Chapter 87: Preparation (2)

As I've mentioned before, a festival becomes a true festival only when there are people present. As if to prove that point, our territory has become increasingly bustling with people as time goes on.

Just a fortnight ago, our territory was quiet and still, but now it's teeming with so many people that it could rival some cities. And yet, I couldn't help but feel worried. While it's great to have tourists flocking to our territory right now, the future is uncertain.

As I've said before, our territory doesn't have many unique features. Right now, the palace is providing various forms of support to host the exhibition, but it's only temporary. Even if the exhibition is successful, there are concerns about the upkeep and whether the tourists will come back again.

'It's fortunate that so many people are coming, but... still...'

Tomorrow, the exhibition will begin, and more people are flooding in than ever before. Not only humans, but various species can be seen here and there, and many security guards have been deployed to maintain order.

Furthermore, the appearance of the territory has changed drastically compared to before.

According to Rina, they said it was done in a rush, but it was hard to tell if it was actually planned like this from the beginning or if it was just good directing by the supervisor, because there were almost no signs of rushing.

They had originally planned to develop the territory in three years, so perhaps they just moved that plan up.

'There shouldn't be any big problems.'

To prevent accidents from happening, the palace had inspected the buildings not just once or twice, but many times. They were particularly meticulous in managing the inns where nobles and artists stayed.

In addition, many shops, including a variety of stores, were established. Before, our territory only had basic shops selling goods, clothing stores, and a blacksmith, but after contracting with the upper management, various new locations began to appear one after another.

Of course, as more people came and went, various problems arose, the most notable being illegal street vendors. When they heard the news that an exhibition was being held in our territory, they quickly rushed to set up shop and make a profit.

Of course, there were more cases where they had contracted with my father and set up a proper store, but there were always those rebellious people lurking around.

My father, being a former knight, promptly banished them from the territory as soon as he received reports of illegal street vending. Thanks to this, there were no obstacles blocking the streets.

'But illegal street vending in the medieval era...'

I always feel this way, but this world is a strange place. I alternated between watching the illegal street vendors being removed and the vendors causing chaos, before quickly turning my gaze away.

There were more important things piling up like a mountain. If my parents were busy dealing with documents that were flooding in like a tidal wave, I was busy receiving guests.

The start was easy because it was Marie's family, but after that, I met people I didn't know at all. Not only nobles living in the Empire but also dignitaries from other countries were welcomed, so the tension was no joke. If I made a mistake here, it would not only reflect on me but also on my parents' reputation.

Fortunately, the people who came to visit all loved Xenon's Biography and came together, so there were no major problems. Moreover, the guests who came a day early like this mostly rested at the inn all day as they had come from distant areas.

However, not only nobles but also artists came a day early for rehearsals.

"Nice to meet you. I'm the conductor of the Lirus Orchestra, Lirus Hughesman."

"I'm Isaac Ducker Michelle. It's an honor to welcome the renowned Lirus Orchestra."

It was Mr. Pringles.

This was my first impression after meeting Lirus, the conductor of the Lirus Orchestra.

He had no hair on his head, reflecting even the sunlight, but his unique mustache was somewhat charming and showed a professional aspect.

Anyway, even if it was just for the first impression, it could be said that he scored a perfect score. Most renowned artists tend to be picky or arrogant, but Lirus was quite different.

As I saw in the letter, Lirus was quite polite and humble, but even that couldn't hide his charisma that oozed out. He looked like a perfect fit for the job of 'conductor,' and his neat dress gave off a sense of politeness.

"Red hair is truly unique. And your shining eyes are like those of a wild beast."

"Mr. Lirus, your mustache is also impressive. It must be difficult to maintain."

"Your tone is as blunt as your expression. Still, thank you. There aren't many who appreciate the true value of this mustache, but you do."

Lirus gently tugged on his distinctive mustache and smiled proudly. It seemed like he thought of it as a kind of identity.

I thought to myself that his personality was as unique as his appearance, but I didn't say it out loud since it was just stating the obvious. It was indeed very difficult to maintain a mustache like that without a considerable amount of effort and care.

I was sitting across from Lirus, the Pringles guy...no, Lirus, and quietly spoke up.

"Did you like the stage? As you know, we made it in a rush, so there are many shortcomings."

"Not at all. There was no sign of a hastily-made stage. Of course, it's not as great as the stages in the Ters Kingdom. If the Minerva Empire had had more time, we could have made an even better stage than this."

Lirus said that if the empire had had more time, they could have built a much better stage. It was a problem that they had to pass on the exhibition as a message to try harder to the Ters Kingdom.

Still, it was fortunate that both he and I were satisfied with it. However, there was still an element of unease.

"What do you think about holding the exhibition like a festival?"

