Episode 113 Reunion Feast - The Saga of Lioncourt

Day 4: Gathering of the Lords When one hears "Gathering of the Lords," it's easy to imagine something resembling a summit, but in reality, it's more of a social event, a banquet held in one's mansion to which esteemed individuals are invited. It's a crucial affair. Despite the complexities of diplomacy, in this era, personal relationships often define the interactions among nobility. In extreme cases, it might be as simple as "He's a friend, so let's send reinforcements," or "I don't like him, so let's double his tariffs"—such reasoning is perfectly acceptable. Building connections is of utmost importance. Prominent figures from within the domain, along with the surrounding lords and their entourages, began to gather in droves. Many of them had already visited the territorial capital to pay their respects to me beforehand, but still, there's this ritual of exchanging greetings with everyone once more—"Thank you for taking the time to be here today," and so on. It gets rather confusing who's been greeted and who hasn't. I welcomed the guests with Sumina and Robert by my side, smiling warmly. The reactions from the gathered lords generally fell into three categories. The first type involved the head or someone of similar standing attending in person—my allies. Viscount Drene and other northeastern lords fell into this category and are likely to become constituents of the Lioncourt Kingdom after my ascension. The second type was the dispatch of a representative—those sitting on the fence. Marquis Fourier and Duke Castella also sent representatives. Count Dalmont, with whom I have a secret agreement, did the same. I received a message that due to unrest within his territory, he couldn't leave his land personally. Unexpectedly, Louis de Bessy arrived as a representative from the House of Marquis Vabre. It’s not surprising given that we've signed an amicable ceasefire agreement, yet for a house that supports the king to celebrate with a traitor like me is quite surprising. Louis de Bessy is a knight of Vabre and someone I've met before (refer to Episode 60). The third type just ignored the event—those opposed to me. The southern factions, excluding the royal capital and Marquis Vabre, fall into this category. I assumed at least a messenger to issue formal complaints would arrive, but it seems not. The mighty Duke Benetot of the northwest also didn't attend. "King of Elwayne, Niall de Parthonon, and Deputy King Killian de Parthonon!" Maurice loudly announced the arrival of the Parthonon people. A ripple of amazement spread through the crowd. Niall and his party were dressed in fur clothing with stone accessories, their faces painted blue—a stark contrast to the Amoros people. The mountain tribe of Elwayne is often viewed as 'barbarians,' a notion that seems particularly striking to those from other territories. I could sense Sumina feeling slightly uneasy. "Varian, becoming a king? I'm surprised someone like you isn't one already." "Niall! I'm glad you came! Introduce me to the young man beside you." I exaggerated my joy and embraced Niall. To him, 'king' was synonymous with chieftain, and ever since our first meeting, I was the king of Lioncourt in his eyes. The deputy king, if I recall, is somehow related to Kiara. Though I've met him before, I want to introduce him to everyone here. "Yes, Killian is my nephew. He’s the greatest warrior. In Parthonon, the greatest warrior becomes the king." As Niall mentioned, Killian was a robust young man in his mid-20s with red hair. Although not as tall as the towering Niall, his physique was lithe and powerful, exuding the presence of a beast of prey. The title of deputy king seems to signify the next in line for the throne. However, he appeared not so fluent in Amoros' language, and his greeting was somewhat halting. The throne succession in Parthonon is selected by merit. Despite having a son, in the harsh mountain regions, it seems only natural for the most capable individual to become the leader. "I'm getting old; soon I won't be able to hunt. When that time comes, the torch will pass." Niall happily slapped Killian's shoulder. He must be nearing 40. His once flaming red hair was now flecked with strands of white. "Niall, why not retire and live here with your daughter Kiara?" "Don't be ridiculous. How could I ever live in Baison?" At my words, the barbarian king laughed heartily, holding his sides. "Watch over your grandchildren, though." "Aye, I look forward to it." Niall flashed his yellowed teeth as he began walking toward Kiara. "Kiara's father is... quite something," Sumina muttered under her breath, leaving a strong impression. She hadn't joined us on the family trip last time (refer to Chapter 11) and was meeting Niall for the first time... Incidentally, it seems Robert, too, who should have had some acquaintance, was visibly nervous. Another noteworthy guest was Knight Ge himself. We had clashed during the Bachelard Campaign, and no formal peace treaty has been signed. In essence, he's present at the banquet of a wartime adversary—quite the audacity. Knight Ge was considerably tall, nearly matching my height… However, he had a slender, peculiar frame, and a rounded face resting atop. ...Like a matchstick... That was my first impression. He was still young, possibly around 20 or so. "I'm ashamed of the conflict with Lord Lioncourt. Thus, from this point on, I hope to serve under your lead..." To my astonishment, he barely managed greetings before kneeling before me, offering his total surrender. Additionally, he expressed a wish to join as part of the Lioncourt Kingdom—a surprise offer indeed. Conducting such talks at a banquet is far from ideal, yet it's not a bad move on his part. With numerous eyes present, if I were to demand unreasonable terms, it would tarnish my reputation. In essence, I'm pressed to show magnanimity. ...I see, a cunning move. He got me... I concealed my wry smile and nodded magnanimously. "Of course, it’s the way of the warrior to find oneself on opposing sides of battle. Bearing grudges beyond that is out of the question." "I'm deeply grateful. From now on, I shall serve under Lord Lioncourt..." Knight Ge fully adopted the stance of a vassal, bowing his head to my words. "Lord Ge, I’d like to introduce you to the other northeastern lords. I'll call for you later." "Yes, I shall await eagerly." Knight Ge bowed deeply once more and respectfully exited from my presence. His face bore a triumphant smile, as if to say, “I did it.” ...His expressions are quite endearing... Sometimes, the reckless boldness of youth breaks through dire situations. This time was exactly that. If it had backfired, he’d have been detained and made a prisoner—truly a dangerous gamble. Additionally, seeing as Baron Cocteau, his companion, hasn’t shown, it’s likely this was Ge’s standalone act. Outsmarting a trusted ally like Baron Cocteau is not commendable. It's foolishness bordering on brilliance. Interestingly, Baron Benuro, who is the polar opposite of youthful recklessness, having become the legendary old fox, reportedly fell ill. Therefore, his grandson Albert was sent as a representative. It might be that Baron Benuro, valuing relations with me, intends to skip a generation and pass the mantle to Albert. Albert, who is 15 years old, is my eldest daughter Emma’s fiancé. He greeted Sumina with exquisite manners, which delighted her greatly. In this era, gentlemen with such thoughtful consideration are rare… Sumina seemed quite taken with young Albert. Killian, Knight Ge, Albert… Before I realized it, the younger generation had begun to shine. I'm already 31 years old, not exactly in the bloom of youth anymore. --- Though it was called a Gathering of the Lords, at its heart, it was still an Amorosian feast. Everyone was tearing into their meat with their bare hands, drinking copious amounts of alcohol, and causing a ruckus like primitive beings. Some were even relieving themselves wherever they pleased in their drunken stupor. …It's baffling how these aristocrats can brazenly relieve themselves inside someone else’s home... The behavior was beyond shocking—it was almost amusing in a twisted sort of way. The gathering was a banquet that started in the morning, with people coming and going unexpectedly. Another guest seemed to have arrived. Maurice raised his voice to announce it. “On behalf of Marquis Fourier, Hughes de Blare!” I was stunned by the unexpected name. ...Hughes!? Could it really be... My eyes widened in shock to see none other than my brother standing there. “Incredible! Hughes!! Is that really you!!” “Hey Varian. You’ve become quite the distinguished figure.” We spread our arms wide and hugged tightly, patting each other vigorously on the back. “Hughes! You seem to have had quite the tough time!” I pointed at his teeth with my finger. Hughes bore a large scar above his upper lip, and several of his front teeth were missing. “Haha, and you too! A flashy red eyepatch you have there!” Hughes pointed to my right eye and smiled happily. Back in the day, my brother had a more intellectual and quiet demeanor, but it must have been quite a struggle making a name for himself in foreign territories. I noticed the top of his left ear also had a chunk missing… He must have seen a lot of action in the field. “Being Marquis Fourier’s representative, that’s something! Let me introduce you to Katia’s husband.” Katia is our half-sister, married