Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Envoys from the Magic Tower, Papal Court, and Imperial Family (1)
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"Th-the envoys from the Magic Tower, Papal Court, and Imperial Family are here!!"
The chief secretary's frantic shout still rang in his ears.
The sweet atmosphere, where he and Erika had been on the verge of kissing just moments ago, had vanished without a trace. Now, only a chill tension filled the workshop.
Damn, the timing. Who would've thought I'd experience one of those clichéd interruption scenes straight out of a movie or novel?
"For now... guide them to the banquet hall in Kandoria Castle."
Erika tried to hide her slightly flushed face and spoke calmly to the chief secretary, though her voice trembled just a bit.
She too must have realized how surreal and gravely important this situation was.
The Imperial Family, Papal Court, and Magic Tower.
These were names far too grand for someone like him—an heir to a mere count's family, or even now as Kandoria's Lord Proxy—to handle.
His heart began pounding on its own.
He'd only made some tasty sauces, and yet things had snowballed this far. He hadn't imagined it.
Of course, he'd expected some ripple effects, but this surpassed even his wildest guesses.
"Jonathan, are you okay?"
The warm presence leaning gently on his shoulder pulled away, and Erika looked up at him with worried eyes.
"No way I'm okay... but I have to be."
As she gazed at him, Erika softly placed her small hand on his cheek.
"We'll head to the castle first. You should change your clothes too."
"My clothes?"
"You plan to greet the envoys from the Imperial Family, Papal Court, and Magic Tower dressed like that?"
At Erika's retort, he looked down at what he was wearing.
A black gambeson, a longsword at one hip, a mace of office at the other. And a spare hooded cloak draped over it all.
Even as Lord Proxy and administrator, he often heard complaints on-site, so these were practical clothes for mobility.
"Still, this has embroidery on it. Shouldn't it be fine?"
"Ugh... as if. Hurry up! I'll help you get ready!"
Erika grabbed his wrist and practically dragged him out of the workshop by force.
.
.
.
The short path from Kandoria Village to Kandoria Castle felt far longer than usual.
Erika offered him words of encouragement here and there, but tension was plain on her face too.
As they reached the castle gates, he saw guards far stricter than usual and servants bustling about.
"Damn, this really isn't any ordinary matter."
He muttered unwittingly, and Erika gripped his hand tighter.
"It's okay, Jonathan. You've got me by your side."
Her warm words somewhat soothed his racing heart.
Guided to a guest room, he hurriedly dressed with help from Erika and the maids.
He swapped his sweat- and dust-stained work clothes for neat deep blue formal attire embroidered with the Argentis crest in silver thread.
He looked quite the part of a Lord Proxy in the mirror, but inside, he was burning up with nerves.
"Phew... this should do."
"Yes, you look very handsome, Jonathan. Clothes make the man, after all."
Erika teasingly smiled as she straightened his outfit one last time. Her smile eased his tension, if only briefly.
As they reached the end of the corridor to the banquet hall, murmurs grew louder from afar, along with knights and attendants bearing flags of different crests.
The Imperial Family's golden lion crest, the Papal Court's holy lily crest, and the Magic Tower's enigmatic constellation crest.
As they passed, the Argentis household servants lining the corridor bowed deeply.
"...They're here."
He swallowed dryly and muttered. He took a deep breath, locking eyes with Erika.
She nodded firmly, her expression resolute.
Finally, they stood before the grand banquet hall doors. Faint presences of several people filtered through the heavy oak.
The butler guarding the doors announced their arrival, and a low voice came from within.
"Let them enter."
Now, the unavoidable meeting was about to begin.
"Hehe."
Curious golden eyes. Long, snow-white hair like first snow.
A graceful, elegant figure even under her white nun's habit.
Lumiel Benedicta, the Saintess handling the Papal Court's external affairs and its mascot, sat to the left.
Meeting the eyes of the kind, gentle-smiling woman, she sent a bright eye-smile his way.
"..."
Stern purple eyes behind glasses, mysterious purple bobbed hair.
A black robe with purple lining etched with constellations and unique patterns, staff leaning against her chair.
Iris von Valkenriter, granddaughter of the current Tower Lord representing the reclusive Magic Tower, sat to the right.
Meeting her impassive, bored gaze, she looked at him with evident interest.
"Hmm~"
Noble, beautiful long red hair. Ruby-red eyes.
Red garments proclaiming nobility, embroidered in gold as symbols of prestige, revealed her status.
Her confident smile bordered on arrogance, but the power hidden behind it proved it was not.
Lorensia Ruberius, Emperor Siegmund's only daughter and heir to the Ruberius imperial line, sat at the center.
Meeting her eyes, she gazed at him like a cat spotting an amusing toy.
'Good lord.'
Even just the envoys would've been overwhelming, but to receive the Saintess, Tower Lord's granddaughter, and even the Princess...
And all this over some sauce?
Exchanging subtle glances with Erika, he bowed before them in greeting.
"Kandoria's Lord Proxy, heir of House Valerius, Jonathan of Valantia, greets the Empire's Foresight, Beloved of All Peoples, and Apex of Wisdom."
"Erika Argentis, fiancée of Jonathan Valerius, greets the Empire's Foresight, Beloved of All Peoples, and Apex of Wisdom."
As greetings finished, a seductive yet leisurely voice came from the center.
Raising his head toward the voice, the confident Princess faced him.
"Skip the formalities. Young Lord Jonathan—or should I say Lord Jonathan now?"
"Call me as you please. I'd be grateful."
"Pfft, whatever. It's been a while since I last saw you at the imperial palace, no need to be so stiff."
"Haha..."
Easy for her to say, but how could he relax? Especially thinking back to his time with her.
"Then let's dispense with the pleasantries and jump straight to the main meeting. Everyone okay with that?"
Iris nodded silently in response to the Princess's confident words, while Lumiel nodded with a smile.
Confirming their agreement, Lorensia turned to him with a sly grin.
"First off, about that sauce supplied to the capital. Mind if I ask some questions?"
"Questions...?"
"No beating around the bush, Lord. I hear you developed it."
As expected of the Imperial Family—their intelligence was on another level.
As he was momentarily surprised, Lorensia continued smoothly.
"To put it bluntly: We'll pay ten times the market price. Can you supply it exclusively to the Imperial Family? We'll handle the conveniences too."
"Ten times?!"
"..."
Lumiel's eyes widened in shock at Princess Lorensia's words, while Iris sharpened her gaze toward her.
The bomb-dropper in the banquet hall continued nonchalantly.
"I've heard House Valerius and Argentis are on close terms. Right?"
"Yes. Our territories border each other, and we've always shared joys and sorrows—"
"Not that."
Suddenly, Lorensia's ruby eyes pierced right through him.
"Soon, the traditional powerhouse Valerius and the small but solid Argentis will merge as one."
"...What do you mean?"
"Really gonna play dumb?"
At his evasion, Lorensia pressed on slyly.
"Word is, Count Argentis and his wife were very happily married, but her health wasn't great, so they only had one daughter. But as things stand, even if the inheritance goes to her, she won't get the authority to rule it."
"..."
"So, marry her off to someone reliable, hand territory management to the son-in-law, and the child she bears will inherit not just Argentis lands, but Valerius ones too. That way, the Argentis bloodline secures the land and name. Am I wrong?"
"And what's that got to do with anything?"
At his question, Lorensia chuckled.
"You're under a lot of scrutiny. From the court, and outside."
"—So, how about considering a closer tie with the Imperial Family? Just between you and me."