OHNIR – Chapter 94
Chapter 94: The Announcement
The nobles, gathered to watch the spectacle, truly hadn’t anticipated this turn of events.
Who would have thought this commoner could be so audacious? Without a word, she'd lifted her glass and thoroughly humiliated Avia, who had seemed to be in the right... What a remarkable woman.
It was best to just wait and see.
But while the onlookers could remain patient, Avia could not. Her sharp eyes caught Kelusta's smile, and it instantly ignited the fury simmering within her.
"According to the laws of the kingdom, any commoner who is disrespectful, offensive, or insulting to a noble must be punished immediately and be permanently disqualified from attending any balls!" the red-haired noble girl shrieked, pointing a finger straight at Kelusta. "Guards, what are you standing there for? Eject her at once—!"
To maintain order and security at the ball, the royal family always stationed guards inside, but their presence was mostly a deterrent. No one had ever actually given them a real task.
Now, hearing Avia's sudden command, they were at a loss. They all turned to look at the captain of the guard, who was also breaking out in a cold sweat, awaiting his orders.
And the captain of the guard was truly in a bind.
On the one hand, since no one had ever been foolish enough to cause a scene at a royal ball, his duties didn't officially include "ejecting lawbreakers from the premises."
On the other hand, while he was well aware of Miss Charles's arrogant reputation, the identity of the girl in the red dress she was targeting remained unknown...
Avoid acting rashly and getting dragged into trouble, or completely offend this difficult noble lady? The dilemma was enough to make a few of his hairs turn white with stress.
However, an impatient Avia gave him no more time to deliberate. "Captain!" she pressed. "What is the meaning of this delay in apprehending her?"
"Miss Charles, I'm very sorry, but I don't believe I have the authority to eject this young lady from the ball—"
"You don't have the authority?" Avia cut him off rudely. Her eyes, redder with rage, stared coldly at him as she said grimly, "Isn't it the duty of the kingdom's guards to arrest those who break the law?"
"You had better think this through, sir. If you refuse to apprehend this commoner who has insulted a noble, I will immediately have my father submit a formal complaint to His Majesty, on the grounds of 'dereliction of duty'..."
The captain's eyelid twitched. He snapped his head up, only to see the cold, contemptuous smile playing on the red-haired girl's lips.
She lifted her chin and continued in a slow, arrogant tone, "...and have you charged before the royal court."
At this blatant threat, the captain's heart sank.
Everyone in the capital had heard of the Charles family's arrogance, ruthlessness, and penchant for holding grudges. The captain knew full well that if he didn't follow Avia's orders, he would be the next person to suffer after the girl in the red dress.
Anyway, if she really is a commoner... then the charge is valid, and I wouldn't be overstepping, would I?
Clinging to this hope, the captain gritted his teeth, turned, and waved to his colleagues on standby. Two guards immediately stepped forward, flanking the expressionless Kelusta like a pair of solid iron walls.
"Miss Charles has made a verbal accusation regarding your recent actions," the captain said, his expression tense, letting out an imperceptible sigh. "...If you would please come with us, respected lady."
The moment he finished his polite sentence, the two guards beside Kelusta raised their hands, preparing to seize her. Just as they were about to grab the brown-haired girl's arms—
"I'd like to see who dares touch her."
A cold voice drifted down from the second floor of the ballroom, carrying a magic that seemed to freeze time itself, halting the two guards in their tracks.
Everyone looked up in unison toward the source of the voice. There, standing tall on the staircase, was a silver-haired girl in a blue dress. Her expression was furious, her brows slightly raised. Her deep, ocean-like eyes stared coldly at the helpless captain of the guard as she said in an icy tone, "In the name of the Silentdis family, I command you, sir—have your men step away from her immediately."
"Yes... Lady Gloria..."
The captain sighed heavily to himself and quickly waved at the two men beside Kelusta, leading his subordinates far away from this clash of titans.
He had sided with a lesser power, only to provoke a greater one. His luck was truly unparalleled.
As Gloria descended the stairs, both the gawking nobles and the guards quickly parted, thoughtfully revealing an unharmed Kelusta, who even had the presence of mind to offer her a smile.
Seeing that Kelusta was unharmed and showed no signs of distress, the coldness in the silver-haired girl's eyes thawed slightly. Still, her gaze was hostile as she fixed it on Avia. "What are you doing?"
...You again, ruining my plans.
