Capitulo 56
Chapter 56 – The Heat of a Drunken Night (2)
«…Ariel? Are you okay?»
After downing a few glasses of wine, Ariel hiccupped and let out a giggle.
Her face was tinged with a slight blush, and her slightly unfocused eyes were the typical reactions of someone drunk.
And then.
«I’m still fine! I’m perfectly fine!»
Denying her drunkenness despite being clearly drunk was also a typical reaction.
In other places, this might be a little worrying, but here, in Ariel’s chambers, she was fine. Her attendants and guards were standing by, so it wouldn’t matter if she got quite drunk.
As they tipped their wine glasses one by one, the night deepened and the heat of the party began to rise.
From small talk to somewhat deep personal stories, the conversations flowed, as they usually do at such drinking gatherings.
Suddenly, Ariel brought up a new topic.
«By the way, do you all have any thoughts on marriage?»
«Marriage?»
In fact, in medieval noble society, a 26-year-old lady would have been well past the age of marriage.
In Lermian’s case, she had to overcome the curse of the chieftain monster, which had delayed her engagement and marriage.
However, seeing that the Earl of Elrond’s household supported his book-loving daughter’s free reading trips, it seemed that they had already given up on such matters. Ariel hadn’t given it the slightest thought either, so it was an unexpected topic to come up at a drinking party.
«Ah… This morning, a maid suddenly started talking about marriage. She said I should meet a man while I’m getting prettier.»
Ah.
So that was the reason.
There was some truth in what she said.
If one wanted to, it was right to do it when one was most beautiful.
‘Hmm.’
Marriage.
It was a subject I had never considered.
No, it was a topic that should not even be considered by someone planning a gastronomic trip that directly involved hunting and eating monsters.
Marriage is something those who plan a stable future should do.
The life of a head of a noble house, who must prioritise wealth and honour, and the life of a gastronomic traveller, who must prioritise strength and survival, are better suited to solitude than marriage.
Of course, to say that outright would be too disconnected from the justification for participating in the engagement ceremony, so I decided to tone it down appropriately.
«Well… if the opportunity arises again, I’ll think about it then. How about you?»
«Me? Hmm, I haven’t really given it much thought either…. But if I absolutely had to, I’d like someone kind, regardless of status, like my father.»
Count Elrond seems to have an excellent character.
To see that his daughter, free from the expectations of the household, considers him a marriage partner shows how much he thinks of her.
Ariel, having finished her answer, immediately looked at Rachel.
«And you, Sir Rachel?»
All eyes turned to Rachel, who had been eating quietly.
Cough.
Rachel cleared her throat once and had to gently wipe her mouth with a handkerchief as she lowered her head.
«You’re asking me?»
«Yes. I’m curious what the purple knight thinks. Hehe.»
Rachel, the purple knight.
Having endured hardship and pain to earn the title of the best knight, she didn’t seem interested in men at all.
No.
From the beginning, marriage was something he had excluded from his life. That was probably why she became a knight instead of a mercenary or a guard at such a young age.
A personal guard, who must spend 24 hours a day at the side of the person he serves, would not have time to have affairs or even look the other way.
Although it was not compulsory, during the contract period they had to do their best to fulfil their responsibilities and duties, and as this contract period was usually ten years, it was said that personal guards did not usually marry, dedicating their youth to those they served.
Especially to be selected as a personal guard for a family of at least earl rank or above, it took at least ten years just to develop that skill, making the average age for a first contract around thirty. By the time they finished their first contract, they would be in their forties, entering the twilight of life.
By then, dreaming of marriage would be too late.
Moreover, if the employer did not terminate the contract, it was customary for personal guards who finished their contract period without mishap to renew their contracts.
Rachel, with her perseverance, dedication and talent, was a special case.
When she was hired by Elden Raphellion, a notorious lecher, she was only 23 years old.
Rachel would therefore be at an age where, even after her contract period expired, she could still seek marriage if she wished, albeit a little late.
The problem was that she didn’t seem interested in it.
So a typical response was expected.
But.
«Lately, I’ve been a little interested.»
What came was a completely opposite response to what was expected.
Hmm.
When the contract period ends, will I have to say goodbye to my first mentor after transmigrating to this world?
I suddenly felt that I might miss her.
**
«Lately… You say?»
«Yes.»
In response to Ariel’s question, Rachel answered as she sipped her wine.
I too was intrigued by Rachel’s answer and asked.
«Oh, I thought you weren’t interested in men at all. That’s unexpected.
«It’s just that I had the bar set so high.»
«That’s right.»
Indeed, with Rachel’s level of beauty, she must have received numerous letters from men.
Humans are naturally attracted to those with similar sensibilities and tastes.
A beautiful gentlewoman entering the rough world of men was bound to stir their hearts.
Among the countless Cupid’s arrows thrown at her, at least one must have struck Rachel’s heart.
Perhaps she had already promised her future to the owner of one of those arrows here in the grand duchy of the north.
A romantic promise to return after the contract period was over.
She was probably speaking indirectly because she could not reveal the truth in front of the one she served.
She might be reprimanded for being distracted.
In any case, she had no intention of interfering with her future. If she was opening her eyes to the new world of marriage, it was only fair to support her.
«As a disciple, I support my teacher’s enlightenment.»
But Rachel stared at me.
Thinking she might have something on her face, I nearly touched myself around the mouth.
«Thank you.»
Rachel bowed her head and replied.
There was no need to thank me.
Since I owed my teacher a lot, and planned to incur more debt on the gastronomic trip, if she got married, I would have to provide at least some dowry furniture.
It’s only fair for a human to repay his debts.
«Elden?»
Ariel, following Rachel, took a sip of wine and called out to me.
