At five in the afternoon, at Corion Estate, in the master bedroom.
"Vic, it's about time. Are you ready for the ceremony?" Horace spoke with a wicked grin, because Miss Vivienne de Tabris was helping Victor straighten his collar.
His expression remained calm and unchanged. "All right, we can begin. Thank you, my lady."
She touched her ear and said quietly, "Then the matter I mentioned to you just now?"
"Don't worry. Witchers have professional ethics. You never consulted me about anything involving your friend, and I certainly won't look at you differently just because you spread word of my first love."
Hearing Victor's assurance and self-mockery, Vivienne smiled happily, lifted the hem of her skirt, and curtsied. "My respects to you. May no dust gather beneath your feet, Lord Corion."
The witcher and the deputy captain went downstairs toward the hall. After a whole morning of hard work by Alfie the butler, this place had now become the venue for a temporary ennoblement ceremony.
Back when the estate was first being restored, Victor had already said there was no need to save money. So now, with only a little decoration, many high nobles who originally had no desire to attend and thought this was some bumpkin's residence had to admit, as they stood in the splendid hall, that Mr. Corion was a man of taste.
And standing in the center of the hall, the focus of everyone's attention, was naturally Duchess Anna Henrietta. She had changed out of the hunting outfit she wore that morning and into the gown brought by her attendants, an emerald-green full-skirted dress.
Comparing the two outfits from before and after, Victor could determine that she was not wearing a corset today. Here, it had to be emphasized that she did not need any external accessory. Her figure itself was already extremely beautiful.
Standing slightly behind Anarietta was Captain Damien. Palmerin and Milton guarded her on either side. The high-class hall was quite suitable as a temporary court, so people kept seizing the opportunity to step forward, pay their respects, and ask for help.
During the wait after arriving, Victor saw many people he recognized among the guests who had come to observe the ceremony. Among them were Count Crespi, Lafite's most loyal supporter, and the Nilfgaardian ambassador Shilard. These two nobles were the ones Victor least wanted to meet.
As for the noble currently speaking with the Lady Duchess, the man wore a large feathered hat and was dressed very respectably, but his words were a pitiful plea that his family's grapes had suffered disaster this year, and business at the mill had also been very poor lately. He hoped the court could show him some consideration, ideally with a tax reduction as well.
"Tch... that Count de la Croix is a famous miser! Heaven knows he used to be a knight. Don't ever become a man like him in the future." Horace explained quietly. Clearly, this stingy knight was a subject of gossip and jokes among the duchy's nobles.
Lord Corion shrugged. "I actually rarely handle money. I'm not interested in money!"
Hearing that, Horace had to desperately hold himself back so he would not burst into laughter and disgrace himself before the court. He had not forgotten at all how this alchemist had fleeced the knightly circles when he first arrived in Beauclair.
After thinking for a moment, Her Enlightened Ladyship accepted Count de la Croix's request, ordering the court to purchase twelve sacks each of wheat flour and rye flour every month, thus sending away this greedy businessman.
Horace, who was about to lose control and laugh, hurriedly stepped forward a few paces and reported in a voice clear enough for everyone nearby to hear a fact everyone had already plainly seen. "Your Grace, Victor of Kaer Trolde awaits your summons."
Her fluffy golden hair fell naturally over her shoulders, and the circlet on Anarietta's head was decorated with emeralds and jade. The successive audiences seemed to make her feel as though she were truly in court, so she chanted in a drawn-out voice, "My dear subjects! Now the next matter is about to begin. As ruler, I shoulder many responsibilities, and this responsibility is the one I value most!" As though her emotional tone was not enough to express herself, she even added a wave of her hand.
Not far away, Victor stood solemnly with both hands folded before his lower abdomen, listening respectfully.
Her Grace smiled as she looked at the witcher. "Lafite, another wonderful discovery, like first love! It has brought Toussaint a new wine noble. This honor belongs to Viscount Victor of Corion Estate."
Sebastian was staying at court today, so the temporary master of ceremonies was Captain Damien de la Tour. He declared in a ringing voice, "Victor of Kaer Trolde, creator of First-Love Lafite, please step forward."
The youth blinked, wondering if he had misheard. It seemed a strange prefix had been added before "Lafite"... but he knew there was nothing wrong with his hearing, and on this occasion the master of ceremonies would not be allowed to misspeak.
