Dream Life

The night of January 23rd.

After finishing his training in the exercise area and returning to Ezarrington Castle, he perspired in the bathroom and headed to a dinner party hosted by the Duke of Alexis Ezarrington.

Viscount Ignacious Radford, who has been with us so far, has no face to face after his training, as he has a report to his lord, the Marquis Clement Seawell.

For that reason, I was unable to ask Lord Etherlington and Lord Seawell why they were here and what they were after.

My fathers have visited the village of Rasmore before and are not very vigilant towards the Duke of Ezarrington either, due to the fact that Marquis Seawell, whose heart is known, is with them. That's why I'm giving my father a warning.

"Be careful when talking to the Duke. Something could be happening in the Imperial City and we could be headed here."

What worries me is that things are changing dramatically.

If things like changes occur in the power relationship between the Crown Prince and the Leopold Prince, such as Prince Leopold's major failures in the war in Lukes, or if the commercial guild that is the Crown Prince has hit something, making poor promises without knowing the information can be detrimental to the Lockhart family.

"Aren't you thinking too much? At least I think I can trust Lord Seawell."

"I think so, too. His Excellency the Marquis Seawell is close to my father-in-law, His Excellency the Raswell Borderline Uncle. Isn't it too much to doubt that?"

That's how my father and brother claim to be overthinking.

But I still wasn't going to change my mind.

"I don't think it's a problem if it's just Lord Seawell. Because there is something about seawell wine. But Lord Ezarrington should be under the direction of His Excellency the Prime Minister. In other words, it is possible that only the interests of the Empire can be considered. I wonder if it would be dangerous, at least not after we have gathered and inquisitively gathered our own information"

That's what I'm saying, but I wasn't even going to trust Marquis Seawell if I didn't take the back.

He will be guided to the great hall of the castle, but there are few attendees for dinner at the Duke's. On the Lockhart side are my father and mother, my brother and his wife, me and the four Liddies, and the twelve: Theophilus, Seraphine and Sophia. Luna is with the samurai Angies, and Dan is acting differently because he treats them like escorts.

The Duke and his wife and their midteenage daughters on the other side of the Duke of Ezarrington. He was furthermore the Marquis of Seawell and Viscount Rutherford, and eight of the Duchess' ministerial-like aristocratic couple.

There are several other guard knights and servants, but I feel too small for the Duke's supper. I don't know what size the Duke's regular supper is.

"Let's introduce ourselves first," the Duke begins introducing the attendees.

"It's my wife, Mercedes," she says, looking at the lady, about forty, next door to her left, and the lady gracefully stands up and gives her a gentle thank you. She is an elegant woman with chestnut hair, slightly plump shape and a gentle grin. The Duke should have two side rooms, but only the main room is present this time.

This will be followed by an introduction of the two daughters.

They are both full-room daughters, one called Laurencia, a beautiful seventeen-year-old girl with pale eyes conceded by the Duke. He rolls his rich blonde hair vertically and feels a provocative gaze as to whether it is a victory. The idea that a student from the Higher Academy in Imperial Capital “sounds like he's building a faction or something” came to my mind, and I couldn't help but notice a smile.

My other daughter was called Primrose, a beautiful girl who felt a lot like her mother. She is fifteen years old and attends the same academy as her sister.

When I finish introducing my family, I introduce an unfamiliar nobleman.

"This man is Count Adolphe Rednapp and his wife Therese, who serve as our house slayer. He is the man I trust most, and also my brother-in-law"

Count Rednapp, in his mid-forties at his age, has glossy silver hair and long, thick chest plates, often burned in the day. I can't imagine being a housekeeper, a position that brings together a civilian from that appearance.

"Adolph is acting Legion Leader for the Fourth Legion, and he keeps the Legion while I pack it in the Imperial Capital. Well, I often use that as an excuse to be in the practice area without a paperwork ruling."

You noticed our discomfort, the Duke added with a laugh.

"I want you to listen to what Your Excellency has to say in half. Your Eminence is pushing the papers you have to decide on, and you're just making fun of the poor minister buried in them."

Shoulders wide with sad eyes.

"You're joking too much, Adolph. Guests are surprised."

When Lord Ezarrington gave the look of being stunned, Uncle Rednap said, "Hahaha!" She laughed out loud.

