Chapter 419 - Episode 402: A Peaceful Banquet
"It has been a long time, Grand Duke Arqvist. Welcome to the royal capital, Saint-Frere."
"Thank you, Marquis Paradir... It feels a bit strange to be called 'Your Excellency' by you."
Noein replied with a faint, bitter smile to Marquis Auguste Paradir, the Minister of Military Affairs of the Kingdom of Lancel, who had approached him to offer greetings.
"It is the correct way of the world that those who demonstrate results through their own strength receive treatment befitting that strength. Age and previous titles should not be a factor. Please, allow me to call you Grand Duke."
Having received that response from the Marquis, Noein changed his bitter smile into a gentle one and gestured to the person beside him.
"Allow me to introduce her. This is Princess Helga Revelant. She is the daughter of King Gabriel Revelant, who rules the Kingdom of Revelant, located to the north of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist across the Lestio Mountains."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Marquis Paradir. Having received the invitation of Her Majesty Anrietta Lancel, I am honored to be able to witness such an important day for your country."
Within Helga's greeting was a hidden warning: "I am here as a guest invited by the Queen." She was implicitly indicating that they should not look down on her simply because she was a beastman.
"...It is an honor to meet you, Princess. I am certain Her Majesty the Queen is greatly pleased by your visit."
In response, Marquis Paradir returned the greeting with refined movements.
Those words likely carried the meaning: "The Queen welcomes you, but I do not." It was a declaration that he would fulfill his duties with courtesy, and nothing more.
Even though he had kept his distance from the conservative military clique, for a heavyweight who had lived within the values of the Kingdom of Lancel until middle age, this response could be considered sufficiently understanding of Helga's position. When Noein glanced at Helga, she seemed to have understood the Marquis's intention and did not mind.
"Marquis Paradir, and who are these people?"
At that moment, a nobleman of the Kingdom of Lancel walked toward Noein and the others.
"Oh, Lord Auteuil. You've come at just the right time... Grand Duke Arqvist, Princess Helga. This is one of the current heavyweights of the military houses, Earl Auteuil. He once belonged to the military clique, but early in the civil war, he changed his allegiance to the pro-Queen faction, and since then, he is a man who has struggled for the sake of Her Majesty the Queen."
"My, my, so you are the Grand Duke Arqvist. Please forgive my rudeness. I am Zachary Auteuil. I hope we can get to know one another."
Following Marquis Paradir's introduction, Earl Auteuil himself bowed politely and offered his greetings.
Judging by his movements and his meticulously groomed hair and beard, Noein felt that the Earl was a very gentlemanly person. It was a first impression that left him feeling no contradiction in hearing that the man had made the rational decision to leave the military clique early on.
"I am Noein Arqvist. Thank you for the polite greeting, Earl Auteuil."
When Noein returned the greeting with a smile, Earl Auteuil gave another small nod, and then turned toward Helga.
"Princess, welcome to the Kingdom of Lancel. As a nobleman of this kingdom, I sincerely pray for the eternal friendship and mutual prosperity of our two nations."
"...Thank you, Earl Auteuil. I look forward to our acquaintance."
Helga, who had been on guard upon hearing that the Earl was a former military clique noble, answered as if caught off guard by his extremely friendly greeting. Noein was also inwardly surprised by the Earl's greeting, as he had chosen words that were a step more favorable than those of Viscount Barthelemy, who was also a former military noble, or the moderate Marquis Paradir.
"Well then, I would be sorry to take up any more of your time, so I shall take my leave. Please enjoy this auspicious day."
Ignoring the surprise of Noein and the others, Earl Auteuil bowed elegantly and departed.
"...I am surprised. To receive such a welcome from a former military clique noble."
Helga muttered as if unconsciously, then looked toward Marquis Paradir with a panicked expression, realizing her words could be taken as a slip of the tongue.
"Hahaha, please do not let it concern you. Considering the temperament of the Kingdom of Lancel, it is only natural that you would be nervous, Princess... Since we have come to serve Her Majesty Anrietta as our sovereign, the core of this country has been showing gradual change. There are those, like Earl Auteuil or Viscount Tajinette who serves as Her Majesty's direct guard, who were once part of the military clique but now serve actively as Her Majesty's subjects. The diplomacy of this country will also likely change with the times."
