TL: Etude
On the eve of the Day of Descent, a banquet was held at the lord’s mansion in Lakeheart Town. Paul, the lord, invited key figures from the military and political departnts to gather and celebrate the impending arrival of the new year.
As custom dictated, Paul, the lord of the land, was supposed to deliver a speech at the start of the banquet. The guests watched as he intently read from a paper, reciting its contents.
The speech was quite impressive (those who worked closely with Paul could easily recognize it as the handiwork of his chief secretary, Baron Bernard Francis). The words were elegantly crafted without being ostentatious, praising everyone’s hard work over the past year and passionately highlighting the significant achievents in the region, including in agriculture, industry, and comrce. It especially revisited the major victory in the Usurper War, which not only destroyed the longstanding threat the Kent family posed to the land but also brought the fertile land of Emden under the control of the Administration Council. This victory increased the population, wealth, resources, and market size. More importantly, it significantly altered the Grayman family’s awkward position in the Northwest Bay, earning them a reputation and forging firr friendships with families like the Parkers and the Hailers, and even the newly risen Duke of the Northwest, Henry Ferdinand, creating a de facto community of shared interests.
Particularly notable was the Northwest Industries initiated by Alda, in which various lords participated. This so-called armant company, as Paul referred to it, continued to supply the kingdom’s army with high-quality, affordable weapons. This not only brought the previously barren Northwest Bay to the attention of the kingdom’s higher-ups for the first ti but also spread wealth among the lords of the Northwest, elevating Alda’s stature among them.
However, once spoken by the lord, this grand history seed bland and uninteresting to the audience.
Both parties found it a struggle. Finally, having read the last word, Paul declared the start of the banquet as if granted a reprieve, and the atmosphere in the hall instantly beca lively.
“Excellent, my lord! Your speech was truly inspiring!” Hansel clapped for Paul with a grin as he returned to his seat.
Paul shot Hansel a look, ignoring his obvious jest.
“You really need to work on your public speaking skills, Count,” said Eileen helplessly. She had heard her father’s robust and powerful voice when addressing ministers in court and seen her sister passionately inspire her troops in the barracks. Compared to them, Paul’s speech was lackluster; lacking emphasis where it was needed and failing to pause for effect when appropriate.
“This was already quite good,” Paul defended his performance, satisfied, “At least I didn’t mispronounce a single word.”
He recalled his experiences on Earth, where even reading from a script in front of a leader or an audience could lead to mistakes and a blank mind, often leaving him unsure of what he had said.
Sitting near Paul were core mbers of the Administration Council and the military, who interacted frequently and were no longer restrained. They engaged in lively discussions while enjoying fine wine and delicacies.
Among the guests was the naval commander Austin, who had co from Port Fran. Midway through drinking, he suddenly slapped his forehead, looking annoyed, “I was so caught up in the drink, I almost forgot sothing important.”
He stood up and approached Eileen, who looked curious. Austin carefully handed her an envelope, “Miss Betty, this letter was entrusted to our fleet to deliver to you when we were in Port West. The person claid to be from Crystal Shine in the capital and said they were your relative.”
Crystal Shine? Eileen’s heart skipped a beat, and she exchanged a glance with her assistant, Leah, both seeing the question in each other’s eyes.
If it was from Crystal Shine, it was likely from her parents or sister. Did they know she was in the Northwest Bay?
“Miss Betty? Miss Betty?”
Austin called out to Eileen, seeing her lost in thought.
“Uh? Oh, yes, thank you.”
Eileen ca to her senses, hurriedly responded, and stood up to take the envelope with both hands. She handed the letter to Leah for safekeeping, giving her an examining glance in the process.
Leah, serving as both assistant and guard, tensed up. She wondered if Princess Eileen suspected her of sending ssages to Crystal Shine.
Paul, intrigued, asked, “Betty, you have relatives in Crystal Shine too?” He then quickly realized his mistake, “Oh, sorry, I got confused, haha.”
He suddenly rembered the surna “Dias.” The current queen also belonged to the Dias family from the Gabella Empire. It all made sense now.
“Haha, yes, sothing like that…” Eileen replied awkwardly with a smile, realizing that Count Grayman now truly believed she was from the Gabellan Dias family.
Well, let it be.
Eileen and Leah spent the rest of the banquet with mixed feelings.
After the banquet, Eileen hurried back to her residence with Leah and thoroughly questioned her. Of course, Eileen had no doubts about her guard’s loyalty, but even out of loyalty, Leah might have sent ssages to the capital, as most people wouldn’t consider a princess wandering outside for a long ti a good thing.
After the interrogation, Eileen, based on her judgnt, concluded that her guard had not sent any ssages to the capital. So, who had found out about her current residence?
Unable to figure it out, Eileen focused on the letter’s content, feeling a surge of hosickness.
She excused herself during the banquet and quietly read the letter several tis in a secluded spot. She didn’t recognize the handwriting but could easily tell from the style of phrasing that it was her mother’s doing.
The letter, cautiously using pronouns like “you” and “I” without revealing any specific identity information, expressed longing for Eileen. It chided her for still being upset and not returning ho, emphasizing repeatedly that they wouldn’t force her into any marriage compromise. The letter ended with a plea for Eileen to return ho soon, preferably before the Holy the Day of Descent.
The letter brought tears to Eileen’s eyes, and it took her a long ti to compose herself before she dared to rejoin the banquet.
“Miss, we have indeed been away from ho for a long ti. It’s ti to go back for a visit,” Leah said after reading the letter, urging Eileen.
After hearing this, Eileen felt a wave of guilt. Leah had accompanied her in unfamiliar lands for nearly two years without any complaints, and Leah had her own family too.
Finally, Eileen wiped the tears from her eyes, her longing for her family overcoming everything else. She held her guard’s hand and said, “You’re right, Leah, it’s ti for us to go ho.”
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