Jack of All Trades, Party of None

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(Haa... As I thought, this atmosphere really doesn’t suit me.)

Having come to Darane with His Highness Lucilla (Lucy), I had been acting as her assistant until today.

Responding to Lucy’s call, the negotiations with envoys from other countries who came to Darane had successfully concluded just a moment ago, and it was decided that the allied forces could be formed.

And now, we were holding a party also meant for socializing.

I find this atmosphere, which on the surface seems fluffy but is actually murky and convoluted, unbearable. That’s why I became an explorer to keep my distance from noble society.

That said, even after becoming an explorer, I have attended parties a few times.

Being born as the eldest daughter of the Claudel family, I understand that attending such parties is inevitable, but it still weighs heavily on my heart.

Lucy, who is now my superior, was at the center of the venue, smiling just as expected and engaging in lively conversations with various people.

I suppressed my own feelings, donned the mask of a noble lady, and somehow got through the party.

“Hehe, Selma at a party like this is so fresh, I never get tired of it,” Lucy teased me with a giggle.

After the party, in my room at the Claudel family mansion, Lucy, her bodyguard Loretta (Lore), and I were having a secret late-night gathering.

The three of us were classmates at the Noble Academy and had often acted together since our student days, so we remained close even now.

“I’m an explorer, after all. I attended this time to save your face, but this kind of atmosphere just doesn’t agree with me.”

“I’m sorry for dragging you to such an unpleasant place. But having you join made a huge difference. After all, you’re a beautiful explorer known as the continent’s greatest enchanter, famous even in neighboring countries. With this incident, we might even get marriage proposals from other countries.”

“...Marriage, huh. I guess it’s something that will come eventually, but for now, I want to continue being a free-spirited explorer.”

The three of us were twenty-three this year.

While it wouldn’t be unusual for nobles in other countries to already be married at our age, here it was precisely the age to start looking for partners.

I wouldn’t mind falling into commoner status like this, but surely my father would never agree to that.

As a member of the nobility, I am prepared to marry for the sake of the family and don’t intend to be picky, but I hope for someone I can get along with.

“Well, marriage is inseparable from us who are royal or noble. Until recently, I had some marriage talks within the royal palace. But since the incident with the empire, there’s no time for such talk.”

“Selma, did you know? If not for the incident with the empire, Lucy was considering Orun as a marriage partner.”

“Huh? Orun, the explorer of the silver rabbits of the night sky?”

Lore suddenly said something outrageous.

The shock made me freeze for a moment.

“Lore!? What on earth are you saying all of a sudden!?”

“What? Didn’t Lucy say so? ‘He’s the hero of the kingdom and the true figure behind stopping the empire’s first invasion, so he has more than enough achievements to be granted a knighthood.’”

In the Nohitant Kingdom, noble ranks are divided into five classes: duke, marquis, count, viscount, and baron.

However, commoners who have made achievements that the country cannot ignore can be granted a one-time knighthood.

Such people are so few they can be counted on one hand in the kingdom’s long history, but certainly Orun is someone the country wants to keep.

As an explorer, Orun is not guaranteed to stay in Tsutolairu or this country for life.

As an explorer of the silver rabbits of the night sky, he might temporarily go to other countries but is unlikely to settle permanently elsewhere.

Still, I don’t think Orun desires a noble rank.

If they tried to force him, things wouldn’t go well — I can easily imagine that after spending this past year with him.