Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: The Dvayer Count's Extravagance
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The Dvayer Count family was said to have been born with a silver tongue for commerce across generations.
Riding on the wealth piled up by their forebears, the current Count had climbed as high as the Northern Finance Director and seized real power to boot.
True to that reputation, the Dvayer Count's residence overflowed with colors so vibrant they overwhelmed anyone who laid eyes on it.
"This is Saintess Agnes's portrait, isn't it?"
"You recognized it at a glance. There's something different about top graduates from the main family's education program."
"I heard the Western Duke's family holds the original."
"I bought it myself! Our Dvayer Count family has booming logistics ties with the West. It was payment for procuring a sculpture His Grace the Western Duke had been seeking..."
The corridor, filled with lavish holy paintings gilded with gold leaf paint and statues of saints, looked less like a count's manor and more like a temple.
"I've never seen a tapestry this massive."
The tapestry that drew Lavinia's admiration was enormous enough to dominate anyone who beheld it.
"Right? Western weavers spent a full three years crafting it."
"Made from Argiopé monster silk, isn't it?"
"Exactly. You've got a good eye, Lavinia."
"Argiopé silk can only be harvested from adult Argiopé, and even then, you get just one skein per year per beast. Plus, it's naturally a pearlescent purple hue, so achieving these vivid colors must have required some special..."
The might of a monster enthusiast was formidable.
She could prattle on endlessly about the strength and beauty of Argiopé silk the whole way down the corridor.
Watching her, the Dvayer Count barely concealed his flustered expression.
'I get it, I really do.'
We walked between the exotic-patterned tapestries and holy images until we finally reached the dining hall where food had been laid out.
It was just in time, as hunger was setting in.
"This braised lamb has such a unique flavor."
Dietrich, who had gulped down a huge chunk of lamb the moment he sat, complimented it like a proper guest, prompting the Count to shrug boastfully.
"It's because we use spices only found in the West."
Western paintings, Western fabrics, Western spices.
How many times had we heard about the West already?
Was this the North or the West?
"I've heard the Morten Merchant Guild rakes in massive profits selling spices imported from the West."
"My brother-in-law has quite the eye for business."
Erich, who had naturally brought up the Morten Guild, was about to add more when the Dvayer Count leaned toward me with feigned nonchalance, cutting him off.
"Oh, right—didn't you say Mariella's been learning to ride lately?"
"Yes."
"Perfect timing, then. The Dvayer knights are holding formal mounted training in three days. Why not come watch?"
"Mounted training?"
"Yes. Ever seen a polo match? I was thinking of enjoying one for fun."
The Dvayer Count family, a sizable vassal house, maintained its own knight order, but I recalled it wasn't particularly elite.
Just enough to handle local security.
The Count urged me with a smile, but decisions like this weren't mine to make.
Our group's leader was Erich.
I didn't answer right away and glanced at Erich instead. The Count's gaze followed mine.
"Come on, Erich, don't be like that. Join us—the kids are so excited."
His real aim wasn't impressing me; it was prying Erich away from the audit records for even a day.
Erich, staring coolly at the Count, nodded slowly.
'Even during this open audit period, the other's the head of a longstanding vassal house loyal to the ducal family for ages.'
It was hard to outright ignore a request masked as hospitality from a powerful vassal like the Dvayer Count when no suspicions had surfaced.
The Count burst into hearty laughter and raised his glass.
"You brought knights from Rommel County for escort this time?"
"Yes."
"How about a friendly polo match? We could see the famed Rommel knights in action."
Perhaps worried about sending just the kids off alone, Dad had assigned us fifteen elite knights, including Kira and Peter.
Kira was even now standing behind us with two or three other knights.
Erich glanced up briefly at Kira.
Seeing her eyes blaze with competitive fire, he slowly nodded and turned back to the Count.
"Very well."
"Excellent! We'll learn a thing or two this time!"
The dining hall filled with the Count's booming laughter.
The site where the Dvayer knights held their regular mounted training was a riding ground on the outskirts.
The men went with Stefan, while Lavinia and I rode in a carriage with Saskia straight to the grounds.
"Look over there, Mariella! Is that a permanent market?"
True to its fame for commerce, the permanent market frequented by commoners was impressively large.
Lavinia gazed sparkling-eyed at the roadside stalls and shops en route to the riding grounds.
Saskia chuckled briefly at her expression, then schooled her face into seriousness.
'She loves seeing visitors marvel at her territory.'
Saskia and I weren't close, but moments like this made her seem every bit the child.
Bustling voices poured through the carriage window cracks.
Amid the lively din, what particularly caught my ear was the songs called out by oddly dressed folk stationed one or two per major shop.
Rabbit masks over there, pierrots here. Was there a parade?
"What are you staring at?"
"Those people. Is there a festival?"
Saskia peeked where I pointed and smirked.
"It's called an advertising play. First time seeing one?"
"Advertising play?"
"Quaint, right? They hire actors or singers to promote their wares like that—with plays or songs."
"Does it actually boost sales?"
"Doesn't the size of our permanent market tell you?"
...If it truly spurred commerce, maybe we should introduce advertising plays in our territory too?
After the polo match, I should take a stroll through the shopping district.
No matter how uncomfortable the Dvayer Count made me, there were lessons to learn.
As I mulled it over, mentally crunching numbers, the scenery shifted, and we passed the flashy streets to arrive at the riding grounds.
'Dvayer Riding Grounds.'
The Dvayer Count, who had arrived ahead of us, approached with a genial smile to help us alight from the carriage.
Behind him stood a functionary in red riding attire.
"Since we have such esteemed guests, let's show you the stables."
"What's in the stables?"
"My beautiful Thoroughbred collection! You can't imagine the effort to source those purple-tinged horses favored by the desert nomads on the Western frontier."
Western horses again.
Saskia lifted her chin haughtily at the Count's words.
"The best of them is my Lightning."
"Of course. Lightning suits my daughter's elegance perfectly. It's small now, but by the time Saskia's of age, it'll be much larger."
He must be awfully confident.
It was amusing how even Saskia subtly boasted along with her father.
Lavinia and I followed the stable manager.
He said the place opened to general nobility when no training was underway.
True enough, even the stable pillars were embossed with grapevines, reeking of money.
"There. My Lightning."
Saskia halted before a horse gleaming with milky luster.
It was certainly worth her endless bragging.
Smaller than a fully grown horse, but picture-perfect in beauty.
Even its mane shimmered with golden highlights...
"It's pretty."
"You have an eye for it."
Saskia's lips twitched at the praise for her horse.
"Well, if you really want, you can ride Lightning later."
That sounded less like an offer and more like a boast of a single ride.
Lavinia and I exchanged covert glances behind the beaming Saskia, barely stifling our laughter.