Chapter 314 - Episode 306: Social Hour ②
"...Still, I'm at a loss as to what kind of face I should be making while standing here."
"Indeed. To think this is a banquet hosted by the Royal Family."
"Yes, it's almost like a matchmaking party for the young ladies and gentlemen."
Looking around from the edge of the great hall serving as the banquet venue, Marquis Bechtolsheim, Marquis Staufenberg, and Marquis Bittenfeld spoke with sighs in their voices.
While this banquet was intended to celebrate the victory, it also served as a venue to introduce the new heads of houses who had succeeded their predecessors killed in action.
There were many casualties not only among the nobles of the southern part of the kingdom, which had become the battlefield, but also among the nobles of the north and central regions who participated in the decisive battle. Consequently, a significant percentage of the banquet attendees were new faces. The average age of the current heads of the noble houses of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg had undergone a distorted rejuvenation.
It was better if there were unmarried younger brothers or sisters of the previous head, or adult heirs. In some cases, there were children so young that they were considered successful if they could manage the formal greetings of a social gathering in their own words, standing there while being led by the hand by a guardian.
As leaders who managed the noble factions, they could not help but sigh at the inevitable changes occurring within the kingdom's noble society.
"After all, even the leader of the Southwestern faction is in that state... I wonder what will become of things from here on."
"If we are unlucky, we may find the restoration of order within noble society more difficult than the Betumia War itself."
The new head of the Marquis Galdwin house, who had come to greet Marquis Bechtolsheim and the others just a moment ago, was only seven years old. He was a boy capable of steady responses for his age, but that was beside the point. No matter how many guardians or aides there were, with the head of the leader's house being like that, it would likely take some time before the Southwestern faction stabilized.
"...To think that Marquis Galdwin died. I still cannot believe it."
Marquis Bechtolsheim muttered in a somewhat lonely voice.
Marquis Bechtolsheim and Marquis Galdwin were close in age and had interacted as faction leaders for nearly twenty years. Due to their respective positions, they had clashed at times, but for the sake of the great common ideal of "the stability of the kingdom's society," they had often cooperated on a grand scale, such as in the adjustment of factional interests.
The sorrow of losing a long-time friend was greater for him than for Marquis Bittenfeld, who was a generation younger, or Marquis Staufenberg, who was even younger still.
"He was a mild-mannered and kind man. To the nobles within the faction, and to the people. That kindness proved to be his undoing this time... As a result of acting with the refugees in mind, the castle fell due to a lack of provisions. In a sense, it was very like him."
"True. One could call it a merciful end, something that could not be achieved by a certain noble who ruthlessly requisitioned food from the people of his own domain and burned part of the provincial capital to hold out in a siege."
"Is that 'certain noble' referring to me?"
"Oops, did it sound like I was talking about someone else?"
Marquis Staufenberg and Marquis Bittenfeld glared at each other. Both known for their somewhat cold personalities, they were leaders of opposing factions, belonged to different generations, and had not known each other for very long, making their mutual dislike quite apparent.
Marquis Bechtolsheim, sandwiched between the two, sipped his wine, appearing particularly uninterested in the quarrel.
"...Shall we stop?"
"...Yes, today is not the place for such things, and I am not in the mood."
The two leaders of the Northeast and Southeast, who had been glaring at each other, dissolved the hostile atmosphere and averted their gazes.
Today's banquet was a place to celebrate victory, a place to introduce the new heads of houses, and a place to remember the heroes who had fought bravely and died.
.....
"I thank you for attending, Marquis Paradir-kakka. I apologize that I have not been able to attend to you much outside of meetings until today."
"No, the Kingdom of Lancel is similarly struggling with the reconstruction of the country. As one who also holds the position of Minister of Military Affairs for a nation, I understand the busyness of Count Burkhard."
In another part of the banquet venue, Count Ragnal Burkhard was welcoming Marquis Auguste Paradir, a guest from the Kingdom of Lancel.
