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I experimented with various uses of mana.
Eventually, I devised a method of focusing all my mana on protection.
I resisted the divine power compressing my body by packing mana tightly inside my physique.
Focusing solely on countering the divine power.
I had to forgo all the beneficial effects mana offered, like physical enhancement, but it worked.
The mansion hallway.
Ares, Alios, and Hames were gathered there.
I stood alone, some distance away from them.
Feeling the three pairs of eyes fixed intently, almost frighteningly, on me, I took a deep breath.
One step, then another.
Slowly but surely, I moved until I crossed the entire hallway.
“Ce-Ceres!”
Having succeeded in walking the entire hallway without collapsing, Ares rushed over. Her face looked like she was about to cry as she embraced me.
“You… you can walk!”
Ares was so overcome with emotion she could barely speak.
I wasn't quite as moved as her, but I felt a sense of accomplishment.
How could I not be happy, having finally succeeded in walking safely in this body?
“Ceres, congratulations, truly.”
Alios said, wiping the corners of her eyes.
“To see you walking around like this… I couldn’t have imagined it when we first met.”
“…It’s thanks to you.”
Though I felt disgruntled, it was true her help had been instrumental, so I acknowledged it readily.
“I can’t believe it actually worked.”
Hames, who had doubted my method, looked astonished.
“Seeing the actual results, I have no choice but to acknowledge it. But still, the holy power didn’t really help much, did it?”
“No, it did help.”
It wasn't as dramatic an effect as mana, but it certainly contributed to healing my body.
“Running is still out of the question, but this is tremendous progress. You both worked hard.”
Anyway, I praised the two who had helped. The atmosphere was heartwarming.
However…
“Now that I can walk, there should be no problem going tomorrow.”
If only I could have walked sooner.
It took too long, leaving only a day before the party. When I mentioned this reality, Ares looked utterly devastated.
“I-I’m sorry, Ceres. If only I had a little more power, I could protect you…”
Her reaction was such that anyone watching might think I was being dragged to an execution ground, not a party venue.
Though, considering Ceres’s frail body going to meet her (Viol), perhaps it was more dangerous than an execution ground.
“I’ll handle the rest. Both of you can return now.”
Holding Ares’s trembling body for support, I spoke to Alios and Hames.
“See you tomorrow.”
“…Call me anytime if you need help.”
Alios left surprisingly readily, while Hames departed as if holding back something she wanted to say.
And the next day.
“Ceres, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
I rode in a carriage with Ares, heading towards the capital.
Several hours later, we arrived.
Our territory wasn't that far from the capital, so we arrived relatively quickly.
The capital, which I saw for the first time, was highly developed, just as its luxurious description in the story implied.
It was only natural for the capital of a country called an Empire. We took another carriage from within the capital to the Imperial Palace.
"I've been waiting."
Upon arrival, a woman greeted me.
Her appearance was so completely different that I didn't recognize her for a moment.
It was Alios, her long blonde hair flowing down, dressed in a white gown.
“Are you surprised?”
"No."
After all, there's a scene in the original work where Ceres comes to the Imperial Palace and meets Alios.
In the first place, Alios is a high noble, so naturally, she was invited to the party.
So I had expected to meet her, but Ares frowned the moment she saw her.
“Knight Alios, why don't you just leave us be and attend on your own?”
“Are you sure that’s alright?”
Alios gave a smug smile.
“If I don't escort him, women assuming Ceres has no partner will constantly approach and bother him.”
“Hmm, I can…”
“You’re his mother. I’ll effectively block them, so please entrust the role of partner to me.”
This is similar to the original work, yet different?
The male Alios spoke more politely when making requests, but this female Alios feels somewhat presumptuous.
I've noticed this before; there seem to be subtle differences in their personalities, perhaps due to the gender swap.
“Mother, let’s accept her offer.”
If it's hard to shake her off, I might as well make use of her.
There was a description in the original work stating that thanks to him (Original Alios), Ceres (she) avoided troublesome encounters, so her effectiveness is certain.
“Even if you act as his partner, be aware that you and I are not in that kind of relationship.”
"Huhu, how cute you are."
Ares issued a warning, but Alios brushed it off lightly and came closer.
“Did anything happen during the carriage ride?”
Yes, something did.
The vibrations of the carriage transmitted through my weak body, causing a subtle, persistent ache.
Chatting with Alios, we entered the Imperial Palace.
Inside, a large crowd had already gathered in the spacious party hall.
Everyone was dressed luxuriously. While there were women wearing trousers, there were no men in skirts.
