Chapter 67 – Chapter 3: Fall Banquet – 1
I learned many things to become a nobleman.
Mr. Aban introduced me to the head maid who had worked at a nobleman’s house for 40 years.
She was taught and corrected by this demanding and strict old woman, including how to walk, dining etiquette, tea ceremonies, vocalization, speech, the interests of nobles, international affairs, blood relations, and even family history.
The time given is only 3 days.
The goal was to have as noble an appearance as possible within this short period of time.
It was boring and boring, but I did my best.
I tried to get used to the manners of the nobles, which were so old-fashioned that I couldn’t understand them.
When I completed all the training in two days. Even her grandmother began to doubt my origins.
She insisted that she could not deceive her eyes, saying that no matter how much she explained that she was from a commoner in a mountain village, she must have noble blood.
Anyway, I was getting ready to attend the ‘banquet’ smoothly.
“Yes-?! What-?!”
A shocking document is now sitting before my eyes.
Mr. Aban answered.
“It’s simple. “You just have to write your name here.”
“I didn’t ask that!”
He lifted the paper and pointed to the letters written at the top.
“It’s a ‘marriage certificate’! “Am I reading this correctly?”
“Huh. That’s right.”
This is so absurd that I can’t even voice my voice.
In fact, Mr. Aban explained with a normal face as if nothing had happened.
“Women never attend a ‘banquet’ alone. One man and one woman. This configuration is the most common attendance method. Therefore, it is better to naturally become a ‘couple’.”
“I know, but… Then with whom… ?”
“Of course Mr. Modales.”
I looked to the side.
Uncle Posao was also looking surprised.
I’m out of breath because I can’t understand what I just heard.
“Well, I… “You want me to ‘marry’ you?”
“I’m not really asking you to get married. All I’m asking is to temporarily pretend to be a married couple. This is a certificate that is only valid within Deseo. No one cares after the banquet ends anyway. “Tia is going back to Brisden, right?”
“Yes, but…”
“If something inconvenient happens in the future because you got married in Deseo… “I will make it something that never happened.”
Mr. Aban even explained the detailed background setting, asking us to listen calmly.
Uncle Posao is the son of a nobleman who rules a small country far away from Deseo.
I am a distant relative of my uncle, and I got married and became his wife.
The Modales couple arrive in Deseo with a dream of reviving their declining family.
In order to start a new business in Deseo, a lot of investment is needed.
So, I plan to use the ‘banquet’ to interact with Deseo landowners and explain the business.
However, a difficult problem arises here.
Uncle Posao said he wouldn’t be very welcome among the nobles.
You can cover up your missing hair with a wig, and it doesn’t matter if you have a fat belly because other men do the same.
The habit of stuttering was fatal.
It is said that among nobles, those who stutter are considered no different from idiots.
Therefore, Uncle Posao had to refrain from opening his mouth.
I had to handle all business explanations, interactions with nobles, and reception.
Not only was she unable to do this work as a maid, but the agent was usually handled by a man.
The explanation is that it is best for me to become ‘the man’s wife.’
“Ha-.”
I sighed when I heard persuasion, not persuasion.
Even in Charrak Village, I got in trouble because a man introduced me as my ‘lover’.
But now they are asking us to become a ‘couple’.
She’s already tried it once, so she doesn’t have that much resistance…
As expected, I couldn’t help but feel something was wrong.
Let’s judge calmly.
This is not a real marriage.
All it takes is for Uncle Po Sao and her to become a couple by false means.
If you just remember this fact, you can reach your goal of 1,000 gold.
“… Okay.”
“Okay, just sign here.”
Mr. Aban handed over a pen.
I poked the pen tip into the inkwell and placed it on the signature line.
The letters are visible.
[Posao Modales][ ]
The above two people prove that they are a married couple.
Next to the empty space where my name would go, Uncle Posao’s signature was already written.
“…”
When I saw that letter, something broke my heart.
Originally, Ritz should be next to me right now.
The name should be written as ‘Ritz’, not ‘Posao Modales’.
And with joy and pride, I must write the name ‘Tia Antheer’ on this marriage certificate.
Crunchy.
I wrote my name straight on my chest, as if I was carving it with a knife.
[Posao Modales][Tia Modales]
The above two people prove that they are a married couple.
Strange.
Looking at these two very awkward names makes me feel very stuffy and blank.
The moment I thought about withdrawing my decision.
Mr. Aban immediately took the documents away.
“Good! I’ll take care of this now. Tia, please listen to the etiquette class until the end.”
“Ah yes…”
She answered softly and glanced to the side.
I saw the profile of Mr. Posao sweating.
I held her hand tightly over my tight chest.
I see…
Just for a moment, but I am no longer ‘Tia Antheer’.
‘Tia Modales’, wife and wife of Posao Modales.
This was my new name.
* * *
Last day.
There was still no change in Uncle Posao’s demeanor.
I had no choice but to teach etiquette myself.
Even if you don’t say anything, you need to know how to eat or walk to avoid arousing suspicion.
“Try it like this.”
