"Marquis Rosalyn Barba is coming."
The crowd's gazes turned to the main door. Our eyes, which had been enjoying the dance, also turned toward Marquis Rosalyn Barba. The man, whom I had only heard of by na but never clearly seen face-to-face, was now opening the door and entering.
"Whoa."
As soon as I saw him, I felt I understood what the coachman ant by 'the Northern temperant'. Marquis Rosalyn Barba was a man who seed to have brought the sternness and loftiness of the Northern Mountains with him. He was about two ters tall, and his gaunt face looked as if it were carved from stone, like a statue. His limbs were extrely long, making him stride about, and the people around him stared as if they were seeing an impossible living creature.
How had I missed such a conspicuous person? It must have been that Marquis Barba had arrived first on the first day, so we hadn't seen him. Marquis Barba swept his hand over his thick lips and scanned his surroundings. People flinched at the sight, as if a golem were about to offer a live sacrifice. Marquis Barba pushed through the people, ascended to his seat of honor at the far end, and sat there motionlessly.
As soon as he sat, people sward around him. Even the marquis's massive build seed to fade into the background as the crowd obscured him. Watching the boisterous crowd, I understood to myself, So this is why I didn't notice him.
"Marquis Barba. I am a rchant from the Trade City Esta..."
"The central figure of the slave trading business in the Eastern Region..."
Amidst the countless questions and desperate shouts of people trying to appeal to him, Marquis Barba sat with his eyes closed like a statue. It seed to be an annual event that happened whenever he ca to the ball; the other nobles standing a little distance away only watched him, not daring to speak further.
I, too, was watching Marquis Barba, intending to speak with him. I hadn't brought Robin today, so I had to greet him with Sieri. Sieri trembled, seeming uncomfortable with Marquis Barba's appearance even from afar. I held her hand tightly and said,
"Sieri. Don't worry. We're just going to talk."
"What if he misunderstands you, Lusius?"
It was highly probable that Marquis Barba's statent would be a bla based on fact, not a misunderstanding, but I didn't bother to bring that up. As long as Sieri thinks well of , that's enough, right?
The people who had been fervently appealing to him were giving up, exhausted by their own efforts. Only after the people had dispersed did Marquis Barba finally open his eyes and slowly drink the tea before him. His cauldron-lid-sized hand holding the teacup made him look like an adult playing house. As people moved away, I took Sieri's hand and stood up.
Seeing move, the crowd began to whisper again. Marquis Barba also turned his gaze toward . He was a man with skin as white as marble, just like Young Lady Rosalyn Eva. Rather than white, the word 'pale' like snow suited him better, and the traces of ti were etched deeply into his face.
Wrinkles as deep as the canyons of the Dragon Mountains were carved into his face. He sipped his tea, watching approach. I hadn't expected to draw this much attention, but it seed the crowd's curiosity grew as I got closer to Marquis Barba. Marquis Barba raised an eyebrow and looked at .
I sat in the chair opposite the marquis. Sieri carefully sat beside , and Marquis Barba maintained his silence, staring at . A casual glance showed he wasn't a particularly strong man, but the murderous intent in his eyes was no joke.
Na: Rosalyn Barba
Class: Royal Palace Minister of Finance
Level: 23
Stats
Strength: 34
Agility: 26
Intelligence: 68
Luck: 23
Traits
Overwhelm
Opponents with a lower level have their intelligence and agility halved.
Leadership Quality
Knight orders and soldiers under his command receive a 50% stat bonus.
It seed I could crush him just like the noble I t the other day if I smacked him once on the head. I briefly postured as if to do so, then lowered my hand. Seeing creates desire, they say. Just as one wants to possess an object upon seeing it, one wants to use power upon gaining it, and that was exactly what I was thinking.
"It's a pleasure to et you for the first ti, Marquis Rosalyn Barba."
For the first ti, Marquis Barba nodded at my greeting. He put down the teacup in his hand and stared at fixedly. He tilted his head and opened his mouth.
"I already made my statent in the letter."
Is it said that a civilized person is ruder than a barbarian because they have no fear of having their head split by an axe? Marquis Rosalyn Barba acted like a man who believed he would never die. I wanted to shatter that belief along with his arms and legs, but I decided to endure it just one more ti.
This wasn't my personal issue, but Robin's marriage issue. I intended to do my best within the limits of my patience.
"The content was so resolute that I was a little surprised while reading it. I would be grateful if you would reconsider just once."
"There is nothing more to discuss. How could I possibly give my granddaughter to a man like you?"
At those words, the surrounding nobles grew noisy. It seed they thought I was now trying to conquer a fat woman fetish. I shook my head and replied.
"Marquis Barba. Please be more precise with your words. My wife is right beside , yet you speak of giving Young Lady Rosalyn Yuba. I wish to arrange the marriage between my Knight Commander, Robin, and Young Lady Rosalyn Yuba."
