Chapter 102 – The Later Story of Calliope (3)
“…Eugene.”
“Erden hyung?”
When I turned my gaze to the voice calling me, Erden stood there with an expressionless face.
It is different from the aristocrats who wear splendid clothes as if to show off their wealth and power.
The only decoration was a suit with a silver chain at the very least, but perhaps because of his good looks, it felt like Erden stood out much more than the others.
“…”
“…”
Garcia and Reika silently withdrew, as if it was still a little hard to see Erden even though they had given up their position as his as the next head of household.
Seeing that, I apologized to Erden instead.
“…Sorry.”
“It’s not something you should be sorry for.”
“…Still. Sorry. By the way, brother, you must be busy. What is the matter with this younger brother?”
Like I said, countless nobles were glaring at each other to exchange words with the next head of household.
“I must be busy, but before I can talk to them, I have something I need to tell you.”
“…What are you going to do…?”
Before I could finish my words, Erden abruptly bowed.
“Thank you. It’s all thanks to you.”
I opened my eyes wide in surprise for a moment, but when I understood the situation, I smiled spontaneously.
It was very Erden-like to visit me first and express my gratitude at this time when I was busy dealing with other nobles.
‘However…’
The timing wasn’t very good.
The fact that the next head of household bowed down in a public place to the three sons attracted too much attention.
Look
Aren’t the eyes still going crazy?
“Sleep, brother. Eat your waist If the head of Calliope bends down recklessly in front of others, it will be a fault.”
“I am not the head of household yet. And because it was in front of people, he bowed his back. Even if I praise you for your achievements a hundred times, if others don’t acknowledge it, it’s the same as never doing it.”
“All right. I understand, so please wake up. It’s because I’m embarrassed. Shall I leave the banquet hall on this fine day?”
It was only after I said that I was in pain that Erden slowly lifted his back.
“…Thank you. Don’t forget this debt. Say anything you want.”
I didn’t really want anything.
The reason why I made Erden the next head of household is not to hope for something, but to prevent Calliope from collapsing when a war breaks out in the future.
‘…Hmm.’
However, since Erden seemed unlikely to back down if he said he had no wishes, I said just in case.
“…Then, if I ask you a favor later, please don’t ask why and help me.”
“Okay. I get it.”
Contrary to expectations, Erden immediately nodded his head.
To be honest, I was a little surprised.
Originally, due to Erden’s personality his, he would not have made this kind of promise.
Because of his straightforward personality, he would have made a promise only after hearing the contents.
But this time was different.
The fact that Erden accepted the terms without any questions means that he trusted me that much.
“I will bet my heart and I will definitely keep my promise.”
It was still a calm tone with no emotion, but when I looked closely, the corners of Erden’s mouth were raised subtly.
Seeing that, I swallowed a bitter smile and changed the subject.
“…Have you talked to Cale-nim?”
“Yet. We should talk to you from now on.”
When I followed Erden’s gaze, Cale stood alone with a dark expression on his face.
And surprisingly, there were numerous noble ladies gathered around Cale.
Of course, the families of the young ladies gathered there were on the slightly inferior side.
As long as they are pushed out in the competition for successor, all the prominent families will join Erden.
But anyway, doesn’t Cale also have the surname of ‘Caliope’?
For the lower families, that was enough.
‘…It’s popular.’
He said it several times, but Cale is also worth looking at as much as he looks.
Cale’s unpopularity his so far was n’t because of his good looks his, but because of his bubbly personality and frivolous atmosphere his.
“…”
But Cale, who is as handsome as her face her, has melancholy eyes and holds her mood, so even if a woman tells her not to get twisted, she can’t be twisted.
‘Vanity, vanity.’
How tragic it is that she loses her cock and then never has a chance to use it!
I go to Cale, give her a toast in my mind, and let’s sip her wine again.
Ding- Ding-
A soft sound rang out.
As I turned my gaze in the direction of the sound, Eddard, who was on the podium, opened his mouth.
“…I warmly welcome you gathered here in the name of Calliope. And, though it is sudden, I have something to announce.”
Everyone pretended not to know, but they were waiting for Eddard to nominate Erden as the next family head.
However, the words that came out of Eddard’s mouth were shocking words that far exceeded expectations.
“I will officially hand over the position of head of household to Erden and retire.”
“…!”
Except for me, everyone was surprised, not even having time to pretend to be surprised.
“… Eddard-sama, what is that now…”
“I don’t want retirement to be a hasty decision.”
As soon as he grasped the situation, dissenting opinions erupted here and there, but Eddard did not blink an eye.
