Chapter 135: The Four Ducal Houses and Marquis Houses

With Lady Margherita gone, it was just Elliott and our family again.

However, the next noble who had finished greeting His Majesty the Emperor soon arrived. In terms of family rank, they are the third. It is everyone from the Chorus Ducal House, one of the four Ducal Houses in our country.

The Chorus Ducal House branched off from the Imperial Family about five generations ago. Meaning they are distant relatives of the Philharmonie Ducal House.

Well, if you trace the lineages of nobles, they usually end up being relatives somewhere along the line.

The Chorus Ducal House is part of the Neutral Faction, not the Royalist Faction. So, while they aren’t hostile, they aren’t particularly close either.

Sometimes cooperating, sometimes feigning ignorance; it seems like a relationship kept at arm’s length.

Just like before, we exchanged light New Year’s greetings with each other.

The Chorus Ducal House was a family of five: the head, Duke Radiata nu Chorus, his wife, their eldest son, second son, and eldest daughter.

The Chorus couple is in their mid-forties, perhaps? All their children have come of age. After all, among the four Ducal Houses, I’m the only underage child.

While I was thinking about that, the next Ducal House arrived.

The last of the four Dukes, the Fantasia Ducal House.

Like the Chorus Ducal House, they branched off about five generations ago. Apparently, the first Duke Chorus and the first Duke Fantasia were the second and third sons of three brothers. Naturally, the eldest son is the ancestor of Elliott and me. Meaning everyone here is a relative. Though going quite far back.

There were apparently a few more Ducal Houses in the past, but they were abolished or died out due to a lack of successors, so it seems a lot happened.

Everyone in the Fantasia Ducal House makes up a family of four: Duke Alex mi Fantasia, who is in his early thirties, his wife, their eldest daughter, and second daughter.

By the way, since polygamy is recognized in this world, there is a possibility he has a second and third wife too.

Basically, it’s customary to bring the first wife and her children to state-sponsored parties and such, so they probably aren’t here, though. Even His Majesty the Emperor didn’t bring his consorts to the audience chamber. Though they’ll probably attend the party.

There isn’t any rule saying you can’t bring them, so people who want to bring them do, and it all depends on each family’s circumstances. Not that it’s any of my business.

The Fantasia Ducal House belongs to neither the Royalist nor the Neutral Faction; they belong to the ‘Arts and Sciences Faction’, a faction that places importance on academics and the arts.

Jeremy-sensei’s Canon Viscount House is also part of the Arts and Sciences Faction. It’s a faction that doesn’t get very involved in politics.

After brief greetings, the people from the Fantasia Ducal House headed towards the court orchestra. They seemed highly interested in the classical music from Earth that they had never heard before. Well, that’s fine.

The greetings from all the Ducal Houses finished, followed by the Marquis Houses.

The first to arrive was naturally the Tenor Marquis House, the Prime Minister’s family.

Prime Minister Jace van Tenor, his wife, and his son and daughter. The son is probably in his early twenties. The daughter looks like she’s around high school age.

Could this daughter be the Marquis’s daughter, Camille van Tenor, who supposedly organized the underage group at the Autumn Cooling Party until last year?

After exchanging greetings with Father and Mother, the Prime Minister turned his eyes to me.

“Happy New Year, Lady Sakuraile. Thank you very much for all your assistance last year.”

“Not at all. I only did what is natural as someone connected to the Imperial Family.”

He’s probably talking about the alcohol, drinks, and food at this party, but honestly, I just summoned the stores…

I chatted with the Prime Minister for a bit. It seems the tomato cultivation project is proceeding properly. We might be able to make tomato ketchup next year.

While I was thinking about that, the doors to the venue opened, and the next Marquis family appeared.

“Ugh.”

A weird sound unintentionally escaped my mouth. Because I recognized the young lady there.

Donatella nau Arabesque.

The young lady of the Arabesque Marquis House, which leads the Traditionalist Faction, and the one who engaged in a battle of sarcasm with me at the Autumn Cooling Party.

Today as well, she was sporting those high-effort vertical ringlets, and her makeup was as heavy as ever. Why does she put on such thick makeup… I think it completely ruins the youthfulness of being seventeen.

The fact that this girl is here means the slightly chubby uncle next to her is Marquis Arabesque. He looks like he’s just under forty, but his bangs are looking a bit lonely…

What draws the eye more than that is his pointy handlebar mustache. What is it? Is there a rule that the leader of the Traditionalist Faction has to have this mustache?

The Arabesque Marquis House is a family of four: his wife, his son, and Lady Donatella. The son, who looks about twenty, also has questionable bangs. I wonder if it’s genetic. Even though the daughter’s hair is asserting its presence for all it’s worth.

Father spoke to Marquis Arabesque as he bowed.

“Well met. Happy New Year, Marquis Arabesque.”

“Happy New Year to you, Your Highness the Emperor’s Brother.”

