501 Banquet for nobles (1)
Two weeks later, it was time for the guests to arrive.
During this time, we had been running around preparing many different things for this banquet all so that our noble guests would enjoy themselves.
This was my first time hosting an event like this, so it was definitely hard.
It was a good thing that I had Rose and Haley by my side, helping me prepare everything.
Rose taught me everything that I needed to know about etiquette while Haley helped us prepare many of the things that we would be using for the banquet.
If it wasn't for the two of them preparing everything, I really didn't know what I would have done.
Now that the day came, the guests came in droves.
After all, this was a banquet that was hosted by the new count, so everyone was naturally very curious about him.
That was especially true for the barons and smaller lords that were in the area since they knew that they would have to be careful of me in the future. They wanted to use this banquet to gauge what kind of person I was so they knew how to deal with me in the future.
But for me, there were two main guests today.
It was Viscount Teomold and Viscount Henry who I had traveled to meet before.
I had made sure to send personal invitations to both of them.
Since they had received personal invitations, they naturally had no choice but to come to this banquet that I was hosting.
But there was the grudge that was between them, so it wasn't as if they would forget about this just because of me.
Not to mention, both of them knew that the other would be trying to get a trade deal with me, so they would go out of their way to sabotage each other.
Or at least that was what it would be on the surface.
In truth, I had already signed a trade deal with Viscount Henry and he was just acting the part.
The one that I was dealing with this time was Viscount Teomold.
When Viscount Teomold arrived, the first thing that he did was get as close as he could to me and raise his voice as he said, "Count Zwein, thank you for your personal invitation. I am honoured that you would think of inviting me to your banquet."
He had made sure that we were surrounded by other nobles as he said this.
He wanted everyone to hear this so he could raise his own status among the other nobles.
After all, a personal invitation was something that was seen as very valuable.
It was only given to guests that the host cared very much about.
So when the nobles around us heard this, they all looked at Viscount Teomold in a different light.
I didn't mind this since he was someone that I did want here no matter what.
Not to mention, it would be hard to say if he could keep that smile on his face by the end of the day.
So I said with a smile, "Of course, I couldn't think of anyone else that I would want at this banquet other than you."
It wasn't just the nobles around else, even Viscount Teomold was caught off guard by this.
After all, he never expected that I would be this friendly with him…
He had thought that I would just lightly admonish him for this, but I had gone the complete opposite.
After taking a moment to catch himself, Viscount Teomold opened his mouth to say something before closing it again.
He didn't know why, but there was a bad feeling that filled him.
It was as if there was something wrong about this place, but he just couldn't put his finger on it.
It was a feeling that made him want to leave this place as soon as possible.
But that was the last thing that he could do.
Even if he wanted to leave, leaving now would be a slap to Count Zwein's face and something that he definitely couldn't do.
So he could only suppress that bad feeling and said, "Count Zwein, thank you for your kind words."
I didn't hold back at all as I came forward to take his hand and say, "Viscount Teomold, I can say for certain that there would be no party today if it wasn't for you."
The nobles all looked at Viscount Teomold with strange looks, as they wondered why Count Zwein was treating him so well.
But Viscount Teomold couldn't help feeling that there was something strange about these words.
The way that Count Zwein had said them, it gave him another bad feeling.
But before he could ask about this, there was another carriage that pulled up.
"Announcing Viscount Henry!"
The moment that Viscount Teomold heard this, the bad feeling that he had been feeling was blown away and he looked at the carriage pulling up with a dark look.
Anyone that saw this gaze could tell that this relationship with Viscount Henry who had just arrived wasn't good.
As the carriage was stopping, Viscount Teomold came closer to me to say, "Count Zwein, I advise that you don't get too close to this Viscount Henry in the future. I've had some dealings with this man and I can say that he isn't anything of value. He is definitely someone that a noble person like yourself would want to avoid."
I gave a secret disdainful laugh, but I revealed a friendly smile on my face as I said, "I know, I know, I've heard the rumours about this man."
Viscount Teomold was about to say something, but I cut him off by saying, "Unfortunately, he and my wife are related through their family, so I had no choice but to invite him today."
Viscount Teomold revealed an understanding look before saying with a nod, "I understand, but in the future, it would be best if you have less contact with this uncouth person."
I gave a nod and wanted to say something, but it was at this time that Viscount Henry came over.
I can't do any damage unless I'm a burst mage...
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