Too Long a Vacation to Refuse
It was too long a vacation to refuse.
“So, the replies?”
“We sent invitations to a total of 181 people, and 137 have confirmed their attendance, Count Dick Kai.”
Count Dick Kai. The Kai family was an ancient and prestigious house that had long devoted itself to the kingdom. Yet it was also a peculiar one. While other families relied on swords, magic, or similar arts as their mainstay, the Kai family was different. Their bodies were their weapons. A fist alone was more than enough to serve as a deadly instrument. When other houses trained in archery, swordsmanship, spearmanship, or magic, the Kai family practiced fist techniques. Even so, they could not be dismissed lightly. The Kai family possessed both overwhelming strength and naturally robust physiques, making them perfectly suited for unarmed combat.
There was a saying: “Count Dick Kai, the current head of the Kai family, can crumple steel armor with his bare fists.” “Not only that—he can dodge arrows on the battlefield with his eyes closed.” “They say he once knocked out thirty knights with nothing but his fists.”
Their battle record was nothing short of dazzling. At first, people had dismissed the Kai family as a rowdy bunch who only knew how to throw punches, but over time they earned the respect of the nobility. Of course, there had been plenty of complaints along the way, yet everyone had been equal before his fists.
“Fewer than expected.”
Dick frowned, clearly displeased. He had anticipated at least 140 guests, yet only 137 had responded.
“Is our family’s influence truly this insignificant?”
“My apologies.”
“Tsk.”
“Still, the Pomeranian ducal house has also sent word that they will attend this social gathering.”
At those words, Dick’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit.
“S-surely you don’t mean Duke Rodrian Pomeranian himself is coming?”
“No. The reply states that Lord Bahun Pomeranian will be attending.”
“Bahun…… Pomeranian. That troublemaker.”
“Yes.”
Dick let out a long sigh. He was well aware of the rumors surrounding Bahun Pomeranian. If that man showed up, the social gathering would undoubtedly descend into chaos. Yet he could not refuse.
‘If I refused, the consequences would be obvious.’
The Pomeranian family was one of the few ducal houses in the kingdom, and its current head, Rodrian Pomeranian, was a Master who stood at the threshold of Grand Master. ‘In both power and authority, our house is nothing compared to the Pomeranians.’
He had sent the invitation only because he assumed the Pomeranians would never attend. Every year they had declined, so he had dispatched the letter merely as a formality. He had never imagined receiving an acceptance.
“This is going to be troublesome.”
“I will make the necessary preparations.”
“Make sure to warn that brat as well. No matter what happens, he must not lay a hand on Bahun Pomeranian.”
“I will relay the message clearly to the young master.”
“Is there anything else?”
“Ah, we also received a reply from the Legrian family stating they will attend the social gathering.”
Dick’s eyes widened again—this time with a different kind of surprise.
“Have they finally gone mad?”
Four years ago, Elena Legrian had attended a social gathering. She had come to build connections while struggling to keep her house afloat. Yet she had been thoroughly humiliated. She had endured insulting remarks and disgraceful words, and when she challenged someone to a duel to defend her parents’ honor, she had been beaten and sent home in disgrace. And now she was coming again?
“According to the information I gathered, the Legrian family’s eldest son, who disappeared for ten years, has returned.”
“The eldest son?”
“Yes. And ever since his return, the territory’s situation has reportedly improved somewhat.”
“……”
Dick fell into thought about this eldest son. He did not know why Elena Legrian was coming, but they were merely a baronial house. Lacking power, wealth, and strength, their presence would cause no problems. Right now, dealing with Bahun Pomeranian took priority.
“Forget about them. Focus on preparing for Bahun Pomeranian. We have no idea what that reckless fool might do.”
“Understood.”
“And there must be no shortcomings at the social gathering. After all, a ducal house is attending. We must make sure our name is properly known.”
“I understand. I will ensure everything is prepared without the slightest deficiency.”
“Good.”
Dick nodded in satisfaction at the butler’s loyal reply. Yet until this moment, he had known nothing. There existed someone even more outrageous than the already outrageous Bahun Pomeranian.
* * *
“My goodness…… Such a coat and dress……”
Elena gazed at the fur coat and pure white dress before her with a dreamy expression, utterly captivated. They were breathtakingly beautiful. The coat, crafted from red bear fur, possessed a stunning color, and its unique softness could be felt with every stroke. Once touched, one could not help but want to keep touching it.
“As expected of the Carnival family. It feels wrong to say this, but they truly excel at making things like this.”
“Indeed.”
“It really is soft.”
The nanny beside her was also exclaiming in admiration. When she had first heard that the items came from the Carnival family, she had been reluctant, yet now that she saw and touched the finished products, she kept stroking them as though she had never objected at all. The gentle texture was strangely addictive.
“And this dress is truly…… dreamlike.”
The dress crafted by the fairies was the true masterpiece. Even without anyone wearing it, the garment radiated an overwhelming presence, evoking a mystical and fantastical atmosphere. It was a bridal-white dress that seemed to reject even the smallest speck of dirt. The fairies had thoughtfully added amethysts matching Elena’s eyes as accents. It was a dress made solely for Elena.
‘With this, she could completely dominate the social gathering.’
Nothing else was needed. With this dress alone, Elena would be the star of the party. The brilliant lights would shine only upon her.
“Truly…… Is it all right for me to wear something like this……?”
“It was made for you and you alone. If you don’t wear it, it has no meaning.”
