Chapter 475: The Golden Goblin(3)
Chapter 475: The Golden Goblin(3)
Social gatherings served as the meeting grounds where nobles, scattered across the country, converged.
While the nobility of the Minerva Empire accounted for only about 0.05% of the population, the sheer size of the empire meant their numbers were still quite substantial. Furthermore, while some nobles served as lords managing territories under the Emperor's authority, such cases were exceptionally rare. Most functioned more like high-ranking civil servants, each holding specific responsibilities and powers, forming the very backbone of the political landscape.
Commoners could also hold positions in the civil service or political sectors, but they remained a small minority. Politics, in particular, was a field where commoners found almost no room to squeeze in—at least within the Minerva Empire. In the Ters Republic, a Commoners' Assembly existed, allowing them to participate in governance, but the Empire wasn't there yet. There were rumors of introducing a council, but for now, it was all talk.
The reason there were no outcries of dissatisfaction despite this was that the administration and national politics remained remarkably stable.
Regardless, a social gathering where powerful nobles—even those without land—gathered was a significant event. Moreover, since this party was hosted by the only Ducal family in the Empire, a diverse array of aristocrats flocked to attend.
From Counts wielding substantial practical power to celebrities who dictated fashion trends, famous philosophers, and rising stars of the nobility, the gathering was a microcosm of society. Just as the world is filled with all sorts of people, the nobility was no different; the only distinction lay in whether they were blunt or countered with elegant wit.
"That dark skin of yours is as swarthy as ever, I see."
"And you? Looking at that pale face of yours, I take it you’ve been eating and sleeping well?"
Of course, there were those who didn't fit the elegant mold—most notably, those from military families. By the nature of their lineage, they were forced to lead rugged lives, and that didn't change even after learning etiquette. Above all, to practice noblesse oblige, a tradition dictated that men must serve as knights for at least five years. Naturally, they were seasoned by actual combat and various hardships.
Marquis Mathews, who oversaw the North, and Marquis Götz, who commanded the southern seas, stood together. While Marquis Mathews had pale skin, Marquis Götz possessed a sun-drenched, bronze complexion befitting a sailor. Their contrasting skin tones were striking, but what truly drew the eye were their uniforms. Their shoulders bore the epaulettes reserved only for commanders, and the very design of their attire exuded dignity.
"Is Marquis Klose not coming?"
Götz, a man whose thick brown beard made him look more like a pirate than a member of the Navy, spoke as he scanned the room. All around them, nobles boasting radiant beauty were engaged in conversation, but the person he was looking for was nowhere to be found.
Marquis Mathews replied while swirling the wine in his glass. The liquid inside spun into a miniature vortex.
"He said he’s absent today because the movements in Stavirk are suspicious. For some reason, they’re buying up all sorts of materials, including iron."
"Are they forging weapons? Those fellows always were good with their hands."
"It’s not certain yet. But they bear watching."
Stavirk was a region with a burgeoning independence movement, and the Minerva Empire kept a close eye on it. Originally, the Empire maintained control due to the peninsula's geographical characteristics, but at some point, it slipped from their grasp and began clamoring for independence. Even so, the Empire couldn't afford to pour precious manpower into the area, so they were currently settling for mere containment.
"Commanders."
"Oh! Viscount Kalas!"
Götz’s face brightened as a man with thick lips and bright, alert eyes approached. It was Viscount Kalas. Marquis Mathews, caught between the two, quietly closed his eyes. He had a feeling things were about to get loud.
"Have you been well? I heard those northern barbarians are acting up again."
"I’m doing quite well, thanks to Marquis Mathews' consideration. The barbarians are the same as always. And how about you, Marquis Götz?"
"Don't even get me started. Between the pirates and the smugglers, it’s been a headache."
Marquis Götz laughed heartily and waved his hand dismissively. One might wonder why they used the sea at all if it was so closely linked to demons. Why did a navy and pirates even exist if navigation wasn't fully developed?
The reason was simple: the sea was worth risking one's life for. Humans are naturally adventurous, a race that throws itself into danger. As perilous as the sea was, it was a region that offered rewards in equal measure. Of course, 'long-distance voyages' like those of Earth's Columbus were out of the question, and the Minerva Empire had no real need for them anyway. Coastal sailing wasn't that dangerous, and the value of the trade made merchant ships a common sight.
"Still, none of that matters in front of a cannon! Once you smash their ship, they all become fish food! Gwahahaha!"
"You truly understand, sir. Cannons are the definition of firepower itself."
"Indeed! Exactly! The amount of gunpowder required is a problem, but there’s nothing like a cannon for wiping out those pirate bastards!"
"Sigh..."
Marquis Mathews let out a deep sigh as the praises for cannons echoed from both sides. As one could see, Marquis Götz was just as enamored with cannons as Viscount Kalas.
