Tonight is when he hold a casual banquet after Vandimion have returned. Most of the guests who attended the last banquet are here tonight. 

Jascha Alatt, the economic minister explains to me,

"Currently, the land route is restricted to Vandimion’s territory is blocked by Orlais and north eastern Dioral. Using north eastern, is very expensive due to tariffs and the like. There isn’t any shortage of disputes regarding the use of irrigation and forests that span across the territory, lakes and even development within the territory…… if your highness strengthens the influence over the whole northern Dioral, it will be possible to use your ruling to bulldoze our way through most situations, you see."

He continues while urging me to observe the guests from the upper floor.

"Taking a close look…… at all the expressions of the gathered cast of members and the personnel they brought along, I can make a rough guess about their standing and ability. This is a good opportunity to judge whether they will, in times of emergency, be a threat, a capable ally, or just useless trash."

The ball is a place swirling with conspiracies and ulterior motives, but the servants of the castle who actually entertain the guests are making a big fuss.

It is different than the relatively regular dinner meetings held by Isolde with Redcliffe aristocrats.

"Please light the torches around the area where the new home is being constructed."

"What will lighting up the construction site even do?"

"To display the Your Majesty’s prestige during this banquet."

Jascha replies with his usual immaculate behavior.

The nobles who came from northern Castall and Hyuutia are staying in Redcliffe until Vandimion, the guest of honour departed.

Grains, centered around a ridiculous amount of wheat, are lined up in the city as if to show off to them.

The harvest is already coming to an end and the farming villages in Hyuutia and Redcliffe are taking turns to bringing in their tax.

Normally, they would be immediately transported to the Denerim or carried into storehouses, but this time they are purposely being left out in piles.

"This is a staggering amount. According to Jill Gustav, there is still a third which hasn’t arrived yet."

"I also went around to the demesnes and the noble was smiling when he offered the crops to the tax collector. It looks like they have plenty to spare."

The harvest tax is determined based on a percentage of the total amount unless there are special circumstances.

If  the demesne had a bountiful harvest, they would have to offer more tax, but naturally they would be able to keep more for themselves too.

There must have been enough for them this year to live comfortably yet also create sufficient reserves.

"Hyuutia region had a large harvest. But the area near the river is……"

"As expected, they’re experiencing long periods of rain."

It was exactly what Jascha is worried about, the heavy rain in the area near the river caused a considerable amount of their crops to go bad.

"If we look at the amount after the rain ends, it seems like they’ll have a poor harvest."

"Now then, everyone, please enjoy the party."

I am able to successfully deliver the opening statement to begin the party while Minerva teaches me what words to say as Isolde clings to my arm to show off our intimate relationship.

Suddenly, I catch a gaze from Claire. Using her eyes, she gives cue to me to turn my head towards my left.

"It is such an honor to meet Your Majesty today."

The person who interrupted my delusions was a bearded middle-aged man of medium build.

Let’s see…… who is this old man? 

The merchant, Claire reminds me in hushed voice.

"It’s Viscount Liudger. He holds territory directly in northern Castall. Virginia land is between him and us. His territory is quite vast, though that’s the only redeeming quality."

Ah, I immediately remember about the plan to subjugate northern Castall. That's why I invite those Castall aristocrats here.

"It seems they are poor, they don’t have much money to spare."

Claire continues smiling to the viscount as she mutters quietly without moving her mouth.

So I guess you learn this strange special skill if you socialize.

I entertain him,

"It is our pleasure, nice of you to come even when the harvest in your own territory isn’t doing the greatest."

I hide my disinterest and shake his hand.

I wonder if he brought a pretty daughter with him…… no? How boring.

"This bountiful harvest from Your Majesty’s territory…… and these crops overflowing all over the city, I’m so envious."

"What about viscount Liudger and your vast lands, do you not have a decent harvest yourself?"

The atmosphere around the viscount suddenly got darker.

"I can’t say the crop yield in my territory is poor. Every year is a reasonably small amount…… however the land conditions are extremely suboptimal, either getting submerged due to frequent flooding or getting so dry that nothing can be grown, almost no area has the perfect environment. My household is a relatively traditional one, but no matter what my ancestors do, they end up being poor…… believing I would end up dying, I distinguished myself in battle and earned the title of Count as well as an enormous expanse of land, yet I experienced such a failure again……"

As the Count grumbles, I think to myself that was a bad question to ask.

Well, there’s good food and drinks here so I hope he enjoys himself and forgets about that depressing stuff.

"Please wait, Your Majesty, I will introduce to you these good friends of mine who came to your territory!"

I don’t really feel the need to meet them, but I can’t run away now that Claire’s already greeting them.

Two men appear, both looking in their thirties and younger than Viscount Liudger.

I don’t have much interest in them past this point, although I’m getting this seedy feeling from them.

I don’t know what it is about them, but their entire bodies seem to be exuding misfortune.

"Nice to meet you Your Majesty. I am Baron Herenborg."

"I’m also glad to meet you, I’m Baron Badegisel."

