#057 「Meow!」
Having finished their preparations, a massive golden carriage pulled by a gargoyle came flying in from the sponsor's side. The gargoyle's platinum short fur blended so seamlessly it looked like a top-tier sculpture.
Soon, an armored knight stepped out of the carriage. It was Demian, clad in flashy golden plate armor that gleamed in the light. With a face like he'd cast everything aside, he said,
"Riding in this thing for our entrance... it'd be pretty horrific all around. For me, and for them too."
「Meow!」
Unlike Demian, who looked ready to bolt at any moment, Yaong seemed quite pleased with his role. He tapped at the jewels adorning his wings with paws the size of tree trunks.
「Ahem! Looking pretty noble, huh! Yaong!」
I'd told him to make a gargoyle-like sound, but he'd just been meowing nonstop. At the persistent meows, Demian suggested,
"Since we're doing this, why not make it more menacing?"
「Hm. Grrrrowl.」
"Not bad."
And now there were three beings shining in gold around the mansion. Fontpado Madam, who had been admiring Yaong's true form with her hands neatly clasped, covered her cheeks as they flushed red.
"What do we do! I'm so excited!"
Without hesitation, she headed straight for the carriage. As she ran, it wasn't the flutter of her garments but the clinking of gold leaf bumping together that rang out.
Chezare, who had been silently watching the scene, offered a curt impression.
"Grotesque."
It was the reaction she'd hoped for, so Catherine nodded in satisfaction. But worried about his dignity, she cautiously asked,
"Chezare, are you really okay coming with us like this?"
"What's there to stop me?"
"Still, you're the Grand Duke of Iterana Empire and the king of Christopher Duchy. There's such a thing as face."
Chezare replied in a tone that showed he couldn't care less.
"Isn't the whole point of power to render such face irrelevant? The one who should be worrying about face is Sir Demian, really."
Come to think of it, Demian was imperial blood too.
"......He won't get dragged off for insulting royalty, right?"
Chezare let out a short laugh.
"I'm royalty myself, after all. It won't come to that, but if things get messy, just say I ordered it."
"Reliable as ever."
With Chezare by her side, even the pettiest worries melted away. It felt like getting drunk on power. A sensation she'd only ever felt next to her grandmother.
It's been a while since I last saw Anne, huh?
She wasn't trembling with emotion or anything—zero of that—but she was a little curious. What kind of face would that girl make?
"H-Hey, aren't we heading out soon? I wanna take this off already!"
Demian, who had been shuffling around uncomfortably in his ill-fitting armor, shouted. Catherine shook her head firmly at his complaint.
"We're going to Chen like this."
"Whaaat? Are you nuts?"
Demian came bounding over in a waddle, aghast.
"You want me parading around like this? You're kidding, right? Right?"
"Not kidding."
"How are we supposed to get to Orleans like this? We'll be front-page news! 'Gold-mad clowns heading to Chen!'"
Ignoring Demian's whining, Catherine checked her wristwatch. 12:50 p.m. The banquet started at 1:20, so leaving now would be perfect timing.
"Hey, miss. You're the only one looking normal—ignoring our suffering?"
"Hey now. Why so noisy, Demian boy! If the miss says strip, you strip. Don't get cheeky, you servant......"
"I'm not a servant, lady!"
「Demian's a servant, meow.」
Catherine approached the main gate and unlocked the padlock with the magical key around her neck. Then, shoving open the massive double doors, she called out,
"Quit yapping and get over here."
Excited Yaong hurled Demian and Fontpado Madam into the carriage before scampering over. Chezare followed, naturally offering his arm to Catherine. She took it familiarly.
"Bear with the discomfort a bit, Chezare. Those people would do far more grotesque things just to catch your eye."
At her plea, Chezare flashed his signature gentle smile.
"As if anyone could outdo you."
Me? When have I ever done anything grotesque?
She shot him a glare as she boarded the carriage and passed through the door. In that instant, the sky flipped and the ground inverted. The clear blue sky without a cloud in sight turned to one overcast with murky gray clouds.
