101 – Levis’ Birthday Party
While crossing the road through the Thorns Ridge, Liszt felt very satisfied. When he first arrived at the Flower Town, crossing this road would give one heart palpitations, fearing that magic bests could appear at any time. Now that the field of view was expanded, people no longer had to fear sneak-attacks from magic beasts. Also, although still b.u.mpy, the dirt road had changed beyond recognition, turning into a gravel road.
While atop his already pregnant mare, Marcus, lagging by half a horse, followed Liszt who was atop Blackdragon.
Fully armed and fearless of the hot weather, he carefully scrutinized their surroundings. He was not only a household teacher responsible for giving Liszt knight cultivation lessons, but was also a knight who was instructed to protect Liszt by the count. In some states, such a knight would be called a chief knight, yet this system was not espoused by the grand duchy.
Behind Liszt and Marcus followed the fief’s defense officer Karl Eisenhammer.
He didn’t had to come, but – perhaps just taking advantage of this opportunity to do some sightseeing around the Coral City as well as declaring his loyalty – he still volunteered to protect Liszt.
On both side of Karl, going side by side with him, were Philip Wool and Xavier Oxdung. The two young retainer knights, whose talents were not bad, took the lead in their squad in cultivating qi.
Further in the back was Röhm Weinfa.s.s, who had also succeeded in cultivating qi the day before yesterday. As one of Liszt’s four earliest retainer knights, with his hard work and diligence, Röhm had finally made a progress. Liszt immediately appointed him as the patrol captain to a.s.sist Karl in the control of the patrol.
It was a pity that the other two of the four earliest retainer knights, Gray Sickle and Oden Insole, had yet to cultivate qi.
Marcus had already given up on teaching these two. As they were too lacking in terms of talent and had missed the period of youth, they were hopeless. Liszt let them take posts as a.s.sistant officials – one was to a.s.sist the law officer Blair and the other was to a.s.sist the treasurer Isaiah.
Liszt was not indifferent to his people, a.s.signing them good positions.
At the far back of the procession were four young knights. They were part of the knight squad and were only second to Philip and Xavier. They also succeeded in cultivating qi and were similarly transferred to serve as Liszt’s retainer knights. As for the other members of the knight squad, they were still hard at work in the town.
There was still the gentleman’s valet Thomas.
The procession comprised of eleven people and eleven horses left a dust cloud in its wake.
As there were many mares, the procession didn’t travel too fast, but it still arrived at the Tulip Castle surrounded by tulips at about half past ten o’clock in the morning.
“Oh, dear Brother, you have finally come, I have been here waiting for you for a while already.” Levis, dressed in a festival best frac habillé, had an aristocratic smile plastered on his face.
With open arms, he welcomed Liszt.
Liszt descended from his mount and, while adopting a similarly warm welcome etiquette, also opened his arms, and embraced Levis: “Dear Brother, I wish you a happy birthday.”
“Thank you for your well wishes.”
Liszt beckoned Thomas and his retained knights standing behind him: “Bring the gift I prepared.”
The gift was handed to the a.s.sistant butler Silva standing behind Levis.
“What is it? The package is big, it seems like you have spent a lot on this gift.” Levis let a servingman open it. According to the social custom, presents had to be opened in front of the party who gifted them.
The gift was very beautifully packaged.
First were big-bowl-sized coconuts wrapped in cloth. They looked very outstanding, carrying the faint fragrance of coconut milk.
“These are fragrant coconuts, the coconut milk inside is very fragrant and sweet. Open one and have a sip to see how sweet and delicious it is.” Exaggerated Liszt. Yet in fact, it was just a bit better than the ordinary coconut milk from Earth.
However, fruit juice that could be directly drunk was quite unique.
Levis, as expected, became curious: “Coconut milk? There is milk inside this fruit?”
“That’s right.”
