Chapter 369: The Banquet Continues…

The auntie and the attendant man left me and walked toward the banquet. They walk with a noshi noshi feel as if cutting the wind with their shoulders. The people greeting the auntie speak something smiling but when the mistress passes they have faces as if they put a bug in their mouths. Then they look my way and laugh.

When I walk that way the laughter toward me settles and changes to some subtle smiles. An air mixed of it is a shame I did not become that auntie’s prey, or I was lucky, that kind of thing it seems.

For me they are all people I do not know so it is nothing particular, but it does not feel very good. And on the son the feel of being touched by that auntie still remains and it feels as if some sticky thing is attached. Is this the residue of that woman’s magic that makes any man stand? Does that woman mean she has eaten boys thoroughly before me too? What happened to those boys I wonder? A feeling of wanting to know and not wanting to know. Getting absorbed in that auntie for one night, what happens? If there are two boys does that auntie eat both? A feeling of peeking at a door that must not be opened.

After that as always I am looked at from a distance by the girls and rumored. After a while two girls came in front of me. At this kind of seat is courtesy not needed? Because they are children it is fine, or because it is the country it is omitted? I am a little taken aback.

"Um, I would like to ask your name, what are you called? Did you come to Eisleben territory together with Her Majesty?"

One child asks with a face gone bright red. The other child too has a face full of expectation.

"I am called Robin Marie. I came as an attendant of Her Majesty’s procession."

At my words the girls look at each other with faces of as expected!

"Lord Marie, you came from the royal capital! Please tell us stories of the royal capital no matter what! I hear the royal capital is far larger than here, is it true? The royal palace is said to be very large, how large is it? I hear there are various shops in the town, how is it?"

The two ask things like a young girl asking questions. I too have not lived that long in the royal capital and I hardly know shops either, so here I can only gloss over suitably. But the bite toward a same-generation boy from the royal capital is terrible and they will not release me easily. At first they took a proper distance but in the end they edged right in front of me. At last their two parents called and the two finally left. When I noticed I had not even heard the two’s names. Released I felt relieved.

Then a known face passed in front of my eyes.

"Ann, please give me something to drink."

Ann turns her brown hair and looks at me. She has it in a bun but hair loosened from the chignon is waving.

"This is Lord Robbie! You were in a place like this? Now, which is good? Though I say that I only have wine so if you wish something different I will bring it."

When I look at Ann the dark feeling of being attacked by the auntie earlier is washed. Those girls could not refresh me.

"Wine is fine. Ann looks busy? Called as support it is hard I suppose?"

At my question Ann looks around,

"Nnn, it is not that busy. We are support and only have the meaning of adding flowers so even if we do not work that much we are not scolded. And if you wish it is all right to take me out?"

Take out, is that the meaning of the word itself?

"Eh! Really?"

"Yes, really, ufufu. Greasy old men I dislike but Lord Robbie I greatly welcome."

Ann puts on airs.

"But will you not be scolded?"

"Araa, do you mind that kind of thing? But, ufuh, is that not also entertaining a guest? In a very wide meaning!"

Ann says it with upturned eyes. The maid clothes Ann is wearing cover to the neck and the skirt covers the knees so it is not sexy at all and I cannot even imagine that kind of thing can be done, and no one would think she was called as that kind of personnel. Ara? Perhaps everyone knows and only I do not know?

"If you say entertain it is certainly so but I am surprised even that kind of thing is thought of."

That is a grateful system, yes.

"Ufufu, is that so? But guests who get drunk and try to play pranks on the mansion maids always appear. At those times we take those guests as partners. Then the guest is satisfied, the mansion maids are not troubled, and we receive more money than usual, so no one is troubled."

Certainly that is so, it is well made.

"I see! But is that kind of place prepared? Do you go outside?"

"It is all right! Inside there are not only nobles who take us as partners but nobles who get heated and do it, so you cannot stay overnight but those rooms are prepared."

Come to think of it the auntie earlier may have said that kind of thing too.

"Amazing, preparations complete!"

"That is that kind of thing, yes? Because tonight Her Majesty came all the way from the royal capital and nobles from the whole territory have gathered almost as if all of them gathered. Being able to see Her Majesty is a once-in-a-lifetime thing so everyone is terribly excited. Therefore it would not be strange if men and women who happen to meet hit it off and exchange feeling. From earlier there are people who disappeared to the back rooms. And I hear at this meeting place young noble sons and daughters’ feelings also rise. Even a maid, if she is seen and taken by a lord of some town her feeling moves too, yes? If there is that kind of thing I hear the upper ones overlook it."

How she teaches concretely. The mansion people would not teach this I suppose. At a royal palace banquet is there this kind of system too? Then I will try asking in connection with the thing earlier.

"I see. In fact just now I was approached by a terribly disgusting auntie and I cannot stand how disgusting it is. I want to purify myself."

"Ah that person!? That person is the female lord of a nearby town. A terribly famous person and rumor says every banquet and ball she eats young men to pieces. Lord Robbie almost fell to her poison fang too. Among lords there are ones who prepare a sacrifice pretty boy so their own son does not fall to the poison fang I hear. Condolences. Ufu."

Hearing Ann’s words my back went zoku zoku. It was a close place!

"If I am all right I will be your partner? What will you do?"

Ann’s eyes show a suspicious color.

"But is it all right to slip out from now?"

Being told that far there is no way I do not feel like it. But I am a little worried.

"That is up to Lord Robbie but it will not be until morning, yes? If it is a little while no one minds."

If it is not all night it is fine.

"I see. I was worried I would be suspected where I went."

Ann laughs, puts the drink tray she is holding on a table,

"Ara, you need not worry that kind of thing! Then shall we go?"

"Eh, where do we go?"

"When you leave the hall there is someone at the door so if you say please guide us to a room it is fine."

Ann who knows everything.

"A-all right! Shall we go!"

"Yes! Yatta! But I will receive money, is that all right?"

"Nn, how much?"

"Eeh, because it is Lord Robbie one silver coin!"

"Understood, fine."

Even if one silver coin were one gold coin it would have been fine. Getting off a ship I have already boarded is impossible.

"Ufufu! Then let us go!"

I was led by Ann and left the hall to the corridor.