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Chapter 82 Part 4 – First Dance

The battle-hardened Countess Rosenthal is different from the novice wives. As one would expect from her, she is accustomed to resolving critical situations and acts dignified while doing so, but even so, she is acting too generous to even allow strangers like Bradd, Seraphy, and Arnold to participate in the ball.

By the way, the imperial guards were not allowed to participate …… Those guys had been fervently trying to persuade Countess Rosenthal, but they got resolutely rejected by her. They got so dejected that some of them looked like they were about to cry, but there was nothing they could do about it.

「…… You’ve got to be kidding me. It would be too nonsensical to have the imperial guards of Hydrangea attend the ball 14 years ago. That would mess up the memories of the red nobles.」

Countess Rosenthal muttered in dismay.

「……?」

At that time, I didn’t understand the meaning of her words and didn’t pay any attention to it, but later I realized how much the countess was thinking about my mother from her remark.

Just before entering the mansion, Countess Rosenthal calmly walked over to me, my mother, Bradd, Seraphy, and Arnold. Then she spoke in a low voice so as not to be heard by the surroundings.

「Using the power of my evil eye, I’ve made it so that you guys are the sons of noble families from foreign kingdoms, so act accordingly. Ah, Scarlet. As one would expect, your red eyes would be too conspicuous, so I’ve changed it to make it look like you have the same eye color as Cornelia-san.」

It’s a very reasonable course of action. Putting my red hair aside, I have never met anyone other than my father who has the same crimson eyes as the True Emperor. With the way it is, our blood relationship would be exposed. However, it looks like anything is possible with the evil eye.

「…… At any rate, the power of the Ruby of the True Emperor is amazing. As expected from the legendary cursed object. It can disregard the power of my evil eye and turn you all into adult form. It’s so enviable that you can do that with no risk.」

It seems that the other party was also thinking the same thing. Judging from the way she was talking, it seems that the ruby is superior. Well, now it’s risk-free to use the ruby. But I had a hard time with the curse when I first got it. Just so you know, I wouldn’t exchange them even if you asked me to.

「…… If it’s just a little bit, I can somehow manage to tweak your appearance …… but if I try to change it from the base, the evil eye will be repelled.」

After an odd glint in her eye, Countess Rosenthal let out a sigh.

「But I can do this much.」

「…… W-Whoa!?」

Bradd let out a cry of surprise.
We were also taken aback when we saw him.

「W-What!? My chest ……!!」

Bradd’s chest is rising ……!!

「D-Do something about this.」

Bradd looked at Seraphy and Arnold and asked them for help. But they went pale, clutched their own chests, and jumped back heartlessly.

「A-A lot of mysterious things can happen in the sea. We should carefully watch the situation for a while.」

Umm, Seraphy. As I’ve said before, we are currently on land ……

「D-Don’t touch me!! What if you infect me with that!! If my chest swells up that much, I won’t be able to draw the bow!!」

Chest …… swells up ……? And also, infect ……!!

After a sudden realization, both my mother and I instantly rushed over with the speed of lightning.

「Bradd!! I’ll take that swelling in your chest!! Be grateful to me and quickly hand it over!!」

「No, Scarlet!! I can’t let my daughter be burdened with this disaster!! As your mother, I should be the one to carry it!!」

「No no!! Mother, you don’t need to worry about it!! There is a saying that you should be willing to go through struggles when you are young!! Besides, if mother can’t draw the bow because of the hindrance of your breasts, that would be a big trouble!!」

「Stop it!! If you’re going to fight, take your hands off my chest!! My chest is going to fall off!!」

Not allowing our prey to escape, my mother and I grabbed Bradd’s huge breasts and had a domestic discord.
Seraphy and Arnold looked on in horror as Bradd let out a scream.

…… Do you have any complaints? Whether or not the breasts are huge is a big, pressing problem for women. You men don’t understand the chagrin of the residents living at the bottom of the boob hierarchy.

Mother had a dignified expression on her face.

「It seems that I have no choice. I am retiring from archery. I will make my disciple Arnold the successor of Melville. Arnold, I have nothing more to teach you. You have fully mastered the art of archery. You shall inherit the spirit of Melville. Along with that accursed war costume.」

Mother told Arnold with a sorrowful expression, and while she was at it, she shrewdly tried to push the war costume onto him as well.

At the sudden declaration, Arnold’s golden eyes widened and he made an objection.

「No way!! Master!! I just became your disciple and you haven’t taught me anything!! H-Hey, Seraphy. What is the Melville’s war costume? I have a bad feeling about it ……」

Arnold’s wild instincts immediately sniffed out something disturbing and his dark brown skin turned pale.
Seraphy looked down with a sad look on his face.

「…… In a nutshell, it’s a miniskirt that exposes your entire thigh. Arnold, if you inherit that war costume, you will henceforth be known as the Exhibitionist Hunter, instead of the Dark Hunter. But, don’t worry. Our friendship won’t waver just because of that.」

Seraphy’s emerald eyes shone gently behind his orange bangs.

Arnold’s hawk-like eyes widened as he shouted.

「…… I can’t help but be worried!! I don’t want to be stigmatized as a pervert!!」

From the point of view of the noblewomen, it certainly is true that Melville’s war costume is nothing short of sheer madness as the common practice of noblewomen is to wear long skirts that won’t even expose their ankles. But aren’t you going too far to describe it as perverted!!

「P-Pervert ……」

Just look!! Mother received so much shock that she collapsed like a rabbit hit by an arrow!!

With a blank look in her eyes, she said, 「…… Ufufu, that’s right. I’m a pervert …… A shameless woman in her thirties running around with her bare legs all exposed ……」

Then she let out a lonely, desolate laugh!!

What are you going to do about this …… Rabbits die when they are lonely.

You idiot Arnold!! You should at least use a little more euphemistic expression!! A more mild expression!! Such as a shameless costume!! Or like the dress of a lascivious woman!! Mother did nothing wrong!! It’s all the fault of the costume!! I will never forgive anyone who hurts my mother!!

Looking at my furious reaction, Bradd had a dumbfounded look.

「…… Sca-chibi. Your expressions are generally straightforward as well.」

What are you saying, you stupid Bradd!!
Eh? When did your boobs disappear?

Countess Rosenthal answered my question.

「…… As I told you, the power of my evil eye would be repelled by the Ruby of the True Emperor. This boy is not fully affected by the Ruby because he is covered in some kind of special power. That’s why I was able to pass a little bit of the power of the evil eye …… But, as expected, it would immediately return back to normal.」

T-Then, my dream boob plan is ……!!

「Impossible.」

The transient, short-lived dream got shattered. The more sweet the dream was, the more sorrowful it felt.

Mother and I were shocked and heartbroken.

I was even secretly thinking about trading the Ruby for Countess Rosenthal’s evil eye.

「…… I see. I’ve got a special power …… special, huh? Ouchh, that hurts!?」

In a fit of rage, I kicked the smug Bradd in the shin.

Shut up, you cheat creature. Yes, I’m below average anyway. I am a woman who can only look up from the bottom of the valley to the distant boob mountains. Realize the bitterness of the have-nots.