Chapter 289: Congratulations!

After getting the wrapped necklace and paying for it, I returned to my mansion immediately. Eliza would probably arrive after getting interviewed for tomorrow's newspaper. Winning two divisions was a big achievement, after all.

So I had time to prepare for the party.

The first thing I did after I arrived at my mansion was to inform Lisa and Lara about my plan. Then they would handle everything, from informing the maids and Garcia and Milea to preparing for the party. As for Cecil, I hoped she would help too.

They moved at once, and I went to another place to invite some people. It was the church, and I planned to have my subordinates attend the party too. They should relax sometimes and not overextend themselves—especially Rania and Sophia.

As for Tristan, I sent her [Love Letter] to inform her about it and delay Eliza's return. I also told her to invite Sana and Ertha if they didn't mind attending such a party. If possible, Juriel too, but that might be impossible.

The Pope couldn't leave the Holy Room easily even though I already used <Holy Shroud>. Her mere presence itself screamed holy, and people would prostrate just because of her Race, an Angel.

Though I did tell Tristan to at least try to invite the Pope through Archbishop Sana, it was just for etiquette.

I got my reply in just a few minutes. She just replied with 'Roger' without anything else. Well, I could leave it to her.

"Now... I shouldn't forget about the cake," I muttered as I entered the training area.

Even though the largest event in the Academy City was ongoing, the church knights were still training diligently. And right now, it was the female knights' turn.

Once I entered, their gazes landed on me. Their faces immediately blushed like the innocent maidens they were and averted their gazes, looking at Sophia. Some were muttering cleaning and holy semen.

'That redhead really asked them to clean the dressing room that day?' I guessed as I looked over.

My eyes landed on the corner where my subordinates usually trained. Rania was instructing Natasha, and Sophia was watching with Lea from the side. Their bodies were covered in sweats, and they only wore tight leotard bodysuits.

Because Rania wouldn't visit the tournament until the close-range division final, she chose to train them.

'She's too diligent.' I thought as I walked toward them.

The ones who saw me first were the two who sat on the side, Sophia and Lea. Then, a second later, Rania seemed to sense my presence, asked Natasha to stop swinging her sword, and looked over.

"Arthur." My sister called out as her face blossomed into a smile. Then she asked curiously, "Why are you here? Weren't you supposed to be in the academy right now?"

Natasha was catching her breath as she looked at me. Sophia and Lea also approached us, listening curiously.

"I just returned. The general study and magic division winner has been announced, and I plan to hold a celebratory party for Eliza. She won both." I said, having a proud smile on my face.

"Oh? Congratulations!" Rania exclaimed, her smile widened. "So that girl is smart and good at magic. Winning the tournament isn't that easy."

"Congratulations!" Lea and Natasha, who had just recovered, chirped in, following Rania.

As for Sophia, she crossed her arms and nodded silently in confirmation. She didn't know Eliza that and talked to her personally yet. So she congratulated in her own way.

"How about it? Will you come? It will be held in my mansion."

"I will come." Rania nodded. Then she turned to look at the other three and asked, "What about you girls?"

"I also will attend," Sophia replied. "I want to meet this Eliza. She's Sir Arthur's girlfriend, no?"

"She is." I nodded at Sophia.

"Then it's decided." The redhead smiled widely, showing her fangs.

"I-I will also attend. It's rude to decline an invitation from Sir Paladin!" Lea pumped her small fists and nodded repeatedly.

"A party..." Natasha muttered, "Will there be many participants, Sir Paladin?"

"No." I shook my head. "It will be only those I know, including Archbishop Sana and Bishop Ertha. Then there will be Eliza's family, the nuns serving in my mansion, and a minotaur girl called Cecil. It's just a small surprise party that I decided to hold without much thought."

"I see. Then I will attend. Thank you for the invitation." Natasha smiled softly. She looked a bit excited for the party.

From what she said earlier, I guessed that she would refuse to attend if there were too many people.

'She either hates a party or something.'

"Alright then. I will tell Milea to prepare more food." I nodded as I looked at them.

Sophia seemed to want to say something as she opened her mouth, but I interjected first.

"While I want to stay a bit longer to spar with you, I need to prepare for the party. I will definitely stay longer after the tournament ends. So for now, please just spar among yourselves."

As I said, the redhead looked dejected and discarded her thoughts. I had long guessed that she wanted to spar with me again after that day.

Before returning to my mansion, I stopped by a cake store and decoration store. A party wouldn't be complete without a cake or ribbons. There was no balloon or party popper in this world, but I had something similar to the latter in my inventory. So I didn't need to buy it.

After everything was bought and put in my inventory, I returned to my mansion. The preparation was already underway in the large dining hall, which was transformed splendidly by Lisa and Lara. Astro also entered the mansion, running around happily.

Milea and the two maids were in the kitchen to prepare food. Garcia and Cecil helped with the preparation. I also took out the ribbons I had bought earlier, but the twins somehow told me that they were not fit for a party. It should be a fancy curtain and chandelier.

They strictly refused to use the ribbons as it would destroy the aesthetic sense of the luxurious dining hall.

"..."

For some reason, I felt like the congratulatory party I had in mind had transformed into something more. Of course, I didn't forget that I was a noble, but even in Horizon Online, ribbons were staples for a surprise party.

Maybe it didn't fit the atmosphere, and I was slightly dejected. Then I went to the lobby, putting the 'Congratulations' letters on the ribbon.

After some time, Milea, Linda, and Jane brought the food inside the dining hall. Afterward, the cheeky nun saw me putting ribbons on the ceiling and said it was cute. I decided to forgive all her wrongdoings with that and let her help me put it up.

My subordinates arrived shortly after, and I asked them to go to the dining hall first. Lea and Natasha looked nervous as it was their first time visiting my mansion. Sophia and Rania weren't as nervous and followed Garcia, who sensed their arrival.

It only took us an hour to get ready. And just when we finished, I got [Love Letter] from Tristan, saying that they had arrived. Alesia, Sana, and Ertha also come with them. Of course, Karin and her fiance Oliver also tagged along.

I told her to enter. I was waiting in the lobby while holding something, and the others were waiting in the dining hall.

The door was pushed open, and Eliza entered first with a puzzled look. When she saw me standing under a ribbon that said 'Congratulations,' her eyes widened in pleasant surprise. Then I pulled the trigger of a tube I held in my hand, making a loud sound.

Boom!

Golden glitter was shot from the mouth of the tube, falling onto the lobby and Eliza's body. With a wide smile, I said.

"Congratulations on winning the tournament!"

My childhood friend and my girlfriend broke out in tears and jumped at me, hugging me with all her might in front of the crowd who entered after her.

Garcia, Milea, and the two maids appeared from the hall and guided the guests inside. Tristan mumbled that she also wanted to hug me, but she held herself and followed the other guests. When she passed Milea, she smiled smugly while looking at the cheeky nun's chest.

Vivian also followed them while giggling happily. I guessed she was proud of Eliza.

It was only after a few minutes that she calmed down and blushed. Then I wiped her tears and went to the dining hall with her.

The party continued. I also took out some from my inventory, greeting them with unknown food. Of course, Tristan ate them all happily. She looked nostalgic as she chewed the food from Earth.

Only when the night arrived did the guests leave. They split into two groups, going to the Royal Academy and the Church.

Because each of their group had an overpowered person, I didn't need to escort them back. After that, Eliza approached me.

"Can we talk a little?"