Poisoned Demon Lords (1)

"Things are starting to get busy.. " Nine said, looking out the window. The view we got was one that overlooked the estate gate, past that would be the city. You could see the maids and butlers leading the nobles that were supposedly invited to the wedding into the villa.

Most of them were girls. A gaudy dress here, a gaudy dress there.. huh, there's one wearing a white suit. Damn, I didn't think I'd meet a guy who could look so suave with long hair.

I'm not gay. Nothing like that. If there was a person I could call gay it would be..

"He's hot," Nine said.

I'm kinda curious how many other nobles were invited. Every now and then you would hear footsteps in the hallway, and some light chattering. It's like a hotel.. the walls aren't thin it seems.. noise could travel between rooms. Ahem.

Anyways, I heard from Miss Margrett that we would be invited for dinner later but..

Knock. Knock.

Gabriel and Jennifer who were playing chess sat erect all of a sudden.

Prune and Liliath, who laid on the same bed, reading books from the system UI, lazily turned to the source of the voice.

As for myself who held a sketchbook and pencil in hand, I tossed them into the inventory.

"Who's that I wonder."

"Maybe it's mom," Jennifer bounced over and pulled the door open.

I pulled up my system map.

I heard that Miss Margrett went to meet with the wedding organizer-- the ones in charge of the other decorations and activities-- after briefing us about tomorrow's schedule.

"Ah.. a pleasure to meet you once again."

"M-Miss Corine," Gabriel greeted.

"It's a pleasure to see you all during this fine day. It seems I may have left out a few invitations, apologies for that."

"Greetings Miss Corine," Liliath flickered to a standing position and lowered her head. Amazing stuff.. but that shocked her hair straight so..

"Y-Yes.. I heard from my soon-to-be-brother-in-law that you were involved in the organization of the wedding? What a surprise."

Jennifer-chan bobbed her head up and down.

Prune didn't know how to react, in a half-lying-half-sitting position as she stared at Corine intently.

Corine is.. Who is she? Do I know her?

"There are some unfamiliar faces. I'll repeat my greetings if you didn't know. I am Corine of the Ifrit household, second daughter. The one to be wed today would be the first daughter, otherwise known as my anee-san and she's going to be dressed up all pretty so do cause a ruckus alright~"

"We will keep that in mind Miss Corine."

I decided to shut up and let Liliath do the talking. I don't know if I'm involved because I didn't get the invitation.

"Good. Oh yes, I came here to notify that special arrangements would be made for the two of you? You may attend the dinner tonight," Corine faced me and Prune with a smile.

"In that case.. thank you for the privilege?"

"Please don't mind it. Now, if you would excuse me, I will make my leave." She curtsied.. wow that's graceful-- It reminded me of back in the days when the naive Liliath curtsied with her black dress. How nostalgic.. "Please make a mess, after all, this isn't my house.."

She has a weird personality but.. I guess that's just how it is..

The door was shut and the six of us exchanged glances.

"Do you think you two could get a seat for the actual wedding tomorrow?" Nine asked.

"No idea."

"I don't know if I would really want to attend a wedding. It's interesting to see but.." Prune left her sentence hanging.

"So what do you think is for dinner?"

"It's definitely something amazing isn't it? They even have a refidera-towe artifact here."

"Definitely.." I don't know if Gabriel's misunderstanding should be considered a fortune or misfortune.

Miss Margrett came back after a little bit. We spent time just lazing around, I took the time to draw a little more before everyone was called to the dinning hall by a maid.

Before everyone went, we decided to spare a visit to the apartment toilet. I mean.. that's obvious right?

Let's not forget, we had to be in our best so.. Liliath wore her black medieval dress she bought last time. Jennifer-chan only needed to take off her coat, her adventurer dress was enough to kill. Miss Margrett changed into a red dress with a rather risque slit to the side. Um.. like what? Shout out to all the MILFs out there.

As for Nine, he decided to change into his black trenchcoat. It really suits him. I still wonder where he got that, he wouldn't tell me no matter how I tried. Gabriel brought her own formal clothes too, a nice pink dress to match her curly brown hair.

Prune wore that blue dress, but disregarded the capelet, so her clavicle was exposed.

As for me..

Hm..

I don't really have anything too fancy. The last we had a meeting with Her Highness Siesta I never really wore anything that was considered 'formal'. I know Liliath bought me those clothes thinking that it was enough but.. if I compare myself to everyone else.. My simple white shirt with a dark blue coat was somehow just.. normal. You could even say it was modern-casual if not for the weird motifs drawn on the fabric of my coat.

We went out into the hall.

Nobles here, nobles there. All wearing the fine garments, glittery, sparkly. Like god damn these references. I took a bunch of images of the clothes using the system camera-- I'll do studies of these later.

"Ufufufu, those two make a good pair. I can't wait to see the first daughter of the Ifit household in a gorgeous white dress.."

