Natural Disaster
The banquet had begun, and the salad that opened it had only just taken its place upon the table, when Rosalyn Ropert found herself fighting the urge to bite her nails.
If there was a current in the room, it flowed unmistakably toward Blow.
Skadi Hetaya, who at school had been nothing but careless and easygoing, already had a seventh man making his approach, while beside Hervena sat Renelit—the one they called the future of the Imperial Capital's magic school—chattering away without pause. Rachel Campbell and Yulia Edfolk, who drew every eye wherever they went, were seated at his table as well, so it seemed inevitable that every gaze in the hall would turn that way.
Blow had all but become the star of this Black Bridge Gathering. Even if he produced something perfectly ordinary, the Ropert Rose she had poured herself into might be buried beneath it.
Without realizing it, Rosalyn clenched her dress in her fist.
...No. I tasted it how many times. It paired with the food perfectly.
Steeling herself, Rosalyn wet her throat with the water set before her and picked up a fork to eat her salad.
Julbert's eyes narrowed at the sight.
"Rosalyn?"
"Yes, my lord."
"You seem a little tired."
"I'm not. Why?"
"Then why are you taking the inner fork? Is there meat in the salad?"
"Ah."
The moment she heard him, Rosalyn set the fork back down, and with his words the eyes of Yelich and the other young ladies seated beside him narrowed as well.
Their faces said they could not believe she would make a mistake like that. Rosalyn wanted to snap something at them on the spot, but today—or at least right now—she had to endure it.
She would soon have to present the Ropert Rose.
Pressing her feelings down hard, Rosalyn forced a smile for Julbert.
"Thank you for telling me."
"Think nothing of it."
Julbert shrugged, glanced at Rokan beside him, and let out a short laugh.
"Rokan, you seem to have grown a great deal."
"Haha! Even Rachel acknowledged this body of mine!"
"Calling her Lady Rachel even here. Honestly."
Yelich shook her head, plainly displeased.
While they talked, Rosalyn sat stiff-faced, looking at her older brother Bering, seated on her left.
Silent as ever, Bering met her eyes and smiled.
That smiling face only soured her mood, and she grumbled at him under her breath.
"Something funny?"
"......"
"You're no help at all... You could have at least warned me about the fork."
"Sorry."
She was irritably poking through her salad when, at last, a rich scent of cheese began to drift through the hall. Marchen, Yulia's confidante and the hotel's assistant manager, approached and bowed to Rosalyn.
"Lady Rosalyn."
"Mm. I know. I'm coming."
As she rose to leave, Bering's murmur reached her from behind.
"...You'll do well."
"......"
Rosalyn pouted and followed Marchen out.
Some time later, once steak and pizza sat on every plate, Yulia stepped up to the podium and cast an amplification spell before her.
"Good evening. I am Yulia Edfolk. Tonight's main course has been served, and I thought it best if you listened while you ate."
At those words, the forks and knives that had paused began to move in earnest.
"The steaks have been cooked to each of your orders. As for the dish beside them, many of you will be seeing it for the first time. The one topped with cheese and vegetables is called pizza."
A stir rose from those who had not yet readily reached for their plates, filling the hall.
"Pizza, a traditional dish of Cypress in the south, lets you taste the brightness of tomato together with the savor of cheese. You may cut it if you like, but it is even better eaten like this, held in the hand!"
Yulia demonstrated herself. A murmur of admiration spilled from the crowd at the sight of cheese stretching long from her lips.
A moment later, having made quick work of her slice, Yulia gestured toward Rosalyn, who had been standing behind her.
"And the drink for tonight's banquet has been prepared by Lady Rosalyn of House Ropert."
"Hello. I am Rosalyn Ropert. Today we have a new release from House Ropert. The drink is called Ropert Rose—a liquor, you might say, for spending a long time with the one you love."
As she spoke, the Ropert Rose she had prepared was set upon every table.
"Ropert Rose is a whiskey made primarily from corn. Aged in charred oak, it carries notes of vanilla and caramel, and compared with the rest of House Ropert's lineup, we lowered the proof so that—"
And so began Rosalyn's thorough, meticulous explanation.
Her affection for Ropert Rose showed clearly in the telling alone, but the speech was growing long.
"—and that is all. Please, enjoy."
