Chapter 208
(Kyle Calendar Year 511: Age 18)
The Eventful Banquet
Translator : PolterGlast
After we arrived in Fairy and secretly drank with the King of Fearalt, we visited the Royal Palace on the
afternoon of the following day for an official event. It was a formal and
tiresome affair, but it was for an audience conducted according to diplomatic
protocol between nations.
Accompanying me were
Claire, Yoltia, Bart, Sigur, and Karla.
Since only five people
could enter the Royal Palace, I had some trouble selecting them, but Claire and
Yoltia went as the wives of the Demon Territory Count, Bart as an attendant
bringing the gifts, and Sigur and Karla in the roles of male and female guards,
respectively.
In the audience
chamber of the Royal Palace, under the gaze of the assembled nobles, I stood
and delivered a diplomatic address as a special envoy.
"Demon Territory
Count Solis, you have performed your duties as special envoy admirably. Please
convey my regards to King Kyle. May the friendship between our two countries
remain unchanged."
"Yes, Your
Majesty! I have received your words. Though modest, here are the celebratory
gifts requested by my King. We would be honored if you would accept them."
Included there were
the items I had selected in consultation with the old fox, along with specialty
products from Teigoon. Of course, there was also honey in the highest quality
containers.
"And one more
thing. I have been entrusted with a gift from my King to celebrate Your
Majesty's ascension. We would like to present it at this evening's banquet, but
I have one request for your permission. To light the celebratory lamps, we wish
to install items identical to this in the courtyard of the Royal Palace and at
various locations in the Royal Capital. We would be grateful for Your Majesty's
permission."
Seeing the lamp I
offered as a sample, the King looked puzzled for a moment, but soon smiled.
Surely he doesn't know about this too, does he?
"Oh, an
interesting idea. I grant permission for installation in the courtyard and
within the Royal Capital for preparation. I look forward to King Kyle's
celebratory gift. Minister! Issue a notice to that effect to all soldiers and
civil officials immediately. Ensure there are no mistakes."
"Thank you for
your permission."
"No, no, I am
looking forward to seeing the Demon Territory Count's skill, which I have heard
rumors of. By the way, I also have important business with you, Demon Territory
Count. Bring it here!"
At the King's command,
several rolls of giant carpets that looked luxurious at a glance, and over 200
Klimt scales, were brought into the audience chamber.
"Normally, the
subjugator of a Klimt is personally commended by me and rewarded with promotion
or employment. However, for an envoy from another country, that is not
possible. Therefore, I bestow these items upon the Demon Territory Count
instead."
No, Your Majesty...
You know exactly what I want. The King's eyes were laughing heartily.
"I accept them
with gratitude. I offer my greatest thanks to Your Majesty."
Yeah, yesterday and
today, this person is always one step ahead of me. I'm beaten...
With the audience
safely concluded, I left the audience chamber and immediately set about
preparing for the light-up.
The necessary flowers
had already been purchased at the market yesterday. Incidentally, all soldiers
other than my direct subordinates had spent the entire morning simply plucking
petals.
Seeing burly men
tearing off flower petals was so comical that I almost burst out laughing, and
for a moment, I had a dangerous imagination...
Since Christoph and
the others had scouted the locations in the city yesterday, now we just had to gather
them at the key points. During the day, carriages pass through, so it would
obstruct traffic, so we piled them up to a certain extent and posted guards.
The courtyard of the
Royal Palace and the banquet venue had been asked about in advance from Count Flame,
so after Yoltia confirmed the site, the installation locations were quickly
decided and placement began. Now, we just had to install them while having the
guards watch over us, and light them after sunset.
While we were making
such preparations, it became dusk in the blink of an eye.
※
Night fell, and a
banquet welcoming the special envoy was held. All participants were renowned
nobles of the Principality of Fearalt, their children, and their wives and
daughters.
My companion this time
was Yoltia. I really wanted to bring Claire and have both of them attend, but
Claire stubbornly refused, saying that bringing two wives would be improper
given her origins as an orphan.
『Honestly, I am also in a position where I should
hesitate, but more than that, please understand Claire-san's feelings. 』
Being told so by
Yoltia, I reluctantly sent Claire off as the commander of the ignition squad.
I was grateful that
the meal was in a semi-buffet style where one could freely take what one wanted
and enjoy the meal at any table one liked, rather than a formal seated meal
with a predetermined hierarchy, which would have been troublesome.
If I were surrounded
by high-ranking officials on both sides the whole time, I wouldn't even be able
to swallow my food properly.
