Recently, the Pruckus estate has beco bustling.
In three weeks, Ention Pruckus, the head of the Pruckus Count family, will return to the estate, and a banquet will be held to celebrate his return.
Along with Ention, the vassals working at Utrein Castle and those scattered across the Pruckus family's territories will attend the banquet. Additionally, renowned rchants, nobles from other regions, and soldiers who have distinguished themselves will also participate. Considering the influence of the Pruckus family, up to 800 people are expected to attend.
Of course, the banquet isn't a one-day event—it will last for three days.
As a result, Elaine, the Countess of Pruckus, as well as Hassent, the head butler, and all the servants working in the estate are busy preparing. The knights, too, have been training rigorously upon hearing of Ention's return.
However, there are two people in the estate who aren't busy and are acting as usual: and Kyle. Kyle is utterly incompetent when it cos to administrative tasks, and I'm still young and frail.
Elaine doesn't ask for our help. Helping the servants? If we, who hold noble status, assist them, it would disrupt the hierarchy. Besides, the servants would be extrely uncomfortable.
In short, staying quiet is the best way to help Elaine.
'They really are busy, huh.'
Even Yuria, my personal maid, has been asked to assist the head maid and has started helping out. In her place, a clumsy young maid has temporarily beco my personal attendant. She isn't particularly pretty or skilled at her job. I simply ordered her to stand by.
'Ention Pruckus. An aura master. The guardian sword of Rapherry. My father.'
It felt awkward.
In my previous life, my father ran a beauty salon with my mother. Ention is my father in this fictional world.
'He'll probably rest at the estate for a few days before returning to Utrein Castle.'
That's how it was in the original story. Except for occasional visits to the estate, Ention lives at Utrein Castle.
The important thing is whether Ention will ntion the successor during the banquet. The mont he utters even a single word about the successor, the undercurrents of conflict among the Pruckus vassals will begin.
'In the original story, he didn't ntion the successor. That's why Zent, the eldest son, felt uneasy and tried to suppress Kyle and exclude him from the succession.'
I can't be certain.
In the original story, there was no third son. My existence changes things.
Ention must have heard rumors about and received information about from the people he planted within the estate. Elaine and Hassent also regularly report to Ention.
Eugene, the genius inventor.
My reputation has already spread beyond Petheris City to nearby cities.
'Hassent hasn't openly declared his support for , but... he must be inferring it from the information.'
I didn't deliberately hide Hassent's support. The head butler's support is a significant political advantage for . There's no need to conceal it.
'The Flune Knights also support . It's not official yet, but... judging by the atmosphere, it's practically the sa. Rumors have already spread.'
I've been good to the Flune Knights. Really good. If soone asked what I've done for them, I could list at least 100 things without hesitation.
'The Flune Knights are now addicted to modern goods. They've already tasted the convenience of modern items.'
The knight commander is an outrageous chain smoker and a beer enthusiast. Previously, he was obsessed with pork belly and fried chicken, but lately, he's been praising cheese dakgalbi.
'And the noblewon who've tasted modern costics and desserts are also on my side.'
This world also has excellent costics. However, compared to the highly advanced costics of the modern world, they are few in number and often co with side effects.
'They were absolutely stunned when they saw artificial eyelashes.'
The most popular items are foundation and lipstick. Noblewon who've fallen for modern costics not only purchase new products as soon as they're released but also pester about when the next ones will co out.
'Desserts. Especially chocolate, which was a huge hit.'
According to information gathered through the guild, cocoa trees don't exist in this world. In other words, I can completely monopolize chocolate.
)
'Coffee trees seem to exist in the eastern continent, but... hehe. Monopolizing chocolate is more than enough.'
While this alone isn't enough to say that noblewon support , it's certain that I have more influence than Zent and Kyle.
'This banquet is important.'
I can't afford to be excluded. I must attend this banquet.
'The goal is to make my presence known to the vassals. And... the rchants and mages from the Magic Tower attending the banquet.'
rchants are essential for expanding my business.
I need to establish a symbiotic relationship with the Magic Tower, not an adversarial one. After all, the Magic Tower undeniably dominates this world's economy.
I glanced at my laptop. The caras installed throughout the estate were working properly, sending live footage.
'Kyle, this guy never gets tired of training every day.'
***
The day Ention PruckusFrucks returned.
For the first ti in a long while, all mbers of the Pruckus family gathered at the dining table and picked up their utensils.
However, there was no warm family conversation.
Ention was an extrely stoic man. Moreover, he disliked unnecessary talk. He didn't even utter the usual "This tastes good" during the al.
With the head of the family like this, the dining atmosphere was very quiet and awkward.
I cut my steak with a knife while glancing at Ention.
Black hair, black eyes. He had a beard and wrinkles around his eyes. His facial skin had a coppery tone, a testant to his constant outdoor work.
'How many assassins would it take to kill an aura master?'
One thing was certain: poison wouldn't work.
I shifted my gaze slightly to the side.
Zent Pruckus.
A young, handso man with black hair and black eyes, sporting a beard like his father. He was the eldest son of the Pruckus family.
'He's also my older brother. How can I use him in a way that rumors will spread about how well I've manipulated him?'
