Chapter 150 - 150 Action
At the meeting of Prince Carter's faction, the faces of Count McVee, Baron Doyle, and Viscount Rice were bright. The stainless steel statues bearing the Archibalt family crest, glass cup sets, bath salts, and cosmetics sent by Steve had worked their magic; no cracks had formed between the three families.
Rather, upon hearing this story, other nobles wished that the Archibalt lord would not be involved in the cancellation of their own children's engagements.
Viscount Rice bowed to Count McVee and Baron Doyle, who were in high spirits.
"I am truly sorry that my foolish son caused you trouble."
"No, no, one is only amazed by the initiative of the youth. It reminds me of when I was young and tried to pursue free love myself."
"Your lordship?"
There, Count McVee's old stories bloomed. Baron Doyle listened with a smile.
Once the talk had concluded, the three turned to the topic of gifts from Steve.
"It's like a bonus from an injury, but thanks to the apology gifts from Lord Archibalt this time, my wife is in good spirits."
When Count McVee said that, Baron Doyle nodded as well.
"Our family is the same. Though, she has been pestering me to go to hot springs since she liked the bath salts, or to hire a water mage to make her take a bath in hot springs every day."
"Ours too."
Viscount Rice chimed in. Hot springs found within the Kingdom of Cascade were few, and since they were all in remote areas, getting there was difficult. Even for nobles, it was not something one could easily do.
Steve could create hot springs at zero cost, but he would not apologize to that extent every day, so the ladies' desires remained unsatisfied. While this was a headache for Count McVee and the others, compared to a rift in the faction, it was merely a domestic issue, so it became a joke.
Now, the situation that was not amusing was Count Cutter. Since the plan was to create a rift within the three families, it was natural that it had failed. He was anxious that he could not report good news to Prince Alex.
He was currently in the office with his butler, discussing future strategies.
"It seems difficult to stir up trouble with the three families any further."
"My lord, there are still moves available."
The butler proposed further schemes for his master.
"What moves are available? I hear that since the three families received apology gifts from Lord Archibalt equally, there is no lingering resentment between them."
"That is a matter between the heads of the houses. How about we incite the person themselves, the one whose engagement talk leaked out, Bartholomew Doyle, and stir up the story again?"
"I see. I did not know that move existed."
Count Cutter found the butler's words amusing. In the noble society where face was important, having a fiancée taken away meant being looked down upon afterwards.
Stoking that anxiety and goading Bartholomew seemed like a viable plan.
"Start immediately."
"Understood."
The butler, receiving Count Cutter's order, immediately began his work.
He gathered children of nobles in the Alex faction who were close in age to Bartholomew, confirmed their connections, selected a few, and gave them instructions.
They went hunting in a forest near the Royal Capital under the pretext of comforting Bartholomew, whose engagement talk had leaked out.
Following the butler's instructions, while hiding in the bushes waiting for prey, they spoke to Bartholomew.
"Bartholomew, it's a pity about this, but you will settle things somehow, right?"
"My father is not thinking of such things, so I have no intention of doing anything either."
"But if that happens, you will be looked down upon in noble society from now on. Is that okay?"
"Is that how it is?"
Bartholomew did not know that noble society was like that until he was told. Since his father had not told him to do so, he thought the matter with Becky was over in his own mind.
Against Bartholomew's attitude, they pressed on all at once.
"Yes. Even if a woman you were supposed to marry is taken, if you take no action, you will be gossiped about as a spineless coward and labeled as someone who won't fight back. I think you should take some sort of action."
"Thank you. I will think about it."
Hearing Bartholomew's words, those who had received instructions breathed a sigh of relief. They had at least achieved their instructions.
That day, when the hunt ended, Bartholomew returned home and chewed over what was said in his head.
Lying on the bed looking at the ceiling, he thought about what to do for a long time.
"Action."
The next day, Bartholomew visited the Archibalt townhouse in the Royal Capital. A servant attended to Bartholomew.
"Who might you be?"
"My name is Bartholomew Doyle. I am from the Doyle Baron's house."
When Bartholomew said that, the servant made a troubled face.
"There are no appointments from the master, but do you have a reservation? He is not in the Royal Capital today, so I cannot meet you."
Hearing the servant's words, Bartholomew thought it was natural. There was no reservation, and since it was not the social season, there were no events where nobles gathered in the Royal Capital. He had not thought he could meet anyone by visiting today.
"Actually, I came here in person because I wish to meet Lord Steve Thies Archibalt. There is no reservation, but could you convey that I wish to meet him?"
"May I ask the purpose?"
"If you say it is about Miss Becky McVee, I think it will get through."
