Sitting at the tables was exactly to the liking of the head of the family and sacredly respected even in his absence.
The hosts and guests of honor had their table, two more rows of tables thus forming a 'U' with chairs on one side only so that all participants could look at each other and those in the middle without turning around or turning their back on someone.
Positioned in the center of the table now, the chair on which he sat was the one at the table only when his father was present, but now in his absence, Konrad was the one occupying the place.
At the table of honor were the hosts, the members of the Meyer family with a strong commercial network, the Kelvas family who had a monopoly on the coal and iron mines in the north of the kingdom, and the members of the Örtel family whose bank was used by the latter three, and not lastly, members of the royal family.
The king had two sons, the one present today and a friend of Konrad the second Prince Frederick and his wife Elena.
Rising from the table, Konrad began his speech in gloomy silence.
"I am obliged to thank you.
I know how important tonight is... but... I want to remind you that tomorrow's me will be the same as yesterday's me.
For those who are here because they love me. Thank you. I hope your heart is not in the wrong place.
For those who are here because they value me. Thank you. I hope your interests are not in the wrong place.
For those who are here because they want to satisfy their curiosity. Thank you. I hope you didn't waste your time in the wrong place.
And me here... Tonight. I have an obligation to thank you."
In the second he finished, Konrad signaled to the band and music began at a slow pace with a volume accompanying the meals.
The dishes were all present from the beginning, different types of meat dishes from fish to humble pie were displayed on the table cleansed down the throat with wine and beer.
When their bellies were full and their throats were greased, people began to dance.
Following a 'misfortune' during a deer hunt in early spring, his leg was broken when his steed fell on him, using the excuse that it hurts when he is forced on it even after his leg has completely healed.
This way he managed to absolve himself from participating in any social occasions for over a month. And after he participated in them again he instead of dancing, he looked at others doing it.
As he watched, he began to understand who would be attending the ceremony tonight and who would not.
Not seeing those who usually consumed alcohol, now sipped cider and pinched a glass of beer and a shameful glass of wine.
Henmann of the Örtel family, an avid wine drinker, had barely touched the carafe filled with gold liquid and left the carafe cherry-like one pristine.
He knew anyway that everyone at his table would participate so from the over 100 people in front of him he deduced that somewhere around 30 people will be at the test tonight or the last dates were only five means that tonight is an important event.
In the moments when his father was present, he was the one who carried the discussions at the table, but now there was silence with small chats.
There were no topics of discussion with most of the people he was at the table with, Otto being the one who tickled their tongues with everyday and political topics.
"The church's influence has expanded so much in the whole kingdom that it can no longer be ignored even the most haunted village has an establishment where you can pray. An abandoned house becomes a church overnight with a missionary in it."
Henmann snapped at Otto, who was telling him about lowering the taxes by 5% of guilds that paid on time.
One of the men at one of the feudal lords' tables raised his head to the rest of the individuals, turning a spoon in the air with one hand and holding a pint in the other, crumbs of pastry coating his beard.
"We give them land to feed their families and to raise their animals and how do they thank us? After they settle their part, they go and offer the abbot another portion so God may defend them and then complain that there is no food."
Ideas and initiatives began to emerge from the left and right, which were more colorful from the taxation of church donations, the declaration of contributions as illegal, and their permission only through a local authority to handle the whole process.
"Why should we ask ourselves empty-handed solutions? We have members of the royal family here." a man said, getting up from his chair and looking at the second prince, who was unhurriedly sipping from his glass of wine in quietness.
"Young prince with all due consideration, we all know that during the war for the throne the influence of the church rose to unbelievable heights. As long as the kingdom was in turmoil without a sovereign, they stood out of control, but now that peace has been established, we must do something, we cannot let these weeds suffocate our garden."
"We can't send them where they came from, they are rooted in the lifestyle of our subjects. The first thing a man does when goes out into the field? Is praying. He prays before he puts the bread in his mouth and prays before he goes to sleep. All that remains to be done is to centralize them as an institution and treat them as one to keep the situation as it is now."
His authority was fixed. His father was the one with the power, and the ones with the real control over him were his advisers and his much older brother who fought alongside the king for the throne while he was just learning to wield a sword.
He was now just a tool for the kingdom, dispatched in every direction to represent the lineage only in name.
All he can do is carry the message to his older brother the treasurer who hopefully will relay it to his father.
"And we need to see them reap the rewards of our efforts."
