Rumelisa Paangte was currently called the princess of the social circle.

She was the only daughter of the Marquis Paangte, nephew of the Empress Dowager.

Loved deeply by the Marquis and Marchioness, who were pillars of high society, she was specially regarded even among the children.

‘So who would someone like Rumelisa consider special?’

I made a curious face, and Miss Paangte smiled sweetly.

“Come on, let’s go upstairs.”

“Yes.”

I followed her up the stairs.

‘Wow!’

Indeed, this was a salon for children of wealthy families in the imperial capital’s first district.

The colorful, cute decorations favored by children were impressive.

Yet the furnishings were elegantly luxurious in a vintage style.

The richly colored wallpaper, furniture, and exquisite Renaissance-style ornaments blended surprisingly well.

‘The food must be excellent too.’

Even without tasting, the lavishness suggested skillful cooking.

‘I should take good notes.’

I hadn’t attended many parties in my previous life.

Our °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° household didn’t even have a lady of the house.

So I didn’t really know how to decorate or entertain guests properly.

‘Rumelisa Paangte’s parties are good reference material.’

At the entrance stood a small tree.

‘Like a Christmas tree.’

It wasn’t the familiar evergreen conifer Yuhye-min knew.

The branches were bare.

But hanging various items on the tree made it resemble a tree.

Miss Paangte smiled when she saw my wide eyes.

“Do you like the ‘midget tree’?”

“‘Midget tree’?”

“It’s a trend in upper-class parties these days. They hang the host’s belongings on a small tree.”

“Oh.”

“I hung the handkerchiefs I used when I was young.”

“Very luxurious and pretty.”

“Thank you. If you like it, just put money in the box below the tree and take something.”

“Money?”

“Yes, the collected money is donated to welfare facilities.”

I nodded.

‘Like a flea market, or a secondhand trade.’

All of Rumelisa Paangte’s handkerchiefs were beautiful.

All decorated with gold thread, and the fabric was very high quality.

‘Must be incredibly expensive.’

The midget tree was a clever device for parties.

‘It has many advantages.’

Nobles could flaunt their wealth, and the proceeds went to the poor.

Not a formal charity auction, so it was not burdensome.

‘If I hold a party, I should hang weapons or something.’

Especially since Daymond Jurisdiction is known for its military might, and also...

Just then—

“Don’t you know about the midget tree?”

A strange voice came from behind.

Turning my head, I saw two girls in orange and blue dresses.

Other children crowded around them.

“Excuse me. It’s surprising you don’t know about the midget tree.”

The girl in the orange dress scanned me up and down as she spoke.

Miss Paangte flinched and glanced nervously at me.

Then she said to the girl in orange,

“Erilot has only recently arrived in the imperial capital, Northern Army warrior.”

Northern Army warrior?

‘Then that must be that girl.’

The loyal dog of Central Warrior Cyrille Chateaubriand.

Rika Delfre.

The youngest daughter of Marquis Delfre.

Abina, a devoted lackey to the Chateaubriand family, the Central Warrior’s house.

I looked at the arrogant Northern Army warrior with a disdainful expression.

The Northern Army warrior sighed and lowered her eyebrows.

“Did I offend you? I was just surprised someone from the first district wouldn’t know the midget tree.”

“......”

“You haven’t been invited to other families’ parties in Astra?”

“......”

“I saw your cousin Loreina quite often though...”

Her repeated scanning showed hostility.

It meant:

‘Loreina is often invited to parties, but you don’t even know about the midget tree. You have no connections with the nobles.’

In other words, a country bumpkin.

Miss Paangte, who liked me, looked uneasy.

The Paangte family was no worse than Marquis Delfre’s family of the Northern Army warrior.

But they couldn’t act recklessly because of the Central Warrior.

The Northern Army warrior smiled brightly and approached me.

“Well, you can get used to Central society now.”

“......”

“I’m Rika Delfre, fourteen years old, Northern Army warrior. And this is...”

She glanced at the young lady in the blue dress beside her, hinting I should introduce her.

The girl in the blue dress smiled gently.

“I’m Benya Montague, Northern Army warrior.”

“Count Montague family!”

I pretended to be surprised, and the Northern Army warrior’s eyes widened.

“You know my family?”

“Of course. The northern border counts, the snow wolves who guard the northern frontier—how could I not know?”

“That’s right. My father often met your father, Count Daymond Astra, on the battlefield!”

“I’ve heard he’s a fine warrior.”

Northern nobles often had great loyalty to their families.

The Northern Army warrior looked very happy when I praised her family.

“Count Daymond Astra is the best warrior in the empire! I’ve heard many stories!”

I saw the relationship between the warriors.

The Northern Army warrior shot a glance at the Northern Army warrior, then looked at me.

“Come sit at our table and chat.”

“Oh, I...”

I linked arms with Miss Paangte.

She looked surprised and stared at me.

I smiled brightly at her.

“I prefer to sit with Rumelisa Paangte.”

“Me?”

“Of course. The host’s table is the best place!”

“Milady...”

Rumelisa’s face was very happy.

‘Though it’s her party, the warriors stand out more.’

Since I was a warrior and a girl with a dragon, being near me would naturally draw attention to Rumelisa’s table.

Rumelisa looked touched.

“Erilot, you’re truly considerate.”

‘She thinks I’m an extremely thoughtful girl? That’s good for me.’

I smiled casually.

Then the Northern Army warrior’s expression grew sharp.

She glared at me but forced a smile.

“It’s a pity. As a senior warrior, I have much advice to give.”

Don’t you want information about the imperial guards?

That’s what she meant.