"I think he's going to look amazing. What do you think he's going to wear.."

"Have you heard? Even the Viscount came and attended."

"I pray this wedding will go well. Nothing would interrupt the wedding would it now?"

"Nobody knows for sure, love doesn't last forever.."

"So what gifts did you prepare for the Earl?"

"Are you sure you still intend to aim for his mistress?"

Such were the conversations my ears picked up as we walked through the corridors.

Of course, that wasn't all. As you know, nobles are nobles so..

"What's that? Which house are they from?"

"Must be some no name."

"Their clothes aren't uniform. A bunch of commoners it seems."

"Hah? A demi-human?"

"That dress doesn't fit the occasion.."

These were whipshers, not something normally heard. But I'm sure Liliath heard them.. just that she was disregarding them just like me.

I would agree with the last statement, about the one where Liliath's dress doesn't fit.. or should I say it made Liliath stand out a lot?

Cause she's the only girl here wearing such a 'medieval' looking dress. Everyone was wearing designs that suited a modern-fantasy theme.

Well.. I find Liliath extremely beautiful in the dress, it gives her a sort of distant charm like some ancient goddess or something.

Their opinions can just go to hell.

We took the stairs down, returning to the lobby where maids served nobles lounging about. Miss Margrett greeted a few of them, some recognized her as an acquaintance which made me question Miss Margrett's identity.

It didn't take too long, a short 'oh it's been a while' and 'your business is flourishing it seems', with a guffaw-- It's a pun, Miss Margrett runs a florist, though it's not a really funny pun-- we left towards the dining hall.

And MY GAWD I had to rub my eyes a few times cause the chandeliers above us are fucking massive.

Round tables all around, curtains covered the wall and there was a stage to the corner with a mini orchestra in preparation-- violins, violas, flutes, harps, pianos..

Which reminds me, Liliath and I visited a music shop last time. We learned that guitars were a thing here too. So was a banjo..

Haah..

So many people. Are these all nobles? I can't believe it, it's like an actual wedding. I've gone to a wedding before, and I think it was something like this. But the affluence wasn't to this degree.

It's overwhelming.

"Miss Margrett. Good to see you are well," An elder came up and extended a hand.

"Viscount Reynold, it's been a while," Miss Margrett received it.

"So how's Sid? Is he doing well?"

"It's been a while since he returned, the last piece of news I received was that he was assigned to the team on duty to accompany the heroes down into their first dungeon."

"What a privilege, marvelous. It seems you brought some guests with you? Your assistance for the wedding?"

"Yes, that's the case."

"Elaine-san!" Jennifer called out in a hushed yell.

"Jenn-chan, it's been a while!"

"Yes, It's been a few months now, you're growing short," Jennifer bounced around her, holding her hand up to measure the height between them.

"You jest! How could you say that!" she laughed.

This person, Elaine, who had been tailing behind the Viscount, was probably around Jennifer-chan's age. And Jennifer wasn't wrong about her height, even Nine was taller than her-- which I thought was a sort of blessing.

Elaine then turned to us and bowed.

"Pleased to make an acquaintance. This might be a little late, my name is Elaine, first daughter of the Daisy House."

Daisy house? Why do my instincts scream a flag?

"Pleased to meet you."

"Nice to meet you."

We each greeted him in our own way. By some way or another, our surroundings became flooded with other nobles, and soon we were pulled away from Miss Margrett by the tide.

"Where exactly do we sit?" Prune asked, whispering.

"Are you okay? Your voice is.. a little shaky.."

How exactly does this whole dinner work anyways?

'Miss Margrett, do you know which table we're assigned to?'

"Jerome-sama! It's been a while!"

"Jerome-sama, I've missed you!"

"Calm down Fillia-neechan."

Speaking of which, the viscount also had a son named Jerome. Other youthful lady nobles started to surround the dude. Damn, is this what you call a harem?

"Prune, do you need some space.. maybe we can leave this place for a bit?"

"Where can we go anyways?"

"Pleasure to meet you sir? Are you an adventurer?" Elaine greeted Nine.

"Oh uh.. nice to meet you.. um.." Nine went stiff.

"You can call me Liliath, and this here is Noel-san, and Prune-san," Liliath introduced ourselves to the young nobles.

"Ho, interesting. There seems to be an unexpected clique here. Pleasure to meet you all? By chance you've heard of me?" And came a sauve adolescent noble about my age.

"Ah, my apologies for my ignorance but from which house may you be from?" Liliath said. Kinda pricked my heart there..

Prune pressed herself close to me.

Her eyes darted around, she was nervous. Maybe those memories of being kidnapped were coming back to her.

"Liliath, Prune and I will go for a bit."

"Hm?"

"Young lady, may you repeat your name?"

'Prune needs some space. Sorry.'