The Banquet
With that, the inauguration ceremony came to an end.
Orion, who had instead been on the receiving end of a lip-bump against the back of his hand, pouted and made his displeasure plain.
"Why are you sulking like that?"
"This one's on you, Boss. I was trying to be considerate."
Karen folded her arms and huffed through her nose.
"I've done nothing wrong. I simply believe that when one holds an event like this, one ought to do it properly."
"Oh, so you're used to this sort of thing?"
"It's a kiss on the back of the hand, not the lips. What's the big deal?"
"Right, of course. You've probably received plenty of those. I wasn't thinking."
Orion turned his head away with a sulky look.
At his words, Karen glanced down at the back of her own hand for a moment.
"Now that you mention it… I don't believe I ever have."
"Pardon?"
"I mean that you were the first."
Oh boy.
Hearing something like that out of nowhere was a little embarrassing.
"More importantly—have you caught a cold?"
"A cold?"
"There was snot on the back of my hand."
"Excuse me?"
I should have seen that coming.
I was the fool for imagining we'd both blush and get flustered together.
"Now that you are officially my guard knight, take better care of your health."
"Huh. I seem to recall freezing my tail off behind a door because of someone."
"Ah, was there no heating back there? I hadn't considered that."
"I nearly froze to death. So maybe you could cut me a little slack on that one, Boss."
"It's fine. I have no intention of criticizing a human physiological response. I only asked out of concern."
Orion's eyes widened slightly.
So she does worry about him, since he's her subordinate?
…Or so he thought.
"I paid a considerable sum to hire you. If you take sick leave, that's a loss for me, is it not? I won't dock your wages for resting, but I would at least like you to make an effort not to fall ill."
That's ridiculously cold.
Orion asked with a look of pure exhaustion.
"…Boss."
"What is it?"
"Wouldn't it be nice if you tried saying something sweet every once in a while?"
She squinted one eye at him.
"Weren't you the one who said people ought to be honest? I'm simply following your advice. What's the problem?"
Ah.
So this is what they mean by not being able to take back words once spoken.
Just as Orion was wilting under that realization, Butler Edward and secretary Heily approached.
"You've arrived."
Heily spoke first.
"Yes. The territory's citizens are holding a banquet in the plaza, while the nobles have been provided a separate venue. At present, everyone is enjoying the festivities at their respective locations."
"Well done. And what of the hotel arrangements?"
Edward answered.
"Due to far more guests arriving than anticipated, allocating lodgings proved quite difficult, but it seems we've managed to sort it out somehow. Ah, and Her Highness the Imperial Princess has been throwing a tantrum about wanting to stay at the Agnes estate…"
Karen pressed a hand to her temple and shook her head.
"Haa… I'll handle that myself. You've both worked hard. Leave the rest to me and go get some rest."
Edward and Heily bowed and returned to the estate.
Caught up in the mood, Orion also bowed to her.
"Well then, I'll be taking my leave as well."
He tried to slip away quietly—
"And where do you think you're going?"
Naturally, he was caught.
"Wasn't the vibe that everyone was heading back to rest?"
"What nonsense are you talking?"
"The inauguration's over."
"That may be so, but you still have work left to do."
Karen pointed toward the banquet hall.
Orion went pale.
"You're not telling me to go in there, are you?"
"As the lord of this territory, I must at least make an appearance at the banquet."
"I'm not the lord, though…"
"So you're telling me to go alone?"
"Uh, well, ye—"
Her face contorted in an instant.
Orion had no choice but to clamp his mouth shut.
"Today was your day to begin with. Stop complaining and follow me."
"…Yes."
Sniffle.
Their circuit of the plaza banquet, where the territory's common folk were gathered, came to an end.
Orion stuck close to her side as they walked.
"It's really nice of you to hold a banquet the common folk can enjoy too."
"They took time out of their day for an inauguration that didn't even last an hour. Offering them this much is only proper, wouldn't you say?"
"I see. So there's a reason the people of the territory like you so much. I get it now."
"And what is that look of surprise for?"
"Must be my imagination."
Karen narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but Orion ignored it.
"More importantly—even if you chalk the commoners up to treating this like a rare festival, why do the nobles bother attending the banquet? It's not like people with that much money are here for the free food."
He asked with genuine curiosity, and she answered.
"As you say, most of them are people of means. And as you've pointed out before, I do somewhat concede that nobles tend toward arrogance. The foundation of that arrogance is freedom from the shackles of wealth."
