"Once again, we appreciate everyone who come here to celebrate this momentous occasion with all of us and may we all look forward to a much better future for everyone," Lucius said.
"Thank you so much for your words, Count Gabriel and Young Lord Asher! I hope that everyone has enjoyed listening and have also taken something from it. I know I have," Baron Hugh said with a smile as he received the voice-enhancing artifact once more and took center stage.
Lucius finished his speech to a round of applause before Baron Hugh once again took over for him. The reason for it was simple, Lucius could only say so much before the nobility found it aggravating and too much.
But it was also worth mentioning that Kiana gave him a discreet gesture that signaled that she had something to say to him.
"Asher. There's some issues happening, I'm afraid that some of the nobility are speaking out against what you have said and taken it in a completely different light altogether. They presume that the Inanis family is trying to elevate themselves beyond the Grantz royal family," Kiana said.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Do you wish for me to do something with them? I told you first, but perhaps it's good to tell this to the Count too—"
"That won't be necessary," Lucius said. "Tonight is a night of celebration, we do not wish to put an additional burden into my father's night when this is supposed to be a party that honors the victory of the Inanis in battle."
"Then we will just stand here and do nothing?" Kiana asked. Her face was blank and devoid of emotions, but she balled her hands into fists.
"No. On the contrary, this is a chance for us to observe the situation. I've expressed some of my interest with dealing with all of the nobility because while you may say that these are all composed of supporters for the Inanis family, we can both see that they're is a division between them," Lucius said.
"People… nobles who only pay lip service." Kiana gritted her teeth lightly.
"Indeed. That's why we have to weed and root them out effectively so we cannot simply act now when they are at their most prepared condition. Far better to wait for an opportune time to deal with such threats effectively in one blow or perhaps see other alternatives," Lucius said.
"Alternatives?"
"Yes. Perhaps there is a chance to turn a couple of them to our side if given enough reason to, but that is something that I cannot truly attest to unless I were able to react accordingly to what it is that they desire." Lucius shrugged.
"You think we can change others to our side? Kiana asked.
"Once again, it depends. But first, may I know of the identities of these nobility? What do they have all common and do they have a ring leader? Someone who operates their little group and facilitates them to act like this seemingly unprompted?"
"Well, according to Captain Donald, they are the ones situated at the back of the banquet hall and upon checking on them, it occurs to me that they are all minor nobles, but more importantly that they are independent ones."
"Independent ones?" Lucius raised a brow.
"Yes, they live in the Land of Etara but they have not sworn to any nobles living in our area. One can almost say that they do not also have any ties to Gisir Kingdom or anywhere else, only living through their own means."
"Ah, so this independence is what Viscount Drew wanted for himself, didn't he to some extent? I can understand why they would have found offense in what I said, but I am acting mostly retired, am I not?" Lucius chuckled without any actual humor. "I hardly attend any of the balls or occasions when I have been invited in them in my spare time."
"More inactive than retired… but you're right." Kiana nodded. "They seem to have reacted in such a way that's not befitting of their roles and station. I wish we could get rid of them now…"
"That's wishful thinking, Kiana. We must cement our feet to reality and do what we can."
'Hmm, it would do me well to actually get to know these nobility better and address the situation calmly.' Lucius thought to himself.
"What will we do then?"
"An idea has come to mind, but this will be requiring a lot of alcohol. Kiana, approach my mother and tell her to find Alessa and introduce her to society right now and also to have the Humble Blaze be brought out and served to everyone," Lucius said,
"O-okay, Asher." Kiana wanted to know, but since she made an agreement not to point out any thing that Asher decided without him telling her about, she was going to fill her quota with the work that she had mostly given. "He needs a lot of alcohol, will everyone be drinking alcohol like water now?"
Once Kiana departed away to handle all of her orders given to her, Lucius himself turned to search for the most attractive young man he could see and quickly located the Viscount speaking with some other nobilities within his circle.
"Viscount Felldan." Lucius murmured.
Out of everyone within the group of nobility, Viscount Felldan was said to have the most excellent chance when it came to rising through the ranks and so his political skill was unmatched.
Lucius didn't think it would compare to his own ability, but it was going to be extremely useful for him to be able to gauge if he was dealing with someone who'd fall to cheap tricks of flattery, someone incompetent, or was perhals truly something more.
"He will be the one that I'll ask in regards to the information that he'd gathered from these nobles… but it will require his lips loosening up a little since I do think he's actually genuinely good with what he does." Lucius said to himself.
Even though Viscount Felldan had a 'good' relationship with his father, it was better to err on the safe side of caution. Alcohol would do the trick.
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