Chapter 23

23. Banquet Preparation

The quantity of sapphire stored inside the cave was enormous.

“It’s estimated to be worth more than ten million cels.”

“Good. How’s the mining situation?”

“We’ve sent the required amount as tribute and secured enough for the next ten years’ budget.”

Jensen,who seemed to have become ten years younger in just a few days, smiled and answered.

A huge grin spread across Adelaide’s face as she reviewed the list of tributes to be sent to the kingdom.

“Your contribution is great.”

“Not at all. It’s all thanks to Your Grace’s courage for venturing into such dangerous places at my foolish words.”

“I did nothing of the sort. The hardships were done by His Grace and the knights.”

Adelaide shook her head modestly.

“By the way, how is Lucid’s condition?”

“Other than a strained shoulder, he’s fine.”

“And the other knights?”

“They’re said to be without major issues, but His Grace has granted them a few days off to rest.”

“I see.”

With the discovery of the sapphire mine and the promise of substantial bonuses, the knights finally had some time for rest.

However, Callion, who had to ensure that the discovery of the lapis lazuli mine remained a secret, remained busy as ever.

“Also, a messenger has arrived from the Kingdom of Helenia.”

“What does it say?”

“It was a messenger asking for the date and place of the tribute exchange.”

“Has His Grace sent a reply?”

“Hid Grace instructed me to inquire with you and proceed accordingly.”

“Then we’ll hold it in Tiflis.”

“Pardon?”

Adelaide pointed to the tribute exchange records.

“We haven’t exchanged tributes with the Empire since the one seven years ago in the imperial castle.”

“Due to the Empire’s circumstances… they continued to visit from this side.”

“Since this is an equal exchange, not a small country vs. a large country, why don’t you extend an invitation from the Empire this time?”

“You’re right, but the time is short and we don’t have people who are used to organizing banquets…….”

“What’s the problem? We have the money.”

Adelaide smiled.

There’s nothing that money can’t do. Adelaide’s father, the Earl of Cornwall, had thrown a grand banquet the day after receiving his title.

“If you are short on money, let me know, and we’ll seek Lucid’s help with the preparations. Even with a shoulder injury, he can still give advice.”

The eldest son of House Lephisto had attended enough banquets to know the procedure.

“I’ll convey Your Grace’s instructions.”

“I will do as you ask.”

“Go ahead.”

Jensen turned and walked away with heavy steps.

Preparing for the banquet was not something Adelaide particularly enjoyed. There was a mountain of tasks to be done, and any mistake or oversight could become a laughingstock.

But since this tribute exchange involved a slave auction, Callion’s safety was her top priority.

Even the elite knights would find it difficult to escape if caught in enemy territory, so avoiding any trips to the kingdom was imperative.

But first, they had to find a way to resolve the situation before the worst-case scenario arose.

Adelaide, having made her decision, picked up a quill.

After writing a letter to Sycamore, asking him to increase the amount and variety of food supplied during the banquet and to send more maids with experience in banquets, Adelaide called out to Zatia, who stood dazedly with her tea pot.

“Zatia.”

“Ah!”

The teapot fell to the floor and shattered. Zatia jerked her head up in surprise.

“I’m sorry, I’ll clean it up.”

“It’s okay. Just be careful not to hurt yourself.”

“Yes.”

Adelaide looked at Zatia wistfully as she picked up the broken pieces.

Maybe she should have told her to rest for a few more days.

Ever since returning from the forest, Zatia has been behaving like a ghost. The knights who had gone with her were in similar states.

“Zatia, what happened in the forest?”

“What?”

“What did you see in there? You were screaming.”

“Uh…….”

Zatia lowered her gaze at Adelaide’s question. Neither she nor anyone else who had been there had a straight answer.

What had she seen that was so disturbing?

After a long pause, Zatia finally spoke up.

“I saw my father…….”

“Your father?”

Zatia closed her eyes tightly, as if it were a memory she didn’t want to think about.

“When I was young, I used to get into a lot of trouble… so my father often beat me. Those memories…”

“I shouldn’t have asked.”

 “No, it’s not that. I foolishly had a hallucination…”

“There are many people who have died because of that snake.”

Adelaide reached out her hand, feeling sorry for Zatia’s forced smile.

The hallucination induced by the snake seemed to evoke the most dreadful memories.

Dozens of skeletons had been found near the cave, and it was impossible to tell exactly how many people had died from the snake’s grip.

“But both of you seem fine.”

“Maybe because there’s nothing we’re afraid of.”

‘If I’d been hallucinating, I wonder if Elkius would have appeared.’

Adelaide shook off the memory she didn’t want to think about.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

After sending the message back to the kingdom, Adelaide set to work preparing for the banquet.

The most urgent task was to renovate the long-abandoned castle.

Tiflis Castle, a frontier among frontiers, was practically an empty castle before Callion took up residence, and even after his stay, it was barely fit for human habitation.

Adelaide decided that the castle’s dingy atmosphere was no longer suitable for hosting such a distinguished guest.