The servant also knew about the stories of Count McVee, Baron Doyle, and Viscount Rice. Therefore, he had a premonition that the visit of the party concerned, Bartholomew, was no ordinary matter.
"Understood. Please come back when we have made contact."
"If you can meet me, I will visit here again."
"I have received your request."
Bartholomew withdrew here for the moment.
And, this story was later conveyed to Steve.
That day, Steve was making molds for mass-producing the music box with Nick.
"Curving a square plate takes a lot of labor, so thinking of making it into a disc is impressive, indeed, Young Master."
"On the other hand, the product will become large."
Steve had devised not a cylindrical drum, but something that plays by rotating a record-like disc. This allows omitting the process of curving it like a drum.
"Well, this should be enough. Personally, I would rather make a clock than a music box."
"It is an application of the music box, after all."
In Earth's history, clocks came first, and that technology was used in music boxes. However, since Steve made the music box before the clock, history had been reversed in the Kingdom of Cascade. And when Steve casually mentioned the clock using a mainspring to Cyril, Cyril had grabbed onto it with great enthusiasm.
Steve only knew the mechanism of the movement vaguely, so he made something that looked like it, and currently, it is being sent to the Royal Capital for research.
Furthermore, the time in the Kingdom of Cascade is 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, 60 minutes an hour, and 60 seconds a minute. Therefore, the timer of the mechanical device Steve creates is exactly the same as Earth's.
Returning to the conversation, Nick, who liked processing, was captivated at once by the clock movement. And he wanted to make one himself if possible.
Then, when Steve spoke of his concept for a wristwatch, Nick begged Steve to make a magnifying glass for him. To make extremely small precision parts.
However, mass-producing clocks was impossible, so they were working on mass-producing music boxes.
Just then, Bella came to the two of them.
"Steve, there was a call from the townhouse in the Royal Capital. Someone named Bartholomew Doyle wants to meet."
Hearing that name, Steve felt uneasy.
"I thought the matter was settled."
"Was it the new composer?"
"Something like that. More accurately, it is Becky who married Desmond, and the son of Baron Doyle who was originally supposed to marry."
"Is it a grudge?"
"Everything should have been settled there."
Steve had heard from Count McVee that everything regarding the Doyle Baron's house was settled. Also, the story of Bartholomew Doyle and Becky had only recently come up; they were not childhood sweethearts. Even for Bartholomew, he did not seem to have such strong attachment.
He thought there was no situation where he would be held a grudge against.
"It seems necessary to meet and listen to the story directly."
"Yes."
"Then, shall we go to the Royal Capital now? Nick, sorry, that's it for today. Please tell Christina and Nancy that I am going to the Royal Capital."
Nick, asked by Steve, panicked.
"Please wait a moment, Young Master. If I say such a thing, the two of them will be in a bad mood."
"It would be the same if I said it."
"Don't force me to play the bad role."
"Then, that's all."
Steve said, refusing Nick's protest, and teleported with Bella. He knew that if he told Christina and Nancy, they would take an interest in someone else's love affairs and say they wanted to hear the story directly from Bartholomew themselves.
Since that was troublesome, Steve decided to go to the Royal Capital without telling the two directly.
And, Nick, who was left to deal with the two who would become displeased upon hearing this, complained to the gone Steve.
"Really, you just keep piling troublesome things on me. I'm getting a raise. And a bonus too. If it doesn't go up, I'm quitting."
So, giving up, he headed toward Christina and Nancy.
On the other hand, Steve, who had arrived in the Royal Capital, instructed the servant to contact Bartholomew. The servant immediately headed for the Doyle Baron's mansion.
Fortunately, that day, the Doyle Baron and his wife were not home. At this time, if the Doyle Baron had been at the mansion, he would have suspected the messenger from the Archibalt house intended for his son. And he would have realized that his son was plotting to meet Steve without any notice to him. Naturally, he would have stopped it afterwards.
But for Bartholomew, it was fortunate that it did not happen.
And, Bartholomew immediately headed for the Archibalt townhouse. There, he was able to meet Steve.
"I am Bartholomew Doyle, the legitimate son of Baron Doyle."
Looking at the young man making that greeting, Steve thought he was quite thin. Bartholomew was skinny and lanky, and Steve judged he would not be a threat even if attacked from behind. Bella thought the same. She saw that she could defeat him with one arm. And, Bartholomew showed no sign of attacking.
"My lord, and my lady, it is an honor to meet you."
"Oh, Bella is my guard, not my wife."
"I am terribly sorry."
Having called Bella "my lady," Bartholomew panicked. Due to his panic, Steve wondered if this person was okay.
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