< Chapter 48 - Invitation #2 >
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Emma Pikus.
As the second daughter of the Countess of Pikus, she had never liked Cordelia that much, and the reason was simple and clear.
‘It’s annoying.’
Cordelia’s very existence.
I didn’t like the fact that a girl as pretty as a doll could be kind. And she wasn’t just pretending to be kind, she was actually kind.
‘I have to have fun this year too.’
In fact, it was just a nice thing to say, but it was just to the extent of embarrassing my fiancé, but this year, things were a little different.
‘Because you dug my grave so diligently.’
Are you excited that your fiancé, who couldn’t even go out much, is getting healthier?
Cordelia had prepared a lot of things to embarrass herself in the past couple of months.
‘Oh, I’m so excited.’
Emma Pikes, shaking, sat down at her dressing table and looked in the mirror.
A small, lovely girl with long, pink hair appeared.
In fact, the fundamental reason why Emma Pikus was so displeased with Cordelia was because of her hair color.
Because we both have red hair, we were compared wherever we went.
‘Okay, okay. This year, I’m really going to hit it hard.’
Emma Pikus, with a sinister smile that didn’t match her lovely appearance, thought about what she had prepared quietly.
A new dress and accessories that she had pressured her father to buy, and a fiancé who was the envy of everyone.
‘Oh, I’m so, so excited.’
I wish my birthday would come soon.
Emma Pikus smiled sinisterly again and looked back at the mirror.
She was completely unaware that in far away Baylun, there was a man who was looking forward to his birthday more than she was.
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Five days later, Pikes County.
Sylvia Crossbell, the eldest daughter of Count Crossbell, one of the twelve northern houses, frowned involuntarily.
‘Your fancy hobbies are still the same.’
In the vast, if not expansive, garden of the Countess of Pikes, there was a banquet hall decorated to an extreme.
Fresh flowers fill the banquet hall even though it is still winter, and a temperature control device makes outdoor events possible.
Those two things alone would have been enough to worry about the annual budget of any noble family, but the level of various items mobilized to decorate the banquet hall was also considerable.
‘This is Pikers after all.’
In fact, there was no real relationship between the Countess of Chase and the Countess of Picus, except for Emma Picus’s strange obsession with Cordelia.
Although they both belonged to the 12 northern families, their areas of activity were very different.
Although the Chase Counts possessed the Magic Tower, they had no proper fiefdom and maintained their influence through the power of their talents.
On the other hand, the Earls of Pikes, who owned the delta of the Silicones River, known as the lifeline of the North, as their fiefdom, held not only the best granary in the North but also the best transit trading city.
That is, it was a case of maintaining influence through the power of a powerful territory.
Therefore, the real rival of Count Pikus was not Count Chase, but Count Crossbell.
‘Crossbell in the North, Pikers in the South.’
The Crossbell Counts, who are making a huge amount of money through finance, and the Pikus Counts, who are making considerable profits through agriculture and commerce.
The relationship between the two families, which were considered to be among the wealthiest among the twelve northern families, began to sour when the Counts of Pikes began to expand their reach into the financial industry.
Of course, compared to the Crossbell Counts, who already controlled more than half of the financial world in the North, the Pikes Counts’ financial business was child’s play, but it was not something that could be tolerated.
‘It’s annoying, but the Count Pikes has some power.’
It may be child’s play now, but the Count Pikes could come to power at any time and in any way.
If we look at it simply in terms of wealth, the Count Pikus family is in no way inferior to the Count Crossbell family.
‘Haa… I really didn’t want to come here.’
From Sylvia’s perspective, Count Pikus was no different from the enemy.
In fact, both Count Crossbell and Count Pikus were reluctant to face each other.
It was Count Pikus who did not even participate in the gathering of the children of the twelve northern families.
But for some reason, it was Count Pikes who always sent invitations to Emma Pikes’ birthday parties.
Despite the fact that the distance between the two families was so great that it took several days to travel one way.
‘Well, I can guess what you’re thinking.’
