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Chapter 80 Part 7 – The women take a step forward with pride in their hearts. To protect, to fight, to compromise.

「You never cease to amaze me.」

Bradd was impressed from the coachman’s seat. On the other hand, Arnold was clinging to the window and pushed his forehead inside as he exclaimed in admiration. Hey, are you a kid going on a field trip. There is not a trace of the archer that shot me to death in the previous 「108 times」, instead he has turned into a silly rascal. I feel a great sense of discomfort because he is in the same adult form as he did in the previous 「108 times」. If he, the demon of vengeance who shed tears of blood over there, saw the current him now, I am sure he would cry in a different meaning. Well, let’s leave idiot Arnold aside for a while.

Another idiot, Bradd, started a race with the members of the Imperial Guard that were guarding the sides of the carriage, so I threw a fan at the back of his head through the connecting window. The carriage slowed down along with a shout, 「Ouchh, that hurts」. You idiot. This is not a hundred million luxury apartment, but a hundred million luxurious carriage. If this carriage is put up for auction, the price would probably go through the roof. The carriage is miraculously unscathed in the attack of the Seven Phantoms, so if it gets damaged by my own allies, it would be so frustrating that I can’t help but weep. Then I glared at the imperial guards who were running alongside the carriage and halted the race.

After switching to solemn driving mode, the carriage finally arrived at the Countess Rosenthal’s mansion.

I strictly ordered Bradd to smile mysteriously instead of his usual boyish grin.
I was trying to turn a weak point, the fact that the coachman was a girl (actually a cross-dressing boy) and not a good-looking man, into a blessing in disguise.

Normally, this would be a laughingstock. But people try to find meaning in things. The nobles would think that it is unlikely that we, who had the escort of the imperial guards and a carriage with the crest of the royal family, could not make proper arrangements only for the coachman. They would suspect that there might be a deeper meaning in the fact that we brought a young girl as a coachman.

This is where Bradd’s ability to handle 8 swift horses with a single rein comes into play. The impact is undoubtedly strong. Because no other noble in Hydrangea has a coachman with such brilliant skill. Bradd would become a coveted target for the nobles who want to have what others do not have.

My father, the best horseman I’ve ever known, has nothing but praise for Bradd’s natural talent in handling horses. Bradd is said to be one of those rare riders whose horses are willing to follow even without a rein or whip. Meanwhile I can’t even handle my pony Meteor. To my dismay, my favorite horse that is hard-to-please and moody is so fond of Bradd. When Bradd is petting her, she actually dared to turn her butt toward me, her owner, and threaten me with a weak backward kick, telling me to go far away. Who does she think is taking care of her all the time? Damn it, I’ll secretly eat one of her snack carrots.

…… Anyway, my strategy was a success.

The nobles that had been observing the entrance with a nasty look on their faces groaned loudly in surprise.

Countess Rosenthal is famous for her extravagant taste, but a carriage that is much more gorgeous than the grand hall that she is so proud of, suddenly appeared on the entranceway while being escorted by the imperial guards, which had never been seen outside the premises of the palace. The crest of the royal family appeared on the ground and on top of that there’s a mysterious girl who is single-handedly handling the eight horses while wearing a fashion that’s never seen before together with the cloak of the imperial guard. …… I borrowed it without permission from the royal family, but, oh well, I’ll ask Margaret for pardon afterwards. But one wrong step and we’ll end up looking like an eccentric peacock.

Anyway, the red nobles were shocked.

……? I wonder why some of the servants in charge of guiding the guests are secretly waving their hands. Is it because they are captivated by the glimpse of my beauty seen through the window of the carriage …… I was about to shudder at my sinfulness, but then I noticed the direction of their gaze, and nearly fell down. Their gaze was actually directed at Bradd on the coachman seat. Bradd brushed his long hair back over his ears and blew them a kiss in return.

Hey, you cross-dressing maid, who told you to do such a service. Ohh, I get it. Was it because I told him to act feminine for a while? This guy needs to undergo the young lady training after this. Besides, what’s the point in you standing out? The star of tonight’s show is not you, but my mother.

…… Let me regain my composure.

「Now, mother, the banquet of revenge is about to begin. Tonight mother is not the hunted, but the one who hunts the red nobles. Not with a bow and arrows, but with the style of the nobles as a weapon.」

「I wonder if someone like me can really do it. I know it’s pathetic, but I can’t stop my legs from trembling ……」

Mother showed a tearful smile. That’s how bad the bullying was 14 years ago. I am well aware of the pain of trauma from the customary screams I let out when meeting with the five heroes. But the words I should say right now are not words of comfort.

「…… Everything will be okay. Mother has endured my hellish special training course. Now you can even play the leading role at a ball. Besides, mother has gone against that demon dog Gallam one-on-one. There are no nobles in the world who are scarier than that dog. Right now, all you need is one thing …… the courage to step forward.」

This fight is necessary for mother to overcome the past.

High society battles are my specialty. As long as Margaret doesn’t come out, I am confident that I can take on any opponent single-handedly. But I couldn’t bear to do it when I thought about the feelings of my mother who would be protected by her daughter. Besides, I wanted to respect my mother’s will to overcome her trauma. Which is why, instead of butting in to fight, I believe that she’ll be victorious and send her off. I can guarantee that I have A+ grade in all young lady related skills. With the exception of the imperial court, the current mother will do well in all other places. She gritted her teeth and worked hard for this day. Mother is a disciple I’m proud of.

As mother was hesitating, I put a new shawl on her shoulders and pushed her back.

「This is a substitute for a graduation certificate. In the Orient, it is said that celestial maidens wear a robe of feathers and fly in the sky. I am proud to say that the craftsmanship of this shawl is as good as a robe of feathers.」

I took both of my mother’s hands and encouraged her.

「Let’s go as if we are looking down from the sky at those who bullied you 14 years ago. Let them know that my mother is actually as wonderful as a celestial maiden. Even this silk was completed because of mother’s power. Calm down and take a look. The faces of the red nobles look like pigeons hit by a peashooter. The imperial guards, the luxurious and gorgeous carriage, and the super coachman Bradd have surprised them so much that their hearts are on the verge of crumbling to pieces. All that’s left is to give them the finishing arrow.」

Mother smiled wryly when she saw the situation outside.

「…… You’re right. In my memory, those people were so big and scary, just like shadow monsters …… but they were actually …… so much smaller than me. How amazing, your encouragement gives me courage.」

Mother is tall for a woman. And since she is good at hunting, she has an outstanding sense of distance. The fact that she can accurately see the size of their body is proof that she is not feeling overwhelmed.