They are exchanging greetings with smiles, but neither of their eyes are smiling. If this were a manga, sparks would definitely be flying between them right now.

“Last year was quite a difficult year. I truly hope we can spend this year in peace.”

『Last year was a nightmare because of the idiot in your faction. Keep your head down this year (liberal translation).』

“Indeed. I would prefer not to have such a commotion occur in places beyond our knowledge.”

『I don’t know anything about that. That guy just went out of control on his own, don’t pin the blame on us (liberal translation).』

…Such an audio commentary is echoing in my mind. Haa… I hate this, I really do. This probing into each other’s intentions among nobles. Though I have to do it too.

“Lady Sakuraile. Actually, I recently made my debutante, and just earlier, I had the honor of offering my greetings to His Majesty the Emperor for the first time.”

“Oh my, is that so. Congratulations.”

Lady Donatella spoke to me. Heh, so she made her debutante.

That means, since this young balding lord here is inheriting the Arabesque house, if she doesn’t find a marriage partner, she’ll lose her noble registry, right?

She’ll probably be allowed to stay at her family home until she graduates from the ‘Academy’, but the sons and daughters of nobles who don’t inherit the house have to become independent once they graduate.

Well, there isn’t a law that says they have to become independent, but a child who has left the noble registry staying at their parents’ house forever without working and sponging off them is viewed by society as a parasite.

“It will be challenging from now on, won’t it. Please do your best, utilizing the experiences you gain at the ‘Academy’.”

『Can you even get married? If you don’t catch a partner at the ‘Academy’, things will be tough for you from now on, you know? (liberal translation).』

“Thank you very much. As one of the nobles of this country, I intend to devote all my strength.”

『Mind your own business, you brat! I’ll catch a marriage partner in no time! Just you watch, you little brat! (liberal translation).』

…That audio commentary, again.

Well, being the Arabesque Marquis House, an upper-class noble family, there are probably fitting candidates to marry her off to, though.

The Arabesque Marquis House, having probed intentions (?) as parent and child, bowed and walked away.

Haa… Tense greetings are exhausting… I feel depressed first thing in the new year. It really is different from New Year’s in my previous life.

But then again, maybe it’s not all that different from going to my parents’ family home on New Year’s and having relatives like my uncle say insensitive things like, ‘What, you still don’t even have a boyfriend!?’

Wait, is that one better just because you get New Year’s money (otoshidama)?

I wonder if they have otoshidama in this world? While I was thinking such greedy thoughts, the next Marquis House arrived.

“Ah.”

A dapper head of the house in his early thirties and his gentle-looking wife. And I recognized the young lady, who was a little older than me.

“Well met, Marquis Refrain. Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year to you, Your Highness the Emperor’s Brother. Thank you for all your help last year…”

It’s the Neutral Faction’s Refrain Marquis House. The young lady with them is Melfries terra Refrain.

The twin sister of Belfriet terra Refrain, a capture target in Starlight Symphony.

“Lady Sakuraile, thanks to the ‘Fruit of the Heavenly God Tree’ I received the other day, my younger brother’s condition is apparently getting better and better. Thank you so very much.”

“Not at all. I am glad to hear he is heading toward recovery.”

Since the capture target Belfriet is said to have spent a sickly childhood, after all. It would be good if he became even a little more energetic.

“He also really loved the chestnut sweets, the ‘Mont Blanc’, you gave me as a souvenir, and it seems his appetite has returned. He might even be able to attend next year’s ‘New Year’s Banquet’.”

“T-That is better than anything…”

…Huh? Did I just do something unnecessary again…?

Did I just summon a capture target who was supposed to be recuperating in his territory?

W-Well, it’ll work out… it’ll work out, probably… I really need to remember Belfriet’s route properly… I played “1” when I was in middle school, so my memory is pretty hazy… Even Elliott’s route has some vague parts for me.

“Sakuraile, Lady Melfries. Let us minors head over there. More nobles who have finished their greetings will be coming one after another, so we will be in the way here.”

“You are right. Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

Guided by Elliott, we were led to a corner of the venue. It was a place with sweets and drinks that seemed appealing to children.

Since we were gathered there, the underage sons and daughters of the nobles who arrived afterward came over to greet us. Well, most of the young ladies were aiming for Elliott.

Are they aiming for the position of consort? Do they think they still have a chance even though he’s engaged to the Imperial Princess?

While I was thinking that, the sons of upper-class nobles and the like started approaching me, and it was beyond annoying.

Since it was only young ladies at the Autumn Cooling Party, I didn’t think I would be approached this much. Lady Melfries was also being spoken to by the sons in the same way. She seemed fed up with it too.

While giving half-hearted nods to the childish bragging, I gradually moved toward the court musicians with Kohaku-san, closed my eyes quietly, and swayed my body. This is the ultimate “I’m listening to the music so don’t talk to me” strategy.

Bianca, Estelle, hurry up and get here…