Nerve-wracking.
We are doing this well.
We’ll send out an invitation just to be polite, but it’s up to you whether you come or not.
Since Count Crossbell, famous for his fiery temper, would never let such a provocation from Count Picus go unnoticed, Sylvia had to attend Emma Picus’ birthday party every year in full dress.
‘There is one more reason, though.’
None other than Cordelia.
Emma Pikus had been strangely mean to Cordelia for a long time, but since Cordelia rarely went out, she had few close friends and was unable to properly defend herself.
Should I say that if you hit him, he gets hit back?
‘I have to be stronger this year than I was last year.’
Sylvia wasn’t able to help Cordelia properly because Emma Pikus was always hitting her with facts, but this year she was planning to protect Cordelia even if it meant going a little too far.
I had to repay the favor I received from Langeste.
‘And… this year will be a little different.’
Cordelia’s fiancé, who was Emma Pikus’ main attacker.
Sylvia, who briefly recalled the events at Langest, smiled sinisterly, which was unusual for her.
Because it was expected.
“Oh my, Miss Sylvia. You look so beautiful this year too.”
“Isn’t Mia really so lovely? I’ve felt this way for a long time, but I think she has a great sense. This time, she really chose the right color for her dress.”
“Really?”
“sure.”
Mia Balun, the second daughter of the Balun family, blushed in delight at Sylvia’s praise, but for some reason no other girl approached Sylvia.
‘Because it’s Count Pikes’ party.’
Basically, it was a place to check the mood of the Countess of Pikes. Since all the families that were invited were located near the Pikes County, it was natural for them not to approach Sylvia, the daughter of the Countess of Crossbell.
‘Mia is special.’
But looking at the girls looking at me from over there with perplexed expressions, it seemed like Mia wouldn’t come near me starting next year.
“Wow, it’s Miss Emma.”
As Mia spoke with shining eyes, Sylvia took a gentle step forward to put some distance between them for her.
Because if Emma Pikus caught Mia being friendly with him, it would likely put her in trouble.
‘Anyway… the main character is coming.’
Emma Pikus and her fiancé Darren Filov enter the banquet hall with confidence.
As annoying as it was, Count Pikus was definitely a tough opponent.
‘I’m saying he’s not just a nouveau riche.’
Although he had a tendency to be a nouveau riche, he was a traditionally wealthy man, so he knew how to spend money wisely.
Emma Pikus was wearing her pale pink dress, which was stylish in design but had unusual accessories attached to it.
‘fairy.’
A lovely design that highlights the strengths and suppresses the weaknesses of the petite and petite Emma Pikes.
Emma Pikus looked like a fairy, and Darren Filov, in his white robe trimmed with gold thread, looked like a prince from a fairy tale.
‘Is this a really good concept?’
But it did fit together pretty well.
It was so great that all the ladies present at the banquet hall expressed their sincere admiration.
“Oh my, is Miss Cordelia here yet?”
Emma Pikus, who had exchanged brief greetings with the ladies of the banquet hall, spoke with a slight excitement as if she had just remembered something, and the ladies around her immediately accepted her words.
“It looks like we’re going to be late.”
“It looks like you’ve had a lot of accidents recently… Could it be that you’ve been banned from going out?”
“Maybe it’s because of my fiancé······.”
“Well, you’re not feeling well. You seem to be feeling a little better, but… you’ve been overdoing it a lot lately. Right?”
When Emma spoke with a sly smile, the young ladies immediately agreed.
‘Ha, really.’
It was an annoying sight to see, but Sylvia decided to endure it for now. There was no point in getting involved when she wasn’t there.
‘By the way, why are you so late?’
Cordelia was never late for an event like this.
Why are you late today?
‘Is something really going on?’
Is there something wrong with Yuder like you guys said?
It was a story that was half true and half false.
The reason it was late was because of Yuder, but it wasn’t because there was a problem.
The reason why Yuder intentionally arrived late.
The reason why I waited until all the young ladies gathered and the main character of today, Emma Pikes, also showed up.
