Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 88

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“We need to secure our first official album and get a written guarantee from the Crown Princess that she won’t lay a finger on Seian Crowell! Are you all awake?!”
So we’re really releasing a full album. We only have two songs we can perform, and honestly, that’s a problem. The first one is manageable, but the second one is absolutely critical.
Ever since the Dragon King descended upon the Academy, the Crown Princess had been dodging the question, and even now, as the semester drew to a close, she still hadn’t given a definitive answer about freeing Seian Crowell.
“That said, I’d really like Eugene and Reina to attend Cecilia’s birthday gala. If we apply pressure in a public setting, Cecilia won’t have much choice.”
Oh right, Cecilia’s birthday was in winter. I remember it well—that was the season when I made a pass at Seian Crowell and got whipped for it before being thrown out.
“I have no objections. I was planning to butter up Princess Sera anyway.”
“Don’t butter me up, Reina. I have no interest in the throne.”
“Since there’s nothing urgent in the Northern Region now, I can attend. I’ll do my best.”
With Eugene’s consent secured, Sera told me to work on the album alone until the Crown Princess situation was resolved. Truth be told, I had written a few songs thanks to that damned inspiration skill, but I couldn’t just sit around making music by myself.
“I’m going to that gala too.”
Everyone’s eyes went wide at my declaration. Sera was at a loss for words, apparently not expecting me to say something like that, and Seian Crowell was absolutely sarcastic about it.
“Hey, do you think just anyone can waltz into an Imperial Palace gala? What gives you the right?”
“I could go as an attendant.”
I’d been to the Crown Princess’s birthday galas a couple of times before. Usually, invited women bring male attendants, and men bring female attendants to enjoy themselves. I’d gone alone to see Seian Crowell and left alone, but I knew how the whole system worked.
“Evan. You can’t bring a personal attendant to a gala hosted by Cecilia.”
Huh? That’s not right, is it? I definitely saw it happen. Everyone had someone with them.
As I fumbled, unable to voice my confusion, Sera seemed to understand what I was thinking and cleared it up for me.
“Evan. The people they bring aren’t attendants—they’re partners for the evening’s enjoyment.”
Oh my gods. So all those people I saw back then were… like that?
“Some are genuinely in that kind of relationship, and some have the duty to escort the invitee. Cecilia has unusual tastes.”
Does Cecilia prepare them? I’ve never even met any of them. And there were people walking around alone too.
As I stood there bewildered, Sera leaned in close and whispered in my ear. Apparently, there was a deeper story behind what I’d experienced.
“Evan. They’re Cecilia’s exclusive attendants, but not a single candidate has stepped forward wanting to escort Mitchell Neftis.”
I see. Mitchell Neftis has a terrible personality, so that makes sense. But why does this feeling of melancholy settle over me?
“Eugene.”
Anyway, now I understood how the gala system worked. So I could just pose as Eugene’s partner, right? I have business to attend to there.
“I’m sorry, Evan, but I’ve promised my future to someone, so I can’t bring a partner to that kind of event. I’m truly sorry.”
Eugene apologized to me without even taking a breath. Now that I think about it, his adorably cute fiancée was his childhood friend, wasn’t she? That leaves…
“Evan, I’m sorry, but Sunbird will be attending as my partner.”
This time Sera spoke without hesitation. Everyone’s already taken. What am I supposed to do?
“Evan. Why are you so desperate to get into that gala?”
“I want to promote the horse racing track we’re opening. If I check the foot traffic on opening day and report it to you, it’ll help with attracting the train station.”
“Hmm…”
Sera admitted that having evidence of heavy traffic would certainly help with laying down the railroad. But Eugene is committed to someone else and can’t take me, and Sunbird needs to enter as Sera’s partner. This is awkward.
“Ahem!”
While everyone was deadly serious, Seian Crowell suddenly puffed out his slender shoulders right in front of me, strutting about. Unable to understand why he was suddenly showing off his delicate frame, I pretended not to notice, but then Seian Crowell unexpectedly got angry and pointed at me accusingly.
“Hey! Am I invisible to you?! I’m the Crown Prince!”
“Seian, I know you’re the Crown Prince.”
“So! Just come with me!”
“Ah.”
I hadn’t even considered it. I feel terrible for Seian, who worked up the courage to suggest this, but I think I need to explain why I never had him in mind.
“I’m sorry. I want to enter as the partner of someone with influence over the Nobility. I’m truly sorry, Seian.”
“How infuriating!”
Seian’s face flushed crimson before he hurled a bowl of pastries at me. Hoping to appease his anger however I could, I accepted both the pastries and the bowl. Crumbs scattered across my shoulders.