"Excuse me! That's a joke. Sorry, sorry."

I felt it was too overprivileged for the head minister of the prestigious Duke of Ezarrington family.

(It's called Lord Etherlington, it's called Uncle Rednap, and I don't think he's hanging from a play. Well, maybe it just looks that way because I'm on guard, but even if a civilian who isn't here is good, the top two personalities should always come out to run the organization. According to prior information, the Duke of Ezarrington has prospered enough to contend for one or two in the Empire as well. It shouldn't just be a brain muscle......)

With that in mind, the introduction of the Lockhart family side begins.

My father was nervous about the bees.

"Now, let me introduce you to the people of my Lockhart family."

"You can make it a little easier, Sir Masaias."

That's what the Duke tells me, but I can't break my father's nerves.

I'm so nervous from my point of view, but my father's reaction is legitimate.

The current title is nothing but a knight's lord who is only famous for his aristocracy, and he cannot even think of speaking straight away to an elder who would otherwise hit the emperor's cousin. In these cases, it is common for those with at least a baron or higher title to respond, and for knights to refrain behind and answer only immediately if questioned.

Even though that's perplexing to be invited as the guest of honor for dinner, and you're told to cheer at ease, there's no way you can handle it.

This dinner with Lord Ezarrington is unusual.

No matter how many martial arts medals you mention, a knight in the first place will never be invited to dinner at the Duke's house as your guest of honor. Even if invited, it would be to the extent of being at the end of a big dinner party with dozens of attendees.

(You can't read Lord Etherlington's thoughts. Even if we take in the Lockhart family, we ignore the custom too much. Are you going to make my father excessively nervous and misjudge him?

I feel sorry for my father, but there's nothing I can do. In the meantime, the introduction of the Lockhart family side goes on as well.

"... is my son Rodrick and my wife Rosalind."

My brother and sister-in-law are introduced. My brother greets me in a nervous but firm tone, and Rosalie in a dress answers gracefully in a familiar way.

"You've become more and more beautiful, Lord Rosalind. But Lord Hubert used to let it go."

"Thank you. Dear Duke, but my father was very pleased. He said he had a lord who would take over me, the male victor. Hohoho."

Exactly. The senior nobleman's maid is used to it. I can't imagine it from what I normally look like riding a horse and waving a sword.

"This is my second son Zacharias and his wife Lydiane, Beatrice. Next door is my fiancé, Melissa Marron, Sharon Jakes."

At the end of the words of my father's introduction, we stood together.

"I'm Zacharias Lockhart. My wife and all the countrymen, so forgive me for my disrespect."

That's what I say and I bow my head.

"Sir is that famous Lord Zacharias! I've heard rumors!

Uncle Rednap's loud voice sounds. So much so that Therese, his wife next door, whispered, "You, valve the place."

"Rumors come with tails, so I don't think you should worry too much"

Laurencia started talking before Uncle Rednap could answer that.

"Oh, I've heard so much about you, too. He said he was an English talent who graduated from the Tilia School of Magic in chief. Anything called one genius a thousand years."

The content is just telling the facts, but it sounded like a slightly risky way of saying it.

"We did graduate as chief, but genius is overrated. I have always thought that I still have a lot to learn."

I answer that, but Laurencia stayed in a provocative gaze.

"Oh, really? I wanted you to teach me a lot of things at the Academy of Higher Studies."

In that way the Duke of Ezarrington said, "Laurencia, I'm still in the middle of introducing you. Don't be shy," cautions sharply.

"Excuse me," she says, bowing her head small, but the challenging atmosphere hasn't changed.

I have heard that the Imperial Academy of Higher Studies is confrontational towards the Tilia School of Magic.

(Maybe you have a rival heart. Maybe she's the chief...... it's a hassle......)

I decided to stay out of Laurencia as much as possible.

Liddy and Beatrice greet each other, but they're not more nervous than they thought because they're hooked up for a cup before they get here.

And Mel and Sharon greet each other in the same way in nature. By the way, these two aren't drinking. We were discussing something beforehand, but I haven't heard what we talked about.

At the end of the introduction to Theo, Sella and Sophia, the glass is handed out.

The glass was made of glass decorated with gold and filled with beautiful rosé wine. By the way, it's orange citrus juice for Theo and the others.

