Chloe and the Luxury Liner (2)
The interior of the cruise ship was like a five-star hotel.
A lavishly decorated hall. From the balcony and windows below, the expansive river landscape and the sights of the imperial capital stretched out.
As I entered the hall, taking in the sights around the ship, Chloe, who had been sticking to me like a puppy following its owner, spoke up.
"What do you think, Count Yulian! The Emelia of the Aiterne Merchant Group is just like a prime minister's luxurious inn, isn't it? The commoners of the capital consider even a single day here a lifelong dream!"
It wasn't wrong.
The Emelia was a luxurious cruise ship larger than a ten-story building. Even at night, its lights blazed so brightly that they were visible from the pleasure quarter.
'No wonder the commoners yearn for those dazzling lights.'
Of course, it was a sight that would astonish even provincial nobles. But I wasn't here to sightsee, so I had no time to indulge in such sentiments.
As Chloe entered the hall, the staff there snapped to attention and greeted her in unison.
"Welcome, miss!"
"It's an honor, Lady Chloe!"
In modern terms, Chloe was the daughter of a corporate tycoon. The staff straightened up just like employees greeting a chaebol heir.
The sight of the staff, uniformed in elegant attire, bowing in unison to her alone made for quite the picture.
I glanced at Chloe's expression. The corners of her mouth were curved up in satisfaction, and she flashed those ruby-red eyes at me.
As if trying to impress upon me that she was someone of this caliber.
'I already know Chloe's a fine lady without all this.'
The Aiterne marquisate dominated the empire's central region. And the Aiterne Merchant Group under it wielded influence not just in the center, but across the entire continent of Iseland.
Chloe was the most promising heir to the Aiterne line. With her silver hair and red eyes, her beauty was almost inhuman.
'Though everyone at Pantheon knows her personality is a bit prickly. Still, that looks alone make her wildly popular.'
But she'd picked the wrong target. My background didn't yield to hers—in fact, it surpassed it.
'And the body I transmigrated into isn't bad-looking either.'
Compared to the spectacle at the fever ceremony, where Essemont's elite troops had sworn loyalty to me in unison, this ordinary welcome barely registered.
'Sorry, Chloe, but it doesn't impress me.'
I ignored Chloe as she fanned herself, issuing orders to the staff and acting superior, and kept walking.
"And this gentleman is the sole heir to His Highness Margrave Wilhelm, the son of Saintess Agnes herself. Also, the Count of Harsen, Yulian von Reinhardt, who will forge a thick and enduring bond with the Aiterne Merchant Group... especially with me... C-Count! Where are you going!"
She tried to introduce me to the staff here too, but they were extras anyway—sticking around would just waste time.
"To the grand ballroom. There should be Pantheon cadets there."
I unfolded the invitation Chloe had prepared for the ship.
The Pantheon cadets she'd invited had received these. I didn't need one since I came with her directly, but I'd taken one anyway since it listed the day's schedule.
I headed to the grand ballroom noted on it—the event venue—and stepped inside.
"Tch. The count is in such a hurry. You could take your time enjoying the luxurious aesthetic style of the Emelia. Especially since reaffirming the friendly ties between the Aiterne marquisate and the Reinhardt margraviate to our merchant group folks would be meaningful too."
She was starting to get annoyed at being ignored repeatedly. Fair enough—among the cadets she'd invited were nobles, but plenty of commoners too.
Glancing around the grand ballroom, I saw many cadets in Pantheon dress uniforms. They looked like they were from a social club.
'As Chloe said, not a place for just any cadet. The vibe here isn't for them.'
To cater to my tastes, she'd invited them and chartered the entire ballroom. It meant she'd braced for quite the expense.
'She could've rented it out to other capital nobles instead and made a fortune.'
On the flip side, it showed how highly she valued me—that a precious lady like Chloe would go this far.
