The Peerless Kobold - Chapter 246
The Viscount’s party was greeted by the tall maid who showed them into the annex where they would be staying. Right after, the Viscount’s heir and his attendant were separated from their guards and were led into the parlor located in the main building.
They passed through the modest but dignified interior of the main building. The maid slowly opened the door to their destination, where the Baroness and her restless-looking daughter had been waiting at the entrance to welcome their guests.
“Nice to meet you, I am Azurite of the Dykebell family.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Adelia Vest.”
The gentle-looking nobleman greeted as he took the hand the Baroness offered to him in greeting and lightly shook it. He then turned his gaze towards his matchmaking partner who was a well-known noblewoman.
“I haven’t seen you since early spring last year, Miss Muriel.”
“It’s been a while, Senior Dykebell.”
“Senior, huh… you’re calling me that even though you graduated from the academy first?” Azurite asked with a mischievous smile.
“Uhh, yes.”
Although he was indeed a year above her, Muriel had become his senior instead because she had finished the six-year course of the Magic Academy in only four years due to the influence of her outstanding best friend.
“You can just call me Azurite.”
“N, then I shall.”
When Muriel responded honestly and held out her right hand for a handshake. Adelia, who was in charge of the meeting, urged them to take seats at the round table in the middle of the room.
The Dykebell family attendants also followed and stood behind their Lord, while Rigeletta, who had guided them into the parlor, walked over to the round table and reached for a copper pot covered with a white cloth.
The clean cloth on top was removed, and an amber-colored herbal tea was poured from the pot and onto the wooden cups as the scent of rosemary wafted through the air.
“The Madam and Milady both have a sweet tooth, so some honey was added in, but…”
“That’s quite alright, thank you.”
As Azurite sipped a small amount of tea from the wooden cup, the aroma and sweetness of the beverage made his expression tighten slightly. He moved onto the main discussion at hand after discreetly schooling his features.
“About the proposal… Now that you have allowed me to visit, can I expect a favorable response from you?”
“Indeed. After all, I believe that it is about time for my daughter to settle down.”
Muriel, who was born in late spring, would be over the marrying age in a few months, so Adelia was worried that it would be too late for her daughter, but… this line of thinking was troublesome for her daughter who wanted to do fieldwork and search for creatures and things never seen before.
(I wish they would let me do as I please like father)
Muriel thought as she absently took a sip of her herbal tea from the wooden cup while her mother and Azurite were sizing each other up through conversation. After a brief pause, the conversation was directed at her.
“Ms. Muriel, I haven’t had the chance to ask you while we were in the academy, but… What impression did you have of me?”
“Well… you seemed soft-spoken and good-natured.”
“Haha, I had the same impression of you.”
Although the blue-eyed man sporting a wry smile was secretly popular with women back in the Magic Academy, it could be said there is a mismatch between supply and demand… as he was not quite Muriel’s type.
(Hmm, if I were to choose, then… I guess I want someone who’s a little wild?)
For Muriel who was in the midst of gaining experience everyday as an adventurer and a self-proclaimed biologist, she preferred a fiancé who has an indomitable spirit, does not give up in difficult situations, and is daring enough to laugh in the face of danger.
If she were to give an example, it would be Ernesta the Tempest Witch if she preferred those of the same gender, and Archer, the silver-haired werewolf for those of the opposite gender, so her standard was ridiculously high for the average person.
However, Muriel was unaware of this, and only gave safe responses even though the other party was trying to close the emotional distance between them. Seeing this, Adelia decided to take over the conversation.
“Actually, there is something I have to tell you about the proposal…”
“Yes, what is it?”
At that, Azurite turned his attention to the Baroness and slightly tilted his head.
“If you and Muriel are married and grandchildren are born, your children, who possess the blood of both families, would have to inherit the House of Vest alongside the House of Dykebell.”
Since the Vest family currently has no direct biological children other than Muriel, it is highly likely that the daughter and her descendants would in fact inherit the title and property.
“I would like to test you to see if you are worthy of taking my daughter’s hand, and by extension, my family and the town of Velheim.”
“…Very well, I accept.”
After some hesitation, Azurite politely agreed, but Adelia did not miss the momentary look of irritation on the female attendant’s face as she stood behind him.
(Was I being disrespectful to her Lord? But still… Nevermind.)
Although she was a little concerned about the attendant’s expression, Adelia continued,
“Rigeletta, could you please show the document to Lord Azurite?”
“Yes, Madam.”
The tall maid reached for a piece of parchment by the side table and offered it to the guest.
“This is… A Lesser Buncle?”
“It damaged some of our livestock a while back, and it seems to have gotten into the town.”
A Lesser Buncle is a small, magical beast that is native to the Schwarck territory and although it looks like a cute animal and possesses both the characteristics of a fox and a squirrel, it does not have any physical strength.
They are quick-witted when cornered, and sustaining a bite from them poisons the victim and turns their muscle fibers and skin calcareous, which gradually develops into “Plaster disease”, a condition which makes it difficult for the infected to move freely.
Although it is a disease curable by the holy attribute spell “Ex Cure Light” which could be cast by high-ranking members of the Holy Church, a large amount of money must be donated to receive treatment. Unable to pay, many people die of organ failure without receiving the cure.
A few years back, Christ had captured a Lesser Buncle who had wandered into the town at his wife’s request, and the young Muriel, who found the creature cute, reached out to it and received a hand chop from her father who had always been kind to her.
“Although they’re cute, those Lesser Buncles are quite dangerous…”
“Indeed… Then if I exterminate this beast, would you give your approval?”
Azurite turned towards the Baroness seeking for approval while agreeing to her statement.
For someone who is just waiting to graduate from the Magic Academy and be certified as a mage, capturing a Lesser Buncle may be a challenge, but he does not think that it is worthy enough to ascertain his capabilities.
“Of course, the House of Vest cannot leave such a magic beast alone, so we have also asked an adventurer who has some relation to us to do the job. I would like you to compete with him.”
At the sound of the bell, a silver-haired young man with a well trained physique appeared and entered from the next room over.
“This is Sir Archer, and he is an expert with the bow and arrow. I would like you to compete and demonstrate your power by capturing the magical beast before he does.”
“Please go easy on me, Lord Dykebell.”
The silver wolfhound, who was disguised as a human, was introduced as an expert bowman and good-humoredly bowed in greeting. Meanwhile, the female attendant could no longer hide her displeasure at the method of which her Lord was being tested and glared at Adelia as she summarized the situation to everyone present and brought the matchmaking meeting to an end.
