Chapter 103

Chapter 103:  Social Gathering Party (1)

The sun was starting to sink beyond the mountains, dyeing the sky in shades of orange.

In the front yard of the Daphne Viscounty Estate.

“Huuuwaaahm… so sleepy.”

“Sir Gadolph, what did we get summoned for today?”

“Well, I’m not sure either. I haven’t heard the details yet.”

Along with Gadolph, there were over a dozen of the Daphne Viscounty’s servants, the retainers, Malion, and even the knights…

In total, there were sixty to seventy people lined up.

Creeeak!

At that moment, the mansion door opened, and Viscount Cobalt stepped out with his hands behind his back.

Beside him was also the Great Young Master Hardin.

“Is everyone gathered?”

“Yes.”

When Malion answered on behalf of everyone, Viscount Cobalt cleared his throat and continued.

“Some of you may already know, but… there’s an announcement to be made, so I gathered you all here.”

‘An announcement? At this hour?’

‘What’s going on?’

The servants tilted their heads in confusion, and Cobalt went on.

“A week from now, our family will be hosting a social gathering party.”

“…What?”

“A… social party?”

Those gathered in the front yard exchanged puzzled murmurs.

What exactly was a social party?

It was where young noble ladies dressed themselves to the fullest for their debutante, wealthy and powerful figures gathered to strengthen friendships, keep each other in check, and in the gardens behind, some exchanged rosy relationships…

It was the very embodiment of splendor, the sort one would only read about in court novels.

And now… our family was going to host one?

‘A party? Seriously?’

‘And all of a sudden?’

While everyone was bewildered, Cobalt continued.

“This will be held in Mudside, to celebrate the opening of the trade port. And in honor of this celebration…”

He clenched his fist for a moment, then raised his voice a notch higher as he spoke.

“Her Highness, Fourth Princess Medeia, has agreed to grace the occasion.”

“P-Princess Medeia?”

“Her Highness… is attending?”

The servants’ eyes widened.

“L-Lord, that’s going too far for a joke. Ha ha!”

When Gadolph scratched his head and said this, Hardin, who had been silently watching, raised his hand to stop him and spoke.

“It’s not a joke. Her Highness is in Mudside right now.”

“Really? Not just someone with the name ‘Princess,’ but the actual imperial princess? The noble bloodline of God Faeron?”

“That’s right.”

“But why? Why would such a precious person come to a backwater place like this?”

As Gadolph fussed over it, Hardin walked up to him with a grin and then…

Smaaack!

“Aaagh! Why—why’d you hit me?!”

Hardin smacked him right on the crown of his head and shouted with his fist still clenched.

“Hey! Why are you calling this place a backwater?”

“W-Well, if it’s a backwater, what else am I supposed to call it?”

At that, Viscount Cobalt, who had paused for a moment, smiled faintly and continued speaking.

“I know full well that this is sudden and that the schedule is tight.”

“……”

“But this event will be the starting point to show that our Daphne is not the same as before. So I want everyone… to feel both pride and responsibility as you take on this task.”

We were really going to hold a social party? And the Princess herself would attend?

While the servants stood frozen in confusion, Viscount Cobalt turned his head slightly and continued.

“Malion and the retainers will send invitations to the surrounding nobles, merchant guilds, and trading companies—anyone in Luden Shire who would be likely to attend a social gathering. Prepare so that the budget and supplies for the party are provided in time. Since time is short, we must move quickly.”

“Yes!”

Malion and the retainers bowed their heads in response.

“Also, the knights will do their utmost to ensure there are no disruptions in carrying out the preparations. Especially since Her Highness will attend, security must be handled with the utmost care, leaving no room for any breach.”

“Leave it to us.”

At the very front of the knights’ formation, Former Commander Mulgybson gave a slight smile and bowed, showing his resolve.

“That’s all I have to say. Report directly to me if you need support or encounter an urgent matter. Dismissed.”

“Yes!”

When Viscount Cobalt raised his hand as he spoke—

“All right, follow me! We’re going straight into the operational meeting!”

“Sir Engelmann, can you prepare all the food and supplies in time?”

“Mmngh… I’ll do my best. As long as we can get the list made by the end of today, nothing’s entirely impossible…”

Everyone began chattering noisily as they moved with busy steps.

In less than a few minutes, the front yard was emptied, leaving only Hardin and the lord standing there.

Hardin glanced at the lord, exhaling sharply through his nose.

‘Well, set the stage and they know how to handle the rest.’

Yes, this was how a lord of a house should be.

After all, a lord’s capability wasn’t just about personally handling administrative work.

A lord was someone who set the direction for those gathered under the banner of the house, and enabled them to reach that goal.

That was a true lord—and Cobalt was fulfilling that role quite well.

‘Lord Valter, are you watching?’

Your younger descendants… have made it at least this far.

Though, thanks to that, I’ve had to work my tail off…

Hardin gave a faint smile, then placed his hand on his head and started walking.

“Phew, busy, busy. Well then, I suppose I should get to work myse—”

It was then.

“Hardin, before you go… can I ask you something?”

“Mm? What is it?”

“I’m curious… was there some other intention behind suggesting the social party?”

“I already told you. It’s partly to celebrate the port opening, and since they’re setting out on a long journey, it’s also serving as a departure ceremony…”

“Hardin.”