Furthermore, to the
nobles of this country, I, a non-mage, am a heretic, and to the many opposition
nobles, I am a person sent as an envoy recognizing the opposing force, so they
have no reason to welcome me. Basically, although there were those who watched
us from a distance, few actively spoke to us.
Thanks to that, I was
able to enjoy the meal with Yoltia to my heart's content without being forced
into social pleasantries or worrying about those around me.
Dressed in a vivid
light purple dress that accentuated her jet-black hair, Yoltia was so
enchanting that anyone who saw her would be captivated.
"Seeing you so
beautiful, I worry that someone might come to woo you."
"Oh my... if you
say such rare flattery, I'll really get carried away. Besides, you don't need
to worry. Except for you, Takuhir-sama, everyone else looks like a potato to
me."
Eh? Is it really that
rare for me to compliment my wife? My brother Darek told me before, but do I
really not understand a woman's heart that much...? That bothered me a little.
However, as the
drinking progressed and intoxication set in, it seemed there were others
besides me who were bothered by her (Yor's) words.
"Oh? We are
potatoes? That is quite an honorable word to receive."
A man standing nearby
interrupted our conversation. He was a young man who looked like a nobleman,
but his pride seemed high. Could he be angry about being called a potato?
"My apologies. My
wife did not mean to refer to you, sir. Please let it pass as silly lovers'
talk between a couple over drinks."
In the first place,
eavesdropping on a couple's conversation and picking holes in it is boorish and
a bit strange. Moreover, we are guests.
But I responded with
courtesy for the time being.
"Baron, there is
no need to get so worked up over the nonsense of a country noble who does not
know his place. This is a joyous celebration, after all."
Furthermore, as if
waiting for an opportunity for trouble, another person joined in. I mean, I'm
responding quietly, don't fan the flames.
"As the Count says.
I hear that in the Kyle Kingdom, customs are somewhat different from ours. The
value of beauty and ugliness must also be different.
By the way, I hear
that in the Kingdom, shows using mages are always popular. The Special Envoy
will surely show us something as entertainment. I hope it suits our values...
perhaps she is one of those show performers."
These guys... So
they're fully intent on picking a fight, three against one. They're probably
just underlings entrusted with the task of picking a quarrel among the
opposition nobles.
"You are well
informed. In the Kyle Kingdom of the past, some who were arrogant in their
positions did such things. But such fools are now receiving treatment befitting
their foolishness.
Incidentally, she is
one of the nobles recognized by my King for her military service on the
battlefield and her contributions to domestic affairs, and she is also my wife.
Please refrain from rude remarks."
I don't care about
myself. But what did they say about my wife? You guys have already stepped on
one of my landmines. If you say any more... I won't show mercy either, okay?
"Hahaha, indeed.
If one were lured by such charms on the battlefield, enemy soldiers would be
enraptured, wouldn't they?"
"Does
contribution to domestic affairs not mean seducing the people with charms? The
people would gladly chase after her."
"Indeed. I too
was almost seduced by those charms. But still... it is a shameful thing to say."
"..."
That's enough, right?
Yoltia is enduring the humiliation for my sake, and is desperately pleading
with her eyes to stop me from exploding.
But her hand clinging
to my shoulder is trembling. Surely, she is ashamed that she, who once fell to
being a prostitute, has come out to such a place.
I won't back down
anymore!
"Are you
satisfied now?"
"Hah? What did
the Special Envoy say?"
The three flinched for
a moment at my sudden change in atmosphere, but dared to put up a bravado
again.
"You vent the
frustration of your internal strife within the Principality on a special envoy
from abroad, are you satisfied with that? Do you not have the brains to
understand what I said? Even talking to you lords who expose your own shame,
there is nothing to gain, it is just barren and unpleasant. If you are
satisfied, leave my presence immediately. I will forgive you if you do so
now."
"Wha-! How rude!
In the first place, it is rude in itself to bring a person of unknown origin
and low birth to this seat, is it not? Even if she is dressed up, she is after
all a person of low status. Is she not just a woman who beguiles men with her
charms?"
Okay, you're out!
You've stepped on the final landmine. Hospitality mode is over.
"I do not
understand what information you are using to speak to me, but...
Do you not know that a
special envoy is the plenipotentiary representative of the King and holds a
position equivalent to the King of the other country? Would you spew such abuse
at the King of a neighboring country and his wife?
The Kingdom and the Principality
are in an equal alliance, meaning our ranks are also equal. Demon Territory
Count is a special title, but it is equivalent to a Margrave. Did you think
that mere barons, viscounts, and counts of the Principality could speak to me
as equals?
