Episode 171. Where the Sound of Firecrackers Barely Reaches (3)
“Father, what do we do now?”
“I wonder who forged our invitation… …!”
Originally, this was the main hall of the banquet hall. A group of people had gathered there. The two heads of the host family, their vassals, and the main characters of the banquet, Eric and Dahlia.
The atmosphere was not good. It couldn’t be good. Outside the building, the crowd was getting louder. The more it was, the darker the expressions on the faces of the people inside were becoming.
There was no greater disaster than this. Forged invitations of unknown origin were scattered all over Capotini. As a result, a crowd of a thousand people filled the family garden.
“Let’s come up with a plan first, a plan… … .”
The head of the Ielos family muttered, scratching his forehead. However, there was no other solution to the situation.
There are two choices: either cancel the banquet, or start hastily organizing a banquet that will accommodate the crowds outside.
“Butler! Where are the guests now?”
“The distinguished guests are waiting in the guest rooms of the mansion.”
The guests, or the hundred attendees who had received the original invitations, arrived at the banquet hall expecting a quiet and gentle banquet, but were daunted by the overwhelming crowd.
“Some people are very angry. I guess it’s because there are also commoners mixed in.”
“Of course… … .”
“Father, how about we pick out the commoners and kick them out before we start the banquet?”
Eric, who had been quiet, steps forward curiously. His suggestion was so poor that he slammed the table.
“You idiot! There are people from the Capotini administration outside, and professors from the Magic School. Even Principal Keegan, who has been at odds with our family, is here!”
“… … .”
“In that situation, you’re just picking out the commoners and kicking them out? How much do you want to lower your family’s reputation to come up with such an idea!”
At school, even the professors couldn’t do anything about Eric, and class D was full of students who followed him. Here, he had no choice but to back down at the head of the household’s scolding.
Dahlia, who was next to him, held back her laughter as she watched him retreat in a dejected manner.
At that time, the head of the Delinga family stepped forward.
“Lord Ielos. Let’s postpone the banquet for thirty minutes, or rather, an hour. We have no choice but to start preparing now and accommodate everyone.”
“Yes… That would be the best. Fortunately, we’ve already handled events of a thousand people, so I’m sure the vassals will be able to handle it well. Butler!”
The butler stepped forward and answered.
“My lord, please speak.”
“Assemble all the caretakers and laborers in the estate, now! We need to control this large crowd and start the banquet within an hour. Also, make sure everyone gathers, except for the bare minimum of guards.”
“But, my lord, if an accident were to occur somewhere else in the territory, it would be difficult to respond immediately.”
“Do you think there could be anything worse than this accident?”
“… That can’t be true. Okay, I understand.”
The butler bowed to the owner and then went straight out of the building.
The next problem is how to appease the guests. The hundred guests were carefully selected by the two families. They were so prestigious that there was no one in the western part of the continent who did not know their names.
Among them, there were many who were higher in status than Ielos. They were the ones who were currently waiting in the Ielos mansion and venting all sorts of complaints.
They weren’t there to impress Ielos. They were walking with heavy steps, hoping to possibly get a chance to greet Chloe Witherspoon.
As the thought reached the imperial nobility, the head of the Ielos family called out his son’s name.
“Eric!”
“Yes, father.”
“Where is Chloe Witherspoon now? Did she die of disappointment?”
“… … .”
“I don’t know?”
The Ielos family glared again. Even though he was a candidate for the Jang Education Committee, Eric was just an unsatisfactory son to the family. He had inherited only the scarlet hair, and there was nothing about him that he liked.
But then it happened.
Dahlia, who was standing next to me, took a step forward. She, who was also the star of today’s banquet, gently adjusted her beautiful dress and motioned for the right to speak.
“If you have something to say, say it, Miss Dahlia.”
The head of the Ielos family nodded slightly.
Dahlia expressed her gratitude and opened her mouth. At the part where she had to raise Chloe, she couldn’t help but pause without realizing it.
“Right now, Lady Chloe Witherspoon… is waiting on the hill with her Imperial Guard.”
“Hmm, I see.”
