Chapter 68

Two days after Noein and his group arrived in Bechtlheim Marquisate’s capital, Bechtoria, the day of the banquet hosted by the northwestern nobility had finally come.

The marquis’s mansion, located in the center of Bechtoria, was significantly larger than Noein’s own estate or even the Keinitz Viscount’s residence in Retvik.

The banquet was held in the mansion’s grand party hall, and as Noein walked down the wide corridor leading to it, he was accompanied by Viscount Arnold Keinitz. Behind Noein, acting as a bodyguard, was Mathilda, while Arnold’s retainer followed him closely for protection.

“Are you feeling nervous, Lord Earlkvist?” Arnold asked.

“Well, a little… This is my first time attending such a formal social gathering,” Noein replied, though his demeanor betrayed no sign of tension.

“Really? It would be more gratifying as a senior noble if you appeared a bit more nervous. However, I’ve already informed Marquis Bechtlheim about you, and the other important nobles have likely heard about your accomplishments too. It should go smoothly,” Arnold reassured him.

“Thank you. I’ll do my best to avoid any embarrassing situations.”

As they exchanged these words, they arrived at the entrance to the hall. The marquis’s servants, standing on either side of the large doors, bowed to Noein and Arnold before opening them.

Inside, the attending nobles all turned their gazes toward them. Every one of them was dressed in extravagant attire, clearly high-ranking or influential members of the nobility.

Noein, doing his best to maintain a confident posture, followed Arnold into the room, though he could feel the weight of scrutinizing eyes on him. Some of the nobles scowled after noticing Mathilda, a beastman slave, trailing behind him.

Arnold had previously warned him, “No matter how much you favor her, I wouldn’t recommend bringing a beastman slave along. While Marquis Bechtlheim is lenient in such matters, the other nobles won’t take kindly to it.” Noein, however, had made up his mind to bring Mathilda, prepared for the reactions.

He reasoned that eventually, he’d be known as “the eccentric who adores his beastman slave,” so he might as well reveal it upfront.

The banquet’s main purpose was to strengthen the ties within the northwestern faction, with each noble expected to engage in conversation and deepen their relationships. Arnold made his way to the host, Marquis Siegfried Bechtlheim, with Noein following closely.

“Ah, Viscount Arnold Keinitz, you’ve arrived,” greeted Marquis Bechtlheim, the leader of the northwestern faction.

Though he was over fifty years old, he exuded an impressive air of authority and dignity, making it clear why he was regarded as a prominent noble.

“Yes, I am honored to see you in good health, Marquis Bechtlheim—”

“No need for such formalities. This isn’t a stiff event. Let’s skip the rigid greetings.”

“Then, I’ll gladly follow your lead,” Arnold responded, switching from formal to a more casual tone, in line with the marquis’s wishes.

This end-of-year banquet was known for being informal, reflecting the marquis’s desire for friendly interaction with his fellow faction members.

After exchanging pleasantries, Marquis Bechtlheim asked, “How are things? I’ve heard about the large bandit groups causing significant damage, spanning from the south to the north near the western edge of our territory.”

“Yes. Fortunately, the towns and villages under my domain remained safe, but I’ve heard that other areas suffered considerable losses. Some smaller territories were completely devastated, including the ruling families,” Arnold replied.

“How unfortunate. And this is the young man responsible for subduing the bandits?”

“Yes, allow me to introduce him. This is Baronet Noein Earlkvist.”

“It is an honor to meet you, Marquis Bechtlheim. I am Noein Earlkvist, granted land to the west of Viscount Keinitz’s domain.”

Even in front of such a powerful figure, Noein’s greeting was calm and dignified, impressing both Arnold and the marquis.

“Thank you for the courteous introduction, Lord Earlkvist. I must commend your recent achievements. As the leader of the northwestern faction, I express my gratitude.”

“I am honored. As a member of the kingdom’s nobility, I only did my duty to the best of my ability.”

“Such modesty. But too much humility can come across as insincere. If you downplay your efforts, what does that leave for Viscount Keinitz to say, right?” the marquis teased with a mischievous glance at Arnold.

Arnold could only respond with a wry smile, aware that the marquis was subtly alluding to the rumors he had spread to protect his own reputation.

“I admit, I was intimidated, but I must clarify that it wasn’t due to my own incompetence. Rather, Lord Earlkvist’s abilities far surpassed expectations. To defeat 200 bandits with just 200 villagers is no ordinary feat,” Arnold explained.

“Hahaha! Indeed. Normally, facing such a large bandit group head-on would be a challenge even for high-ranking counts,” Marquis Bechtlheim laughed.

The armies of nobles, even for a great house like the Bechtlheim Marquisate, numbered around 1,000 soldiers. For a viscount like Keinitz, it was around 200.

In times of crisis, additional forces could be raised from the populace, but that would be the extent of their standing armies.

Additionally, these armies were often spread throughout their domains to maintain order. For the Keinitz Viscountcy to immediately gather its forces, mobilize the populace, and defeat 200 mercenary-trained bandits would likely result in heavy casualties.

Though Arnold’s actions were not praiseworthy, other nobles, unsure when they might face a similar situation, couldn’t openly criticize him.

“I’ve heard from Lord Keinitz about your new weapon, Lord Earlkvist. I look forward to seeing it later. For now, focus on mingling with the other nobles and strengthening your ties. The northwestern faction welcomes you.”

“Thank you, Marquis Bechtlheim.”

With the initial greeting complete, Arnold and Noein moved away from the marquis.

“You handled that well. If you were that composed from the start, you’ve done more than enough,” Arnold said encouragingly.

“Thank you. Somehow, I managed,” Noein replied, taking a sip of wine from a glass offered by a servant as he caught his breath.

“Now, you just need to meet the main attendees and introduce yourself. I’ll help you connect with them, as I hold a decent position in this faction.”

“I appreciate it. I’ll rely on you for that.”

Hearing Noein’s response seemed to cheer Arnold up. He appeared eager to finally showcase his influence as a senior noble.

According to the information Arnold had provided beforehand, the members of the northwestern faction included two count families, six viscount families, fourteen baron families, and several lesser nobles, led by Marquis Bechtlheim.

The Keinitz Viscountcy, having achieved some success in mining development, held a prominent position within the faction, just behind the two count families.

In large noble factions like this, only higher-ranking nobles such as barons and above typically belonged. Lower-ranking nobles, such as baronets or knights, usually aligned themselves with a nearby higher-ranking noble, indirectly joining the faction as retainers.

Baronets or knights who were directly invited, like Noein, were either from prestigious branches of powerful families or, like him, had proven their exceptional abilities and were treated as honorary members.

With a wine glass in hand, Noein followed Arnold into the next round of greetings with the attending nobles.