Chapter 110: Party Starts


    "Bors and Gisel from House Ruttendek has arrived!"


    "Thank you foring!"


    "Oh, is this your child? Hello there little one!"


    Karl could no longer count how many times this question has been asked of him. Beside her was Emi, who was gently carrying their baby, Zachary.


    Karl had just opened his manor to wee the guests that have arrived from all over the country to celebrate his birthday with him. Most of the guests were from his city, but some havee a long distance just to meet him, so he was making sure to thank each one of them.


    The people were full of happy smiles as they greeted Lord Karl a happy birthday, but most of the guests seemed to ignore Emi, and only ced their attention on baby Zachary. Emi, of course, knew the reason for this, she was amoner.


    Karl had aplicated expression when he noticed this, but Emi told him that it was alright, it was much better this way, anyway. At least she did not have to mingle with these rich pretentious aristocrats. She also said that she hoped that their baby won''t grow up to be a snobbish little brat.


    "Madam Antote, and herpanions from the Adventurer''s Guild has arrived!"


    "Yo! Boss Emi!"


    Finally, after a slew of fancy people, Emi heard a familiar voice calling for her. It was the group from the Adventurer''s guild.


    "What''s up, Lord Karl!", said one of the men as he lightly hit Karl on the stomach, "Happy birthday!"


    "We''re surprised you could survive more than a year living with Boss Em- ugh!"


    A female adventurer teased, but before she could finish her words, she was lightly kicked by Emi, who was still swift and careful enough not to wake the sleeping Zachary in her arms.


    "KAKAKA!", the other adventurersughed.


    "Lord Karl, happy birthday", Antote finally had a chance to talk as herpanions shut their mouths, "This is a gift from the adventurer''s guild"


    Antote handed Lord Karl an ornamental de, which she bought from one of the fancy shopsst month with Viel.


    "Oh, you did not have to", Lord Karl dutifully receive the gift, "Thank you, Miss Antote"


    "I see you''re rising up in life, Antote", chuckled Emi, "I remember you being a cheapskate!"


    The adventurersughed and bickered with each other for a while before they entered the manor. Immediately, the rowdy bunch caught the attention and sneer of the other guests. But Emi''s friends did not seem to mind as they instantly found themselves in front of the buffet.


    "Where''s Viel?", Emi could not help but ask as she noticed that Viel was not with the group. Lord Karl was also quite curious, as he was also excited to introduce Mr. Voice to his guests.


    "Oh, he''ll just be a littlete", Antote winked towards Emi, "I will go check on the others, they might already be causing amotion inside"


    Antote said her greetings once again to Lord Karl and curtsied, before going inside the ball. Emi could not help but squint her eyes. I know that look, she thought. Antote was definitely nning something. But s, she could not leave as there were still guests to wee.


    "Viscount Hans and hispanions from the New Golden Pavilion has arrived!"


    "You invited people from the new golden pavilion?", if it wasn''t for baby Zachary in her arms, she might have shouted in shock.


    "No. But Hans is an-", before Karl could finish his words, a loud and proud voice garnered his attention.


    "Old friend!"


    "Hans!", Karl immediately shook arms with the man who called him, "I haven''t seen you for years!"


    "When I saw your invitation, and knowing that you recently had a baby, how could I note?", the viscount called Hans chuckled as he ced his attention to baby Zachary, "Hello there, little Lord"


    "And you must be Emi! Karl had told me many stories about you when we were younger", Hans bowed towards Emi, "But he failed to mention how beautiful you were".


    "T-thanks?", Emi immediately felt ufortable. It would be much better if she would have just been ignored, she thought.


    "And they are?", Karl turned his attention towards the three people behind Hans. Two of which were wearing golden robes.


    "Ah yes!", Hans quickly beckoned the three, "Let me introduce you to Elders Bu Fang and Cao Man from the New Golden Pavilion. The one beside them is an outer member of their sect"


    Elder Bu Fang was tall, freakishly so. Even tallerpared to the western people that were in the party, while the one called Elder Cao Man had a long beard that almost reached his waist.