Are you not the rude
ones, the fools who, despite being nobles, cannot understand the hierarchy? I
did not rise in rank through flattery or family lineage alone. Do you wish to
verify the proof of my rise through martial power with your own bodies right here
and now? I'll take you on anytime."
In an instant, they
turned pale.
"You have hurt
the honor of my beloved wife. Of course, you don't think you'll get away with
it, do you?"
I walked slowly
towards them.
"Hii, hiii!"
The man who seemed to
be a baron in the very front, the one who had first picked the quarrel, got his
feet tangled and fell on his backside. At his unsightly figure, sighs of
exasperation and sneers were directed at him from the surrounding nobles.
Yes, even if they know
at first, they forget. I am still young, un-noble-like, and lack a shred of
dignity. Except for formal dialogues, I am extremely ordinary.
Furthermore, with
half-baked information, they probably thought that a Demon Territory Count was
a title they had never heard of, at best about the level of a viscount or below
a count. In fact, if you look only at the territory, it's only a little better
than a barony.
Furthermore, in the
past, special envoys from the Kyle Kingdom were all royalty. The ones making a
fuss now are disgruntled nobles who prioritize mages and look down on the
current King of Fearalt.
They probably thought
that the Kyle Kingdom, like them, had sent a mere errand boy in name only this
time.
"By the way, I
will add for the sake of my wife's honor... My wife is of the lineage of a
baron of the Kyle Kingdom and has inherited the family name of a baron. I do
not know the style of the Principality, but do you, who called a baron's house
low-born and base, have a taste for self-deprecation?"
Looking down at the
baron who had fallen unsightly on his backside, I threw a boomerang at his
words.
At this point, Count Flame,
who had heard the commotion, came running in a panic.
"You fools! Stand
down! Do you not know the etiquette towards His Majesty's guest? Leave
immediately! Demon Territory Count, for this discourteous act, I apologize, I
apologize humbly to you and your wife!"
Count Flame apologized
with great trepidation, almost prostrating himself.
"Count, please
raise your head. I just thought that for a dog that only knows how to bark at
anyone regardless of who they are, sometimes it is for the dog's own good to
give it a kick."
I imitated the line of
a certain protagonist that I had liked for a long time and had wanted to say at
least once. Well, for the insults we received unilaterally and repeatedly, I
have to return at least this much.
The King of Fearalt,
who had come hearing the commotion, was smiling happily as if to say, "You
got them." He must have had a hard time with those disgruntled nobles on a
daily basis.
In contrast, those who
appeared to be the heavyweights of the opposition, who had likely been
manipulating the three assault troops from behind the scenes, looked as if they
had bitten into a bitter bug.
"Count, there is
no need to make them leave the room or to apologize any further. It happened
over drinks. However, I apologize again for spoiling the party for everyone.
Since we have the opportunity, the preparations for the show they mentioned, a
small gift from my King, are complete. Your Majesty, please move to the
terrace."
Shannon was stationed
at this banquet disguised as one of the serving attendants, acting as a
liaison.
Hearing the signal
bell rung by both the person in charge in the city and the person in charge in
the palace garden to announce the completion of preparations, she had secretly
informed me that preparations were complete.
"Oh!"
"What! How
beautiful!"
"It's
lovely!"
Following the King,
everyone who went out onto the terrace uttered words of admiration.
Lanterns coloring
flower patterns were lined up in the garden, and they were further grouped
together to bloom into several large flowers. And the great gate visible from
the Royal Palace was also thrown open, and a path of light was established
along the road.
From the Royal Palace
on the hill, even from the second floor, the lights in various parts of the
Royal Capital could be seen well.
It was the first
light-up event held in the Principality of Fearalt.
"I have certainly
delivered the congratulations on Your Majesty's ascension from my King."
At the same time as I
said this, the Wind Mages waiting on the upper floor made a large amount of
flower petals dance, and the Light Mage Leia illuminated them like a
searchlight.
"Ah..."
"This is like a
dream."
"S-such a
celebration..."
Everyone was lost for
words at the fantastical atmosphere.
"I am truly happy
for this parting gift from the King of Kyle. I hereby declare and vow that the Principality
shall continue to walk together with the Kyle Kingdom as a friendly
nation!"
Everyone knelt in
unison and bowed.
We breathed a sigh of
relief that we had somehow managed to fulfill His Majesty's request.
And Yoltia was crying
happily by my side. I am proud of her, and I will not forgive anyone who points
fingers at her unfortunate past in the future.
And so, we
successfully fulfilled our mission as special envoys.
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