When her explanation, which had stretched a full three minutes, finally ended, cries of delight began to spill from tables that until then had murmured only out of courtesy.
"The pizza—this is incredibly good!"
"The cheese is so savory!"
"Tomato? The sauce goes with it perfectly! Just as Lady Yulia said, it's so bright and fresh!"
As expected, what came first was talk of the pizza.
And that talk spread through the entire hall in an instant.
"Look at the cheese stretching!"
"I never thought I'd say this, but the onion and olives on the pizza are delicious!"
"The steak is cooked to perfection as well."
Praise kept pouring over the food, and only then did Yulia let out a sigh of relief.
"And now I would like to introduce those joining the Black Bridge Gathering for the first time."
Yulia paused, and the eyes of everyone absorbed in their food turned briefly toward the podium.
"My business partner, Lord Blow Deblique, and our investor, Lady Skadi Hetaya!"
The shock that began near the podium spread through the whole hall.
"Business partner?"
"Looks like he's in business with Yulia Edfolk. That Lord Blow Deblique."
"Ah, so she came because she's an investor. Lady Skadi..."
Word of the collaboration with Yulia had already reached those in the know, but for most of the audience it was the first they had heard of it, and the impact was considerable.
Then, all at once, the way they looked at Blow began to change.
What had seemed mere bluster now looked like confidence with a reason behind it, and what had seemed merely frivolous began to look like ease.
The eyes of the young ladies who had known Blow only superficially before the gathering started to sparkle.
Blow, who had been waiting for Skadi to come up, at last stood beside Yulia and offered a bright smile.
"Hello. I'm Blow Deblique, second son of House Deblique of Blanya. I run Hills, the restaurant that will represent Caipol, and Red Forest, a potion shop."
At his confident introduction, Jane, seated among the guests, wore a look of satisfaction, as if she herself had succeeded.
"I never came before because I thought the gathering wouldn't be any fun. I should have come sooner. I hope you all enjoy the evening, and if you'd like, please stop by Hills before you head to the Imperial Capital. Thank you!"
Applause poured over him. Blow gave a light bow and looked to Skadi beside him.
This being her first time, she was swallowing dryly, nerves plain on her face.
He leaned in and spoke as if whispering.
"Just go up there and tell them to have a drink."
"Okay."
His words loosened the tension in her, and Jane passed Skadi her glass.
A moment later Skadi carefully opened her mouth.
"I'm Skadi Hetaya, youngest of House Hetaya. I came today as a newcomer to this gathering, and as an investor."
The longer she spoke, the smaller her voice grew, and Jane and Blow, watching, felt their hearts burn with worry.
Skadi squeezed her eyes shut and raised her glass high.
"Everyone! Let's have a drink!"
Every glass in the hall lifted.
"Cheers!"
The sound of glasses meeting rang through the hall, and Blow and Yulia clinked theirs against the flustered Skadi's.
"You do seem more at ease with a drink in your hand."
"Be quiet."
Scarlet to the ears, Skadi muttered at Blow, and little by little the banquet's mood began to ripen.
"Pizza, pizza! Pizza! Pizza!!!!"
Behind Blow's table sat the so-called Cat Lovers' Society that Renelit had brought along.
As the name suggested, it was a circle of nobles from the Imperial Capital's magic school who adored cats—but they were a club that staked their lives on fine dining every bit as fiercely as they loved their pets.
"Lady Yulia! The pizza is sooo good!"
"Tomato? To think an ingredient this incredible was buried away!"
"Where can we buy it?"
Yulia answered each of their explosive reactions in turn.
They had agreed to credit the pizza to Yulia, so Blow sat at his own table, cutting into a medium-rare steak and putting it in his mouth. Skadi, her face still blazing red, was blasting a wind spell against her own cheeks.
"Hey, Skadi."
"Yeah?"
"You did well. From the moment you walked in, all the way to now."
"Yeah..."
It had taken enormous courage on her part, and she answered with an embarrassed face. Jane encouraged her gently.
"That's right. You spoke so clearly and well, Lady Skadi!"
"Jane..."
Skadi looked at her, overflowing with gratitude, and Jane, every bit as pleased, busily refilled her empty glass.
A short while later, a man with a sturdy, resolute bearing approached their table.