“Miss Cordelia of the House of Chase, please enter.”
Everyone’s attention was focused on the butler’s words.
It had to be that way.
All the young ladies were gathered together except for Cordelia.
“I guess you finally got here.”
“Is it because of my fiancé?”
A few of the young ladies opened their mouths to gossip in an attempt to please Emma Pikus, but only for a moment.
I couldn’t talk about Cordelia at length.
Because my gaze was stolen.
Because I lost my mind one after another.
“Wow······.”
Mia Balun let out a blank voice.
Not only her, but all the ladies present at the banquet hall had blank expressions.
Cordelia Chase.
Her beauty has been famous since long ago.
Everyone knew that she was a beautiful girl who would make people stare blankly, even though she was also a woman.
But this time it wasn’t to that extent.
The mere word beautiful was not enough to describe the sight before my eyes.
“Cordelia?”
Even Sylvia was left speechless.
All he could do was blink his eyes and let out a stupid noise.
goddess.
An extraterrestrial being.
Cordelia, wearing a white dress with a hint of pale pink, entered the banquet hall with an elegant smile.
Her crimson hair seemed to glow, and the ornaments she wore here and there also showed off their presence without being excessive, further enhancing Cordelia’s beauty.
Truly overwhelming beauty.
‘What, what is it?’
Sylvia, who was the first to come to her senses, blinked several times.
She was originally pretty, but was she like this?
And when I came to my senses, I saw something.
‘Same?’
The design of the dress Cordelia is wearing.
It wasn’t exactly the same, but the design had a similar vibe to Emma Pikus’ dress.
‘The colors are similar too?’
Similar clothes.
That’s why even if you don’t want to compare, you can’t help but compare.
The young ladies, who had come to their senses one by one, also noticed the fact. I looked back at Emma Pikus without realizing it, and then at Cordelia.
No one opened their mouth, but everyone knew.
The gap between the two people can only be described as overwhelming.
Emma Pikus was a lovely girl, but the current Cordelia was nothing short of a goddess.
He was taller and had a much better body.
If only the clothes had been different, I wouldn’t have noticed, but since even the clothes were the same, the lovely girl Emma Pikes couldn’t help but turn into a crumpled squid in an instant.
‘It’s not just clothes.’
Other things began to come into Sylvia’s sharp eye.
Cordelia’s ornaments.
None of them were ordinary. What was even more frightening was that the positions and numbers of the ornaments were identical to those of Emma Pikus.
‘And all of them are upward compatible?’
You used gold? Yeah, we use platinum.
Diamonds? Yes, bigger and more beautiful for us.
-Is that the feeling?
‘You’ve made up your mind.’
To crush Emma Pikus.
To completely erase Emma Pikus’ presence from this banquet hall.
And the one who hatched this conspiracy was-
‘As planned.’
Looking at the completely overwhelmed banquet hall, Uther smiled wickedly, and Cordelia looked back at Uther with a bewildered face.
‘Yuder, Yuuder. What is this? What’s going on?’
‘Yeah, just according to plan.’
It was Yuder who had already figured out what Emma Pikus would wear and what accessories she would use.
Although she was a character that appeared only once as a sub-quest, the Uder Wiki contained complete information about her.
‘I did some spying too.’
The amount of money that Count Pikes spent for today was truly enormous.
Naturally, rumors were bound to circulate in the industry about what kind of dress she wore and what kind of accessories she used.
Add the information you have spied on to your existing knowledge to make it perfect.
It was Yuder who came to meet Paul Fairy Queen, wearing a dress she had prepared especially for today.
A dress laden with the blessings of the fairies and Magellan’s jewelry.
And here’s another weapon added to the mix.
‘Look at that shiny, flowing hair.’
Cordelia’s hair was even more beautiful than usual.
The reason was simple: I used shampoo and conditioner.
‘There was no shampoo or conditioner here.’
As it was a world with fairly advanced civilization, there were basic detergents such as soap, but there was no shampoo or conditioner.