"Today is a joyous day for your country, marking a turning point in the conclusion of the Betumia War. I am honored to have attended as a representative of the Kingdom of Lancel... Now that the peace treaty has been successfully concluded, perhaps a bit of the weight has finally been lifted from our shoulders as well."
Prior to this ceremony and banquet, in late August, Queen Anrietta Lancel's party had been invited to the royal castle of Lichthagen, and a session for the conclusion of the peace treaty between the two nations had been arranged.
As thanks for the assistance in the Betumia War, the two kings agreed that the Kingdom of Lancel would pay reparations of nine hundred million Rebro, slightly reduced, over a period of five years. After completing other practical discussions involving bureaucrats, Queen Anrietta's party had returned to their own country.
On the other hand, the one who had remained until today instead of returning with the Queen was Marquis Paradir, who had been delegated full authority on military matters by the Queen.
Until just last week, the Marquis had held several meetings with Count Burkhard, the person in charge of practical affairs for the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, to discuss more detailed work—specifically, agreements on military matters. Specifically, the size of the armies of both nations to be stationed in the border regions, security agreements for when either country falls into a military crisis, and the procedures for discussion should a clash occur for some reason.
As long as it is a relationship between nations, absolute friendship does not exist. There are lines that neither side can concede, and even between the top military officials of friendly nations, there are parts where opinions clash. It was precisely because such discussions had finally been completed that they could smile like this today.
"Indeed... these past few years have truly been days of intense work. If possible, I would not wish to have a similar experience again. I imagine things were difficult for the Kingdom of Lancel as well."
"Yes. Perhaps not as much as your country, which suffered invasion of its territory, but it was miserable to have the country split. I, too, would like to be spared from the same experience."
"...We both suffered."
"...Indeed."
Because they held similar positions, they could concretely imagine each other's hardships. The two Ministers of Military Affairs let out sighs of relief that the wartime period had finally ended and they could settle down.
.....
"...Still, the news of Viscount Arqvist-kakka's independence was surprising. His Majesty has also thought of a good method."
"The one who actually proposed it was likely Minister of Internal Affairs Skeggjason-kakka... but with this, that man will no longer be a noble of the kingdom. What a relief."
The one drinking wine with a displeased face while talking with Baron Karlgrain, commander of the First Army Corps of the Kingdom's Army, was Count Nordlingen, known as a pure militant of the Northeastern faction.
Count Nordlingen was also a typical conservative, but he was nonetheless the head of a count's house. He possessed enough discretion to understand that he must not act solely on his ideology and emotions. While suppressing some of the ultra-conservative lower nobles from running wild, he spent his days irritated, wondering why he had to protect that man.
To sever Noein Arqvist, who might otherwise cause discord within the domestic noble society, while granting him honor, was a good plan. Rationally, he could think so.
"That said, for such a man to become the master of a nation. It is lamentable."
"Hahaha, well, is it not fine? It is an indisputable fact that Viscount Arqvist's proposal saved the kingdom."
"...Do you feel nothing, Sir? That the kingdom obtained a narrow victory through a strategy that was not manly at all."
Baron Karlgrain, who was questioned, nodded without changing his expression.
"Yes. I am a warrior serving the Royal Family. I exist to strike down the enemies of the state in accordance with His Majesty's royal orders. It is not my role to consider the propriety of the way of fighting."
"Hmph, how honest."
"Hahaha, I am honored by your praise."
Whether he intended to return a sarcasm, or whether this too was due to his honesty, the Baron laughed with a cool face.
"At this rate, it seems it will be difficult for you to eventually become Minister of Military Affairs like Count Burkhard."
"As you say, I am a man who can do nothing but fight. I do not possess political talent like Count Burkhard. If I can live to see the day I retire from the position of First Army Corps commander, I suppose the only thing I can do after that is become an instructor and strive to cultivate the next generation."
Count Nordlingen, who valued the good old warrior-like qualities because he was a conservative, and Baron Karlgrain, who lived purely for battle. Even though they were both militants, they didn't quite get along.
.....
"...Um."
"Y-yes?"
