Chapter 87: Preparation(2)
Chapter 87: Preparation(2)
As I’ve said before, a festival only truly becomes a festival when there are people to celebrate it. Proving that point, my family's territory began to bustle with more and more people as time passed.
Only a fortnight ago, the fief had been beyond quiet—it was practically desolate. Now, it teemed with so many people that it rivaled a major city. And this was even before the exhibition had officially begun.
At the same time, I couldn't help but feel a sense of worry. While the influx of tourists was great for now, the aftermath was the real concern.
As I mentioned previously, our territory had almost nothing unique to offer. While the Imperial Family was currently providing various forms of support for the exhibition, that was merely a temporary effect.
Even if the exhibition ended successfully, I was worried about the maintenance costs afterward and whether tourists would ever bother to return.
'I'm glad so many merchant groups have come, but still...'
The exhibition was set to start tomorrow, and the crowds were growing even larger. I spotted not only humans but also members of various other races here and there, and a large number of guards had been deployed to maintain public order.
Furthermore, the appearance of the territory had changed beyond recognition.
Lina said it was a rush job, but it didn't look like it at all—either the original design had been planned this way from the start, or the supervisor simply had excellent taste.
Since she had mentioned plans to develop the territory starting three years from now, she likely just moved that schedule forward.
'I hope no major problems arise.'
To prevent any potential accidents, the Imperial Family had inspected the buildings multiple times. I knew for a fact that the inns where the nobles and artists were staying had been managed with extra care.
In addition, many new shops and businesses had cropped up. Originally, our territory only had a general store, a clothing shop, and a blacksmith, but after signing contracts with merchant groups, various branches began appearing one after another.
Of course, as the foot traffic increased, various issues began to surface as well. The most prominent example was illegal street stalls.
Hearing that an exhibition was being held in our territory, some people had rushed here faster than anyone else to set up stalls and turn a profit.
While many had signed official contracts with my father to set up legitimate stalls, there are always shameless people in every crowd.
True to his background as a former knight, the moment a report of an illegal stall came in, my father would investigate and promptly exile them from the territory. Thanks to his swift action, no stalls were blocking the middle of the roads or obstructing traffic.
'Still, street stalls in a medieval setting...'
I always felt this way, but this world was truly a bizarre place. I glanced back and forth between an illegal stall being torn down and the fuming vendor before quickly looking away.
I had a mountain of tasks more important than dealing with street vendors. While my parents were busy processing a tidal wave of paperwork, I was preoccupied with greeting guests.
The first group was Mari’s family, so I could handle that without much pressure, but after that, I had to face people I didn't know at all.
From nobles living within the Empire to dignitaries from other countries, the tension was no joke. If I made even a single mistake, it would be no different from dragging my parents' names through the mud.
Fortunately, every single one of them had come because they loved The Xenon Chronicles, so everything proceeded without a hitch.
Moreover, most of the guests who arrived a day early had traveled from distant regions, so they spent the rest of the day resting at the inn.
However, it wasn't just nobles; artists had also arrived a day early for rehearsals.
"A pleasure to meet you. I am Lirus Hughesman, the conductor of the Lirus Orchestra."
"I am Isaac Ducard Maishal. It is an honor to welcome the renowned Lirus Orchestra."
It’s Mr. Pringles.
That was my first impression upon meeting Lirus, the conductor of the Lirus Orchestra.
His head was perfectly bald and smooth, reflecting the sunlight, but his mustache was quite unique. It gave him an air that was both jovial and professional.
In any case, his first impression was a perfect ten. Most prestigious artists tend to be fastidious or arrogant, but Lirus was quite different.
As I had seen in his letters, Lirus was remarkably polite and humble, yet he exuded an undeniable charisma that he couldn't quite hide.
He looked exactly like a 'conductor' should, and his neatly tailored formal attire radiated a sense of refinement.
"That red hair is truly unique. As are those eyes that shine like a predator's."
"Your mustache is quite impressive as well, Mr. Lirus. It must be difficult to maintain."
