109. Small Party
Winter is approaching.
At this point, there is not much time left until the wave of disaster that comes with the demonic beasts.
I skipped all my schedules to spend some quality time alone with France.
“Ugh… ….”
While France was deciphering the runes, she pressed her temples.
“What’s going on?”
“It’s been quite difficult lately.”
Is this the contents of a magic book? But we are already past the halfway point. At that rate, I think I’ll be able to find the soul binding magic soon.
“… “Didn’t she say that when Ka-Zar starts to get stuck, it’s best to move on to another book?”
France pouted his lips and shook his head.
“I’ve come this far, so I have to finish it to the end.”
Oh, you’re being so needless. But you can’t take that book away.
‘It’s been a long time, so I’d like to do something more meaningful.’
There is still a lot of time even after the wave of disaster is over, but I want to make more memories during this time.
Those memories will become the driving force for my lonely life in the future.
‘There is no place in particular that holds a local festival.’
As I was immersed in thought while stroking her chin, Franze tilted her head and asked.
“What’s going on?”
“Oh, no. “I have something to think about.”
“It’s a big deal to see you so worried.”
Franche laughs and concentrates on deciphering the rune words again. Isn’t there something she can do together…? ….
‘Ah.’
That would be good.
“Princess.”
“Why?”
“Isn’t it just one step forward toward your goal?”
“That’s right.”
“How about a celebration party?”
“… “It’s not over yet?”
Usually, things like this are done right before the end. Even after it’s over, I do it again.
“It is done with the future in mind. “It seems like a good idea to invite everyone from France Corporation and have a party.”
France took off her glasses and blinked her eyes.
“It looks like you want to do a lot.”
“Yes?”
“You’re so excited.”
Oops, it looks like there’s a stain on my face.
Tak. France closed her thick magic book.
“Okay, let’s get everyone together and have a party. “There is still work to be done, but the project is already finished and the tower construction is nearing its end.”
Fortunately, it was accepted.
“Yes, then I will prepare.”
I was so excited that I wanted to send a letter right away…….
‘Who should I call?’
First, call Kajar, Kale, Lathea, Laia, and Helena.
‘Should I also call Seldas or Viscount Elvan?’
These two people don’t really fit in at the party. I think Seldas will just be bothered, and Viscount Elvan has a business-like relationship.
‘If you call me that, you might feel uncomfortable.’
Let’s only call the people we originally intended to call.
* * *
A villa belonging to the Duke Descartes in the ecliptic.
Since I couldn’t take France to just any bar, I decided to hold the party here.
“There is a separate mansion like this in the imperial capital… ?”
“The duke family is definitely a duke family… ….”
“Since this is a mansion in the imperial capital, the alcohol must be delicious, right?”
Ladea opens his mouth and Kajar admires it. And Kale, who can only think about alcohol. It’s close to the Samsingi.
“Helena? “Today, you too are a guest at the party.”
Helena widened her eyes and waved her hands.
“Oh, no! How could I… !”
“Don’t do that. “It’s an order.”
“Yes… ….”
It may seem a bit burdensome, but it’s a party we all enjoy together after a long time. Also, Helena, France’s personal servant, cannot be left out.
At the dinner table, there was a lot of food that you don’t normally see.
You can’t tell what kind of meat it is or what it tastes like just by looking at its appearance, but these are incredibly luxurious foods made from land, sea, and air.
“These are foods you only see in high-end restaurants.”
“I was going to try this with Laia!”
“It’s been a while since I’ve had a proper meal.”
Different reactions. Meanwhile, Helena was busy trembling and watching.
“I, I am in this position…” ?”
Helena looks at France who is sitting at the head of the table with a face that looks like she is about to cry.
“It’s okay because I gave permission. “I’m giving you a reward because you’ve worked hard for me and listened carefully to what I said.”
In the past, when other servants ignored France, Helena was the only one who did not do so.
I was new and didn’t know much about the internal situation, but people are usually swayed by the atmosphere and agree with it.
“Well, I…” ….”
Suddenly, Helena sobbed. Her shoulders are shaking and she’s even shedding tears. What should I do about this?
“Helena… ?”
“I… It’s been so hard for me…….”
Eventually, she even burst into tears, saying, “Ahhh!”
“The princess is a really good person, except for the part about Jin… Everyone just curses at the princess… She ostracizes and harasses me just because she pretends to be nice…….”
I thought there was no conflict because there was no such sign, but it was a story behind her that made her close her eyes tightly.
“Helena… ….”
France got up from her seat and hugged Helena, who was sobbing, into her arms.
“Everything will be different now. Don’t worry. “I’m sorry for not being able to care for you all this time.”
Helena sobs in France’s arms. It seems like she’s been through a lot of emotional distress.
‘Why is there no normality in this duke’s family?’
Starting with the members of the dukedom, servants and knights. She can’t be considered a good person at all. If I were France, he would be misanthropic.
France said, stroking the back of Helena’s head as she sobbed.
“Is it like that recently too?”
“It’s not like that now…” ….”
Has it become quiet as France’s power becomes overwhelmingly stronger? These guys are really smart.
“Yes, Helena has worked hard so far. “You worked hard to wait on me.”
Helena stroked her head and patted her back, and only then did she stop crying. Her hyperventilation symptoms were still present due to her emotional outburst.
