The Necromance of Love and Death: Defeated Early in the Game, I Reincarnated as a Tragic Villainous Noble and Rebel Against the Scenario with My Beloved Using My Modern and Game Knowledge - Chapter 17

A crimson carpet stretched across the center of the room, flanked on both sides by impeccably dressed individuals with refined bearing. They were likely the high-ranking nobles who formed the core of this kingdom’s government.

At the far end of the carpet, beyond a small set of three steps, sat a pair of figures on opulent thrones.

A man in his thirties, stout and imposing, and beside him, a woman of the same age. The King and Queen of this land.

As I took a step into the audience chamber, all eyes turned to me. My nerves tightened under the weight of their gazes. Even the plush carpet beneath my feet felt unsettlingly soft, as though it might give way at any moment.

But I couldn’t afford to stop here.

Forcing myself forward, I walked across the crimson path. Just three steps away from the throne, I halted and knelt.

“Clovis Balbastor. I have come as summoned by Your Majesty.”

“Mm. Raise your head.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

As I lifted my face, my eyes met the king’s, who wore a gentle expression. Beside him, the queen offered me a faint, somewhat pained smile.

“There is no need for formality. Come closer.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

I stepped forward.

“Closer.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Even closer.”

“But… Your Majesty…”

I hesitated. Any further, and I’d be at the steps leading to the throne. Surely, ascending them would be an act of disrespect.

“Hmm. Then perhaps I shall come to you.”

“Your Majesty?!”

To my utter shock, both the King and Queen stood from their thrones and descended toward me.

A murmur of confusion swept through the assembled nobles behind me. Clearly, this was not part of the expected proceedings.

“Let me see your face properly. Yes… you do bear Alfred’s features.”

“His eyes resemble Lucrece’s quite closely.”

“Indeed. You are right—there is quite a resemblance.”

The King and Queen leaned in to examine my face, their expressions filled with emotion. I was completely frozen, caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events.

“Clovis, your parents did much for us. And before we could ever repay them… This loss grieves me deeply. It was far too soon to say goodbye.”

I could see tears welling in the King’s eyes. My own throat tightened, and a burning heat spread behind my eyelids.

“Clovis, should you ever need anything, do not hesitate to come to us. That would be the least we could do to honor Alfred and Lucrece. You are not alone. Rely on those around you. Become a great Marquess.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty! I will become a worthy Marquess and uphold this kingdom!”

“Good, good!”

“That is a noble resolve.”

I let my tears flow freely as I bowed my head deeply.

Father, Mother… You were truly relied upon by so many.

I, too, want to become a Marquess that people can depend on.

And so, this unprecedented audience came to an end.

It was a little embarrassing that I had cried, but perhaps because of it, I felt surprisingly refreshed as I returned to the estate.

◇

The next day, my estate was in complete chaos.

Today was the day of the tea party hosted by our house.

The number of attendees had far exceeded our expectations, and from early morning, the mansion was filled with a sweet, sugary aroma. The kitchen was in full operation, working tirelessly to prepare enough tea cakes for everyone.

More than fifty guests were attending. Due to the sheer number, we had to move the venue from the hall to the garden. Just setting up all the tables and chairs outside was a monumental task, and the servants were bustling around from dawn, busily making arrangements.

“Viscount Mamère is a noble who holds land to the east of the Balbastor-Marquess. His wife, who is attending today, is a particularly diligent woman and will almost certainly send a thank-you letter afterward. Be sure to remember the details of your conversation so you can reply properly. Next is Baron Chaillet. He is a robe noble, meaning he holds no land. He is an extremely capable man and enjoys His Majesty’s deep trust. It seems he will be attending with his wife today. However, Baron Chaillet is known for being quite shy, so you will need to take the initiative in conversation. Moving on—”

Between the final review of etiquette and listening to Madame Corantine’s explanations, Vio and I were busy trying to memorize as many names and faces as possible before the event began.

After a hectic morning and a quick lunch, the clock struck two in the afternoon.

One by one, the carriages carrying our guests began arriving at the estate.

The final count for today’s attendees was fifty-six. It felt like an overwhelming number to me, but according to Madame Corantine, since this was outside the height of the social season, the guest list was actually quite small.

As proof of this, most of today’s attendees were robe nobles—nobles without lands—who resided permanently in the royal capital.

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Constance, wife of Viscount Mamère. Thank you for your gracious invitation today.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Constance. I am Clovis Balbastor. Welcome to my estate. As you may know, this is my first time hosting a tea party. I ask for your patience should there be any shortcomings.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Constance. My name is Violette Univille, and I am Clovis’s fiancée. Thank you for attending today.”

Guest after guest arrived, each greeting me in turn. I made sure to mentally connect each name to a face, knowing how important it was.

However, just how long would this endless stream of introductions last…?

I stole a quick glance at the queue of guests.

It was still nowhere near finished.