Chapter 195 - Episode 189: Promotion and Socializing
"――In recognition of your achievements this time, I hereby grant you the title of Viscount. From this moment forward, you shall be known as Viscount Arqvist; show further loyalty and distinction as a noble of the Kingdom."
"I am overwhelmed by such honor. I intend to continue contributing to the development of the Kingdom, risking my life as a faithful subject of His Majesty the King."
Mid-July, Royal Year 216. In the throne room of the royal palace in Lichthagen, the capital of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, Noein was engaging in an exchange with Oscar Rhodeberg III, much like the one he had during his promotion two years prior.
This was a ceremony held once every few years to invite nobles of the Kingdom who had achieved great deeds to the royal palace to honor their contributions. Under the watchful eyes of the court nobles, Noein performed the subject's bow before Oscar and was formally appointed as a Viscount.
Those receiving rewards from the King at this ceremony were primarily Marquis Gardwin, who had suppressed the chaos in the southwest, small and medium nobles who had been active in cleaning up after the conflicts, and some nobles who had been meritorious for supporting the front lines for many years during the conflict with the Pallas Empire to the east.
After a series of rewards for important but somewhat understated achievements, the people involved in the Battle of Bezel naturally stood out. There were rewards for those such as Count Marcel, who had commanded the counter-invasion into the Kingdom of Lancel, and after that, Noein served as the grand finale.
After all, despite being a lower-ranking noble, he had repelled King Cadne's personal expedition single-handedly, and on top of that, he was being promoted directly to Viscount. It was certain that he had become the most talked-about presence, not only among the court nobles lined up at the ceremony but also among the nobles from various regions who had come to the capital this time. In both a good and a bad sense.
"...Two years ago, I said that you might achieve a feat that would be carved into the history of the Kingdom, and that if there were someone like you, my reign would be secure. It seems I was correct. I never imagined you would show such wonderful results."
"I am extremely gratified to receive such an evaluation, Your Majesty."
Unlike two years ago when it was their first meeting, Noein was now one of the nobles well-remembered by Oscar. The words spoken at the ceremony were closer than before.
"You are the main protagonist of the banquet following this. You will likely be mobbed by the attending nobles... well, enjoy it as much as you can. As for the various matters accompanying your promotion, I shall arrange a meeting at a later date, so we will discuss it then."
"Yes. I thank you."
Noein answered safely to Oscar, who spoke with a wry smile.
For a noble who had achieved great results and secured a leapfrog promotion, it was certain that they would become a target for a barrage of greetings in social settings, no less than the King himself.
Close nobles who purely wished to convey their congratulations, unknown nobles who wanted to establish even a small connection through this opportunity, and――nobles of opposing factions who were displeased with an upstart youth of a different faction and temperament. It would be a very exhausting social experience, having to brush off flattery and sarcasm.
.....
"My, my, in any case, it is a most celebratory occasion. For a mere mediocre noble such as myself, it is an extreme honor just to be able to exchange greetings with a hero like you."
"I thank you for your overly generous words, Viscount Queul. I am aware of your name as one of the top ten great nobles in the southeastern part of the Kingdom. It is I who am honored to become acquainted with you."
At the banquet after the ceremony, Noein was indeed receiving a barrage of greetings. Beside him, his wife Clara stood close, wearing a smiling expression. Behind the two, Matilda and Dant stood as guards.
Currently, he was exchanging social pleasantries with a noble known as a reasonably large house within the southeastern faction. The opponent was also a Viscount, but since the house's history and the head's age were superior, Noein was lower in terms of superficial standing.
"Furthermore, I have heard that your wife is a daughter of that Viscount Koenitz house, a talented woman well-versed in scholarship. Moreover, she is a most beautiful lady. If there are young noble couples like you and your wife, the future of the Kingdom will become even brighter."
While lining up words with a seemingly good-natured smile――while maintaining that smile, Viscount Queul shifted his gaze toward the space behind Noein for a fleeting moment and continued.
"However, they do say that 'heroes love beauty.' I hear that Lord Arqvist, in particular, possesses somewhat peculiar tastes. Your wife must suffer quite a bit."
Noein froze for a moment while maintaining his smile at the blatant sarcasm. This was a way of speaking that implicitly pointed to the relationship between Noein and Matilda, insulting not only Noein but Clara as well. Beside Viscount Queul, the Viscountess showed an even wider smile. It seemed the couple together were displeased with Noein.
Because Viscount Queul was speaking in a reasonably loud voice, the surrounding nobles who heard the conversation turned to look at Noein and his group.
From the perspective of southeastern nobles, the northwestern nobles with whom they had thin connections were political rivals, so it was inevitable that he disliked Noein. The fact that he threw sarcasm so easily showed that the opponent's caliber was limited... but irritating things are irritating.
In such a situation, the one who answered this sarcasm was not Noein, but Clara.
"Thank you for your concern. However, I receive more affection from my husband than I could ever ask for. Currently, we are able to govern our territory while supporting each other as a couple... I intend to strive together with my husband so that we can maintain such a relationship in the future. It would be sad to become a noble couple in name only."
"...!"
Because Clara also spoke with a voice that carried well, the gazes of the surrounding nobles were now directed toward the couple of Viscount Queul. Viscount Queul's smile twitched, and the wife beside him turned red in the face with obvious shame and anger.
"...Ah, it would be rude of me to monopolize the opportunity to speak with the hero Lord Arqvist for too long. Well then, I shall take my leave; let us meet again."