“Your Grace, where should these curtains be hung?”

“The yellow ones are for the dining hall, and the blue ones are for the entrance hall.”

“Okay.”

“And replace the carpet in the hallway with one embroidered with lions.”

“Got it.”

“Did the chandelier I ordered arrive?”

“They said it would be here this evening.”

“Make sure nothing’s broken.”

There was a lot to keep track of, especially when dealing with vendors.

“Merchants are never to be trusted. They are relentless opportunists.”

The advice from her father, the empire’s top merchant, proved true. They had sent curtains in the wrong colors or quantities, and there were countless instances of invoices with an extra “0” added.

After haggling until her lips were sore and painstakingly inspecting each item brought, the deals were finally sealed.

“Shall we place the pottery in the banquet hall?”

“Let’s put it at the entrance; they might break it there.”

“Your Grace, the samples of the ordered invitations have arrived.”

“Put them in my room.”

“Yes.”

Running around from place to place, Adelaide became completely absorbed. It took her until midday to finally sit down in the reception room and catch her breath.

“Whew, this is killing me…”

She should have managed this earlier.

This is what she got for staying in her room and ignoring the castle since coming to Tiflis, she thought.

“But then again, how could I have had winter carpets laid out all year round?”

Even if there were no visitors, the guest room’s bed was moldy. She knew well enough how sloppily the dismissed servants had worked.

The good news was that half of the people they rescued from the slave auction house had decided to stay in Tiflis, so they were never short of labor.

“Your Grace, there you are.”

“Lucid, please have a seat.”

With bandages wrapped around one shoulder, Lucid entered the reception room. Perhaps due to the preparations for the banquet, his long hair, which usually glistened, looked unkempt.

“How is your shoulder?”

“Not too bad, just sore from being dragged all over the place.”

“I heard from Jensen. Lucid, you’ve been through a lot.”

“That’s nice to hear, but it doesn’t help.”

Adelaide was accustomed to Lucid’s rude manner of speaking. Knowing there was no malice behind it, she just smiled and overlooked it.

Lucid rubbed his tired eyes and grumbled.

“If I had known, I would have learned about banquet preparations alongside Shaila.”

“Isn’t Lady Shaila adept at banquet preparations?”

“That girl has good judgment and thorough etiquette, unlike me. You can entrust her with anything, and she’ll do it flawlessly without making mistakes.”

“…She truly lives up to her noble family.”

Feeling the thorns embedded in her words, Adelaide felt petty.

Comparing herself to someone who was born into nobility would only make her feel miserable. She forced herself to swallow her bitterness.

“Your Grace is doing well too, so don’t worry too much.”

“I don’t know if it would be good.”

“As long as His Grace cooperates, it will be fine.”

Her eyes widened at Lucid’s sudden reference to Callion.

“What about him?”

He shook his head as if to silence her.

“Have you ever been in his dressing room?”

“No.”

“If you have time, you should go there. How can the person who was once the crown prince not have decent banquet attire?”

“What?”

“I’ve searched his closet, and it’s all knight’s robes or casual wear. You’ll have to start at the bottom of the pecking order.”

“Oh.”

No formal attire?

Adelaide frowned. She’d been too busy preparing for the banquet to think about Callion.

Banquet clothes, of course, hadn’t occurred to her. Her closet was full of dresses she’d never worn, so of course she assumed Callion had either.

“Thank you for letting me know. It could have been a disaster if I hadn’t known.”

“Don’t mention it. Thanks to you, I’ll get to wear a new outfit.”

Lucid shrugged and smirked. She laughed uncontrollably, and Lucid grinned broadly.

“By the way, I’ve heard back from the kingdom.”

Lucid wiped the smile off his face and held out the paper.

Wondering why he had come all the way to the reception room, Adelaide realized it must be related to this document.

Adelaide took the paper and read the contents.

The date of the visit is three weeks away. The delegation is 80 people strong. The head of the delegation is Klaus von Ribentrop.

“Klaus von Ribentrop?”

Adelaide raised her voice at the familiar name.

Why was this name on the letter?

“I thought the Fifth Prince was coming?”

“That’s what I thought, but I don’t know how it got changed.”

Lucid replied, puzzled.

For the past few years, the envoy responsible for tribute exchanges has been the Fifth Prince. Adelaide thought that since he was close to Callion, he would easily handle the slave auction matter if he received proper treatment. But suddenly, the envoy changed.

“It’s becoming complicated.”

“I agree. It’s bad news for us.”

Lucid nodded, his mood unusually somber.

Klaus von Ribentrop. He was the second son of the current queen and the king’s favorite.

As second in line to the crown prince, he was considered by many to be more capable and powerful than the crown prince, and therefore more likely to ascend to the throne.

As if to prove them wrong, he soon pushed the crown prince aside and took the throne.

“He’s favored by the king, and he’s a tricky guy, so he won’t be easy to deal with. My guess is that the kingdom has gotten wind of our side and is sending the second prince…….”

“You’re talking a lot of nonsense, Lucid.”