Chapter 15
“Alright, everyone, let’s drink!”
The lord raised his cup high and urged everyone on. After delivering a lengthy speech about how exquisite the wine was, Mia tuned out most of his explanation.
However, if they were serving some ‘top-quality wine’ with no identifiable origin, she had a few suspicions. After all, even without that dubious display, she had already experienced what was to come.
With the baron’s speech, large plates that probably wouldn’t normally be used began to come out one after another, creating a lavish atmosphere. It was a bonus that the tables were adorned with extravagant decorations as if they had been saved for this day.
If they wanted to showcase such hospitality, they should have held the banquet at night. What enjoyment could there be at a time when the candlelight was barely visible? Shaking off the fleeting thought, Mia began to examine each dish laid out on the long table.
The food was brought out by the lord’s son, dressed in soiled clothes. His appearance was completely mismatched with the elaborate dining room.
Had the baron not personally mentioned his family and given him a scolding, it would have been hard to imagine he was a member of the noble family. It gave Mia a glimpse of how the baron treated his son.
He had even chased the son away, saying that his carrying a large plate diminished the quality of the meal! It made her suspicious that there might be some secret hidden behind his birth.
The food certainly seemed to be the best one could serve in a small territory. It was a bit greasy and overly seasoned with spices to mask any odors, but it was decent enough for the officers of the Holy Corps, who mostly hailed from noble families, to endure without much complaint.
However, not everyone in the banquet hall was eating and drinking in an awkward atmosphere. One person sitting at the far end of the table was resolutely refusing the food being offered to him.
“Your Grace, it’s actually quite tasty. Would you at least try a little?”
“Sorry, but I’m not feeling well. Strong spice smells make me nauseous.”
At those words, the expression of the baron, seated at the opposite end of the table, seemed to harden slightly.
Ignoring the baron, Mia cast a pitying glance at the son, who was hastily leaving his seat. When their eyes met, he gave an awkward smile, and upon closer inspection, he appeared to be around Mia’s age, making her feel even more sympathetic. He likely hadn’t enjoyed living under his father’s thumb for all these years.
Mia’s musings about the baron and his family didn’t last long. He approached the table’s end and called out Mia’s name.
“Lady Blanchard.”
“…”
“Lady, don’t just sit there. Come to the seat beside me. I’ve kept the place of honor open for you.”
The title and tone were both unpleasant, so Mia pretended not to hear him, but the baron stubbornly persisted, inviting her to sit next to him. Eventually, Mia had no choice but to respond to him.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve gotten used to sitting at the end of the table. I wouldn’t be able to eat if it’s not from this spot.”
It was a ridiculous excuse, but the baron’s proposal had been equally absurd, so it was just right to counter with such logic.
After refusing the suggestion to change seats, what followed was an even more unbelievable statement.
“Very well. Then let me make another proposal.”
Without giving Mia a chance to respond.
“Lady, how about we get engaged?”
He brought forth the most outrageous proposition Mia had ever heard.
What an audacious suggestion, almost akin to coercion.
An instant silence fell over the banquet hall.
Before even processing what had been said, Mia was hit with a wave of instinctive discomfort. Why on earth would she want to marry an old baron who was rude, greedy, and had a son her age?
Despite that, the baron appeared quite pleased with himself, as if he had offered something of great value. Could someone be so oblivious to their own absurdity? The man who had been cautious of Mia’s reactions was now entirely unaware of how out of line his suggestion was.
“I heard you haven’t found a partner at your age. Surely, there must be some unspeakable flaw that’s kept you from finding one?”
So, that was it. He thought of her as a ‘needed presence’ and acted as if they were equals. Despite digging up rumors, it seemed he hadn’t yet heard that she was in a relationship with the commander.
To propose marriage without any prior investigation was beyond belief. This recklessness was so exaggerated that it was hard to accept that he was the lord of a territory.
Mia felt a cold chill run down her spine as the fat, decorated arm of the baron slithered up her back like a snake. Every touch was a clear affront, from his rude presumptions to his unauthorized contact.
In short, it was an exceedingly blatant insult.
Perhaps it even seemed exaggeratedly theatrical…
“Lady, I’m sure you’ve been shedding lonely tears every night. It’s alright. I have a big heart and can understand any circumstances. I, Rufus, will no longer allow you to be lonely…”
Slap!
Right, whatever his intentions were could be dealt with later. Unable to bear his nonsense any longer, Mia slapped the baron’s cheek. The oily grin on his face was wiped clean as his head turned sharply to the side. Soon, his face began to redden to a ridiculous degree. He would likely have trouble holding his head up high the next day.
“Baron.”
“…”
“It’s important for nobles to understand their positions, you know.”
“…”
“It seems the baron is still lacking in virtue; perhaps it would be best for you to refine it further?”
Silence lingered in the banquet hall.
***
‘This is rather unexpected.’
Everyone except the baron seemed to agree with Mia.
Mia pressed down her rising smile as she thought.
Given that Mia was a soldier, exercising violence against a civilian without cause was grounds for punishment.
The military was full of those waiting for Mia to make a mistake, so if used well, this incident could serve as a fine opportunity for slander. When stripped of context, the fact that she had struck a civilian without provocation was undeniable.
Even so, it was puzzling that these people would side with her in this situation.
Mia took a moment to scan the room before turning her back and leaving the banquet hall. Having mingled with the old foxes of the political realm for so long, she could now project a cold atmosphere even while feeling like she was fleeing. As a result, the banquet hall grew even colder than when she had been present.
Between the dazed baron and the grim-faced commander, the only thing the officers could do was observe in silence.
Thud.
Soon after, the sound of cutlery being set down next to the baron was heard.
“I can’t possibly eat in this atmosphere. I think I’ll take my leave as well.”
Ultimately, the commander was the first to leave the table among the two. His subordinate officers followed closely behind.
Only the baron remained in the doorway, noticing a pair of violet eyes glaring at him with intensity.
***
Mia had long been aware that different events from her previous life would occur when she least expected them.
It would have been nice if she could perfectly control everything that would happen now that she had returned to the past, but she had no particular complaints since things were better than her previous life. At least, that was true until the dinner banquet hosted by Baron Galua.
‘Why on earth…?’
Mia began to retrace her memories of the baron.
Galua was greedy, unaware of his position, and foolishly courageous. So, his proposal might have been based on that recklessness. The Rufus Galua she knew was exactly that kind of man.
But…
‘He was definitely keeping an eye on someone.’
As events unfolded that had not occurred in her previous life, Mia began to see things that the naive Mia Blanchard had missed back then.
After all, she had a tendency to disregard others excessively at that time. Since she had never received a marriage proposal in her past life, it was perhaps natural for Mia, who was obsessed with proving her abilities right after her departure, to see the baron as insignificant.
‘Perhaps the fool who doesn’t know their place was me.’
She had a gut feeling that the baron was more deeply involved in this matter than she initially thought.
—
Read More at – GENZNOVEL.COM!!
PLEASE JOIN OUR DISCORD AND SUBSCRIBE THE ROLE TO RECEIVE LATEST NOTIFICATIONS!!
Click here -> https://discord.gg/S8c2kGVr2g
Comment