The small lounge was designed with extreme elegance. Like all the rooms in the mansion, the windows of the small lounge faced south, with a row of six French windows allowing ample sunlight to stream in.
A row of mahogany bookshelves was placed near the door, indicating that the young owner of this place was evidently a lover of poetry and drama. The shelves were filled mostly with poetry collections and scripts.
On both sides of the room, along the walls, were rows of sofas. Although there were no luxurious fur throws draped over them, the plush velvet cushions and backrests stuffed with thick cotton still exuded warmth and comfort, reminding Ivan of the identical cushions and pillows Aunt Jenny had made for him.
Leaning back on the sofa, Ivan gently closed his eyes. He indeed needed a rest, as today marked the farthest he had ever traveled in his life.
Moreover, Ivan wasn't interested in the sophisticated works in the bookshelf. While he loved reading, he preferred to learn about the world's knowledge he didn't know from books—distant lands, exotic flora and fauna, human creations, the crystallization of wisdom. These were the things Ivan sought to understand from books.
However, he didn't care for books that delved into people's inner thoughts, as poetry expressed the poets' inner voices. Ivan never felt the need to understand these poets.
As for drama, Ivan didn't enjoy it either. He was interested in real history but not in drama.
While resting, Ivan pondered whether the baron had been paying considerable attention to him, whether his performance had been too much, and whether he had left a bad impression on the target individual.
As Ivan was deep in thought in the small lounge, the ball downstairs had already become lively.
The star of the ball was, of course, the baron's beautiful daughter.
The noble young gentlemen formed a long queue, each politely inviting the baron's daughter to dance.
The beautiful melodies played by the band seemed to revolve around this enchanting young lady, with everyone else merely playing a supporting role.
This included Baron Longa and his wife.
In fact, apart from the initial polite conversations and greetings at the beginning of the ball, the baron and his wife had been rather aloof.
Baron Longa's social circle was not very extensive. In his youth, he had been immersed in poetry writing, aspiring to become a poet. Poets were often lonely and not understood by others. However, under parental pressure, he had secured a job under the former chief financial minister. Sorting out the treasury accounts was like solving a puzzle, and this job had consumed most of the baron's youth.
It wasn't until he met his beloved, the baroness, who would spend the rest of her life with him.
At that time, the baroness was a renowned beauty in the south of Francois, with many suitors, including many noble families who disregarded status differences to propose to this fallen noble's daughter.
However, it was the powerless Baron Longa who ultimately won the heart of the beauty.
According to the baroness, it was the poet-like aura of the young Baron Longa that had captivated her heart.
However, the baron had paid a heavy price for this blissful marriage. Pressured by the competing noble families, he lost his job and gained numerous rivals.
In fact, all the invited nobles were there for the baroness and her beautiful and charming daughter.
Despite this, the baron still considered himself the happiest man in the world.
Now, Baron Longa hoped to bring lifelong happiness to his daughter as well.
The baron and his wife had spent countless efforts meticulously selecting the list of nobles invited to attend the ball.
With his daughter's reputation for beauty and charm, the baron could even have invited the noble families in the south of Francois. However, the baron and his wife feared that these noble families would lack sincerity and play with emotions (which was also the reason the baroness had rejected many suitors from noble families in the past).
Could the baron and his wife ignore what even Ivan could see?
Baron Longa was well aware of everything that had recently happened in Sether Castle. The factions in the court were falling apart, and for the first time in the country's history of hundreds of years, political conflicts had become so severe that they seemed irreconcilable.
Moreover, since the nearly decade-long war between Derry and Bires thirty years ago, the ancient nightmare of Francois, a land of intertwined enmity, had not troubled the borders of Francois again.
However, that war had also depleted the treasuries of both countries. When he held public office, it was right after the war had ended, so the baron knew exactly how many coins were left in the king's coffers.
The fear of war prevented Francois from reducing the number of troops. The total military strength stationed at the strategic towns of Bires, Tarenburg, and Polang on the Francois border exceeded 200,000, which was undoubtedly a significant expense for the strained treasury.
As the shadow of war dissipated, His Majesty the King found it increasingly difficult to bear what he considered a heavy and unnecessary burden on the treasury. In his plan, at least 100,000 troops should be cut from Bires and the other two counties, or even just 50,000 troops, which the King believed would be sufficient.
