Chapter 134

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 134

Chapter Title: The Splendid Party

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The party was splendid.

It was the first party held at the mansion since Dad had taken over as family head, and coming right after Dad's ambush, it was meant to widely demonstrate that the Duvered prestige remained unshaken.

"Put away the champagne. We don't want people who can't hold their liquor causing a scene. There's nothing uglier at a gathering with children present."

"Yes, Sir Nos."

"Station spearmen for external security around the mansion. Put archers on the walls, and have those flying our banners patrol inside the party venue."

"Understood."

Thanks to Nos and Aunt's meticulous oversight, I didn't have to worry about the party's proceedings at all.

My role was solely to entertain the guests.

The Hadeloro family commands a powerful mage corps.

Their chief mage was a highly knowledgeable scholar, so he might know something about spirit springs.

The Ragnos family owns more mines than any other noble house.

I couldn't assume spirit springs were only in abandoned mines.

Marquis Nodelli was buying up derelict mines because active ones being dug for ore would likely have revealed any springs already, so he'd set those aside as options.

"Seat Lady Hadeloro and Lady Ragnos at my table."

"Yes, Little One."

The steward, jotting my words in his notebook, glanced at me.

"Did you hear that the retainers mentioned Young Master Yohan's marriage at this morning's meeting?"

"Yohan's marriage?"

For a noble, betrothals were typically discussed around my age, so Yohan was quite late by comparison.

But suddenly, in this chaotic time right after Dad was attacked?

A bad premonition hit me. I furrowed my brow and eyed the steward.

"Who's the match?"

"Elizabeth Nodelli."

I shot to my feet, and the steward quickly grabbed me.

"Where are you going?"

"To Dad. Marry Yohan off to the daughter of the family that ambushed him? Does that make any sense?"

"Think rationally. Marrying Elizabeth Nodelli means no more risk of attacks. We could hold Marquis Nodelli's precious daughter as a hostage."

"The retainers don't know Nodelli ordered the ambush on Dad. So why push for a betrothal with Yohan?"

"Because of the Ballua territory."

Ballua's fleet.

The Duvereds boasted invincible might on land, but not at sea.

If they could acquire the empire's finest fleet, built on Ballua's technological prowess, the Duvereds could dominate the seas as well.

On top of that, the Ballua ducal house had amassed a thousand scholars' worth of data.

If Paimon was the 'repository of knowledge' from another world, then the empire's was Ballua.

Ballua lacked wealth and thus couldn't maintain a large force—barely a fifth of other houses—but they held their own thanks to their monopoly on information.

"Since His Grace was attacked, we need Ballua's fleet and intel more than ever. But Little One, do you know the Duvereds' weakness?"

"......Our poor relations with the other noble houses."

"His Grace's faction is all bought with money. We have no true allies. But House Marsu is different."

The Duvereds could solve most issues with troops and funds, so there'd been little need to cultivate noble ties.

Under Dad's leadership, relations with other houses had grown even more distant, thanks to the long absence of a lady of the house to handle diplomacy.

"Next month's council will decide Ballua territory's governor. Seven in ten nobles with voting rights back Duke Marsu."

"So we need Nodelli's help, since their ties to other houses rival Marsu's?"

"Yes. Even if relations were bad before, becoming in-laws with the Duvereds would force them to support us for their daughter's sake. Besides, no child matches Elizabeth Nodelli's pedigree."

The steward's voice lowered.

"You know this too, Little One. In pure terms of power, you can't outrank Elizabeth Nodelli. The imperial family backs her. You have good ties with the Empress Dowager and Emperor, but blood is thicker than water."

The steward wasn't wrong.

My bonds with the Empress Dowager and Emperor were purely for mutual gain.

If I waged war on Elizabeth, all that hard-built rapport would crumble.

"One tear from her, and the Empress Dowager turns into a raging buffalo. The Emperor won't sit idly by if his bloodline—even half—is threatened."

"So force Yohan into a marriage he hates?"

"That's the burden of those who enjoy glory at power's peak."

"Nope, not happening."

"Little One."

As I shrugged on the coat draped over my chair, I shot the steward a glance.

"I don't run from fights just because I might lose."

I buttoned the coat tightly, then scowled.

"Give one, take one? The Duvereds are too damn fair for their own good. People are too nice!"

The steward stared at me, incredulous.

"The Duvereds are nice?"

Zachary, guarding the door, gaped. Then he rubbed his ears like he'd heard nonsense.

"If we're using Elizabeth, just use her straight-up. Right? Drag out the betrothal talk till the council, then ditch her!"

"It's honestly shocking you're not Duvered blood."

"Hey, Steward."

"Yes."

"I've lived long enough to know this: being good just gets you stabbed in the back."

I, a nine-year-old, lectured the white-haired steward who'd lived over half a century, and he let out a wry chuckle.