In other words, in the future there might very well be advertising slogans like, "For a gift, give the good stuff, for first love, drink Lafite"?
"Ahem!" Damien interrupted his wild imagination with a cough and a look, clearly signaling Victor to stop spacing out and hurry forward.
A round of subtle laughter rose around them, not entirely malicious. They thought Viscount Corion had been stunned dumb by joy. Such things were not uncommon.
After straightening his clothes and composing his bearing, the witcher walked forward a few paces, stood before Her Enlightened Ladyship, and bowed with one hand over his chest.
Smiling faintly with satisfaction, Her Grace raised her voice slightly. "According to the judgment of the ducal sommelier Benoit and Anna Henrietta, Lafite's quality is provisionally ranked as viscount, to be granted to the master of Corion Estate, Mr. Victor Corion."
After speaking, she walked closer to the witcher and personally pinned on him the medal symbolizing a wine noble, the "Umbrella" family crest encircled by grapevines, with "Lafite" engraved beneath it in elegant script.
After pinning on the badge, Anarietta stepped back two paces. "This ennoblement represents the duchy's recognition of Corion Estate!" Taking the glass of Lafite handed over by Vivienne, she symbolically drank a sip. Her part was completed there.
She patted her chest. "From now on, you are Lord Corion! Our conversation need not be so formal. Now, I have a small private request."
"Of course, Your Grace. In addition to the sample wine, I will send another ten barrels of Lafite to be stored in the palace cellars!" Believing he had guessed her thoughts, Victor responded politely.
But she raised one finger and shook it left and right. "Although that matter is also very important, that is not what I mean. What I mean is that the story has already been finished. I read it and liked it very much.
"Although the knightly tournament is only a little over ten days away, and I believe you are busy training your riding and archery, I still hope you can set aside time as soon as possible for a final review. Afterward, it will still need to be adapted into a script and rehearsed as a stage play.
"Forgive me, I still have many official matters to handle and cannot stay for the banquet. I will have Vivienne attend on my behalf... Lastly, thank you for the Lafite you gifted me. I shall personally give you a barrel of Sangreal in return, fine wine reserved for the ducal table. Try the taste. Perhaps it will inspire you to keep up the good work."
After saying this, Her Enlightened Ladyship left with a cheerful smile.
She left behind the freshly minted Lord Corion, who inwardly muttered, "I truly can't understand you, whimsical Anarietta. Actually, I wanted to sell that Lafite. I never said I was giving it to you!"
Of course, outwardly, he respectfully saw Her Grace off.
...
Once the ennoblement ceremony was complete, holding a celebratory banquet in the evening was only natural. Although Her Enlightened Ladyship had left early, everyone had heard that she had sent Vivienne to attend on her behalf. A newly favored upstart, favors returned with favors, naturally made participation very enthusiastic.
Some particularly active-minded people even connected the superficial fact that they had just exchanged wine with the fact that both had been made viscounts, and both were bards. Although Victor's appearance could not compare with a certain someone's, he was much younger and stronger.
They had heard that witchers were as vigorous as beasts, while Her Grace was now a mature, single woman. Marriage might be troublesome, but a romance was certainly no problem. Some darker-minded nobles had already begun composing stories in their hearts, the kind the public loved to hear.
Of course, all of the above would slowly ferment over the next few months. Right now, Corion Estate was at its peak, its brightest moment, surrounded by flowers and applause.
No one came up to spoil the mood with strange remarks, leaving Victor, who had originally expected a public comeuppance scene, slightly disappointed. Was there not even one slightly foolish person willing to jump out and save Lord Corion from a boring evening?
Yes, exactly. He felt bored. From the perspective of noble reserve, he had finished enjoying his brief vanity, and although he could still handle empty conversations with ease, he could not stop boredom from spreading. They were all people who talked nonsense and whom there was no need to know.
But he also did not want to take the initiative to speak with Ambassador Shilard or Count Crespi. Speaking with them would not be boring, but it would be irritating.
Milton and Palmerin, those two more forthright friends, were escorting Anarietta back to Beauclair together with Damien de la Tour.
The "fool in love," Guillaume, stayed rooted beside Vivienne. "Barrel Junior" Horace also had some social obligations to face. Society truly stains everyone. Once inside it, no one is free.
After some time passed, and after bidding farewell once again to the fat, unknown noble before him, Victor casually walked to the second-floor balcony and sat down, enjoying the autumn night breeze.
