Chapter 138: Celebration Part 1
The carriage rolled through the gates of Oriel Estate just as the last traces of sunlight disappeared beyond the western hills.
Unlike the previous evening, the roads leading into the estate no longer felt unfamiliar. Electric lamps already illuminated both sides of the avenue, casting a warm white glow across the neatly maintained gardens, fountains, and rows of trees lining the boulevard. The lights reflected faintly against the carriage windows, making the entire community appear almost peaceful beneath the evening sky.
Ernest leaned back against the seat and allowed himself a long breath.
For the first time in what felt like months, there was nothing left to negotiate.
The agreement had been signed. Now came the difficult part.Building it.
Fortunately...That would begin tomorrow.
Tonight belonged to someone else.
Arthur guided the horses up the circular driveway before the manor and gently pulled the reins.
The carriage slowed before stopping exactly beneath the covered entrance.
Before Arthur could climb down, the front doors had already opened.
Roland Vance descended the steps with his usual calm posture, although tonight there was something different about the steward’s expression.
He was smiling.
Not the restrained professional smile Ernest had grown accustomed to over the past several years.
A genuine one.
The carriage door opened.
"Welcome home, Master Ernest."
Ernest stepped onto the stone pavement.
"Good evening, Roland."
The steward accepted his coat before bowing respectfully.
"And... congratulations."
Ernest blinked.
"...You already know?"
Roland almost looked amused.
"Sir..."
He gestured toward the brightly lit estate surrounding them.
"Half of Oriel knows."
Ernest laughed.
"Already?"
"The palace messenger arrived nearly two hours ago."
That explained everything.
News traveled remarkably quickly whenever it involved the Crown.
Especially when the Crown intended to spend six billion riels.
Roland continued walking beside him as they climbed the broad staircase.
"The servants have spent most of the afternoon discussing nothing else."
"I’m afraid to ask."
"You’ve become considerably more famous than you were this morning."
"I was hoping to avoid that."
"I’m afraid that opportunity has passed."
Ernest shook his head with a quiet chuckle.
"I suspected as much."
The heavy wooden doors opened before them.
Warm air greeted him immediately, carrying with it the unmistakable aroma of roasted meat, fresh bread, herbs, butter, and something sweet drifting from the kitchens.
His stomach answered before his mind did.
Apparently he had been too occupied at the palace to notice how hungry he had become.
Roland noticed the expression.
"Lady Anna anticipated that."
"I should have guessed."
"She instructed the kitchen staff to begin cooking before noon."
Ernest smiled.
"Mother has excellent timing."
"She said that after negotiating with ministers all day, you would require proper food rather than paperwork."
"She’s absolutely correct."
The steward led him through the entrance hall.
Unlike most evenings, the manor seemed unusually lively.
Servants moved between corridors carrying polished silver trays and additional table settings. Fresh flowers decorated the entrance, while candles still burned beside the electric wall lamps simply because Anna thought the combination looked beautiful.
Electricity had never completely replaced tradition.
Instead...
The two complemented one another.
They reached the dining room doors.
Before Roland could announce his arrival, laughter drifted from inside.
A familiar laugh.
Hollen.
Ernest raised an eyebrow.
"He’s here already?"
Roland nodded.
"He arrived shortly after the palace messenger."
"I suppose congratulations spread quickly."
"The message merely stated that Your Majesty approved the reconstruction authority."
Roland smiled again.
"The rest... everyone guessed."
The steward opened both doors.
Conversation stopped almost immediately.
Anna stood first.
"There he is."
Her face brightened with the same warmth Ernest had seen since childhood.
"My son."
She crossed the room without hesitation and embraced him before he could even speak.
"I’m proud of you."
The words were simple.
But somehow they carried more weight than the king’s congratulations earlier that afternoon.
Ernest hugged her gently.
"Thank you, Mother."
She stepped back, studying him carefully.
"You look exhausted."
"I negotiated with six ministers."
"I’ll repeat myself."
That earned laughter around the room.
Victor rose next.
Unlike Anna, he simply placed one broad hand against Ernest’s shoulder.
"You did well."
Coming from his father...
That was practically a speech.
Ernest smiled.
"Thank you, Father."
Victor nodded once.
"I heard the kingdom just handed you enough work to keep you occupied for the next five years."
"Probably longer."
"I thought so."
Hollen finally stood.
He folded both arms before pretending to study Ernest seriously.
"So."
"So?"
"I leave you alone for one afternoon."
Ernest already recognized that tone.
"And?"
"You return having convinced the king to spend six billion riels."
"I may have made a presentation."
"A presentation."
Hollen laughed loudly.
"When you first asked me for eighteen thousand riels a month, I thought you were ambitious."
He shook his head.
"I had absolutely no idea."
Everyone laughed.
Anna looked between the two of them.
"I’ve heard this story before."
Victor smiled.
"So have I."
"But I still enjoy hearing it."
Hollen pointed directly toward Ernest.
"You know what he told me?"
Anna looked curious.
"What?"
"He walked into my office with all the confidence in the world and demanded eighteen thousand riels every month."
Anna’s eyes widened.
"You demanded?"
"I negotiated," Ernest corrected.
"You demanded."
"I presented reasonable terms."
"You nearly gave me a heart attack."
Victor burst into laughter.
"I wish I’d seen that."
"You would’ve enjoyed it."
Anna looked toward Ernest with mock disbelief.
"You really did that?"
"I thought he was going to throw me out."
Hollen nodded immediately.
"I considered it."
"You still hired me."
"The greatest financial decision I’ve ever made."
The room erupted into laughter again.
Even Roland, standing quietly near the entrance, struggled to maintain his usual professional composure.
Anna finally motioned toward the dining table.
"Enough talking."
She pointed toward the enormous spread waiting in the center.
"I refused to let tonight become another business meeting."
Only then did Ernest truly notice the effort she had gone through.
The table was completely full.
Roasted lamb.
Herb-crusted chicken.
Fresh river fish.
Roasted vegetables.
Creamy potato dishes.
Several varieties of bread.
Soup and fruit.
Fresh pastries waiting near the end.
Even a bottle of imported wine rested beside Victor’s seat, reserved only for the most important occasions.
Ernest looked toward his mother.
"This is enough food for an army."
Anna smiled proudly.
"No."
She looked around the table.
"This is enough food for a family."
Those words settled warmly over the room.
Not one person mentioned billion-riel contracts.
Not one person spoke about government ministries.
Not one person discussed infrastructure.
For just a little while...
Ernest wasn’t the kingdom’s chief engineer.
He wasn’t the founder of Teucher Industrial Group.
He wasn’t the man responsible for rebuilding Helmarte.
He was simply a son returning home after a long day, surrounded by the people who had stood beside him long before kings learned his name.
Roland stepped forward and pulled Ernest’s chair back.
"Dinner is served, Master Ernest."
Ernest looked around the table before taking his seat.
"You know..."
Everyone looked toward him.
"I think this is exactly what I needed."
Anna smiled knowingly.
"I was counting on that."
As servants began serving the first course and conversation gradually shifted toward lighter topics, Ernest quietly realized something that had escaped him during the excitement of the past several years.
Success meant very little if there was no one waiting to celebrate it with you.
And tonight...He was surrounded by exactly those people.