Cobalt called his name with an oddly firm expression and voice.

‘Tch, just take it at face value.’

Couldn’t he just get it without making me spell it out like this? Making me say it outright feels cheap.

Hardin scratched his forehead, then let out a sharp exhale through his nose.

“Why else? Because it’ll make money.”

“Hm? What?”

When Cobalt blinked, Hardin waved his finger and continued.

“Think about it. If Princess Medeia comes to a port-opening party, what do you think these country bumpkins around here will think?”

“Well, they’d think our family has some sort of connection to Her Highness…”

“That’s the first thing, sure. But don’t you think they’d suspect there’s more to it?”

“What do you mean?”

“A member of the imperial family invests ten million gold and personally attends the port-opening party? From the perspective of other houses, what are they going to think?”

“That there must be some special reason for it…?”

When Cobalt finally seemed to get it, Hardin nodded and went on.

“Exactly. They’ll think there’s something special about this port. Something so impressive that a princess would visit and invest in it. And once rumors like that spread throughout the region, what do you think will happen?”

“It’ll be an opportunity to make our port known.”

“Exactly. Much better than getting tangled up with garbage like the Red Ear Merchant Guild, don’t you think?”

“……”

Viscount Cobalt furrowed his brow and asked.

“Hardin, did you plan for all of this?”

“For what?”

“That Her Highness would visit, and that she’d agree to attend the social party. Is that why you drove out the Red Ear Merchant Guild?”

Hardin met Cobalt’s gaze for a moment, then quickly waved his hand dismissively.

“Come on, how could anyone know all that? I’m not some fortune-teller.”

“But still…”

“It’s luck. Pure luck. Things just happened to fall into place.”

“Luck, you say?”

“Ahem, well, I’ll be going now.”

Cutting the conversation short, Hardin turned his back and walked away.

‘Hardin…’

Viscount Cobalt watched his retreating figure, an expression of puzzlement forming on his face.

---

At sunrise.

In front of a restaurant near the Mudside coast.

At an outdoor table sat Princess Medeia and her aide, Benjamin.

Benjamin sipped tea from the table as he stared vacantly out toward the distant sea, while Princess Medeia sat quietly, reading a book.

Was it an awkward silence? Or simply the quiet of the morning being enjoyed?

That subtle stillness stretched on for a while until the restaurant owner approached and asked,

“Is there anything that’s inconvenient? Perhaps more food, or another pot of tea…?”

He wore a painfully awkward smile, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Anyone could see he was utterly tense.

Benjamin waved his hand lightly and replied,

“It’s fine. The food is generally good. And the tea has a proper aroma.”

“Th-thank you! Please let us know anytime if you need anything!”

“Sure. I’ll speak up if I do.”

The owner bent his back nearly at a right angle before quickly disappearing from sight.

Benjamin then set his now-empty teacup on the table and cast several sidelong glances at Medeia.

Rustle—

At that moment, Medeia turned a page of her book and spoke in a dry voice.

“If you have something to say, then say it.”

“…It’s just that I find the current situation a bit surprising.”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t Your Highness always say you detest things like social parties?”

Benjamin thought back on past memories.

— Where has Princess Medeia gone?

— Ah, she just left.

The Medeia he knew was someone who loathed social gatherings.

Yet now she had agreed to attend a party hosted by a small, remote family—at this particular time, no less…

‘I can’t make sense of it.’

Seeing the doubt on Benjamin’s face, Medeia spoke.

“Well, I can’t put it precisely into words…”

“…Yes.”

“Let’s just say I got caught up in it. By that arrogant man.”

“Caught up? You, of all people, Your Highness?”

Medeia frowned slightly as she replied.

“Well, there won’t be anything like this again, so there’s no need to worry.”

“It’s not that I’m worried…”

“Then what is it?”

“Ahem, nothing. I think that’s answer enough.”

“Dry response.”

Medeia returned her gaze to the book.

‘…So that’s how it is.’

Benjamin stared down at his empty teacup for a moment, reaching his own conclusion. Then he slowly raised his head again and asked,

“By the way.”

“What now?”

“What’s the novel you’re reading?”

“Keryllin Saga.”

“Ah… the one that was briefly popular among the knights?”

“Yes. A trivial piece of writing, really.”

‘Keryllin… huh.’

A bitter look crossed Benjamin’s face.

It was the story of a boy named Keryllin, born as a child of God but, unlike his siblings, without any special abilities—forced to endure all manner of persecution and humiliation.

During his travels, he met a teacher who enlightened him, and he returned home as a hero. A typical hero’s saga.

“Fuuuuh…”

Benjamin rose from his seat and addressed the princess.

“Your Highness Medeia.”

“What is it?”

“Would it be all right if I stepped out for a bit of fresh air?”

“Where are you going?”

When Medeia tilted her head slightly and asked, Benjamin gave a faint smile.

“I’m curious to see how the party preparations are coming along. And while I’m out… I’d like to chat here and there.”

“Unusual behavior for you.”

“Sometimes people have moments like that, don’t they? Just like… Your Highness right now.”

“…”

Medeia stared at him in silence for a moment before sighing.

“Well, do as you please.”

“Yes.”

With that, Benjamin left the restaurant.

Watching his back as he departed, Medeia took a deep breath.

“Like me, you say?”

What an insolent thing to say.

She muttered under her breath so quietly that no one could hear.

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