your own Marriage Engagent as you see fit."
Gwen sat with her eyes closed, silent, saying nothing.
In that silence, Leah asked nothing further.
The 2 of them, with a kind of unspoken understanding, let the topic drop without continuing.
After a while, Leah put away the makeup case and clapped her hands.
"Mm, that'll do."
Gwen opened her eyes and looked at herself in the mirror.
***
Sievert Restaurant.
This was the most top-tier luxury restaurant in the entire Empire.
Its chain locations flourished across many cities throughout the Empire.
Sievert Restaurant maintained an exceptionally unified aesthetic across all its establishnts.
The overall structure was like a grand castle, with every room a private separate suite, offering a breathtaking view of the dazzling nightti splendor of the entire Royal Capital.
A soothing cello lody drifted through the dimly lit restaurant, the flickering candlelight casting a warm glow over the distinctive luster of the golden-oak furnishings.
The brilliant colors reflected from the white tablecloths only added an extra touch of mystery.
Crystal pendants hanging from the ceiling fractured every ray of light into delicate, rippling waves.
That elegant, tranquil air flowed ceaselessly through the restaurant.
Many nobles frequently dined here.
After all, this place served as an excellent ans of displaying one's distinguished standing.
Though each visit required reservations made far in advance.
Fully booked reservations were the norm for many days running.
At this mont, a resplendent Carriage drew to a gentle stop at the entrance of Sievert Restaurant.
Leah stepped out of the Carriage wearing a simple everyday outfit.
The surrounding nobles, upon seeing Leah, were all taken aback.
In the Royal Capital, virtually every noble knew who Leah was.
But why was she here?
And judging by appearances, she hadn't co to dine.
Then she reached out an elegant hand toward a mysterious woman inside the Carriage.
White-gloved fingers t Leah's slender, soft hand.
The woman gradually erged from the Carriage.
Beneath a white hat, an exquisite face was concealed. Under the adornnt of the night sky, lightly made-up Gwen was breathtaking enough to steal one's very soul.
Her elaborate and magnificent formal gown exuded an air of nobility.
The gown, crafted from magical materials, shimred with faint traces of white light around its edges.
It flowed like a babbling stream—like a fine river of stars gently surging.
To those nobles watching, it was as though a Queen had descended from the heavens.
Countless nobles lingering near the restaurant, upon seeing her, couldn't help but freeze on the spot.
Who was this beautiful woman?
Was there actually soone this stunning in the Royal Capital—how did they not have the faintest mory of her?
Compared to her, even the won on the arms of those around them seed to pale in comparison.
And they were not alone in thinking so.
Those noble ladies—peering outside through the doors and windows of the restaurant—all stared at the sight with open mouths.
She was simply too beautiful.
This was a face so lovely it moved the heart even without a trace of makeup.
Her beauty was not the sort that was rely pretty.
Her striking features still carried with them the steadiness of a Knight—an air of justice, and a handso quality that could fell man and woman alike.
Those noble ladies who laid eyes on Gwen—even their own faces flushed red, their hearts pounding wildly.
Oh no!
This is...the feeling of falling in love!
Yet Gwen herself, in that mont, appeared utterly shy—head lowered just slightly.
She could feel the gazes from all around converging upon her.
The kind of gazes she normally ignored without a second thought—the kind she could even stare boldly back at without hesitation.
But right now, she couldn't bring herself to raise her head and et any of them.
Still, compared to last ti, wearing a formal gown this ti around had helped her adapt considerably.
And—she wasn't sure if it was because of the expensive gown made from magical materials—wearing it was remarkably comfortable.
It wasn't tight around the chest either.
The only thing was, without armor on, she kept feeling a strange chill around the lower half of her body.
Leah guided her through the crowd of onlookers and walked to the entrance of the restaurant.
Then, Leah released her hand.
This left Gwen feeling montarily unsteady—the high heels on her feet nearly failed to support her body entirely.
She simply could not get used to the inhumane design of high-heeled shoes.
"From here on, I won't be walking in with you."
Leah jerked her chin toward the restaurant's main entrance, gesturing at Gwen.
Gwen looked toward the door with a slightly puzzled expression.
A figure slowly erged from within the entrance.
