Episode 336: A Bomb from a Mysterious Count
The banquet was in full swing.
The rare dishes and drinks, along with the warm welcome, had put smiles on the faces of all the guests, and the party was a great success.
“Whew… I’m a little tired.”
“Yes… but it seems to be going well.”
Viola and Primula, who had been attending to the guests, were taking a break at the edge of the venue.
They had been working non-stop, and fatigue was evident on their faces.
“You two, thank you for your hard work.”
Rest came over to them with drinks.
He handed them lightly alcoholic juice, praising them for their efforts.
“Ah, Rest. Thank you for your hard work too.”
“I’m glad the party seems to be a success.”
“Yeah. It’s all thanks to you two working so hard… Thank you so much.”
Rest expressed his heartfelt gratitude.
Rest didn’t understand noble etiquette.
The reason the party was so lively was because Viola and Primula had taken the initiative to manage everything.
“It’s because the ingredients Rest brought back were so good. There’s no way we could fail with Wyvern, Diamond Bear, and even a new type of alcohol.”
“That’s right. It’s all thanks to Rest-sama.”
Viola and Primula praised Rest one after the other.
Their words of appreciation were the best reward. It was worth all the effort he had put into traveling east and west to gather ingredients.
“Rest-kun. Do you have a moment?”
“Father-in-law?”
The one who came to the resting trio was the sisters’ father… Marquis Rosemary.
“I’d like to talk to you for a bit. Could you come over here?”
“I don’t mind, but…”
Rest glanced at the sisters, and they nodded in response.
“Yes, it’s fine. Go ahead.”
“We’ll talk later.”
“Okay… then, I’ll go.”
“This way.”
Led by Marquis Rosemary, Rest was taken to the edge of the party venue.
There, influential figures such as the Marquise Airish, Marquis Cattleya, and Duke Crocus were all gathered.
“Ah…”
And… there was another person there.
It was Count Walnut, who had been mentioned in the conversation with Andrew earlier.
“You are…”
“Well, Count Clover. I’m sorry for calling you out when you’re busy.”
“No… not at all.”
Rest knew Count Walnut’s true identity.
Rest made an effort to avoid being rude in his response.
“On the contrary, I am the one who should apologize for not providing adequate… hospitality…”
“Ah, don’t be so stiff. I’m here incognito today, so relax.”
“…………Yes.”
Even if he was told to relax… frankly, he couldn’t.
It was the same as when the president of a company says, “Let’s dispense with formalities,” but the ordinary employees below can’t really forget the hierarchy.
“So… what is it that you wanted to talk to me about…?”
“Ah, that’s right. What I’m about to say is unofficial. However, I want you to think of it as something that will happen in the near future.”
“…………?”
“Recently, a letter arrived at the Royal Family from the Lavender Barony. It said that they would like to retire soon and hand over the seat of the head of the family.”
“Retire…?”
Rest involuntarily turned his gaze to the side.
A little distance away, Baron Lavender, one of the invited guests, was talking to other nobles with a benevolent smile.
“…………”
Beside him was his granddaughter, Urula, who was staring intently at Rest.
“To be honest, I was surprised. That old geezer… no, that Loser Baron Lavender has been a thorn in my side for many years. There was also the incident in the past where nobles and diplomats who were promoting closer integration with the Empire went missing, and we believe he was behind it. He swears heartfelt loyalty to the Royal Family, but when it comes to anything related to the Empire, he becomes a thorough right-wing faction, making him extremely difficult to deal with.”
“Is that so…”
Rest had heard that story before, but it didn’t really resonate with him.
The Baron Lavender that Rest had met and talked to was a gentle old man who seemed to care about his granddaughter. He didn’t seem like a turbulent element who was plotting and hoping for war.
“On top of that, the letter also said this: ‘Since my granddaughter, who is my heir, is still young, I would like to entrust her guardianship to someone appointed by the Royal Family.’ It’s a de facto complete surrender. I wonder what happened to that elder statesman…”
Count Walnut glanced sideways at Baron Lavender with a creepy look in his eyes.
He seemed to feel more wary and eerie than relieved about the old man who had suddenly changed.
(‘Entrust her guardianship to someone appointed by the Royal Family’… In other words, I won’t go against the Royal Family anymore. It means he’s abandoning his ambitions.)
Baron Lavender had been hoping for a war with the Empire and was working behind the scenes.
If the guardian of the head of the family was someone connected to the Royal Family, he wouldn’t be able to do as he pleased anymore.
As Count Walnut said, this was a resignation. A declaration of complete surrender.
“However… in retiring, Baron Lavender has made only one condition.”
“A condition?”
“Yes… a condition that I don’t feel any pain or itch about.”
Count Walnut turned a meaningful look towards Rest.
Rest felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding from the overly lukewarm gaze.
“T-That couldn’t be…”
“To make Urula Lavender your wife, and to make her child the official head of the Lavender Barony.”
“…………”
Rest lost for words and turned to look at Baron Lavender again.
“…………Peace.”
When her eyes met Rest’s, Urula, who was next to Baron Lavender, gave him a peace sign.