[Chapter 80] Perfect Partner

Neris suddenly sighed with relief, unknowingly. Diane quickly read the card upon seeing it.

"Employer...? Neris, who is that? Is it perhaps Mrs. Kaelen from the household you're going to as a governess? Is she the one sending clothes? That's fine!"

Diane, who had been somewhat reserved about 'Mrs. Kaelen' until now, suddenly felt a surge of affection towards her.

She had thought that entrusting work to the Carten's main office meant trusting a lower noble from a remote village with no reputable office.

Sending such clothes to a newly hired employee who hadn't even started work yet undoubtedly indicated considerable wealth. And the generosity, the care for Neris, was evident.

With such an employer, sending Neris away would be less regrettable.

Of course, she still disliked sending Neris away, but the surprise didn't end there. Another servant approached the powder room and spoke in a polished voice.

"Excuse me, ladies. A gentleman has just arrived."

"Bran! Just wait a moment! I'm not fully ready yet!"

Diane clapped her hands. She may have been a bit late compared to the time she had anticipated her date's arrival, but she always preferred a man who waited for himself over one who made ladies wait.

As Betty hurried to prepare the lady, a voice outside the door coughed awkwardly and spoke.

"Um, ladies. It's not Master Bran who has arrived. It's a very handsome man with black hair... waiting for Miss Neris."

"Who is that? Diane raised an eyebrow. It was fortunate that Bran hadn't arrived yet, but a man with black hair? When did Neris secretly find a partner?

The voice outside seemed hesitant as it asked, "Shall I have him wait, or should I send him away?"

On the day of the graduation ball, every girl with a partner would likely be getting ready around this time. If a young man was visiting the women's dormitory at this hour, he was undoubtedly a partner.

Knowing this, it was strange to ask such a question.

There was a slightly suspicious feeling about the man with black hair. Something about him didn't seem like a student at all.

Diane shrugged at Neris and asked, "What should we do? Is he your partner?"

Neris looked slightly embarrassed. She might have an idea of who it was, but... no, it couldn't be anyone else.

He had graduated from the academy several years ago. And since causing a disaster that wiped out all the elders of the family in her previous life, he had not been seen leaving his land.

It was hard to imagine how busy he must be. It was definitely not the time to be preparing for a trivial student ball. Neris stood up, grabbed her coat, and headed out.

"I'll go downstairs to talk and come back."

"You should get ready and go down, what are you saying! On a day like this, huh? Really dress up nicely! Show a different side than usual!"

Diane exclaimed in confusion. But Neris didn't acknowledge her and fastened the sash of her coat around her waist. With a gesture, she signaled Betty to step aside and left the powder room.

"Wait, Liz!"

You didn't button the collar button! Diane didn't get to say it before Neris disappeared in an instant. Diane was bewildered by her sudden departure but soon brightened with joy.

The always perfect Neris, leaving without a care just because she wanted to see her partner! There must have been a reason behind her previous statement of 'going without a partner.'

Honestly, most of the boys who had asked Neris to be their partner over the years—according to Diane—were not great, but some were decent enough not to be too embarrassing—according to Diane.

Instead of just giving in and taking anyone, Diane could have enjoyed the party with Neris and Bran, but she had refused them all!

'There was a boy who had asked everyone.'

"And judging by the fact that Diane hasn't said a word to him until today, it seemed like that man had been persistently avoiding her.

What a despicable fool! He should have given her assurance quickly! How dare he make someone wait!

"Hurry back."

At Diane's whisper, Betty quickly followed Neris.

Meanwhile, as Neris left the powder room, she was unaware of the fact that the collar button of her coat was not fully fastened, and her hair was disheveled without any grace.

She was too preoccupied analyzing and speculating about why 'he' had come this far.

Could there be another rebellion? News from Maindlandt was not easily transmitted outside, so any incidents that occurred were usually only known after they had been resolved.

Or had he 'again' been injured? If it was something he couldn't handle himself, it wasn't the library or even Diane's dormitory that he would have come to.

When the elders died, Neris knew that Cladwyn had dealt with the traitors, but other nobles of the Empire, waiting as if to see Cladwyn as a mad tyrant, criticized and slandered him.

While those spreading malicious rumors had their own motives, to some extent, it was not impossible for Cladwyn to quell the rumors to a certain extent.

