As I sipped a glass of red wine, all eyes on me, the music still hadn't resumed, I motioned to the conductor of the orchestra as he turned to me urging him to continue playing. The music resumed and people went about their business.
--...Ha... [I'll just stay here I'll have a drink I'll eat a little and whoever wants to talk let's talk...I won't move]
The music was nice, a danceable waltz, a soft jazz, ambient music and soft and cheerful dance music, the food was colorful and delicious, the drink I have tasted better but it is still good, if we ignore the enormous number of girls and adolescents that you throw at me looks full of intrigue and young people who see me as an enemy, because it's a good party.
"Ex-excuse me, vis-viscount Zenit?"
--Yes?
While I was sipping my nineteenth glass of wine, a small voice called out to my back, moving towards the voice, there is a woman, a young lady of 18~20 years old with green eyes and blonde hair with light makeup, wearing a red body-hugging dress. highlighting her modest bust and showing off a deep neckline at the back, certainly quite provocative.
--I'm Elen Charlotte Morelia Flandes, daughter of Count Flanders, would you like to dance...
--...Okay...if it's just dancing [I feel bad for making her the one to ask me to dance but I won't move first]
I emptied my glass down my throat and took the girl's hand, walking softly to the dance floor under the gaze of everyone present, the band began to play a soft waltz, much like Swan Lake. Given the difference in heights I couldn't take her by the waist so I carried her from behind.
--Don't worry, since we're here, tell me about yourself, did they order you to approach me? Or was it by your will?
Speak in a soft voice so that the rest of the couples would not hear us.
--No-no, I just wanted...
--Did you want?...
--Dance with you, tall, handsome, serious, with a cold look, besides your hair is dark... I like older men...
The young woman had a fit of honesty, and poured out the entire contents of her guts.
"Hmm…sorry, I can dance with you and we can talk but you're not my type…"
--I assumed but we can be friends...
-Of course, I don't see the problem...
--Thanks…
The young woman smiled while some tears ran from her eyes and we continued dancing, after two more dances I left the depressed young woman and walked back to my drinks table. After the girl in red, several other young women approached me and I ended up rejecting some that were obviously honey traps and accepting others that were just little girls with fairy tale dreams, a real headache.
--Hero Zenith...
--Yes?
This time it was a woman of an age close to mine, one of the three mature, she wore a black dress with gold embroidery on a low neckline revealing the pair of ripe melons, adorned with silver necklaces and gold bracelets, her purple eyes and ash-colored hair styled in a braid, she had the air of an ostentatious young widow.
--Would you like to join me on a round.
The captivating woman took out from her back a bottle of liquor different from the wine that is on the table.
--Of course, I can't refuse a drink from a beautiful lady... [I could refuse but you brought the sealed bottle, you know how to convince people]
--Excuse my rudeness, I am Amelia Desmina Emboar, the eldest daughter of Baron Emboar, my younger sisters are around here, those girls were afraid of you.
--It usually happens, I have this face...
I shrugged as I followed the woman to her sisters' table, the girls starting a flurry of whispers and murmurs as their older sister Amelia was all smiles as she poured the liquor into our glasses.
--Well, a toast to the hero...
--A toast to the company of these beautiful ladies...
I gave a small and cheap compliment, while I smiled several of the girls blushed to the extreme, to which the exuberant Amelia could only laugh.
--Hero or do you prefer Viscount, these girls can't stand a praise from a man like you, come on girls show some mettle...
--They're good kids, innocence at their age is a good thing, the girl from before was clearly pushed by her family though it seems like she developed some feelings towards me, but that's just an illusion...
--The viscount is a kind man...
--I think cruel is the right word, this liquor is very good...
--I'm glad you like it, it's one of the specialties of our territory...now Viscount would like to dance...
--Good liquor, good company… if you give me another bottle I'll dance with each of you… [It's good liquor, call me drunk but it's delicious]
--ha hahahaha… I never expected that the Hero would have such a weakness…
--Miss Amelia, I am a man of flesh and blood, I may be the hero but I am just a man who likes good drink and good company, can you disagree?
--No, my good knight...it's just that my little sisters won't be able to with a man like you...
Amelia laughed and her sisters blushed beautifully...giving the air of a mother and her daughters...
--We Dance…
I stood up and extended my hand towards Amelia…
--Of course…
I ended up dancing with all the young women of the Emboar house… thus receiving a huge amount of hateful looks from the male body in the room.
--You are the Hero!
--Huh?
A blond young man dressed in white with a red cloak, came shouting to the table where he was talking with the women of the Emboar house.
--You are the subject who was summoned to serve my father the Viceroy, I am Alejandro Euler Bloom!
The pompous young man gloated over his entourage of sycophants.
--So you're the prince?...Nice to meet you.
Talk nonchalantly with the prince, if you are a prince but so what? I slip, I don't care, it's not my problem, please get lost, you make my drink tasteless.