They had crossed the main gate and arrived in Chen Viscountcy.
Eek! Someone let out a strangled gasp.
A servant guarding the Chen mansion's main gate freaked out at their sudden appearance and yelled,
"Wh-Who are you!"
Catherine pulled the invitation from her bag and held it out the window.
"I'm Anne's sister, Catherine Orleans. Here for today's wedding."
The servant checked the invitation without dropping his guard.
"Th-The invitation says Magi Orleans?"
"I'm their older sister."
"Pardon? Sorry, but no invitation, no entry......"
"Hey."
Catherine thrust Chezare's face forward for the troublesome servant to see. Chezare met the servant's eyes and gave a charming smile.
"Take a good look at this drop-dead gorgeous face. Ring any bells?"
The servant's eyes remained blankly confused as he scrutinized Chezare. No good. Catherine pulled out a neatly folded newspaper from her bag and held it up next to Chezare's face. His portrait and name were splashed across it in huge letters.
The servant soon yelped and bowed deeply.
"Gr-Grand Duke Ch-Che-Che-Chezare Ch-Ch-Ch-Christopher!"
"We're not weirdos. Unless you want to tell Viscount Chen you turned away Grand Duke Chezare, just let us in."
"O-Of course! Welcome!"
The carriage passed through the gate without issue. Chezare let out a deflating chuckle.
"When did you plant that article?"
"This morning. Want to see? Headline's 「As Expected of the Legend! Grand Duke Chezare Saves the Super-Luxury Cruise Lilith Ship!」."
I'd prepared it in advance for exactly this.
"Getting wiser."
"What? In how to use you?"
Chezare just smiled quietly instead of answering. Catherine admired his features, a fantastical harmony with his smile, and continued,
"Chezare, I looked into Viscount Chen yesterday."
"Looked into? How so?"
"Naturally! I gave a little hint. A teeeeny tiny one."
Fontpado Madam whispered softly, leaning her head on Catherine's shoulder. Chezare crossed his arms and replied,
"Gossip about him usually splits two ways. Either the sheer number of his mistresses—too many to count on ten fingers—or Chen Romance rumors."
Chen Romance was the high-end clothing brand founded by the Chen family. Catherine's interest aligned with the second one he'd mentioned.
"Chen Romance is pretty famous even among noble ladies...... Turns out all seven branches are in your territory."
"Thirty years ago, the previous Viscount Chen begged me for investment. I gave him land instead of cash."
Half of Chezare's territory consisted of Iterana's premier metropolises. The Chen family's main business, Chen Romance apparel, had footholds in those key cities and raked in massive profits. Meaning if Chezare reclaimed his investment, it would devastate Chen Romance.
Catherine asked casually,
"So, wanna give me that land?"
Chezare's reply was simple.
"Sure."
She'd figured he'd agree without question, but...
In a somewhat puzzled tone, Catherine asked,
"Isn't it bound by contract? Can't just take it back right away."
"True, but the contract's ending soon. No issue getting it back. In about two weeks."
"Ah, got it. Thanks."
"This much is nothing."
Fontpado Madam, who'd been listening, spoke up with a serious expression.
"Um... miss and Your Grace. You're promised to each other for the future, right? Otherwise, land deeds wouldn't swap hands like chess pieces."
Catherine responded casually, as if used to such questions by now.
"Chezare and I have promised more than just the future."
"Gasp. More? What's more—body and heart? Flesh and soul?"
"Something like that."
"Oh my devil! So romantic! Fantastically so—I'm swooning! Invite me to the wedding!"
Fontpado Madam blushed and smacked Demian's arm. No idea what she was imagining, but her soul belonging to Chezare was accurate enough. Chezare didn't seem to mind how Catherine answered.
Guests were arriving thick and fast; carriages beyond their golden one streamed across the long driveway toward the mansion. Their common trait: craning necks out windows to check Catherine's carriage. A massive scream echoed from somewhere.
"Oh my, look at them. They must want to say hi!"
