082 - Collecting the Overdue Debt (3)
In the waiting room set up in one corner of the annex palace, the two shed their armor and donned formal attire.
Laila attended to Calix.
Having once served as his exclusive maid, she was exceedingly proficient at it.
Once fully dressed, Calix grumbled in front of the full-length mirror.
"Hmm... isn't this a bit embarrassing?"
The pants clung to him almost like tights, making it hard for someone with modern fashion sensibilities to adjust.
"What are you talking about, young master? It suits you perfectly. The noble ladies at the party might all faint. Hohoho!"
Marie showered him with praise.
"To be honest... I was worried about your slender features, but surprisingly, you exude such masculine charm. What a relief."
"Masculine charm? Where?"
Calix followed Marie's gaze, realized it led to his crotch, and quickly turned away.
"This won't do. Bring the coat I ordered the other day."
"Are you really going to wear that? You've even had your coming-of-age ceremony. You should start thinking about finding a good match for marriage."
"No marriage plans for the foreseeable future, so hurry up and fetch what I asked for."
"But still..."
As Marie persisted in her persuasion, Laila brought over a deep navy long coat.
"Here it is."
It was finished with gold thread edging and embroidered with the Szczecin family's signature lion crest.
Originally ordered not for parties like this but to wear over everyday clothes on chilly days.
But unable to adapt to the party attire's design that emphasized his privates, Calix decided to throw this on instead.
"...It suits you better than I thought."
Marie pouted that her opinion hadn't been heeded but couldn't hide her admiration.
Calix's looks were so outstanding that even clothes utterly divorced from fashion didn't feel out of place.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Knock knock.
The person who entered after the knock was a royal chamberlain in charge of conducting the party.
"Lord Calix of House Szczecin. It is time for your entrance."
"Got it. Heading in now."
Calix hurried out, lest Marie cling to her regrets.
"The honorable winner of the Knight Tournament, Baron Calix Szczecin enters!"
As the chamberlain announced him, he stepped into the party hall, drawing the gazes of countless people.
The first to approach was Viscount Raslipf.
Thanks to owning the kingdom's second-largest port, he had amassed considerable wealth through maritime trade and served as the financial backbone of the First Prince's faction.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Viscount Raslipf."
"First time meeting. Calix Szczecin."
"Now that you've been formally recognized as heir, I should call you Baron Calix. Congratulations on your tournament victory, Baron."
"Thank you."
"Come now, gatherings like this with all the kingdom's nobles are rare. Plenty of people I can introduce you to—follow me."
True to a lord whose domain relied heavily on commerce, Viscount Raslipf was affable and jovial.
His connections were vast, and just handling the people he introduced ate up the time.
The last was Duke Otumur Nemibier, de facto head of the First Prince's faction.
"Calix of House Szczecin greets Your Grace the Duke."
"Mm, good to see you. Now I see you take after him quite a bit."
"After whom...?"
"Just mumbling to myself—pay it no mind. More importantly, I'm curious why you postponed your succession. Care to share?"
"I simply felt it was time to focus on training."
"Hmph, you take after your father there. Count Collin treated his domain like discarded baggage when he was alive—said it stole time from his training."
"Haha... is that so."
"But take care. Even as regent, sitting in the lord's seat too long breeds greed."
"I trust Russell."
"Of course he's an excellent knight. But parasites whispering sweet temptations are everywhere. If you think inheriting blue blood means you can claim the lordship without preparation... it won't be easy."
"...Thank you for the advice. I'll keep it in mind."
"In that sense, this gathering might be a fine opportunity. You could gain a solid patron."
"A patron... you say?"
As Calix tilted his head, the duke nodded toward one side.
There, noble ladies were peeking their way while chattering.
Only then did Calix grasp what the duke meant by "patron."
"Your position isn't fully secure yet. Taking a fine wife as sturdy backing wouldn't hurt."
"Ugh, I'm not quite..."
"Such confidence. Well, the privilege of youth. Oh dear, push further and we'll earn the ire of those glaring ladies. Go enjoy the party now."
Duke Otumur turned away fully, as if done speaking.