Marquis Paradir spoke calmly. By limiting the scope of change specifically to the country's "diplomacy," there was likely a warning included—that the interior of the country would not necessarily become tolerant of beastmen.
Nevertheless, considering the Kingdom of Lancel up until now, Helga's expression became one of relief at his sufficiently moderate tone.
After that, they parted ways with Marquis Paradir, and Noein and Helga exchanged greetings with the other attendees.
The prominent nobles of the Kingdom of Lancel. Representatives from countries located further west than Lancel, or on the islands to the south. Since every single one of them, without exception, belonged to cultures that persecuted beastmen, there were few who showed a favorable reaction toward Helga, though Noein was a different matter.
Nobles who were far from the core of the Kingdom of Lancel due to their low family rank, or representatives of countries with little possibility of direct involvement with the Kingdom of Revelant, were naturally less amiable than the influential Marquis Paradir or Earl Auteuil. As long as Helga remained an anomalous existence in this place, this was, to some extent, unavoidable for now.
"I have heard of the prosperity of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist. It is the height of honor to be recognized by the Grand Duke... I am also pleased to be able to greet the Princess."
As they spoke, there were those who clearly changed their attitude and choice of words between Noein and Helga. While they sought a handshake from Noein, they would not even try to meet Helga's eyes directly. Even this was among the more moderate responses.
"Hmm, I thought something smelled fishy. Why is there a dressed-up beastman here?"
"Do they not think they are out of place... I wonder how they can stay here without any shame."
Among them, there were even those who muttered insults at a volume just barely audible, simply to enjoy themselves. The fact that there were those among the Lancel nobility who would make such remarks was proof that a spirit of welcoming exchange with beastman nations had not yet been born within the noble society of the kingdom, excluding the core.
"...Princess, are you alright?"
"Yes, thank you for your concern. I approached this visit to the Kingdom of Lancel knowing it would be like this. I have come to a land that has persecuted beastmen since its founding—no, even before its founding—so it is only natural for it to be like this at first. Rather, it must be this way."
When Noein asked, Helga answered with a dignified, composed face. Her expression seemed even more refreshed than it had been a moment ago when she was receiving greetings laden with political color.
Marquis Hakkarainen, who accompanied Helga as her guard and aide, remained silent but even showed a fearless smile, as if he were conversely enjoying the situation.
"That is good. You have truly become strong."
"It is the greatest honor to have Your Excellency say so."
Noein also decided to enjoy this social gathering, facing the onslaught of greetings and savoring the food and wine of the lavishly decorated venue.
A wedding reception between the royalty of great powers, where various princes and nobles of various positions spun their respective schemes, and those schemes were colored and hidden by the glamorous atmosphere. Time passed peacefully on the surface, and as evening arrived, it was nearing its end.
Anrietta, who had greeted the entire assembly at the start of the banquet, stood up from her throne on the dais erected for the Queen at the front of the hall to close the reception, standing beside her husband, Klaus. An official called out to the venue, and the attention of the attendees gathered on Anrietta and Klaus.
Noein and Helga also focused their attention on Anrietta.
"To the representatives of the various nations who have come, and to the lords of the beloved Kingdom of Lancel, first, I thank you once again. I am truly happy to have spent this auspicious day with you, a day when Klaus and I have wed, and the friendship between the Kingdom of Lancel and the Kingdom of Rhodeberg has deepened further."
There, Anrietta paused, and the attendees, reading the air, gave a round of applause that was not too loud.
"Today has become a day of great significance not only for me, who has gained a husband, but for the Kingdom of Lancel, and for the various nations including the Kingdom of Rhodeberg that maintains friendship with the Kingdom of Lancel. I sincerely hope that our prosperity and peace will continue—"
"—Wait!"
At that moment. The words of Anrietta, the protagonist of the day, the host of this gathering, and the Queen of this country, were interrupted.
With a sharp shout, the gaze of everyone in the hall turned toward the person who had committed an unthinkable rudeness.
Noein also turned toward the rear center of the hall where the voice had come from—and there, he saw Earl Auteuil, who had drawn a dagger and was glaring at Anrietta with a grim expression.