"Your way of speaking is as blunt as your expression. But thank you. Few people recognize the true value of this mustache, but you seem to appreciate it."
Lirus gave his unique mustache a gentle tug, a proud smile spreading across his face. It seemed he considered his mustache a core part of his identity.
I mused to myself that his personality was as unique as his appearance, but since I had only spoken the truth, I didn't say anything else. In reality, maintaining a mustache like that would be incredibly difficult without a significant amount of effort and devotion.
I stared blankly at Mr. Pring... no, at Lirus, who was sitting in the chair opposite me, before quietly speaking up.
"Are you satisfied with the stage? As you know, it was built in a hurry, so there may be many shortcomings."
"Not at all. On the contrary, it doesn't look like a rush job in the least. Of course, there are differences compared to the stages in the Kingdom of Ters, but those were only possible because they had time. If the Minerva Empire had been given the same amount of time, they would have built an even more magnificent stage than this."
As Lirus said, if the Empire had been given enough time, they would have constructed a much more spectacular stage. The problem was that the Kingdom of Ters had dumped the exhibition on us out of spite.
Still, since he said he liked it, it was a relief for both me and the Empire. However, a lingering sense of unease remained.
"Then, what do you think about holding the exhibition like a festival?"
"That is not a major issue either. What else would you call it when those who love The Xenon Chronicles, including myself, gather in one place to enjoy themselves? And looking at the schedule, the paintings and sculptures are shown during the day, and we take the stage in the evening. The plan seems very well-coordinated."
Mr. Pring... no, Lirus, continued to shower us with flattering words. Thanks to him, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
However, this was just the Lirus Orchestra; other artists might feel differently.
In particular, I had heard that the Matrix Theater Troupe had a lot of pride, matching their reputation for spectacular productions. Not just them, but most artists tended to have high self-esteem.
"I'm glad to hear you're satisfied. If you experience any discomfort, we will address it immediately."
"Hmm... rather than discomfort, there is one thing that concerns me."
"What is it?"
When I asked with a hint of tension, Lirus spoke with a trace of regret.
"I wonder if Author Xenon will truly come to see our performance."
"..."
"Although the publisher said he would attend, it's not a certainty, is it? Unforeseen circumstances might arise."
He's right in front of you, Mr. Pringles. I couldn't help but give a bitter smile at his words.
However, Lirus's next words turned that bitter smile into a look of curiosity.
"More than anything, there is a stage I want to show Xenon. It's even more regrettable because the Matrix Theater Troupe has also willingly agreed to it."
"A stage you want to show him?"
"Indeed. I can say with certainty that it will be the perfect stage for a fan of The Xenon Chronicles."
Just what on earth did these perverts... I mean, these people, create to be so confident?
Artists, regardless of the era, always seemed to have a bit of a perverse streak when it came to their craft, so I couldn't help but be curious.
I looked at Lirus with sparkling eyes and tried to fish for information.
"Could you give me a little hint?"
"I cannot do that. It wouldn't be fun if you knew in advance, would it? Instead, I will only tell you that we have rehearsed several times with the Matrix Theater Troupe even before departing, all for the sake of a perfect stage."
It sounded like some kind of collaboration.
Since it was a stage created by the union of two world-renowned masters, I found myself looking forward to it.
"I understand. You must be tired from your long journey, so I hope you have a comfortable rest."
"Thank you for the warm welcome. If the opportunity arises, I would love to see this territory transformed into a cultural city. That way, I wouldn't have to bother traveling all over the place."
"I'll take that into consideration. To be honest, I'm not entirely without ambition myself."
"Hahaha. A street dedicated to Xenon... As a fellow artist, I'm jealous, but as a fan, I'm looking forward to it."
After that, Lirus left, telling me he hoped I would enjoy his performance. It was only natural to feel a sense of liking toward him, as he remained humble until the very moment he departed.
'Anyway, a collaboration...'
I wondered what kind of stage the artists would show. It was a collaboration with the Matrix Theater Troupe, who were said to be the pinnacle of production value.