However, Prince Philip, the King's brother who had distinguished himself in the Battle of Bires, strongly opposed this demilitarization plan. The royal family members engaged in fierce conflicts over the issue of troop reduction.
At this time, as Ivan mentioned, there was no benefit in aligning with any faction. Baron Longa's perspective on these matters was much deeper than that of an outsider like Ivan.
Therefore, there was absolutely no one on the invitation list associated with influential nobles. For Baron Longa, this was for the best. In the event of internal turmoil, after the storm settled, influential nobles often faced repercussions, while fallen nobles fared better as rulers needed to win over the people. This was a situation with benefits and no risks.
Baron Longa saw this clearly. However, he never expected that Ivan Hyde, this unexpectedly insightful young man, would publicly express his views on the situation.
In fact, Viscount Kewei Elei Egret Hyde was not originally on the invitation list. After all, social status and background were matters of nobility.
Marrying one's daughter to a commoner would tarnish the family's reputation, as it would seem like selling one's daughter for money, which would be the most damaging blow to a noble's reputation.
Throughout Francois' centuries of history, such incidents had occurred. However, families with short-sighted and greedy motives were shunned by other nobles. Their descendants found it difficult to find suitable marriage partners within the noble circle, leading to an increase in commoner bloodlines. Eventually, these families disappeared from the noble circle.
Baron Longa did not want to dishonor his ancestors. Therefore, commoner nobles were absolutely not on the invitation list.
However, Mr. Audrey Hyde indeed had an elegant demeanor, broad knowledge, and most importantly, a unique insight into poetry. Soon, this bankrupt noble descendant from Ithrae became a confidant of the baron.
Baron Longa did not welcome commoner nobles, but bankrupt nobles from foreign lands were a different matter. After all, their lineage was of noble descent. Many bankrupt noble families were once prestigious and renowned households.
Although there was not much information about Viscount Kewei Elei Egret Hyde, based on the mermaid emblem on the Hyde family crest, Baron Longa could confirm the noble and pure lineage of the Hyde family.
The mermaid emblem was the symbol of the Ithrae royal family, indicating that this family had at least one queen in its long history, possibly even a ruling queen. The approval of a crest was a meticulous process.
While the nobles of Francois had some reservations about the King's ennoblement of many commoner nobles, at least these families were not granted family crests representing honor.
As for bankrupt nobles from foreign lands with crests, the Elder Council would only recognize them after thorough verification. The members of the Elder Council were known for their strictness, so their judgment on the authenticity of crests was most appropriate.
Passing the scrutiny of these elders, the mermaid emblem was undoubtedly authentic.
An heir of the Ithrae royal family, no matter how you put it, is a distinguished noble. Inviting such a person to attend one's ball should be acceptable.
After sending the invitation, Baron Longa did not expect Mr. Audrey Hyde himself to not come, but instead, his nephew arrived.
Similarly, he never expected this young Hyde to be such a remarkable individual. Baron Longa had to admit that Ivan, like his uncle Audrey, was quite captivating.
Equally knowledgeable, composed, possessing an elegant demeanor, and a gentle temperament, they exuded a higher level of sophistication compared to ordinary noble commoners. This was an indelible characteristic passed down from their ancient lineage. Unlike typical nobles, they lacked the unapproachable pride. If Baron Longa hadn't planned to be a carefree poet in his youth, he would have been a serious noble with a stern face.
However, Baron Longa had an intuition that Ivan and his uncle were entirely different individuals. In the Baron's eyes, Mr. Audrey was a scholar, a true scholar, and even a poet. Reflecting on his affinity with Mr. Audrey, perhaps it was because Mr. Audrey was just like him—a young man who had been passionate about poetry but had abandoned his dream due to family pressure.
Essentially, the Baron still considered himself a poet, and now he believed that Ettek Hyde was the same. However, Ivan was not like them. Perhaps the education from his diplomat grandfather was too exceptional, as the Baron felt that Ivan possessed a depth and maturity beyond his years.
Moreover, Ivan's gaze was much more profound and sharp than Mr. Audrey Hyde's, a look the Baron had only seen in seasoned and skilled knights who had seen many battles.
If Mr. Audrey Hyde exuded a poet's harmonious tranquility, Ivan Hyde exuded composure, efficiency, and a unique sense of mystery.
As Baron Longa carefully distinguished between the uncle and nephew, he heard his wife's voice gently in his ear, "Darling, which young man do you think our daughter is more interested in?"
