The Bayztrot house's banquet thus begun in the gardens in front of the main mansion.
There was a very scenic fountain here. Not only was it very magnificently decorated, the water sprouting from it is also no ordinary water, but rather instead spring water from a magic spring. The moment it's sprayed into the air, it would shine with the hues of magic power, giving it an entrancing visual effect.
The plants in the garden were all extremely professionally trimmed. Not only does every single one fully display their own unique artistic value, there's even a mysterious fragrance in the air, making everyone who smells it relaxed and comforted.
Add in the fact that the stone path set in the garden was polished to a shine, the nobles who were just welcomed in were all stunned by the sheer beauty before them, and they all gasped one after another at the sight.
"S-so this is the side residence of the Hero who founded our nation?"
"No, that's not right though. I remember this place being quite magnificent, but it wasn't this beautiful."
"Could it be that Viscount Bayztrot had personally remodeled it?"
"Impossible. It should cost over ten thousand gold to get it to this state, and even then, it's unknown whether or not one would be able to find a master architect with such skills. If such a master really did exist, then they should have become famous within the Capital a long time ago."
"Then just how is this possible?"
The nobles were all shocked and awed.
Even Lucy was quite surprised at the scenery here. She had asked Shien about it more than once.
"Just how did you remodel this? Even though it was obviously not like this before!"
Lucy continuously asked Shien over and over right next to him. That unguarded closeness that she was displaying aroused another round of jealousy in the men around them/
Shien didn't bother hiding it either.
"It's because I have an amazing maid."
Shien was completely telling the truth.
All this was something that Lasha came up with and realized on her won. Even the magic spring water in the fountain was something that she bought from who knows where. It's operation is therefore basically burning money by the second, making Shien's heart ache just looking at it.
However, Shien didn't plan on questioning Lasha about it.
After all, it was him who told her to make it as amazing as possible. Since Lasha was able to achieve that to this degree, Shien at the very least has no room to complain.
After all, after this night, this particular banquet will be talked about for some time. It would be a great booster for Shien reputation, so Shien doesn't have any reason to say anything on that front.
Besides, even if Shien wanted to say something to Lasha, it's not like Lasha is actually here.
Given that all those who have come are royalty or nobility, if Lasha, who looks identical to Leisha, were to appear, then it would definitely end up blowing up the entire avenue. Therefore, she was only responsible for the preparation of the banquet. The moment the banquet actually started, all the service work were then all left to the other maids and servants. Lasha herself had disappeared off to who knows where, becoming completely unreachable.
Of course, Lucy who didn't know any of this was just curious about the maid that Shien had spoken of. Her eyes were scanning everywhere in the banquet avenue.
At this point, white tables were set up in every corner of the garden in an orderly fashion. They were placed to invoke a great sense of beauty, capturing the eyes of any who saw them.
The various food laid out on those tables were still giving off steam and delicious scents. All the nobles who detected the smell practically lit up with interest. Everyone who came, be they here sincerely or with impure motives, were all drawn to them. Then, after trying a few bites, they completely stopped.
"This… Isn't this way to delicious!?"
"This deliciousness should be something that only exists in the divine realm!"
"What kind of master chef managed to make such food?"
"Compared to this, the food made my own house's head chef is practically garbage!"
"Never mind our own chefs, I don't think even the royal chefs from the palace has such skills!"
"Just who made this?"
The nobles were all unceasingly praising the food in shock. Even Ancil and Lia were showing their surprise. Even the stiff faced Aldia ended up reacting after trying a bite, which just goes to show just how delicious those dishes were.
"It really is just too delicious. Lord Bayztrot, would it be possible for you to introduce me to the chef?"
Ancil even ended up saying something like that to Shien. It just goes to show just how good the food was.
If it was anyone else, they may try to draw the King's attention via their chef's skills. Being able to have the opportunity to introduce someone to the King would probably be something that would make them overjoyed.
Unfortunately, these dishes all came from that invincible big sis. If she really were to show up, then the King's joyful face would probably end up freezing on the spot.
Thus, Shien could only lie and claim that the person in question wasn't a chef, but a wanderer that he knew. That the person in question just happened to pass by the Capital and was asked by Shien to make the food for this banquet, and that said chef had already left the Capital by now.
Ancil found that quite regretful. Even Lia showed a troubled expression at the idea that she won't be able to taste such deliciousness anymore in the future. Even Aldia frowned imperceptibly, which made Shien all the more in awe of the maid.
Only Lucy didn't believe Shien's lie at all. She just stared at Shien with suspiciously.
After all, as far as she's concerned, a Shien who doesn't trick people isn't actually Shien. If even a single sentence of truth comes out of his mouth, then she would publicly chug a few glasses of poisonous wine on the spot.
Therefore, Lucy just gave Shien an angry glare before continuing to observe the entire banquet.
At this point, each and every noble were still all huddled around the white tables, quickly emptying out each and every plate of food laid out.