And Chloe had a more innocent side than she let on. Prickly personality aside, the rich beauty would never admit it, but...
She couldn't hide her fondness for me. It wasn't just lust; rationally, she was head over heels.
'She kept finding flimsy excuses to meet me.'
It wasn't mere networking or valuing my connections. Like now, she was doing anything to win my favor and seduce me.
'So if I keep brushing her off, even Chloe will get sulky.'
No matter how impressive her noble background, it wasn't my concern—but Chloe was different. She was part of my harem conquest party. I had to look after my own when needed.
Good deeds deserved praise. So I gave the pouting Chloe a suitable compliment.
"As you said, our two houses will have much to do together ahead. Don't be so impatient. And I like this grand ballroom. You could've arranged something simpler like a café. You went to a lot of trouble."
"W-What... I didn't do it just for your praise, Count. It was for the future friendly relations between Aiterne and Reinhardt..."
But that brief praise lifted her mood immensely. Blushing, she hid her face behind her fan shyly.
The invited cadets seemed to be experiencing a new world. No surprise—the Emelia was luxurious enough to astonish even capital nobles and the wealthy.
'Heh. This is why the lowly masses are so pathetic.'
Every table in the grand ballroom offered top-tier teas, drinks, and liquors. Even a simple spread like this could feed a capital commoner family for a month.
"I've never tasted treats this delicious in my life."
"Do we really get to be on a luxury liner like this...?"
"We might never get another chance, so let's enjoy everything while we're here!"
The cadets at the tables were all making a huge fuss. But Count Yulian, seated next to Chloe, wore his usual impassive expression.
Unlike the cadets devouring the simple yet exquisite treats and liquors in a haze of delight, he savored just a taste, observing the event with the etiquette of a high noble.
'And it's the latest capital fashion too. Northern nobles still cling to styles from decades ago.'
Graceful and restrained movements. He responded calmly even to noble cadets who recognized and greeted him.
That archetype of the cold northern handsome archduke. Utterly unlike the pigeon-like ordinary cadets—more like an elegant swan. Chloe's heart fluttered for a moment.
'Tch. Why does this keep happening... I'm no innocent virgin.'
It wasn't just now, either. Earlier, when he'd praised her efforts, her heart had pounded fiercely too.
"What's wrong? Something on my face?"
"N-No. I was looking elsewhere, and our eyes just happened to meet when I turned."
Caught by his remark, she shyly hid behind her fan, peeking out only with her eyes. Meanwhile, the Pantheon social club's introductions continued.
"Now, borrowing this occasion, we'll share our club's activities. Our social club studies the ecology of beasts and monsters on Iseland, and their academic value..."
One of the invited clubs was the beast research club—a group too lowbrow for Chloe to associate with.
'What's so great about those disgusting beasts and monsters!'
Of course, Pantheon cadets studied beast and monster ecology and habits in depth. It was among the most important theory lectures.
But that club went beyond mere study, obsessing fanatically over each one. Like deranged animal lovers.
'Still, I had to invite them.'
In return, as a gathering of zealots, their members always topped beast-related theory classes.
They memorized every midterm question to a tee, showing their obsession.
'That's why their study guides are so damn useful.'
Like most professors, exams stuck to the big picture. And that club's guides covered not just quantity, but perfectly dissected the patterns.
'With those, Count Yulian can study efficiently.'
But the cadet's presentation was just a rehash of boring beast studies intro lectures—yawn-worthy.
"Sadly, monsters have practically vanished from Iseland now, as you know. Low-grade beasts that devour them and mimic their forms have taken their place. A tragedy for those of us who love—no, intensively study—monsters, but it introduced the more beautiful—no, more special—beasts, giving new academic meaning..."
Their insider jargon was incomprehensible to normal sensibilities. Then, the beast club's president approached their table.
A shabby impression incomparable to Count Yulian, with a creepy vibe fitting his obsession.
'Eek. I don't even want to talk to him. Not a guy for women.'
