(Note: The t.i.tle is a reference of vintage anime "The King of Braves GaoGaiGar")
"Uhh…" (Count Bozes)
Count Bozes, who was staying at his Mansion in the Capital during the social season, stopped his paperwork, his face is twitching at the sight of a single letter.
"Th-This is…" (Count Bozes)
Right, it was a party invitation letter from Marchioness Tin.o.berg.
A Party invitation for Bozes Couple. That much is fine. It"s normal.
… The problem was that Marchioness Tin.o.berg and Iris, Countess of Bozes, were on a bad relationship.
It"s not like [Count Bozes and Tin.o.berg Couple] or [Countess of Bozes and Marquees Tin.o.berg Himself] have a discord between each other.
On the contrary, the relation between the two family were quite close, especially the Count and the Marquees, who are fairly socializing between lords of their respective territories and n.o.bles of the same faction.
However, Marchioness Tin.o.berg and Countess Bozes. Those two are hopeless. Lethally hopeless.
Was their relationship already this bad since they were schoolmates at the aristocratic girl"s school in the capital? Or it was because Count Bozes had courted his wife just before the eyes of Marchioness Tin.o.berg before she met the Marquees….?
Marriage between aristocrats are usually decided between houses, regardless of their own will. Cases such as a direct courtship without family intervention is considered as a rare thing. Moreover, Iris who were the youngest child of a lower rank aristocrats, received a direct courtship from the heir of a Count house.
(Note: I added a few words for it to make sense, so that"s not direct translation from the raw)
Naturally, the turmoil caused Iris to be seen by many aristocratic girls with envy.
Iris attended the girl"s school for a short period of time, to allow her to experience a minimum amount of [Interaction with other people, other than family and servants] as a n.o.ble daughter. The basic educations for a n.o.bleman are taught by the va.s.sals, servants, tutors, etc. in each house, so there"s really no room to play.
… However, there seems to be a terrible place to learn factions and power relations. And the aristocratic girl"s school attendees never talked about the opposite s.e.x.
On the other side, Count Bozes spent his youth doing things, from training sword techniques to running around playing stupid games, making many acquaintances and lifelong friends, and building connections. It seems that the conditions are a little bit different in the boy"s school he went to. He asked his wife on several occasion, but she was not telling him anything.
(Note: What did he ask though? The cause of the discord between the two wives maybe?)
Anyway, the relationship between Marchioness Tin.o.berg and Countess Bozes were the worst.
As one would expect, if it"s just a debutante party or a birthday party or anniversary party, they"ll just ignore each other minimizing contact. They"re, more or less, have the common-sense regarding time and place.
But in this occasion, the minimum amount of contact is required, as this time, the host of the party is Marquees Tin.o.berg, and it is the Marchioness birthday party.
It doesn"t require to interact with the other family, you don"t have to worry about the children, and the party is held in their own home ground.
The Marchioness couldn"t avoid it anymore. And of course, Iris too…
The fiery battle between a dragon and a manticore is unavoidable at this point, and Count Bozes could only hold his head.
(Note: What was his name again? Lol I faintly remember he introduced his name in the early chapters)
"I"ll go, of course" (Iris-sama)
"Eh…" (Count Bozes)
You don"t want to refuse? Do you really do not want to refuse? I think it"s better if you just go refuse it … (Count Bozes)
The Count who thought so could only accept the fate.
"I can"t accept if they think I"m running away from the fight in a disadvantaged place, you see" (Iris-sama)
"So, you admit there will be a fight…" (Count Bozes)
Count Bozes has given up on everything.
Iris-sama is acting like the usual iris-sama.
"If the battlefield is at a disadvantaged place, all you need to do is have enough weapons to overcome the disadvantage" (Iris-sama)
"Eh?" (Count Bozes)
Count Bozes had no idea what his wife were saying.
However, when he saw his wife sneering at his face, he knew well that it wouldn"t be a good thing.
