Dream Life

The night of January 23rd.

He attends a dinner party hosted by the Duke of Alexis Ezarrington, whose call with the next Prime Minister is high. The Lockhart family all took their seats, including my fiancées Mel and Sharon, and the Duke of Ezarrington's side told the Dukes and two courtiers, the Counts of Rednap, the housekeepers, and eight Marquis Seawell and Viscount Radford.

After the toast, the dishes begin to line up immediately, but just as the lords of the trading cities serve dishes made from a variety of ingredients. And from every dish it is felt that a top cook used the best ingredients.

However, he was slightly uncomfortable. It was never uncomfortable, but I felt that the combination of food and wine was subtly different from normal.

"Sir Masaias, how is the dish today," the Duke tells his father.

"They are all incredibly delicious," he replies while wiping his sweat, "but I don't think my father enjoys cooking.

I will talk about cooking the same way to my mother and brother. It feels like it's best for both of us to make unusual comments.

"Does Zacharias have any idea?," he asked, grinning.

Apparently, there's another trick. Even so, I knew somehow, so I'm going to answer right away.

"Isn't this dish supervised by His Royal Highness Viscount Radford?

The Dukes of Ezarrington open their eyes to my answer.

"How did you know that? Ignacious, I don't know what you taught me."

"No. I did not see Lord Zacharias once until I came here," the Viscount replied with a cool face.

"I'm curious why. Why don't you tell me," Count Rednapp asks at a glance.

I'll explain why, with less bitter laughter.

"The fish dish, Muniel the Tongue Bilame (Saul), had a light red wine, and the main meat dish, roasted pork, had a slightly heavier white wine."

Uncle Rednap tilts his neck in my explanation.

"Yes, but I wonder if that's also a problem"

"Tongue billames are baked with more butter for the fine meaty ones, and I don't think it's a problem with red wine. Roasted pork will also be able to bring out the full flavour of a heavy type of white wine on fine fat…"

Everyone snorts at that explanation.

"… I don't know the details, but is it often offered in the opposite combination in Imperial Capital?"

"Sure, but I don't think that's all I can tell."

Now Lord Ezarrington is tilting his neck.

"It seemed satisfying that His Highness the Viscount had said nothing in this combination. Perhaps, but I was satisfied that it tasted the way I expected it to."

"I see! But I finally want Sir. Its observational eyes and its fearless boldness against us. I'd love for you to join my camp."

The Duke has suddenly scouted. I didn't expect to cut the story out so straightforward, so I'm stuck with the answer.

They ignore me in confusion and offer me conditions.

"To the extent possible for me, I will prepare any position" Post ". If you're an Imperial Army, how about a regimental chief and a regimental chief of staff for the Fourth Corps? If you're a magician, you're the magic master of the Duke of Ezarrington family, and if you're a civilian, you're the clerk of the city of Ezarrington. Of course, it could be an imperial government position."

All the posts I've presented were broken.

Regular army regimental commanders have a higher status than local knighthood commanders, and the Duke's Magic Master often becomes an educator for his successors, who will have a political say. In addition, the clerk is a substantial mayor who deposits the administration under his lord, none of whom is a status to be presented to a sixteen-year-old young man.

"I can't accept it because I'm not talented," he said categorically. The people on the Duke's side except Viscount Radford all look incredible.

"You mean shortages to this extent?" Uncle Rednap stares sharply, adding intimidation.

The atmosphere was clearly different from when we talked about wine. I guess you don't like the fact that I turned down your Lord's invitation.

The Count's intimidation was considerable and powerful enough that ordinary lower nobles could easily give in.

But I'm going through a battle with the King of the Undead. Compared to that overwhelming presence, there is no need to be afraid of intimidation that we know to be just a threat, and we can respond calmly without much effort.

"No. I just get overrated and frightened, but if a young man like me gets into such an important post, there will always be confusion in the organization. I don't think the wise Duke would want that at all. So I decided that they were trying me."

Although I answer calmly, I was hesitant to ask if this was okay.

It's not like there's any better way to say no to euphemisms. But to see Lord Etherlington react, I dared to say no in a straightforward way.

The hall is dominated by silence.

My father and brother were sweating cold in the air, and I felt that Liddy and the others were sipping solidly about what the consequences would be.

In that air, he said, "Hahaha!" The duke's lavish laughter echoed.

"Still, Sir is wise. I want it more and more!

Where the tensions between the fathers had slightly eased, the Duke again tightened his expression and began to speak to my father and brother, and to me.

"As you know, there are forces trying to add the lords to their own camp. If you were to ride cheap on my invitation, I was going to warn you sternly. I wonder if you know why."