Ention is soone I can't kill even if I want to. Zent is soone I'd lose out on if I killed him now.
'Zent needs to fight Kyle over the succession. At least until I co of age.'
I ate my steak, lost in thought.
The only sound at the quiet table was the clinking of utensils.
***
After finishing the al, I returned to my room and imdiately opened my laptop to monitor Ention. I had already installed caras and listening devices in his room and office.
However, after the al, Ention headed straight to the bath. After finishing his bath, he returned to his room, sat on the floor, and began mana breathing exercises.
'...What the.'
There was no sign of the embarrassing and extravagant private life I had imagined. All that was there was a monotonous routine, just like his outward appearance.
'No. No. I shouldn't jump to conclusions. It's his first day back at the estate. Maybe he'll relieve his pent-up desires with Elaine through passionate sex.'
10 PM.
Ention's room lit up. I thought Elaine had entered, but it was Hassent.
Hassent briefly reported to Ention about what had happened at the estate. Ention listened silently, nodding occasionally. He smiled faintly when Hassent subtly praised .
Just as Hassent was about to leave the room:
[Hassent. Do you think Eugene has the qualities to beco the family head?]
[My lord, I'm not sure what qualities a family head should have. However, Young Master Eugene is more than qualified to stand above others. He is a mber of the Pruckus family and your son.]
[Eugene is frail. He suffers from the sa heart condition as Haruel. If Eugene were to suddenly die one day as the family head... the family would be shaken.]
[Young Master Eugene's condition has been improving daily. He hasn't had an attack recently. Though I'm not a doctor, I believe his heart condition will be completely cured in about five years.]
[...Has Eugene's heart condition improved that much?]
[I believe the ancient artifact Young Master Eugene possesses has had an effect.]
[I see. Hassent, you may leave now.]
[Yes, my lord.]
Hassent left the room.
Ention sat in his chair, deep in thought. He was probably thinking about .
I must have been completely excluded from his considerations as a successor. Having a heart condition is a significant disadvantage. As he said, if the family head were to suddenly die one day, the family itself would be shaken.
But what if that heart condition could be cured in five years? And what if I had the ability to lead the family?
'He can't completely exclude from the succession.'
The fact that I'm physically weak is a bit of a hurdle, but... if Ention has any sense, he won't ignore my invention skills. Even if my personal combat abilities are lacking, I can make the family wealthier than the eldest and second sons.
'Honestly, the Pruckus family's military power is sufficient for now. Looking to the future, we should pursue wealth.'
Wealth is necessary to maintain military power. And military power is necessary to protect wealth. The two cannot be separated.
Ention pondered for a long ti before lying down on the bed and closing his eyes.
I was shocked ntally.
'...What about Elaine? No sex?'
Elaine is an incredibly beautiful woman, even by real-world standards. It's no wonder this is a fantasy novel world. If such a woman were my wife, it wouldn't be strange to hold her in my arms every night.
'He's really asleep!'
I switched the laptop's cara feed to Elaine's room. Elaine was also lying in bed, asleep.
'Is Ention going through nopause?!'
I quickly shook my head. I shouldn't jump to conclusions. Today is Ention's first day back at the estate. He might have just been tired and fallen asleep. Maybe they'll have sex tomorrow night.
'But if they really don't have sex... then I might find a way to win Elaine over....'
I took my eyes off the laptop, got up from the chair, and walked toward the bed.
There was already a guest on the bed. Yuria.
Yuria was restrained on the bed. Handcuffs and leg cuffs bound her in a 大 shape. Her eyes were covered with a black blindfold, and her mouth was gagged.
I walked toward Yuria's groin, removing my clothes. I took off the faintly vibrating vibrator attached to her pussy.
[Yuria's Sensitive Zones: Vagina, Cervix, Mouth]
I habitually checked Yuria's sensitive zones. I considered exploring new areas but hadn't decided yet.
"Yuria. Today's training is the sa as yesterday."
"Hup! H-Huhk...!"
Squelch!
I inserted myself into her. The tip pressed against her cervix, filling her completely. Her body molded perfectly to mine, as expected of my dedicated sheath.
I didn't move after entering—no thrusting, no touching her clitoris.
"Yesterday, it took two hours for to finish. You'll do better today. You're a prodigy, after all."
I draped my upper body over hers, staying motionless until the end. Whispering into her ear, I added.
"If you make finish within 30 minutes... I'll hold you as long as you want."
"Uuuh..."
Her walls tightened, but it wasn't enough.
"Such a good girl. Improving every day."
***
On the day of the banquet.
I entered the hall dressed in noble attire far more lavish than my usual style. The banquet venue, seldom used and grand enough to comfortably host hundreds, was as opulent as it was vast. True to its scale, the hall teed with guests.
An orchestra, specially invited for the occasion, sat along one wall, their lodies weaving through the air.
The invited nobles, rchants, and other attendees sipped wine, savored delicacies, and exchanged chatter. So swayed to the music in dance.
But the true flurry of activity belonged to the servants. They scurried to fulfill requests, refill platters, and scrub away spills whenever food tumbled to the floor.
"Eugene. You made it to the banquet."
***
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