"Saying it like that changes nothing. A knight is bound to resemble his master's disposition. You yourself must be aware that your amorous history and your record are not so clean, so how can you make such a request?"
Marquis Barba brought up my history with won. The implication was, what kind of decent man would a knight commander be, serving under a man who screws a rmaid, an elf, a man, and even a nun? I said,
"My Knight Commander, Robin, sincerely has feelings for Young Lady Rosalyn Yuba."
"You say that, but in the end, you just want to secure your own interests. All the beastly bastards who have approached my granddaughter until now have said the sa thing. 'Your granddaughter is so beautiful.' 'Your granddaughter is so, so charming.' Before Yuba, I married off my daughters, and I married off my granddaughters, but not a single one of them was made happy by their husbands."
"My knight commander is different from ; he is a very simple and innocent man. He may not possess the valor or strong determination you desire, Marquis Barba, but he is a man abundant in passion, enough to make Young Lady Rosalyn Yuba happy."
"Will you continue this conversation? I feel no substance in it. A young master from a prestigious family is the right fit for Yuba's groom. I intend to create the happiest married life for my granddaughter before I die."
"Then Robin is indeed the perfect match."
"This is endless... In that case, I shall..."
"Marquis Barba. Do you truly believe a rich, high-ranking noble's son would want to marry Young Lady Rosalyn Yuba out of love?"
Marquis Barba's eyes narrowed. He glanced around once, then lowered his voice and asked ,
"What do you an?"
"Literally what I said. How will you distinguish true love? If it can be proven with a single word of love, then Robin, too, can sing a serenade to Rosalyn Yuba anyti. I won't believe you would use money as a asure of love. Marquis Barba, won't you at least let Young Lady Rosalyn Yuba herself et Robin and decide? You must have experienced love yourself, Marquis. A love of incomplete combustion constantly reignites its embers and tornts a person. Won't you give Robin a chance so he doesn't burn to death?"
"Hmph."
Marquis Barba snorted in derision. I seriously considered smashing him on the crown of his head, but quickly abandoned the thought. The height difference was so great that the movent would be too obvious. Marquis Barba said,
"Fine."
"Pardon?"
"I will give him one chance to et her. I don't know how you'll win over my granddaughter, but seeing as you ca all this way to plead with , I will grant you one chance. However, keep this in mind. If my granddaughter does not say she likes him, it's over. You are to never bother with this matter again. Do you understand?"
"I'll keep that in mind."
"I'll send a separate contact to the address from the last letter. Now then..."
And so, the ball ended that day without a single dance. Sieri looked at with an anxious face and asked,
"Will it really be okay?"
"It'll be fine."
I had a plan. I imdiately returned to the inn. Robin was sitting on the first floor with a goofy grin on his face, holding a bouquet in his hands. Judging by his face, it looked less like he went to the performance hall to see Young Lady Rosalyn Yuba and more like he'd just had a wild romp with a prostitute who resembled her.
"Robin. Let's have a little talk."
"Huh? Yes, I understand."
Robin shook his head from side to side like soone who had just woken up and answered my words. I dragged Robin up to the second floor. After confirming no one was listening, I explained my plan in a low voice.
"Th-That's... Isn't that too dangerous?"
"This is the best way. You got a look at her face at the performance hall, right?"
"It was my first ti going today, so I... I'm still not sure."
"For now, keep going to the performance hall and get friendly with Young Lady Rosalyn Yuba. Leave the planning to , and make sure you show up at the eting place. Got it?"
"Yes, yes! I understand."
After our conversation, I left the lodging, leaving Sieri behind. I summoned the coachman who was just about to have a drink, and he slumped into the carriage like a wet dog.
"Coachman. I'll buy you so expensive side dishes, so please do this favor."
"Aigoo, of course, my Lord."
Unlike the last bastard of a coachman I hired, this one would follow like a dog as long as I bought him drinks. It cost a little extra, but he was very useful for making him work overti. The place I headed to was the lodging where AA and Erina were staying.
As befitting the specially invited Sir Hero and Elf Princess, the lodging boasted a grand appearance. I used my official title as the Southern High Priest of the Archdeity Church to easily pass the guard in front of the inn and requested a eting with AA.
After a short wait on the first floor, AA ca down, adjusting her noble attire. She didn't seem to have adapted to her clothes yet. When she saw sitting at the table waiting, she flinched and took a step back.
"My, Sir Hero, why are you so afraid?"
"...That's not it!"
AA sat naturally in front of , but she couldn't et my gaze. I wanted to tease her, but right now, there was a more important matter.
"Sir Hero. I need your help with sothing."
"What is it?"
When I spoke in a serious tone, AA's expression changed, and she listened to intently. No matter how annoying soone was, she would help if they needed it. That was her greatest strength and her greatest weakness. I smiled and said,
"How about we do so robbery?"
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