Originally, naval battles—ship-to-ship combat—were conducted by firing fire arrows or throwing spears. If not that, they would ram the enemy ship to cause impact and then lead into a boarding action. That was how naval warfare had been conducted until now. However, since the introduction of the 'cannon,' the very paradigm had shifted. It had moved from melee combat to a war of firepower.
I suppose it can't be helped for naval battles...
In naval warfare, the ship is everything. No matter how skilled a knight or a mage might be, if the vessel is damaged, they all end up as fish food. Mages, in particular, are quite useless on a ship because the rough currents make it impossible to concentrate. Consequently, until the advent of the cannon, the martial prowess of the crew decided most battles, but recently, the tide had turned.
"I don't care if you like cannons, but don't ask me for favors. That goes for you too, Viscount Kalas."
"Aw, come on. Can't you listen to a request from a talent like the Viscount just once? Our Navy is different from the ground; the ship is more important. But you 'ground-dogs' don't need them as much, do you?"
"It's better to use mages. I suppose you 'seals' have no choice since it's hard for you to use them."
Despite Marquis Mathews' firm refusal, Viscount Kalas merely shrugged. He was shouting "Firepower! Firepower!" with his mouth, but he knew it was closer to a dream than reality. In truth, the logistics alone were enough to make his hair fall out. Currently, the Minerva Empire was in chaos due to demon worshippers. For now, dreams had to be set aside; solving the supply issues was the priority.
"It seems it's about time."
Marquis Mathews muttered, taking a sip of his wine. In his eyes, countless nobles were blooming in conversation. Among them were his own son and his vassals, but the most important host had yet to appear. About an hour had passed since the party began. He surmised they would appear shortly.
"The Moon of the Empire, Dmitri Hausen Rekilis, and his family are entering!"
Sure enough, the servant's booming voice filled the hall. Simultaneously, the gaze of every noble present turned toward the entrance. Now, the protagonist of the party would reveal himself—
"Huh?"
"Wait. Is that person...?"
"Red hair? Is it really him?"
—but he was accompanied by a completely unexpected figure. Red hair that stood out even more than the white hair symbolic of the Rekilis family.
Dmitri, the star of the party, stood in the center, flanked by his wife, Sarah, and his eldest son, Kay. Beside Kay walked Mari, the eldest daughter and well-known fiancée of Xenon. And finally, standing next to Mari...
"...An entirely unexpected guest has arrived."
"Indeed."
Isaac was walking in, a gentle smile playing on his lips.
*
I thought I was going to die of nerves. That was my first thought the moment I stepped into the social hall. I had prepared myself as much as I did when I confessed my identity, but I suppose being nervous was unavoidable. If I’d known it would be like this, I would’ve taken a calming pill. Ah, right, they don't have those here.
Anyway, my appearance—someone who was never on the guest list and rarely engaged in outside activities—changed the atmosphere of the ballroom by 180 degrees. The boisterous mood from just moments ago vanished instantly. Honestly, I had expected this to some extent.
Moreover, I didn't arrive alone; Mari’s family was with me. The one who handled the situation most skillfully was my father-in-law, Dmitri. As if he had experienced this a hundred times, he showed incredibly adept management.
"Today is my birthday, but it is also a very special day. That is because my son-in-law has joined us. Though his appearance was unannounced, there is no need to be tense. Today is, after all, my anniversary."
His words skillfully diverted the attention that might have been solely focused on me. As he said, this gathering was held to celebrate Dmitri’s birthday. People could just enjoy the party without worrying about me. My appearance was more like a surprise event that wasn't on the schedule.
The only flaw was that the 'event' was something even greater than a Golden Goblin.
Even if he said that, the interest focused on me was inevitable. This was something not just Dmitri, but Mari’s entire family had anticipated. However, that didn't mean people could just ignore Dmitri. From the perspective of the attendees, they had to mind their manners.
"Lord Xenon..."
"It's not Xenon, but Isaac Ducard Maishal. Please, feel free to call me Isaac."
"Ah! I'm sorry. Then, Lord Isaac, when did you first start writing?"
"I started writing exactly..."
Questions like that were ordinary enough that I could get through them. Mari didn't intervene at this level. To be able to attend a party hosted by the Duke of Rekilis, one had to be a political heavyweight or a big shot in a specific field. Basically, most of these people were incredibly sharp. Furthermore, because my reputation was what it was, it was awkward for them to approach me recklessly.
In such a situation, how do they ask the questions that are difficult to say directly?
"Lady Rekilis. I have a sensitive question... may I ask?"
"Yes. Go ahead."
"Well..."
The young lady, wearing heavy makeup, glanced at me and began to blush slightly. Mari flinched at that reaction. As I watched with a wry smile, the lady spoke quietly in a shy voice.
