"Fascinating," Lucius said as he filled his own cup and took a quick drink.
"If you look that way, you can almost see what I mean." Viscount Felldan chuckled and gestured discreetly in one direction.
Lucius noticed Lieutenant John holding up baby Cia away from his face while she was using her gift with a small smile on her face.
'Impressive that he noticed these two amongst everything taking place.' Lucius thought.
"I see what you mean, Viscount Felldan."
'I have this suspicion that he is lying, but the truth of the matter based on the Nexus is that he can retain his youthful appearance and not actually delay his growth. Perhaps there is a little embellishment within this story to paint a certain picture… which isn't actually the most surprising.'
"This is certainly incredible." Viscount Felldan said as he drank some more and then looked towards Alessa who was getting swarmed by the nobles and then back to John with the child. "These are the ones who've been with you during this trip. An interesting couple, you can almost say that their success is almost guaranteed. Good for them."
"Indeed so. Although whether everyone thinks the same way is something that one cannot certainly guarantee." Lucius said.
"Of course, there will always be opposition." Viscount Felldan said with a relaxed smile. "That is an unavoidable part of life, Young Lord Asher and the earlier one realizes it, the faster one learns how to ignore useless gossip or perhaps become able to use it."
"Yes, I suppose so. It has just come to my attention that there are some among the nobility who have spoken ill about how I spoke earlier and it reflected badly on the name of my family. It certainly has been bothering me as I did not expect for things to turn that way." Lucius said. He did his best to portray the role of a filial son.
Viscount Felldan's smile became a bit more gentle and he glanced about the room as if searching for the group. "I am sorry to hear that, Young Lord Asher. Do you know who they are?"
Lucius mentioned the five nobles that Kiana supplied for him and Viscount Felldan nodded in understanding.
"Ah, these people. Interesting, but also not entirely surprising given their current status and condition."
"Status and condition?" Lucius asked.
"Your family's friend, Lady Alessa and her husband are experiencing a sudden growth in approval and esteem among the circle of nobility, wouldn't you agree?" Viscount Felldan said. "If I remember correctly, and based on how Count Gabriel interacted with the man earlier, I recall that this man is Lieutenant John and is also part of the army. One can elevate through service in the army, but now he has also received great wealth. One can almost wonder where he and his wife got the funds to start the brewery?"
Lucius kept his expression calm and placid. Viscount Felldan was able to see through the events with ease, but didn't exactly push him to make an answer and neither would Lucius actually give anything.
Viscount Felldan chuckled. "But ah, I am digressing from your question, Young Lord Asher, but it is merely to paint a picture that these nobles who are speaking ill of you are quite at odds with Alessa and John as well."
"Hmm, I understand what you're saying, Viscount Felldan. But a bit more specificity would also paint it better if you don't mind me perusing you for details?" Lucius asked.
"Oh, will you be intervening by yourself?" Viscount Felldan raised a brow but then continued to smile and sip his drink. He reached for the bottle of Humble Blaze and refilled his own cup. "Either way, out of the five that have spoken, three of them used to come from an elevated position but have fallen in rank due to weakness and debt."
"As for the other two?"
"They're doing a similar thing to Lady Alessa and Lieutenant John and trying to make their way up into the circle of nobility. Of course, they will feel threatened by such things. Look at them, even now, not taking the owners of Dionysia Brewery with well-meaning looks either." Viscount Felldan said.
Lucius glanced discreetly towards them and true to what Viscount Felldan said, they all looked unhappy with the good fortune that fell on Alessa.
A number of the nobles were greatly speaking with Countess Lita, the Baroness and Lady Alessa, but the five and some others were not trying to engage.
Instead, they were once again muttering among themselves.
"Do you know where exactly they come from? Kiana has informed me that they're mostly independent nobles…" Lucius said.
"Ah, well, they're mostly from the borders of the Land of Etara. Quite close to either the Aisse Territory or the Kutan Plains, which of course is mostly a small plains east, but the more important thing is that Duke Wilda's territory comes closely there."
"Indeed." Lucius said.
"Do you have trouble recalling their significance, Young Lord?" Viscount Felldan asked. "You did mention that you've not been quite excellent in studies prior…"
"Well, their relevance was not always so important to me when I mostly poured and devoted my energy to studying the sword." Lucius lied. "It's a little embarrassing to admit aloud, Viscount Felldan, but since you are a friend of my father, I feel like I can be entirely honest with you about this."
Lucius didn't want to give away that he lacked much information about the world, but under the pretense of being an unknowledgeable young noble, it was also easy to act like he was lacking in information.
"Ah, you greatly honor me with those words, Young Lord Asher. Fret not. This is certainly something that requires due diligence and is expected for most nobles who wish to have great connections, so listen well and I will inform you of what you need to know. Duke Wilda is one of the three Dukes of the Land of Etara, alongside Duke Rizal and Duke Vons."
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