Chapter 578 – Dinner at the Count's House

As we were all spending time together, eventually the escort from the Count’s family arrived on horseback. The dinner preparations must have been ready. So we all boarded the carriage Father had prepared and headed toward the Count’s residence.

Moving on freshly fallen snow is difficult with wheels, but well, I’d already accounted for that. After all, I was the one who’d contacted Father saying a carriage would be fine since we didn’t know if snow would accumulate.

Using Water Magic, I modified the undercarriage, replacing the wheels with ice sleds. Then I applied Levitation to the carriage body and other parts to make it easier for the horses pulling it to move.

“What in the…”

The soldier who came to escort us was wide-eyed at the sight.

“Is everyone aboard?”

“Yeah. No problems over here.”

Sheila, who volunteered to be the driver, raised her hand in response. Since it was getting dark, I decided to take on driving duties too. After confirming the house was locked up, I boarded the lead carriage and we began moving toward the directly governed territory of Gartner County.

From slightly behind us, Corulis and Belius flew through the air with the other Familiars riding on their backs. They were bringing up the rear, serving as escorts for the carriage procession.

Thanks to the Levitation applied to the carriage bodies, the horses pulled the sleds forward without any difficulty. Not just with the Lanterns equipped at the front of the carriages, but also by sending magical lights around to illuminate the snowy road, we made our way toward town.

“Looking at it calmly, the snowy forest is beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. Maybe thanks to the magical lights.”

“The Glacial Forest… was quite challenging in various ways…”

Sion and the others leaned their faces out the window, watching the forest illuminated by magical lights with considerable interest. Lasnote too. She reached her hand out the window to catch snowflakes.

This was probably the first time Sion and the others, as well as Lasnote, had experienced natural snow, and likely their first time traveling by sled too.

And so we arrived in town. The gatekeepers were wide-eyed at Corulis and the others, but when we explained they were Familiars, they nodded in understanding though still surprised.

“You’ve worked hard in this cold.”

In response to Princess Stephania’s words, Corulis raised its hand in greeting, and the other Familiars followed suit.

…The gatekeepers’ expressions seemed to twitch, but well, no actual harm done, so I decided not to pay it much mind. Michelle was giving a wry smile, among others.

At any rate, there were no issues entering, so the sleds proceeded through town toward Count Gartner’s residence.

“Welcome. We’ve been expecting you.”

In the entrance hall of the Count’s residence, the servants welcomed us together with Father and the others.

“The footing must have been terrible. Now, this way please.”

The roster of servants had been completely refreshed after the incident with Kathryn and the former Marquis Broderick. There were no familiar faces from before, but the servants guiding us through the mansion seemed to have settled into the Count’s household quite well.

We were then shown to the grand dining hall. It was a spacious room that could also serve as a ballroom during banquets and such, but it wasn’t decorated extravagantly. Illuminated by the lights of candelabras placed here and there, the atmosphere was more solemn yet warm. That seemed fitting for an occasion hosted by Father.

“This… has a nice atmosphere.”

“I’ve heard the banquets hosted by the Count’s family are well-regarded among nobles.”

Claudia murmured her impressions upon seeing it, and Rosemary responded.

Hmm. Rosemary must be accustomed to evening parties like these, but perhaps she prefers this kind of setting over extravagant decorations. Or maybe she highly appreciates how it aligns with the purpose.

“There are aspects that align with Mihaela-sama’s teachings. Perhaps Henry-sama heard from Mihaela-sama… or maybe among the newly hired staff, there’s someone who received Mihaela-sama’s teachings.”

“Indeed… It’s not that decorating lavishly is necessarily better. This is educational.”

When Grace spoke, Ashley nodded as if impressed.

Perhaps because Ashley sometimes finds herself hosting such events too, it wasn’t someone else’s affair to her, so she looked around various places and nodded appreciatively. King Melvin and the others also seemed quite favorably impressed.