"Oh, my dear, I think it's about the same. There are no outstanding individuals like me around anymore," the Baron joked.
"You really know how to indulge yourself," the Baroness said, giving her husband a sideways glance.
"Alright, no more jokes. Honestly, I feel sorry for those young people. Their luck is really poor. In front of them is a role model they can never surpass, like the one resting in the upstairs lounge. None of them can compare," the Baron said.
"Do you find it inappropriate?" the Baroness asked.
The Baron was surprised and said, "Isn't it obvious? That young man is at least two or three years younger than our daughter."
"Oh? I thought you were concerned about the class disparity," the Baroness said with a light laugh.
"That's also one reason. I haven't thought about it thoroughly, but the age difference is evident. I thought it wouldn't be possible," the Baron said.
"Do you think it's impossible? Why not? Just because the young man is two years younger than our daughter? If our daughter truly likes that young man, she wouldn't care about that," the Baroness said.
"But Mr. Ivan Hyde isn't here for a courtship. He's just attending the ball on behalf of his uncle, Mr. Audrey Hyde. If he were interested, he would have come downstairs to dance with our daughter," the Baron said.
"How much do you know about Viscount Kewei Elei Egret Hyde?" the Baroness asked.
"Not much. I've heard of the name Viscount Kewei Elei Egret Hyde before. He's a highly skilled diplomat who made significant contributions in the negotiations after the Battle of Bires. He has close ties with the church, and the current Archbishop was the one who nominated him for the title. He also has close relations with the Lord Pope residing in Ithrae..." The Baron detailed everything he knew to his wife.
"That's very good," the Baroness said. "Such a lineage is quite compatible with ours."
The Baron was taken aback and whispered softly in his wife's ear, "Darling, are you serious? Are you really considering marrying our daughter to someone two or three years younger than her?"
"What's wrong with two or three years? The age difference isn't that significant. King Francois III married his cousin who was five years older than him, and King Francois XI's second marriage was also to an older woman. Besides, I don't want to experience the same regret as before. I went against my father's wishes to marry you, a powerless man. I thought he hadn't forgiven me until his death, so I didn't go back to see him.
"I don't know. Although he didn't understand my decision when I made it, the long years of solitude have faded those memories. He always felt guilty for not attending my wedding and was waiting for me to return home." The Baroness's voice choked up as she spoke.
The Baron listened blankly to everything and comforted his wife after a long pause, "Alright, my dear, alright. Don't dwell on these thoughts. I hear you, I hear you completely. If our daughter likes him, I won't object. I also wish for our daughter's happiness, at least as happy as I am.
"If she likes someone two or three years younger than her, then let her like him. Women naturally live longer than men, so her husband won't die before her, sparing her from loneliness and sorrow."
"So, how about we invite him to the party three days from now? Today isn't quite suitable, as our daughter is occupied with those people. Three days later, there will be fewer guests, and they'll have more opportunities for private interactions," the Baroness asked.
"You don't need to remind me. I had already decided to invite him to the banquet three days from now. Even if he's not an ideal match for our daughter, Mr. Ivan Hyde is a very agreeable guest," the Baron said.
"Then it's settled," the Baroness said happily.
In the living room, Ivan was unaware of all this. When he was bored, he opened the window and gazed into the distance.
Peyton was quite a poor place. Although it had a population several times that of Lai and Nangang combined, most people were primarily engaged in agriculture. They would raise a sheep or two for daily life and sell or slaughter them during festivals, the only way for most to improve their lives.
Peyton lacked bustling commercial streets and outstanding scenery. Outside the city to the south, there was a vast dense forest that extended all the way to Setherburg. This forest was said to be the largest in the southern part of Francois, stretching to Setherburg.
It was this forest that turned the originally fertile southern Francois into a barren land. The residents of Peyton were forcibly relocated here by King Francois V several hundred years ago.
The ambitious king wanted to turn the vast fertile lands of southern Francois into a warehouse that could continuously provide food. Thus, he established the three counties of Setherburg, Peyton, and Bart.
Setherburg was the central control of the three southern counties, while Peyton was responsible for growing crops. Originally, Bart was not part of the plan, but the vast forest between Peyton and Setherburg provided natural protection for the farmers and thieves hiding within it.
Therefore, King Francois V designated three-quarters of this forest as an independent county—Bart.