"That's not a big problem either. Not only me, but those who love Xenon's Biography will gather together and enjoy it. If this isn't a festival, then what is it? And looking at the schedule, we will show paintings and sculptures during the day and perform at night. It seems like the plan was well-coordinated."

The Pringles uncle... No, it's Lirus, who kept saying strange things. Thanks to him, I was able to relax a bit.

But it's probably just the Lirus gang that's like this, other artists might have different thoughts.

Especially the Matrics troupe, I heard they have a high pride as they boast of their splendid stage performances. Not only the Matrics troupe, but other artists in general tend to have a high self-esteem.

"I'm relieved that you liked it. If there's anything uncomfortable, please let us know immediately."

"Well... It's not really uncomfortable, but there's one thing that bothers me."

"What is it?"

With a hint of disappointment, Lirus opened his mouth as I asked him with a slight tension.

"I'm not sure if Xenon's writer really will come to see our performance."

"... ..."

"Although the publisher said he would attend, it's not certain, and there might be unexpected circumstances."

As I was in front of the Pringles old man, I couldn't help but chuckle at his story.

But the following words from Lirus made my chuckle turn into a doubt.

"More than anything, there's a play that I want to show Xenon, even the Matrics troupe cooperated."

"Do you want him to see the play that we've prepared?"

"Yes, absolutely. It will be the perfect paly for fans of Xenon's Biography."

What kind of perverts... no, what kind of people would make such a self-assured play?

I couldn't help but wonder, as even artists throughout history have had their share of perverse tendencies.

I looked at Lirrus with a glint in my eye and slyly asked.

"Can you at least give me a hint?"

"That's not possible. It wouldn't be fun if you knew ahead of time. Instead, I can tell you that we've rehearsed with the Matrics troupe several times before starting, all for the sake of a perfect play."

It seemed like some kind of collaboration. With two world-famous masters combining their talents, I had high expectations.

"Alright then. I hope you can rest comfortably after your long journey."

"Thank you for your hospitality. If I ever have the opportunity, I'd like to turn this land into a cultural city. It would save me the trouble of wandering around all over the place."

"I'll definitely consider it. To be honest, I also have my own ambitions."

"Hehehe. It's for Xenon's sake... as a fellow artist, I feel jealous, but as a fan, I'm looking forward to it."

Afterwards, Lirus left, wishing us a pleasant viewing of his stage. It was natural that I was left with a favorable impression of him, especially given his humble attitude before leaving.

'By the way, a collaboration...'

What kind of play will the artists show? It's not just any play, but a collaboration with Matrics Troupe, which is known as the best in performance.

Comparing it to the movies of a past life may be a bit unrealistic, but I'm excited because they're so confident.

I escorted Lirus to the nobles and artist-exclusive inn, and then made my way back to the mansion.

Not only Lirus, but there are still people I have to meet. The Matrics Troupe will be arriving soon, so I planned to prepare ahead of time.

'The real VIPs will be visiting tomorrow...'

VIPs greater than nobles that have already arrived at the capital's palace. They will use carriages to reach our territory when the time comes.

By now, Leort and Rina are probably facing them. Maybe Cecily is with them too.

It was just before I entered the mansion.

"Isaac!"

"Huh?"

A familiar man's voice entered my ears. It was a very welcome voice to me.

As I turned my head, I saw a man slowly walking towards me from the gate I had just passed through.

He was a handsome man with red hair and golden eyes like my father, and he looked pleasant overall.

He was my older brother Bryce, who I had heard joined the navy knights a few months ago and was in training.

"Bryce hyung? Is it really you?"

"Yeah. How long has it been? You seem to have grown taller since I last saw you."

As I was taken aback, Bryce smiled brightly and patted my head. I looked at his face in disbelief.

His appearance hadn't changed much, but as a knight, his skin had tanned a lot from training under the sun.

In addition, there were small scars on his arms, which were visible because he was wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt, and he seemed to have gained some weight.

"Did you come out for vacation? Didn't you say you were in training?"

"That's true, but for some reason, the deputy commander sent me here. I think it's because there's an exhibition in our territory. I heard that there was an order from the royal palace, but I'm not sure."

"... ..."

I had a feeling I knew whose influence was behind this. Still, I was happy to see Bryce.

I was secretly disappointed that Bryce didn't come to see the exhibition, but it was a timely gift. I should thank Rina soon.

"Is training bearable?"

"Don't even mention it. Thanks to that, I realized how great my father is. Have you ever fought for a month without sleeping or eating?"

"How can humans do such a thing? Even elves would find it extremely difficult."

"That's what I'm saying. But if you endure it with grit and determination, you can do it. Is father inside?"

"He seems buried in paperwork."

"Our father seems to be struggling too. Oh, right. Isaac. Do you happen to have any connections with the Princess of Helium?"