Aristocratic parties do not greet the host right after the party started, unlike j.a.panese ordinary party. The number of guests gradually increasing, the conversation progressed in each group, and after a certain period of time, the organizer initiated the greeting event. It was made so because it was difficult to gather the guests to attend the party exactly on time.
And arriving on time was considered rude and it was natural that the guests would arrive a little late on purpose, around the time where it was almost all the invited guest to gather.
"Dear guests, welcome to my birthday party tonight" (?)
Marchioness Tin.o.berg who was escorted by the Marquees rose on the stage and began to greet the guests. And there was the incredibly uneasy Count Bozes who bitterly seeing his strangely calm Wife.
His wife who wearing a simple light shawl dress with a wide-open chest area is beautiful. While the Count gazing at the same appearance when he first met his wife, the Marchioness"s greeting was over. Then, the Marchioness descends from the stage and walks straight to this place
(Aaaaaaaaaaa….) (Count Bozes Inner Scream)
Even I can"t do anything at this point (Count Bozes)
Thinking so, Count Bozes gave up on everything.
Behind the marchioness who walking towards this place, there is Marquees Tin.o.berg who has the same look as Count Bozes.
"Ara, Countess Bozes, have you come to celebrate my birthday?" (Marchioness Tin.o.berg)
They were former cla.s.smates, but never call each other by their first names.
"Indeed, I heard that the Marchioness is getting another year, so I"m hoping to see that moment, ho-ho-ho!" (Iris-sama)
Bikku-! (Annoyed SFX)
A blue line appeared near the Marchioness"s Forehead.
"Arara, ho-ho-ho!" (Marchioness Tin.o.berg)
" "Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho" " (Both ladies)
The surroundings were wrapped in silence, and the face of the guests were stiffened.
(I want to go home…) (Count Bozes)
"Right, my husband gave me this as a birthday present…" (Marchioness)
Saying that, the Marchioness who wearing a shawl like iris, reached her bosom. And what appeared underneath is…
" " " "Ooohhh!" " " " (Crowds)
A commotion coming from the gallery.
It was a brilliant red ruby pendant. A brilliant color and size, glowing without any impurities.
The Marchioness, holding the pendant on top of her hand so that everyone could take a better look, presented it in front of Iris in casual manner. Doing that, the Marchioness put a proud smile on her face.
The Marchioness never mention the [Difference between Marquees and Count] in her fights against Iris. It depends on their husband"s status and has nothing to do with their difference.
But this time is different. The jewel is her personal belonging. And a fruit of her contribution to her husband at that. In other words, this pendant is a [Proof of her capability].
And the Marchioness who wanted to enjoy the vexed face of Iris, felt something odd. … Iris stays calm there unwavering. On the contrary, she smirks slightly.
(…Eh?) (Marchioness)
Right, Iris already expected this.
Because she offered her maids an opportunity by saying [Make friend with the maids of Marquees Tin.o.berg. I"ll give you some pocket money for that].
The maids jumped at the chance to earn extra money to pay for their needs of sweets and sundries. Then the maids spent their free days with the Marquees Tin.o.berg"s maids in a sweet shop, they quickly became friends. They"re gladly talked about their employer"s wife is buying a great jewel that seems to cost a lot of expenses.
That was what Iris was planned.
"Ara, I also received a gift from my husband. Though it is not something such as a birthday present…" (Iris-sama)
With that said, Iris reached under her shawl.
And what appeared from underneath is…
" " " "…….." " " " (Crowds)
Silence. It was eerily quiet.
Yes, it was [That].
The thing that should not exist in this world.
Forget the Queen, it would not strange if it was something that the G.o.ddess would wear.
No, that"s wrong, [It would be strange if someone other than the G.o.ddess wore it].
A divine pearl necklace with each of them shaped close perfect spheres, large, thick and uniform in color and grain.
(… I won!) (Iris-sama)
Seeing the Marchioness stiffened face appalled, Iris curved her lips slightly upward.(Note: Gosh do I hate stuffy kanjis. It"s difficult to determine the English word of it. I apologies if the writing style is a bit weird)