Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 433: The Day of the Party
At last, the grand gathering to introduce Tauro as Count Graunewald’s adopted son was about to begin.
The guests included village chiefs, town mayors, guild leaders, representatives of influential trading companies, and even nobles from neighboring territories. The hall was crowded with people of considerable standing.
“So this is the common-born child His Excellency chose to adopt? He must be an exceptionally spirited boy.”
“I’ve heard that he’s remarkably handsome.”
“Apparently, he once served as the royal family’s Reversi instructor.”
“Reversi is extremely popular among the nobles of the Royal Capital. Then he must be a very clever young man.”
Several guests had gathered information about Count Graunewald’s adopted son before attending. Even so, none suspected that the mysterious heir was an adventurer who had already visited their towns and villages while serving as a territorial inspector.
Chief Gaze of the hidden village was among the invited guests. Cross and Haku stood beside him.
Haku still didn’t understand why he had been brought there so suddenly.
Gaze had first told him that he needed to run an errand in the territorial capital and that Cross would accompany him. Since Haku couldn’t be left alone, Gaze said that he would come as well.
Haku had been delighted by his first visit to the capital. He spent the day sightseeing, only to be dressed the following morning in luxurious clothes suitable for a young noble and taken to a party hosted by the lord of the territory.
Whenever he asked Cross for an explanation, his foster father gave only vague answers.
From the conversations around him, Haku gathered that the gathering was intended to unveil the lord’s adopted heir. That explained why Gaze had come—but not why Haku himself had been brought along.
Many villagers had traveled to the capital with them, yet none were present in the hall.
When Haku asked where they had gone, Cross merely replied, “They all have work to do.”
The behavior of Gaze and Cross gave Haku the uneasy feeling that something important was about to happen, but he couldn’t determine what it was.
The gathering began, and Count Graunewald stepped forward to address the guests.
Haku immediately noticed that the count’s hair was the same color as his own natural hair.
Cross ordinarily made Haku dye his hair black, claiming that purple hair attracted misfortune. Medicine was also used to turn Haku’s blue eyes black. For the first time in many years, however, Haku had been allowed to appear with his natural purple hair and blue eyes.
Perhaps because of those shared features, Haku felt a strange sense of familiarity as he listened to Count Graunewald’s speech.
“I’ll dispense with a lengthy introduction and come directly to the matter at hand. As all of you know, my wife and I have long regretted that we couldn’t have children. At the suggestion of my old friend Marquis Van Dyne, we therefore decided to adopt a child.”
The count paused and looked across the hall.
“I originally intended to present him sooner. Instead, I asked him to travel through the territory and learn about its people before this unveiling. Consequently, some of you may already have met him.”
The representatives from the towns and villages began looking at one another.
“Really? I don’t recall meeting him,” Chief Alimar of Zenyu Village said.
Mage Baron Wasan frowned thoughtfully. “Count Graunewald has spoken proudly of his adopted son, but I’ve never met the boy. I believe his name is Tauro…”
“Tauro?”
Several nearby chiefs tilted their heads. The name sounded unexpectedly familiar.
Count Graunewald raised his voice.
“Allow me to introduce the newest member of House Graunewald—Tauro Graunewald!”
The great doors opened.
Tauro stood beyond them in formal attire.
The guests applauded as he entered, but the applause faltered the instant many of the town and village leaders recognized him.
“The adventurer who visited us?!” several guests exclaimed at once.
Gaze, Cross, and Haku were just as astonished.
“Wh-What’s the meaning of this…?” Gaze muttered.
The adventurer whom he believed he had recruited as an accomplice was being introduced as Count Graunewald’s son.
Cross released a silent breath.
Now I understand. They discovered the plan from the beginning, and we’ve been moving exactly as they intended.
Tauro walked through the applauding crowd toward the count. As he passed Cross, he gave the former knight a meaningful look.
Then Tauro leaned close to Haku and whispered, “I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”
He took Haku by the hand and led him toward Count Graunewald.
Haku was too bewildered to resist. Gaze hurried forward to stop them, but Cross stepped into his path.
If Tauro is telling the truth, Haku will be safe. I’ll trust him.
When the two boys reached Count Graunewald, Tauro nodded. The count returned the gesture.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is our new family member, Tauro.”
The count then rested a hand on Haku’s shoulder.
“This boy is Haku—the posthumous son of my predecessor and, by blood, my much younger half-brother.”
The applause stopped.
“What?” the guests cried.
The guests stared at one another, unable to process the announcement.
Count Graunewald continued before the hall could erupt into argument.
“Although the decision may appear sudden, my wife and I have also decided to adopt Haku as our son and recognize him as the eldest of our two children.”
“What?!” nearly every guest shouted at once.