Her eyes were narrowed and her cheeks were red as if she’d put on food colouring.
«Hmm?»
«If you had to meet a woman, what guy would you like to meet?»
«Guy?»
«Ah… I’m just curious. Hehe.»
What kind of woman.
If it was the modern era, he would easily answer by comparing with celebrities, but in this medieval period with no video media, there was nothing to compare with.
Unfortunately, the Lee Jun-woo of the modern era was so indifferent to love that he thought more about a gastronomic trip than a sweet romance.
Lee Jun-woo’s life was too crowded to include something like love.
Although a compensatory mentality might naturally lead one to think, «I should go on a date first!», a gastronomic trip was also driven by a strong compensatory mentality for the previous hard life.
Furthermore.
A romantic relationship is not something that happens just because you want it to».
While adding romance to a gastronomic journey would be nice, its absence would not reduce the charm and peace, so it was an issue I had never considered.
The only thing I could respond with was a belief I had left over from my previous life.
«Someone who appreciates animals and plants?».
It was an unusual belief in Elden Raphellion, but at least I saw people who appreciated animals and plants in a positive light.
In fact, such people were more likely to be warm-hearted.
As I had never seen that someone who treated animals and plants badly had a good character, I could have that belief.
Appreciating animals and plants did not guarantee being a good person, but at least «in my eyes», they seemed better than those who did not.
Of course they did.
People who appreciated them as a means to express their twisted affection or to bolster their shattered self-esteem were exceptions.
After a while.
«Oh, I raise flowers….»
«I have a little bird in a cage….»
Two passions flared momentarily and then quickly subsided.
It was a faint warmth that did not reach ears drenched in inebriation.
Moreover, due to the ensuing commotion, it was soon forgotten.
Clang!
«Kyaa!»
A maid, placing a monster cooking plate on the table, accidentally knocked it over, and the plate landed on my thigh.
I remembered reading about it in a book.
A grilled dish of the giant crab monster, Giant Red Blue Crab.
Its shell was red and blue, and even its meat was red and blue, hence its name. It only appeared on the northwest coast, so it was a rare ingredient in the northern region.
As soon as I recognised it.
There was only one thought in my mind,
To save him.
Save him at all costs.
I must save him.
Snap!
I quickly grabbed the roasted meat of the Giant Red Blue Crab, sliding off the thigh onto the floor, and placed it back on the plate.
My mother used to say.
Even if it falls on the floor, if you pick it up within five seconds, it’s still good.
Since I had only eaten earth monster cuisine so far, I wanted to blow on it and eat it immediately, but I couldn’t do that in the suddenly silent room.
Sigh.
I’m fine, though.
**
Evian, the maid, had been serving the Elrond family for sixteen years, making her a veteran.
«Evian, Maren, Riddel, you three will be in charge of this party.
It was only natural that someone like her would be selected as the maid in charge of the feast.
She felt nervous but believed she could do well.
She thought she would do well and get a bonus.
It didn’t take her long to realise how complacent and ridiculous that thought was.
Clang!
«Kyaa!»
The trembling that started the moment he faced the mad Elden Raphellion finally caused an accident.
The plate tipped over the table, and food spilled onto Elden’s thigh.
His legs gave out and he had to sit down.
And he had to beg.
«Please forgive me. I have committed a grave sin…».
Shortly afterwards, the head maid, who had been observing the situation from the entrance of the banquet hall, hurried over and bowed deeply.
«Mr. Elden. It is my fault. Please punish me…»
The worst situation occurred at the worst possible moment.
The moment when the wine bottles were properly emptied, and the drunkenness began to rise.
While they could not pronounce a death sentence on a maid from another house for such a mistake, a slap in the face was certainly expected.
No.
Elden, the notorious troublemaker, would surely give a kick rather than a slap.
But…
«…Get up, it’s okay.»
Instead of kicking the prostrate maid, Elden helped her up.
The head maid thought he was going to punch her.
But Elden put a silver coin in Evian’s top pocket.
The maid thought it would be funeral money.
But Elden comforted and encouraged Evian.
It was hard to believe even after seeing and hearing it.
«Since the head maid won’t give you a bonus for this mistake, take this.»
«Eh, what?»
«Everyone makes mistakes, so don’t be discouraged. And the head maid?»
«Yes, yes, my lord.»
«Don’t scold this friend too harshly. Imagine how nervous she must have been. That nervousness may have been caused by me, so it is partly my fault too. Please comfort her instead of scolding her.»
«Y-yes… I, I understand.»
A puzzling situation.
The rumor that Lord Elden, who never tolerated a single mistake, had expelled dozens of maids from Raphellion Manor for such errors, was not unfounded.
But the Elden before them generously overlooked the mistake and even shared the responsibility for it.
It seemed that the lady’s fervent proclamation of Elden’s change was not a mistaken belief.
«Gr-gracias…. My lord.»
Evian bowed his head and thanked Elden, and the situation was settled.
No one knew it was the quick resolution of a glutton who couldn’t wait to devour his first bite of sea monster cuisine.
And then.
Ariel, who preferred a kind person regardless of status, felt warmth towards Elden.
Rachel, who saw his growing inner strength, also felt warmth towards him.
Thus.
The early summer night party was coming to an end.
«Bring me the one who served me monster cuisine today.»
«Was it not to your liking? Please forgive us…!»
«Here, take these two silver coins. I apologise for having only these. It was an excellent feast.»
«……!!»
Instead of ending the night, an unexpected wave of excitement was rising in Ariel’s chambers.
«Maybe you plan to go on a trip?»
«Huh?»
«A gastronomic journey where you immediately cook and eat the monsters you hunt yourself.»
«I have a wife and kids….»
«I see. Hmm.»
Indeed.
It’s not easy.