“Thanks for the consideration, but I want to learn through experience rather than rely on advice!”

I burst the Northern Army warrior’s airs with an innocent expression.

She gritted her teeth.

“To me, it looks like you really need advice.”

“Is that so? But I’m fine!”

“You don’t even know warrior etiquette!”

“I’ll learn in time. Advice isn’t necessary!”

“So new warriors should first greet the central warriors—”

“I’ll learn the etiquette after the party~ Thanks, but I really don’t need advice!”

The Northern Army warrior tried to subtly mock me as a ‘thoughtless country bumpkin.’

But since I kept saying it was fine, she looked strange now.

Forcing advice on someone who keeps refusing is just—

‘Nagging.’

‘And nagging looks worse the younger you are.’

Like how college seniors demanding greetings or drinks look ridiculous.

When whispers started around us, the Northern Army warrior’s face turned red.

She finally exploded,

“Milady─!!”

‘Time to end this.’

I shrank my shoulders pretending to be surprised.

Then Miss Paangte frowned sharply.

“Don’t shout at my guest, Northern Army warrior.”

“Hah... Am I not a guest of Miss Paangte? Isn’t it silly to treat only one person specially?”

“It’s not special treatment; I was just ‘advising’ someone spoiling the party atmosphere.”

“What did you say? Miss Paangte!”

“If a warrior shouts like this, others will be frightened.”

“I─!”

The shouting Northern Army warrior looked around.

Other girls whispered with embarrassed faces.

“...!”

The Northern Army warrior bit her lip hard.

She clenched her fists and even trembled.

She said to the blankly standing Northern Army warrior,

“I think Miss Paangte considers us uninvited guests, so we should leave.”

“Yes? Ah, yes...”

The Northern Army warrior strode off quickly, followed by the Northern Army warrior.

Just before the door, the Northern Army warrior stopped abruptly and glared at me and Miss Paangte.

“I won’t forget what happened today.”

Miss Paangte’s eyes narrowed.

So I spoke again.

“Please leave carefully! Oh, and to clarify, the uninvited guests aren’t ‘us’ but ‘me,’ right?”

“What?”

“The Northern Army warrior isn’t an uninvited guest, only the Northern Army warrior was rude alone!”

Then laughter echoed around.

Everyone seemed unable to hold it in.

Miss Paangte’s mouth twitched.

And the Northern Army warrior—

“What’s so funny?!”

The Northern Army warrior laughed secretly but was scolded by the Northern Army warrior.

The Northern Army warrior stomped out sulking.

Miss Paangte snorted.

“All she can do is tattle to the Chateaubriand family.”

“Oh really?”

“If she weren’t a central warrior, she wouldn’t even dream of being a warrior. And if she weren’t a warrior, she wouldn’t be so arrogant.”

“I see.”

“Anyway, thanks to you, Milady, it’s been pleasant after a long time. Now, shall we enjoy the rest of the party?”

Miss Paangte clapped her hands to gather the mood.

I followed her, glancing back at the door.

‘The warrior life is going to be troublesome.’

Apparently, the warriors didn’t like me.

And I’m the type who only gets more fired up when disliked.

‘I’m getting feisty.’

A few days later, Count Astra’s mansion in the imperial capital.

The mansion was noisy from the morning.

Because Joshua’s club guests had come.

The servants did their best to prepare for the young master’s first gathering.

Balzac sat perched on the sofa, glancing around.

“The gathering has quite the atmosphere.”

“Erilot prepared it.”

Joshua, reading a book across from Balzac, smiled.

Since it was the first gathering, he was eager to make it truly an ‘imperial capital gathering.’

“Erilot? You do everything well.”

Though only ten years old, she did a good job acting as lady of the house.

‘She probably never learned before.’

Just then, Michelan, the chief butler of Daymond Jurisdiction, entered.

“The guests have arrived.”

“Good.”

Joshua closed his book and stood.

Passing through the courtyard, many splendid carriages filled the garden.

“Thank you for the invitation.”

This club meeting was basically a ‘general meeting of various clubs’ hosted by Joshua.

Archer club.

Bird hunting club.

Warm Watchers of Rabbits club.

Reading club.

Imperial history study club, etc.

Meaning, it was a gathering of influential boys.

“So this is the famous Count’s mansion. Since there are mountains nearby, many birds will gather. How about hunting here next time?”

“If you wish.”

“Great library! I want to see the Count’s great library!”

“Please ask the butler to guide you.”

Joshua was the easiest among the siblings to talk to others.

He had deep knowledge on many subjects and was a handsome boy with a friendly appearance, even if his true nature was unknown.

Above all, he had the excellent wide-area blessing .

He got along well with both intellectual and warrior-type boys.

And then—

“Balzac Astra! The youngest aura user!”

A cheerful boy from the archer club stepped forward.

Balzac Astra.

He had been brave since childhood and was famous for his outstanding skill.

The youngest user of martial power.

A special offensive blessing user called .

He was an idol to warrior-type boys.

Balzac looked annoyed as he glared at the archer club boy.

“Ugh, you came too?”

“Let’s finish our unfinished match this time.”

“Such a nuisance.”

Balzac looked like he was about to die but still played host well.

At another spot, people crowded around Richmond as he entered the mansion.

He looked a little annoyed but still acted as host.

‘He can’t get scolded by Erilot.’

‘He needs to look good to Erilot.’

The boys entered the courtyard with the three brothers.

“Oh, big brothers.”

Erilot was coming down the stairs.

The boys, who had been looking around lazily, stopped stiff as if struck by lightning.

Some even gaped.

Because... because...!

‘Ah, so this is the rose of Astra.’

‘Wow...’