Orion understood what she meant.
Even people who strike it rich overnight tend to grow arrogant without realizing it—so how much more so those born into wealth?
"So what remains at the end is a hunger for honor and power?"
As the saying goes, human greed knows no bounds.
When watching TV, didn't you ever wonder, "Why on earth do rich people act like that?"
Not that he'd ever been one of them, so he couldn't really say.
Karen's lips curved upward, as if pleasantly surprised.
"Oh? You're sharper than I expected."
"Nice try. I'm not falling for that anymore."
"I was genuinely trying to compliment you. Tch."
Karen clicked her tongue and continued.
"In any case, noble social circles have ranks. Put crudely, lower-ranking nobles rarely get the chance to curry favor with those above them."
"So an off-schedule event like today's inauguration is an opportunity?"
"Most likely. Judging by how many people made the journey all the way out here, there must be quite a few nobles desperate to exchange even a single word."
A question occurred to Orion.
"Hmm? Based on what you just said, wouldn't high-ranking nobles have no reason to come?"
"Think a little broader. Didn't I say nobles thirst for honor and power?"
"Hmm, even so, I doubt they'd look at people below them and get a thrill thinking, 'Heh heh, how adorable, putting on a little show for me~'"
"Oh ho—but that's exactly right?"
"Pardon?"
That was the right answer?
For real?
Orion narrowed his eyes and asked.
"…Boss, is that how you usually think about me?"
"I won't deny it."
"…No, you're supposed to deny that."
As they neared the nobles' banquet hall—
"Hmm."
"What is it?"
Orion turned his gaze and looked Karen over.
It wasn't exactly a dress that emphasized femininity, and her cleavage was well covered—but still, something about it felt off.
Was it because her neck, collarbones, and shoulders were all exposed?
"Boss, aren't you cold?"
"Hm? The fabric is thicker than it looks, so I'm fine."
She was right that they were about to go inside, so it should be fine, but…
"That won't do. Put this on for now."
Orion shrugged off his black formal jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
She looked bewildered.
"You're acting suspiciously all of a sudden."
"If you catch a cold and end up bedridden, who's going to pay my salary? Stop complaining and wear it."
Karen tilted her head, then seemed to catch on to his true motives, her lips curling upward.
"Hmm. Weren't you the one who said people ought to be honest?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Playing dumb, are we?"
"Must be your imagination."
Karen stared at Orion's face for a long moment, then let it go with a look of indulgence.
"Very well. If my guard knight says so, I suppose I should listen."
"Just hurry up and go inside."
"As you wish."
But the upward curve of her lips remained.
The nobles' banquet hall.
Centered around a splendid chandelier hanging in the middle of the room, nobles conversed among themselves in their respective clusters. Every last one of them flaunted their wealth—jewels, accessories, luxury watches, brooches, and all manner of adornments on full display.
"Whoa. I wonder how much all that adds up to."
"Stop gawking and stick close behind me."
"Yes, ma'am."
The moment Orion and Karen entered the banquet hall, every gaze in the room locked onto them.
These were not looks of pure goodwill—they were a mixture of every emotion imaginable.
They were the gazes born of the hunger for honor and power they'd discussed earlier—but there was one thing neither Karen nor Orion had anticipated.
"A pleasure to see you, Grand Duke Agnes. We met once before in the capital, did we not?"
"Hm? And you are?"
"Ahaha, how unfortunate that I failed to leave an impression on Your Grace. I am Albino, head of House Desmund."
"I see, Lord Albino. What business do you have with me?"
The man who had introduced himself as Albino gestured to the guard knight behind him.
"My guard knight would very much like to spar with Sir Orion. Might I trouble you for your permission?"
Karen's brow furrowed.
There existed a method to seize both power and honor at once in this very place—and easily at that. One could hardly pick a fight with her, a power second only to the Imperial Family—so instead, they targeted the more approachable guard knight. And after all, the very reason for this gathering was the guard knight's inauguration.
Just then, someone strode out from among the crowd.
"Oh, if it isn't Sir Orion. Good to see you."
"Huh? Who are yo—"
"Hahaha, did we not meet that one time?"
The faces of those around them drained into shock.
—Th-that's Lord Randolph! What's he doing here…?
—W-what? That guard knight knows Lord Randolph?!
As the murmurs rippled through the hall, Orion's expression grew increasingly puzzled.
We've met before?
When? Where?
No—who even is this guy?!