The Reincarnated Count's Daughter Is the Strongest as She Is Loved by the Spirits, Though She Is Only Wishing for Regular Romance!

The grand hall of the imperial palace, which I was visiting for the first time, was so luxurious, dazzling, and vast that I almost gaped in awe.

The walls and ceiling were divided into white and deep blue, with the white parts bordered by golden lines. The pillars were white with gold detailing, reflecting the sparkling light from the crystal magic lamps.

When guided inside from the main entrance, the end seemed so far away that it felt like a corridor, but it was too wide to be just that.

At the very back, there were three chairs placed in front of a particularly ornate wall, elevated by about three steps. This is where the emperor, the general, and the crown prince would likely sit.

Walking towards the back of the hall with my family of five and each of our attendants, making a total of ten, the conversations around us ceased as people noticed us, their gazes traveling up and down our figures. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

Today, I was wearing a crimson dress embroidered with gold and red threads, adorned with amethyst jewelry. I should look like a proper young lady. But with all the attention, I couldn’t help feeling anxious, and the fan in my hand trembled slightly. Laugh if you want; it’s my first official event at the imperial palace.

The only saving grace was having my family nearby. The higher the status, the further in they were, so we moved in that direction, greeting familiar faces as we went. Everyone was watching whom we greeted. I just quietly followed my family.

“Duke Goodfellow, have you just arrived?”

“Oh, Marquess Berisario. I heard you went to Aaron. How was it?”

Oh! Someone I know! The Duke of Goodfellow is—

“Patorishia-sama!”

Yay, I found a friend! Now I won’t be left alone when I part from my parents.

My older brother has his own friends, and I didn’t want to intrude on them.

“Diadora-sama, I’m glad. I wanted to apologize.”

“Apologize? What for? Oh! Did you also miss the dinner party, Patorishia-sama?!”

“No, that’s not it!”

“Then…”

“Patorishia, introduce us.”

Just when we were talking, a boy placed his hand on Patorishia-sama’s shoulder and interrupted.

“Brother.”

“Oh, there’s no need to introduce him.”

Now, my brother Kurisu also placed his hand on my shoulder and cut in.

“I’ll introduce him. This is Derikku, a year older than me. He recently broke up with his girlfriend again.”

“Hey, that’s not the way to introduce someone.”

“Don’t get close to my sister.”

Oh, he’s the third son. I heard during girl talk in Norland that he had a girlfriend. So, he broke up again? Is he a player? How old is he again?

“Don’t be so cold. She’s very cute.”

Running his hand through his long red hair and loosening his ribbon tie slightly, he had that bad-boy look. He does seem like the type to be popular with girls.

“Brother, I’m talking with Diadora-sama right now. Could you please not interrupt?”

“Huh? Why so cold?”

“It’s an important conversation. Right?”

“Right.”

I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I played along.

“Don’t interrupt. Aran, talk to him instead.”

“No way.”

“I don’t want to talk to a guy either.”

You guys seem to get along well.

“Oh, there are Kaara-sama and Monika-sama over there. Let’s go talk to them.”

“Father, may I go over there?”

“Huh? Oh, isn’t that Marquess Norland and Marquess Johannes?”

“Shall we join them?”

Our group increased in number as we joined the Duke’s family.

The Goodfellow Duke’s eldest and second sons are already adults and are making rounds with their fiancées. With so many guests, it’s more efficient to split up.

“Diadora-sama, I was just talking about apologizing.”

“Four people suddenly canceled?”

Even after joining Kaara-sama and Monika-sama, the topic returned to apologies. Patorishia-sama and Kaara-sama had introduced people who then canceled last minute, which concerned them.

But it wasn’t entirely their fault; I had been a bit unreasonable. I wanted to make connections with high-status young ladies, so I asked Patorishia-sama to introduce me to marquess’ daughters with central territories and a general’s family marquess’ daughter. Kaara-sama introduced an earl’s daughter, and they canceled.

After promising to talk more later, we returned to greeting rounds with our parents. Meeting familiar faces relieved my tension, and my hands stopped shaking, and my face relaxed.

As we moved further into the hall to greet the imperial family, there were some people I found difficult to approach.

First was Marquess Chandler. My parents pretended not to notice and passed by at a distance. I also blended into the crowd and sneaked a glance, seeing only the marquess and a person who seemed to be his son. If it weren’t for the incident at Corquette, Bridget-sama and Cathy-sama might have been there too.

Next was Duke Powell and his son and daughter-in-law. Since we just talked, we greeted them amicably.

The murmuring around us was intense. My mother, a friend of His Majesty, talking amicably with Marquess Berisario, who once supported Jean-sama for emperor, had everyone buzzing.

And then there was Jean-sama.

After talking to Duke Powell, I wasn’t sure how to face him, but I felt more at ease approaching with my family. Jean-sama and a tall red-haired young man beside him noticed us.

The man beside Jean-sama was Duke Rampling. Though only nineteen, he inherited the title and is very capable. Redheads usually have soft, fluffy hair, but his was sleek and parted in the middle. He looked like he could be in a visual kei band.

No doubt, he was an incredibly handsome man. Seeing him and Jean-sama together made me momentarily forget everything Duke Powell had told me earlier.

