Episode 101 – The Social Gathering (1
by Afuhfuihgs
Episode 101 – The Social Gathering (1)
*
As a former petty thief, I had no appreciation for music, but even to my ears, the music was nearing its end.
Before the music ended, I quietly said to Ellie and Deborah.
“Thank you.”
“…”
Neither of them replied.
Only after the music stopped did I slowly release Ellie and Deborah’s hands.
They nonchalantly took their hands away without showing any signs, and I, too, turned my gaze to the stage without saying a word.
The musicians packed up their chairs and instruments and disappeared behind the curtain on the stage, and soon after, the curtain slowly opened to the side.
As the purple curtain slowly parted, a wall with the emblem of the Sionisia Empire, decorated in gold, was revealed.
And in front of that wall stood the Emperor, wearing a long purple cloak that trailed on the floor.
The Emperor’s attire, from the cloak with its collar adorned with white feathers to his crown and the staff he held, all decorated with purple jewels, exuded splendor while also appearing majestic and solemn.
Perhaps it was the increased wrinkles and gray hair compared to my impression of him from his days as a king that made me feel that way even more.
As the Emperor slowly walked to the front of the stage, everyone sitting at the tables began to rise from their seats.
I, too, stood up the moment Ellie and Deborah rose.
The Emperor waited in silence until everyone had stood up, then slowly began to speak.
I don’t know what kind of magic it was, but the Emperor’s voice, though calm, echoed loudly throughout the banquet hall.
“First of all, I express my gratitude to all those who have responded to the invitation and come to this place.”
Whether it was to show off the Emperor’s imposing presence, his voice was so loud it made my stomach rumble, but it wasn’t unpleasant.
The Emperor continued slowly.
“Today, as everyone knows, this gathering is to welcome the Inquisitorial Order dispatched from the Papal State, so I hope you will greet their arrival with enthusiastic applause.”
And the Emperor paused.
I thought he was pausing to catch his breath or to create an effect, but the silence, which lasted a little longer than usual, caused people to start murmuring.
Before the murmuring grew louder, the Emperor slowly began to speak again.
“Recently, strange things have repeatedly occurred in the capital of this empire. This dispatch of the Inquisitorial Order was also made out of the Pope’s concern for the future of the empire. However, unfortunately, today we have faced another misfortune.”
At the Emperor’s words, I slightly twitched my eyebrows.
Half of the people were murmuring, wondering what he meant, while the other half seemed to understand what the Emperor was saying and were sighing.
The Emperor continued immediately.
“As some of you may know, I have heard the news that Duke Villard de Valguire died in a carriage accident this morning.”
The sound of people gasping was ridiculously loud.
That was because everyone invited into this room knew that Villard and the Emperor were not on good terms.
Of course, Villard was a member of the imperial family from the Valguire royal line and, like other dukes, held a place in the imperial succession, so it wasn’t strange for the Emperor to express his condolences. However, it was unusual for him to say it directly in such a public setting.
Even I, who am not well-versed in politics or etiquette, found it strange.
Judging from the bewildered expressions of the courtiers in charge of the social gathering on the stage, it was clear that this was the Emperor’s independent, impulsive action.
In my opinion, it seemed like the Emperor was putting pressure on the remaining noble factions.
I glanced at Ellie.
The reckless behavior and bold pressure she sometimes showed seemed to be hereditary after all.
Ellie noticed that I was looking at her and glanced at me, then quickly turned her gaze away again.
The Emperor raised his hand to stop the murmuring and began to speak again.
The fact that everyone fell silent at once just by him raising his hand showed that the Emperor was indeed the Emperor.
“Before calling the priesthood, who are the main characters of today, I would like everyone to take a moment of silence for Duke Villard de Valguire.”
Everyone was taken aback by the Emperor’s sudden proposal, but they all slowly bowed their heads.
I, too, bowed my head and quietly turned my gaze to Robin.
Robin seemed unaware of Villard’s death, as he was sweating and flustered, and Mella was looking at Robin with concern.
The Emperor bowed his head only slightly and whispered.
Of course, even that whisper echoed loudly.
“May the Goddess watch over the Empire.”
After a short moment of silence, everyone raised their heads again, and the Emperor clapped once, speaking in a slightly louder voice as if to change the atmosphere.
“Now, it’s time to welcome today’s main characters. I hope everyone will greet them with great applause.”
Judging from the fact that the Emperor had insisted on this action, which would have ended with just a brief moment of silence, without even informing his courtiers, it seemed that my thought that his sudden action was a provocation or warning to the noble faction was correct.
The Emperor stretched out his hand and pointed to the entrance of the banquet hall, behind the guests.
As the entrance to the banquet hall slowly opened, about ten people wearing priestly robes over their armor stood there.
Among them was Edward, who seemed a little frozen, perhaps due to nervousness.
Judging from the fact that he was at the very back of the group, paired with another person, it seemed that he was the youngest in this Inquisitorial Order.
As the stern-looking man and the strict-looking woman at the front slowly walked towards the stage on the red carpet in the middle of the tables lined up on both sides, everyone began to applaud.
Mella, too, clapped while looking at her awkwardly standing son, and smiled slightly.
However, Robin still seemed unable to escape from the shock brought about by the news of Villard’s death, as he had a blank expression.
I scoffed at Robin’s appearance and clapped.
*
After all the Inquisitorial Order members had ascended the stage, the Emperor finished the event with a simple sequence of one applause and one toast, telling everyone to enjoy the party freely.
Ellie brushed past me and whispered quietly.
“Good luck, Baron.”