No woman would like a creep like that. In any other setting, a beauty like Chloe would never let him within two meters her whole life.
Still, as she prepared to greet him, the club president ignored her and addressed Yulian first.
"Thank you for inviting us specially, Count Yulian! Was our presentation boring?"
"Not at all. Especially the latest theories on northern beast ecology from that cadet just now—they were quite intriguing."
"You think so too, Count! Yes! The glorious Essemont's pride, the ultra-luxurious—no, breathtakingly beautiful—Kaotic Gate of the Eternal Frozen Land! Thanks to it, unique beast species appear that you can't see anywhere else!"
"You know your stuff. Care to elaborate?"
Yet Yulian held a polite conversation even with the weirdo. He even listened intently, as if genuinely interested.
Naturally, Chloe was completely sidelined. Their talk continued a bit longer before wrapping up.
"I had no idea someone of your stature knew beasts so well, Count Yulian. As expected of someone who lived near the Eternal Frozen Land! This is an academic journal our club publishes regularly. A special gift for the count who invited us!"
"Appreciated. I'll put it to good use."
And just like that, he secured the midterm study guide. The president bowed deeply, as if moved by Yulian's character, then left.
He'd subtly skipped greeting Chloe, of course.
The same thing happened repeatedly. Next were the Pantheon history club. More normal than the beast fanatics, but still not her crowd.
"For this presentation, we've specially selected a topic honoring Count Yulian's homeland, Essemont."
The theme was 100 years ago, when the first Kaotic Gate appeared on Iseland.
And as mentioned, it involved the Reinhardt family, who ruled Essemont even then.
"To everyone here: Before the great Margrave Wilhelm, who would you name as the standout Reinhardt?"
Chloe pondered briefly. The Reinhardts had produced countless heroes in Iseland's history.
They'd birthed over two generations of great swordsmen, but the most famous was Lion Duke Wilhelm.
'Let's see. Before him... The first Reinhardt who aided the emperor in founding the Ramir Empire. And on his level, the one from 100 years ago.'
100 years ago, when the first Kaotic Gate opened, the woman who slaughtered the most beasts on Iseland.
Atlin von Reinhardt.
The presentation covered the legendary battles of the Sword Empress that had become myth. A topic Pantheon drilled endlessly, so Chloe found it dull.
"I... a lowly one... am honored to meet a member of the great Reinhardt family!"
As it droned on, the history club's president approached for a chat with Yulian.
'More boring than a professor's lecture. That's a talent.'
Unlike the beast nut, this scholarly type had a knack for generating tedium.
"As expected, you know even family lore we don't! It's thrilling to speak directly with living history—another Reinhardt!"
Yet Yulian charmed even this dullard. No guide handed over like the beast club, but...
They promised to send their publications straight to his mansion.
'How does he converse so well even with those types?'
Yulian had a playboy reputation, so the cadets likely started with poor impressions. But a few words, and they were hooked.
'He handles people masterfully. Even connects with weirdos.'
Seeing this, last year's scandals had to be a facade. She upgraded her assessment of the count another notch.
But she felt a twinge of jealousy too. She'd been sidelined the whole time.
'Tch. So nice to those gross guys...'
The tedious club reports finally ended. The presentations alone had taken them to evening.
Dinner and the party followed, heating up the grand ballroom further.
But Chloe's mood was soured somehow. It was the Aiterne liner, but chartering the ballroom had cost her a pretty penny from her own pocket.
'So I deserve some fun too, right?'
Chloe lifted a glass from the table. Turning to Count Yulian, she said,
"Count, the night view of the Daern River from the Emelia is quite nice. Staying cooped up inside feels stuffy—care to join me on the balcony?"
He nodded readily. Chloe mentally reviewed the aphrodisiac formula she'd prepared in advance.
'This time, it won't fail.'
The two headed out to the grand ballroom's balcony together.