"Huh?"

I opened my eyes wide at Bryce's question. Had he met Cecily before coming to the mansion? If not, there was no reason for Bryce to ask such a question.

Bryce explained what had just happened when someone had called my name while looking at him before coming to the mansion.

"I saw her at the entrance to the territory. But it's not common to see red-haired people like us, right? And when I looked at her face, she was the Princess of Helium."

"Where did you meet her?"

"I saw her at the entrance to the territory. But it looks like she didn't take the carriage and came on foot with her bodyguard."

"Huh? How?"

"She must have used magic. The direction I first heard her voice from was towards the sky."

Well, she's a demon who can use magic as easily as breathing, so there's no need to use a carriage. Still, it was unexpected that she came directly to our territory instead of the capital.

"I have to go see her soon."

She's probably staying at a noble's exclusive inn by now. While I was thinking about that silently.

"Anyway, what's your relationship with the Princess of Helium? The voice calling you didn't seem ordinary."

"It's just that we're close friends."

"Hmm... You said it's just a friendship, but she seemed really glad to see me..."

Bryce murmured softly as he looked at me. There was a deep suspicion in his shining golden eyes, which shone as brilliantly as mine.

I don't know what kind of reaction Cecily showed, but judging from the way Bryce reacted, she probably didn't react lightly. From the perspective of an outsider who knows nothing, it's understandable to be suspicious.

'I hope I'm not being labeled as a playboy because of this.'

I tried to avoid his gaze and changed the subject. Bryce will probably know that I have a girlfriend as soon as he enters the mansion.

"By the way, do the senior knights all like you? I heard that places like the Navy Knights have a lot of mean people."

"Don't say that. They make fun of me every chance they get just because I'm an apprentice. They even asked me if I left my sword behind and told me to go make one at the forge..."

"... ..."

It's a repertoire that I've heard a lot somewhere.

When I was drafted in my previous life, such absurdity was almost nonexistent, but I remember seeing it a lot on the internet. Since it's a military without even a television, let alone a computer, there will probably be even more absurdities than in my previous life.

Well, places like the Navy Knights fight battles day in and day out, so they probably won't have time to create absurdities.

"I take care of my body so that I don't die at a time when I make absurd mistakes. And recently, there has been a rumor that the young lady of Matheus' family made inappropriate remarks. Because of this, the atmosphere has been a bit tense."

"Inappropriate remarks?"

"Yes. She said that soldiers are like meat shields who protect their homes. Luckily, she wasn't exiled from the family, but she must be suffering a lot right now. They put her in a knight training camp, which is not just an ordinary training camp, but one that's known for its intense training."

It's not a place where they train ordinary soldiers, but a knight training camp. The training period is much longer, and the intensity of the training is famously abnormal.

Normally, they select talented individuals from regular training camps and put them into the knight training camp, but it seems like Aira's family forced her into it.

Furthermore, they probably ordered them to fix her mentality, so her future looks bleak without even having to see it.

"That's really unfortunate. Were there any casualties?"

"We were too busy guarding the border and didn't have time to be injured or die. Luckily, there's almost no activity from the elf scouts or monsters, so we're relaxed."

"When does your vacation end?"

"Three nights and four days. According to the seniors, it's a three-point-four second vacation, but I don't think it's that short. Tomorrow is the exhibition, so time will fly by quickly, but I'll be able to enjoy it to the fullest."

"Um... Do you have a Xenon's Biography in the Knights?"

"Of course, we all live in the same place."

I chatted with Bryce and unloaded all the stories that I couldn't tell before, and returned to the mansion.

Thanks to that, I had a feeling that I could enjoy the exhibition even more.

*****

"Here is his mansion."

It was just after Isaac and Bryce had entered the mansion. There was someone watching them from the blue sky, and it was Princess Cecily of Helium.

If a human saw her, they would have been astonished to see Cecily standing confidently in the sky, but she was a demon. She belonged to a race that had received the blessing of magic along with elves.

Using magic to fly through the sky was basic, and teleporting between spaces was also easy for her.

'The brothers look similar but subtly different.'

Even though she was looking down at the mansion from high up in the sky, everything seemed clear as day to Cecily. Being a demon, her vision was naturally superior, and it was even easier with magic.

'I should have just gone to the mansion with them at the time...'

Cecily regretted watching the brothers enter the mansion. At first, she thought it was Isaac with the red hair at the entrance of the estate, but she later realized it was Bryce and was too embarrassed to come back down and join them.

However, looking back now, it was a missed opportunity for her to enter the mansion with Bryce. As someone who was always on the lookout for opportunities, she couldn't help but feel regretful.