Yet, he had become a 'cruel monster' akin to a demon in people's stories.

While such rumors might have a negative impact on an ordinary noble, and those spreading the rumors might have aimed for that, Neris believed he was actually using the rumors to his advantage and didn't interfere.

If she thought there were many who disliked Cladwyn, his enemies would have been complacent. Then he would have had time to tidy up his land.

However, if he was fighting many enemies alone, she was concerned that she would only find out about the situation after everything was settled.

At least he had kept all his promises to her so far.

Neris made sure to have a conversation with him through magic every few days. She often visited the Zakaria Library, and Diane seemed to think Neris was learning alchemy.

However, their conversations were brief. There was always someone calling him.

And even in those conversations, he never talked about the immediate issues he was facing.

So why had he suddenly appeared here without any warning?

Various hypotheses ran through her mind. The current ruler of the school, Princess Ejet, was not to be underestimated. With Ren Fayel absent from the school, if Cladwyn was injured, which route should he take to escape?

As Neris pondered the least conspicuous route, she finally descended the stairs from the second floor where the powder room was to the first floor where the reception room was located.

And as she entered the charming reception room, decorated according to Diane's taste, she saw a man with black hair standing up from the petite sofa covered with a light blue cover, after placing a teacup on the jade table.

The man's appearance was so long ago that it took a moment to determine if he really was the person she knew.

The last time she saw him, he was still a boy, perhaps barely entering the realm of young adulthood... he had become a complete adult.

A man with black hair. With a height that was one to one and a half heads taller than most, well-developed shoulders and arms, a chest with well-defined muscles, and long legs that filled his pants without embarrassment...

The first thing that unavoidably caught her eye was that. And when he finally turned his face, revealing bright gray eyes.

While the beauty of his ivory-like features remained, time had added a deep light and firmness to his gaze, making his eyes dazzlingly captivating. Cladwyn Maindlandt, who had become like a devilish 'cruel monster' in people's stories, smiled cheerfully.

"By welcoming me so warmly, it seems I haven't come to the wrong place."

Warmly? Neris finally looked at the reception room window to check her appearance.

Her face inevitably blushed slightly."

"The dress she was wearing required all five buttons, from just below the neck to the center of the chest, to be fastened, but all five buttons were undone.

While the collar of the dress wasn't gaping too much, the upper part of the chest was subtly exposed.

Neris turned quickly without a word. Even the servants who were wandering around quickly averted their eyes. Although her hands tried to quickly button up, confusion led to a few failed attempts.

After finally buttoning up, Neris turned back, feeling a bit flustered. She tried to maintain composure and calmly asked.

"What's the matter?"

"Oh, hasn't the servant informed you yet?"

Cladwyn politely bowed and smiled again.

Ironically, unlike Neris, who was a mess, he was perfectly dressed in a black evening suit.

The decorative belt that fell diagonally from his broad shoulders to his waist sparkled elegantly on a crimson background, and the two rows of diamond buttons around it were intricately embroidered with golden thread, making him perfectly suited for the formal ball.

"I express my gratitude for bestowing the honor of being your partner at this year's graduation ball, noble lady."

"When did I agree to that?"

Taken aback by the sudden statement, Neris instinctively refuted, then blinked suspiciously a moment later.

Was the 'please' on the card actually a request to be her partner? It seemed like there were too many omissions.

"Thank you for the warm welcome."

Understanding that she had grasped the situation, Cladwyn shrugged nonchalantly.

"I can wait as long as needed, so prepare yourself and come back down, Lady Trued. Waiting for a lady's preparation is a knightly virtue, as I learned in social hours."

Finding his words somewhat out of place, Neris opened her eyes wide and, unknowingly, recalled their second encounter.

"Lady's reconnaissance, isn't that more of a knightly action than I would know? You must be more familiar with it than me, having received early education."

"Did you take social classes seriously?"

She remembered that conversation from back then.

"Your sense of humor has improved. Well then, I'll come down slowly to see you, for the sake of a knightly virtue."

Trying to hide her embarrassment with wit, Neris unintentionally let out a slightly hoarse voice. Cladwyn's smile deepened.

Somehow, that smile she had once thought was just beautiful now seemed to take her breath away. Neris quickly turned and left the reception room.

Watching her, Betty felt moved. Handsome, tall, physically fit, and courteous! He was worth waiting for until the day of the party! A perfect partner!"