Fukiba walked over to the group of noble children.
Most of the families had already finished greeting each other, so most of the children separated from their parents, and gathered with each other.
I'm in the back of the children group, listening to the children' conversations.
While I was carefree waiting for Tina, who was with the king and the others, Hiro approached me.
[Young master Fukiba, are you alone? Since Tina is busy over there, let's talk to each other for a while]
Saying so, she brings me a juice. I take the glass, we sit down somewhere nearby, and we start talking.
[I was surprised, I didn't think so many people would come. I'm glad Fukiba is here, after all I can't go to where Tina is and talk to her]
[hiro, please stop calling me Young master fukiba. You don't need to add the "Young master"]
[Hmm. Brother Fukiba then! Or would it be better if I called you by your title, Baron Fukiba?]
[No, no, Fukiba or brother Fukiba is better]
As we were talking happily together, a group of three approached us.
[If it isn't Young master Hiro? How are you doing? You are wearing a handsome suit today]
[Good evening, Young master Joshua. Thank you]
Hiro returns the greeting with a cold attitude.
Then she starts talking to Fukiba again. Fukiba keeps chatting with her, wondering if it was correct for her to do that.
One of the followers who was following him behind came and called out to me.
[You there. Marquis Matthew's heir, Young master Joshua, is here in front of you. You can't even offer a proper greeting? And to think that you dare to interrupt Young master Joshua while he's talking to Young master Hiro!]
So he's the son of that Marquis who wouldn't stop glaring at me during the audience and his followers, huh?
[Yes. Good evening, Young master Joshua, nice to meet you, I'm Baron Fukiba]
I didn't give my family name deliberately.
After all, I'm a little cheeky.
Furthermore, it seems that they have not reflected on their actions. A malicious grin appeared on my face.
It seems that his followers have fallen for my trap beautifully.
[How dare a mere son of a Baron address a Marquis's heir,Young master Joshua, with only a Young? Use the 'master' when addressing him, understood? The '-masteeer'!!]
The other follower also fell for it.
[That's right, we two are also sons of a Viscount. If you are only a mere baron's son, you should address us with the '-master' as well]
Young master Hiro has a look on his face like she's saying, what in the world are these people talking about?
[Wait both of you, this Fukiba must belong to a poor baron's house family not to want to reveal his family name, so if you apologize now, I'll hold them back. After all, Duke Hiro is also worried]
He replies while glancing You g master Hiro from time to time.
It seems that he wants to show his good side to Hiro.
[Hey, Young master Fukiba isn't a Baron's so------!]
[[Don't]]
[[Eh?]]
Hiro was about to reveal everything, but Fukiba stopped her.
[Forgive me. Marquis's son of Andrew, Viscount's son, let me introduce myself again]
The word [son]made all three of them angry.
One of them tried to grab my chest.
[I'm Margrave Jake Hanes Shino son, Baron Fukiba Hanes Shino. I'm not a Baron's son, I am a Baron]
I replied with a smile on my face.
At those words, the three of them stopped.
It doesn't matter the circumstances of how one is conferred with the title of Baron, it is a fact that they are still an independent nobleman. It is normal to think that the son of a nobleman of a higher rank is superior given the relationship, however, an independent nobleman has a higher rank than the son of a higher ranking nobleman.
Moreover, Margrave Jake doesn't belong to the same faction as Marquis Matthew. Even with different duties, a Margrave and a Marquis are equal in terms of rank.
Suddenly it comes to their minds how disrespectful they were in front of a Baron and the three begin to get impatient.
[Young master Fukiba saved the carriage of Her Highness Princess Valentina and me by himself when we were being attacked by a horde of orcs and goblins, defeating thirty orcs and thirty goblins by himself. That's why he was conferred with the rank of Baron the other day]
Hiro responded, her chest puffed up with pride.
[...I asked my parents about it too. A first-class sword and magic user, said to have annihilated a herd of orcs and goblins by himself. And that there was a boy our age who was conferred with the title of Baron]
One of his followers began to speak.
Joshua and his other follower shuddered as they heard the words.
Step by step, they began to leave.
[E-E-Excuse mee!!?. We have some business to attend to, so we'll take our leave now]
Joshua just ran away.
His followers fled with him.
Fukiba takes his seat, and takes a breath.
