“Oh my, Jackson, look at that. It’s cosmetics from the Michu School.”
Sophia Russell couldn’t contain her admiration as she watched the nobles present their gifts to the count.
For a small family like the Russells, such treasures were beyond their wildest dreams.
“Sophia, there’s no need to be envious. I’ll get you something even better later.”
“Really? I’ll hold you to that, Jackson.”
Sophia Russell wrapped her arms tightly around Jackson Carter’s neck.
“There you are.”
A stern voice interrupted from behind, startling the pair. They turned to see who it was.
“M-Master!”
Jackson Carter exclaimed, his face a picture of surprise. It was no wonder, as his master had been absent since the banquet began and suddenly appeared.
“Where have you been?”
“I was gathering information on the participants. We need a strategy against Damian Haxen.”
At Jacques Noir’s words, Jackson Carter’s expression subtly twisted.
“I have a task for you. Go and present this gift to the count.”
Jacques Noir handed him a glass vial containing a glowing fluorescent liquid.
“What is this?”
“It’s a birthday gift for Lady Olivia.”
“But why do I have to be the one to present it to her…?”
Jacques Noir’s gaze turned icy.
Fearing his master’s wrath, Jackson Carter quickly accepted the vial.
“Master, you should at least tell me what this potion is. I need to explain it to the count.”
“There’s no need to worry. Everyone will recognize it without explanation.”
Jacques Noir’s assurance left Jackson Carter puzzled.
“Stop worrying about unnecessary things and go.”
Jacques Noir gave Jackson Carter a gentle push. Reluctantly, Jackson made his way to where the count was.
“Jackson, I’ll come with you…”
“You stay here.”
Jacques Noir blocked Sophia Russell’s path.
“What? Why…?”
His silent stare left Sophia Russell with no choice but to hold her tongue.
Jackson Carter approached Count Copperhead, holding the gift his master had given him.
“Your Excellency, I am Jackson Carter.”
He knelt on one knee as he introduced himself.
“Jackson Carter? Does anyone know who he is?”
“Hmm, never heard of him.”
None of the nobles recognized Jackson Carter’s name.
He bit his lip in silence.
“Jackson Carter? Jackson Carter…”
The count, too, failed to recognize him, causing Jackson’s face to flush even more.
“Your Excellency, if I may…”
At that moment, the steward whispered something to the count, whose eyes widened slightly.
“So, you’re the Ogre Slayer, Jackson Carter.”
“It’s an honor to be recognized!”
Hearing his title from the count’s lips, Jackson Carter’s face lit up.
“Ogre Slayer? That’s a new one.”
“Oh, I’ve heard of him. A young knight who hunted an ogre alone. That must be him.”
“He took down that beast by himself? Impressive.”
The nobles began to murmur about Jackson Carter.
As his name circulated among the nobles, Jackson Carter’s smile grew even brighter.
“Your Excellency, I present this gift for Lady Olivia.”
Jackson Carter offered the vial with both hands.
“What is that? Some kind of potion?”
“That red glow… Could it be the Elixir of Vitality?”
“Isn’t that the potion said to keep you energized for a whole day with just one sip?”
“It’s a rare item sold only to select clients by the Alchemy School. How did he get it…?”
The nobles’ reactions were explosive.
If it truly was the Elixir of Vitality, it was a gift far surpassing any other presented so far.
“The Elixir of Vitality! How did you acquire such a rare item?”
The count’s reaction was particularly enthusiastic.
Being of an older age, he naturally had a keen interest in health.
“Olivia, look! Isn’t this an extraordinary gift?”
“Yes, it is.”
Olivia replied in a flat voice, showing little interest in the gift.
“Splendid. Absolutely splendid.”
The count had a servant take the Elixir of Vitality.
Holding the vial, the count examined it with satisfaction.
Technically, the elixir was a birthday gift for Olivia Copperhead, but no one pointed that out.
Most of the gifts presented by the nobles were intended for the count anyway.
“Jackson Carter, I shall remember your name.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Jackson Carter rose with a satisfied expression.
As he turned to return to his place, he paused.
Damian Haxen was approaching.
“Damian Hax…”
Damian Haxen walked right past Jackson Carter.
Feeling completely ignored, Jackson Carter clenched his fists tightly.
Damian stood before Count Copperhead.
“You must be Damian Haxen.”
Even without an introduction, Count Copperhead recognized Damian.
“There’s been quite a buzz about you lately.”
“It’s an insignificant reputation.”
Damian Haxen bowed his head slightly.
“Insignificant! Defeating the heir of the Lionbloom Marquisate is no small feat!”
Count Copperhead shook his head in disbelief.
