Soon after, a professor from the advanced class of the Elementary Academy walked over to Mirissa and Axion's table.
"Now we will have a short break, and then Part 2 will begin. It's time to reveal the gifts prepared by His Highness Prince Axion and Princess Mirissa."
Seeing the professor's gentle face, Mirissa bit her lip. There was no time to lose.
'I have to ask for a break.'
But as soon as Mirissa stood up, Axion spoke to her.
"Mirissa!"
"Huh?" Mirissa briefly asked and looked in Axion's direction.
But Axion was not looking at Mirissa. Instead, the boy reached out and pointed to the door.
"The door is opening!"
"…?"
"What's going on, Princess?" the professor asked, and Mirissa shook her head.
"No, I think someone is coming in!"
Was it because the boys and girls were cheering for each other with one heart and one mind? Through the crack in the wide-open door, I could see the hem of a red dress. I couldn't see her face in detail from a distance, but it was definitely her.
Meldenique is here!
Axion's anxious face lit up. It was still break time, so people were making noise. However, in the midst of the hustle and bustle, Hildegard keenly noticed the crack in the open door.
"Was there anyone else who would come?"
Hildegard's displeased words drew everyone's attention to the belated arrival at the door. The guard spoke loudly because of the concentrated atmosphere.
"The Daughter of the Duke of Babyloa, Meldenique, arrives."
People were buzzing because they didn't know why Meldenique had come.
"Well, why is she here?"
"Why did she come all the way here?"
"Isn't she asking me to invest in her business?"
I could hear murmuring around me. Madame Hildegard's expression was distorted for a moment, but she smiled gracefully and fanned herself.
"My daughter, Babyloa, is here. I don't know why you came."
Another lady beside her continued. "Oh, where did she come from?"
"…Because I do business in front of the academy."
"What kind of stupid thing will she do this time?"
"It's an important day for children, but is that really appropriate?"
"I don't know. Think about what she has done so far!"
The adults' gossipy chatter made the children start to have negative feelings about Meldenique. But it had no effect on Meldenique.
Meldenique slowly approached the center of the hall and stood, wearing a red dress as seductive as red wine. The adults pretended not to like it, but a small sigh erupted around the children. Today's Meldenique was too beautiful.
She had blonde hair that hadn't been cared for in a long time, but it still had a fine texture. Her eyes were as wide as almonds, and her red lips smiled slightly. Her hair was tied up in a bun to emphasize her beautiful neckline.
And what about her demeanor? The way she walked proudly to the table where Mirissa and Axion were seated was clearly imprinted in everyone's view. It was completely different from the past when she was crying or acting maliciously and causing a scene. Even her hand gestures were elegant and graceful, and people fell silent. Meldenique's image was now clearly etched in everyone's minds.
All the children in the room followed Meldenique with amazement. She stood casually and gracefully near Axion and Mirissa.
Meldenique, who overwhelmed the eyes of the audience, said only one thing for the first time. "Hello, I'm a little late. Were you worried?"
Meldenique smiled naturally and sat down in the chair that had been reserved for her. Mirissa held Meldenique's hand tightly and handed her a rose.
"Sister!"
"Oh, you're so beautiful today."
"She looks like an angel!"
She skillfully accepted the rose, sniffing it and whispering, "Thank you."
Axion and Mirissa's words were what all the children in the room wanted to say. For the children who had not yet made their debut and could not yet socialize, Meldenique's beauty seemed perfect.
Meldenique felt the eyes on her and brushed the hair behind her ears. "I've got something really fun for you today."
Mirissa's eyes widened. Come to think of it, Meldenique today looked a little different from before.
"You can look forward to it." Looking at Meldenique with a frown, Mirissa nodded.
I looked around. 'Perfect.'
First of all, how hard they tried to overwhelm with visuals! Meldenique was basically a very beautiful person. That's why with a little effort, she was able to arouse everyone's admiration. I stood firm in the midst of the thorny gazes.
'Let's start by listening to what my customers have to say.'
I leaned back comfortably and listened to the voices everywhere.
"Can I go talk to her, Mother?" I heard a small voice that was clearly in favor.
"Oh, no, I told you earlier. She's Princess Meldenique."
"You say they eat people? You don't see that, do you?"
The children's innocent questions touched my heart. 'How far has Meldenique's notoriety spread?' The adults whispered scary things and stopped all the children who tried to approach me. It seemed that no child could approach me in a hurry.
"But I think you like my appearance anyway." My main customers are children. So I just needed to make some impression on the children.
'The product I developed will take care of the rest.'
I looked down at the enchanted clutch on my lap and smiled contentedly. I grinned, feeling the waves of pure mana gently circling near my heart.
'This is enough. I don't know if I can do it properly.' Apparently, gambling was the right choice. However, if I didn't bet on the match, I couldn't make a deep impression.
I quietly looked around. 'I'm definitely at an absolute disadvantage in this situation.'
The sneering gazes of Viscount Hildegard and Telln were fixed on my face. The hall they had decorated was too gorgeous. Moreover, the large table in the center and the countless shiny welcome stones on it made me understand it even better.
"They really came with a welcome stone." Mirissa looked at me with a sad face.
"When you touch the Phantom Stone and see the illusion, your mana is amplified by as much as five percent." Axion, who was beside him, snorted and shouted.
"I just asked the knights! That thing is a nightmare, is everyone crazy?"
Did the parents here want their children to stand out even more by increasing their mana, even if they had nightmares through the Illusion Stone?
'I'm definitely losing attention. They brought a welcome stone.' I clicked my tongue when I saw more than a hundred welcome stones in the center of the hall. It was obvious that it would have cost a lot of money to acquire so many welcome stones, whether disposable or multi-use.
I looked in Hildegard's direction. Even though they were sitting separately at her feet, there was a sneer on her lips.
"If this event fails, it will be a big blow to Madame Hildegard."
All the property of the Babyloa family was based on the decision of the Duke of Babyloa and the Senate. It must have been difficult to finance so many welcome stones. She must have borrowed money from the Duke of Babyloa. The Duke must have believed that Madame Hildegard had never failed, and he would have gladly lent the money.
'It doesn't look like it cost a penny or two.'
I glanced in the direction of the Duchess of Babyloa. She, along with her deputy, Viscount Telln, looked down at me and smiled arrogantly. As if to emphasize the difference between herself and me.
"Now, let's check out the items prepared by Prince Hessmann and His Highness the Eighth Prince."
I grabbed the clutch in one hand and Mirissa's hand in the other, and pulled myself up. Axion followed me. The children focused on me with full expectation, but the parents' eyes were distracted. In the meantime, there were many people who greedily focused only on the reception stones.
"The welcome stones are amazing, for sure."
However, adults don't know about it. No matter how gorgeous, beautiful, and expensive things you bring, cats are only interested in rustling wrappers or boxes. The children were similar to cats. There is only one thing that stimulates children's attention: Something exciting, something that looks fun.
Finally, I, Mirissa, and Axion stood fully in the center of the platform.