“Everything will be different from now on, so don’t worry. Got it?”
Helena said, “Yes….” She shook her head.
“Okay, now let’s enjoy the dinner. “It’s a place to send off everyone’s hard work and congratulate everyone here.”
Franche smiles, holding a glass filled with champagne high.
“Thank you everyone for following me. “Thanks to you all, I was able to get to this point, and I will rise to even higher positions in the future.”
Everyone raised their glasses. I followed suit and raised my glass.
“Please continue to take good care of me. “Today is a gathering to have fun, so everyone eat and drink to your heart’s content!”
France hits the first one-shot. Everyone drank champagne accordingly.
“It’s not as good as what I ate at the imperial palace, but it’s still delicious.”
After regaining her appetite, Cale closed her eyes and nodded her head. The champagne seems satisfactory.
“Wow… “The meat is so soft.”
“Sister, I feel like crying… ….”
“Laia, eat a lot.”
Ladea takes care of Laia, who is moved, and Ka-Jar is purely impressed.
‘It’s a fun time.’
A party with everyone. We’ve worked hard so far, so we should have days like this.
“Jin?”
France looked at me and held up his glass. I laughed and hit my phone.
“Is this what you wanted?”
“That’s right. “The atmosphere is nice.”
“Okay. “This is my first time at a party where I felt comfortable.”
Well, at a party full of nobles, you should always be sharp. If you don’t do that, you will be eaten by the social world.
“Sometimes I have to throw a party like this.”
“That would be nice too.”
I will not be there by then.
“There is a harvest festival at the end of this winter, so let’s have a party like this then too. “I’ve always spent the time alone, so I should enjoy this noisy harvest festival.”
That will be the last memory me and France have together. At that thought, my taste buds became bitter.
‘Let’s stop thinking like this for now.’
I shook my head and looked around. France smiles and shakes her glass. And everyone enjoying the party.
“No, you’re the uncle!”
“That’s right, I’m 10 years older than you!”
“Kazar thinks so too, right?”
Kazar narrowed his eyebrows and shook his head at Radea and Laia’s words.
“If you’re 28, you’re 7 years older than me, so I guess you’re right.”
Then Cale got angry as if he had promised.
“At 28, you are in your prime!”
“Uncle Kale, you’ll be 29 after this winter.”
“… ….”
“Shouldn’t we get to know her soon? It’s still too late…….”
That’s right. In this world, 29 is a very late age to get married.
“I am the king of mercenaries and a warrior called the White Ghost. “Love is a useless emotion.”
Kale said that and looked at the glass like a cold city man.
“Wow, did you hear that?”
“I can’t believe I was thinking like that…….”
“I feel a little sorry for Mr. Kale.”
Innumerable looks of sympathy pouring in. However, Cale did not give in and hit him with a shot of champagne.
“Let’s stop now. Uncle Kale must have a lot on his mind, too.”
“Kazar is right. Uncle Kale must have a lot of worries, too.”
Kale is not afraid of anything. Before he came here, he was the mercenary king and the guardian of the East, known as the White Ghost, but now he has turned into an old man with a good sense of hitting.
Franze shook her head.
“Everyone, I know it’s fun, but stop making fun of Kale. “He’s here to have fun, so it’s a bit weird to talk about it.”
I feel like I’m subtly feeding it by saying that, but maybe it’s just my mood.
“I’ll bring up the topic. “It’s harvest festival soon.”
Everyone was upset at the mention of the harvest festival. What. Shouldn’t we be happy?
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“Barony Roark, where I lived, had nothing at the harvest festival… ….”
“It was like that in the Seirel family where I was. “People were desperately poor.”
“I have never enjoyed a harvest festival. “I was busy catching the devil.”
Now that I think about it, these people are all far from ordinary…….
“The duchy’s harvest festival is different. “The dukehouse hosts the festival directly so that everyone can enjoy it.”
It is a good culture. France grinned and continued to explain.
“Other territories are similar, but there is something more special about the duchy.”
Radea and Laia said, “If it’s something special…” “?” He said, his eyes sparkling.
“We invite the court wizards and open a magical stage.”
…… Magic stage? Was there something like that? Since I know all the events in the game, there’s nothing I wouldn’t know about.
“What is the magic stage?”
Seeing as Laia was asking, it seems I wasn’t the only one who was curious.
“Shoot the condensed magic into the sky and explode it. “The various magical powers exploding from the sky are a sight to behold.”
Ah, it was simply a firecracker.
“It’s fascinating. To provide something to see, magical power is shot into the sky and exploded.”
“This is only shown in the Duchy of Descartes. “I’ve always looked after that too.”
France smiled and looked at me.
“But now there are people to watch it with.”
The current France is far removed from the harsh and lifeless face I saw during my first impression.
She was full of anticipation.
“Magical stage…. “I’ve only heard about it, but I’m already looking forward to it.”
“I knew that the Descartes family was great, but I never thought there would be something like this… ….”
“To even do something like that, wizards are a strange people.”
Everyone had different reactions, but most of them had expectations.
“Anyway, the harvest festival will proceed like this. “Everyone, look forward to it.”
France smiled happily and raised her glass again.
“Everyone, please take good care of France Corporation in the future!”
Unlike everyone else who is full of bright smiles.
Only I smiled bitterly.