At any rate, since this was a gathering to welcome guests who came to visit the grave on the anniversary of Mother’s death, there was no need for extravagance. That said, the decorations were tasteful enough not to compromise appearance and quality.

As discussed beforehand, the attendees were only close family, and no vassals had been invited.

While the gathering was generally intimate, the prepared dishes showed no signs of compromise.

Then Hadley and the others arrived. When Hadley’s group, having been shown to the dining hall, spotted us, they approached bowing deeply. King Melvin had suggested inviting them to the dinner too, thinking I’d be concerned about how the parent and child were doing.

Perhaps because many of them were experiencing being invited to a noble family’s dinner for the first time, they seemed somewhat nervous.

Once everyone had taken their seats, Father spoke.

“Thank you all for coming such a long distance today. As this is a gathering to remember the deceased, it lacks splendor, but I intended to arrange things so we can spend this dinner time in a calm mood instead. As the head of this household, I’d be pleased if you could relax and enjoy yourselves.”

After he bowed, applause arose from everyone. Like last time, since this was a private gathering, no musicians had been hired from outside. Though I had a feeling Irmhild and Marion might volunteer as musicians again this time too.

With Father taking his seat, dinner time began. White bread, cheese and tomato salad. Roasted poultry, soup filled with mushrooms and vegetables. Steamed river fish, fresh fruits, candy sculptures, and so on… The dishes were somewhat different from those in the coastal Termwills.

There were more offerings from the mountains and rivers, characteristic of inland areas. Though for me, Grace, and Ashley, these were familiar dishes.

“Mmm. Delicious.”

Sheila brought the food to her mouth, closed her eyes to savor it carefully, then murmured her impression like that. Her ears and tail were reacting noticeably too. It seemed the preparations made specifically for this day were worthwhile.

Once the meal settled into a lull, conversation time began. Irmhild and Marion played quiet tunes matching the atmosphere on Lute and harp, their clear singing voices resonating.

In the relaxed atmosphere, I approached Father and the others who had finished their greeting rounds. Though Kathryn was supposed to be under house arrest at the Count’s residence, it seemed she’d been permitted to attend this gathering. However, she seemed to be making an effort not to leave Father’s side even during greeting rounds.

When I approached, Kathryn bowed deeply toward me.

“Ambassador.”

“How have you been since then?”

When I asked, Kathryn answered quietly.

“Since moving to the mansion, I’ve been able to spend more time relaxed than before. Reading books, doing embroidery… Sometimes I go out by carriage to the rivers or grasslands too.”

Going out to nearby places with Father and Daryl, I suppose. Though this matched what I’d heard, Kathryn indeed seemed to have settled down since then.

“Right now, this feels a little strange to me. Being here, at this gathering, on this day… that my feelings have calmed this much. In the past… I think I would have been anxious.”

Saying this, Kathryn had a look in her eyes as if gazing at something far away.

…Yeah. I’ve seen various aspects of Kathryn’s acting up close, but this gives a different impression.

Probably because her covert connections related to the former Marquis Broderick have been completely severed, and her relationship with Father and the others is going well.

“When you have no worries, your thoughts likely differ from how they used to be too. Regarding tomorrow… I probably shouldn’t accompany you. Please convey my apologies to your Mother.”

Saying this, Kathryn bowed again.

That… seemed less about being unable to visit the gravesite and more about consideration for Mother.

Indeed, I don’t think visiting the gravesite is necessarily the only way to mourn the deceased. These were probably words spoken after sufficient thought.

“Understood. I’ll definitely convey it.”

I returned a deep bow as well. I hadn’t expected to hear such words from Kathryn regarding Mother.

Things really are different from before in many ways.

…When worries disappear, huh.

I let my gaze wander. As for the commoners present, they seemed to be quietly listening to the sounds played by Irmhild and Marion.

That probably applies… to the commoners and me too, doesn’t it? I don’t know, but…

And so, time flowed gently during the Count’s family dinner.