"I saw it in the newspaper before. That it feels like facing a beast with a massive weapon... is that not true?"
"Hoho. It's a bit embarrassing to discuss this right next to my fiancé. Shall we step aside for a moment?"
Saying that, Mari left the area with the lady who asked and several other women. Shortly after, they began whispering just out of my earshot, followed by gasps of "Oh my!" and "Goodness!" while stealing glances at me. I tried my best to ignore it, but I couldn't help but feel their intense stares. I’ll just drink some wine.
"...Mmm."
It’s delicious. It’s sweeter than the wine I had at the new student gathering. Although it has the characteristic bitterness of alcohol, wine is essentially made from fruit. It’s bound to be rich in sweetness. However, unlike the new student gathering, I plan to drink in moderation. I once made a fool of myself and created a 'dark history' by getting blackout drunk, so I have to hold back. Even if I don't, Adelia will stop me.
"It's quite awkward, isn't it?"
While I was sipping my wine, Adelia asked me with a playful smile. She was dressed simply as my guard knight, but she was as beautiful as any noble lady. I shrugged as I looked around at the relatively empty space around me.
"It is. I don't usually come to places with this many people. Do you have a lot of experience with this, Noona?"
"No. When I was with the royal family, they didn't acknowledge me. The new student gathering was my first real social event."
"Ah. You said you met Nicole Noona then, right?"
"Yeah."
I’d heard the story. Nicole, who was attending the new student gathering, met Adelia, who was wandering around in her school uniform. That meeting led to them becoming best friends, and through that connection, she eventually met me. In many ways, to Adelia, Nicole was more than just a best friend; she was a stroke of incredible luck.
Fewer people are approaching me than I thought.
There were people stealing glances, but no one approached me boldly. Even that young lady from before approached Mari first, not me. It meant that approaching me required a great deal of courage. Well, it made sense. If they offended me, their entire family could be wiped out. Of course, I wouldn't do that, but there was very little public information about me. For now, they would watch cautiously and try to figure out my personality. I just had to wait quietly until then.
"Brother-in-law."
"Yes?"
As I stood there blankly looking around, a familiar voice reached my ears. Turning my head, I saw Mari’s brother, Kay. He was a handsome young man with white hair and blue eyes, just like Mari. He was tall and had recently graduated from the Academy. Moreover, Kay was the man who would one day inherit the Duchy of Rekilis—someone the nobles needed to be on good terms with. Normally, he would be surrounded by people, but for some reason, he had come to find me.
"Ah, yes. What is it?"
"There are some people who want to see you. Do you have a moment? Mari gave her permission too."
It seemed there were nobles who wanted to meet me through Kay. Since Mari had readily agreed, they were likely safe people. Or perhaps they were people she found difficult to turn down herself. I thought for a moment before speaking.
"Could you tell me who they are first?"
"Marquis Mathews and Marquis Götz. You’ve heard the names, right?"
I had. Just before the party started, in fact. In terms of rank, they were two of the three Marquises holding the position of Commander. Mari had told me they were people to keep an eye on. However, normally they should be interested in Dmitri, not me. I’d heard they were soldiers with little interest in politics, struggling to secure budgets. Why would such men call for me? I became a little curious.
I was especially curious about Marquis Mathews. His daughter, Aira, had a history of friction with me. After a brief moment of deliberation, I nodded and readily accepted.
"Alright. I'll meet them."
"Thanks. Wait here."
A short while later, Kay returned with Marquis Mathews and Marquis Götz.
"A pleasure to meet you. I am Gert Ben Mathews, in charge of the North. It is an honor to meet the hero who saved the world."
"I am Gulag Demon Götz, active in the southern seas. Glad to meet you."
One looked like he lived in the wild, and the other looked like he’d spent his entire life at sea. Furthermore, they exuded the distinct intimidation of career soldiers, making a strong first impression.
Marquis Mathews seemed to have stepped right out of a novel's description of a 'Northern Archduke.' The scar on his face and his hair, grown out like a lion's mane, fit the image perfectly.
Regardless, I had to greet them. I bowed politely and introduced myself with courtesy.
"I am Isaac Ducard Maishal. It is an honor to meet the two guardians of the Empire. But this gentleman is...?"
The two Marquises were certainly distinct, but there was one individual who particularly caught my eye. He had no epaulettes on his shoulders, but his thick lips and alert eyes left a strong impression. When I pointed him out, Marquis Mathews let out an "Ah" and introduced him in his characteristically refined voice.
"Allow me to introduce him. This is my adjutant, Viscount Kalas."
"I am Marshall Cattle Kalas!"
"...Marshall?"
It was a name that sounded like he would provide not just supplies, but even ice cream to an army of a million.