"I don’t have anything else to take care of. Once everything is wrapped up, I’ll head back to the estate." Ghislain had originally come to the capital to sell cosmetics and establish a connection with the marquis. Now that his goal was achieved, there was no reason to linger. His plan was to return to the estate as soon as the arrangements for the slaves and the migration of the new residents were finalized. However, it seemed Marquis Branford had other ideas. "Good. I'll be hosting a banquet soon. The best way to become acquainted with the nobles and build connections is to attend such gatherings. You should join me and Rosaline at a gathering of the influential nobles." "I appreciate your consideration, but there’s really no need." Ghislain thought that his connections with Marquis Branford and Meriel were more than enough. Now that he had achieved his goals, he saw no point in meeting more nobles. It would be a waste of time and energy. But Marquis Branford ignored Ghislain’s refusal and continued calmly. "Since I am now your patron, it's only proper that you greet the other nobles in our faction. They’ll be more inclined to support you in the future if you do. And building connections with nobles outside our faction could also prove beneficial." Internally, Ghislain scoffed. ‘Who knows more about the nobles of this kingdom than me?’ While he might not have met many of them face-to-face, Ghislain already knew a great deal about the more prominent nobles. He felt there was no need to waste time trying to build relationships with them. "I’m fine staying at the mansion..." "Attend." Marquis Branford’s firm command cut him off, and Ghislain pouted in frustration. With such a direct order, he had no choice but to go. ‘Ugh, what a pain...’ Grumbling internally, Ghislain reconsidered his attitude. The fact that the marquis insisted so strongly meant he was seriously committed to supporting him. Since he was already here, he figured it wouldn’t hurt to explore and see if there were any opportunities to glean useful ideas that could be applied to the Fenris estate or to spot flaws in his plans. "Alright, I’ll take a break here for a while." "I’ll send someone to notify you when everything is ready. Try not to get into trouble while you wait." It seemed the marquis was beginning to understand what kind of person Ghislain was, based on his warning not to cause any trouble. A few days later, a grand banquet was held at the Branford estate. Since it was an open event, the hall was packed with nobles. The early arrivals chatted amongst themselves as they awaited the start of the festivities. Unsurprisingly, many noblewomen were abuzz with gossip about Rosaline. "Did you hear? They say Rosaline is fully cured." "I’ve heard that too, but it could be just a rumor. If she were really cured, she would’ve attended social gatherings by now, wouldn’t she?" The rumor of Rosaline’s recovery had already spread across the capital, but since she hadn’t appeared in public yet, no one could confirm the truth. Soon, the conversation shifted from Rosaline to Ghislain. "I heard her skin disease was cured by using Baron Fenris’ cosmetics." "Come on, that sounds ridiculous. How could cosmetics cure something priests and doctors couldn’t?" "Well, the cosmetics are good, though, aren’t they?" Once Rosaline’s treatment had concluded, the blockade around the Crow Mansion had been lifted, and the sale of cosmetics resumed. The products were still selling well, but no one truly believed they could cure diseases. The rumors persisted simply because the cosmetics were so popular. "Isn’t this banquet being held for Baron Fenris?" "Yes, I heard the marquis decided to become his patron." "That’s got to be a rumor, too, right?" The nobles gossiped with skepticism about the news. Why would Marquis Branford, of all people, choose to back some country noble? However, since the rumors came from sources close to the royalist faction, it was hard to completely dismiss them. Most attendees were anxious to confirm the rumors about both Rosaline and Ghislain. "The Marquis Branford has arrived!" At the entrance of the hall, a servant’s loud announcement drew everyone’s attention. All heads bowed as Marquis Branford entered and took his seat at the head of the banquet hall. Immediately, nobles began approaching to greet him. It was rare for Marquis Branford to attend or host such gatherings, so none of the nobles wanted to miss this chance to curry favor. "Your Excellency, please accept this humble gift." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦 "This is a rare item from the western region..." Nobles presented their gifts one by one. But Marquis Branford barely glanced at the offerings, merely nodding as he muttered, "Thank you." Despite the lackluster response, the nobles were still pleased to have made an impression. Soon, the gifts piled up—treasures worth enough to fund a small estate for several years. As the procession of gifts was winding down, the servant at the entrance called out again, this time with a much louder voice. "Baron Fenris has arrived!" All eyes turned toward the entrance. Just as Marquis Branford had planned. While slightly unconventional, as the most powerful figure in the kingdom, the marquis’s reputation could easily withstand minor breaches in protocol. Boom! The doors swung open, and Ghislain stepped into the banquet hall. Marquis Branford’s lips curled into a smile when he saw Ghislain’s expression. It was a look of pure displeasure. Ghislain wasn’t scared or nervous—he was simply annoyed by the situation. His face clearly showed how much he despised being there. And despite being the focus of so many noble gazes, he showed no sign of intimidation. ‘What a truly entertaining fellow.’ While Marquis Branford was amused, Ghislain was fighting to hold back his irritation. ‘Ugh, when is this going to end?’ He didn’t mind being the center of attention—when it was on his own terms. But being dragged into a situation like this, where he had to observe etiquette, was far from his preference. When Ghislain approached Marquis Branford’s side, the marquis rose from his seat and addressed the gathered crowd. "Some of you may have already heard, but I am officially Baron Fenris’ patron. When you see him, you should treat him as you would me." While it sounded like a request, it was very much a command. The nobles began whispering amongst themselves. "So the rumors were true." "Isn’t the Fenris estate basically worthless, even if he’s the heir to the border territory?" "He’s so young. What does he even know about running an estate?" Baron Fenris had gained some fame recently due to his cosmetics, but at the end of the day, he was nothing more than a merchant. He lacked the prestige to associate with someone like Marquis Branford. Even some of the royalist faction nobles shook their heads. "At a time like this, how could he back someone like that? Fenris is no better than Brivant." "I’m sure the marquis has his reasons." "It’s probably because he treated his daughter. He must’ve felt obligated to return the favor." These nobles clicked their tongues in disapproval. Because of Ghislain, the royalists' plans had been completely altered. Abandoning the Brivant estate in favor of the far less valuable Ferdium felt like a waste of resources. Although Marquis Branford had managed to push his decision through, many were still grumbling about it behind the scenes. Now the marquis faced a political burden because of Ghislain. "And that patronage... if he had to sponsor someone, there are plenty of better families with capable heirs." "I just don’t understand. He’s being given far too much for someone of his stature." "Let’s just wait and see what happens." This matter had caused tension even among the royalist nobles. Those who disliked Ghislain were increasingly frustrated. Unbothered by the murmurs, Marquis Branford continued. "And as some of you may know, my daughter Rosaline was cured thanks to Baron Fenris. This banquet also celebrates her recovery, so please enjoy yourselves." At his signal, the doors to the banquet hall opened once more. The servant's voice echoed through the hall. "Lady Rosaline Branford has arrived!" Rosaline slowly entered the banquet hall, instantly capturing everyone’s attention. Many had been eagerly waiting to see if the rumors of her recovery were true. As she walked, those close enough to see her up close gasped in awe. "Oh!" "It’s true! She’s really healed!" "She looks even better than before! Her skin is flawless!" The crowd erupted with excitement. To have cured a disease that even priests and doctors had given up on—how miraculous must these cosmetics be? "It’s hard to believe that mere cosmetics could outperform the priests." "Regardless, it’s clear that Baron Fenris knows his craft." "This product will become a legend!" Rosaline held her head high as she walked, drawing more admiration from the crowd. Among the onlookers, Meriel, standing with the other noblewomen, clasped her hands together in delight. ‘She’s really healed. Honestly, Marquis Branford could’ve shown her off earlier. Would it have hurt?’ While she was slightly miffed at not seeing Rosaline sooner, her joy at reconnecting with her outweighed any lingering disappointment. Rosaline offered a graceful nod in acknowledgment of the crowd’s applause. Her heart raced with emotion, her cheeks flushed with warmth. ‘To think I could stand here again like this...’ She had dreamt countless times of being able to stand before everyone again. Rosaline glanced toward Ghislain, who looked up at her with a playful smile and shrugged. With Rosaline’s entrance complete, Marquis Branford signaled the official start of the banquet. "Let the festivities begin." Music filled the hall, but no one moved. All eyes remained on Ghislain. The only sound was that of the orchestra. Not even a cough broke the silence. The reason was simple: the high-ranking nobles hadn’t yet made a move. Lower-ranking nobles, unsure of how to proceed, retreated, waiting for a signal from their betters. What was supposed to be a joyous celebration was instead filled with tension from all sides.