Kays Translations

Just another Isekai Lover~

Chapter 336: A Bombshell from the Mysterious Count

The banquet was in full swing.

Exotic dishes, fine wine, and the warm welcome ensured that every guest wore a smile, and the party was reaching its peak of excitement.

“Phew… I’m a little tired.”

“Yes… but it seems to be going well.”

Viola and Primula, who had been busy entertaining the guests, were taking a short break at the edge of the hall.
The two had been working non-stop, and their faces clearly showed fatigue.

“You two have done well.”

Rest approached them carrying drinks.
He handed them juice with only a light touch of alcohol, offering thanks for their hard work.

“Ah, Rest. You too—thank you for your efforts.”

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“It looks like the party is going to be a success.”

“Yeah. And it’s thanks to the two of you… I really appreciate it.”

Rest spoke words of sincere gratitude.

He knew nothing about the etiquette of nobles.
The reason the party was going so smoothly was because Viola and Primula had taken the initiative to manage everything.

“The ingredients you gathered were excellent, Rest. With wyvern, diamond bear, and even new types of liquor on the table, there was no way this could fail.”

“She’s right. It’s all thanks to you, Rest-sama.”

The two praised him wholeheartedly.
Their words of thanks were the greatest reward of all. All his efforts running east and west to gather ingredients had truly paid off.

“Rest-kun. May I have a word?”

“Father-in-law?”

The man who approached them was the sisters’ father—Marquis Rosemary.

“I’d like to speak with you for a moment. Could you come with me?”

“I don’t mind, but…”

Rest glanced toward the sisters. They both nodded reassuringly.

“It’s fine, go ahead.”

“We’ll talk again later.”

“All right… then I’ll be going.”

“This way.”

Led by Marquis Rosemary, Rest was brought to the edge of the hall.
There stood Lady Eilish, the marquess, as well as other powerful figures like Marquis Catreya and Duke Crocus.

“Ah…”

And among them—another figure.

The man Rest had just heard mentioned in his conversation with Andrew: Count Walnut.

“You are…”

“Ah, Count Clover. Sorry to pull you away when you’re so busy.”

“No… not at all.”

Rest knew who this man really was.
He carefully made sure not to speak in a disrespectful tone.

“I should be the one apologizing… if our hospitality was lacking in any way…”

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“Oh, don’t be so stiff. I came incognito today. Please, be at ease.”

“…Understood.”

Even when told to relax, it wasn’t possible.
It was like when a company president says, “Tonight is informal,” but the rank-and-file employees could never truly forget the hierarchy.

“So then… what did you wish to discuss with me?”

“Ah yes. What I’m about to tell you is unofficial. But I want you to treat it as something that will soon come to pass.”

“…?”

“Recently, a letter arrived from the Lavender Margrave’s household to the royal family. He wishes to retire soon and pass on the headship.”

“Retire…?”

Rest instinctively turned his gaze aside.

Not far away, the Lavender Margrave himself was laughing gently with other nobles, looking every bit the kindly grandfather.

And at his side stood his granddaughter Urla, staring straight at Rest.

“To be honest, I was surprised. That old—no, Margrave Loser Lavender has been a source of headaches for years. There were cases where nobles and diplomats advocating closer ties with the Empire went missing, and we suspect he was behind it. He outwardly swore loyalty to the crown, but when it came to matters involving the Empire, he was a hardline nationalist. A dangerous combination.”

“I see…”

Rest had heard similar rumors before, but it still didn’t resonate with him.

The Margrave he had met seemed like nothing more than a kind, gentle old man doting on his granddaughter. He hardly looked like a schemer who longed for war.

“And in that letter, he wrote this as well: ‘Since my legitimate heir, my granddaughter, is still young, I wish the royal family to appoint a guardian for her.’ In short, a total surrender. I have no idea what happened to bring about such a change.”

Count Walnut cast a wary, almost disgusted glance at the Margrave.
It wasn’t relief he felt, but suspicion and unease at how suddenly the man’s attitude had changed.

(“A guardian appointed by the crown”… in other words, he’s declaring, ‘I’ll no longer oppose you. I abandon my ambitions.’)

The Lavender Margrave who had once pushed for war with the Empire was now yielding.
If his granddaughter’s guardian was chosen by the royal family, he would no longer be able to act freely.

As Count Walnut said, this was a resignation—a declaration of unconditional surrender.