Novel Full Chapter 2391: Purchase of Exclusive Brush ⑳
Inside the mansion of the Hamilton Marquisdom, located in the capital of Archlesia Empire, Marquis Hamilton and Eris were in conversation. Originally, they had planned to summon the parents of the young ladies who attended the previous tea party to discuss future matters and give some guidance, but that meeting had been canceled due to the sudden and urgent return of Baron Ritch.
The reason was simple, depending on the nature of that emergency, the topics of discussion might change drastically. Hence, it was decided to hold the meeting on another day. The noble families that had gathered were each sent home using Teleportation Magic prepared by Hamilton Marquisdom.
[Ritch Barony was the first to have an incident huh…… I thought something might happen with the Sharon County first……]
[Fumu. If I recall correctly, Eris, you predicted that the ones most likely to have an inci…… or rather, to deepen their ties with Miyama Kaito-sama would be the Ritch Barony and the Sharon County, yes?]
[Yes. It’s only my impression from the tea party, but Cornelia-sama and Marie-sama seemed to have drawn Kaito-sama’s interest more than the other young ladies. They were the only two who made some sort of promise with him during the event. Marie-sama promised to gift him some ripples harvested from her Barony, while Cornelia-sama promised to guide him to the Victor Trading Company for a special monster brush…… That visit was supposed to be today, so I expected anything noteworthy to happen there……]
Eris had observed Kaito’s interactions with the young ladies during the tea party and made her own predictions about who had left a favorable impression on him.
Kaito was someone whose emotions easily appeared on his face, and Eris herself was exceptionally skilled at reading people. From that, she concluded that Cornelia and Marie had both managed to please Kaito more than the others, and her judgment was correct.
Furthermore, since Cornelia had arranged the visit to the Victor Trading Company on the spot, Eris had already been aware of the schedule. That was why she had expected anything significant to happen there, not with the Ritch Barony, making the emergency message from that direction all the more surprising.
[You’ve sent people to the city where the Victor Trading Company is located, haven’t you?]
[Yes. Not many, of course, but we have a few stationed near the company headquarters to report back should anything occur……]The Sharon County was the most powerful noble family within the Hamilton Marquisdom after the Hamiltons themselves. Should anything significant happen there, it could easily affect the entire faction. Thus, both Eris and the Marquis remained cautious. For that reason, they had dispatched a small number of people to the trade city, not quite spies, but enough to ensure they would receive word quickly should something occur.
Just as their discussion reached that point, the door was vigorously knocked from the outside. When permission to enter was given, a flustered maid burst into the room.
[R- Reporting! An emergency message has arrived! In the trade city, we have visually confirmed the presence of War King-sama and Dragon King-sama, and they appear to be together with Miyama Kaito-sama and Cornelia Sharon-sama!]
[ [ ! ? ] ]
Both Eris and the Marquis Hamilton froze in shock at the report. Immediately, Eris pressed a finger to her brow, sinking deep into thought.
(If the scouts were able to confirm visually, it must have been outdoors. Within that trade city…… taking into account the location of Victor Trading Company’s headquarters and the nearby facilities……)
Eris was a highly capable individual, and she had the city’s layout memorized perfectly. She quickly ran through in her mind the areas near the Victor Trading Company headquarters where one might plausibly encounter Megiddo or Magnawell.
[……This happened near the concert hall then?]
[Y- Yes! My apologies for not including that detail earlier, the sighting was near the concert hall.]
[……I can’t say what might have motivated Dragon King-sama’s arrival, but War King-sama has a deep appreciation for music. It wouldn’t be strange for them to attend a concert. To just so happen to encounter them there, as to be expected with Kaito-sama’s luck…… In any case, it’s safe to assume that Kaito-sama introduced Cornelia-sama to the two of the Six Kings.]
[This is nad…… War King-sama alone is extraordinary, but a connection with Dragon King-sama as well? That doesn’t just affect the Sharon County…… it could influence the entire Empire. If rumors spread, it might cause quite an uproar.]
Even merely encountering two of the Six Kings was already an overwhelming event. Among them, Magnawell had particularly deep ties with the Archlesia Empire, and his influence upon the nobility was immense.
[It seems we’ll need to speak with Count Sharon before rumors spread. There’ll be a flood of inquiries directed at their County, and the benefits this will bring to the Hamilton faction are simply too great.]
[If we act too slowly, we could end up making quite a few enemies…… Still, the location is unfortunate, a concert hall, and with both War King-sama and Dragon King-sama present, neither of whom employ Recognition Inhibition Magic……]
If it had been someone like Kuromueina or Isis, who constantly used Recognition Inhibition Magic, then the spread of information could have been contained to some degree. With sufficient preparation, coordination between the Marquisdom and the County could have managed the balance of power among the nobility.
However, a delayed response might allow other noble families to move first. They wouldn’t directly target Cornelia, but they could attempt to secure marriages with the Sharon County’s younger children or even tempt the family to leave the Hamilton faction and form a new one. Either scenario would create a storm of political chaos.
In short, speed was crucial. As Eris and Marquis Hamilton reached that same conclusion almost simultaneously, the maid suddenly spoke again.
[……Well, I suppose it would be a bit pitiful to leave Cornelia-san like that, so I’ll lend her a little help.]
[ [ ! ? ! ? ] ]
Startled by the calm, almost teasing tone, both Eris and Marquis Hamilton turned toward the maid. The woman who had looked so flustered just moments ago now wore a composed smile.
[……Could it be…… Phantasmal King-sama?]
[Yeah. The seven people the Hamilton Marquisdom dispatched to that city should be making their reports within a few minutes.]
Speaking as though they were discussing the weather, Alice, who knew the exact number of agents they had sent, made both Eris and Marquis Hamilton break out in a cold sweat.
[Well, in any case, I’ll keep the spread of rumors suppressed for the next two days or so. Use that time wisely to discuss your countermeasures.]
[Understood. We are deeply grateful for your benevolence, Phantasmal King-sama…… Umm…… Phantasmal King-sama? Why are you looking at me with such pity in your eyes?]
[……Don’t worry. When your turn comes soon, I’ll make sure to help you as well.]
[Why do such gentle words sound so terrifying……?]
Alice, who had seemed like nothing more than a projection, gave Eris one last pitying glance before vanishing. Sadly, Eris had an inkling of what that meant…… After all, she herself had already made a promise…… A promise to visit Kaito’s home…… and she had also accepted his invitation to the tea party he planned to host himself.
As a vague but undeniable sense of dread welled up within her, Eris quietly pressed a hand against her stomach.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [Come to think of it, Eris already got a confirmed invitation straight from Kaito himself to the tea party that Shiro’s attending, didn’t she……]