Bart County was the poorest in Francois, with only one city—Bart—built right in the center of the forest.
The population of Bart was also the smallest, with just over seven thousand people. However, the residents considered themselves to live extremely content and happy lives. To escape the noisy world, they had moved their city deeper into the forest, far away from the main road between Peyton and Setherburg.
Nevertheless, the people of Bart still adhered to the obligations they had during King Francois V's reign—guarding the forest, maintaining the roads, and capturing thieves who fled into the forest.
Originally, Lai and Nangang were not given much attention and were barren lands during King Francois V's reign.
Among the three counties, Peyton was the most prosperous city. It once had the largest population, vast farmland, and dozens of manors.
Abundant food, cattle, sheep, and horses had made King Francois V extremely worried about the remote county becoming independent or being occupied by neighboring countries. Therefore, he did not allow Peyton to build defensive walls and instead constructed a strong fortress further south—Lai.
Lai was originally a military fortress capable of stationing twenty thousand soldiers and sustaining itself for a whole year without any reinforcements.
However, after the ambitious king was assassinated by an unknown assassin, his plans, such as the massive army of fifty thousand, a cavalry of ten thousand, a large navy of ten thousand, were permanently shelved.
As a result, Peyton, the planned granary, became less important.
Over the next few centuries, Peyton became a forgotten place for most people in Francois.
As for the abandoned military fortress Lai, it became a gathering place for bankrupt freemen. For two hundred years, this barren land was beyond the kingdom's reach.
Eventually, Lai expanded into a city. However, this city had limited connections with other parts of Francois and could only trade with Peyton.
In these unequal trades, the people of Lai suffered, but to sustain their lives, they had no choice but to accept these unequal transactions.
The arrogant people of Peyton finally angered those living in Lai and further south.
Countless people, with courage and life, finally secured a route to the west and Ithrae.
The rise of the sea trade route was not achieved overnight. The construction of Nangang alone lasted over a hundred years.
However, regardless, Nangang and Lai eventually prospered due to this sea trade route.
The newly wealthy people of Nangang and Lai did not forget the "generosity" of the people of Peyton.
The people of Nangang and Lai were willing to bring wealth to Setherburg and any other city in Francois, even the secluded Bart in the mountains. However, Peyton would never enjoy such treatment.
As Peyton, once the most prosperous and largest county in the south, gradually deteriorated beyond recognition.
The wealthy residents moved to Lai or Nangang.
Trade caravans no longer stopped in Peyton.
The best wool produced in Peyton was evidently less attractive than the silk brought from Nangang, and merchants preferred to travel an extra hundred miles to Nangang for higher profits.
With the loss of wool and cotton trade, the woven cotton fabric could not be sold. Skilled craftsmen left this place of hopelessness to seek a living elsewhere.
The Peyton sheep, which once produced the finest wool in all of Francois, had to become a delicacy on people's plates. The cotton fields had long been overgrown with weeds, and everything became desolate.
Seeing this scene, Ivan was filled with mixed emotions.
All this was not something he read in books. No book paid attention to this inconspicuous history of the south.
The struggles of a group of wanderers in the south for hundreds of years were far less significant in the eyes of historians than a political manifesto or a ceasefire agreement.
However, for Ivan, this was history he had witnessed firsthand. This history witnessed the rise of two cities and the decline of one.
Lost in thought, Ivan looked out the window and didn't notice that the sky was gradually darkening.
Suddenly, Ivan heard footsteps outside the door and instinctively moved to a corner of the room.
The door creaked open, and the bright candlelight shone into Ivan's eyes.
Squinting, Ivan adjusted to the sudden brightness using the method Herbert had taught him. Herbert had told him that closing his eyes was the worst choice in such situations because a dagger could end everything at that moment.
Although squinting made things unclear, at least he knew where the danger was coming from.
Unexpectedly, the one bringing the candlestick was the beautiful Baron's daughter.
"Mr. Ivan Hyde, I brought you the candlestick. May I sit down? I hope I'm not disturbing your rest?" the young lady asked.
"No, no, no, this is your home. I should be the one causing the disturbance," Ivan replied.
"Well, Ivan... Can I call you Ivan?" the beautiful young lady asked, observing Ivan's expression.
"I would be honored."
"I'm very interested in tea. Could you tell me something about it?" The young lady seemed to be at a loss for words.
