Chapter 72
“She’s really beautiful, my daughter…”
But Chesha was just as surprised.
It was the first time she’d seen the men of the Basilian family properly dressed in formal attire for a banquet.
They already possessed dazzling good looks, and now that they were impeccably dressed up, it was truly blinding.
The suits were a combination of designs ordered by Issueel and Miya’s keen sense and skill.
Kierne’s was refined and elegant, Belzeon’s neat with subtle embellishments, Karha’s with a somewhat bold splash of color, and Issueel’s the most ornate of all.
Each one showcased their unique characteristics, yet the colors and designs followed a standard that gave them a unified sense of belonging to the Basilian family.
‘Seeing them all together like this, they look even more handsome.’
Even for Chesha, whose standards for appearance were high, their stunning looks drew out admiration.
At this point, Chesha couldn’t help but become curious about her own appearance.
“Want to look in the mirror, Chesha?”
Kierne, quick on the uptake, approached and lifted Chesha into his arms.
The moment he stood side by side with Chesha in front of the mirror.
Chesha’s eyes widened involuntarily, and her lips parted.
The baby, dressed in a fluffy white dress overflowing with frills and wearing a lace bonnet adorned with a black ribbon on her head, was so cute and pretty that she couldn’t help but let out a gasp.
Kierne tilted his head toward Chesha with a low chuckle.
“Even Chesha thinks she’s cute, right?”
Chesha nodded vigorously.
The boys scurried over and gathered around Chesha.
Seeing all the members of Count Basilian’s household reflected in the mirror made her feel inexplicably proud.
‘These people are my family!’
Chesha lifted her chin for no particular reason.
And she flashed a sly smile.
This was more than enough.
At today’s banquet hall.
Chesha intended to clearly identify who had stolen the Hata’s hat that the Basilian family should have rightfully received.
Of course, it wouldn’t end with just identification; she planned to follow up with further actions.
It was only proper to remember both favors and grudges for a long, long time.
In her mind, Chesha sharpened her blade with wicked intent as she thought.
‘First, let’s see who you are, face to face.’
Duke Evroiel’s banquets were renowned in high society.
This was because they always offered something distinctive to see.
In particular, living up to the Evroiel ducal family’s reputation for magic, the wizards sponsored by the duke often showcased astonishing spectacles through illusion magic.
The attending nobles were all brimming with anticipation for this banquet as well.
On top of that, rumors were circulating: the duke had invited the most famous opera singer from the capital for the banquet.
He had contracted an entire vineyard from Saseidos to bring in exorbitantly expensive wine.
And he had practically flooded the ducal residence with an enormous quantity of fresh flowers for decoration, among other things.
And all those rumors were true.
“Haha!”
Serea burst into hearty laughter.
Dressed in a well-fitted pantsuit that accentuated her tall stature, she surveyed the ducal residence she had decorated with proud eyes.
The theme of this banquet was the Fairy Forest.
In honor of the ‘Fairy Queen’s Crown,’ the item to be bestowed at the Little Saints’ Prayer Assembly, she had themed the banquet around the forest where fairies dwell.
As it represented the habitat of the fantastical fairies, the ducal residence had been transformed into a dreamlike forest.
In the garden, hundreds of lanterns adorned with flowers and leaves twinkled like stars scattered across the night sky, and illusion magic had been cast on the mansion’s entrance to make it appear as a hole bored into a massive ancient tree.
The banquet hall was also decorated with various kinds of flowers and plants.
The wall lamps draped with vine flowers were Serea’s proudest creation.
Even the servants attending to the guests were dressed in flowing garments that evoked a fairy-like feel, in keeping with the theme.
She had adorned them with flowers as well, so the interior of the banquet hall was truly filled with the fresh scent of being deep in the woods.
“This banquet is truly magnificent, Your Grace!”
“It’s so moving. I never thought I’d see such a banquet in my lifetime…”
The people gathered around Serea unanimously offered their praise.
Serea accepted their admiration without any particular show of smugness, taking it as a matter of course.
How much money had she poured into this banquet?
This level of praise was only fitting.
This was a banquet that surpassed perfection itself.
However, it was still incomplete.
Because the greatest topic of conversation that Serea had prepared had not yet arrived.
‘When are they coming?’
It was none other than Count Basilian’s household.
The count’s family, who had been holed up in the eastern Black Forest and showed no signs of emerging until now.
The news that they would make their social debut at the Evroiel ducal banquet had thrown the capital’s high society into an uproar.
Part of it was due to the recent string of intriguing incidents involving Count Basilian’s family.
But more than anything, it was because the beauty of Count Basilian, who had briefly come to the capital over a decade ago and shown his face, was still legendary in social circles.
Famous for his handsome appearance for so long, everyone wanted to see Count Basilian with their own eyes, driven by curiosity if nothing else.
Moreover, it was known that for this banquet, not only Count Basilian but also his sons, and even the newly adopted daughter, would all be attending.
For anyone with an interest in high society, this was a banquet they absolutely could not miss.
The Evroiel ducal banquets were already immensely popular, piercing the heavens.
But this time, it was popular enough to tear through the heavens.
Everyone was clamoring for an invitation.
For a while, the ducal residence was flooded with bribes requesting banquet invitations, and even the imperial family had subtly expressed their intent to attend.
Thus, the greatest banquet of the year was born.
This was also what Kierne had wanted.
His plan was to seize the spotlight in one fell swoop, make an impression on the capital’s nobles, and then expand his influence in earnest.
He was a man with excellent acumen to begin with.
Once given that initial push, he would sail forward smoothly like a ship with the wind at its back.
‘In time, he’ll probably surpass me too.’
Recalling her pupil who had always outpaced his mentor, Serea smiled.
Just then, whispers about Count Basilian’s household came from nearby.
“Come to think of it, Count Basilian’s party hasn’t arrived yet, has they?”
“Yes. I’m curious…”
“Ah, they ordered their clothes from the same tailor as our family. I caught a glimpse when I went to pick up mine, and well…”
The man shrugged as he spoke.
“They’ll come properly attired, at least.”
Properly attired, he said.
It was a veiled slight and a check.
Serea chuckled inwardly.
‘As if they’d show up dressed plainly.’
After all, the third son of that house loved dressing up so much.
She recalled the boy who had been diligently visiting the ducal residence lately to learn magic.
He arrived with a prim face, but listened to the lessons more earnestly than anyone, absorbing knowledge with greedy fervor.
With talent bolstered by effort, his progress was frighteningly fast.
In just a few days, he had mastered all the basic spells.
Originally, this was a boy who had been indifferent even when Serea begged him to learn magic.
Curious about the sudden change of heart, she asked, and Issueel had replied haughtily.
“Having become a Basilian, it would be troublesome if I couldn’t protect even one little sister, wouldn’t it?”
Kierne was the same; it seemed both he and Issueel had grown quite attached to the adopted younger sibling.
For Serea, it was a bit concerning.
Because the Basilian family’s characteristic insidious obsession seemed to be subtly creeping toward the young child.
They themselves might not realize it, but the men of the Basilian family dove madly into whatever captured their interest.
Kierne with his late countess wife.
Belzeon with the honor and continuity of the Basilian family.
Karha with swordsmanship, Issueel with clothes and appearance—they were all obsessed.
And now, their attention was gradually turning toward the adopted child.
One could see from Kierne just how troublesome and annoying a Basilian obsessed with a person could be.
That would truly be problematic.
Because…
‘I have to raise her into a grand mage!’
Serea herself had immense interest in the youngest daughter of the Basilian family.