The last question was for me.

"If you were to dazzle your status here, would you have thought that you would turn if you were offered a higher status? Even if it's a position that doesn't seem realistic, if it is, you would say," It's not an empty bill because it has great power in the future, even if it doesn't have that power right now. "

The Duke nods loudly when he answers that.

"Exactly. Lord Clement told me the Lockhart family was unwilling to belong to any faction, but the Empire City is a demon cave. I try to take it in using various manifolds. It is clear that you do not consider the future of the Empire if you are to sway at the level of the conditions I have presented. I thought if you were that kind of guy, you'd have to cut your strength in some way."

Cold things flow through your spine. And my throat rattled.

Lord Ezarrington told me that if I and the Lockhart family were to choose a faction with status or gold, I would destroy it politically. And he has that power. Unlike earlier Uncle Rednap intimidation, this time it was a threat that could become a reality.

"I'm not asking you to help me. But I want you to think carefully about what is the best choice for the Empire. That's all Lockhart has."

I'd say overrated, but there was a force not to let me say so.

(That's the next prime minister. Speaker Worgman and Raswell Border Uncle also thought he was awesome as a politician, but at different levels. I think I see why Master Ignacious is afraid of Lord Phyllobisher...)

My father hears the exchange now and answers it in a firm tone.

"We will try to meet your expectations"

The voice was not nervous about an earlier bee, but the natural appearance of an honest father.

"Mm-hmm. That would help. Sir has Zacharias on him. Listen to him and make the future of the Empire bright."

The Duke's expression at this time was sincere.

If I told you, I just reached out after showing off my strength, but the Lockhart family, including myself, made a good impression on the way I did it. My father and brother even felt trembling with emotion.

In such an atmosphere, the Marquis Seawell opened his mouth.

"Seriously, though, the food in the corner will get cold. Chief Supplier, get me the wine we have."

Saying so soothes the atmosphere on the ground.

As well as thanking Lord Seawell for his care, he felt once again that this man was also excellent as a politician.

If Lord Ezarrington keeps talking like that, we have to talk politics. In that case, there was a possibility that the good impression of the corner would be attributed to nothing. It was prevented by natural flow.

By order of Lord Seawell, the servants begin to hand out glasses of red wine.

"We've got a new drink for you this year. Neither I nor Ignacious have tasted it yet, it's a true first."

That's how I point the glass at the magic props of the lights.

The glass is a big shake I made, and the shape mimics Bordeaux's red wine.

"We were blessed with the weather last year. I was looking forward to seeing how well it was done."

That's what I said, including wine in my mouth.

Marquis Seawell nodded satisfactorily, "Quite well done," he muttered, asking Viscount Radford for his opinion.

"Let me hear your opinion. I think I'm doing great."

The Marquis Seawell also seems to have a glimpse into the taste of Viscount Radford.

"You did a good job, as your palace said. Aromatic black grape notes in the roughness. This should be turned for long-term aging"

I'll keep my mouth shut, too, listening to the Viscount's comments.

I have just finished fermentation and feel strongly the taste of carbonation and grape fruit juice, but feel a velvety tongue behind it.

(You're right, Master Ignacious. They should be aged in bottles if they calm down a little more in barrels. I hope you can split a little on your way home from Teito...)

Liddy and Beatrice snort satisfactorily beside me. Beatrice, a red-wine lover, whispered to me, "I'd like to drink something that's ripe fast."

I was asked for my opinion, too, but I say it's the same as the Viscount.

After I gave my thoughts, Marquis Seawell nodded contentedly. And I started telling a whole different story towards Lord Etherlington.

"But you didn't solicit Lord Alexis earlier. There's no way Zacharias is going to snort in that."

Lord Ezarrington said, "What do you mean?" and lean his neck. And he gave me a slightly provocative look.

"Do you think Lord Clement can make you snort?

Marquis Seawell grinned and nodded at the words, turning to me.

"If Sir wishes, let us give the Seawell family full powers over the production and sale of liquor. If you pay my Seawell family five percent of the sales, you can do whatever you want later. Will you be my minister on these terms?"

I lost my word on that suggestion.

Supporting the Seawell family should have been wine sales. Of course, certain taxes are levied on headcount taxes, harvests, etc., as a tax, but to a lesser extent than the Earl Territory, it is not a significant amount.

Leaving all the production and sale of wine to us is tantamount to saying that we will keep the fate of the Marquis.

Most importantly, this proposal makes me want to move my forefinger.

It is not only possible to produce Seawell wines, but also to make brandies and another alcoholic beverage, even with the authority to sell them. In other words, he said he would have a seat at the CEO of the world's best winemakers.