    "I am known as Handsome Face, Lord Karl!", the one that was not fully introduced from the three bowed, "I am actually a new adventurer registered in your city!"


    Karl nodded as he gestured for this man calling himself Handsome Face to get up.


    "So, Hans Why are they-", before he asked why Hans brought members of the New Golden Pavilion to his party, Hans grabbed his shoulders.


    "Haha! Let''s talk about thatter, I brought you a business proposition, old friend", Hansughed as he excused himself and hispanions and proceeded to go inside the ball.


    "Karl"


    "I know"


    Emi could not help but worry. This New Golden Pavilion sect has been causing trouble for the county for a year now. If Karl were to somehow involve himself with them, then Emi worried for his safety.


    Karl was the same, and he wasn''t only worried about himself, he had a family to take care of now. It would seem that his old friend came here bringing not only gifts, but also trouble. Half an hour had passed and it would seem that all the guests were here. Just on time for Karl''s party to start.


    Emi could not help but wonder where Viel was as the three of them entered the ball.


    Emi quickly excused herself, saying that Karl should catch up with his guests.


    She wasn''tfortable in the first ce among the aristocrats and nobles. Karl nodded unhesitatingly. With that, Emi immediately tried to find her people from the Adventurer''s Guild, but she did not need to search long, as they were the noisiest table in the party.


    "Oh, Boss Emi!", an adventurer waved the chicken leg he was holding, "Came to bask themoners with your presence, have you?"


    "Tch. Cut that out", Emi sat down as she chuckled..


    The female adventurer in the group quickly but gently snatched baby Zachary from Emi''s arms.


    "Hello there, little one", she said as she very gently and slowly racked the baby, as if he was a cracked egg.


    "N-not too fast!", Emi stuttered.


    Seeing this, Antote could not help but chuckle, "I really didn''t imagine you to be the mother type, but here you are"


    "I guess it is true what they say, once it''s there, you''ll know what to do!", one of the adventurersmented.


    "What about you, Antote?", Emi asked.


    "What about me?"


    "When are you going to have a baby?"


    The other adventurers who were eating could not help but snort out their food as theyughed. It was already pushing it when Emi settled down and had a family. But Antote? She would surely be the type to forget her baby as she worked on her job! The groupughed as they all teased Antote.


    "Tch, all of you should look in the mirror", Antote scoffed, "Some of you are as old as my father and yet still unmarried!"


    The group once againughed loudly, garnering the gazes of the other guests.


    After a few more moments of bickering, Emi could not help but ask Viel''s current whereabouts, and whether he could make it to the party.


    "He isn''t on a quest, is he?", Emi asked, "And I even personally invited him to the party"


    "No, don''t worry. He wille", Antote said as sheughed yfully.


    Emi could not help but squint her eyes, "You are nning something, aren''t you?"


    "Fufufu. You know me so well", Antote chuckled, "Everything I do-"


    "You do for the guild", Emi was the one to continue Antote''s words.


    Emi then sighed, "Well, hopefully whatever it is you''re nning, you do it now", she said as she looked at Karl, who seemed to already be exhausted with talking to his guests, "Karl needs an excuse to rest".


    "Well, should be anytime no-"


    Before Antote could finish her words, the steward announced a guest arriving.


    "Mr. Voice, the Golden Flower of Burgerstatter, Betrothed to the Princess Sofia, and Gold Rank Adventurer, has arrived!"


    It was like the night itself died. All the murmurs and gossips stopped as the people all looked in the same direction.


    "Fufufu", Antote revealed a yful chuckle once more as she saw all the aristocrats and nobles with their jaws loose.


    "Well, that''s certainly one way to get their attention", Emi smiled wryly.


    There, at the entrance of the ball, Viel stood gantly. With his long and beautiful golden hair waving along with the red cape that adorned his back.


    And true to his title, all the guests had a collective thought in their mind


    Even amidst all the color and beautiful aristocrats and nobles, he shone the brightest.


    Like a blooming Golden Flower under the moonlight.