I thought that Dahlia was answering what Eric couldn’t answer, but she wasn’t. Dahlia continued speaking.
“Lord Ielos, I have an idea.”
“… … ?”
“A way to melt the hearts of the dissatisfied guests and leave today’s banquet as a positive memory in their minds.”
“what?”
“I will ask Chloe Witherspoon to explain the situation to the guests and calm them down.”
“…her.”
Should we ask the imperial nobility to soften the hearts of the guests?
It was absolutely ridiculous. What on earth could possibly be going through his head to come up with such an idea? It seemed worse than that of a son who was like a fool.
Of course, the Imperial Nobles have that much power. Moreover, the Witherspoon family was particularly popular and powerful among the five Imperial Nobles on the continent.
The famous magical genius and the only daughter of the Witherspoon family. With just one word from her, she could calm down even the most angry nobles.
But isn’t this like waking up a sleeping tiger to calm down angry cats?
With the banquet crowded with people and even commoners mixed in, do you know how the imperial nobility is feeling right now?
“… I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
However, since the Delin family was also there and his vassals were watching, the Ielos family hid their anger. If it had been Eric’s opinion, he would have yelled at them again.
“I am confident, my lord.”
Dahlia didn’t give up. It seemed like she would keep saying the same thing over and over again.
Do you really think this kid is friends with an imperial noble? Even though they are in the same class at the magic school, I didn’t expect his judgment to be this dark.
“Miss Dahlia, this is not a place to act so rashly… … .”
The Ielos had to stop talking mid-sentence because someone walked into the banquet hall building.
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Again, again, again.
The sound of shoes echoed, followed by the sound of a group of footsteps.
‘Chloe Witherspoon?’
The Imperial officer in charge of security walked ahead, followed by Chloe in a dress.
People including the two heads of the household stood in front of Chloe again to face her.
Everyone thought it was coming. It seemed like he had come to scold them for holding back so much.
“Looks like we have a bit of a problem.”
“… I’m sorry to say that, but… … .”
Chloe cut off the Ielos family’s words and turned her gaze towards Dahlia.
“Dahlia, can you explain?”
“Oh, so… there are a lot more people attending the banquet hall than we expected. That’s why the start of the banquet is being delayed for a while.”
“I guess so. There must be at least a thousand people outside.”
At that moment, Chloe remembered Rubin’s words. He said that the banquet hall wouldn’t be able to accommodate the number of attendees. If that was true, then that crowd outside must have been Rubin’s doing.
Suddenly, I got goosebumps.
“It is said that forged invitations were distributed.”
“I thought so… … .”
“… … ?”
Dahlia looked at her with questioning eyes at the expected reaction, and Chloe responded with a soft smile.
“Are you busy with the training?”
At that moment, the Ielos family lowered their bodies again and raised their voices.
“It’s a forged invitation, but I’m preparing a banquet that they can all attend. It won’t take long.”
“Ielos family. First of all, to keep the attendees outside from getting bored, it would be better to provide some entertainment.”
“I will make sure to do that right away.”
“And… how can I help you?”
“yes?”
Chloe turned her gaze back to Dahlia.
“I think there are more people to congratulate you, Dahlia. Hmm… Then should I go and have a chat with the impatient people?”
“Wh, I don’t quite understand what you’re saying… … .”
“Dahlia, I’ll gather the nobles and explain the situation. Otherwise, there’ll be a lot of gossip about the banquet.”
A relieved smile spread across Dahlia’s face. She confidently met the eyes of the Ielos family.
Dahlia didn’t come forward and convince Chloe, but everyone here knew that Chloe was standing up for her friend.
“The nobles are currently staying in the mansion. I will show you around.”
“Thank you, Dahlia.”
The two immediately left the banquet hall building. Chloe was followed by the Imperial Guard.
The crowd that filled the garden parted in an instant. There was no need for an introduction for a wizard escorted by the Imperial Army. Cheers erupted toward her with her blond hair and blue eyes.
Among the crowd were students and professors from the magic school. They readily made way for the two walking towards the mansion and nodded to them as if they knew them.
Away from the crowds, at the top of the stairs leading to the mansion.
“dahlia.”
