Chapter 36: Miss of the Salmon Family
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The tailored tailcoat, wavy hairstyle, and the reluctantly applied bright powder on his face made Liszt, fresh out of the dressing room, dazzling to behold.
“Perfect!”
Sir ioubao patted Liszt on the shoulder, “You will be the center of attention for all the ladies at the ball tonight.”
“I have no such intention, perhaps in a few years I will be very keen, but for now, sorry cousin, I have no plans to get to know any noble ladies.”
“Words spoken against one’s true feelings, those I will not believe. Rest assured, Liszt, the best thing in life is to et the right person at the right ti, don’t just leave it to fate, you have to seize the opportunity.”
“Is that why you, my cousin, are still unmarried after all these years?”
“Don’t shift the subject to ; we are talking about you now.”
Liszt shook his cuffs. Sir ioubao was rather good to him, and he actually wanted to tell his cousin that instead of chasing the Sapphire Duke’s socialite daughter with the possibility of elevating the Long Taro Family by replacing old with new, it would be better to sincerely find a noblewoman to marry.
But the words reached his lips and he held them back.
This situation surely involved the will of the Marquis—the Long Taro Family prided itself on its astuteness; perhaps they aid to move further up the social ladder. Once soone married the Sapphire Duke’s daughter, their family’s status would be unbreakable.
He was rely a Baron from a small town in the country and should not harbor the ambitions of a Marquis while eating coarse bread.
After getting all dressed up, he followed Sir ioubao to the hall where the ball was to take place. Nobles were arriving in twos and threes, chatting leisurely in the hall and enjoying the beverages prepared by the servants.
“Sir ioubao, you finally deign to show up?” a noble with a wine glass in hand approached.
“There’s no rush, the ball hasn’t started yet, Matil.”
Matil glanced at Liszt, “And who is this?”
“My cousin, his father is Coral Island’s Count.”
“Oh, from the Tulip Family, nice to et you for the first ti, I am Matil Nustinger.”
“Liszt Tulip.” Liszt kept a polite smile but wasn’t very enthusiastic. He wasn’t a noble keen on socializing and was at the ball rather reluctantly.
But then, he had no choice but to endure, and, with Sir ioubao’s introductions, got acquainted with the young nobles from Red Crab Island. They were basically followers of the Long Taro Family—nobles enfeoffed by the Marquis and utterly loyal to him.
One interesting aspect of the nobility system was,
The nobles enfeoffed by the King were the King’s vassals, and the lesser nobles enfeoffed by a noble were that noble’s vassals. However, the lesser nobles were not the King’s vassals, nor did they have to be loyal to the King. For example, Earl William Lee of Coral Island was a noble conferred by the King and a vassal of the King, but Liszt was not. He only needed to be loyal to his own father.
And after a century when his father passed away, he would have to be loyal to his brother, Levis.
“Have you taken a fancy to any pretty young lady? If so, let know, and I can be your matchmaker. Don’t hold back.” After greeting a round of guests, Sir ioubao returned to Liszt’s side, “Look at your brother; he has completely adapted to the ball’s scene and has already chard the daughters of three Viscounts.”
Following his gaze, one could see the average-looking Levis, who had said sothing to make a young lady burst into laughter.
“And your sister, she’s being courted as well.”
Over by Li Vera, two male nobles were laughing and chatting with her—she wasn’t very beautiful, but with a little inquiry, it would beco clear that Li Vera held a Baronetcy, which to those Honored Knights or nobles unable to inherit their family’s title was a pri marriage prospect.
Once married, they could go on enjoying noble status.
Liszt lifted his cup of fruit wine and clinked it with Sir ioubao’s, “Wishing them all the happiness, and as for , cousin, you really needn’t worry.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Alright, but I will still keep an eye out for a suitable young lady for you.”
“There’s no need for that,” Liszt said speechlessly. His cousin was overdoing it. Was he really so keen on playing matchmaker?
However, Sir ioubao shrugged slightly and whispered to him, “Actually, this is Grandfather’s wish. He knows that you’re not highly regarded in the Tulip Family and hopes you can co to Red Crab Island. Besides, I need a helping hand too. The Long Taro Family’s numbers aren’t flourishing; I have no siblings, you know. I really hope you all can co.”
Liszt felt that Sir ioubao was speaking earnestly.
By his conversion of asurent units, Coral Island was roughly the area of a prefectural city, about ten thousand square kiloters.
Red Crab Island was ten tis larger than Coral Island, around one hundred thousand square kiloters.
This area was comparable to provinces like Jiangsu and Zhejiang. With no roads and transportation relying on horse-drawn carriages, the larger the area, the harder it was to manage. Moreover, with nobles operating in a decentralized manner, an increase in small nobility could lead to more chaotic territorial managent and even destabilize the ruling family’s foundation.
After pondering, to say he wasn’t tempted would be untrue; Fresh Flower Town really had little developnt value.
Moving to Red Crab Island for developnt, the Long Taro Family would at least have to offer him a higher status—Viscount, giving him a fief comprising a small town.
Yet, to achieve this goal through marriage, Liszt was resistant, “Let nature take its course, cousin. If there’s soone I like, I won’t miss out, but don’t force if there isn’t.”
“Alright.”
As nightfall descended, the dance began.
Soft piano music flowed from the fingertips of a pianist, creating a suitable atmosphere for the event.
As the host, Sir ioubao danced the first number with the daughter of a viscount, then stepped aside to signal everyone to freely choose their dance partners.
Liszt sat in a corner, watching young n and won dance gracefully in the center of the ballroom.
He made no move.
He had already observed all the female attendees—tall, short, plump, slim, beautiful, and plain—and had ford an impression of each, but sadly, none caught his fancy. Even though a few mature won fit his aesthetic standards, their age was a barrier—he was, after all, only sixteen.
At this age, many nobles already began to indulge in pleasures.
But it was not yet the age for marriage. The ti when n turned twenty and won eighteen was the restless season for wedlock.
His gaze wandered over the crowd, resting nowhere in particular. Then, after a mont, an invisible mist began to erge, coalescing into twisted Serpent Script.
“Task: Fresh and tender alfalfa, not only loved by cows but also by horses, is fundantal for setting up a horse field and is the first step in building achievents. Please arrange Cordyceps for the Alfalfa Bug. Reward: Three wild corn stalks.”
The task had been present for several days, and he was slightly anxious.
“After several days’ delay, the alfalfa should have grown by now. I can probably arrange it for the Alfalfa Bug when I get back Wild corn, I wonder what it looks like. Its yield should at least be several tis more than that of wheat.”
While he pondered the task,
An oriole-like pleasant voice suddenly reached his ears, “Hi, Liszt, may I sit here?”
The mist disappeared abruptly.
Liszt ca back to his senses to see a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl who looked sowhat like Mary Crawley, the Earl’s oldest daughter from “Downton Abbey.” Wavy flaxen hair, a pointed nose, deep-set eyes, and thin lips that seed to always carry a smile.
Quite striking, more than an eight out of ten.
Sir ioubao had introduced her to him before; she was the youngest daughter of a viscount, nad Asina Salmon, and her family was famous for their Salmon.
Liszt showed a gentle smile and extended his hand to gesture, “Lovely Miss, any seat would welco you.”
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