Episode 30

The dining room was bustling. The maids were attaching several long tables from the storage room, and Emma was setting the utensils according to the number of vassals.

Normally, the banquet hall was used for gatherings of this size, but it was currently under renovation at the Pontus mansion and unavailable for use.

I gave various instructions to the staff using the patchy knowledge I had gathered from books.

Simple directions like placing silver candlesticks in the center of the table and bringing out the best wine. Although the instructions were trivial, the staff perfectly understood and followed them, allowing preparations to proceed smoothly.

Once everything was set, the kitchen staff began bringing out light appetizers. Fresh plum salad and mushroom soup, perfect for summer.

From the smell wafting through the first floor, it seemed the turkey in the oven was almost ready.

Just then, Wilson approached me.

“Grand Duchess, the meeting has just ended.”

“Really?”

I took out my pocket watch to check the time. The meeting had run long, and it was well past lunchtime.

I inspected the table once more.

The number of place settings was perfect, and the soup was still steaming. Everything seemed in order.

“Please guide the vassals to the dining room.”

“Yes.”

Wilson nodded and swiftly exited the dining room. Shortly after, Apollion entered with the vassals.

After ensuring they were all seated, I took my place next to Apollion at the head of the table.

“Thank you all for joining us for this luncheon. My staff and I have put great effort into preparing this meal for you, so please enjoy it.”

“We are honored to partake in a luncheon prepared by the Grand Duchess herself.”

Though we called it a luncheon, it was closer to an early dinner due to the delayed time.

As the vassals bowed their heads in gratitude, the main course, the roasted turkey, was brought out, eliciting short exclamations of delight from various parts of the room.

Following the turkey came buttered roasted corn, pumpkin cooked in a special sauce, and nut-stuffed pies, all of which looked mouth-wateringly delicious.

After the servants set down the dishes and left, an elderly gentleman with white hair among the vassals spoke up.

“My goodness, what a splendid reception. It is an honor.”

“You flatter me.”

Now, his name was…

“Viscount Idneus.”

The elderly gentleman’s eyes widened.

“I did not expect the Grand Duchess to know even this old man’s name.”

‘Yes, I got it right.’

I was proud that my cramming had paid off, and I began to recite the information I had painstakingly memorized.

“The Idneus family has a long history with the Grand Duchy. I have also heard how diligently you cared for the residents of the territory who were affected by the monster attacks. The Grand Duke is very grateful to the Idneus family.”

I covered my mouth with a fan and smiled. Behind the fan, my grin was nearly splitting my face. Hitting the mark with the elderly gentleman’s name was incredibly satisfying.

Apollion looked at me with slightly clouded eyes as I beamed with pride.

Sensing his gaze, I quickly composed myself and encouraged the vassals to start eating.

Once Apollion picked up his spoon, the vassals followed suit.

Fortunately, the Grand Duke’s vassals were not particularly strict and expressed their gratitude multiple times for the splendid meal I had prepared. I watched them with satisfaction and poked Apollion in the side.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

“I did well, didn’t I?”

I whispered softly, ensuring only he could hear. To make sure he caught my words, I leaned in close to his ear.

Apollion’s body noticeably stiffened. Seeing this, my expression also hardened.

“What’s wrong? Did I make a mistake?”

“N-No. You did well.”

“Then why are you like this?”

“Your face… is too close…”

“Oh.”

It was then that I noticed his neck was turning red. I was startled.

“I thought I did something wrong.”

“No. Everything is perfect.”

I squinted at him before turning away. I wanted to tease him, but with so many people around, I couldn’t.

“You two seem to get along very well.”

I turned toward the voice.

One of the vassals was smiling warmly at us, having witnessed our whispering.

I smiled and wiped my mouth with a napkin instead of answering.

It was a relief that we appeared to get along well.

In reality, there was nothing between us that could be called a good relationship. It was merely a one-sided affection from me without any emotional exchange.

“…Do we?”

Apollion put down his fork and spoke.

Unlike the vassal’s bright tone, Apollion’s voice was somewhat subdued.

‘…That clueless man.’

I glared coldly at him, ready to intervene before he could say anything to ruin the atmosphere.

“Apollion, have you tried the walnut pie? It’s baked perfectly.”

“…Not yet.”

