Chapter 1382: Chapter 1382

"It's unusual to bring a pet to an event , but given that you're a foreigner—and a handsome one at that—I doubt anyone will mind Chocolate."

Alexia reassured him.

The reception wasn't held in the city proper, but at a royal estate on the outskirts. The manor was usually uninhabited; Dolores's late grandfather had only used it for brief winter stays, which made it the perfect venue for such an event.

With the weather warming, the festivities spilled outdoors. From the main gate, one could see long tables laden with food and fine wine, served on silverware and porcelain, stretching all the way to the manor's entrance.

By the time Jenkins and Dolores arrived, the party was already in full swing. Men and women milled about, holding wine glasses as they conversed in the courtyard and within the manor itself. The air buzzed with lively chatter, punctuated by the glitter of jewels.

"Is it alright if I don't drink?"

After hopping down from the carriage, he turned and offered his hand to Dolores, taking hers, which was covered by a white lace glove. She nodded lightly, her expression exceedingly composed, though a faint smile played on her lips.

The arrival of Jenkins and Dolores caused no great stir. There were far more important figures present, and besides, the princes and princesses were not the evening's main attraction.

As was customary, Dolores first led Jenkins to greet the party's nominal host: an elderly, amiable count living in Ruen, a distant relative of the Stuart royal family. The count was quite cordial, inquiring if Jenkins was enjoying the northern cuisine and informing him that the delegation from the Fidektri Kingdom had already arrived.

While speaking with her siblings, Dolores maintained her usual elegant and cool composure. The conversation was tepid, giving no hint of either enmity or affection.

Dolores's eldest brother, however, was openly hostile toward Jenkins. He began by pointedly mentioning Jenkins's modest rank of Baron, then proceeded to mock him, both subtly and overtly, for daring to bring a cat to such a formal affair.

Jenkins paid his attitude no mind, treating the man as little more than a buzzing fly. Latest content publıshed on novel·fıre·net

The delegations from both the Fidektri and Cheslan Kingdoms had arrived before them. As he and Dolores were drawn into various conversations, Jenkins noted the Fidektri contingent in a small garden in the courtyard, speaking with a group of northern nobles. The Cheslan representatives, meanwhile, were in the manor's foyer, engaged with a cluster of old, bewigged aristocrats.

"Should I go over and say hello?"

It was only at moments that he remembered where his loyalties were supposed to lie. The original Jenkins and his family were Fidektri citizens. While their roots in the kingdom didn't stretch back for generations, the current family certainly identified as such.

Someone, it seemed, had anticipated this before he had. Just as Dolores was surrounded by a group of young women—her cousins, it appeared—a note was discreetly passed to Jenkins. He glanced at it, gave a subtle nod to Dolores, and then made his way alone toward the small garden at the side of the courtyard. Anyone observant could have witnessed the exchange, but even the sharpest socialite would have failed to grasp its significance.

"Baron Williamette, good evening."

The moment they met, Count Bidden dismissed everyone nearby. He had his three personal guards stand watch around the garden gazebo to prevent anyone from eavesdropping. Then, placing his right hand on his left shoulder, he gave Jenkins a slight bow. It was a gesture that flew in the face of protocol; with the Count's status, only a high-ranking duke or a member of the royal family was entitled to such a courtesy—and powerful dukes were invariably tied to the crown by a thousand threads.

"Good evening, Count Bidden. It is an honor to meet you so far from home. I hope you're adjusting to the local customs and cuisine."

Count Bidden had offered him a formal salute, leaving Jenkins at an awkward loss for how to respond. The count, sensing his discomfort, straightened up and launched into conversation, skillfully bypassing any further talk of tedious protocol.

"Baron Williamette, I had heard you were visiting Ruen even before I arrived. I was hoping for an opportunity to meet you, but I never imagined it would be so soon. I saw the beautiful young lady you arrived with—that was Her Highness, Dolores Stuart, was it not?"

The question was purely rhetorical. As a diplomatic envoy, he would have been thoroughly briefed on the political landscape of Ruen before his arrival. He certainly wouldn't fail to recognize a princess of the royal blood, particularly one so deeply embroiled in the succession crisis.

"Yes. I am currently a guest at Miss Stuart's residence."

"Her Highness is a truly beautiful woman. You have excellent taste. Ah, that reminds me—I heard something back in Bel Diran, actually. The Queen intends to elevate your title to Viscount this year..."

Count Bidden was an engaging conversationalist. It seemed he had prepared for this meeting, as he guided the discussion effortlessly along topics that followed Jenkins's own thoughts. They spoke of the weather in Bel Diran and Ruen, the scale of the reception, and even touched briefly upon the war with the Cheslan Kingdom.

The count hinted that their kingdom was poised for a decisive victory. They were merely waiting for the naval engagement on the western front to conclude before deploying the Nolan fleet to the main theater of war, which would give them an overwhelming advantage against Cheslan.

Of course, his enthusiasm for meeting Jenkins wasn't just for the sake of idle chatter. After about twenty minutes of pleasantries, the count finally steered the conversation to his true purpose.

"What is your assessment of the political situation in Ruen?"

Jenkins answered honestly.

"Chaotic indeed. The situation is even worse than I anticipated. I'm sure you've heard the rumors that both I and the viscount from Cheslan were summoned for an audience with the King. In truth, nothing was decided. His Majesty implied that our task was to persuade the Stuart heirs, not him, a point which I find rather perplexing."

"Ah, I believe I understand why. You've only just arrived in Ruen, so there are matters you couldn't possibly know. The information is hard to come by, but not impossible to find if one listens carefully. You see, His Majesty King Salsi II has already informed the young princes and princesses how the next monarch will be chosen. Their selection will be based on an assessment of their administrative abilities. And clearly, dealing with... troublesome... foreign envoys is a vital part of that assessment. Please, don't repeat this. Princess Dolores should not have confided such a private matter to me, after all."

As Jenkins spoke, a look of immediate understanding dawned on Count Bidden's face, which then settled into an expression of deep contemplation as he mulled over Jenkins's words.