While it might be a stretch to compare it to movies from my previous life, I was slightly excited since they were so confident.
I saw Lirus off as he headed back to the inn reserved for nobles and artists before making my way back to the mansion.
There were still people I had to greet besides Lirus. The Matrix Theater Troupe would be arriving soon, so I planned to prepare in advance.
'The truly high-ranking guests will visit tomorrow...'
Dignitaries at the rank of Duke or higher had already arrived at the Imperial Palace in the capital. They would stay at the palace before traveling to our territory by carriage when the time came.
Leort and Lina were probably dealing with them right now. Perhaps Cecile was with them as well.
It was just as I was about to enter the mansion.
"Isaac!"
"Huh?"
A familiar male voice reached my ears. And it was a voice I was very happy to hear.
Thinking it couldn't be, I turned my head and saw a man walking slowly toward me from the gate I had just passed.
He had red hair and golden eyes that were as striking as our father's, and he was a handsome man with a generally jovial appearance.
It was Dave, my older brother, who I had heard was training after joining the Navy Knights a few months ago.
"Brother Dave? Is it really you?"
"Whoa. How long has it been? You look like you've grown taller since I last saw you."
As I stood there in shock, Dave gave me a cheerful smile and ruffled my hair. I could hardly believe the situation and just stared at his face, stammering.
In terms of appearance, nothing had changed, but because he was a soldier training under the sun, his skin was quite tanned.
There were also small scars etched into his arms, which were exposed by his short-sleeved shirt, and his physique seemed slightly larger than before.
"Are you on leave? I thought you were in the middle of training."
"That was the plan, but for some reason, the Vice-Commander sent me home. He probably sent me because of the exhibition being held in our territory. I heard instructions came down from the Imperial Family, but I don't know the details."
"..."
I had a pretty good idea of whose influence was behind this. Still, it was good to see Dave.
I had been inwardly disappointed that Dave wouldn't be able to see the exhibition, so I felt I should express my gratitude for this timely gift soon.
"Is the training manageable?"
"Don't even get me started. Thanks to that, I've realized just how incredible our father is. Have you ever tried fighting for an entire month without sleeping or eating?"
"How can a human do that? Even an Elf would find that incredibly difficult."
"Exactly my point. But somehow, I managed to endure it through sheer grit. Is Father inside?"
"He's buried under a mountain of paperwork."
"Father's having a hard time too. Oh, right. Isaac. By any chance, are you close with the Princess of Helium?"
"Huh?"
My eyes widened at Dave's question. Had he met Cecile before coming to the mansion? If not, there was no reason for Dave to ask such a thing.
Seeing my wide-eyed confusion, Dave explained what had happened just moments ago.
"Before I got to the mansion, someone saw me and called out your name. But no matter how I thought about it, red hair like ours isn't common, right? So I looked at her face, and it was the Princess of Helium."
"Where did you meet her?"
"I saw her at the entrance to the territory. But it looked like she came on foot instead of taking a carriage. Along with her bodyguard."
"Huh? How?"
"She probably used magic. The direction I first heard her voice from was toward the sky."
Come to think of it, she was a Demon who could use magic as naturally as breathing, so there was no need for her to use a carriage. Still, it was unexpected that she had come straight to our territory instead of the capital.
'I should go visit her in a little while.'
She was probably staying at the noble inn by now. Just as I was thinking that...
"Anyway, what's your relationship with the Princess of Helium? The way she called your name was... unusual."
"We're just close friends."
"Hmm... she seemed a bit too happy to see you for just a friend..."
Dave muttered quietly as he looked at me. Deep suspicion was reflected in his brilliant golden eyes, which were just like mine.
I didn't know exactly how Cecile had reacted, but seeing Dave's response, she must have greeted him quite enthusiastically. From the perspective of an uninformed third party, it was certainly suspicious.
'Am I going to be branded a playboy at this rate?'
I tried to avoid his gaze and changed the subject. Dave would find out that I had a girlfriend the moment he stepped into the mansion anyway.
"By the way, are your seniors nice? I heard places like the Navy Knights have a lot of mischievous people."