“Amazing, I can’t wait to taste it.” Then, Levis turned to look at the other side of the package, which had a small pouch containing some things, “What are these?”
“It’s seafood.”
“Seafood?”
“Brother, don’t think of it as the common seafood. This is the most precious seafood salvaged by the fishermen. Especially the oysters…” Liszt moved closer to Levis, “With it, you can do it all night long, if you know what I mean.”
Levis’ eyes lit up: “Right, this is indeed very precious. Thank you, Liszt, dear Brother. This is the best gift I received on my birthday.”
Although still hadn’t married, but there was nowhere written that an unmarried aristocrat could not have a bunch of mistresses.
Once the gift was received, the pair of brothers walked side by side into the castle.
The castle’s hall had already been crowded with aristocrats of different statuses.
Apart from the two viscounts, who had sent their sons, the barons and chevaliers came to congratulate in person. After all, Levis was the successor to the Coral Island, the future count of the Coral Island, their next ruler.
“It’s quite lively.” Liszt had to adopt the standard aristocratic smile and greet the aristocrats who came to partic.i.p.ate in the birthday banquet. Although he was not fond of such social intercourse that required the display of a persona, but as a member of the aristocracy, such a charade was essential to maintain the aristocratic dignity.
After a round of greetings, Liszt was ready to go pay the count a formal visit. However, after asking Levis, he learnt that the count had already left the Coral Island: “A messenger brought Grand Duke’s order – the directly subordinated lords are to leave for the Blue Dragon Island to discuss this year’s expedition decree. In fact, I am already training a knight order in preparations to follow Father to the continent at any time.”
The expedition decree was the most popular decree among the Sapphire Grand Duchy’s aristocrats.
The decree was very simple. In response to the Steel Ridge Kingdom’s call, leave for the continent to plunder reaches and in particular mineral mines. The goal was to fight over gold, silver, copper, iron, aluminium, and the various gems.
The Steel Ridge Kingdom and the Eagle Kingdom were in feud, with the dragons of both states frequently engaging each other. Therefore, almost every year, a large-scale war would break out between both states for the purpose of plundering the other party’s minerals. The Sapphire Grand Duchy was a va.s.sal state of the Steel Ridge Kingdom, and although it was not strong, but its hara.s.sment from the sea was quite menacing.
In those days, the count had gone deep into the Eagle Kingdom’s hinterland, plundered at least two hundred thousand tons of an iron mine’s iron ore in one fell swoop.
Reportedly, the ships carrying the iron ore at the time were so numerous that they resembled ants.
With such a great loss, the Eagle Kingdom’s king was furious, sending a dragon knight to intercept the fleet. Yet, the dragon knight was blocked by the Steel Ridge Kingdom’s dragon knight. It was also thanks to this military achievement that Marquis Merlin Longtaro, the captain of the court’s fleet, became impressed with Leewilliam’s capability and married his daughter Melissa to him.
Liszt had been hearing this tale from a young age. At each banquet, the aristocrats recalling the past would always bring this tale up in order to flatter the count.
Unfortunately, however, the Eagle Kingdom had been attaching great importance to its coastline defense ever since that military achievement, depriving the enemy of a opportunity to replicate such a glorious military achievement.
Since then, by spilling the blood of knights, they could only redeem a small amount of metal and gem ore every year.
“Brother, are you also going to the battlefield?” Liszt was a little surprised.
“That’s right. I am twenty three years old and although I am still not married, but I am already old enough. If I don’t go to the battlefield, it will become a blemish of mine.”
Liszt shook his head, feigning to be pitiful: “I don’t have a qualified knight squad and don’t even have a chance to go to the battlefield. Brother, I would really like to fight side by side with you and seize the glory of knights.”
In fact, he didn’t want to go to the battlefield. He was satisfied with smoothly and steadily cultivating the fields at home. There were so many neglected islands in the sea to be developed; therefore, what was the point in insisting on going to the continent and spilling blood there?