He wore a jet-black Coat, and a deeply mysterious Crow perched upon his shoulder.
Under the watchful gaze of everyone present, the man's Coat gradually ignited into dancing, fluttering flas—as though it had transford into a tail feather swaying through the air.
Around him, a verdant greenery quietly rose.
A tranquil, adow-like atmosphere gradually spread throughout the entire restaurant.
A green luminescence began to glow softly from within the grass, and those around them all felt an overwhelmingly rich, natural presence.
The air, saturated with life force, left them all deeply at ease.
Viktor walked slowly forward, and under the blaze of fire, his Coat gradually transford into an immaculately neat formal suit.
Pinned to his chest was a silver brooch—on one side, the emblem of the Mage Council.
The all-black attire rendered him incomparably elegant and refined, and the detached coolness in his eyes lent him a layer of mysterious allure.
In a mont, he stood before Gwen.
The nobles who had witnessed the scene just now were all left dumbfounded.
"That's...Viktor!?"
"The head of the Clavena household is here too!"
"He's so cool—I want to learn that spell that changes his outfit..."
But after marveling for a mont, they suddenly realized.
If that person was Viktor—
Then that woman—could she possibly be...
"The current head of the Delin Family—Viktor's Fiancée, Gwen!?"
The instant that voice rang out, many of those present were completely stunned.
In the minds of the nobles, Gwen had always carried the image of an upstanding, righteous Knight.
They simply could not reconcile Gwen with the woman before their eyes—a beauty who stood at the very top in both bearing and appearance alike.
And yet Viktor had already placed one hand behind his back, inclined his body ever so slightly, and bowed.
His other hand extended toward Gwen.
A perfect, textbook display of gentlemanly etiquette.
Gwen was slightly dazed. Beside her, Leah couldn't help but whisper quietly, urging her along.
"What are you waiting for? Take his hand already."
With Leah's reminder, Gwen quickly ca back to herself. Her cheeks utterly crimson, she extended her hand and laid it upon Viktor's palm.
Seeing Viktor's gentle smile, Gwen let out a breath of relief.
Viktor took Gwen's hand, and under the watchful gaze of the assembled nobles, the 2 of them walked into the restaurant.
Leah stood outside the entrance, watching the retreating figures of the pair.
"Haah."
"Given today of all days—I'll let you enjoy yourself properly."
With that, she turned and walked away at a leisurely pace, under the returning gazes of everyone around.
Gwen was led by Viktor's hand, slowly walking deeper into the restaurant.
The gazes from those around seed to multiply even further.
This left her feeling terribly, deeply out of her depth—head lowered, not daring to say a word.
She had never experienced being the center of so many eyes before.
What on earth was happening today?
At that mont, Viktor brought her to stand at the very center of the restaurant.
Around them, countless gazes—like beams of light one after another—converged upon the 2 of them.
"Do you know what day it is today?"
Viktor's voice sounded beside Gwen's ear, and she couldn't help but raise her head, looking toward him with puzzlent.
Their eyes t.
All at once, Viktor snapped his fingers.
Around them, vines carrying a natural, verdant glow rose upward.
Gripped tightly within those vines was a suit of armor and a crimson blade.
The 2 evolved pieces of equipnt gave off a faint golden shimr, appearing sowhat hazy in the glow of the lights.
Atop the steel, faint patterns seed to flow slowly—Runes etched within, appearing and vanishing by turns.
"This is what I prepared for you. The most fitting gift I could give you."
As a Knight, Gwen was acutely attuned to the power contained within those 2 pieces of equipnt.
Yet she was sowhat confused.
Why was Viktor giving her these 2 pieces of equipnt?
And moreover, why was he reminding her?
That this was a gift?
While she was still puzzling over it, Viktor clapped his hands once more.
Behind him, several attendants pushed forward a silver-white cart.
Atop it sat a magnificent cake—at least a dozen tiers tall.
All around, the beautiful music shifted into sothing lively and cheerful.
Even the nobles felt the air of joy and couldn't help but be swept up in it, breaking into applause.
Only Gwen, who had no idea what was happening, stood looking at Viktor with his gentle smile.
His warm gaze, calm and steady, t hers.
A gentle breeze carried his soft words to her ear.
"Happy Birthday."
"My dearest Knight."
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