kscans

Chapter 10 - Before the Curtain Rises

As night fell, the Royal Castle was illuminated with lights.

More than twenty magnificent carriages pulled up to the main Shirogane Gate, and nobles, invitations in hand, arrived one after another.

The back Shirone Gate, used by attendants, cooks, and other workers, was also a flurry of chaotic activity.

"They don’t need me anymore," Litt muttered from his seat. He was dressed in the formal attire of a Court Secretary.

"I finished those invitations three days ahead of schedule, didn’t I?" he grumbled, crossing his legs in an unseemly manner.

"Yes, you did."

"Hey. It’s rude to just brush off your master’s words like that, Touli."

"Yes, it is."

The stool Litt was sitting on, though backless, was a high-quality piece upholstered in red velvet. It was certainly not meant to be sat on with one leg propped on the other knee.

His braided brown hair hung limply, as if to proclaim his lack of motivation. Even so, the three white eagle feathers on his chest brooch glinted sharply in the candlelight.

"Sit up straight, Lord Litt," Touli chided. He, too, was in formal wear, a short black tailcoat. Around them, similarly dressed attendants bustled about.

"The guests are arriving, all holding the invitations you wrote. Please stop wasting time here and go greet them."

"Don’t want to." Litt turned away with a huff.

"Are you a child? What is a grown man like you doing?" Attendants kept glancing over at Litt. He knew exactly what their looks meant, yet he chose to ignore them.

Touli let out a massive sigh.

"Lord Litt Liton, First-Class Court Secretary. Allow me to be blunt."

"What’s with the formality?"

"This is no time for ‘what’s with the formality’?!"

Touli spread his arms wide.

"This is the Attendant’s Waiting Room!"

The backless stools were for attendants to take a short rest. They were by no means a place for a First-Class Court Secretary to be sitting.

"You should be in the Grand Hall!" The attendants all nodded in unison.

"I know. I’ll go in a little bit."

"How many minutes have you been saying that? It’s been thirty-six minutes!"

"You’re being too precise, Touli. My chronic back pain will be better soon, just a little longer." Touli’s eyes narrowed into an icy glare.

"…Shall I call for the Court Physician?"

"No, wait. That won’t be necessary. It’ll heal if I just sit here quietly."

"You’re just making excuses." Touli grimaced, pressing his fingers to his temple.

"When are you going to the Grand Hall? If you’re not there before the Royal Family, it’s off with your head, you know."

"A sudden stomachache…"

"Then to the castle infirmary with you. Quickly."

"Ugh, my chronic back pain is acting up!"

"If you’re not going to the infirmary, then at least go be a decorative tapestry on the wall in the Grand Hall! You’re in the way here!" A murmur went through the attendants. Touli, for speaking so plainly to his master, received a strange round of applause.

"…Damn it, you’ll all pay for this later!" Litt snarled as Touli pushed him out the door.

"…What was Lord Liton trying to do?" a young attendant asked a black-haired colleague standing beside him.

"The usual."

"I see."

"Lord Liton is on the side of us workers. He sees us as people, not just as fixtures."

"Is that so?"

"Is this your first night party?" The young attendant nodded, and the black-haired one smiled.

"I see. Then you should remember this. The only one who does things like this is Lord Liton."

"Hey, you two! A little help over here!" one of their comrades called, beckoning.

"It’s a gift from the Person with Three White Feathers!" The attendants’ faces lit up. One of them was holding a large wicker basket, overflowing with rose-shaped cookies.

"There are still ten more baskets to go!"

"…The Person with Three White Feathers."

"See? What did I tell you?"

The black-haired attendant gave a wink and ran to join his comrades with a speed that didn’t sacrifice his elegance.

The young attendant smiled and followed after him.