Chapter 81
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Vote
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Ready.
After we finished our meal, the president of the Eastern Trade Guild, Zhang Chen, brought out an antique porcelain dish adorned with elegant artwork.
Inside it were familiar-looking pastries.
Ill demonstrate. The method is simple. Visualize either O or X in your mind, then infuse this magical pastry with mana. After that, break it like this
Crack.
A slip of paper emerged from between the shattered pastry. When Zhang Chen unfolded it, a bold X was written there.
Thats how you vote. Ill give one pastry per person.
They were called magical pastries, but they looked exactly like fortune cookies. The only difference was that instead of todays fortune, they contained voting slips.
Hmm! What an intriguing pastry!
Leon took the pastry in his massive hand, marveling at itonly to accidentally crush it.
This is such a hassle. Cant we just do it roughly?
Colin yawned as he picked up his pastry.
Yeah. Its obvious what the outcome will be anyway.
Laura grumbled while taking hers.
Thanks, old timer.
Patrick smiled as he accepted his.
Mondri took his silently.
Thank you.
Odell received his with dignified poise.
Hmm
And finally, Bella took hers.
She glanced at me briefly before infusing her mana into the pastry.
The result of this predetermined vote was a foregone conclusion anyway.
No one would side with me except Bella.
The Seven Stars were already looking at me with unfavorable eyes.
Gazes filled with contempt, suspicion, and distrust.
It was probably because of the remarks Id made earlier, which had rubbed them the wrong way. So I had no idea why we even needed to vote.
I glanced at Odell, the one who had proposed the vote in the first place.
He sat there with a stern expression.
I couldnt read his thoughts at all.
It hit me anew just how tricky an opponent hed been for Tristan.
Odell, head of the Ryu Clan and the Empires Prime Minister.
Thanks to his high reputation and competence, the imperial family had been able to keep the Ruelverta family in check.
If the Ruelverta had Arthur, the imperials had Odell.
In the original story, after Arthur was killed by Tristan, they faltered precisely because Odell was so capable.
Thats why Odell was someone Tristan absolutely had to eliminate.
Of course, Odell hadnt gone down without a fight.
Hed stood firm against the Ruelverta familys assassination threats, upholding his principles and working for the throne.
But Tristan was a genius at villainy.
In the end, he succeeded in taking Odell out too.
Of course, I wont resort to the same underhanded methods Tristan did
I was worried Odell might become an obstacle to my plans.
His current actions were definitely a variable.
Id have to think about how to respond depending on what he did.
He was a talent I didnt want to lose, so I hoped hed cooperate
As I sipped my tea with those thoughts, all the Seven Stars had finished voting.
Zhang Chen gathered the mana-infused pastries and placed them back in the dish.
Then lets begin tallying. Well mark approval for the Ruelverta family joining the Seven Stars as O, and opposition as X. First one.
Crack.
X.
Zhang Chen pulled another pastry from the dish and cracked it.
Crack.
X.
I suppressed a yawn.
Crack.
O.
Looks like Bellas vote had come up.
Everyone had expected that much.
The real issue started after that.
Crack.
Another O.
What?
Another O?
Laura let out a groan of frustration.
Ugh I know who one of them is, but whos the other one?
Ah that mightve been me?
What?
Colin, head of House Risujet, yawned as he spoke.
I just picked randomly cause it was annoying. Couldve been an O.
Oh, come on! Colin! Theres a time and place for laziness! Ugh, I shouldnt have said anything.
Laura swallowed her irritation.
Sure. Colin had messed up, but it wouldnt overturn the result.
The tally continued.
Crack.
X.
As expected.
Two votes left.
No surprises there.
Crack.
Zhang Chen paused as he checked the slip from the next pastry.
No way
O.
No way!
Laura finally shot to her feet.
The second mightve been a fluke, but the third meant something else.
Someone had actually supported me.
Who was it this time?!
Hmm! Twas I who cast a vote for the Count!
Leon?!
The last person Id expected jumped in.
Are you insane?
Hmm! I am perfectly sane!
