Chapter 40 – 40
Euro, Raymond, and Dent naturally returned to the office in the main building. It was to follow the original schedule and for Euro to learn the duties he would be taking over.
Raymond explained the prepared documents one by one to Euro, who was seated at the desk.
“In truth, there isn’t much you’ll need to worry about. Most of the duties related to the mansion are handled by me and the other butlers, and the affairs of the fief are divided among the vassals, with His Grace personally handling the final verification.”
Even while ill, Melione had not completely stepped back from the front lines. Although he had completely ceased public activities recently, he had personally participated in all important activities until then.
“Therefore, Madam, you only need to handle the internal affairs of the mansion and the budget proposal for the spring festival, which will take place in a month.”
“A festival? Isn’t it too late for preparations if it’s only a month away?”
“The festival is being handled entirely by the House of Viscount Molton, one of the vassal families. Until the year before last, His Grace oversaw it, but since [visit our site]last year, the Viscount’s house has been in charge.”
Raymond spoke while showing Euro the documents related to the festival. Dent, who had been silently standing by, spoke to Euro, who was looking at the documents with a furrowed brow.
“The current Duke is the only person who has ever personally overseen the spring festival, even for a short time. Before that, the House of Viscount Molton had prepared the festival for generations.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, the spring festival of Silon existed even before this region was absorbed into Paltreon. That is, when Silon was the Kingdom of Molton.”
“Ah, then the House of Viscount Molton is…”
Euro nodded at the fact he hadn’t known. To this, Raymond added a further explanation.
“The royalty of the Kingdom of Molton stepped down from the throne of their own accord. Thus, they were granted titles. However, they were not granted a fief. Consequently, they remained in Silon and eventually became vassals of the Dukedom.”
“If it’s a festival that existed since it was Molton, they certainly would know best.”
“It’s not just a matter of knowing it well…”
Dent let a comment slip unconsciously, then belatedly glanced at Raymond. However, Raymond did not stop him.
“Go on.”
At Euro’s urging, Dent scratched his cheek.
“They probably won’t like it very much.”
“Like what?”
“Madam interfering with the festival affairs.”
“…”
“Since they know nothing about you, they’ll likely assume that, just as the Duke did, you’ll quickly step away once your health weakens. So…”
“You mean they’ll think it’s unnecessary meddling?”
“…If I had to put it that way, yes. That’s right.”
At Dent’s words, Euro put down the documents. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand. All the previous Duchesses must have avoided getting involved in such events, and the Duke likely felt the same.
If someone appeared claiming they wanted to help, changed the festival details to suit their own taste, and then told them to figure it out themselves because they were too sick to participate further, he would find it annoying too.
“Furthermore, the House of Viscount Molton takes great pride in the fact that they have always been the ones to oversee that festival. After all, it’s a festival that existed since the time of the Kingdom of Molton.”
“…”
“Even when His Grace took over for a while and then handed [visit our site]it back due to personal reasons, their [unauthorized copy]reaction was essentially, ‘Of course he did.’ That’s why I’m a bit concerned.”
“That’s possible. It’s related to their history, so I understand.”
Honestly, with the matter of breaking Melione’s curse being more urgent, Euro had no intention of getting deeply involved in the festival.
The reason he had stepped forward to learn the duties related to the fief and the mansion wasn’t because he truly intended to perform them, but because he needed a suitable activity to move around without drawing Melione’s suspicion.
If he wandered in and out of the mansion without having any specific job, he would be an easy target for attention. Since this was a choice to avoid such risks, he didn’t intend to change his approach to the work much from how it was now.
‘Honestly, I don’t know anything.’
Thinking this, Euro said to Dent.
“Send invitations to the vassal families. Tell them I’d like to have a simple tea.”
“To all of them?”
“Yes, they all have their own roles, right? I have no intention of touching their work. I’m overwhelmed enough with the tasks I have to do. I only volunteered for this because I needed a plausible excuse to move around…”
“…”
“Still, from their perspective, it’s as if I’ve suddenly appeared and invaded their territory, so I should at least show them that I have no such intention.”
Dent nodded in understanding. At that moment, Euro suddenly spoke urgently to Raymond.