They look like people who don’t seem to have any luck with money.

Is this what they call ‘birds of a feather flock together’?

"No really, my wife and daughter have been taken care of while we are here, and I truly apologize for not being able to thank you in person until now."

"For letting my wife stuff herself with three days’ worth of food in the banquet held by your kingdom-…… no, nevermind."

Claire appears to be filled with mixed feelings.

"Baroness Herenborg…… his wife is usually a person of class, but her eyes change whenever she sees food... Like she hasn't eaten for months."

I don’t think there would be any meaning in talking to them any further and try to step away, but the three of them desperately bring up more topics to discuss.

The majority of comments are meaningless words of praise, saying how the abundant harvest in my territory is incredible or how maintaining such big land is amazing, but unlike regular people who pour flattery on me, these guys appear ghastly and I can’t seem to discontinue the conversation.

Meanwhile, people start to murmur around me.

"How long are they going to keep talking?"

"Viscount Liudger and his followers are well-known for always being poor, I’m sure they’re just pestering his majesty for cash."

"How shameless, even merchants know not to ask for loans out in the open."

The soft voices don’t seem to be supporting viscount Liudger.

I can’t really make out what they’re saying, but Claire’s super sharp hearing allows her to pick up those remarks, so I’ll ask her about it later.

"Haha……detaining the organizer anymore than this would be discourteous……"

"You’re right. Then we’ll leave it at that……"

It seems the criticizing comments got to them and they step back from me with a bitter look on their faces.

I feel the tiniest bit sorry for them because of the atmosphere of misfortune around their bodies.

I am essentially the one who invited them, although it is Claire and Jascha who chose the people to invite, Jill who wrote the invitations, and  Suzy who stamped my seal of approval.

"Please enjoy yourselves today. Our territories are close to each other so I’m sure we’ll have plenty of chances to talk after today."

The three of them appear to get immensely happier.

"Ooh! So will we be meeting again!?"

Crap, I said something unnecessary.

anyways, I’m not the type of person who stays in one place for too long, so "oh. I will be away from my castle quite often and be absent……" I try to play down my prior promise.

"That’s absolutely fine! We could just set up a tent outside Hinterland and wait!"

That’s scary, please don’t.

And also, at least stay at an inn, how poor are you?

If Myla or Ivanna  mistakes you for a homeless hoodlum, they’ll take you down.

The three of them leave looking satisfied, while I breathe out a deep sigh.

However, the tiring activities don’t end.

Isolde whispers in my ear with an amazed look on her face.

"Don’t blame me after what you said, all this time they thought of Hiro as “a battle-crazed new king, someone who had no interest in exchanging culture or socializing with nobles, and is terrifying when upset”. If you say you’re going to mingle with a noble who’s not particularly close to you in front of all these people-……"

The mood in the air seems to change.

"Your majesty. Let my second son attend Lady Isolde's meetings one time!!"

"My younger brother is well-built and he’s aiming to become a knight, please consider using him!"

"My daughter is about suitable age for marriage, she has the etiquette necessary to serve even a king!"

As soon as Isolde left my side, the guests flock around me all at once.

It is as if they are zombies, reminding me of the encounter in snow mountain.

In the end, I couldn’t escape, the nobles gathered around me in more number and with more vigor than usual, and because I invited all of them, I had no choice but to continuously entertain each and every one of them.

The one saviour who helped me out of that situation is the goddess, Minerva. 

"Your highness. Again I am really grateful for letting me stay in the wonderful castle."

Besides Vandimion who had left earlier today, the guest of honor of this banquet is without a doubt, the Margrave of Lothering, Minerva Blare, and the appearance of the very influential aristocrat of another region, would naturally cause the other nobles to step away from me and bow respectfully.

As expected of the girl of high noble status, she’s wearing a gorgeous and dazzling dress.

The dress which showed off much of her skin makes her seem bewitching. 

"No, no, I should have been the one to pay My lady a visit, so please forgive my rudeness for asking you to make all this effort to travel here."

I couldn’t hear the soft whispers of the nobles, but Claire is able to and she recites to me what they said.

Now they shouldn’t make fun of my new kingdom that exists in secrecy.

"His Majesty is backing Margrave of Lothering…… is he using her as a puppet?"

Their imagination is getting out if hand, it seems...

"No, wait…… we know how lustful the His Majesty is, I’m sure he won’t show any mercy to even great noble…… he might have turned her into his sex slave already."

"I see…… already made into his own possession, that’s why he doesn’t feel any shame."

Claire's whispers are starting to sound heavier.

Don’t tell me that she also believes I would do something like that. I haven't even touch this merchant, Claire yet.

"Then if that’s true, we can’t look down on His Majesty."

"Indeed, if we aren’t careful, we will incur Lord Hardlett’s wrath."

Good, this is the right direction.

"We wouldn’t be a match even if we grouped together. In addition, he is friends with the famous Hyuutia, Vandimion and Blare. Not to forget Redcliffe."

So this banquet had some meaning after all.