"It's inferior to the wines of the Seawell family, but it's the best in our territory," he prefaced.

"Cheers to His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire," he says and raises his glass.

We also chanted, "Here's to Your Majesty and the Empire," and dinner began.

Rosé wine is elegant with a hint of sweetness, and as a rosé it was the best I've ever had.

(Is there a famous place for grapes? There were a lot of wheat fields around here so I guess it's somewhere else...)

With that in mind, the Dukes' gaze was focused on me.

I'd like to hear what Sir Sakagami has to say about you.

That's what Lord Ezarrington has said with a wicked childish grin.

I have no choice but to share my thoughts.

"It's the most delicious wine I've ever had in Rosé. Especially the balance between sweetness and grape aromas is exquisite. I think it will taste even better if it cools down a little now, but I was wondering if it would be okay to enjoy the fragrance at this temperature."

The Duke gives a whispering instruction to the butler to refrain behind him after looking a little remorseful for some reason.

A wine cooler is then immediately available and a ceramic bottle is removed.

"I made a bet with Lord Clement. I dare you to keep the temperature a little higher, a bet on what the lord will say. Will Sir only say a compliment, or an improvement? Lord Clement affirmed that there would be no compromise on booze, whether the opponent was the Duke or not. I mean, I lost."

Apparently you tried to relax the tension.

When I finished with just a compliment, I might have decided I was nervous or afraid of the Duke's authority and struck my next hand at the need to change the atmosphere.

"I disagreed. You don't have to drink it tastelessly. I think we should drink at our best."

Marquis Seawell excuses herself with a grin.

"Your Excellency the Marquis is right. I think it's blasphemy to not drink this much wine at its best."

When I say that, Lord Ezarrington and Uncle Rednap laugh out loud.

"Exactly the son of a liquor god! I didn't think I'd get an opinion on this. Hahaha!"

"Absolutely. But it just felt right to me, can't this be it?

Thinking about how to answer it, Viscount Radford helped me.

"Perhaps the next cup is too cold. You'd better get Lord Zacharias to adjust."

I don't know how much time you're cooling, but I guess what Viscount Radford affirms is that you're cooling for a long time.

But you can't just stand up on your own in a place like this.

When I was in trouble, the Duke said, "Will you adjust? I want to try it at my best, too," he says.

I have no choice but to get up and go to the service and check the temperature.

It was a ceramic bottle and I don't know what temperature it was inside, so when I was allowed to do the tasting it was too cold, as the Viscount put it. I can barely feel the sweetness.

"I can't do this. You've been cooling down for over an hour," he whines to himself by accident.

And he asked permission, "May I use magic?"

It is possible that using magic on your own in front of you may seem like you are planning an assassination, so you always need permission in this kind of setting. The most magical thing I've ever done at a dinner party, so it's not decided as a table manner.

I think this rosé wine tastes good about ten degrees, and the magic of the pseudo-perche effect only slightly increases the temperature.

There is a fireplace in this room, but the high ceilings and the midwinter nights mean it's not very warm. At room temperature, it would be about fifteen to twenty degrees.

At this room temperature, if you adjust it to be about eight degrees when you pour it into the glass, it should be just the right temperature by the time it gets to everyone.

Check the temperature again, nod to service, then return to your seat.

"No, you really use magic for booze," the Duke says, "but Viscount Radford follows on my behalf.

"This is the kind of magic that you can use to help people."

"You're really close," he says, "but the glass is placed at that time.

Lord Ezarrington slowly puts his mouth on the glass. I opened my eyes wide after a sip.

"I didn't know it would change this much..." he exclaimed, and included it in his mouth again as it was.

"It's a really good wine."

The Duchess is also smiling satisfactorily.

Marquis Seawell, Lord Rednapp and the others were nodding equally loudly, and the temperature adjustment seemed to have worked.

"Does the Tilia School of Magic even teach you about alcohol?

Laurencia asked me that. Earlier provocative feelings have disappeared and seem to really want to know.

I said no with a bitter smile,

"The college doesn't teach this sort of thing"

"So how? I hear even more."

"I learned in many ways. I've learned something from books, and some from tavern owners. After you understand the basics, you can try everything yourself."

When the whole thing thrived on the subject of wine, the dishes began to line up.