“It has already been decided. Or are you saying that Erden is not suitable for the position of head of household?”
“…No. Looking back, it was a great decision.”
“Erden…No. Let’s toast to the new head of household.”
As befits nobles who live with a single glance, the moment he realizes that Eddard has firmly established his mind, he turns his words upside down in an instant.
“Then, a toast to Erden, the new head of Calliope!”
“Cheers!”
A toast is being held here and there, and the sound of music resonates, but Erden himself is frowning.
“…What is this. Is your father retiring?”
“What about what has already been announced? There is no turning back, so enjoy it.”
“…”
Erden made a look in his eyes asking if he already knew, but I sipped my wine without answering.
“Prince Erden, congratulations. My name is Vanitas. I respect the original character of Erden…”
At that time, one of the aristocrats who had been paying attention struck the ball.
“Hey, it’s been a while. Erden Ball. I don’t know if you’ll remember…”
“Lord Erden…”
The nobles who had their players stolen could not stand it and rushed at Erden at the same time.
‘The official announcement is over…’
As I was watching the banquet with the intention of passing some time until Lucia arrived, someone in a white dress started talking to me.
“…Uh…By any chance…Gwa…If you don’t mind…With me…Chu..Chueul!..Ss!”
Young lady, who was inviting her to dance, jumped up and jumped as if chewing on her tongue her, and her face her turned red.
“Ah… Ah… No. Excuse me.”
I thought it would be bad manners to spend it like this, and to pass the time, I gently held Young lady’s fingertips to her.
“If you don’t mind, would you like to dance a song with me?”
“…Yes!…Yes.”
Originally, he had never tried dancing, but ‘Prince on the Bed’, which handles almost perfectly when it comes to seducing women, showed its strength without fail even in these situations.
“…Weird..You dance…Very…Well!”
“It is overrated. It’s all thanks to the lady’s good guidance.”
“…I…I’m nothing…That…But I’m a little tired…If you don’t mind, I’ll take a little walk…Let’s go!”
Red wine spilled on the dress of the young lady who was talking hard.
“Oh, sorry. It’s ok?”
Reika said in a tone that she wasn’t sorry at all.
“Yes… Four… “
“… Excuse me. A stray cat caught my eye.”
“Was there a go-cat in the banquet hall?”
“…Yes, he came in without even noticing. Do not worry. I’m going to kick you out soon.”
Right, right.
When Reika clicked her fingers twice, Emma, eagerly carrying food, appeared and dragged her daughter out of her.
“Oh my goodness! Your clothes are very dirty! Do not worry! There are clothes to change into! Now, I will take you this way.”
“Yes?…Four?..Now..Wait…”
“Come on. If you don’t change quickly, you might catch a cold.”
“…Ah..No..That..That much…!”
Although her daughter-in-law tries to rebel a bit, she can’t beat Emma’s strength her.
In the end, I spoke up after seeing the young lady being dragged out of the banquet hall.
“…What are you doing? Did you even flirt with Emma?”
“Oh, brother. What do you mean? I just got tangled up in her feet her and spilled some of her wine her.”
Reika pretends not to know and braids her hair.
Then she joined Garcia and continued talking.
“Good job. Leica. The way I looked at Eugene was lustful. If you don’t subdue that kind of thing from the beginning, it will be a big problem.”
“Mother… I only danced once.”
“Originally, everything starts with a dance or a drink.”
“…”
Maybe it came from experience, but when Garcia spoke, I somehow trusted him.
“By the way, brother. Would my hands are empty Would you like to dance a song with me?”
“Families don’t do that. Sister.”
“…”
When I quickly refused, Reika looked at me with a puzzled expression, but what can I do?
Little by little, a strange phenomenon appeared as the banquet continued, making a lot of noise with dance and music.
“…”
At first it was one person.
When he sees someone entering through the open door, he stops as if he has been cursed with petrification.
And gradually, one by one, they turned their eyes toward the door, and were silent as expected.
Eventually, the band also stops playing their instruments and just stars at someone walking blankly.
“Why did you stop playing… “
“Where is everyone looking… “
At this point, people also felt a sense of incongruity and their eyes gathered in one place.
“… ?”
The moment I look at the place where my eyes gathered, wondering what was going on.
Again—
It felt like the world stopped.
Again—
Eventually, everyone’s eyes gathered in one place, and the noisy banquet hall became so quiet that footsteps could be heard.
Again—
Didn’t do anything particularly special.
Again—
Just walking normally.
Again—
But that was enough.
Again—
She is a woman who overwhelms the crowd just by showing up.
Again—
That was Lucia Urella.
