Craib had taken Arcus to bring the soma wine to Shinlu. The king had barely spared it a second glance as it was offered to him under his garden gazebo, but his attitude had changed completely upon taking a sip. He’d immediately pounced on Arcus with questions pertaining to whether there was any more to be had, and how much could be spared. Though Arcus had claimed the king was angry, perhaps irritated would have been a better term, for he complained to the young magician at length for keeping the wine’s existence from him. It had reminded Arcus of a child whining about being pushed out of a circle of friends; for the sake of Shinlu’s reputation, he dared not go into detail.
His description was nevertheless enough to make Louise double over with laughter. “Oh, I can hear him now!”
“Similar remarks were made to my uncle. Perhaps uncle bore the worst of it, for he had long known of the wine’s existence.”
“His Majesty and Crucible are close friends. How did you get out of there with your heads?”
“I name-dropped Gown. Once I informed His Majesty that it was a drink traditionally offered to elves and spirits, he laid his complaints to rest.”
Louise snickered. “Nice one.”
While the aethometer may have been the star of tonight’s show, the soma wine had picked up a number of adoring fans. Guests were hounding the waitstaff for second helpings and information on the wine’s origin. It required the royal family’s permission to sell and, as such, the staff’s lips were tightly sealed.
The potential for soma wine’s production would remain limited until Arcus received a domain of his own. For starters, creating a soma grove would be indispensable. Craib would have to put up with Shinlu’s nasty remarks for a while longer, but hopefully the regular provision of wine would make up for it.
Speaking of Craib, his presentation on the aethometer—which had only just wrapped up—was quite something. The way he highlighted the device’s potential at every opportunity reminded Arcus of a businessman or television presenter. Arcus hadn’t expected it of someone who was usually so brazen. Perhaps he wasn’t being fair. After all, his uncle had helped keep the aethometer’s development on track with plans and reports. The only reason Arcus hadn’t expected it of him was because he’d never seen Craib present like this before.
He was staring at his uncle now, allowing Louise to pick up on his thoughts.
“That aethometer of yours is going to blow minds.”
“I’m afraid I don’t follow, Lady Louise.”
“Playing dumb, are we? It’s pretty obvious, you know.” She grinned at him. Considering he had gone to her territory seeking silver, she had more reason to suspect him than most, and she gave the impression that she already did so at this party.
“Please, My Lady. The inventor has yet to be formally named.”
She laughed. “Yes, I guess the walls have ears. Don’t worry; I won’t let anything slip. Have you spoken with the dukes yet?”
“With Dukes Romalius and Zeele, yes. His Grace, Duke Saifice, could not make an appearance.”
“Yes, he’s getting on in years. I’m not surprised he couldn’t hack staying up this late.” Louise’s joke seemed to send the lord behind her into a panic.
“Duke Algucia appears to be absent as well.”
“The duke never comes to these things,” she replied simply.
“Oh?”
Seeing as he was close with Sue, Arcus had been eager to speak with her father at least once.
“I’ve never even seen him myself. That family’s a bit of a funny one.” Again, she roared with laughter.
It was beyond strange that even one of the ten monarchs hadn’t met him.
As Arcus frowned and muttered to himself, Louise leaned in with a sloppy grin. “You’re missing your little friend, huh?”
“That...that’s not it!”
“It’s all right! There’s nothing to be ashamed of. I already know how close you two are!”
He groaned. It was true that they were close, and he had been looking for her among the guests. It was impossible not to be nervous in a place like this, and he would have liked to talk to someone he was used to and could relax around. He had another look now, just to make sure he hadn’t missed her, but there was no sign of her.
Now that Craib was finished speaking, Arcus was able to catch sight of some of the more distinguished guests. Those of other nations and vassal states were approaching the royal family’s table one after another to greet the king. One of those guests was familiar to him: a woman in a military uniform whom Godwald had been showing around the Guild back around the time Arcus first met Gown.
“Meifa Darnénes,” Louise hummed.
“Of the Northern Confederation?”
Arcus recognized the name too. She was a talented woman, having become a consul of the Confederation despite being just shy of twenty. It was said that she had solidified her position with a series of executions shortly after her inheritance. Presently, she was speaking with Shinlu.
She wore her military jacket over her black dress. She had wavy, dark-blonde hair and smooth, snow-white skin with a healthy luster. Though one could glimpse the vestiges of childhood within her, she held herself with an intelligent dignity beyond her years.
“I didn’t realize Lainur was allied with the Northern Confederation,” Arcus said.
“It is, but only superficially.”
“Meaning what exactly?”
“The Confederation is an amalgamation of monarchs and lords that can’t all be painted with the same brush. Some of those leaders favor the Empire, some the kingdom, and some Ishtoria to the north.”
Louise’s description of the Confederation was nothing he hadn’t heard before. He had also heard that Meifa was vehemently against the Gillis Empire’s expansionist stance, and had strongly aligned herself with Lainur because of it.
“Meifa may claim she’s allied with the kingdom, but I’m sure she’d cut ties the moment she felt she didn’t need us anymore. Although, what with the aethometer in the picture, she’d be crazy to do so now.”
Arcus had to agree. If anything, Meifa would be deepening her alliance with the kingdom based on its anticipated future development. The consul had finished up her talk with Shinlu and was now excusing herself.
“She didn’t take long,” Louise remarked. “I bet the real conversation took place behind the scenes.”
True, the other guests had taken much more time in greeting the king—one of Arcus’s other acquaintances among them. His shoulders were as broad as two grown men, and he stood over two meters tall. His black hair was flecked with gray, he wore a long beard, and he was clad in a typical pirate captain’s uniform. It was Barbaros, the giant Arcus had once encountered in the capital.