"Don't even get me started. They tease me every chance they get because I'm a trainee. Last time, they even said some weird stuff, like asking where I left my sword and telling me to go buy one at a blacksmith..."
"..."
That was a repertoire I had heard many times before.
When I had enlisted in my previous life, that kind of hazing had mostly disappeared, but I remembered seeing it often on the internet.
Since this was a military without televisions, let alone computers, much worse hazing was likely rampant compared to my previous life.
Well, in the case of the Navy Knights, they were in combat almost every day, so they probably didn't even have time for hazing.
They'd be too busy training to stay alive.
"And recently, there's even been a rumor that a lady from a noble family made some reckless remarks. The atmosphere is a bit tense because of that."
"Reckless remarks?"
"Yeah. Apparently, she said soldiers are just beasts guarding a house? Fortunately, she wasn't exiled from her family, but she must be suffering a lot right now. They threw her into a knight academy instead of a regular training camp."
Even without investigating, I was 100% sure it was Aira. It was well-deserved, and I chuckled inwardly at the sense of justice.
It wasn't just a place for training ordinary soldiers, but a knight academy. The training period was much longer, and the intensity was famously brutal.
Normally, talented individuals were selected from regular training camps and sent to the knight academy, but it seemed Aira's family had pulled some strings to shove her in there.
Furthermore, they must have instructed them to completely fix her attitude, so her bleak future was as clear as day.
"That's quite pitiful. Was there any damage?"
"Damage or not, we're too busy guarding the border. Fortunately, the activity of Elf scouts or monsters is almost non-existent, so it's relatively peaceful."
"When does your leave end?"
"Four days and three nights. My seniors said it's a 3.4-second leave, but surely it won't be that short? Tomorrow is the exhibition, so time will fly, but I'll enjoy it as much as I can."
"Hmm... are there copies of The Xenon Chronicles in the knights' order?"
"Of course. People are the same everywhere."
I shared all the stories I hadn't been able to tell Dave as we walked back to the mansion.
Thanks to him, I had a feeling I would enjoy the exhibition even more.
*
"So this is his mansion."
It was right after Isaac and Dave had entered the mansion. There was someone looking down at them from the clear blue sky: Cecile, the Princess of Helium.
If she were human, people would have been shocked to see her standing boldly in the sky, but she was a Demon. Along with Elves, they were a race blessed with magic.
Traveling through the sky using magic was basic for her, and she could even use teleportation to move between spaces, so this was child's play.
'The brothers look alike, yet they're subtly different.'
Even though she was looking down at the mansion from high in the sky, Cecile could see everything as if it were right in front of her. As a Demon, her innate eyesight was superior, and this was also easy to achieve using magic.
'I should have just gone to the mansion with him then...'
Cecile felt a sense of regret as she watched the brothers enter the mansion. At the entrance of the territory, she had seen the red hair and assumed it was Isaac, only to realize later that it was Dave. Overcome with embarrassment, she had fled back into the sky.
But thinking about it now, it had been an opportunity to enter the mansion with Dave, and she had kicked it away. As someone who was always looking for an opportunity, she couldn't help but feel regretful.
At least she was glad she had been wearing her traveling clothes when she met Dave. If she had been wearing the dress for the exhibition, her regret would have been even deeper.
She hoped Isaac would be the first to see the dress she would wear to the exhibition. Just imagining him blushing and acting shy, like he did during the freshman orientation, made her heart flutter.
"...Princess?"
While Cecile was thinking of Isaac, a man beside her quietly called her name. He was also a Demon, of course, and while Cecile had horns that pointed upward, his were shaped like a ram's.
True to his race, he had jet-black hair and red eyes, but he was wearing a black mask, making it difficult to see his face clearly. Still, based on his outward appearance alone, he was quite handsome.
His name was Gartz Balak. He was a member of the 'Reapers' who had been selected as Cecile's bodyguard.
As a Demon, Gartz was also proficient in magic and was able to stand in the sky just like Cecile.
"Wait a moment, Sir Balak. There is something I need to check."