[You're pretty evil and amazing, aren't you, Fukiba? It's the first time I realized. I could tell right away with that the smile on your face that you were thinking about doing a bad thing]
Hiro is holding back the tears in her eyes as she laughs.
I thought, now I've done it.
[T-T-That was...]
Fukiba is flustered. And Hiro smiles.
[I think I'll tell Tina what you did the next time]
I'm even more flustered.
[Just kidding! I'll keep silent if you treat me a food next time!]
I quickly realized that I couldn't win.
[...Yeah. By all means]
I feel like I've lost.
[Hehehe! Then I'll tell father about this later!]
Even if I could beat my older brother Gin, I got the feeling I couldn't beat Hiro and Valentina no matter what.
As we were talking, Tina came in.
[I've finally been released. Young master Fukiba, you've been talking to Hiro the whole time! Looks like you had a lot of fun]
Tina, who is sulking a bit, is also cute.
[Listen about this~ Just now, Fukiba was smiling malici----!]
[Wait!.. a moment]
Fukiba covered Hiro's mouth. With one hand he covered Hiro's mouth, with the other he put a finger in front of his mouth and did 'shheehh'.
[Young master Fukiba, doing things like touching the lips of an unmarried man... This needs to be reported to the Duke]
Tina replies, smiling. Her eyes aren't smiling, though.
[Ah. Sorry]
I remove my hand from Hiro's mouth.
[Young master Fukiba, please be honest with me. Hiro, what happened?]
Now it was Tina who seemed worried.
[Hm? Nothing at all. We were just talking about that his gonna treat me a food]
Hiro reveals it easily. I wish she would have kept it a little longer a secret.
[A-a-a Treattt, you said! Hiro, not fair! Not only that, before I knew it, you stopped using the '-young master' 'Young master Fukiba' That's not fair. I want to join too with Young master Fukiba too]
Tina replies, blushing.
[I understand. Tina, let's go on a date sometime]
Fukiba said so, and Tina blushes up to her ears.
[We're definitely going. I'm looking forward to it]
That's when a voice comes from behind me.
[Going? Where to?]
Tina responds to that voice coming from behind without thinking.
[Of course, to a going out with Young master Fukiba and Hiro]
Tina says, turning around. Then I froze.
There was His Majesty.
His Majesty had a radiant smile on his face, but his eyes were not laughing.
This is bad.
「hohoho. Fukiba. I think we need to have a long talk about Tina in another room. The debut party is almost over. We have to talk about that game you want to present to me, so why don't we, men, talk to our hearts' content?]
Then he pats me on my back. It hurts a little. A normal child would be crying.
[...Yes, Your Majesty, I understand.]
I had no other choice but to nod my head.
The debut party is over, now we are in the usual reception room. Those gathered here are, His Majesty, the Queen, Valentina, the prime minister, Duke Rohan, Hiro, Jake, and Fukiba.
I took out three more sets of chess. The one I'm presenting to the royal family is unique, so the others are from the nobility version. They are more luxurious that then ones made for the commoners. The rules are easy. You just need to go in order.
I played a few games while teaching.
[This is interesting! The rules are simple and you need to think about the way you play. This is something that even children and adults will enjoy!]
Even His Majesty was delighted. Of course, everyone else is too.
[It was made so that even commoners can buy it, it only cost one silver coin for them to buy it. As for the nobility, they can buy it with a large silver coin]
[HOoo!, if it's like that, then there's no problem. But still, Fukiba can do business as well? Maybe you should try starting your own company]
So I had that way? I'm still five years old, so I'll think about it later.
After that, I spent a lot of time playing Chess. How long I had to play with them? It was so much that I don't even know.
Then, it came to the point where they finally let me go.
[Well, then, Your Majesty, if you would please excuse me]
I bow my head and turn around to leave with Jake.
[Wait a moment. That reminds me, you said you were going out to go in a capital with my Tina. What's that supposed to mean? Sit there and try to explain to me]
I froze at His Majesty's words.
[Indeed, Fukiba. It looks like you made a promise with my Hiro as well too. Even if you're engaged to princess, it's still a secret, so be careful, okay?]
Moreover, Duke Rohan dropped a words too.
After that, Fukiba who was heavily reprimanded by His Majesty and the Duke, returned home exhausted.
Fukiba was finally rest after the Deput Party.