"Good evening, my lord. Are you also out here for some air? What a coincidence. I did not expect to run into you here."
Victor looked toward the newcomer and was certain the other party had not deliberately created an encounter, but that it truly was a coincidence. As the duchy's Ducal Camerlengo, Rafael de Surmann was responsible for paying all the Knights Errant. He had no need to curry favor with anyone.
He was the one who had given Victor the sample wine and formula for "Sansretour the Lost." And after the medal ceremony ended that afternoon, he had eagerly hurried over to collect the sample wine and formula for "First-Love Lafite."
Of course, both of them knew that this was absolutely not the complete formula. The estate owner would certainly have held something back. But the process of submitting the sample wine and the formula still had to be completed in full, because Toussaint's traditions were supreme.
Victor was not familiar with the camerlengo, but since they had run into each other, a conversation without awkwardness was a social obligation.
"Good evening, Mr. Rafael. I came out for some air. Are you satisfied with tonight's hospitality? Was there anything lacking?"
"No. You have a very capable butler. Although you are a newly risen noble, there is no trace of the nouveau riche about you. Of course, I am not implying anything. It is just that your rise truly has been shockingly swift!
"I still remember the scene last month when I handed Sansretour the Lost to you. At that time, who could have imagined that you would not attempt to recreate the past, but would strive to open up the future!"
"It was all coincidence, the guidance of Lebioda, and the choice of Steins;Gate."
"Then I hope there will be more such coincidences, the more the better. Also, please be sure to pay your taxes honestly! It is rather embarrassing to say this, but I will be watching Lafite very closely. She is an indispensable part of this year's fiscal operations, and I am full of confidence in her! Thank you for providing that wonderful story. It gave me the idea of adding the prefix 'First-Love' to Lafite."
Victor chuckled. There was nothing worth complaining about in this. Keeping all the profits to oneself led nowhere. If one wanted a blockbuster, one had to share enough of the benefits, and besides, paying taxes according to the law was a citizen's duty.
As he considered matters in his heart, a certain scene in the corner of the hall suddenly caught Victor's gaze. It was Angoulême, rarely seen in a dress, surrounded by four or five handsome young men paying her attention. Under his supernatural vision, he could see it very clearly. Their number and quality were actually no worse than the ones around Vivienne de Tabris!
This made his eyes nearly pop out. He completely could not understand why such a thing would happen. Not long ago, he had even worried that this girl might never be able to marry. But from the looks of things now, she had plenty of choices.
"You find this scene puzzling? As expected of an elder brother, you cannot see your younger sister's good points." Following the estate master's gaze and witnessing the grand courtship scene, the camerlengo smiled and revealed the secret behind it. "There is no lack of clever people anywhere. Although it is somewhat rude to put it this way, as far as I know, witchers do not possess reproductive ability, while Lady Angoulême is close to you and is also your only younger sister. The true Lafite formula and the heir to Corion Estate will most likely come from her descendants. Under such circumstances, the earlier one invests, the better. Once everything is settled, it will be too late!"
Suddenly enlightened, Victor narrowed his eyes. So they were worrying over this rich inheritance. He really was lucky. Before even turning twenty, there were already people helping him consider what would happen after he was gone...
Although witchers rarely settled down for long, if he wanted to pass down the estate and title, handing the family property to relatives to manage would be an almost inevitable choice. But no one knew that Victor actually did not attach much importance to the estate or title at all. It was purely a collector's desire. Since he had once possessed them, even if he lost them immediately, he would not feel there was any problem.
As for whether Angoulême would be dazzled and misled, Victor was not worried at all. She was naturally sensitive to human malice, and with Eagle Vision overseeing things as well, rather than worrying that she would be deceived, perhaps he should worry that it would not be easy to find anyone capable of deceiving her.
After the camerlengo Rafael politely excused himself, Victor gazed at the splendid hall and burst into a silent laugh, shaking his head to sweep away his worries.
He began considering whether he should spend the winter in Toussaint. Although everything here was beautiful, it also felt very boring. Perhaps he would want to come here and rest when he was ready to retire. Moreover, in the North, there were still two people he cared about.
Whether or not he would spend the winter here had to be decided as soon as possible. After all, in a few more days, the first snows might fall over the northern mountain passes, sealing the roads leading north.
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