One maid after another moved back and forth carrying plates, working their hardest to support the continued progress of the banquet. At the same time, they also became a beautiful addition to the scene.
Even Lucy was drawn to taking a few extra glances at those pretty maids.
At a more careful look, not a single one of those maids can be considered ugly. All of them are above the standard. They'll all either beautiful or cute, making quite a few young noblemen take more than a few extra glances at them.
If not for the setting being what it is, making is so that those young nobles didn't dare to cause any troubles, they may have already started harassing those maids.
However, all of them are the maids of the Bayztrot house. In other words, Shien's maids.
When she had that thought, Lucy suddenly got really mad for some reason.
"Hiss…!"
Shien, who was just chatting with Ancil and Lia, suddenly felt something viciously pinch his waist, making him hiss is pain. When he turned to look, he was met with the upset looking Lucy who showed no signs of explaining.
"What are you doing?"
Shien asked, confused.
"Nothing."
Lucy smiled back in response, but her smile did not reach her eyes at all.
"Why did you pinch me if it's nothing then?"
Shien only got more confused.
"Can't I pinch you for no reason?"
Lucy however just said something like that like it's completely reasonable.
Shien's eyes twitched.
That brat. Did she forget that he has a bad temperament after his attitude toward her changed to spoiler her more often in the past few days?
If not for the fact that there's way too many people here, then Shien would definitely have properly taught her a lesson.
Yeah, a lesson where he rubs every single inch of her body.
Alright then. A gentleman's vengeance is not too late even after ten years after all. When the banquet is over, then he'll take advantage of the opportunity and grab her. After that, she really won't be allowed to go home tonight.
It's about time for him to bid farewell to his virginity in this world already anyways. It's not a bad idea to make that girl his first partner then.
Shien went ahead and marked Lucy in his mind a hundred times over.
Lucy of course also understood Shien quite well. When she spotted his unkindly gaze, her own heart tensed up.
Shit. Given that look in his eyes, he's definitely going to completely eat her up.
Maybe she shouldn't have offended him then?
She's done for. Given his capacity for holding a grudge, she's going to end up losing sooner or later.
Perhaps, then, she should avoid him for the time being and wait for him to calm down some?
But… The days without him are really boring though!
It looks like she's going to just have to cross that bridge when she gets to it. In the worst case, she'll just have to let him take advantage of her a little to minimize the sacrifices as much as possible.
Otherwise, given how that beast is looking at her like he's planning on eating her up, Lucy felt like she's going to end up pregnant before marriage and end up turning from the the pride of the royal family into the shame of the royal family.
The more Lucy thinks about it, the more she felt like this may really happen.
Her intuition is also very accurate as well. It's directly related to the blessing of the goddess of fate, making it the guidance of fate itself.
In other words… If she doesn't do something about it, then this may really end up happening!
S-she's going to have to find some time to try and properly make him happy with her then…
Just as both Shien and Lucy were planning certain things in secret, a person suddenly charged in while in a panic.
"Y-your majesty!"
That person seemed to be a courtier from the palace. His position was not common by any means, yet he was now huffing and gasping for air with a completely panicked expression on his face, thus drawing a lot of attention.
"What is it?"
Ancil frowned and spoke in a dissatisfied tone.
It can't be helped. For a courtier of the palace to act so discomposed, it was rather improper, so Ancil was obviously dissatisfied with him.
However, this normally capable courtier instead didn't even notice now. He just hurriedly reported to Ancil in a panic.
"We… We just received the news. T-That personage of the demon world had just arrived at the Capital!"
The courtier's words made everyone pause for a moment.
"That personage of the demon world?" Ancil had paused as well before his frown deepened in confusion, "Which personage? Just who could it be to make you this panicked?"
In response, the courtier just smiled bitterly. Just as he was about to continue speaking, a peal of laughter rang out.
"It looks like this one does not need to send a message ahead after all. This what it means by arriving at just the right time, right?"
A voice clearly made itself known within the hall, echoing throughout the room.
And following that voice, the air seemed to have frozen, weighing down on all present.
"————!"
All the nobles present shook.
"…!?"
Lucy, Ancil, Lia, Aldia and Charl all froze before suddenly turning toward the entrance.
Even Shien reacted with surprise.
It was because his detection skills didn't give him the slightest reaction. Plus, it was like all the warning, alarm, and detection systems within the Bayztrot home had lost all effect, none of them doing a thing.
In such a situation, one person, with a group of demons following her, suddenly showed up at the scene of the banquet.
She instantly stole the gazes of everyone present.
…
"Eh?"
At the same moment, Airi, who had been snoring away in her own room suddenly snapped wide awake and got up in a panic.
"W-why is she here?"
Airi was extremely alarmed. In a rare display, she looked like she didn't know what to do at all.
"Did she come here because of Shien?"
Airi immediately thought of that possibility.
Thus, Airi hesitated for a moment before letting out a sigh. Then, she spread out her dragon wings and flew on out.
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