"My lord, my name is Sinclair Sebastian. I am currently a first-year at the Imperial Knight School."
"Sebastian... Would you be the son of the lord of Cypress?"
"Yes. Thank you for recognizing me."
"I was meant to meet your lord once. About the tomato contract."
"That's correct. I understand my father has decided to oversee the transport of the tomatoes himself this time, and is making preparations."
"That's very reassuring."
"My lord."
This time he bent deeply at the waist.
"Thanks to you, the tomatoes of Cypress were able to appear at a gathering as glorious as this. Truly, thank you."
"Did it really turn out that way?"
...All he had done was notice that Cypress had tomatoes, and that only one place in the market dealt in them.
Somewhat abashed, Blow answered him.
"You sell a good product. From a merchant's standpoint, I could hardly refuse to buy it up and sell it on."
"But because of that, the people of our domain in Cypress will be able to get through this winter far more warmly!"
"If that's how you choose to see it, then I'm glad as well."
"I will never forget this kindness! If you ever visit the Imperial Capital, or if you have reason to come south, please be sure to look for me."
"I'll do that."
"You seem busy—I'm sorry for taking your time!"
"Not at all. It was good to meet you."
Sinclair, steadfast in his courtesy to the very end, returned to his seat. Jane, who had been sitting quietly beside Blow, smiled and spoke.
"It feels as though more and more people like that are gathering around you, my lord. Cunsai, and Mr. Ornn as well."
"They were all buried gemstones. Even if it hadn't been me, they would have done well someday."
"So you have an eye for spotting what's undervalued ahead of everyone else?"
Rachel Campbell slipped into the conversation as if it were nothing.
Feeling that denying even this would not do, Blow nodded as he answered.
"You could see it that way, I suppose."
"Hmm... Is that so."
"And how is the banquet suiting you?"
"The pizza was good."
"The banquet isn't over yet."
"Right. For now, it's still short of what I imagined. Blow Deblique, master of buying at the bottom."
She lifted one corner of her mouth.
Reading something chilling in that expression, Blow rose as casually as he could and made his way toward Yulia, who was still hemmed in by the cat lovers.
At that moment Rosalyn Ropert was going from table to table, putting all her effort into explaining her liquor.
"It's light. I like that, Lady Ropert."
"Thank you. That's why it's a drink you can share for a long time with someone you love."
"My, how romantic."
Aside from the tables dominated by knight cadets, the praise was unanimous, and Rosalyn, who had been rather tense, finally let herself breathe.
This much isn't bad. Of course, the pizza is getting a better reaction than I expected.
A long time with the one you love.
That was the catchphrase she had labored to craft. Because Ropert Rose's proof sat lower than the rest of the lineup, it was a line she had thought hard about.
Her plan was to get through the banquet, and then, at the ball to follow, present Ropert Rose to the couples announcing their betrothals, imprinting that catchphrase on everyone once more. Then, for a moment, every eye at this gathering would surely turn to her.
There was only one variable. Blow Deblique's beverage had yet to show itself, even now, as the banquet drew toward its end.
What is he doing... Saving it for the ball? Then that would actually be better.
She was wearing a smile of secret triumph when the hotel staff emerged from the kitchen once more and began clearing the plates.
"Dessert must be coming!"
Eager voices rose even from the table where she stood, and just as they hoped, plates of dessert began to appear one by one.
The dessert was scones, served with jam and clotted cream alongside.
Scones...? What—that's ordinary.
Too plain and rough-hewn to be something Yulia had prepared. The young ladies at her table seemed to share the thought, tilting their heads as if it were unexpected.
"Was Caipol famous for its scones?"
"I'm not sure..."
"Oh my, did they make the jam themselves? Look at that color!"
"But, you know, it kind of catches in the throat...?"
"Then just spread on plenty of jam and cream!"
Listening closely to their talk, Rosalyn felt a strange unease.
If it was that Yulia, she would not have served scones without a reason.
Then the doors opened again.
On the trays the staff balanced in one hand, countless glasses glittered under the lights.
"What's that?"
"The glasses are tall... sparkling wine?"
In the clear liquid that seemed to hold the light itself—
Pop. Pop.
Pop-pop-pop.
Bubbles rising.
Pizza. Steak. Scones...
Rosalyn's heart dropped, and her face twisted without mercy.