It's a relief that even in this gender-reversed world, the fashion hasn't completely flipped.
Flanked by beauties, I entered their midst.
In my original world, the attention would likely fall on the beauties flanking me, but here, all eyes were fixed on me.
“Good heavens.”
“Is that him?”
“You know who it is the moment you see him.”
"They said you'd immediately recognize the Empire's greatest beauty upon seeing him!"
Both men and women, despite possessing considerable beauty themselves, whispered in astonishment as they looked at me.
It’s been like this everywhere I’ve gone so far; the Imperial Palace is no different.
I’m somewhat used to it now. It can’t be helped, given Ceres’s appearance.
"Young Master Ceres?”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time.”
…No, I’m not used to this.
Several women immediately approached me, something that had never happened before.
Most people in the places I’d visited until now were commoners. They probably wouldn't have had the courage to speak to me.
It wasn't just the original male leads [from the novel]; even women I'd never met were flocking to me based solely on my face.
This was a first. Not exactly pleasant, but certainly novel. I would never have experienced something like this in my original life.
"I am from the Viscount Cereor family...."
The women, much like men from my original world might have done, tried desperately to strike up a conversation with me, but Alios intervened.
“Please stop. As you’ve likely heard from the rumors, Ceres is not in good health.”
“We just wanted to…”
“Did you not hear me tell you to stop? It’s quite shameless of you to approach him when I entered with him.”
Though Alios’s lips curved into a smile as she spoke, her eyes remained cold.
Unable to withstand her resolute aura, the women faltered and quickly dispersed.
Watching them, I thought,
Just as I thought, similar yet different personalities.
‘Everyone, I apologize, but she [Original Ceres] is unwell, so I would appreciate it if you didn't trouble her too much. For the time being, I am her official partner,’ is what the original Alios (he) had said.
But this one [Current Alios] basically just declared, ‘He’s mine, so stop fawning over him and buzz off.’
“Mother, what do you think? I’m certainly helpful, aren’t I?”
“Why exactly am I your mother?”
She spouted nonsense, calling Ares ‘Mother.’ This kind of flighty side wasn't present in the male Alios (he).
“Lady Alios is incredibly sharp-tongued right now.”
“She’s basically warning everyone not to flirt with her man.”
"So the rumors were true? That she visits Young Master Ceres every day.”
Thanks to Alios’s overreaction, uncomfortable rumors began circulating through the party hall.
“Now, Ceres. Say ‘Ah~’,” Alios urged.
Paying no mind to the onlookers, she continued her doting.
She picked up a piece of salad—party fare—and held it out to me. I glanced at it briefly before…
"Ah~."
I opened my mouth and ate it as she wished. To my surprise, Alios was the one who looked startled.
“You ate it?”
“You gave it to me to eat.”
I made an excuse to Alios, who reacted as if she hadn't expected me to comply.
Why does she look so pretty today?
Maybe it's her usual appearance, but somehow…
Ah, this is what Ceres wore in the original work!
Now that I look closely, the size is different, but the design is identical.
Come to think of it, the dress Original Ceres (she) wore to the party was one that Original Alios (he) had specially commissioned and gifted to her, wasn't it?
Since the genders are swapped, instead of gifting it, she [Current Alios] wore it herself.
No wonder she looks particularly beautiful today.
“Here, try this too!”
“Alright.”
An excited Alios offered me various other bites. Seeing her dressed like Ceres [from the original] made my resolve weaken.
I continued to accept whatever she offered.
“Everyone, prepare yourselves! Her Imperial Majesty is arriving!”
Whether for good or ill, the main figure of today's event had arrived.
The bustling banquet hall fell silent in an instant.
Even Alios flinched and stopped her doting behavior.
As we all turned our attention in a specific direction, a woman emerged.
She was mature, possessing a figure and style that could rival a model's.
Her long, brilliant red hair was tied in twin tails, and she wore a dress as black as jet.
The imperious, queen-like beauty surveyed the now-silent party hall.
“So quiet. Why has everyone fallen silent?”
She eyed the crowd as if dishappy.
“It’s downright unpleasant when you all clam up the instant I arrive. That’s an order. Everyone, laugh.”
Reluctant laughter filled the air at her command.
“Are you mocking me now? Laugh louder!”
Forced to comply, everyone laughed loudly, and the woman laughed too.
“Hahaha, you actually laugh just because I commanded it? Spineless fools!”
She mocked them after having ordered it herself.
There was no mistaking it.
This woman was indeed the mad tyrant, Viol, from the original work.