The party was in full swing.
The rare dishes and drinks, along with the warm welcome, had all the guests smiling, and the party was a great success.
"Phew… I'm a bit tired,"
"Yes… but it seems to be going well."
Viola and Primula, who had been attending to the guests, were taking a break at the edge of the venue.
Since they had been working nonstop, traces of fatigue appeared on their faces.
"Good work, you two,"
Rest came over to them with drinks.
He handed them low-alcohol juice and praised their efforts.
"Ah, Rest. Good work to you too."
"I'm glad the party seems to be a success."
"Yeah. It's thanks to you two working hard… I really appreciate it."
Rest expressed his sincere gratitude.
Rest didn't understand the ways of noble etiquette.
The party was flourishing because Viola and Primula had taken the lead in managing it.
"It's because the ingredients Rest brought were good. With wyvern and diamond bear, and even a new type of liquor, there's no way it could fail."
"That's right. It's all thanks to you, Lord Rest."
Viola and Primula both praised Rest.
Their words of appreciation were the best reward. It made all the hard work of rushing around to gather ingredients worthwhile.
"Rest. Do you have a moment?"
"Father-in-law?"
The person who had approached the resting trio was the sisters' father... Marquis Rosemary.
"I'd like to speak with you. Could you come over here?"
"I don't mind, but..."
Rest glanced at the sisters, and they both nodded.
"Sure, go ahead."
"We can talk later."
"Alright... if you'll excuse me."
"This way."
Led by Marquis Rosemary, Rest was taken to the edge of the party venue.
There, the marchioness Irish, was gathered along with powerful figures like Marquis Cattleya and Duke Crocus.
"Ah..."
And then... another person was there.
The figure of Count Walnut, who had come up in the conversation with Andrew a moment ago, stood before them.
"You are..."
"Ah, Count Clover. Sorry to call you away from your busy evening."
"No... not at all."
Rest knew the truth about Count Walnut.
Rest replied, doing his best not to sound rude.
«No, I'm the one… I'm afraid I haven't been a good host. I truly apologize.»
«Ah, don't be so stiff. I'm incognito today, so take it easy.»
«……Yes.»
Even though he told me to relax… honestly, there was no way I could.
It's like when a company president says «let's be informal,» but the junior employees still can't truly forget the hierarchy.
«So… what was it you wanted to talk to me about?»
«Ah, right. What I'm about to tell you is unofficial. But I want you to understand that it will come to pass before long.»
«……?»
«A letter arrived at the royal family from House Lavender the other day. It says they wish to retire soon and hand over the position of head of the house.»
«Retire…?»
Rest involuntarily turned his gaze to the side.
A short distance away, one of the guests, Margrave Lavender, was talking with other nobles, a genial old man's smile on his face.
«……»
Beside him stood his granddaughter, Urla. She was staring fixedly at Rest.
«Honestly, I was surprised. That old pest—rather, Margrave Looser Lavender has been a thorn in our side for years. In the past, there was an incident where nobles and diplomats pushing for closer integration with the empire went missing, and I suspect he was behind it. While he swore absolute loyalty to the royal family, he's a thoroughgoing hardliner when it comes to the empire, which made him extremely troublesome.»
«Is that so…»
Rest had heard that story before, but it never quite felt real to him.
From the Margrave Lavender Rest had met and spoken with, he appeared to be a gentle, doting old man. He certainly didn't look like a schemer secretly hoping for war.
«On top of that, the letter also said this: ‘We wish to entrust our heir, our granddaughter who is still young, to a guardian appointed by the royal family.’ It's practically a full surrender. I wonder what could have happened to that wily old man…»
Count Walnut glanced sideways at Margrave Lavender with a look of unease.
It seemed that he felt more wary and unsettled than relieved by the old man’s sudden transformation.
(In other words, «Having the royal family name a guardian»… meant that he would no longer oppose the royal family and had abandoned his ambitions.)
Margrave Lavender had desired war with the empire and had been secretly plotting behind the scenes.
If the guardian of the family head became someone with ties to the royal family, he would no longer be able to do as he pleased.
As Count Walnut said, this was a concession. A declaration of full surrender.
«However… upon retiring, Margrave Lavender set one condition.»
«A condition?»
«Yes… To me, it’s a condition that doesn’t bother me in the slightest.»
Count Walnut turned a meaningful glance toward Rest.
Rest felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding at that strangely warm gaze.
«S-Surely that doesn’t mean…»
«To make Urla Lavender your wife and make that child the official head of House Lavender.»
«…………»
Rest was at a loss for words as he turned to look back at where Margrave Lavender was.
«…………V!»
When their eyes met, Urla, who was standing beside Margrave Lavender, made a peace sign.