--Where is your respect to the commoner crown? You can be the hero but you're just a common trash...
--...Huh? [This guy is an idiot, he doesn't see how everyone is looking at him, even the band stopped playing]…Prince I'm currently a viscount, your father personally conferred that status on me…you're making people uncomfortable, come on, have a drink, eat something, and dance with one of the girls in your group, don't look for trouble.
I made the last part a bit drier as I surreptitiously prepared to punch this idiotic prince.
--Are you just a PLEBE? Do you want to give me orders?
--Orders? It's just a suggestion…take it as advice from someone older, how old are you 16~18? Go and have fun with your age…
--I'M THE CROWN PRINCE YOU CAN'T TALK TO ME LIKE THAT!!!
The blond young man was enraged and took out a dagger from his clothes and stabbed at me.
<
The dagger pierced my open palm and caught his hand, blood seeping from the wound and dripping onto the ground, the younger Emboar sisters screamed in terror, but the most terrified was the prince. His complexion was blue, since as payment for letting him stab my hand I broke his hand and wrist, reached my free hand to his shoulder and grabbed him.
Filling my chest with air, I spoke out loud to fill the room.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen... I want it to go on record the young crown prince attacked me and this is just self-defense, do you all agree?!"
Silence no one said anything the room was filled with silence, only the sobs of the Emboar Sisters were barely audible.
--I will take the silence of the room as an affirmation.
--GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH
Just by putting some force in my grip the prince's right shoulder was broken into pieces, without letting it fall I threw it to his followers like someone who throws the garbage.
"Take the prince away, and tell the guards behind those columns not to do anything stupid."
Pulling out the dagger embedded in my hand and bandaging the wound with a handkerchief, I smiled at the young ladies at the table.
--Excuse me for the ugly show, as you can see I think the festive mood has been ruined a bit, I'll retire to the infirmary, I'll come back later maybe?
--Don't worry, the Emboar family is a military family, we're used to these, it's just that it's still a bit terrifying to see it up close, I can treat your wound, you don't need to move, sit down and let me see it.
"Thank you, Miss Amelia is certainly a prepared woman."
--If you can still joke around, you shouldn't be so hurt.
--I've had worse blows, this is the third time I've received this type of injury.
--I see that the Viscount is a man of action.
--I'm just a normal man with a bit of a bad temper, I can't stand those pompous and stupid guys… I prefer honest and rational people.
--You are a rare man, honesty and rationality do not normally go together.
--I don't think so, you are a good example, you take care of your sisters and you were also ready to hit the prince if he was wrong in his words, I think that if he had demanded any of the girls you would have kicked his crotch with all your strength.
--You! How do you know I specialize in kicks?
--Your thighs and your figure, your legs are well defined but your arms are not so much, your back is firm, and the cut of your dress allows greater mobility of the legs.
You are a mysterious and knowledgeable man...
--I just drink and know things, nothing out of the ordinary...
--And... do you know what my profession is?
--I guess you are an adventurer, martial artist or female knight, you don't look like a demure and fine young noblewoman like your sisters or like the rest of the women here.
--Yes, you have good eyes, my father has many children, the house already has its heirs decided in stone, for us a future full of political marriages or a life of independent work is what awaits us... I thought of looking for a husband here like my little sisters but all these children are…
--Chickens, little puppies of political dogs, for a military family these are not good prospects or am I wrong...
--No, that's exactly, I was very bored, until a certain black-haired man entered the room...
--Hahahahahaha… I'm glad to brighten up your night.
--My sisters like you too so we had to play rock, paper, scissors to see who was going to talk to you but that girl in red beat us to it.
--You're really good at treating wounds...
--Not much, but how could he stop bleeding so fast?
--Don't ask me, my body has been weird since I got to this place... [Weird is not enough, I'm Reynolds in his red and black suit]
--I guess... but well, we're already involved, are you going to reject us like the one in red or do you like what you see...
--...You know what I'm thinking, I'm a simple man, as long as I can drink good alcohol, and have a good company I won't complain.
--I'll take it as a yes… but who do you want? Are you a viscount can you have one or all? We don't have a problem with it.
--Are you listening? You guys are so pretty and you're all in my end zone actually, but don't you think taking you all is a bit?
--Actually... they are triplets, only the youngest and I were born separately, the five of us have always been together so if you love one you have to accept the rest.
--Buy one get five… What kind of fraudulent business is this?
--That's right, we're all D rank adventurers, and we have a group called "Las Ninfas" in C rank, we're a good exploration team.
--Wait a moment, are you looking for a husband or boss?
--A little of both…
--Do you all agree with this?
--Yes!x5
--Am I being kidding.
--Not x5
--Well, I have no problems, but personally I'm still not looking to settle down, so while we get to know each other let's have a good working relationship, is that understood?
--Yes x5
Well, I'll be counting on you.
I smiled awkwardly as I looked at my new liquor purveyor, the Emboar sisters.