Ivan wasn't particularly interested in this young lady. He didn't want to get into unnecessary trouble; Audrey's instructions were only to secure the invitation for three days later, not to become engaged to a Baron's daughter.
因此,他尽可能用平淡的语气与这位小姐交谈.
在他看来,这与平时在商店里对待顾客,详细描述商品特性并无二致.唯一不同的是,这位小姐显然关注的不是商品本身,而是售卖商品的人.这让伊凡感到极为担忧.
"You know so much," the young lady exclaimed.
"Oh, it's nothing. With more exposure, you tend to remember things," Ivan replied.
"Is that enjoyable?" the young lady asked.
To this unexpected question, Ivan didn't know how to respond.
"You must have many things you enjoy, like playing? At least two years ago, at your age, I still enjoyed playing," the young lady explained.
"No, games and play are too extravagant for me," Ivan replied truthfully.
Upon hearing Ivan's response, the young lady's eyes suddenly lit up. She sighed and said, "Although I'm older than you, it seems you are much more mature than me. You already know how to take charge of your life, but I still worry my parents."
"You have loving parents and a warm family, while I, my parents passed away long ago," Ivan sighed.
"Yes, I am luckier than you. I would like to get to know you better. Are you free these days? Three days from now, my family is hosting a dinner at the villa in the woods. I hope you can come," the beautiful young lady extended an invitation.
Upon hearing this, Ivan couldn't contain his joy. He had passed the test, and his excitement was evident on his face.
"I would be honored," Ivan said as calmly as possible.
The joyful expression on Ivan's face seemed to be misunderstood by the Baron's daughter. She blushed and quickly excused herself, pondering all the way out whether her invitation had been too abrupt and how she would bring it up to her parents later, fearing her father's stern opposition.
In fact, what worried the beautiful Baron's daughter the most was this, as falling for a young man two or three years younger than herself was something she couldn't even imagine.
Ivan waited in the small living room, patiently anticipating the end of the ball.
When the ball concluded and the fallen nobles departed, the sound of carriages would signal to him when it was time to bid farewell.
As the moon rose, the night grew darker. Finally, the first carriage departed.
Ivan estimated it was time to take his leave. He descended the stairs.
The Baron and his wife remained one of the most captivating figures.
伊凡轻轻地向男爵鞠了个躬说道:"非常荣幸参加阁下的舞会,时间已不早,我应该告辞了."
Baron Longa was indeed somewhat surprised by this. In his view, it was still early, and the ball had just begun. Except for a guest who had to leave urgently, most people had no intention of bidding farewell yet. Was he neglecting this young man? He had come from afar and had been kept waiting in the small living room for so long. It was inevitable that he might feel uncomfortable.
With this in mind, Baron Longa smiled and said, "It's still early, and you haven't danced with my daughter yet. Shall I exercise my privilege as a father?"
"Yes, it's rare to come from afar, leaving so soon would be a shame," the Baroness also interjected.
"It's precisely because I've come from afar that I must bid farewell. I have other matters tomorrow, and I'm sure my uncle Audrey will need my help. As for dancing, I really don't want to tarnish your reputation. Those who have been patiently waiting in line are truly pitiful. Let's save it for another opportunity, and I'll be the one to invite your esteemed daughter to dance," Ivan replied.
Seeing that Ivan remained resolute in his decision to leave, Baron Longa and his wife appeared somewhat disappointed.
Baron Longa said, "In a few days, I will be hosting a dinner at my villa. Would you be able to attend?"
"I would be honored! In fact, I have already accepted an invitation from your daughter," Ivan replied.
"This girl moves fast," the Baron and his wife thought to themselves.
"You must come, don't send a representative like your uncle did," the Baron insisted.
"I apologize on behalf of my uncle once again," Ivan said.
"Never mind, it was just a joke. But in three days, you must come. Otherwise, I might have to sever ties with your uncle. Absolutely, absolutely," the Baron reiterated.
The couple escorted Ivan to the door.
As Ivan boarded the carriage, he immediately saw Audrey engrossed in a book under the lamplight.
"You succeeded, didn't you?" Audrey asked without lifting her eyes.
"Yes, how did you know?" Ivan inquired.
"For a trickster, leaving his hunting ground too early can only mean two things: he's been discovered, or he's already succeeded. You don't look rushed, so it can't be the first reason. That leaves only the second possibility," Audrey explained.