The Earl’s Banquet

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

Despite the various trials he faced, Liszt finally arrived in Collins without any major incidents.

Once inside the city, the name of Earl Bridges proved effective, and he was able to meet the nobleman smoothly.

"Ha ha ha! Mr. Liszt, I apologize for the scare you received," Earl Bridges exclaimed, laughing heartily as he patted Liszt on the shoulder after finishing their business discussion in the study.

"However, this was unavoidable; as you know, the situation has been a bit unsettled recently."

Liszt could only respond with a wry smile.

"Let me invite you to a banquet tonight. It would be a good opportunity for me to introduce you to some of the prominent figures in Collins," the Earl offered.

Liszt quickly stood up and bowed, "Ah, thank you, Your Excellency."

Such an upper-class banquet would greatly aid him in expanding his business; the Earl had done him a huge favor.

Following the Earl's suggestion, Liszt took some time to explore the local customs and culture.

As the sun set, he returned to Earl Bridges's residence.

After changing into a locally styled formal outfit, he was guided by servants to the banquet hall.

The hall was already illuminated with many torches and candles, shining brightly like daytime. Delightful music floated through the air, as the Earl had specially invited entertainers to liven up the banquet.

Many guests had already arrived, both men and women, all dressed elegantly. Some were gathered chatting, while others danced to the coastal dances in the ballroom.

A long, obviously expensive carpet ran down the center of the hall, making a soft and quiet sound underfoot. Liszt walked along the carpet, passing small groups of guests until he arrived at a rectangular dining table made up of four long tables in the center of the hall.

"Oh! Look, our Aldorian guest has arrived!" Earl Bridges stood up as he saw Liszt approaching.

"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce this gentleman. He is Mr. Friedrich Liszt, the trade representative for Aldor's Northwestern Bay shipping company here in Collins. Let us welcome him! Their merchant ships are larger and more numerous than those shabby little boats of the coastal merchants," the Earl declared.

As soon as the Earl finished speaking, applause erupted from the surrounding guests.

"Thank you all; it's an honor to visit your beautiful country," Liszt said, relieved. He had been quite anxious before.

Coming from a common background, he had always held a deep respect for the nobility, and he had worried about being looked down upon when entering the hall, but it seemed he had overthought it.

Earl Bridges introduced him to those nearby, and indeed, many of them were significant figures—either high-ranking officials from the court or senior clerics from the church.

Liszt was a bit taken aback; it was his first time experiencing such a grand affair.

Although Collins was a small country compared to Aldor, with territory encompassing only the city of Collins and a few nearby towns and villages, it still qualified as a kingdom, albeit a small one.

He had suddenly found himself interacting with the upper echelons of an entire nation.

However, Liszt soon understood why these dignitaries treated him so kindly.

"The Todd Shipping Company? I've heard of it; it's a very large shipping merchant association," one guest remarked.

"Mr. Liszt, you are the first Aldor merchant to arrive in Collins. Please tell your fellow countrymen to stop enduring the exploitation of those coastal merchants. Avoid those greedy fellows and come directly to us for trade," another suggested.

"I've seen your goods; they are excellent. We're not complaining about the prices, but the coastal merchants' tactics of raising prices are clearly taking advantage of us," yet another added.

More than one person expressed such strong sentiments.

"Uh… I will try my best to convey that, ha ha," Liszt responded vaguely.

But he knew that if he wanted to do business with these inland countries, he couldn't bypass the coastal nations; while Aldor had land routes to the inland regions of Collins, the transportation capacity was low and costs were high. Moreover, Aldor was dotted with territories, creating numerous checkpoints from north to south, particularly through the lands of the rebellious Giles and Vibern families.

Given this, he wondered if those coastal countries would impose heavy taxes on the Todd Shipping Company, the pioneer in the inland trade, to set an example. After all, those countries thrived on their middleman role.

The good news was that Aldor's (Northwestern Bay) commercial prowess had made a name for itself in this region, reaching even the inland city of Collins.

However, Earl Bridges's banquet was not held solely for Liszt; soon, guests began forming small circles, engaging in their own conversations.

Liszt attempted to join some of the discussions, but he quickly realized that the social class difference created a natural barrier. At times, guests would share a joke that sent everyone around them into laughter, while he remained confused about the punchline.

In the coastal nations, where commerce flourished, the lines between nobility and wealthy commoners were blurred, making it easier for Liszt to fit in. However, the nobility of these inland countries clearly formed their own distinct society, which he found difficult to navigate.

To avoid embarrassment, he decided to wander through the array of delicacies with his wine glass in hand.

The exquisite food, silver utensils, and fragrant wines all showcased the high living standards of the nobility, no different from the upper-class society along the coast.

Although the economy here was less developed due to geographical reasons, it did not affect the indulgent lifestyles of the ruling class.

Before long, he noticed someone who seemed a bit like him.

A young man, tall and thin, with curly brown hair, dressed much more simply compared to the elegantly attired guests, sat alone at a dining table, standing out awkwardly from his surroundings.

His gaze was fixed on the distance, and a look of anxiety was evident in his eyes.

Liszt wondered if he was secretly admiring someone from afar—perhaps a poor young man who, by chance, had entered high society and had fallen for a noble girl, but the vast difference in their social standings forced him to silently guard her from a distance. Liszt mentally conjured a series of common romantic novel scenarios.

He followed the young man's gaze but only saw a group of affluent men engaged in lively conversation.

Well, it seemed he had guessed wrong.

"Hey! Hello, I'm Friedrich Liszt. Nice to meet you," he said, feeling a sudden urge to connect with someone who felt out of place.

"Uh, hello… Ah, you're the Aldor guest from earlier. Nice to meet you; I'm Cable," the young man replied, seemingly distracted.

Noticing his preoccupation, he quickly added, "I apologize, Mr. Liszt. My mind is a bit chaotic right now."

Liszt waved his hand dismissively. "No problem. If you have something on your mind, feel free to share. Maybe I can offer you some advice."

"Um…"

After a moment of hesitation, the young man finally spoke.

"Alright, it's been bothering me, so I might as well share it with you; perhaps as a foreigner, you can understand the injustice I feel."

"Injustice?" Liszt frowned, sensing that the situation was not simple, but what did it have to do with him being a foreigner?

Cable continued, "To be specific, it's the injustice my mother faces. She… she's been accused of witchcraft."

Witchcraft?

Liszt's frown deepened. That was a deadly term in these sensitive times.

However, at the same time, a striking figure floated into his mind.

(End of the Chapter)

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