My older brother Kurisu and Prince Andoryuu look great together, but these mature handsome men are really something else.

“Are you Lady Diadora? Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you.”

I wished he hadn’t talked to me. I have a condition where I get nervous and want to run away when handsome men approach. It took me a long time to get used to my father.

But I thought I wasn’t attracted to young men around twenty until recently. Maybe I’ve been rejuvenated physically.

Regardless, I certainly don’t like men thirteen years older. I might not mind when I’m older, but not now.

“It’s been a while.”

“It’s been a while, Jean-sama. Didn’t you go to Aaron’s waterfall today?”

“I did. I went with Paolo since I’m a duke now.”

“So, the wind spirits have increased?”

“Yes. I hoped to have all the attributes by today.”

Okay, I had a proper conversation. That’s the three major dukes’ introductions done. I’ve done enough for today. It’s been a very intense day.

After greeting the imperial family, we joined Patorishia-sama, who had just finished greeting them too, and moved near a window. My brothers stayed with us initially, but they left as soon as Kaara-sama and Monika-sama joined. They must dislike being surrounded by girls. Since each of us had our guardian spirit beasts and attendants, we were fine without them.

“I’d like to show you the company’s flagship store. Let’s have some cheesecake.”

“I love cheesecake. I prefer it not too sweet.”

“…Oh, there are Suzanna-sama and Irene-sama.”

“Are you talking about the dinner party? Can we join you?”

“Of course.”

Suzanna-sama is the daughter of Marquess Orlandi. With silver hair and gentle blue eyes, she’s an elegant girl, though only nine years old.

Irene-sama is the daughter of Earl Regan, known for her straight red hair and intellectual aura. Both have territories in the Jade region and are close to Marquess Corquette.

Last time, I didn’t make any friends when I visited Jade. That’s why I asked for introductions. It would be problematic not to have friends from the Corquette area, even though I have friends from Norland and the central area.

“Ugh. Our family is the only earl.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that.”

“There are also earl’s daughters, Ethel from Earl Myler and Erda from Earl Bliss.”

“Eight people are just right for a conversation.”

“We’ll spread fluffy rugs in the room, put lots of cushions, and chat while eating sweets.”

“Lovely.”

Six girls gathered together are lively and cheerful. Though all under ten years old, the atmosphere is wholesome. The attendants behind us look like guardians.

“Diadora-sama.”

We were chatting happily when Mia suddenly called out to me, startling everyone. Following her gaze, we saw Prince Eldred approaching with two boys who seemed to be his attendants.

Looking at the girls’ faces, no one seemed to know why he was coming.

“Diadora, I need to ask you something.”

He’s calling me by my name without any honorifics, madam. I don’t even recall having a proper conversation with him.

“Why aren’t you attending the tea party in three days?”

“Three days later? What are you talking about?”

“My birthday tea party. They say you haven’t responded to the invitation. Patorishia, you too.”

Three days later? Oh no, it’s the same day as the dinner party.

“Your Highness, I haven’t received an invitation.”

“Neither have

 I. What is this about?”

“That can’t be right!”

“Are you sure you confirmed it was sent to me?”

“Did you confirm it?”

When the prince asked his attendants, they both looked troubled and shook their heads.

“We always send invitations. And to you as well. We send them to children of marquesses and higher.”

The six girls, all tilting their heads in confusion, seemed to frustrate the prince.

“Your Highness, may I ask again? Are you certain you sent the invitations?”

Patorishia-sama, being from a duke’s family, is a relative and childhood friend of Prince Eldred. So she wasn’t intimidated by his slight annoyance.

“Well…”

“When did you realize I hadn’t responded? It couldn’t have been today, right?”

“Well…”

“What have you been doing until now?”

“Patorishia-sama, calm down.”

“Let’s go have some tea.”

“Wait. Then I’ll invite you again. Come to the tea party in three days.”

“…What?”

Oh no, I forgot to maintain my composure and glared at him. My spirit was swirling above my head.

“W-What? Do you have a problem with that?”

The prince, in his arrogance, must have thought that inviting a girl to a tea party would make her happy. But none of the six girls looked pleased, and they all seemed annoyed, leaving the prince confused.

“Your Highness, may I speak?”

Suzanna-sama stepped forward, hiding her mouth with a fan.

“In the court of the Azelia Empire, where there is neither an empress nor a crown princess, Lady Diadora is the highest-ranking unmarried young lady. Patorishia-sama is the second.”

Oh… please don’t remind me. It’s embarrassing and nerve-wracking.

“I know that.”

“Well, despite knowing that, you didn’t send invitations to them, and now you’re blaming them and summoning them at the last minute? Is that how the princes of this country treat high-ranking ladies?”

Suzanna-sama’s gentle face and voice delivered merciless words.

“What are you…”

“Your Highness, our butler once said that women and men are different creatures.”

Placing a hand on the prince’s shoulder, who was about to retort, was Douglas-sama.

“When inviting women, you should give them at least two weeks, preferably a month’s notice.”

Brother Aran was there too.

He must have heard from the fashion-related women in the company that making a new dress takes time.

“Any dress would do!”

There’s an idiot who just made all the ladies enemies with one sentence.

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Author Notes:

   Thank you for your comments, evaluations, and reports of typos and errors as always.

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