Chapter 321: And Then, Eastward
“Then, I will ensure the delivery of the wine before the party… By the way, I trust I will be receiving an invitation as well?”
The day after a strange dream, Celestine spoke to Rest at the breakfast table of the inn. With a cheerful noblewoman’s smile, she radiated an aura that seemed to imply she would not tolerate anything less than an invitation.
“Of course. It would be rude not to invite you after all the hospitality you’ve shown me.”
“That’s a relief. I will also have the villagers from the fishing village deliver octopuses, so you needn’t worry about that… Now, what are your plans moving forward?”
“Next… Ah, I was thinking of heading to the Lavender Barony.”
“The Lavender Barony… and what brings that on?”
“Um…”
It was difficult to explain that he had received a revelation in his dream. Rest chose to speak vaguely about it.
“I heard rumors that there’s a creature called the Diamond Bear in the Lavender Barony. They say it’s a delicacy, so I thought I might go look for it.”
“Oh, you know about the Diamond Bear. It was served at a royal banquet some time ago, but I believe only a select few are aware of it now. Where did you hear about it?”
“Uh… I read it in a book, perhaps?”
Rest instinctively averted his gaze. It was clear from his reaction that he was lying, but the considerate Celestine chose not to press further.
“Indeed, if the elusive Diamond Bear were to be served, it would certainly elevate the occasion. However… I’ve heard that the Diamond Bear resides in a forbidden forest within the Lavender Barony. Hunting it is strictly prohibited.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yes, entry requires the permission of the Lavender Baron.”
That sounded like a higher hurdle than he had anticipated. While he was acquainted with Ula, he had no personal connection to the Lavender Baron.
“The Lavender Baron has long advocated for war against the Geisel Empire to the east, distancing himself from the cooperative stance of the Royal Family. It may be difficult for someone close to the Royal Family, like you, Rest, to approach him.”
The hurdles just kept piling up. Rest was the son-in-law of Marquis Rosemary, a close aide to the King, and had connections with the Cattleya Marquis House and the Crocus Duke House. This placed him in a potential adversarial faction with the Lavender Baron.
“…Maybe I should reconsider.”
“If you could mediate between me and the Lavender Baron, it would be quite helpful.”
“Please don’t burden me with such a heavy responsibility… My backpack is already bursting at the seams.”
He felt overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility, as if he might collapse under it.
(I feel bad for Shoko, who gave me that advice… but maybe I should give up on the Diamond Bear.)
With his thoughts resolved, Rest left the fishing village after completing his errands. After parting ways with Celestine in the Royal Capital, he returned home to the Clover Count House, only to receive an unexpected report upon his arrival.
“Rest-sama, an invitation has arrived from the Lavender Baron… Do you have any idea what this might be about?”
“………..Huh?”
Staring at the invitation handed to him by the butler, Rest was left speechless by the sheer timing of it all.