“…Huh?”
I was able to realize why Ellie had said that immediately.
After Ellie passed me, people began to gather around me stealthily.
Most of them were noble young ladies.
“Greetings, Baron-nim, I am…”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Baron-nim, I’ve always wanted to meet you…”
“Baron-nim, it seems like I’m meeting you for the first time at a party…”
“I hope we can see each other often in the future…”
“I see you don’t have a partner today, if you don’t mind, would you like to join me…”
They looked at each other, but they began to surround me and approach me more and more.
I was flustered by the sudden situation and slowly began to back away.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all too. I’m honored, I hope we can see each other often in the future. As for a partner, I’m not yet used to these kinds of parties, so I’m fine. Um, everyone, please speak one at a time…”
They began to shower me with words, greetings, and questions simultaneously.
While answering each person one by one, I found myself being cornered more and more.
Daughters of noble factions ordered to win over Baron Salvie, young ladies looking for a marriage partner, women who approached out of simple curiosity, women from fallen prestigious families hoping for financial support, and so on.
The situations and families were diverse, and the age range was also varied, from girls who looked like they were still in their teens to women who looked like they were in their thirties, but the commonality was that they all had eyes like predators eyeing their prey.
I recalled what Banata had said before.
‘Of course, if you don’t have a partner, many people will approach you and talk to you, so there are many cases where people bring a partner to avoid that…’
Banata, you should have told me more accurately.
This wasn’t just “many.”
Of course, it wasn’t like I could bring Lara or Lily as partners, but if I had known it would be like this, I would have hired a woman I had never met before and brought her along, I regretted.
It was then.
“Baron Salvie-nim.”
Despite being a soft voice, it pierced through all the noise made by the young ladies and entered my ears accurately.
No, it seemed like not only me but everyone around here did too.
The many young ladies who had been competitively raising their voices around me immediately closed their mouths and looked back with surprised expressions.
“It’s been a while.”
“…Yes, it’s been a while.”
It was Mella.
Surprisingly, she approached me first.
With each step she took, the young ladies were retreating as if a flock of mice were avoiding a torch.
Of course, it wasn’t an act of consideration for Mella.
Rather, their expressions, close to contempt, were twisted as if to say, “How dare you?” and Mella, too, seemed a little intimidated by their gazes.
I felt a sense of bewilderment at the way they treated Mella and quickly scanned the surroundings to find Robin.
There was no one around Robin, including the noble faction who were on Villard’s side.
I thought for a moment and realized the reason.
It must be because the Boldiras family’s innocence regarding Jennifer’s heresy had not yet been properly revealed.
Considering that the formation and visit of this Inquisitorial Order were all due to Jennifer, even if her son was among them, the appearance of these two would be something that would draw people’s attention.
Focusing my mind for a moment, I could hear rumors and speculations from somewhere far away that they had planted their son in the Inquisitorial Order through despicable means.
Mella forced a smile on her hardening face and said.
“…I wanted to express my gratitude.”
“…”
I couldn’t answer.
It was because I was surprised.
What surprised me was not Mella approaching me first, but the fact that I had no reaction or agitation even with her in front of me.
I replied.
“You must be proud of your son.”
“…Yes,”
I meant that Edward was the one who had begged to save his daughter, and that he was one of the main characters of today’s event, as the Emperor had said.
At the same time, it also meant that she didn’t have to thank me.
Mella’s voice diminished, perhaps sensing some coldness in my answer.
She probably thought that my impression of the Boldiras family was still bad because the Baron had been attacked by the resurrected Daniel, but that was my own fabrication anyway.
My current feeling was closer to indifference.
The tremendous hatred and animosity I felt towards Robin.
In contrast, I had strangely no thoughts about Mella.
No, to be precise, there was still something like thorns pricking in my heart when I saw her, so I felt that Mella was just someone who bothered me.
I replied indifferently.
“You don’t have to.”
I gave Mella a slight nod and turned to move elsewhere.
“W-wait a moment!”
At that moment, Mella called out to me urgently.
I stopped without saying a word.
“U-um, Baron Salvie-nim.”
“…Yes. What is it, Countess?”
Mella paused for a moment, as if sensing something strange.
However, she didn’t realize the cause of that strangeness, and she slowly continued.
“If it’s not too much trouble, could we talk somewhere for a moment? I would prefer that others not hear us, if possible…”
Mella couldn’t finish her sentence.
That was because I was shaking my head even before she finished speaking.
“…Thank you for the offer, but I’m afraid I must decline.”
“Ah…”
“Actually, His Majesty the Emperor invited me because he has something to discuss with me. I don’t know when His Majesty will be looking for me, so I would like to avoid going somewhere else.”
The young ladies around me were very surprised and opened their mouths at the mention that the Emperor had directly invited me.
Some even seemed to have forgotten to cover their mouths with their fans.
Mella made a regretful expression and nodded.
“I-I see.”
“I hope you have a good time with your proud son today.”
“…Yes, that’s righ-“
“No, let’s join them.”
I turned my gaze towards the voice that suddenly cut in from the side.
I don’t know when it started playing, but the music that was subtly lingering in the party hall suddenly sounded louder.
No, it was that everyone’s voices had disappeared.
I bowed my head.
Mella and the nearby young ladies did the same.
“Your Majesty.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, I wanted to greet you at least once, Baron Salvie.”
The Emperor looked back and forth between me and Mella, then grinned, revealing his white teeth below his beard, and said.
“Countess Boldiras, it’s been a while. I also had something to discuss with Baron Salvie, but how about it, would you like to join us?”
.
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