The only relief is that I wore my outdoor clothes when I met Bryce. If I had been wearing a dress for the exhibition, my regret would have been even deeper. I hope Isaac sees me in the dress I wear for the exhibition first. Just imagining him blushing and feeling embarrassed like he did during the freshman event makes my heart flutter.

"Your Highness?"

As Cecily was thinking of Isaac, a man next to her called her quietly. He was also a demon, and if Cecily had horns protruding from her head, he had a shape resembling a goat's horn. He had jet-black hair and red eyes like a typical demon, but he was wearing a black mask that made it difficult to see his face. However, based solely on his outward appearance, he was handsome enough.

His name was Gartz Valak, a member of the "Reaper," who was appointed as Cecily's bodyguard. Like Cecily, Gartz was a demon, so he was proficient in magic and was able to stand in the sky.

"Wait a minute, please. Valak hyung, there's something I need to confirm."

"... ... "

Gartz didn't say anything in response to Cecily's request and just waited silently. However, he couldn't help but wonder inwardly. She had mistaken the red-haired man for someone else and had greeted him happily, and now she was watching him from above.

Although it was a basic principle for the members of the Reaper to exclude personal affairs of the royal family, Cecily's actions today were enough to raise suspicions. Cecily was usually not interested in men, but she showed a deep curiosity and interest in the red-haired man. Even as a member of the Reaper, he couldn't help but be curious.

'The mansion that doesn't look like much from the outside, but...'

The basic security magic was set up in the mansion, but it was meaningless to Gartz. After all, it was just something set up by humans, so he had the confidence to easily break through it.

However, the energy felt inside the mansion was quite different. Even though he had summarized it, there was one powerful force that confidently guarded the mansion.

As Gartz looked at the mansion with a dry but curious gaze, Cecily looked through the mansion with her clairvoyance magic.

Although her gaze was fixed on Isaac, she couldn't help but glance at his feet.

'There's already someone here.'

Marie had already arrived at the mansion, although Cecily didn't know when. Since it wasn't a noble-exclusive inn but Isaacs mansion, it seemed like she was trying to make it a fact.

Upon realizing this, Cecily clenched her fist. She was the one who was most interested in Isaac and the one who first noticed his identity.

But she made a mistake without realizing her feelings. If she hadn't been so excited and had approached slowly... the future might have been different.

Even if Isaac felt burdened by her, it didn't matter. Even if he said he wanted her to look at himself, not the author of Xenon's Biography, it didn't matter.

Isaac is the author of Xenon's Biography, and he is himself, so what's the problem? They are all meaningless words.

'If I could turn back time...'

While watching Isaac and Marie embrace secretly, Cecily bit her lip. She felt an ominous desire welling up inside her, perhaps due to the 'evil cycle' approaching.

'Just a little more... Just a little more restraint. And for now...'

She suppressed her desire and meticulously searched the inside of the mansion with her clairvoyance magic. It was impossible to see it like a cross-section, but she could confirm the structure of the room.

Eventually, she was able to find a room that seemed to be Isaac's. She was confident because there were far more bookshelves than any other room. She already knew that Isaac was a bookworm and loved history.

'And there...'

Except for the first volume, the drafts of Xenon's Biography were sleeping there.

These drafts were priceless relics that far surpassed any treasure to a demon. However, the level of the security magic laid on the mansion was too low. While humans could be stopped, it would be easy for other races like elves or demons to invade.

Moreover, the exhibition would begin in Michelle's territory, and there would undoubtedly be some criminals who would try to commit crimes with suspicion. Of course, the empire would take preventive measures beforehand, but Cecily was still uneasy.

If all the drafts were stolen here, Isaac might not just be discouraged, but he might even fall into despair and lose his passion for Xenon's Biography. That was something that had to be prevented. Cecily firmly resolved and called Gartz, who was waiting silently by her side.

"Valak, please."

"Yes, Your Highness. Please just give me your command."

"Use the clairvoyance magic to look at the room on the right side of the second floor. It will be easy to distinguish it from other rooms because it has many bookshelves. If you have confirmed it, nod your head."

"I have confirmed it."

"We will enter the mansion in a little while. And as soon as you enter that room, install detection magic so that we can immediately detect anyone who intrudes."

"I understand."

Gartz internally wanted to ask why they had to do that, but he held back. He was nothing more than a sword who only had to follow the orders of the royalty.

Cecily smiled satisfactorily at Gartz's loyal response. He was indeed a reaper with patience several times stronger than that of an ordinary demon.

"Oh, and did you bring that with you?"

"If it's a book containing the history of our demon race, then yes, I brought it."

"Good. Then..."

Cecily smirked and pointed to the front entrance of the mansion.

"Now let's start preparing to visit officially."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Guests began to gather little by little.

Translators note:

The chapters are late cause I got sick, but now that I'm feeling better I will catch up. 2 chapters today and 3 tomorrow to set it even.