“Ugh…”
“Not like that, like this.”
Even though I tried hard to teach right next to him, his ability to hold a knife was still very awkward.
I felt it when I was teaching swordsmanship, but he was very slow at learning.
It’s hard to expect things to get better now…
In the end, I decided to avoid using knives as much as possible.
I decided to eat my food with just one fork, and if there was food that needed to be cut, I would do it instead.
I spent quite a bit of time on my walking posture.
Uncle Po Sao was walking waddling because of her heavy body, and she was not easily corrected, so she was deeply worried about whether she should go back to the setting where she ‘injured her leg during the war’.
“Mister. “Why do you walk so well when you practice with me, but you keep waddling when you walk alone?”
“That is…”
Uncle Po Sao scratched her head.
“T-Tiaga… Now, if you hold on to it, things will get better…”
“Of course it’s because they help me walk straight!”
“Then, wouldn’t it be okay for Tia to catch it then too?”
“Yes? “You want me to hold on to you all day?”
“Huh. Because they are a couple. No problem, right? Hehe.”
“No, it’s not that problem. Ha…”
Well, rather than trying to fix a guy who can’t be fixed.
Would that be a more realistic alternative?
To other people’s eyes, they might just look like a couple with a special relationship who spends all day arm-in-arm.
Okay. Just wait for 3 days.
“Because I don’t have time. Sure, well.”
I stood close to him and crossed my arms.
… Ouch! It’s like I’m hugging you tightly because I like it!
Anyway, since we had to continue walking together in the banquet hall, I first observed his steps carefully.
When Mr. Posao starts walking, he always starts with his right foot first.
Her gait is slow, and her strides are short.
I followed suit and put my right foot out and walked as slowly as possible.
Lightly.
Jump and jump.
As I walked around the hotel, I followed the man’s footsteps perfectly.
It was somehow fun to match my feet.
“Lol-. “It’s like dancing because we keep our steps together like this.”
“Well, that’s right…” Hi-Hi…”
“Have you ever danced?”
“Huh?”
The man was taken aback by the sudden question.
After a while, he closed his eyes and spoke.
“Yes… With Lina… At baptism. I danced.”
“With mom?”
Uncle Posao and my mom were best friends, just like me and Ritz.
So, it is said that her mother chose the uncle at the christening ceremony.
She said it was so unexpected.
When a woman chooses a man to dance with at a christening, it means that she likes him.
There were many cases where the ‘partners’ of the village elders who danced together at the baptism ceremony became married couples.
“B-but… Because I’m so bad at dancing… To Lina, I’m sorry…”
“I thought so. You’re in bad shape, man. It’s even weirder if you dance well!”
“Naaah…”
“But what, what! You can learn it slowly later. Now, let’s practice walking again.”
We continued walking until the night fell, and we fell asleep.
Finally, tomorrow.
The banquet begins.
At that thought, my heart pounded so hard that I tossed and turned in my sleep.
* * *
Dagdakdakdakdak-. Purr-.
The carriage stopped.
Mr. Aban, disguised as a coachman, nodded his head.
“Well then, it starts now. “I hope you have a safe three-day stay.”
“Yes. I will definitely succeed.”
Mr. Aban got off first and opened the door.
Squeak-.
Uncle Posao got off the carriage with an escort.
The man held out his hand to me as he had been trained.
I held his hand, lightly pinched the hem of his dress, and carefully got out of the carriage.
The waiting servants rushed out.
They took the trunks out of the carriage one by one and took them to the guest room.
“Shall we go?”
I gently grabbed Uncle Posao’s arm.
Is it because I am faced with a huge, magnificent mansion shining pure white in front of me?
I could feel the man looking very nervous.
I whispered softly.
“I laugh happily. “Like entering a general store.”
“… Uh huh.”
The man smiled awkwardly.
Ppyo-.
Unfold the prepared parasol and enter the garden of the banquet hall.
The servants bowed their heads and welcomed us.
I asked them to ask me if I needed anything or to just speak to them at any time as drinks and refreshments were prepared.
I thanked him, but kicked the servants out, saying I wanted to be alone.
We deliberately walked around the garden for a bit.
It was to understand the atmosphere of the ‘banquet.’
It seemed that not all attendees had arrived yet.
Thanks to this, I was able to look around at my leisure and become familiar with the structure of the banquet hall.
“Here’s a handkerchief. “I wipe my sweat.”
“Thank you… Phew-.”
The man was sweating all over his body.
I was so nervous, the wig was heavy, and my clothes felt like they were going to explode, so it seemed like I was having a harder time.
Around the time the man calmed down a little.
People began to arrive at the banquet hall one by one.
They came down from the huge carriage and had a dignity that could not be hidden.
At the same time, he straightens his back and walks with an arrogant look in his eyes.
… A true noble.
Around the time the sun went down.
The servants closed the banquet hall.
It means that everyone who came has come.
It is time for us to move too.
“Mister. Let’s go now.”
“Yes…”
I grabbed the man’s arm and headed to the banquet hall.