Lost in happy delusion, Fontpado Madam stuck her upper body out the window and waved enthusiastically.
「Grrrowl.」
"Kyaaah!"
Upon reaching the mansion front, servants standing in rows and chatting guests fainted and fled. With the outdoor wedding in the garden, the scattering crowd was huge.
"Halt!"
Waiting knights rushed out en masse, blocking the golden carriage—or rather, Yaong. An old mage in robes was among them. The rumors of their wealth weren't empty; mages didn't come cheap.
Reassured by him, a bold guest shouted from afar,
"Bringing a dangerous beast to the wedding! Who's manning the gate! Drive it out now!"
Others chimed in one by one.
"Defiling the wedding with ill omens......!"
"Who dares bring a monster to Viscount Chen's wedding?"
"Let's see that insolent fool's face!"
Yaong yawned massively at the spear-wielding knights threatening him. They flinched and stepped back.
「Yaaawwn〜」
Yaong scratched his ear with a hind paw—a bored gesture. Soon, an elderly noble came huffing out of the mansion. His massive gut jiggled up and down with each step, threatening his shirt buttons. The ornate party attire marked him as Viscount Chen.
"Hey! Who is it! Who dares bring an ominous monster into my Chen territory!"
The servant who'd come late to report Chezare's arrival fidgeted anxiously and ran to the viscount. But the viscount shoved him away irritably and bellowed,
"Chase out that ominous beast! Now!"
Just as they prepared to disembark with Viscount Chen arrived...
"Ominous monster? Ominous my foot! How dare that young pig slander my precious kitty!"
Fontpado Madam, who'd been giggling, suddenly hardened her expression and hopped out first. Demian followed with a shit-eating grimace. Catherine had insisted they stick together. Way more intimidating that way.
The sight of the madam—who could pass for a young miss—berating the old man was uniquely bizarre. Chezare watched with crossed arms, thoroughly entertained.
"Kissing the cat I pampered for two days...... The Chens have no manners for guests!"
Viscount Chen's face turned red then purple. Hard to tell if it was her words or her outfit that enraged him. He stomped and pointed at the knights.
"What are you doing! Drive out that lunatic in the horrific dress! You, mage! Deal with that monster now!"
Knights and guests turned to the mage. But his earlier bravado was gone. He hemmed and hawed, then bowed politely to Fontpado Madam.
"F-Fontpado Madam, is that you?"
She crossed her arms and snorted.
With the gold-leaf beauty in her glittering dress and the knight in golden armor beside her, the intimidation was off the charts.
"Hmph! You know who I am. Quite the mage, aren't you?"
"Oh, mercy...... Of course! I'm a junior from the Northern Tower where you served!"
"Oh ho. No wonder you carry yourself well—a protégé of mine?"
"Your fame's worn blisters in my ears! Haha! If it's Fontpado Madam's monster, you've tamed it perfectly. We're at ease—no issue at all!"
Declaring it loudly for all to hear, the mage rushed to Viscount Chen and whispered. The viscount's face cycled through emotions rapidly. He snapped at the mage,
"Even so, a monster at my wedding? No way! Great personages arrive soon! Absolutely not!"
The mage sweated bullets, persuading the pig viscount.
"Your Excellency, please reconsider. Fontpado Madam is a mage recognized by the imperial court. Not someone you meet easily."
"......How great exactly?"
Glancing at the madam, the mage whispered again. Chezare, watching like it was a play, finally spoke.
"Just knowing that lady will be a huge boon for Your Excellency. She's a bit of a mad fangirl, but her connections are top-tier in Iterana. Ties to the imperial family too. She could upend the capital's playgrounds! ......Or so he says."
"Thanks for the translation."
Honestly, this was way more entertaining than the play Chezare had shown her days ago. He'd have to agree.
The mage's persuasion worked; Viscount Chen switched expressions, beaming widely.
"Aigoo, my mistake, Fontpado Madam! I didn't recognize you and acted the fool. Hey, lower those spears aimed at Madam's cute kitty right now!"