That’s why Yuder has been conducting research ever since he stole the Sun Necklace from Raizegang, and has finally succeeded in developing a shampoo and rinse that are suitable for commercial use.
‘There is no woman who is not interested in beauty.’
No, at least if you were an upper-class woman, you couldn’t help but be interested even if you didn’t want to.
The reason why Yuder worked so hard to develop shampoo and rinse was simple: to use them as negotiation materials when making contact with royalty or high-ranking nobles on the royal road.
‘It works.’
Sylvia and other discerning ladies noticed the change in Cordelia’s hair.
What if we approached them and offered them shampoo and conditioner, telling them that they could be just like us?
And if you don’t give it to just anyone, but only to Cordelia’s friends, you can be selective.
‘I’ll take control of the banquet.’
It may have started out as Emma Pikus’ birthday party, but it ended up as a fantastic debut for the new Cordelia.
And it was just the beginning.
There were still many things that Yuder had prepared.
First of all, Yuder himself.
“This is Yuder Bayer. It is my first time greeting you, my dear ladies.”
As Yuder stepped forward and bowed, small groans and screams spread among the young ladies.
Yuder Bayer.
A man who occupies one of the four handsome commanders in Heroes Chronicle 2.
Since Yuder planned and planned it like that, it was natural that screams would spread among the women.
‘And I got it right too.’
Emma Pikus’s fiancé and her outfits, accessories, and even her hairstyle.
Yuder’s intentions worked this time too, and Darren Filov, like Emma Pikus, ended up becoming a crumpled squid.
‘But it’s still difficult if it stretches to this extent.’
Not yet. There’s still a lot to prepare, so don’t give up like this.
As if Uther’s wish had come true, Emma Pikus stepped forward, gritting her teeth.
He welcomed Cordelia, forcing himself to maintain a calm expression.
“Oh my, what a wonderful person you are. It is no wonder that Miss Cordelia left such a letter.”
A letter like that.
Cordelia’s repeated midnight escapes.
For a moment Cordelia’s face turned red, and a small murmur spread among the young ladies. A little life came back to Emma Pikus’ face as well.
But Uder still didn’t lose his evil smile.
Because it was an expected sequence.
‘It’s time to come.’
Those wanted for today.
Uder counted the numbers in his head, and at exactly the expected time, footsteps were heard.
“The Guardians of the Holy Cross have arrived.”
As soon as the panicked butler’s voice ended, the elite members of the Holy Cross Guardians, dressed in pure white robes, entered the banquet hall.
“The Holy Cross Guardians?”
“Oh my, are you going to celebrate Miss Emma’s birthday?”
The Holy Cross Guardians, who protect the continent from demons.
Their prestige was never low. In some ways, they were a group with authority that surpassed that of royalty.
Everyone’s eyes were once again focused on the appearance of the Holy Cross Guardians in their formal attire rather than simple combat uniforms, and the owner of those eyes was the Holy Cross Guardians’ paladin, Sir Aindorf, who could be called the embodiment of solemnity, and he headed toward his destination with an unwavering posture.
“Oh my, are you really going to celebrate Miss Emma’s birthday?”
“The Order of the Holy Cross?”
A small voice spread among the young ladies, and a mixture of embarrassment and anticipation spread across Emma Pikus’ face.
And Sir Aindorf knelt down and bowed.
In front of Cordelia, not Emma Pikes.
“The Order of the Holy Cross greets its benefactor.”
“I meet your benefactor.”
The Guardians who were standing behind Sir Aindorf bowed at the same time, creating a scene that resembled a sacred painting.
Cordelia looked back at Uther in confusion, and Uther smiled slyly and said.
“Sir Eindolf, I was only doing what was expected. Please stand up. Cordelia would want you to do the same.”
At Juder’s words, Aindorf slowly got up.
At the same time, surprise, curiosity, and unbearable wonder spread across the young ladies’ faces.
Why?
Why are the Holy Cross Guardians paying their respects to Uther and Cordelia?
