An Unexpected Encounter
Annex of the Lagrind dukedom.
As befitting its status as a dukedom, the annex was enormous.
It was massive enough to fit an entire soccer field.
And inside, countless people from all walks of life were gathered.
"I would like to thank all the distinguished guests who have gathered here today. Let us raise a glass to celebrate my daughter's birthday."
On the podium at the end of the annex, a man raised his glass as he spoke.
He had blue-white hair, a sturdy physique, and deep bronze skin.
A large scar marked his closed left eye, giving him a rather rugged appearance.
His name was Dathus el Lagrind.
He was the head of the Lagrind Dukedom and the father of Leje El Lagrind, the daughter of the Lagrind Dukedom.
With his toast, the countless people in the hall also raised their glasses.
"To celebrate the eighth birthday of Leje, my daughter and the heir to the Lagrind Dukedom! Cheers!"
"[Cheers!!]"
A loud cheer erupted in the hall along with Dathus's toast.
At the same time, the orchestra, which had been waiting in the middle of the annex, began to play, filling the hall with music to celebrate the young lady's birthday.
"The situation with the Empire is not looking good. A war might break out soon."
"There are also predictions that the Empire will be quiet because of their own successor issues."
"Oh my. Madam Hellas, you've become even more beautiful since the last time I saw you."
"Oh ho ho, you flatter me."
While countless nobles filled the hall with their conversations…
"Whew…"
A short sigh escaped Rudell's lips as he watched the scene.
The conversations among the nobles and the various delicacies that filled the tables were not of interest to him.
His interest was solely focused on one thing.
It was fixed on the platform where many people were lined up.
There, a young girl sat, receiving gifts from the people.
White hair with a hint of blue and deep blue eyes reminiscent of the deep sea.
Her snow-white skin and cold impression made one feel as if they were about to freeze.
Her name was Leje El Lagrind.
The daughter of the Lagrind Dukedom and the heroine of the novel.
And the girl who would later earn the title of the world's strongest.
"She looks exactly the same."
Rudell let out a short exclamation at her appearance, which was so similar to the image he had imagined while reading the novel as a child.
He had known for a long time that this world was the world of the novel, but seeing her in person made him realize it once again.
"By the way, when will this banquet be over…"
The banquet had just begun, but Rudell muttered those words and turned his head towards the clock.
It was obvious, but there were still a few hours left before the banquet would end.
"Sigh…"
It wasn't just the banquet itself, but Rudell didn't enjoy these kinds of noisy gatherings in the first place.
Perhaps it was because he had always lived in a quiet and secluded viscounty, but his personality wasn't one that enjoyed bustling events.
"I want to go home…"
Muttering those words, Rudell looked at Carlos, who was talking with other people a little distance away.
He, too, didn't seem to be comfortable, as his discomfort was evident.
"Father must be having a hard time."
Watching him, Rudell let out a low chuckle and started walking.
He was the young son of a viscount, a low rank among nobles.
And despite his inner self, his outward appearance was that of an ordinary eight-year-old boy, so no one paid any attention to him.
Who knew that his low status would be helpful in this situation…
Thinking that the world was truly unpredictable, he moved his feet.
Leaving the banquet hall, Rudell headed towards a nearby garden.
A small garden with a small fountain.
Perhaps because the banquet was in full swing, the garden was quiet without a single person.
Surely, he could spend some quiet time here until the banquet was over.
With that thought, Rudell approached a bench in the corner of the garden, sat down, and took out his notebook and pen.
"Let's see. With this, one flag is gone…"
The protagonist of the original story first met the heroine, the young lady, at this very banquet hall of the dukedom.
In other words, as long as he stayed outside the banquet hall, there would be no contact between him and the young lady.
"The weather is fantastic."
Rudell drew a line on the page of his notebook that read "[Avoid getting involved with the young lady]" and looked up at the sky.
There were many things he liked and disliked about living his second life, but the one he liked the most was the clear, blue sky.
When he looked up at the clear, clean sky, free from any pollution, it felt as if the distracting thoughts that filled his mind were being washed away.
"Haaaaam… I'm sleepy…"
A long yawn escaped Rudell's lips as he watched the clouds drift across the sky.
He had managed to escape the banquet hall, but he hadn't thought about what to do afterward.
As he stretched out towards the sky and smacked his lips,
[Meow.]
"Huh?"
Rudell shifted his gaze at the sound coming from below his feet.
And what he saw was a small cat.
A tiny kitten, seemingly still a baby, was wandering around his feet.
"A cat?"
He tilted his head at the sight of the small cat, which had the typical cheese tabby coloring.
Did it get lost?
He looked around, but he couldn't see any other siblings or a mother cat.
"Hmm…"
Given the sheer size of the Duke's mansion, it wasn't strange for a stray cat or two to be wandering around.
[Meow~]
"..."
As the cat started rubbing against his leg while meowing, Rudell cautiously reached out his hand towards it.
His hand gently stroked the cat's head, and a faint smile appeared on Rudell's lips at the soft sensation he felt at his fingertips.
The unique warmth of a cat and the soft touch of its fur.
For Rudell, who was a natural cat lover, it was the ultimate healing experience.
"Ahem…!!"
With a fake cough, Rudell cautiously looked around.
Fortunately, there was no one around, and Rudell reached out and lifted the cat onto his lap.
[Purr…]
The cat, momentarily bewildered by his actions, yawned contentedly and then started purring as it rested its chin on Rudell's lap.
Rudell smiled warmly at the sight and stroked the cat's back.
[Meow!]
Just then, the cat looked up and reached out its paw towards the small brooch attached to Rudell's chest, seemingly interested in it.
The brooch, bearing the emblem of the Lagrind Dukedom, was proof that Rudell was a guest visiting the Dukedom.
In other words, it served as a sort of visitor's pass.
"Do you want to touch this?"
[Meow-!!]
As the cat meowed in response to his words, Rudell smiled faintly and took off the brooch, dangling it in front of the cat.
The cat's eyes widened as it followed the movement of his hand, and Rudell couldn't hide the smile that spread across his face as he watched.
And then, while Rudell was completely engrossed in the cat,
[Meow!!]
"Huh? Uh oh?"
The cat suddenly jumped up and snatched his brooch, and Rudell stared at the cat with a flustered expression.
[Meow!]
"Oh!? W-wait!!"
At that moment, before he could even react, the cat ran off with the brooch in its mouth.
Rudell jumped up from his seat and chased after the cat with a desperate voice.
The distance from the annex grew wider, and he was leaving the area permitted to guests, but Rudell's mind was solely focused on retrieving the brooch.
[Meow!!]
"Huff… W-wait… Huff!!"
After a long chase, the cat's speed began to slow down, and Rudell followed, gasping for breath.
And…
"Cheese! Where have you been!? I've been looking all over for you!"
[Meow~!!]
As the cat rounded the corner ahead, an unfamiliar voice came from beyond.
Could it be that the cat has an owner?
With the hope that this chase would finally come to an end, Rudell turned the corner.
"Eh…?"
And a dumbfounded voice escaped Rudell's lips as he saw the girl standing before him.
It was only natural, because the girl in front of him was someone who absolutely shouldn't be here.
White hair with a hint of blue and deep blue eyes reminiscent of the deep sea.
Her appearance was like a meticulously crafted statue, and her snow-white skin was like a piece of the arctic.
"Who are you?"
The girl looked up at him in response to his reaction.
Leje El Lagrind.
The girl standing before him was undoubtedly the young lady who should have been at the banquet hall.
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