“Though the rumor that you subdued him without drawing your sword seems a bit exaggerated. Ha ha ha!”
The count’s words drew laughter from the other nobles.
Only Damian Haxen remained silent, smiling.
“I’ve also prepared a gift for Lady Olivia.”
With that, Damian Haxen glanced at Olivia Copperhead.
Despite the banquet being held in her honor, she showed no interest.
‘A difficult woman.’
Even with Damian’s presence, she remained indifferent.
The thought of pairing her with Abel was already giving him a headache.
“This is my brother, Abel.”
Damian introduced Abel first.
However, Lady Olivia still kept her head down, not seeing Abel’s face.
“Abel, present the bow to the lady.”
Abel swallowed nervously and approached Olivia Copperhead.
“Oh my, what is that? A bow?”
“I heard Lady Olivia enjoys hunting.”
“But it looks like such a strange bow.”
The nobles began to murmur.
The bow Abel held was indeed unusual.
”…A bow?”
At the mention of a bow, Lady Olivia finally lifted her head.
Her eyes widened as she saw the bow Abel was holding.
Lady Olivia carefully accepted the bow, her eyes transfixed as if enchanted.
”…A bow made from a Minotaur’s horn?”
For the first time, she spoke upon seeing a gift.
“Yes, you recognized it correctly. It’s crafted from the horn of a Minotaur, specifically the leader of the herd.”
“Impressive… I’ve heard Minotaurs are challenging even for mid-level adventurers… and they’re even harder to find.”
Damian added to the explanation.
“As you may know, Minotaur horns are excellent for crafting weapons.”
“Yes, I know. They’re as hard as steel but as flexible as bamboo.”
“Precisely.”
The rumors of her love for hunting were evidently true.
“Would you like to take a closer look at the bow? The craftsman’s name is engraved on it.”
At Damian’s suggestion, Lady Olivia examined the bow. As he said, a name was inscribed.
”…Auguste? Could it be crafted by the master artisan Auguste?”
“Indeed.”
Auguste.
The most renowned craftsman in the Apple Kingdom.
His metallurgy skills were so exceptional that rumors claimed he was taught by dwarves.
Of course, it was just a rumor, as dwarves would never share their secrets with humans.
Lady Olivia couldn’t take her eyes off the bow. It was clear she was captivated.
“A piece crafted by Auguste… I never thought I’d see such a treasure in my lifetime.”
Count Copperhead was equally impressed, though more by the bow’s value than its craftsmanship.
“I remember when a shield made by Auguste went up for auction and its price skyrocketed.”
The count eyed the bow greedily, calculating its worth.
“My brother Abel went to great lengths to acquire this for today.”
In truth, it was Damian Haxen who secured it through a deal with the marquis, but the truth was irrelevant.
“Really? You got this for me?”
Olivia Copperhead looked up in surprise.
Finally, Olivia Copperhead saw Abel’s face.
Upon seeing him, her mouth slightly parted, and a blush spread across her cheeks.
‘What…’
If Damian wasn’t mistaken, there was only one emotion Olivia Copperhead was feeling.
‘Is she smitten by his looks too?’
“We can’t have guests who bring such precious gifts standing. Bring more chairs.”
At the count’s command, servants brought two more chairs.
“Please, both of you, have a seat.”
Damian took a seat next to the count. Naturally, the seat beside Lady Olivia was left for Abel.
“Sir Damian, I’ve been wanting to speak with you.”
Earl Copperhead poured himself a drink and asked, “If it’s not too much trouble, I’d love to hear about your duel with the Marquis of Lionbloom.”
“You might find it rather dull,” Damian replied.
“Even so, my curiosity gets the better of me.”
Damian inwardly clicked his tongue. He wasn’t the type to boast about such matters. But for Abel’s sake, he had to endure it. This was a chance for Abel to get closer to Lady Olivia, and he couldn’t let it slip away.
“If you insist…”
Damian began recounting the events of the duel, taking his time with the details. Earl Copperhead listened with an expression of genuine interest.
As he spoke, Damian kept an eye on Abel and Lady Olivia.
“There’s a forest next to the Haxen estate? Oh, it must be beautiful,” Olivia remarked.
“It’s not that impressive,” Abel stammered. “It’s small, and there aren’t many animals…”
“So, no dangerous beasts? It must be quite peaceful.”
Things were progressing smoothly. Olivia Copperhead was leading the conversation, clearly showing a keen interest in Abel.
‘So that’s how they became lovers in a past life…’ Damian mused, finally understanding the secret.
‘Maybe the bow wasn’t necessary after all,’ he thought, wondering if fetching the bow from the Marquis of Lionbloom had been a pointless endeavor. For a moment, he seriously considered it.