Seth looked around undisturbed, and Arban leaned against the wall with a bored expression as nothing interested him.
I quickly called them both.
"Seth! Arban!"
At the same time, both turned to me. As I ran around holding Cade's hand, Seth approached with a big smile.
"Welcome, Irene. You look pretty today."
"Yes. I really like my clothes. I look like a princess."
"What kind of princess are you?"
Arban came to my side with an absurd expression on his face. Seth and Arban were standing on either side. As I became confident and smiled, Arban mumbled tremblingly.
"Well, it's not that it's too bad to be seen." (Arban)
"I feel calm now." (Irene)
"…What are you talking about. Don't make any mistakes." (Arban)
"Yes!" (Irene)
Before long, an employee left after saying something to Cade and he called us.
"Irene, Seth, Arban."
"Yes?"
"Yes, Father."
We stopped quarreling and looked back at Cade.
"It's time to enter, so get ready."
At the end of that, the door to the splendid banquet hall opened. Many people that gathered in one place, were talking with each other.
As the music that was being played gradually decreased, people who noticed glanced toward the door. Soon our entry became known.
"Cade Astrophel and his successors are entering."
The audience became quiet. Cade went inside first, followed by me. As soon as we got to the top seat, he opened his mouth.
"Thank you all for participating in the banquet. I hope everyone enjoys it well before returning to your territories."
It was quite different from the usual Cade I knew. It was wonderful to see him speak calmly in front of everyone as if it was natural.
I have to do it well too. I did it before, so I can do it now.
When I straightened my back, Cade introduced me before finishing his greetings.
"And let me take this opportunity to introduce to you, Irene Astrophel, the youngest child in my family."
When it was my turn to introduce myself, I took a deep breath and smiled brightly. When everyone was together, there was nothing to be afraid of.
"Hello. I'm Irene Astrophel!"
As I confidently finished my brief introduction, Cade glanced at the band.
"Then I hope you enjoy the rest of the time to your heart's content."
The music, which had been playing quietly like a background sound, began to resound in a lighthearted way. I curiously looked around the banquet hall. It was a different feeling from when I came to see it together with Arban.
The hall really sparkled as the food was served at each table and it was crowded with guests.
I came down holding hands with Cade and sat down in the family's reserved seat. He said that each family had a separate table. And to make it easier to distinguish them, the tablecloth was engraved with the clan's coat of arms.
I've never seen so many different werebeasts gathered in one place, so I've been busy looking around.
Most of them had many straightforward crests that could represent the characteristics of the clan well.
As soon as I walked with my eyes shooting around everywhere, Cade warned me.
"You have to look ahead."
"Yes."
"You must be amazed by the large number of other clans."
"Is everyone from far away?"
"To some extent."
"…From the east too?"
I asked softly. My whole body was filled with tension. People living in the East were scary.
To be precise, it was referring to the strong werebeasts occupying the East.
This is because the whole area is devastated every time they appear. I still remember kicking the ground with all my might to escape from there. The memories of my previous life had gradually faded away and now I can't recall them very well, but the feelings of that life were clear.
If such a werebeast appears, wouldn't I have to run away again?
When I anxiously looked around and asked, his gaze reached a long distance.
"…I wonder why are you curious about that all of a sudden? Has anyone ever told you about the East?"
"…No! It's not that."
I strongly shook my head. The memories of that time were replaced with the memories of this place, and I couldn't recall them well.
"The East came as well."
"Many?"
"Not really. About two Clans came."
"Right."
Two Clans. I held my hand tightly.
Cade sat in the middle, Seth and Arban were seated one besides the other, and an unknown man walked around and talked to him.
I opened my eyes to look at them, putting fruit in my mouth.
"Hello, Lord. Do you remember me?"
"Ah. Who are you?"
It was a very honest and direct answer.
When Cade asked back with a genuine expression, the other person's face was contorted for a moment.
I was very surprised inside. This was the first person Cade openly asked 'Who are you?' He was not sorry at all for not recognizing his opponent.
"I'm the head of the Retra family in the west."
"Oh, right. What's going on?"
"I've got something to speak with you for a moment… It's about the trade."
"I'll be right back."
As if the conversation was going to be long, Cade stood up. Starting with that, people who wanted to have a conversation began to gather around one by one. It seemed that he knew that this would be the case and that he had created a separate place for the conversation.
I rolled my eyes nonstop, sipping orange juice with both hands.
I could see some children already playing together.
What if everyone becomes friends except me?
I fiddled with the glass.
"I want to play with them too."
But I'm a baby bird who knows how to wait for my dad.
"When is Daddy coming back, is he still busy?"
"Do you want to go out to play?"
"Unh. No. I'll go when Daddy comes."
"You can hang out with your friends, Irene."
"Can I do that?"
"Because it seems like it will take a long time for father to come back."
I looked at Cade's back in the distance. It really seemed like it would take quite a while for the conversation to end. Arban yawned as if he was already familiar with this situation and was nodding in his sleep.
"Then I'll be right back."
"Go on."
I quickly got up from my seat.
Now I can go see my friends too!
My steps were light with excitement. Not far away, I could see children gathering in twos and threes.
I'm going to join them and play with them! I walked briskly between the tables, avoiding the servants caring for the food and drinks.
At that time.
"...Huh?"
I found a blond boy sitting alone. The boy looked at the gathered children with a serious expression on his face.
Thinking about the reasons why he was alone, only bad things came to mind.
Is he being bullied? But for such a thing, his expression was so calm that it didn't seem like he was being bullied.
Or is it because he wants to get to know each other and is shy?
Perhaps this one was more likely.
As I stopped walking and looked at him, his blue eyes slowly stuck in me as if he felt my gaze. I felt like I was caught sneaking a peek, so I flinched and greeted him casually.
"Hi!"
"Hi."
Fortunately, the boy did not show any signs of displeasure. I decided to take courage.
"I'm Irene. What's your name?"
"Sage."
"Why are you here alone? If you're bored, do you want to play with me?"
Sage, who seemed to have been thinking about my question for a while, smiled.
"With you?"
He looked me up and down and muttered a little.
"I think it's going to fly away if I hit it… I just need to be careful."
"Huh? What?"
"Okay, let's play."
Sage eagerly nodded.
First friend!
Expectations have risen over the fact that I made my first friend.
"I live here. Where does Sage come from?"
"North."
"Really?!"
Sage house seems to be in the north. As it is located in a region opposite to the southern part, there seemed to be many stories to be heard.
I can't wait! Is it true that it snows all day in the north?
I heard everything is white.
I was excited to spend time with Sage.