And by audience, they meant an actual, freaking ball.
The moment Konrad stepped through that portal, he wanted to turn back. But now, it made sense why they spent the better half of the day dressing him up.
He never paid any attention to what he had put on so far.
Something functional, sturdy, and cheap, if possible. That was his only preference.
But today? It was the exact opposite.
Silk. Velvet. The lavish, over-the-top fashion choices of the high elite of Kasserlane.
He had no idea they had such a wardrobe at home, and without Eyna's help, he couldn't even put them on. It all felt ridiculous, but—now that he was there and saw the other nobles?!
"Are we going to be okay like this?" Konrad muttered, unsure which way to turn his head.
First off, the capital was massive.
And from their vantage point, up in a hilltop castle, he had a perfect view of everything, too.
A wide, murky river cutting the landscape into two. The massive bridge arching across to connect the city back together. The hilly western side with the most exquisite buildings, and—
The endless sprawl of the eastern one where the commoners had lived.
"I admit, Master," Eyna whispered at his side, wearing a stunning white-and-purple dress. "I don't know much about the noble's fashion, either. But Lady Gabrielle approved of your outfit."
She did, huh?
He could only wonder whether she greenlit the tribesgirl's amazing looks, too?
Saying that she knew little, but as soon as they entered the courtyard, she turned every head.
"Ah, yes. Gabrielle von Schwertburg has excellent taste," the Silver Mage confirmed, closing the portal. "I hope she'll also grace us with her presence soon."
"Yeah. Makes me wonder if she would," Konrad muttered, adjusting his shirt.
They might have finished touring Halaima, but he had never met his wives.
Nor with Maou Midori, Zoltan, or even Welf, but—
To his greatest surprise, the latter was already here.
Yeah. He could have recognised that red mane from a mile away.
But that ridiculous outfit?!
"Konrad," his friend yelled, running straight towards him. Then, stopping out of his arm's reach and looking nervous, he changed his tone. "I mean, Lord Halstadt, um. It's good to see you."
It was, in fact, good to see him, too, but—
"What have they done to you?!" Konrad asked, fighting back a laugh.
For most of their time together, he only ever saw him shirtless, often with blue warpaint, too.
His hair also used to be a mess, but today?
They slicked it back and squeezed him into a colorful tunic and trousers a size too small.
The redheaded blacksmith looked down on himself, his face darkening.
"Ugh. Don't even get me started. It was Helena's idea," he muttered, fidgeting with a frill on his sleeve. "I represent both the military and the tribes of Halaima today."
So Konrad wasn't the only one they summoned?
But he couldn't see the king's younger sister anywhere.
"Look at you, though," Welf went on the offensive. "You look fabulous, if I do say so myself."
For the love of the spirits—where did he even hear that word?!
"Did your lover tell you what this was about?" Konrad changed the topic, though he had gotten the rundown from the Silver Mage behind.
"M-my what?!" the blacksmith yelped, his face matching his hair color.
Ah, to be in love.
"Lord Halstadt," the old wizard rasped. "It is to integrate you into the rest of Kasserlane's high society, f'course. And, um, you might've made a few claims before that the king wants to verify."
Wait. He did what?!
"You only mentioned the first half earlier," Konrad groaned, sweat beading on his temple.
"Well," the Silver Mage said between two coughs. "There's the fact that you're the rightful heir of Halaima, which we already confirmed. And you're the savior of the kingdom, too, but—"
"The White Mage," a familiar voice boomed from behind, and Konrad spun around.
"L-Lord Schwertburg," he stuttered, seeing his father-in-law tower right over him.
"Yes. That," the old wizard noted, clearing his throat. "The Order of the Royal Mages will have to confirm whether you're worthy of that title this afternoon."
Fuck.
He did actually call himself that a while back.
Somewhere between those stupid wargames and the actual defense of Halaima.
Why did he even do that?!
And the more pressing matter—what did Gabrielle's father want from him now?
"I can only hope you treat my daughter well," he grunted, crossing his arms.
As if being over seven feet tall and standing right in his face wasn't hostile enough.
His own friendly giant, Welf, stiffened by his side, too, but—
"Father, we've been through this," the actual Gabrielle snapped, almost making Konrad jump.
When? Where? How?!
She wore a dress in her favorite blue, but it was even more frillier than the rest. The dark circles below her eyes had disappeared, and she put her brunette hair into an intricate updo.
Not only that, but she didn't come—materialise?—by herself, either.
On her right was a petite beauty hidden below a translucent green veil, and—
If not for the unmistakable presence, Konrad would've never recognised his first wife.
"Lord Halstadt treats me well. And I do love him despite all his flaws," Gabby confessed to the entire courtyard. Face unreadable, eyes piercing, giving him the chills, not the loving warmth.
But her father's expression changed, that threatening giant melting before his eyes.
"G-Gabrielle," he muttered, taking an unsure step towards her.
"Yeah. But he treats me even better," Lily claimed with a shit-eater grin half-hidden under her veil. "So I love him much, much more. Right, Konny boy?!"
Sigh. They could dress her up all they wanted; she was still the same ball of chaos.
And yet—her claim did make his heart throb.
Especially when he felt Eyna squeezing his arm in jealousy.
If not for the gathering crowd and the arriving Helena von Kasserlane—
"Dukes Halstadt and Schwertburg, at last," she greeted them, her voice harsh and loud. "We have been waiting for our two Heroes of Kasserlane all day long."
Heroes? The two of them?
Um. What?
For one, Konrad didn't like the term. But why'd they also address it to the Duke of Aset?!
And hold on. Was that woman actually Helena?
That grey, tomboyish knight who mopped the floor with him using her warhammer?
For the first time, she looked like an actual princess.
Brunette hair falling over shoulders in gentle waves, and—
A corset-like dress left them bare for all the assorted nobles. They were still wide and strong, but whoever dressed her knew how to hide or emphasize her features.
And now, Welf blushed even harder.
As if he couldn't even look at her.
"Lady Helena," Lord Schwertburg greeted her with a bow, and Konrad followed his lead. "I serve the crown. I desire no reward—but laying my eyes on you today filled me with pride."
Oh? So the old man could be courteous and flirt, too?!
Too bad; the Princess Knight had ignored it altogether, eyes drawn only to the blacksmith.
Hmm. So that's how they were?
For the first time, Konrad felt like coming here might have been worth it.