"How can we leave such a ruse, it must be brought to the ears of the king and the royal treasurer."
Prince and all he could accomplish was bow his head at the remarks of those present and say he would endeavor.
"The way you complain is heartbreaking. Instead of wetting your eyes like a widow in the face of catastrophe, you need to create an opportunity. "
The words came from Konrad, who had been talking for a while, looking disinterested with his eyes on the plate, butchering a carp with a fork.
"What an opportunity you can see in all this. Is money that we lose before our eyes and we cannot do anything. If we outlaw the peasants to contribute to the church everything we do will be to make them angry. Anger unites people and gives birth to mobs, and angry mobs are costly." said Henmann looking relieved of his anger.
"What Frederick said are not empty or meaningless words by any means. Here we have an opportunity and a profitable one at best. They pray in the morning at noon and in the evening. We make the church an institution under royal authority living on land that respects the same god we can generate income through the church.".
"We were blinded by trouble and didn't even try to find a solution, and the Young Duke already has a solution."
"Indeed, this young man not only bears his name but his mind works like the Grand Duke's."
Standing up pouring wine into a glass halfway through and drinking all of it.
"I understand when these things are important but there are other times and places more appropriate for such a conversation to take place. Now that we feasted and drank, and we talked. With all the warmth of my heart, I ask you, of course, if you desire, to join me at tonight's first dance."
Waving the band to increase the rhythm of the music, taking Julia's hand followed by Stefan taking Laura's hand, Frederick taking Elena's hand, and Henmann taking his wife's hand, followed by the rest of the willing visitors, but few could dare not participate because after the first dances the couples blended, dancing with any of those who placed at the first table was a great privilege so any simple guest tried to participate in at least one dance.
Konrad probably danced with every lady who approached him more than two meters away, dancing with Julia, Laura, Lena, Christina, and almost any lady if he made eye contact with him, dancing continuously for over three hours with short breaks.
He did not refuse any dance invitation and not being shy about inviting others himself.
The number of people in the Great Hall dwindled reaching less than half, and the duels outside attracted more and more people, so Konrad longed to see the duels.
He was ready to retreat into the inner garden to watch the duels that had begun more than an hour ago.
The duels were of two types, The first one between knights under the name of the family under which they were vassals to gain reputation, with prizes of modest sums of money, land, and even small estates.
And the second one between young gentlemen of feudal households but in a cordial way.
Bets always got ridiculous because of the fiery egos the young lords possessed and the presence of wooden swords instead of sharp blades made out of steel.
Duels between knights and young lords were occasional, one-sided, and uninteresting, but many attempted to fight Ulrich Willehalm, Thomas's guardian knight, Konrad's former knight.
Thomas' guardian, Ulrich, followed him every time he left the estate, now arbitrating the duels.
Thomas cheering him on with his hands in the air shouting his name, standing with Julia, Laura's sister and her fiance Stefan, and Prince Frederick and his wife.
All focused on the fight between Ulrich and a boy with round cheeks and twirly blond hair, holding firmly with both arms a wooden sword way excessively lengthy for his stature.
Looking at his sweaty face, the duel lasted for a few minutes.
The discrepancy between the two was obvious.
Ulrich was unharmed and waiting for the next move of the young man peeking from under his forehead.
Taking a step forward with his left foot stretching to throw an oblique slash, Ulrich sidestepped it, another oblique slash that did connect, but effortlessly parried.
The young lad threw a flurry of swift short attacks none managed to graze Ulrich's leather armor.
Ulrich went on the offensive hitting without mercy.
Hands aching from fending, legs shaking from the systematic blows to his quadriceps, the next hit making him lose his sword from his hands.
The ray from the garden lamp poles reminisced on the young man's red complexion, sweat running down his face, drained of power, stretched out on the green grass, and rose from the ground with Ulrich's help.
"Did I do better this time? Last time I couldn't stand it for more than a minute." expressed the young man with a smile reaching each side of his cheeks.
"Indeed, make fewer broad movements but you have swift reactions and your footwork leaves much to be desired. You can't sit still while fighting. The lack of intent is your most sinister enemy, when an opportunity arises, seize it. The half-second freeze may make the difference between victory and defeat or worse life and death." replied Ulrich, taking off his leather gloves.
The two shook hands, the young man handing a small brown cloth bag tied with a golden twine, the sound of several coins clanking inside.
"How big is the difference between me and Konrad but between me and Thomas?" the young man asked sincerely.