Viscount Raslipf stepped forward with a slight bow, right on cue.
"I'll escort you, Your Grace."
With the high nobles of the First Prince's faction departed, tension rippled through the noble ladies.
The first to receive a dance from Calix would be the party's heroine, after all.
But their hopes soon shattered.
Another interloper had appeared.
"The ruler of Lake Mor Riona, His Highness Archduke Cezare Lavaro enters!"
The belatedly arriving Archduke Cezare scanned the hall upon entry, then strode straight for Calix.
"Your exploits left quite an impression."
"Good to see you again, Your Highness."
"Congratulations once more on your tournament win."
"Thank you."
Watching the two converse amiably, the daughters of noble houses bit their lips, realizing their turns were delayed yet again.
Of all times!
How long do I have to wait? Ugh, I need the bathroom...
But their ire toward the archduke didn't last.
But they're both so handsome... hehe.
Can't... can't hate them!
Picture-perfect, just pictures.
Some even thought it for the best.
At least it's not some other girl getting picked over me...
If one of those gets chosen by some fluke... she'll lord it over everyone later. Better to just enjoy the eye candy. Hmph!
A few spun secret fantasies.
The two of them... together?
Rivals with that knight they entered with?
Oh my oh my!
Quite accustomed to such stares, Archduke Cezare paid them no heed.
Without shifting his gaze from Calix, he cut straight to it.
"I said at the opening ceremony: I'd offer talented knight candidates a chance to become my disciple. Even teach you the mana breathing method I used in my youth, if you wished."
"Mm, I remember."
"I hear you requested a three-year deferral on your succession. Well done."
"Pardon?"
"Three years is a tad short, but... everyone starts that way."
The archduke's words reached nearby nobles' ears.
Did I hear right? He's taking that Calix as disciple?
No way he's serious...!
Why does he get that luck? Damn it!
A buzz spread in concentric circles around Calix and Archduke Cezare.
Then, abruptly, silence fell like a tomb.
All waited for Calix's reply.
"I..."
A booming voice rang out then.
"His Majesty the King enters!"
Every noble in the hall straightened and bowed toward the staircase to the second floor.
Down the red-carpeted stairs descended Clibuo Krakuf, sovereign of Lock Kingdom.
"Hohoho, can't you see the young ladies pining to dance with this boy? Even stealing the kingdom's future pillars should follow order."
King Clibuo spoke with a laugh, like a jest, but the hall froze instantly.
Anyone could sense the thorns in his words.
It didn't faze Archduke Cezare, though.
"Hahaha! Is that so? But the kingdom's future can't be guarded by demanding loyalty alone. Talented souls deserve fitting rewards. At least in our Lavaro Archduchy."
"Hmph! Can a mere duchy the size of one of Lock Kingdom's provinces offer sufficient recompense?"
"Heh heh, land isn't everything. I hear your duchy earns far less gold annually than ours."
As sparks flew between them, everyone in the hall broke into cold sweats.
Calix couldn't just play ignorant.
The three-year deferral hadn't been at Cezare's suggestion to begin with.
They were both misunderstanding.
"Pardon the interruption... but I love my domain. My request to Your Majesty was merely to avoid training disruptions—I've not decided on studying in Lavaro Archduchy."
"Quite right. Forcing favor on the unwilling is improper. Best moderate yourself, Archduke."
"Hm..."
Seeing Calix's unwavering eyes, Archduke Cezare realized he wasn't refusing out of deference to the king.
He shrugged lightly.
"If that's your view, so be it. But our doors remain open. I honor my word. Come find me if you change your mind."
"Ahaha, grateful for the kindness."
Truth be told, Calix was a bit tempted.
A chance to become disciple to a class 7 who would reach class 8 in a decade—the absolute pinnacle—was rare.
Had this been a first playthrough without clearing Heroes Destiny even once, he might have seized it.
But now, cons outweighed pros.
Entering as disciple meant no outside activity until reaching a certain level.
Being someone's disciple meant inheriting their enemies' grudges too.
Wandering freely could draw foes beyond his capacity.
With turbulent times ahead, holing up in archducal lands for training would be greater loss.