Vol 3 Chapter 3 (1/2)
Chapter 3
Chapter 3 Episode 3
Editor: SniperIRL
7th day, 8th month, the year 2812. Western Continent Calendar: (Towards the peninsula 3)
A carriage stopped in front of the Earl’s house.
The sky has become completely dark, people can only walk around while holding a candle.
The black painted two horse carriage stopped in front of the mansion. It is not something n.o.bles would usually use.
But the one riding the carriage does not care about such things.
He hurriedly procures the carriage after the two sisters make a fuss about how he should maintain a minimum appearance as n.o.ble.
Servants who stood in line in front of the doorway lowered their heads all at once the moment Ryouma gets down from the carriage.
””” Welcome, Mikos.h.i.+ba-sama.”””
As expected of servants serving an Earl family. They welcomed Ryouma with such impeccable conduct. Two people then appear as if waiting for the servants to speak those words first.
”Welcome, welcome! Baron Mikos.h.i.+ba-dono.”
The man who welcomes him exaggeratedly while raising his arm is the lord of the fortified city Epiroz, Earl Salzberg.
His height is around 180cm. His age is around late 30.
He's a middle-aged man with his belly pus.h.i.+ng forward a little, but one can see that he was a warrior. Might be due to the city being near the border.
(I heard it was a prestigious family that has been around since the founding of Rozeria Kingdom... Which in turn makes them not your ordinary n.o.ble family... But what's up with that greeting? Somehow it feels disgusting...)
Ryouma who receive extremely polite greeting end up feels uneasy.
When it comes to rank, his rank is two level below that of an Earl rank.
Ryouma felt it as something very unnatural for the Earl to welcome him who's a vagabond just the other day like this.
Ryouma braced himself. After all, he once took such behavior from Lupis for granted and was betrayed by her. It is reasonable for him to be more cautious.
Despite feeling like that, he did not show it on his face.
Ryouma smiled and lowered his head slightly to express his grat.i.tude just like how a n.o.ble does things, and the one who taught him the manners of n.o.bility was Laura.
”I'm very sorry for visiting so suddenly today. As someone who's just a greenhorn, I would like to ask Earl Salzberg his continued guidance.”
Today, the attire Ryouma wore is not something spectacular.
Although he had money from selling the things he got from killing the slave trader, he needs that money to build the territory. He can't use too much money in something unnecessary. But then, n.o.bles have to protect their honor. He can't just visit them with a commoner s.h.i.+rt and trousers.
That's why today he wears black pants, silk s.h.i.+rt, and a belt with gold like buckle.
When going outdoors he also put a cloak over his clothes. Even with all of that, this is the bare minimum of clothes for n.o.bles.
The minimum amount he needs to protect his honor as a n.o.ble.
The Earl in front of him is actually in contrast compared to him. He wears various jewelry to express his authority for being born as a n.o.ble.
The articles make him look dignified but does not make him feel vulgar either. His s.h.i.+rt b.u.t.tons are made in the shape of pearls. On his chest, there's a brooch with the shape of a flower.
Despite such glamorous looks, his wife who's standing next to him is actually worse.
Give or take, her age is around 30.
She wore a silk dress that was designed to show her cleavage. Her dress is dyed pure white, matching her s.h.i.+ning golden hair. She has a small silver crown atop of her head and large ruby and sapphire rin
gs on her hands.
She's exactly a walking gem.
From the sense of modern people, her appearance has too many decorative items.
However, with her smile showing her elegance, she manages to keep her beauty with exquisite balance.
(Fancy but not vulgar... I guess this is the thing called n.o.bility character huh?)
Ryouma evaluated the two people smiling in front of him.
”Please come in. It must be hard with the long journey from the royal capital. Please relax inside our house tonight. Isn't that right, Dear?”
Earl Salzberg nods greatly responding to his wife's words.
”My wife is right, please rest at our place and heal your fatigue. After all, there won't be any towns or villages once you enter Wortenia peninsula... And until the territory is developed in the future, it would be necessary to carry supplies from Epiroz. Since our territory is next to each other, I hope we have an everlasting relations.h.i.+p!”
”Thank you, I express my deepest grat.i.tude.... From now on, I'll be in your care...”
Ryouma lower his head slightly toward the Earl.
(Fuuh... My purpose for coming here have been known huh? From the way he talks, he seems wiling to cooperate in terms of purchasing goods... But first, I need to find out if that is really what’s inside their heart...)
Ryouma eyes shone sharply.
Ryouma is accompanied by the Earl toward the table.
”Well now, we've prepared everything for the sake of welcoming Baron Mikos.h.i.+ba today, I asked the chef to perform his extraordinary cooking skills. Unlike the royal capital, there's not much product in this remote area, but there's quant.i.ty, please relish to your hearts content.”
Along with Earl Salzberg’s words, the door of the hall was opened up, and maids came in with dishes on a cart.
”This is...”
It was natural for Ryouma to be lost for words when looking at the dishes being arranged on the table.
There's a whole roasted pig, various cuts of beef, bird meat, and then fish meat, there are also various vegetables and seaweed presented as salad. Seasonal fruit chilled by using crushed ice.
The table that can easily seat 20 people was overflowing with foods.
”Oh dear, this is very embarra.s.sing. Perhaps this is not usual at the royal capital but when a guest visits, it is a custom for us to welcome them with more food than can be eaten... Well, it is just a custom from the countryside, consider it as a token of wanting to build a good relations.h.i.+p.”
Earl Salzberg said those words while stroking his head.
”No no, as an upstart I'm very grateful toward Earl Salzberg’s warm welcome.”
”Hahahaha! I guess an upstart always being this humble. Mikos.h.i.+ba-dono, you're someone who has made remarkable achievements during the civil war. I heard the princess trusts you very much... On the other hand, I can't move even one step due to my anxiety that the Zalda Kingdom might make their move.”
Ryouma made an amiable laugh in response to the Earl’s words.
”Dear? Enough with the story. The food will get cold you know?”
The Earl's wife named Yuria warned him.
”Oh right! That was rude of me... Oi! Pour some wine into Mikos.h.i.+ba-dono’s gla.s.s.”
Following the Earl’s words, the crimson wine was poured into the gla.s.s in front of Ryouma.
”Well then... To celebrate Mikos.h.i.+ba-dono’s prosperity and relations.h.i.+p between our families! Cheers!”
Together with the Earl’s words, Ryouma raised his gla.s.s.
A rich grape fragrance spreads inside his mouth. It has a very stimulating flavor. Afterwards the deep richness of the wine spreads through his whole body.
He can feel the wine easily slide down his throat. It was sliding just like silk.
(Such fine quality wine...)
Ryouma is a high school student who supposedly never know the taste of an alcohol, However, because of his grandfather he was already experienced with alcohol, and since he came to this world, he he drinks it almost every day.
From his experience in this world, the wine the Earl has offered is one of the highest quality.
While he was staying at Pireaus castle, he was offered luxury liquor, but the one he is drinking currently is a grade higher.
(The cooking, and this wine... What's going on? No rather, how did they manage to do all of this? Are they able to do this just by using revenue from the tax?)
Even if it was only the food.
Looking at the ingredients they have used. Numerous spices had been used without holding back.
No matter how much one said it was their custom at welcoming people, this is too extravagant for the sake of welcoming an upstart Baron.