To be honest, my heart moved far more than Lord Ezarrington suggested. If it hadn't been for Luna, she would have snorted instantly.

"If I fail, the Seawell family will fall, are you sure?

He manages to speak only of it, but the Marquis nodded with a full grin, "Of course," he said.

"There is no way Sir would fail about booze. If we leave everything to it, it will bring us more than ten times as much income in ten years' time as it is now. Right, Ignacious."

Speaking to Viscount Radford, his face was laughing and he realized that this story was the Viscount's suggestion.

"It would be more than that. If we leave it up to sale, we can create a Seawell wine distribution network in major cities, rather than in Teito, and there is no doubt that the brand value will rise more than it does now. Plus there's the brandy thing. If Lord Zacharias had made his own brandy, the Dwarves would have changed the color of their eyes and bought it. It's harder to find the elements that fail."

I was flabbergasted by the conversation. Lord Ezarrington laughs out loud when he sees how it goes.

"Hahaha! Regrettably, this is Lord Clement's win too. My proposal has immediately turned down, but I see this proposal as heart-moving. If you want to get the son of a liquor god, you mean give him liquor? Hahahaha! This is delightful!

Everyone is caught laughing at the Duke's laughter and laughs out.

"So, what do you say? I was wondering if you could take my suggestion."

Lord Seawell asked with a laugh.

I'm going to answer that with a serious look.

"This is a fascinating, very fascinating proposal, but I will decline it"

The laughter disappears when I say no.

"Why? Can you tell me why you say no, hoping it's attractive"

My answer was settled.

"I have a distillery in the village of Rasmore. Still no satisfactory long-running liquor, artisans taking my name, and the Dwarves waiting for the" Zack Collection ”. I'm sorry for throwing them out here, and I'm not convinced myself."

Lord Seawell nodded heavily at my answer.

"I thought you'd say that. You're right about Ignatius."

That's what I see Viscount Radford.

"That distillery has endless possibilities. I thought that would be natural."

The Viscount said that with his face, and he glanced at me.

He feels that I have some kind of secret. It gave priority to friendship.

"Master Ignacious is right."

"Right. Unfortunately, I have no choice. If Ignacious and Zacharias are going to say it all together, I guess so."

Marquis Seawell is deeply sorry.

"It's an excessive word for a nongenius like me. If there's anything I can do about the Seawell brewery, I'll work with you whenever I can."

"Mm-hmm. With Sir's cooperation, our Seawell realm develops more and more. Regards."

Nodding with Lord Seawell, Uncle Rednap shudders.

"My lord also appreciated Sir, does it still have to be about booze?

That's what they said and I realized it again. To say that it is indeed a rude story to Lord Etherlington. But I do not want to make promises of political entanglement at this stage.

"Of course, we will cooperate as much as possible in winemaking in the territory of the Duke of Etherlington"

"Hahaha! Sir has no enemies. I tried to take him in, but he did a great job. Hahaha!"

Looks like Uncle Rednap was going to take a word from me.

After this, there was no talk of political entanglement, and the meeting proceeded in a soothing atmosphere.

The meeting ended and we talked about plans for tomorrow and beyond.

The Lockhart family is supposed to stay here in Etherlington one day tomorrow and head with the Marquis of Seawell to his territory the day after tomorrow. Since Viscount Radford is an angel, he will continue on his way to the Imperial City, where he will rendezvous at Seawell after completing his report.

"Tomorrow you should take a look at the city. Let Laurencia and Primrose guide you."

My father tried to say no because the Duke of Ezarrington talked about letting the two Duke's Ladies give him tourist guidance, which was frightening.

"No, you don't have to worry about it. We're both going for a ride. Right, Laurencia, Primrose?

Primrose nodded slightly at the query, and Laurencia replied, "Of course," with a slightly dissatisfied look on her face.

(You're getting into trouble... I can't really read the Duke's thoughts. I know you're going to circulate your friendship with the two warrants as a rumor, but nevertheless...)

I understand Lord Ezarrington is trying to protect me from the interference of Grand Duke Langton and Lord Ingolslop, but it's not in his interest. Conversely, the reputation of the ladies could be eroded, which can even be detrimental in terms of political marriage.

(If you are genuinely worried about the future of the Empire, you can forge a cooperative relationship... but you cannot hold hands together cheaply until you know what the Prime Minister thinks...)

I was alert to the Empire Chancellor, Lord Feelobisher, whom I have yet to see.

The Chancellor is a brilliant politician who is serious about the fate of the Empire, but he has the rudeness not to choose the means. I could not afford to trust Lord Ezarrington under that prime minister.