into the Pugnie knight family under the Lioncourt banner. When I called out, "Hey, Pierre!" loudly, our brother-in-law hurriedly ran over to us. This exchange caught a lot of attention, and the surroundings became lively. It’s only natural; Hughes, my half-brother, left the household early, so many of my retainers may not even know him. “Hughes, meet Pierre de Pugnie. Though he might have equals, no one surpasses his talents in Lioncourt. I personally saw him fit as a husband for Katia!” When I introduced Pierre, he bowed his head and said, “It’s an honor.” By the way, when praising a subordinate like this, saying “there’s no one like him” often stirs dissatisfaction. Hence, the convoluted phrasing to mention “there are others like him.” Knights and warriors have tremendous pride, and handling them is trying; they all firmly believe themselves to be the best. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Hughes de Blare, Katia’s brother.” “Yes, Pierre de Pugnie. I’ve heard much about you, esteemed brother-in-law…” The two exchanged formal greetings and bowed. It seemed that the intellectual Hughes and the reserved Pierre hit it off well, breaking the ice after just a few words. “Hughes, you’ll be staying for a while, won’t you? Let’s talk at length later. There’s much to catch up on.” “Yes, indeed. I also have lots I want to discuss… I’d like to meet Katia’s children too.” Though we were half-siblings, this was a reunion of brothers. A social gathering was insufficient and too noisy to properly reconnect. Later, Hughes was in high demand all over the place, managing to handle things suitably. For those wishing to strengthen ties with me, it was only natural to befriend the suddenly appeared Hughes. After all, he’s my brother and Marquis Fourier's representative. Befriending him holds no disadvantages. I, too, was busy entertaining guests, attending to a revolving door of visitors, but there was something peculiar. ...Wait, there are clearly uninvited guests here! What is Maurice doing… Looking at the reception, there was no one in sight. The guards turned their eyes away sheepishly… They seemed pretty intoxicated. ...These guys aren’t doing their job at all. If anything happens to the esteemed guests, there’ll be hell to pay… I ordered the security of the venue to be reassessed in irritation and returned to the hall. What greeted me was a scene far removed from a Gathering of the Lords; it was a chaotic revelry. …No way, I only took my eyes off for a few minutes…! The hall was bursting with people, most of whom were common folks. They seemed to have slipped in from somewhere and were making a ruckus. With delicious food and alcohol flowing, inciting the primal instincts of the original Lioncourt people, it suddenly all seemed to make sense. I thought, "This is bad," but there was nothing more I could do. ...Once it’s come to this, there’s no choice. Trying to kick them out would likely spark a riot… I resigned myself, directing that food and drink be supplied in abundance. “Open the gates wide! Invite everyone in! We’re short on food and drink! Quickly! Let us all celebrate this beautiful day!!” As I declared loudly, a cheer rose from the crowd. At this point, the plan was to get everyone plastered and wrap things up. If things can’t be sorted, pass it off as ‘an impressive and memorable festival.’ Once things go extreme, one might hear remarks like “Lioncourt really is something else.” Half measures were never good. Safety? Oh, who cares. What ensued was utter chaos. Binges, brawls were the norms. Some dared to engage in public displays of affection, and fools even started fires indoors. I even stepped in something in the hall... Hopefully, that wasn't human waste. Lioncourt people, Amoros folks, the Elwayne - and even the Agnes people, Hughes’ entourage, were mixed in. People of all kinds ate, drank, revelled, sang, fought, mingled without regard for rank, enjoying their life to the fullest. “Drink! Eat! Make merry!! Appreciate the life you have now!!” I had lost my cool. I joined in the madness, forcing drinks on everyone nearby and partying with them. Swirling within was chaotic energy, intoxicating everyone with a sense of a new era. The revelry reportedly continued non-stop through the night until the next day’s evening. I don’t remember because I too got drunk and passed out. The Gathering of the Lords ended ambiguously... but then again, it felt fittingly Lioncourt. By the way, Maurice ended up doing something akin to a drunken chopping board show. Usually the upstanding soldier, Maurice really let alcohol get the better of him. It’s only natural, given his role as Lioncourt’s steward. The next time I awoke was the morning of the inauguration ceremony.