She had received reliable information that the Silentdis and Amirium families were to discuss important matters, meaning Gloria wouldn't be appearing for some time. But her luck had run out, and she'd been interrupted just as she was about to succeed.
Outmaneuvered, Miss Charles bit her lip. While cursing inwardly, she forced herself to answer Gloria, feigning composure. "My lady, I know you are close with Breviou, but you cannot ignore the law for her sake. Everyone saw clearly how she offended me just now. Since she is a commoner who has insulted a noble, it is only right that she be immediately apprehended, ejected from the ball, and taken to court to await judgment."
As soon as she finished, a girl in a gray dress in the crowd piped up, her eyes darting around. "Miss Avia is right! Lady Gloria, just look at her face. You can still see the traces of the wine."
Way to bring up a sore subject... Avia shot the girl a fierce glare, her face cold.
However, her words seemed to open a floodgate. Nobles who either wanted to curry favor with the Charles family or were at odds with the Silentdis family began to stir. Meanwhile, other students from the Holy Light Magic Academy, long jealous of the commoner Kelusta's good fortune in associating with both royalty and a ducal house, couldn't resist adding their own comments.
"Although Miss Charles's initial suspicion lacked evidence, we all saw with our own eyes what happened with the wine..."
"If you ask me, Miss Avia wasn't wrong... She's just a bit hot-tempered and speaks her mind. After all, not everyone can tolerate a commoner repeatedly stepping out of line."
"According to the law, a commoner must indeed face the consequences for offending a noble. I think Lady Avia's order to have the guards take her away was perfectly appropriate. As for Lady Gloria... to defend her so indiscriminately seems rather impulsive, don't you think?"
These whispers drifted to the ears of the three women at the center of the commotion. The red-haired noble's tense expression eased, and the color returned to her face.
As for Kelusta, the other party involved...
She showed no discernible emotion, still standing calmly in place. She even had the leisure to glance up, casually sweeping her eyes over Avia, who was struggling to hide a smug expression.
In contrast to Kelusta's unnatural calm, Gloria looked even more furious. Her fingertips curled at her sides, and her sharp gaze swept over the crowd like a tangible ice blade, seeming to slit the throats of all who had spoken up.
However, just as she was about to speak, Kelusta suddenly tugged on her sleeve, successfully interrupting the words that were on the tip of the duchess's daughter's tongue.
The moment Gloria looked over, the brown-haired girl gave her a sweet smile and patted the back of her hand reassuringly. Then, she stepped forward, crossed her arms, and asked Avia lightly, "The law states that if a commoner offends a noble, they will be punished according to the severity of the offense, correct?"
Avia watched her warily and nodded.
Kelusta raised an eyebrow and offered a mocking, ambiguous smile. "I didn't realize Miss Charles was so well-versed in the law." Then, clasping her hands behind her back, she surveyed the room and calmly addressed the nobles staring at her. "So, if I were also a noble, this whole matter of 'breaking the law' would be moot, wouldn't it?"
Her words were met with a few seconds of silence, followed by another wave of commotion.
A vassal of the Charles family, never one to shy from trouble and undeterred by Gloria's icy glare, immediately stepped forward and shouted, "You're just a commoner from the Academy, known to everyone for fawning over the Prince and Lady Gloria! To make such an outrageous claim now... I think you've gone mad!"
The brown-haired girl, being berated so directly, simply smiled faintly, watching him with the playful amusement of someone observing a performing monkey, and said nothing in reply.
Just as this man, pleased with himself for having avenged his superior's daughter, was about to seek her approval with a glance—
From the second floor, in the very same spot where Gloria had interrupted the guards, another voice—old yet powerful—rang out:
"...If you ask me, the one making outrageous claims is you, sir."
Many people froze, once again looking up curiously toward the source of the voice.
—They saw that, as if recreating Gloria's entrance, another person had appeared on the winding wooden staircase.
Her hair was snow-white, and she held a matching white cane. Despite her advanced age, she was enveloped in an undeniable aura of elegance and nobility, one that could only be cultivated over time.
Isabella was dressed in a stately gown, her expression solemn and cold. Though her frame was slightly stooped, her eyes were clear and filled with an intangible authority.
She lightly turned the gold ring on her finger—the symbol of the head of the Amirium family—and said coldly, "To publicly speak so insolently to my only granddaughter, insulting her and slandering her reputation... It is most unfortunate, Viscount Foske. On behalf of the next heir of the Amirium family, Kelusta Amirium, I fully reserve the right to press charges against you."
"—I wish you luck. We will see you in the royal court."
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