Chapter Seventy-six: New Year’s Festival
“Sieg Ehlertt. You have long fought to use the Bloodline Blessing inherited from your great ancestors as your strength, and you have splendidly achieved victory. With this, I recognize you as the successor to the Earl of Ehlertt, and present you with the Ehlertt treasure sword, the proof of succession.”
“I swear upon the Ehlertt treasure sword to wield this power for Ehlertt Earldom and for all who live in this land.”
New Year. In this world, everyone grew one year older with each passing year. That meant today Sieg turned ten years old. By the way, Karen turned nineteen.
Today was the New Year’s Festival. The garden and entrance hall of the lord’s mansion were opened to the local people, apparently to show them the spirit of Ehlertt Earldom and strengthen their sense of unity.
Although the festival had been held yearly, during Sieg’s hard times, it was a modest event that ended quickly before everyone hurried back to the royal capital.
With Sieg’s recovery and his formal introduction as successor, this year’s New Year’s Festival was magnificent and would continue for a week. When Sieg received the short sword from Helfried and made his declaration with a nervous yet dignified expression, warm applause and cheers erupted from the commoners gathered in the entrance hall.
It was said that this region mainly supported the previous lord and was critical of Helfried, but it seemed they had not completely rejected him. At the warm response, Karen breathed a sigh of relief for Sieg.
On the second-floor balcony were nobles who did not belong to the Ehlertt Elders’ Council. They too seemed mostly favorable. However, nobles might just be pretending. The same could be said for the Council members seated on the first floor, close to the Ehlertt family and Helfried.
Waltride was not present. Although invited by Helfried, she had declined, feeling her presence would interfere with Sieg’s introduction. Indeed, the commoners gathered here might have been more interested in seeing the princess than Sieg. Karen was greatly relieved about this. If Waltride had appeared in splendid attire for the New Year’s Festival, Karen would have been sweating nervously.
Helfried continued with the proceedings. Meanwhile, the townsfolk continued eating food laid out on tables in a buffet style, drinking alcohol, and chatting. The atmosphere was quite relaxed.
“Next, I would like to introduce the Ehlertt family’s great benefactor. Alchemist Karen, come forward.”
Called upon, Karen descended the central staircase from the second-floor balcony and climbed onto the platform to stand beside Helfried.
“Her name is Karen. She healed Sieg’s Bloodline Blessing and returned him to Ehlertt’s land, and she will eventually become a great alchemist. No matter how much we repay her, it won’t be enough. If you have any requests, please state them.”
Prompted as planned, Karen stepped one pace forward from Helfried.
“I’m honored to be introduced here. I’m Karen. As you might already know, I’m the alchemist who demanded marriage to Master Julius in exchange for healing Master Sieg. Well, I ended up wanting something else instead, so I canceled the marriage proposal!”
“What’s wrong with our Master Julius?!”
A man’s voice called out jeeringly amid laughter. It seemed that kind of playful atmosphere was acceptable here.
Helfried had requested that Karen personally explain the circumstances behind the canceled marriage with Julius. Gauging the mood of the place, Karen continued in a casual tone:
“I have no complaints about Master Julius. It’s just that alchemy became too interesting! Creating potions that save people—is there anything more fascinating than that?”
“That does sound interesting!”
“So you choose work over men, eh?”
“—And it was Master Julius who made me realize this. I was captivated by his’s grace and achievements, and it gave me the courage to believe even my potions could help someone. I accepted a commission just to see Master Julius, and in doing so, I was able to save Master Sieg. So I’m truly, truly grateful to Master Julius.”
Karen looked up at Julius on the second-floor balcony and smiled.
“Therefore, I’ve prepared a gift for him.”
At Karen’s words, Sara and Sophie emerged from the wings carrying what appeared to be a large board covered with cloth. The portrait of Winfried that had been displayed behind them was completely hidden. Karen grabbed the edge of the cloth and shouted with reckless abandon:
“Behold! My gift of admiration for Master Julius!!”
As Karen dramatically removed the cloth, a portrait even larger than Winfried’s was revealed.
“This is Master Julius, painted by me! I heard that in Ehlertt territory, it’s tradition to display a portrait of someone you admire at New Year’s, so I painted this!”
The hall stirred with murmurs. Karen’s face grew hot. In her previous life, Karen’s art teacher had once told her, "It’s very unique… and creative." The young teacher who tried to praise all students had worn quite a strained expression, as she recalled. Her friends had said it looked "like it was painted by Picasso with two broken arms." Karen was quietly curious about how exactly Picasso would have painted in such a condition.
“My lord, you just said I should state any requests, right? Well then, please display this portrait of Master Julius in the most prominent place at the New Year’s Festival venue!”
She had been thinking of commissioning a professional artist. She had meant for someone else to paint it. It wasn’t that Karen herself had wanted to paint it. But—
“Wait.”
A man advanced from the guests of honor, leaning on his cane, and naturally, the people’s murmuring subsided.
Horst, Earl of Brahm.
A short man and the youngest son. Originally, he hadn’t been expected to inherit the Brahm title, but following the successive deaths of his brothers and with Winfried’s achievements as a backdrop, he had assumed the position of Earl Brahm.
He was called Winfried’s right hand and said to effectively control Ehlertt’s territory, so Karen had no choice but to paint the portrait herself, unwilling to involve anyone else in a situation that might lead to conflict with him.
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