Only the Golden Princess revealed her true face; the Silver Princess beside her remained shielded by a gossamer veil, though even that couldn't hide the breathtaking, heart-shattering beauty beneath.
Behind them, standing alongside the twin maids, were two young men.
One was dressed in a formal suit, his face pale and sickly, giving him a fragile, almost pathetic air. The other was far more striking,his hair was woven into a dizzying array of tiny, incredibly complex braids, as if it were a masterpiece of textile work rather than mere hair.
Wayland assumed they were the specialists responsible for the princesses' maintenance,most likely the pharmacist and the dressmaker. Judging by the intricate braids, the fashion-forward individual was almost certainly the latter. Wayland's internal standard for this judgment came from the flamboyant makeup artists he'd seen in 21st-century dramas back in his previous life. Even at a glance, it was clear this man's profession was as unconventional as his appearance.
Around them, the other guests seemed frozen in time, their gazes locked.
Lorelei Barthomeloi was no exception, though her eyes betrayed a different state of mind. She hadn't lost herself to the specter; she was simply regarding the princesses with a cold, aesthetic appreciation. As expected of a Barthomeloi, she sought perfection in all things. She possessed no single 'special' ability, but that was only because every facet of her existence was honed to a razor-edged limit. She was a being with no weaknesses.
Beside him, Touko Aozaki had removed her glasses. Noticing his gaze, she turned to him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. She slid the glasses back into place and gave a sharp, decisive nod.
"As expected of the Iselmas," she murmured. "For a moment, even I was rattled. I had to switch personas just to maintain my focus."
'Switching personas?' Wayland thought, immediately thinking of personalities like Ryogi Shiki, though Touko's case was more of a shift in character than a true fracturing of the soul.
Suddenly, Touko shifted her weight, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "This is turning into a headache," she muttered with a dry smile. "I'll have to excuse myself for a bit. Wayland, since you're clearly back on your feet, stick with Miss Reines for the time being."
"Understood."
Wayland could guess what she was off to handle.
After he managed to nudge Reines and Gray back to their senses, the silence of the hall was shattered by a sudden, rhythmic sound,applause. It was sharp, clear, and cut through the daze like a knife.
Instantly, the gathered magi snapped back to reality.
At the center of it all was an elderly woman who looked to be in her late sixties,Lord Valualeta herself, born Inora Valualeta Atroholm. She was one of the three Great Lords, the representative of the Democratic Faction, Touko's former mentor, and the matriarch of the family from which the Iselmas branched. Her path toward the Root was paved with the pursuit of 'Ultimate Beauty.'
"Extraordinary," Inora praised, her voice carrying across the room with effortless authority. She turned her head toward Lorelei. "What do you think, Lord Barthomeloi?"
"It is indeed extraordinary," Lorelei replied, her voice as flat and emotionless as a ledger. "It possesses the potential to reach the Root."
The moment the 'R' word left her lips, the banquet hall fell into a tomb-like silence.
In the Mage's Association, while every magus claimed to seek the Root, the word itself was rarely spoken aloud. It was treated as a taboo, a sacred goal too profound for common conversation.
The smile on Inora's wrinkled face froze for a fraction of a second. Her carefully maintained mask seemed to strain under the weight of Lorelei's statement. Before, such claims had been nothing more than rumors. But now, with a Lord of the Barthomeloi house confirming it, the Iselmas,and by extension, the Valualetas,were in a precarious position. Beauty that could reach the Root was a prize that would ignite the bottomless greed of every magus in the hall.
The safety of the Golden and Silver Princesses was no longer guaranteed.
Inora was the figurehead of the Democratic Faction, while Lorelei was the undisputed champion of the Aristocratic Faction. The cold cruelty of the internal power struggles of the Clock Tower was laid bare in that single, seemingly casual remark.
After a moment of tense silence, Inora asked, "Is that why you've come here, Lord Barthomeloi? For a piece of this 'beauty'?"
"No," Lorelei said dismissively. "I simply sensed that 'something' was bound to happen. I suspected the Bureau of Policies might be required to hand down a judgment."
Lorelei wasn't lying. A true magus of her pedigree had their own established path toward the Root. They wouldn't covet another's work, no matter how exquisite. Much like Marisbury Animusphere, who had refused to use the Holy Grail to reach the Root after winning the war, Lorelei had no interest in shortcuts.
In truth, she had come to intercept Wayland and Pascal after receiving Hishiri Adashino's report concerning the Seven Holy Paladins. She had arrived too late, only to find that Touko Aozaki had already spirited Wayland away to the Twin Towers.
Her arrival this morning coincided perfectly with the debut banquet.
She recalled the details Adashino had shared with her. Byron Iselma had used a massive, unexplained fortune to auction a Bodhi Leaf,a high-grade catalyst. Furthermore, the discovery of a ritualistic magic circle in the artificial lake back at the school pointed toward a coming storm. This banquet would be anything but peaceful.
If Lorelei hadn't been present, the fallout would likely have been handled internally by the Valualetas. There might have been a minor blow to their reputation, but their actual power wouldn't have been diminished.
The Clock Tower was divided into three primary factions: the Aristocrats, the Democrats, and the Neutrals. The Neutrals were of little concern; they were the weakest and constantly plagued by internal squabbles. The real power struggle was between the Democrats, led by the Trambelio and Valualeta families, and the Aristocrats.
The balance of power had shifted recently. The Aristocratic Faction had suffered a blow with the loss of the Mineralogy Department and the genius Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald. While the El-Melloi family was showing signs of recovery thanks to Lord El-Melloi II's efforts, they were nowhere near their former height. Furthermore, the modern El-Mellois were in an ambiguous position,nominally Aristocratic, but their actions often leaned toward the Democratic side.
Now, presented with an opportunity to bring down the ancient Iselma family and weaken the Democrats, Lorelei wouldn't hesitate, even if she personally loathed political squabbles.
Ignoring Inora's silent calculation, Lorelei turned to Byron Iselma. "Lord Byron, would you be so kind as to permit us to stay for a day or two?"
"Of course," Byron replied with a small, submissive bow. Despite his prestige, he didn't dare refuse a direct request from a Lord of the Barthomeloi house.
"Then I shall take my leave for now. Lord Valualeta."
Lorelei gave an elegant, practiced nod and swept out of the hall. Shortly after, Inora and Byron followed suit.
The banquet continued, but the atmosphere remained charged.
Wayland followed Reines through the remaining social rounds. He found himself impressed by the young girl's poise; at least half of the modern El-Melloi family's prestige was currently resting on her diminutive shoulders.
When the curtains finally fell on the evening, many of the magi left immediately. Reines, however, did not. Due to the family's precarious financial situation, they were forced to wait for tomorrow's scheduled train.
Wayland followed Reines and Gray to the guest quarters in the Tower of the Sun, ready for whatever the night had in store.
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]