Those invitees didn’t just include these chefs from the castle town, but also residents of the post town like Yumi, Tara, and Telia Mas. It was kind of difficult to imagine Lefreya mingling with people like them.
“The leading clan heads will have to be the ones to make the decision, so it may not be my place to comment, but...does Lefreya understand what sort of event a banquet at the forest’s edge is? They are very different from the banquets held in the castle town, from what I’ve seen.”
“Ah, as I recall, you were indeed invited to our house’s dance party as a chef, Lady Reina Ruu. But yes, Lady Lefreya is fully aware of how different it will be. It seems she has even heard from someone that you hold such events outside.” Her source was probably Diel, a metalwork seller we were both friends with. I remembered chatting with the young southerner about banquets at the forest’s edge before. “However, when nobles leave the castle town, they need to have a sufficient guard accompany them. After all, there is no guarantee that criminals would not attack her as she traveled between the castle town and the forest’s edge. At a minimum, I believe that she would bring twenty soldiers with her.”
“Would those soldiers also be participating in the banquet?”
“Ah, no. After arriving at the Ruu settlement, they would stand on guard by the entrance to the plaza. Since the rest of the settlement is surrounded by thick forest, it’s impossible to imagine that outlaws would be able to approach from any other direction. They would most certainly not interfere with the banquet.” Polarth, incidentally, had visited the Ruu settlement before to observe the match between Leiriss and Geol Zaza. Marstein clearly knew how it was situated as well, and had taken that into account before giving his approval. “Nonetheless, just having a noble personage present may be enough to cause the other invited guests to worry. So please, make sure you consider the matter carefully before answering.”
“Understood. In that case, we will make sure to discuss this with the townsfolk and get their consent as well.”
“Good. You should also put some thought into whether any of those townsfolk would try to do a noble harm.”
Reina Ruu thought for a moment with a serious look on her face, then replied, “I will convey that message. How should we send our response?”
“The banquet is only two days away now, correct? I am sorry for rushing you, but could you have your answer ready by tomorrow evening? I will send an envoy to the Ruu clan then. My deepest apologies for the imposition during such a busy time,” Polarth said, then he rose from his seat. “As for those of you who live here in the castle town, I imagine that you could share your opinions right now. Sir Bozl, please let our friends from the forest’s edge know what you think about all this before you leave.”
Polarth then left the room with the two soldiers he had brought with him. He must have figured that as a noble himself, he would be in the way if he remained.
Once he was gone, Bozl stroked his beard and said, “Hmm. It certainly is a surprise to hear that Lady Lefreya wants to participate in a banquet at the forest’s edge. It would be impossible to imagine the girl she used to be doing so.”
“Indeed. The way she was before was like the concept of haughty, stuck-up arrogance had taken human form, put on a dress, and started walking around. She’s changed a lot in the last year.” Though Roy was speaking in a polite tone since he was talking to his superior, Bozl, his words were seriously harsh.
Meanwhile, Shilly Rou glanced at us with a prickly expression. “I can’t see any need for you to take our feelings into consideration. It isn’t as if it’s rare for us to encounter nobles.”
“Oh, right. Since you all used to work in the Turan manor, does that mean you’re acquainted with Lady Lefreya?” I asked, causing Shilly Rou’s gaze to become all the more stern as she looked over at me.
“The members of the house of Turan never took much interest in mere cooking assistants. The only ones who were personally acquainted with them were Varkas and Timalo.”
“But you were snacking with the nobles at one of those tea parties, weren’t you, Shilly Rou?! So were you friends with them?” Rimee Ruu energetically interjected, causing the older chef to backpedal with a look of surprise.
“I-I’m surprised you remember that... Yes, I come from the house of Rou, so I have occasionally had opportunities to interact with high society.”
“Oh yeah, you were there with the noblewomen at that first tea party, huh? It’s sort of hard for me to imagine you in that kind of company,” Roy interjected, earning him a glare from Shilly Rou as her cheeks went slightly red.
“Th-There’s no need for you to imagine that in the first place. You were a skilled enough chef to be invited to the Turan manor, so you must have interacted with nobles from time to time yourself, correct?”
“Well, not as much as you. But anyway, we’re hardly going to be thrown off by a single noble being in our midst, so it’s the folks from the post town you all should be worrying about.”
“Very true. If her being there would scare our guests from the post town, then I imagine the leading clan heads would have to decide to not allow her to attend,” Reina Ruu said.
She was exactly right. If the presence of one guest would cause the others to become afraid, it would ruin the friendship banquet. But even so, I felt really happy. Lefreya had gone out of her way to express a desire to participate in a banquet at the forest’s edge. I didn’t think I was capable of understanding how much resolve that must have taken for a noble accustomed to living behind the safety of the stone walls.
What will the leading clan heads and everyone from town think, though? I really hope they accept Lefreya’s request.
At any rate, that matter wasn’t one that would be settled today. We all had a lot on our minds as we headed home, though.