Kays Translations

Chapter 23: Tea Party

The highest payout at the first Heine Margraviate horse race was six small silver coins for a one-small-silver-coin ticket–six times the stake.

It had only been our first attempt, and we’d used simple win betting, so the numbers were still modest. Even so, everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves. Almost immediately afterward, we were flooded with questions about when the next race would be held.

“It’s much more crowded than I expected, Father.”

“Julius, this is an event sponsored by House Heine.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“Yes. If we expand it, we may be able to attract visitors from other territories as well.”

If people came from outside our territory, they would buy goods in the territorial capital. That meant more tax revenue for House Heine, and increased traffic could justify improving the roads as well. From Father’s point of view as margrave, the benefits were obvious.

“In that case, Father, you should be the public face of the event from now on, not me.”

“Are you certain? I would be taking some of the credit for your work.”

“People would laugh if a seven-year-old were presented as the organiser.”

“Perhaps they would.”

Father still didn’t look entirely convinced, but he really didn’t need to worry about stealing my credit. From my perspective, handing the work to him was a tremendous relief.

And so I successfully transferred full authority over the horse races to Father.

In time, the races would grow larger and spread beyond the Spencer Kingdom to other countries as well–but that was still far in the future.

With the new year underway, House Heine became busy for another reason. Brother Alex would enter the royal academy in spring, and preparations were already in full swing.

Academy students lived in dormitories, which meant they had to learn to handle everyday matters without servants.

“Good morning, Brother Alex. Your tie is a little crooked.”

“Oh, thank you, Julius. It isn’t easy getting used to dressing without assistance.”

Brother Alex frowned as I straightened his tie. There was still time before the entrance ceremony. He only needed to learn to manage everything himself by then.

“You should take another careful look in the mirror before leaving your room.”

“I do look, but I still overlook things.”

“Then use pointing and calling.”

“Pointing and calling?”

“Stand before the mirror, point at each item from top to bottom, and say: Hair, good. Complexion, good. Tie, good. Belt, good. Shoes, good. All clear! That makes it harder to miss anything.”

“Why the final “all clear”? Well, never mind. Since you suggested it, I’ll give it a try.”

The important part was to make the check deliberate. Actually pointing and speaking was less likely to become a meaningless routine than merely thinking through the list.

My suggestion apparently worked, because Brother Alex stopped leaving his room with anything noticeably out of place.

“A tea party?”

Once the snow melted and the cold began to ease, Mother brought up the subject. With the new year, I was approaching eight years old. Children around that age began attending tea parties together as a step toward their eventual social debut.

Personally, I considered it a waste of time. Unfortunately, as a son of the most powerful noble house in the region, refusing wasn’t really an option. At least Brothers Alex and Cain would be there with me.

Rosalia would remain at home. At five years old, she was still too young for this sort of gathering.

“That’s right. It’ll be held at the neighbouring estate of Viscount Riordan. Their family is very close to ours, so it should be the perfect place for your first tea party.”

“Understood. I’ll be pleased to attend.”

“I was hoping you would say that.”

Mother kissed me on the cheek. I could already imagine the discussion over what I would wear. To mothers, children sometimes seemed less like people and more like moving dolls to be dressed up.

I would also have to behave like an ordinary child at the tea party. I wished Gyre and Christopher could come, but neither of them was a noble.

Maybe it really was time I made some noble friends.

The day of the tea party arrived. I climbed into the carriage with Brothers Alex and Cain, and we set off for Viscount Riordan’s estate. This might well be Brother Alex’s last children’s tea party.

By the time he graduated from the academy, he would be fifteen and considered an adult, after which he would attend adult social events instead.

“You look nervous, Julius.”

“Of course I am. I don’t have any friends besides Gyre and Christopher.”

Both of my brothers laughed.

“Come to think of it, Julius doesn’t have any friends who are girls either.”

“That’s true, but… don’t tell me both of you do?!”

“Of course we do. I hope you meet a nice girl at the tea party, Julius.”

That smug composure of theirs was irritating. Fine. I would make a female friend at the tea party and show them.

Or so I thought. Reality was much harsher.

The problem was the Starry Sky magic tool whose blueprints I’d sold to the magic-tool workshop. Somehow, word had spread that I was the one who designed it.

Girls swarmed around me from the moment I arrived. Their enthusiasm was almost predatory. Women were terrifying.

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