Then why?!
Upon reflection, the Counts words rang true! This is a golden opportunity to strengthen our Imperial Army! If the Count joins the Seven Stars, even His Majestywhos been passive about military fundingwill have no choice but to approve it!
Impressive I hadnt realized Leon thought that way.
Id pegged him as just a brute with brute strength, but he was the general commanding the Imperial Army, after all.
His mind was sharp when it came to military matters. I just hadnt expected this calculating side.
Count! If you become one of the Seven Stars, how about joining me to petition His Majesty for more funding?
Ill pass.
Krahaha! What a prickly fellow!
No, yeah, hes definitely just a guy with brute strength.
As Leon guffawed, Laura glared at me like she wanted to kill me.
Her face screamed that I mustve pulled some trick. But I hadnt done anything
With this upset, the mood among the remaining Seven Stars grew tense.
Bella looked shocked, Mondris expression darkened.
Patrick watched on with evident amusement, Colin kept yawning, and Odell
Just one vote left.
As Odell said, it was now 3:3.
The last vote would decide it.
Then lets check the final vote
Crack.
The guild president cracked the last pastry with trembling hands.
He gulped after seeing the slip.
Then his mouth slowly opened.
O.
The improbable upset had happened.
Its decided.
Odell stated calmly.
Seeing his composed face, I could guess who cast the final O.
But why?
Laura couldnt accept it either.
This is invalid! Invalid! Lets revote right now! Colin! This time, vote properlyno random picks. Then
Hmm! Cant do that, Laura! We must accept the results!
Dont be ridiculous! Colin messed up!
Laura looked desperately at Colin, but he seemed utterly indifferent.
He cut her off flatly.
Ah, Laura. Dont give me those eyes. Revotings too much hassle.
Colin!
Ignoring her cry, Colin stood up.
Lady, are we done eating? Mind if I head out? I wanna go home and sleep.
Uh y-yeah. Go ahead.
Thank you. See ya.
Typical Risujet. Colin had blown in like the wind and blown right back out.
I figured thats just how he was, but Lauras face flushed red at being dismissed.
And with Colins departure, the other Seven Stars began to leave one by one.
Then, Lady, President. Well be off.
Ill head out too. Cant sit too long at my age.
Mondri and Odell bid us farewell, donned their coats, and left.
The Seven Stars gathering was over.
Somehow, Id become one of them.
I had no idea how many would fully accept it, but a majority had approved.
Sticking around would just waste time, so the meeting wrapped up on that note.
Ugh! I wont accept this! If that Ruelverta Count shows up to the next gathering, Im not coming!
Hmm! Then we wont need to rename to Eight Stars! Seven Stars was a fine, straightforward namelucky us!
Leon! Youve always been!
Laura, who hated the result most, had no choice but to bicker with Leon as she stormed out.
Left behind were me, Bella, and Patrick.
Patrick clapped as he spoke.
Congratulations, Count.
Hm.
Haha I never imagined youd actually join our Seven Stars.
Patrick muttered after glancing at my face.
But of course You mustve anticipated this outcome.
Huh?
Honestly, Im shocked. To stay so calm while securing over half the Seven Stars behind the scenes.
I didnt do anything?
Ill give credit where its due. You always have a plan, Count. I didnt expect such flawless preparation. I respect that thoroughness.
Uh well thanks, I guess
I could only give the kind of response Tristan mightve.
About time you caught on.
But thats that, and this is this. Lady.
Hm?
Before Bella could ask what he meant, Patrick seized her hand.
It happened in an instant.
Before Blanche could stop him, he pressed his lips to the back of her hand.
!
Such a lovely hand. Until next time.
Even after that, Patrick showed no sign of giving up.
If anything, it seemed to stoke his competitive fire.
Patrick left with a swagger.
And the Bella left behind stood frozen stiff in place.
A closer look revealed goosebumps prickling her arm.
No wonder.
As Bella shot me a stiff glance, her lips parted heavily.
Count
?
Could you charge me up just one more time?
I snorted and told her.
Dont be ridiculous.