"You are still young, my lord, as long as you devote yourself with a pure heart to the sword, the sky is the limit. Konrad has many years of experience than you and Thomas have not yet completed his mandatory training so I cannot say."
In the sight of the aristocracy, he could not risk rumors by offering a concrete answer, any unfounded opinion was able to tarnish the reputation of the name under which he served or show that he disrespectfully looked at their guests.
"Don't worry Luca as long as you listen to the advice of Ulrich and those who have taught you so far, you will have no problem improving your skills." said Konrad as he had finished dancing and came to reunite with the rest.
"Dad told me you are a remarkable swordsman!"
"I'm glad to hear that my efforts are recognized, but you shouldn't use me as a role model more like a stepping stone."
Everyone in attendance was confused knowing that Konrad always had the best grades in the academy.
"I don't understand, Young Duke?"
"Don't say 'I'll get as good as Konrad,' say 'I'll get better than Konrad.' he replied
"I get it, Young Duke." said Luca bowing with courtesy
"Luca, don't forget 'the sky is the limit,' but when you get to the sky, try to see what's beyond."Konrad said as he stepped over to his brother and the rest.
"Did I miss something intriguing?"
"Stephen and Frederick dueled for seven rounds." replied, holding an exhausted Stefan by the arm.
"Seven? Why not one as usual? Konrad asked, surprised.
"Stefan, you say, how was the duel." she replied, petting her head on Stefan's shoulder.
"You don't know what you missed. You should have seen me defeat Fred. He could not accept that I had defeated him, that he had demanded retribution again and again, and that I could refuse him. "
"Do you think he'll believe your fancy story? said Frederick, pointing to himself. It was the other way around."
"Gentlemen, aren't you unnecessarily squabbling over? Who you're trying to fool?
said Elena, looking at the two of them, then back at Konrad.
Stefan proposed three rounds instead of one and won two out of three, but Frederick proposed three out of five and won, so Stefan proposed four out of seven and won the sixth round." Elena explained.
"So who won in the end?"
"It concluded in a tie, they used steel swords, not wooden ones, so they wore a pauldron, a helmet and gloves, so in the seventh match, they threw their swords to the left and right mindlessly, so Ulrich halted their duel and declared it a tie." she continued.
"Thank you Elena. I don't expect anything less from them." Konrad replied, looking for a few seconds at her face, his fair skin, her eyes blue, her strawberry red lips, her voluptuous chest, his turquoise dress, and her white silk gloves.
"Konrad, did you get lost, Konrad?" Shaking Konrad by the shoulder, Frederick managed to bring him to reality.
"Oh, I'm sorry...I was running my mind somewhere else." he replied, looking at the group
"Stressed out, big brother?" Thomas asked.
"I have no reason to be stressed Thomas, nothing I can't solve."
"If you need help, we're here."
"How long is it until the party is over?" Konrad asked, glancing at the group.
"About an hour and a half, not too long before the hourglass overturns and it will be midnight if that concerns you." Laura replied.
"Well then let's enjoy the rest of the time, I've lost all the duels regardless." said Konrad.
"What do you say about the duel between the three of us? One on one, the winner of two duels is the victor. " said Stefan.
"We already know I'm going to win, it's not funny to try again." Konrad said proudly.
"Don't forget you have to fight like a knight, without illegal tactics as you usually do. Both hands on the sword! "
"Yes! What a knight leaves his sword and uses his fists during a tournament." said Stephen, strengthening Frederick's opinion.
"On the battleground use any advantage you get, if you leave oper opportunities I will take full advantage of them, however, I know it is not a battlefield but a duel." Konrad replied, understanding what his comrades loved to maintain the sacrality of the duel.
"So what do you say we have time for a small tournament?" Frederick said enthusiastically.
"You know nothing but hitting each other on the head with swords ?!" Laura expressed indignantly.
"Laura let them do what they want tonight. Tomorrow they will have to do anything we want. Isn't that right, Julia?" said Elena, squeezing Julia closer that she just sat and looked at them without commenting.
"Yes." Julia replied.
"I am just giving up. My legs hurt so much from dancing so much I don't want to run out of energy tonight if you want. "
"Remember, tomorrow you have no right to refuse unless all three of us put on you."
"I know."
"You did not hear what Elena said? No fighting tomorrow. You will do like me, Julia and Elena command."
"Fine, fine I will do anything you want tomorrow."
"You better do!"