"..."
Gartz said nothing and waited patiently at Cecile's instruction. However, he couldn't help but feel puzzled.
From the way she had rushed happily toward the red-haired man, even if it was a mistake, to the way she was now watching from the sky.
As a member of the Reapers, the basic principle was to stay out of the royal family's personal affairs, but Cecile's actions today were enough to raise suspicion.
Cecile usually had almost no interest in men, but she was showing deep curiosity and interest in that red-haired man. Even as a Reaper, he couldn't help but be curious.
'Outwardly, it's an unremarkable mansion, but...'
While the mansion was protected by basic security magic, it was meaningless to Gartz. Since it was merely something set up by humans, he was confident he could easily bypass it.
However, the aura felt from within the mansion was quite different. Despite being suppressed, a single powerful presence was boldly guarding the mansion.
While Gartz stared at the mansion with a dry yet curious gaze, Cecile peered into the mansion using clairvoyance magic.
Naturally, her gaze was fixed on Isaac, but her eyes soon twitched.
'...Mari is here too.'
She didn't know when she had arrived, but Mari was already at the mansion. Seeing as she was staying at the mansion instead of the noble inn even though the exhibition started tomorrow, it seemed she was trying to make her presence a foregone conclusion.
At that thought, Cecile clenched her fists. She was the first to take an interest in him, and she was the first to realize his true identity.
But she had made a mistake without realizing her own feelings. If she had approached him slowly instead of getting excited... the future might have been different.
Even if Isaac found her burdensome, it didn't matter. Even if he said he wanted her to look at him as himself, not as the author of The Xenon Chronicles, it didn't matter.
Isaac was the author of The Xenon Chronicles, and the author of The Xenon Chronicles was Isaac, so what was the problem? It was all meaningless.
'If only I could turn back time...'
Cecile bit her lip as she watched Isaac and Mari share a secret hug.
Perhaps because her 'Evil Cycle' was approaching, she could feel dark desires beginning to stir within her heart.
'Just a little... just a little longer. And for now...'
Barely suppressing her urges, she scoured the mansion's interior with clairvoyance. While a perfect cross-sectional view was beyond her reach, she could still discern the layout of the rooms.
Before long, she located a room she presumed to be Isaac’s. Her certainty stemmed from the sheer number of bookshelves—far more than in any other room.
She was well aware that Isaac was a bookworm, and that his passion for history bordered on obsession.
And in there...
The original manuscripts for Xenon Biography, excluding the first volume, lay dormant. To the Demon Clan, these were more than mere treasures; they were sacred relics.
However, the security magic protecting the mansion was woefully inadequate. It might deter a human, but other races like Elves or Demons could bypass it with ease.
Furthermore, with the exhibition set to begin in the Maishal Territory, there were bound to be scoundrels acting on their suspicions. While the Empire would surely take precautions, the risk remained unsettling.
If the manuscripts were stolen here... Isaac wouldn't just be discouraged; he might fall into utter despair. He might even stop writing Xenon Biography altogether.
That had to be prevented at all costs. With a firm resolve, Cecile called out to Gartz, who had been waiting silently by her side.
"Sir Balak."
"Yes, Princess. I await your command."
"Use your clairvoyance to look at the room on the right side of the second floor. It’s easy to spot—it has more bookshelves than the others. Nod once you’ve identified it."
"I have it."
"We will be entering the mansion shortly. The moment you step into that room, set up detection magic. I want to know the instant anyone tries to break in."
"As you wish."
Gartz suppressed the urge to ask why. He was merely a sword, meant to follow the orders of royalty without question.
Cecile smiled, satisfied by Gartz’s loyal response. He truly lived up to his reputation as a Reaper, possessing patience far beyond that of an ordinary demon.
"Ah, and did you bring that?"
"If you mean the book containing the history of our people, yes, I have it with me."
"Good. In that case..."
Cecile gave a thin smile and pointed toward the mansion’s main gate.
"It’s time we made our formal entrance."
"Yes, Princess."
The guests were beginning to arrive.