Birthday Invitation
Translator: Cinder Translations
...
In the scorching July weather, as the evening descended upon the small city of Buteya, the day's hustle and bustle came to an end. Residents finished their work, hurrying home for dinner, or gathered in groups of three or five at the taverns, enjoying chilled beer with ice-cold water.
At the western city gate, the guards occasionally glanced up at the setting sun, hoping it would descend quickly so they could close the gates and change shifts.
It was at this moment they spotted a carriage slowly approaching Buteya from the west, accompanied by several mounted escorts.
At this time of day, it was rare for anyone to enter the city. The guards squinted and carefully observed the approaching carriage, gradually discerning its details. They noticed a flag flying atop it, depicting a fierce dragon with bared teeth and claws.
The squad leader of the guards recognized the emblem on the flag: "It's the carriage of the Grayman family."
He immediately ordered the soldier closest to him, "Quickly, ride my horse and inform Lord Ankiro that representatives of the Grayman family have arrived."
The soldier promptly obeyed, rushing inside the gate to fetch a horse. Soon, the sound of hooves faded into the distance.
The squad leader intercepted the carriage, loudly inquiring, "May I ask which noble from the Alden region is inside?"
The carriage driver steadied the horse, and the door opened to reveal an elderly man with a white beard and kindly eyes. He smiled and said, "I am Baron Wackley Ford, Chief Seal Steward of Alden, here to visit your Lord Earl Ganard and to deliver an invitation to my lord's birthday banquet."
The squad leader respectfully replied, "So it is, Baron. Please allow me to escort you to the Lord's Manor."
Old Ford agreed, climbed into the carriage, and the driver urged the horses forward, following the squad leader into the city.
...
At the front of Lord Ganard's Manor in Buteya, four men stood to welcome Chief Steward Ford. Leading them was Viscount Ankiro, the Chief Seal Steward of Byerldine, followed by Viscount Ebbert, Baron Amos, and Baron Brow.
After Baron Ford disembarked, he greeted each of them in turn, and after exchanging pleasantries, they entered the Lord's Manor.
Upon entering the hall, the Butler Miles approached them, "Gentlemen, please wait a moment. Dinner is being prepared and will take some time."
They all sat down in the hall and Baron Ford explained the purpose of his visit, "Lord Paul Grayman's birthday falls on July 20th. I have been sent as Chief Seal Steward to invite his blood-sworn brother, Earl Malon Ganard, to attend the birthday banquet."
The four nobles listened in silence for a while. Then, after a period of quiet contemplation, Viscount Ebbert, a middle-aged man whose figure reminded one of a wine barrel, spoke up, "We will send birthday gifts. As for Lord Ganard..."
"Lord Ganard will certainly attend!" interrupted Steward Ankiro suddenly, a lean man with a sharp gaze.
He paid no heed to the fleeting dissatisfaction in Baron Brow's eyes or the slight confusion in the other two's gazes, continuing, "Surely the Earl will be delighted to receive the invitation from his blood-sworn brother!"
Baron Ford chuckled softly, "That's for certain. Though they're so close, it's been several years since they last met."
"Ahh," sighed Steward Ankiro sadly, shaking his head. "A few months ago, at Lord Grayman's funeral, they could have met. Unfortunately, Lord Ganard wasn't feeling well at the time. For his health's sake, we didn't let him attend. After all, a funeral atmosphere isn't suitable for the ill. So I went in his place as the Earl's proxy."
Baron Ford nodded understandingly, "Now they can finally get together properly. So, where is the Earl?"
"Oh, the Earl will be here shortly."
Just then, the steward Miles called out loudly from the hall, "Earl Ganard arrives!"
In walked a slightly plump, blond young man, around sixteen years old and nearly as tall as Paul. He was Lord of Byerldine, Paul's blood-sworn brother—Malon Ganard.
Baron Ford hurriedly rose to greet him. Malon gestured for him to sit beside him, then accepted the invitation handed over by the steward with both hands.
"Baron, it's been a while," said the Lord of Byerldine, opening the invitation and examining it carefully. He wore a very pleased expression before turning to Steward Ankiro and asking, "Uncle Ankiro, may I attend Paul's birthday banquet?"
Steward Ankiro immediately stood up and replied, "Certainly, my Lord. Even amidst studies and work, celebrating your blood-sworn brother's birthday is only right."
"Since you don't object, and it's been a long time since we've seen each other, why not depart with Baron Ford tomorrow?" suggested Malon.
Baron Ford concurred, "I think that's a good idea. It's always more convenient to travel together." Even if Malon hadn't suggested it, he would have.
Just as the portly Viscount Ebbert was about to speak, Ankiro interjected, "Of course, that's fine. This way, the Earl can spend a few extra days with his friends."
Old Ford breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. It seemed the trip was going smoothly. He had already prepared a slew of reasons in his mind to convince Malon to leave with him tomorrow.
The steward came to announce that dinner was ready. The group moved to the dining room, where Malon kept pestering Baron Ford for stories about Alden's pirate eradication efforts, much to the old steward's frequent rueful smiles.
During the meal, Ford asked why, apart from Steward Ankiro, Ganard's other vassals had gathered in Buteya.
The answer came that the lord's direct military force had already been sent south under the command of the only vassal familiar with the military, Baron Andrew, to join Princess Catherine in suppressing the rebels. They had brought their private troops to protect their lord's safety and maintain order in the capital.
As for the royal commissioners stationed in Byerldine, they had reportedly gone south with Baron Andrew but were expected to return soon.
...
After dinner, Baron Ford was escorted to his guest room to rest, while Ganard's four vassals bid Malon farewell and returned to their respective residences.
However, once they left the Lord's Manor, they all ended up at Ankiro's house.
"Are you out of your mind, Ankiro! You just let that kid slip out of our grasp?" In a secluded chamber, Ebbert demanded angrily of Ankiro.
"Hmph!" Ankiro glanced at him with disdain. "What else could I do? Refuse to let the boy go celebrate his brother's birthday in front of Ford? The old man would have sensed something was amiss immediately."
Ebbert stared back at Ankiro, teeth clenched in frustration. "If anything happens then, you'll... you'll bear full responsibility."
Ankiro snapped back, "We're all tied together. None of us can escape. Rumors are already circulating that we're up to no good with Malon Ganard, not to mention the old Ganard affair. Letting him go for a walk helps clear our names."
Ebbert remained unconvinced, sparking a heated argument with Ankiro.
The other two lords exchanged glances but couldn't get a word in edgewise between the two viscounts.
(End of the Chapter)