“Figure it out yourself, you bastard!”
With those words, Seian stormed out of the Club Room. I’m truly sorry, Seian. But what can I do when you’re utterly useless to me?
“Hmm….”
If it comes to this, then despite my reluctance, despite my absolute aversion, I have no choice but to ask Reina.
“Huh? Hey, you madman, I don’t want rumors that I’m a lesbian!”
At my gaze, Reina desperately refused to accompany me. Don’t worry about that. I have no desire to share a room with someone rumored to be a lesbian either.
“If I crossdress, it’s solved.”
“I refuse to bring a man shorter than me!”
Because Reina, citing the honor of House of Letem, insisted on nothing less than a tall, handsome man, I crossed over to the adjacent room with Eugene and Sunbird. Fortunately, it was cold today and I’d already dressed in trousers.
I borrowed Eugene’s school uniform jacket and a handkerchief to create shoulder padding. I let my hair down, asked Apet to comb it, swept it back into a high ponytail, borrowed the square glasses Sunbird used only while reading, and switched them on.
Finally…, for now I had no choice but to stand on my tiptoes. On the day of the party, I’d need to get height-increasing heels fitted.
Once my transformation was complete, I rose onto my tiptoes with all my strength to increase my height, then returned to the Club Room’s conference table with Sunbird and Eugene.
“Wow, who the hell is this!”
How is it that everything about the way Reina speaks lacks any refinement?
I silently sympathized with Count Letem, who must be suffering greatly, then pushed my glasses up and spoke to Reina.
“Is this presentable enough to bring along?”
“Oh yeah, that’s enough to save face for me!”
Is this really the eldest daughter of House of Letem? Why does she speak like that?
“Mother was just nagging me the other day about how I’m old enough but have no male suitors, so this works out perfectly!”
Then it’s a win-win. We shook hands on our alliance and promised to prepare everything perfectly for the party day.
I had lost my mind that day. I’d cornered myself, thinking I could attract a few more Horse Racing Track patrons.

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The final exams were a disaster. My grades are probably going to be a parade of C’s, C’s, D’s, and D’s—and Professor Ha even declared he’d give me an F. I wanted to strangle Heinrich’s neck when he kindly suggested I retake the course and start fresh from the beginning, since he was going to give me an F anyway. At this rate, I’m actually going to get an academic warning. What’s the GPA threshold for academic probation again?
But what good is regret now? I set aside my worries about academic warnings and threw myself into promoting the Horse Racing Track’s opening. I distributed flyers throughout the Department of Magic, General Studies Department, and Combat Techniques Department. When Kanna said she’d definitely visit on opening day, I promised to prepare accommodations for her. Since Kanna has plenty of money, she’ll probably spend a lot on gambling. I should make sure to arrange nice lodgings.
After the break started and I was kicked out of the Dormitory, I stayed as a guest at the Townhouse in Brandenburg. Everyone treated me quite generously, calling me their benefactor who had saved their homeland. I’d already explained to Mother and Gerth that I’d be delayed returning home because of the Horse Racing Track promotion. All that remained was to briefly attend the Crown Princess’s birthday banquet and work on the album.
“By the way.”
As I finished dinner and crunched on fruit for dessert, Eugene asked me a question. Despite it being just the two of us at the table, Eugene, who had been reading calmly without any awkwardness, opened his mouth with concern.
“What will you do if you happen to run into the Crown Princess? Do you know court etiquette?”
Oh, of course I do. Even like this, I’m the former heir to House Neftis.
Instead of answering, I stood up abruptly and gracefully placed my right hand over my heart, pretending to gather the hem of my dress. Then I bent my waist,
“….”
“….”
Oh no. The beast’s charisma won’t let my waist bend. I thought that as long as I kept my gaze on Reina, I could manage the formal address—humiliating as it was—without major problems. But if I can’t greet the Crown Princess, I’ll end up in Prison.
“Evan.”
“….”
“That’s the female version.”
“Oh no.”
Isn’t the male version supposed to bow deeper? Don’t I have to kneel when Cecilia formally requests a greeting?
“Evan.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll draw attention, so run if things get dangerous.”
“Thanks.”
Right, I have superhuman skills—there’s no way I’d actually die. A birthday banquet is just a gathering for nobles to have fun, not a serious event, so they won’t be too strict about etiquette. That’s why Reina and Sera didn’t strongly object to my participation either.
If it had been an event like the Foundation Day Festival or a Victory Commemoration Party, they would have told me to stay away from the Imperial Palace even if it killed me. Father also told me that day to not even come near the Palace.
“Eugene.”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s loosen up after dinner.”
“Sounds good.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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