“Then you should try it.”

Apollion reached for the pie as instructed, and I let out a sigh of relief, thankful to have averted another potential social blunder.

I fed a large piece of walnut pie into his mouth. Apollion’s expression turned peculiar as he absentmindedly accepted the pie I offered.

I looked at Apollion with a stranger expression than ever. Although my eyes were serious, the corners of my mouth were awkwardly raised, creating a very bizarre face.

Apollion, who had been rolling his eyes for a moment, seemed to sense that something was wrong and began to chew the pie in his mouth.

“How is it? Tasty?”

He nodded.

“Then have some more.”

I placed a variety of dishes, including walnut pie, in front of him, who reluctantly nodded.

In that chaotic situation, I didn’t forget to exclude foods like beans and spinach, which aren’t good for stamina. I wonder if there will ever be a day when Apollion appreciates my efforts? I hope that day comes.

“Haha, seeing you two reminds me of my honeymoon days.”

“I used to enjoy a sweet honeymoon life too.”

“Are you implying it’s not like that now? I’m happiest when I’m alone with my wife even now!”

A man with a shaggy brown beard shouted, holding a wine glass in one hand. His flushed face suggested he was already quite drunk.

“Is there anyone who doesn’t know that Baron Veron and his wife have a good relationship?”

A young man replied with a smirk and soon burst into laughter. Despite the earlier tension, the atmosphere was now pleasant and cheerful.

“Your Highness, may this old man offer a toast first?”

“By all means.”

I smiled lightly at Viscount Idneus, who raised his glass high. It seemed that the ‘greeting ceremony’ Emma had mentioned was about to begin.

The ‘greeting ceremony’ was one of the ancient customs from the eastern region of the empire, a drinking culture established to warmly welcome new family members.

At this table, the couple had to drink a glass every time someone at the table offered a word of blessing, a brutal drinking tradition that only a heavy drinker could survive.

If we were commoners, drinking five or six glasses according to the number of family members would suffice, but it was different for nobles.

The nobles’ ‘greeting ceremony’ included their retainers, so the couple had to drink as many glasses as there were retainers.

As Viscount Idneus stood up, the other retainers looked at him with bright eyes. They all seemed to be eagerly waiting for their turn, fidgeting in their seats.

Although I was prepared, the thought of drinking all the alcohol offered by over twenty people made me sigh. I was even more worried since Petunia’s body had never drunk alcohol before.

I turned my head to look at Apollion.

He wore his usual expressionless face without a hint of difficulty.

Seeing him, I felt a bit relieved. As long as he held up well, I wouldn’t end up making a drunken fool of myself in front of the retainers.

‘Don’t lose your mind, don’t get drunk!’

Even though I knew it was an ability I couldn’t control, I hoped not to get drunk as I accepted the drink from Viscount Idneus.

“May the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess always be blessed with happiness and safety.”

“Thank you, Viscount.”

Apollion replied nonchalantly and gulped down the drink in his glass. The prominent movement of his Adam’s apple caught my eye.

I was staring blankly at him before I belatedly raised my glass. The crimson wine swirled like waves in the transparent glass.

Out of consideration for me, the retainers poured a smaller amount of alcohol into my glass than they had for Apollion, but it was still a considerable amount.

Wasn’t it common sense to pour less than half a wine glass?

The wine in my glass easily exceeded that amount. These people were definitely trying to drown us in alcohol.

I glanced at Viscount Idneus and began to drink the wine, following Apollion’s lead.

‘…Oh?’

I expected it to taste bitter and awful. But as expected of the high-quality wine nobles drank, it was incomparably better than the cheap wines I had drunk before.

The aroma was fragrant, and the taste was sweet yet pleasantly bitter. After finishing the glass, I even felt like having another.

‘Is this really alcohol?’

It tasted more like a beverage.

I momentarily tilted my head in confusion and recalled the time I drank an ice cream cocktail my friend had made, which turned me into a mess.

Back then, I had boldly said, ‘Isn’t this just a drink? Add more alcohol.’

Then I quickly got drunk and crawled on the floor…

In the video my friend took, there was not a person but a huge, intoxicated dog.

Remembering that experience, I suppressed the urge to drink more. I didn’t want to get so drunk that I couldn’t control myself in front of the retainers.