But there were still surprises left.
Uther sent a signal to Cordelia, and Cordelia, although hesitant, went ahead with the plan as promised.
An angel who doesn’t spread her wings.
In an instant, Cordelia’s mood changed.
She was already like a goddess, but now she began to feel truly sacred.
And the one that most sensitively captured this change was the Holy Cross Defenders.
Sir Aindorf blinked his eyes without realizing it and expressed his admiration.
“Wow, angel?”
Although the directing was a bit childish, the effect was amazing.
The title of the woman who was mistaken for an angel by none other than the Knights of the Holy Cross was given to Cordelia.
“Oh, no. An angel, you know.”
Cordelia blushed and flinched, and Uther’s smile deepened.
The reason why the Holy Cross Guardians were called to this place.
The reason I promised to cooperate in the future and asked that the Holy Cross Defenders be sent to this place today.
It dispels various rumors about Uther and Cordelia.
From a simple runaway teenager who fell in love repeatedly, he is repackaged into a hero who fought against demon followers for the North – a hero who achieved great feats worthy of the Holy Cross Defenders’ direct recognition.
‘Perfect.’
Sir Aindolf, who had received Juder’s gaze, began to tell everyone about Juder and Cordelia’s activities in the North.
Of course, the story of the wild land was largely omitted and had many parts embellished here and there, but it was enough to turn public opinion around.
‘Good.’
Uther turned to Emma Pikus with a deep smile on his face.
I really liked the way he just blinked with a blank expression on his face.
‘I guess there’s no need to do anything anymore.’
The rest can just go with the flow.
And it really happened just as Yuder had thought.
As the Holy Cross Guardians led by Sir Aindorf withdrew, Sylvia spoke to Cordelia, and Uder advertised shampoo and conditioner to Sylvia.
“Sister, try it too.”
The moment Cordelia handed over the small complex to Sylvia, a change occurred once again.
The young ladies who had been looking at me timidly started to approach me.
From Emma Pikus to Cordelia Chase.
The main character of the banquet changed completely, and once the atmosphere changed, it remained the same until the end of the banquet.
And late afternoon.
Uther, who was looking at the banquet hall that had ended much earlier than scheduled, looked back at Cordelia and asked.
“Are you satisfied?”
Cordelia narrowed her eyes at the ridiculous question and kicked Yuder in the shin first.
“Ouch! Why?!”
“Why, why! Do you know how embarrassed I was?”
Especially when Sir Aindorf was surprised and said, “An angel?!
Cordelia, whose face turned red again, hit Uther in the chest with her fist again.
“I’m always the one who feels embarrassed!”
At least tell me in advance!
“Hehe, but it didn’t work out well, did it?”
“That’s why it’s more annoying?”
At Cordelia’s words, Uther chuckled and quickly kicked his feet. In an instant, he moved next to Cordelia and hugged her slender waist.
“So, you don’t like it?”
“No, it’s too good!”
Actually, it was a bit pitiful.
Anyway, all the frustration that had built up over time was released at once.
“Isn’t it our family’s Yuder?”
“Yeah, yeah, this is our Yuder.”
Cordelia smiled pleasantly and said, stroking her hair.
“But Yuder.”
“uh.”
“Do you still have any shampoo and conditioner samples left? Besides the ones for the king.”
“Is it there?”
“Then let’s give some to Emma too. Think carefully about how to give it to her without hurting her feelings.”
No matter how much I thought about it, it seemed a bit too much.
But today is my birthday.
At Cordelia’s words, Uther smiled again and nodded.
“If you want.”
As expected, it’s not for nothing that he has the blood of an angel.
Satisfied with Cordelia’s kindness, Uther reached out his hand to escort her, and Cordelia gently grabbed Uther’s hand.
And then again for a week or so.
When word of the shampoo and conditioner spread among the young ladies of the North.
An invitation to the founding ceremony marking the beginning of the Wangdo chapter arrived at the Bayer and Chase families.
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< Chapter 48 - Invitation #2 > End