"Um, I-I am Julian Kivileft, the head of the Count Kivileft house. I thought I would introduce myself... Please, I look forward to your acquaintance."
"Ah, how polite. Nice to meet you, I am—"
Julian exchanged greetings with other noble house heads who were younger than himself with a somewhat lacking confidence in his expression.
From the time the banquet was decided upon until this day, Julian had focused solely on learning the art of safe conversation for social gatherings. Thanks to that, for the time being, he had become able to speak like the head of a noble house.
While exchanging harmless social pleasantries, he strove to remember the names provided by the other party and keep them in his memory, matching them with their faces.
"My, it was an honor to become acquainted with you today. I-I believe we are both in difficult situations in various ways, but let us do our best. If there is anything my house can do to be of assistance to you..."
"Ah, no, thank you. Likewise, if there is anything my house can do to help..."
If he could draw these words from the other party, the greeting could be called a success for the time being. Julian would end the conversation, move from the spot, and greet other attendees.
In this way, he repeated his rounds of greetings, centering on noble house heads who were still young or even children.
This was a suggestion from the capable vassals he had newly hired as bureaucrats for the Kivileft house, after repeated selection with the assistance of Knight Ernst Alessandri.
Noble houses where the previous head had died in battle and a young head lacking ability and experience had to stand were in unstable situations, though to varying degrees. For such houses, a connection with the Count Kivileft house—which, despite having suffered great damage, was still highly valued by the Royal Family and possessed a port city as its provincial capital—held great value.
If Julian, as the head, offered a greeting, heads of a certain age would respond with pleasure, and younger heads would return the greeting to Julian after receiving a whisper from the aide standing beside them.
The heads of the Count Kivileft house until the previous generation had rested on the house's power, looked down on other noble houses, and neglected the formation of personal networks. Because of that, there was a current situation where there were too few contacts to rely on when the house itself fell into distress.
Therefore, Julian was starting by increasing connections with other houses even slightly. He had received the advice of his capable vassals to do so.
By doing this, it would become easier to arrange for things not available in his own domain or to borrow money in an emergency. If he could temporarily supplement the insufficient funds, there were plenty of ways to repay them, such as earning through trade by restoring the port, or in a pinch, repaying with the usage rights of the port.
"You seem to be doing quite well, Count Kivileft."
Julian, who had been searching with his eyes for attendees he had not yet greeted, turned around upon being called by a familiar voice.
"Ani... Count Arqvist."
"Ahaha, please stop with the 'Count'. I am still a Viscount."
There was no longer any meaning in hiding that they were brothers, but Noein treated Julian with a formal tone as if testing something.
"After that, is the reconstruction of your domain proceeding smoothly?"
"Y-yes... I am still groping in the dark, but the path has become visible little by little."
"That is the best possible news. Getting through the first stage is the most difficult, so if you are in the process of escaping that, it is a relief."
"Yes... I-I believe it is thanks to the kindness I received from Lord Arqvist. I am ashamed to say that after returning to my domain, I learned the weight of the one million Rebro I received."
Only after standing in the position of a lord did Julian know the weight of money in a true sense. He realized the shallowness of his own actions in easily handing over all the money he had on hand when he sought protection from Noein last year.
He also learned how kind Noein had been, who, from the money that had once formally become his own, gave one million Rebro to Julian for free, while forcing a reason such as "change from the lodging fee" and telling him he didn't have to return it.
Considering the scale of the Arqvist domain, Julian could now understand that one million Rebro was all the more heavy money. To grant it as a gift rather than a loan was a measure that could be called far too indulgent, even considering they were kin.
Thanks to that money, Julian had found and hired several capable subordinates, and while using the remaining funds for groundwork in various directions, he had been able to establish a provisional path for reconstruction.
"...If you can say that yourself, you should be fine for now. I think it will be truly difficult from here on, but do your best. Well then, see you later."
Noein, who seemed to have encouraged him as a big brother at the end, walked away without waiting for Julian's reply.
Julian bowed silently to Noein's back and resumed his rounds of greetings.