“……Thank you, Brother. I’m not sure if I deserve this……”
“You do. You’ve worked so hard. This is part of the reward for all your suffering.”
“……Brother……”
After Albert disappeared and their parents passed away, Elena had known nothing but hardship. She had suffered, agonized, and struggled. This was part of the recompense for that pain.
‘My adorable little sister can’t possibly be overshadowed anywhere. Even at someone else’s wedding, my sister must be the main character.’
[Really, this guy is such a siscon……]
[What would the people from that world say if they saw this…… Sigh.]
‘Shut up.’
Elena gently touched the dress with careful hands.
“A dress made by the fairy race…… It feels like a dream. But this coat and the dress don’t seem to match. What should we do?”
“You think so?”
“Yes. The color is beautiful, but the harmony with the dress is a little……”
“Then let’s leave it out.”
“Eh? But wasn’t this incredibly difficult to make? They must have worked so hard to finish it in just a few days……”
“It’s fine. If it doesn’t match, we simply won’t use it.”
It truly was no trouble at all.
[Anyone who heard this would think Lord Albert made it himself.]
[Someone else made it.]
[Lord Albert only went and threatened them with ‘Make it, or die.’]
[How shameless.]
[(－‸ლ)]
The tailor from the Carnival family, who had stayed up night after night to complete the high-quality fur coat on time, would have wept in despair upon hearing it would not be worn.
“Also, this dress has a special ability.”
“A special ability?”
“Yeah, that is……”
“I’ll explain that part.”
At that moment, a dimensional rift opened and the Fairy Queen, Humihumi, appeared.
“You are……?”
“I am Humihumi, Queen of the fairies. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“My goodness……”
“Oh my……”
Elena and the nanny gasped, instinctively covering their mouths. Simply seeing a fairy was astonishing enough, but to meet the Fairy Queen herself—who could have imagined such a thing? A fairy who had not shown herself to humans for hundreds of years, and her queen at that, had appeared before them. It was a different level of awe compared to elves or dwarves.
“Nice to meet you.”
Humihumi fluttered her small wings and offered a graceful smile. Her flawless posture and expression overflowed with dignity, and every movement carried an elegant refinement.
Humihumi looked at the dress and spoke.
“This dress was woven using thread from the monster known as Heisen, utilizing the abilities of our fairy race.”
“Heisen…… Isn’t that the monster that inhabits the depths of the northern jungle?”
“That’s correct.”
Elena was astonished. Heisen was a ferocious spider monster living in the northern jungle, capable of dissolving a person with its powerful venom and possessing an incredible stickiness that made escape impossible once touched. Normally, capturing it or using its thread to make clothing would have been impossible. Yet the fairies’ power had made it feasible.
“A dress made from Heisen thread works like this……”
Humihumi produced what looked like paint from somewhere and unhesitatingly splashed it onto the pure white dress.
“Oh my!”
“Good heavens!!”
Elena and the nanny cried out in shock. On a pure white dress, even the smallest stain would stand out, yet she had thrown paint on it!
“What is the meaning of this……”
“Don’t worry. Would you like to see?”
“My word……”
“The paint is disappearing.”
“Indeed it is.”
Despite the paint, the stain vanished in an instant.
“There’s no need to wash it. Any dirt disappears on its own. Moreover, contrary to appearances, it doesn’t tear easily and can regulate temperature, so it will keep you warm even on cold days.”
“……This is essentially an item.”
It was an item in the form of a dress. Moreover, it was the finest kind of item—one equivalent to a magic tool that could not be obtained with money.
“Something like this…… Is it really all right for me to accept it……?”
“Please accept it. This is our way of repaying you for your help.”
“Repaying us?”
“Yes. Lord Albert fulfilled a long-cherished wish of the fairy race. This is our gratitude for that. Please accept it.”
“……Thank you.”
Elena reached out and gently touched the dress. Then she looked at Albert and smiled radiantly, like a sunflower facing the sun.
“Brother, thank you so much! I’ll wear it well!”
“Good.”
Seeing Elena’s bright smile, Albert found himself smiling as well. His family’s happiness was his own. They had suffered and struggled because of him, so they deserved proper compensation.
‘Now that the clothes are settled.’
The only thing left was deciding how they would travel. His sister had to stand out more than anyone else and shine brilliantly. That was why Albert had prepared something in advance.
“You’ve already prepared the transportation as well?”
“Yeah.”
“What is it? We’re not just taking a carriage?”
“Of course not.”
Albert grinned and led Elena out to the front yard of the mansion. There, a red dragon stood with reins in its mouth—Albert’s personal taxi, meter running, waiting for passengers.
“You once said your dream was to become a dragon rider. You refused before, but this time I made it easy for you to ride.”
“……How exactly are we supposed to ride this……?”
“Does a carriage really need to stay on the ground? That guy can just carry it and fly.”
Ever heard of a sky taxi? One had to abandon the prejudice that carriages must always run on the ground. Of course, Gaster had rebelled, insisting he would never do such a thing, but the promise of a week’s vacation once this matter was over had proven too tempting.
‘I am a dragon…… A great dragon…… Not some taxi……’
His pride screamed that he must never do this, yet a week of vacation was far too alluring. If it meant he could rest for seven days, he could set his pride aside for a while. It was persuasion through reward rather than coercion.
“……We’re really going to ride this?”
“Yeah. How about it? Pretty amazing, right?”
Albert raised his thumb high.