I shrugged nonchalantly. This was my fourth life; his was just the first. Fourth lives have their own wisdom.

"I'll let them use Yohan's name. But no forced marriage."

Plus, a little payback against the girl who called me an orphan impurity and treated me like vermin.

"You go block the retainers."

"How? They're already leaning toward the Nodelli betrothal."

"Grovel, flip tables, threaten them. Make that nonsense disappear, whatever it takes. Go!"

I chirped brightly, and the steward rubbed his face wearily.

As the party began, guests started arriving in the garden.

"Hello, Lady Duvered."

"Thank you for coming."

"What? I should be thanking you......"

The Hadeloro lady, cheeks flushed, sneaked glances at Henri chatting with others.

Henri must've done well.

I'd put my brothers to work since noble houses might hesitate to send kids in these times, and it was a great call.

All invitees came except one viscount's daughter down with a fever—only her excuse was a cold.

Uninvited guests scrambled to snag invitations.

The problem's the ladies Ishak picked up...

I couldn't shake worries Ishak might've said something rude, given his temper.

From Laura, his followers sounded like they were missing a few screws. Even a year or two ago, ladies stalked the terrifying Ishak.

Just don't yell, Ishak, please!

Right on cue, the group Ishak escorted arrived.

"You haven't forgotten your promise of hair, right?"

"Got any loose nails? They pop off in training. Give 'em to me if you do."

"Me too!"

The ladies swarmed Ishak, waddling into the venue. Ishak scowled.

"Fine! ......I said. Fine, so get in already! ......Please."

He bellowed, then squeezed his voice low, bellowed again, then ground his teeth and bowed stiffly.

I marveled inwardly: What's gotten into him! Those ladies' antics could've flipped him out multiple times en route.

"Hello, Lady Duvered!"

"So happy you invited me!"

"You're my benefactor!"

The bubbly ladies giggled, grabbing and shaking my hands.

Even I, battle-hardened, faltered under Ishak followers' momentum.

"Ah...... Yes, thank you for coming."

"Thanks? We had to come. Anywhere Young Master is—even a sewer! Oh, our gift."

The ladies handed me a huge box.

Whoa...

It brimmed with full bouquets.

Nearby ladies added wreaths and flowers, so I grunted, passing them to servants.

Even Henri's group shyly offered lavish floral gifts: "Us too......"

First party I hosted, and I'm getting bouquets and wreaths.

Servants struggled too; soon gifts piled at my feet. I stared, queasy.

Laura, attending me, huffed excitedly, muttering.

"Fanatic tribute wars......!"

Laura's 'tribute wars' summed up by Yohan's escorts.

"Handle with care."

Servants shoved gifts aside with a thud, setting down a golden statue.

A tall lady Yohan's age smiled gently.

"To top the wreaths."

"Ah....... Thank you."

"Take care."

The mature ladies smiled at me.

Laura, still thrilled, whispered close.

"Members of the 'Love Yohan' club! That redhead's Lady Alexandra Shebine."

I knew.

She's why I invited Elizabeth.

Youngest White Horse Knight enlistee.

Daughter of Count Diana Shebine, bastard of the late emperor, Carlos the Great.

A real princess, unlike Elizabeth.

The empire didn't recognize bastards, but Alexandra was different.

She'd rise to White Horse captaincy, earning the title of Protector—one below princess.

"Let's get along."

Alexandra offered her hand; I grabbed it.

"Thrilled Yohan has such great friends!"

I beamed cutely; she cooed, chuckling. Yohan's fans adored me too.

"Cutier than rumors. Call me sis. We do among ourselves."

"Sis?"

I widened my eyes on purpose; they tittered.

"Don't worry. We're not after deep ties with him."

"Just admirers of his dignity."

I applauded inwardly. Cool sisters. Even cooler in the future.

Future White Horse captain, mage tower lord candidate, merchant guild pillar.

Brother's hot and popular.

Linked me to future powers without lifting a finger!

Today's guests would patch the Duvereds' one weakness.

Ties to nobles.

That was the point of this timely party.

Then—

"Venue's cramped."

With a displeased hum, Elizabeth entered the garden.

Spotting him, cheeks reddening, she cried, "Yohan!"

"Uh, in the carriage earlier, we couldn't talk much......"

"Hello, Lady Nodelli."

I smiled brightly, approaching. Her eyes hardened briefly; she muttered, "Yes......"

"Extra glad to see you today."

"Me? You, Lady Duvered?"

"Of course! Retainers mentioned you in this morning's meeting."

Mention in retainers' meeting usually meant betrothal.

I skipped whose it might be.

All three brothers' followers glared sharply at Elizabeth.

For this.

Elizabeth panicked amid the arrows of stares; I smiled, offering a handshake.

Welcome to enemy territory.