“…yes?”
“We’re comfortable when we’re together.”
“okay.”
“Have you seen the Oscars?”
In fact, Dahlia didn’t have time for that. She was busy preparing for the banquet until seven o’clock, and by that time she was inside holding a meeting to discuss countermeasures for the unexpected crowd.
“Come to think of it, you probably didn’t have time for that.”
“If it’s Oscar… … .”
“Did you see it?”
“Over there, it’s in front.”
At the end of the stairs leading to the mansion, Oscar was standing. He was constantly wiping away sweat, as if he had been running to make it to the banquet.
“It’s cooler than the last entrance ceremony.”
“The ball gowns back then were really weird.”
I chuckled as I remembered the times when they weren’t all that close.
“I wonder who he’s looking for… It’s obvious who it is.”
Dahlia said, shaking her head.
Oscar was looking around intently, no doubt looking for his roommate.
“Huh… Huh? Huh!”
Oscar couldn’t help but pause for a moment as he saw Chloe and Dahlia walking towards him. The two beautiful and lonely people seemed to be radiating light.
“Hello, Dahlia. Hello, Chloe. You guys are so pretty. It’s like magic.”
An honest reaction that was clearly different from the nobles’ speech. Chloe laughed.
That kid is Perran.
Chloe thought, holding back the laughter that was about to escape with her mouth. The Per she had been looking for was right in front of her. She wanted to check it out right away, but she couldn’t.
There was no need to rush, though. Rubin’s presence, who had set up all the boards, allowed Chloe to relax.
“Oscar, I heard you practiced dancing a lot?”
“Dance practice… Me… ? You don’t know, but I actually have basic knowledge of noble dance and have never practiced before.”
“Really? That’s what Luden said earlier.”
“Luden is here? Where did he go, that guy!”
Rubin’s attendance was something that not only Oscar but also Dahlia was curious about.
The banquet was growing larger than I had imagined, and I thought I might not be able to see Luden’s face until the banquet was over.
But Chloe just hurried away with a puzzled expression. When it came to Rubin, she was at a loss as to what to say.
“Well, I don’t know where it is… Dahlia, let’s go quickly. If we keep going like this, there might be a noble who leaves.”
Then, looking at Oscar, he added a word.
“See you later, Oscar.”
At that one word, Oscar grinned. Now, where Rubin was was less important. Chloe’s last words were far more important than her selfish roommate wandering around alone.
“Just now, Chloe said, ‘See you later.’ Does she really want to dance with me? Or not? No, it’s not like she doesn’t. Because you mentioned dancing earlier, right? So is that it?”
Oscar walked down to the garden with his mouth hanging up to his ears. There were familiar faces from the magic school in the garden.
The faces we meet as we wait for the festival, after a long and turbulent time, are all smiling brightly.
The bandit-like Principal Keegan, the gentle Professor Benitez, the fierce Professor Solana, and even Professor Egeler who gave us flour.
However, even after the banquet began about an hour later, Luden was nowhere to be seen.
* * *
Deep within an abandoned cellar.
Knock, knock, knock… … .
Rubin looks at the burning fire.
By now, the banquet hall will have cleaned up the mess he made with the fake invitation. I have a feeling that Chloe will actively help Dahlia.
Oscar will be busy stirring up the banquet hall, tasting the delicacies and exclaiming in admiration.
Since it is a festival of two successful magic families, there will be many splendid magic shows.
Various scenes from the banquet flashed through Rubin’s mind. They were all imaginary, and he could never enjoy them.
At some point, Rubin cuts off both imagination and thoughts.
‘You’re finally here.’
Within the wide-open dark frame, someone is coming. It seems like they are in a chase. The one in front is Tina, and the one chasing her is Rosenthaler.
Now it was time to put out the fire and prepare for a fight.
He grabbed the dirt from the floor and dropped it onto the fire. With a slap, the fire went out and darkness grew thicker.
Rubin opened his subspace pocket. He reached out his right hand and grabbed the blood frost.
Swaaaaaaah.
Blood Frost began to cry and emit blue light. Rubin’s eyes also briefly glowed in the darkness.