“Ah, of course, I’m not saying I won’t do anything at all. If there’s a part I can help with, I will. I need a reason to leave the mansion for the time being anyway.”
“Yes, I will coordinate accordingly. First, I will prepare the tea party.”
“Ah… speaking of which.”
“Yes?”
“Um, what am I supposed to do at a tea party?”
ꕥ ꕥ ꕥ
In his entire life, the only festivals he had ever attended were things like steamed bun festivals or water parsley festivals in the countryside for work. Even then, those were quite large for regional events, so he had been grateful just to be invited.
Naturally, he had never experienced something like a tea party. Of course, how many men in South Korea have actually had a tea party… but if he had at least done a small-scale fan meeting, he wouldn’t be this nervous.
‘No, it’s not like I’ve never done one.’
If the billboard tour he did right before the survival show final counted as a small fan meeting, he wasn’t completely devoid of experience.
Even so, it had just been greeting a few fans he happened to run into and taking a few questions. He wondered if he could think of this as being the same, but honestly, it wasn’t a comparable experience.
Since it wasn’t a grand party but a tea party for introductions, the date on [unauthorized copy]the invitation was [Read on Read BL Novels]somewhat tight. Because of this, he thought one or two might not attend, but unexpectedly, everyone showed up on time.
Their ages varied, but they were all female. There were noble ladies, and there was a Baroness who had come personally since there was no mistress of the house.
At this, Euro briefly thought, ‘Can I really think of this as a fan meeting?’ but he soon realized he must not.
While the part about questions pouring in was the same as in front of the billboards, these women had no goodwill. This was because they knew nothing about the Prince of Norden who had come all the way to Silon for marriage.
Euro felt cold sweat running down his spine as he exchanged greetings with them.
There were five people in total. Lady Molton, Baroness Rave, Baroness Mare, and two other Baronesses.
As befitting a large port city and the only Dukedom in Paltreon, there were five vassal families. This was likely because the Dukedom had no separate branch families.
“I have arranged this gathering today to introduce myself. I hope it will be an enjoyable occasion.”
A very nervous Euro spoke with the widest smile he could manage. Then, Baroness Mare put down her teacup and stared at Euro.
“Please lower your speech, Duchess. There is no one here who needs to be treated with such formality by you.”
“Ah, yes… I mean, I understand.”
Euro answered, stiff as a board. It wasn’t that he wasn’t used to the class system, but rather that he was overwhelmed by the aura emanating from them.
“…Um, I hope we can meet often and get along well. Since I’ve come from Norden, there’s much I don’t know, so I intend to learn regardless of my position.”
Euro spoke while intentionally looking at Lady Molton. She was looking elsewhere, lightly fluttering her fan.
‘Ah, this isn’t going to be easy.’
If he could, he felt like singing a verse of a song just to change the atmosphere. Of course, that was absolutely impossible.
While he was pondering how to change this stiff atmosphere, stolen contentEuro suddenly [Read on Read BL Novels]saw Dent serving tea, and the stolen contentwords Raymond had told him yesterday came to mind.
When he had asked what to do at a tea party, Raymond had answered very simply.
‘Talk about Dent.’
‘Dent?’
‘Yes, he is a man who loves his son dearly. If you praise Dent, they will likely become your allies in no time.’
Euro fixed his gaze on Baroness Rave, who was drinking tea without much expression. Now that he was surviving on his acting skills, praising Dent was a piece of cake.
“It seems Dent takes after Baroness Rave in appearance.”
As he opened the conversation with a bright smile, Baroness Rave quickly met Euro’s eyes.
“I recognized it at a glance. Since your Read on Read BL Novelsbeauty is outstanding, it’s only natural that Dent is handsome as well.”
At this, Dent, who was holding the teapot, froze instantly and stared at Euro. Unaware of Dent’s reaction, Euro continued toward Baroness Rave.
“For a moment, I wondered if an older sister had come because you look so young. Dent doesn’t have any sisters, right?”
Euro, who had been nodding to himself, belatedly noticed Dent’s strange expression. That wasn’t all. Everyone present was wearing a peculiar look.
In particular, Baroness Rave had turned her head away and was fanning herself incessantly.
‘Ah, damn it.’
Only then did Euro realize his mistake. This wasn’t a compliment; it was flirting.
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