Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 335: The Mysterious Count
“Good… for now, it looks like everything went well.”
Seeing the invited guests delighting in the assortment of delicacies, Rest let out a sigh of relief.
It was his first time hosting a party, and naturally, he had been nervous… but to be honest, that worry had been completely unnecessary.
All of the difficult matters had been handled by the Rosemary sisters.
As for Rest himself, aside from gathering ingredients, all he really did was go around greeting the guests.
“This dish here, you see, is wyvern meat that’s been slow-cooked at low temperature…”
“As for the liquor, we also recommend drinking it with ice. This method of drinking is…”
Viola and Primula were attending to the guests with great care.
With Viola’s sociable nature and Primula’s wealth of knowledge, the two complemented each other perfectly, entertaining the guests together.
“They really are such good brides… I’m leaning on them completely.”
“That too is thanks to your efforts, Count Clover.”
While marveling at the Rosemary sisters’ excellence, one of the guests addressed him.
It was none other than Andrew Iwood, one of the most distinguished guests.
Behind Andrew, who wore a friendly smile, stood his close aides, Eusgos and Lilanda.
“Well, well… Prince Andrew.”
“I’m enjoying myself. Honestly, it’s such a wonderful party that you’ve raised the bar for the rest of us.”
“The bar…?”
“Yes, the bar for my family’s parties. You’ve really outdone yourself. I never imagined you’d even bring out Diamond Bear.”
Andrew gave him a slightly resentful look.
The more lively and splendid the party at the Clover Count’s estate became, the higher the expectations placed on Andrew.
And he wasn’t just anyone—he was royalty. It had already been decided that he would eventually leave the royal family and be established as a duke.
There was no way he could host a party of lower caliber than Rest’s.
“I’ve got the abdication from the royal registry and the establishment of a new ducal house coming up… it really leaves me in a tough spot.”
“Ah… so it’s been decided then?”
“Yes. There won’t be many more occasions where I’ll be called ‘Your Highness.’”
Andrew shrugged in mock exaggeration.
In the Iwood Kingdom, there was already Crown Prince Richard Iwood. Richard was married with children, so Andrew’s importance as a spare heir was not especially high anymore.
It had long been decided within the royal family that Andrew would step down from his royal status, and the timing had simply been a matter of when.
“There was talk of me marrying into another family or perhaps entering the temple as a monk… but thanks to your achievements, I was granted a ducal territory. I can’t really complain.”
“My apologies for the trouble I’ve caused.”
“Think nothing of it… besides, there are other ways to entertain guests besides food. Since a large rainbow crystal has been discovered, I’ll just put that forward as the centerpiece.”
Andrew sipped at his drink, diluted with juice.
“Still… I’d really like it if you sold me some of this liquor. Of course, I’ll pay whatever price you ask.”
“I’ll see to it… by the way, may I ask you something, Prince Andrew?”
“What is it?”
“That gentleman… what kind of person is this Count Walnut?”
Rest casually shifted his gaze toward a corner of the party venue.
There, surrounding Count Walnut, were Marquis Rosemary, Marquis Catreya, and Duke Crocus.
They were eating the Diamond Bear brought by the butlers while drinking and conversing about something.
“Ah… him.”
Andrew let out a short breath, then downed the rest of his glass in one go.
“He’s someone you’ve met before. Hard to recognize because he’s disguised with a magic item, though.”
“Disguised…”
“Once you reach a certain rank, you can’t just casually join lower-ranking parties anymore. For example, if it became known that he attended Count Clover’s party, he’d then be obliged to attend other counts’ parties as well, and even among counts the hierarchy would become too clear. That’s why he comes incognito like that.”
“Ah… I see. I think I know who he is now.”
The fact that someone would refer to a count as among the “lower ranks,” combined with the way the kingdom’s most powerful nobles were treating him with such respect—Rest had already guessed Count Walnut’s true identity.
Still, it was an unspoken rule not to say it outright. He chose not to point it out.
“If the man himself claims to be a ‘count,’ then there’s no need to humble yourself any more than that. Leave him to the chancellor and the others and don’t trouble yourself over it.”
“…If you say so, Prince Andrew.”
Taking Andrew’s advice to heart, Rest decided to stop worrying about Count Walnut for now.
He kept the man’s presence in mind but instead moved on, making his rounds among the other guests.