Viscount Queul, who spoke in a rapid-fire manner, hurriedly departed, taking his wife with him.
"...Viscount Queul and his wife play the part of an ideal, loving couple in social settings, but in reality, they each have lovers and are so obsessed with them that their marital relationship has grown completely cold. It is a story known only to a few among the high-ranking nobles. I heard it from my father."
"I see, so that's why they were in such a hurry... I feel refreshed. Thank you, Clara."
"No, it is my natural duty to help you in the way that I can."
Clara directed a soft smile toward Noein.
"...From now on, I believe the number of nobles who direct jealousy or resentment toward you like that will increase. As a daughter of the Viscount Koenitz house, I studied the major nobles within the Kingdom in some detail at my family home. Information on noble society that my father newly acquires can be obtained by me, his biological daughter. Using that as a weapon, I will protect you in social settings."
Clara spoke in a quiet voice, yet one that conveyed a certain determination.
The Viscount Koenitz house, a historic great house of the northwestern part of the Kingdom, possessed networks of connections and information built over many years. Clara could access them through her father. It was a power that Noein, a newly risen noble, did not have.
"...I'm counting on you. I love you, Clara."
"I love you too, dear."
.....
After that, Noein continued to be approached by a vast number of nobles, from regional factions and influential nobles of the Kingdom's center to even court nobles, and he weathered the greetings with Clara's help.
Finally liberated from the barrage of greetings that had lasted for a full two hours, he took a breather at the edge of the venue with his wife Clara and his parents-in-law, the Viscount and Viscountess Koenitz.
"...Haa."
"Hahaha, you certainly have a tired face."
"Well, yes... there is no doubt that this was the most difficult social event of my life."
Noein answered Arnold with a wry smile. There was no lie in those words. Not just exchanging superficial greetings, but continuing to receive greetings while the other party was genuinely interested in Noein was extremely tedious. It was a level of trouble incomparable to when he first participated in a northwestern faction banquet, his wedding reception with Clara, or the royal palace banquet the year before last.
Smiles where ulterior motives were transparent, social pleasantries that secretly planted traps or poison while pretending to be friendly, and even blatant sarcasm. Dodging those was truly exhausting, and Clara, who had continued to support Noein, also showed a similar level of fatigue.
"There are many nobles who genuinely think it's not interesting when other nobles or other factions succeed, and who want to pull them down and kick them out. Even more so when the one succeeding is an enigmatic new noble... You've ended up in a disadvantageous role this time."
"Exactly... Oh, is that...?"
Approaching from the direction Noein looked was one of the few friends in this noble society with whom he could interact with a certain degree of ease――Baron Viowulf Rosbroke. He didn't seem to have received any particular reward this time, but it appeared he had been invited to the banquet. This time, he had a woman who seemed to be his wife accompanying him.
"It has been a long time, Lord Rosbroke."
"I'm glad to see you're doing well, Lord Arqvist. No, should I call you Viscount Arqvist-kakka?"
"Please, just call me as you always have. We are friends, aren't we?"
"Hahaha, that's true. I appreciate it... Ah."
Viowulf, who exchanged greetings with Noein with a smile, changed to a slightly awkward expression when he shifted his gaze to the side. It seemed his eyes met Arnold's and Eleonore's. Or rather, it seemed he hadn't noticed the presence of the Viscount and Viscountess Koenitz until he got close. Seeing his somewhat clumsy behavior, it seemed he was indeed poor at socializing.
From Viowulf's perspective, Arnold and the others were the parents of the noble house's wife whom he had attacked during the factional struggle. He would likely be worried if they resented him. The Arnold group had heard the circumstances of the Rosbroke house from Noein, so while they had complex feelings, they likely didn't harbor intense resentment.
"...Well then Noein, see you later."
Perhaps out of consideration for Noein and the others, Arnold departed, accompanied by Eleonore.
"...By the way, Lord Rosbroke, is that your wife?"
"Hm? Ah, sorry. Let me introduce her."
The wife Viowulf introduced was a petite woman, unlike his tall frame. Perhaps she was similar to Viowulf in her quiet nature.
Noein and Clara also exchanged greetings with her, and as fellow wives of noble houses, Clara blossomed into conversation with her. Beside them, Noein chatted with Viowulf.
"First of all, Lord Arqvist, congratulations on your promotion. I was surprised when I heard of your military achievements. It must have been a terrible battle."
"Yes, really... it was reaaaally terrible, honestly."
Noein sighed as he spoke.
In today's barrage of greetings, every noble only said "What a wonderful achievement" or "You are a hero," and no one had comforted him by saying "Good work, it must have been hard." Viowulf's consideration soaked into his very bones.
"Winning was largely due to luck. Even so, we suffered no small amount of damage... soldiers and provincials died."
"...I see. Allow me to offer my condolences. I have also witnessed the deaths of subordinates several times in battles until now, but there are few things as painful as that."
To Noein, who spoke with a slightly darkened voice, Viowulf responded with an expression of heartfelt pity.
"I just want to live in peace with the provincials in my own territory... why does so much killing always happen? I know that is human nature, but when subordinates or provincials who should be protected die, I can't help but want to lament, even knowing it is futile."
"I understand. I understand that feeling very well."
Noein nodded repeatedly, feeling an increasing sense of kinship with Viowulf. He felt that he could indeed get along well with him.
After that, for a while longer, Noein enjoyed the conversation with his friend. It was the first time during this banquet that he felt the time was enjoyable.