Chapter 7: Exquisite Beauty
The afternoon discussions with the kingdom’s interior ministry officials yielded little new information. After presenting the necessary gifts, the officials were quite enthusiastic, but they also brought the interior minister’s latest instructions: the number of refugees to be accepted was not 80,000 or even 100,000, but 120,000—this was a must to ensure the kingdom held the upper hand in negotiations with the other three receiving countries.
Seeing Komer and Kafli exchanging glances, the interior ministry official in charge of the negotiations reassured them, saying the interior minister would do his utmost to secure the necessary financial support for the Caucasus, so that the refugees could arrive safely and endure the winter. There were few constraints regarding the transportation and routes for the refugee migration; the interior minister had ordered relevant officials to liaise with the lords of the territories along the way and ensure they provided the necessary logistical support, though it was uncertain how effective this would be.
Regarding the source of the refugees, Komer had initially planned to accept them in the ratio of 60,000 from the Duchy of Melen, and 30,000 each from the city-states of Main and Sosol. But after learning from Kafli that the residents of Sosol were relatively wealthy and that a significant portion of the refugees from Main were descendants of half-elves, he immediately changed his mind. He proposed a ratio of 50,000 from the Duchy of Melen, and 35,000 each from Sosol and Main—this proposal was unanimously supported by the kingdom’s officials.
The evening banquet was held in a small banquet hall on the side of the royal hunting lodge. Although it was the king’s private hunting lodge, he often worked here as well, so many high-ranking officials of the kingdom also had to stay here. However, they couldn’t delay their official duties, so these officials had their own work areas even while dressed in hunting attire. The small banquet hall thus became a place for them to receive important guests.
When Komer arrived at the small banquet hall, aside from two interior ministry officials and a few servants preparing there, no one else had arrived yet. In such occasions, the higher one’s status, the more they needed to display their distinction—usually waiting until the scheduled time to appear was a common trait among nobles, something Komer was well aware of.
Taking the glass of apple brandy offered by the waiter, Komer stood by the window facing the courtyard and took a small sip in silence. Judging from the waiter’s preparations, not many people would be attending this party—perhaps just a few foreign diplomats, officials from the kingdom’s internal affairs department, and himself. The main topic was likely related to the reception of refugees. He hoped the Minister of Internal Affairs wouldn’t change his mind again. Two hundred thousand people—that wasn’t a small number. He had no idea how to comfort them or get them through the winter.
More people began to arrive. Several women dressed like noblewomen slowly entered the banquet hall, dragging their extremely long, elegant dresses. Their tight, pointed vests hugged their bodies tightly, with short sleeves. Due to the large openings at the front, people could easily see the base of their uplifted breasts, giving off a somewhat alluring vibe. Without any restraint, they sipped their drinks, laughed, and played around. The strong alcohol seemed to have no effect on them. Amaretto with almond flavor and Gualtiero with orange flavor were their favorite choices. Watching the behavior of these noblewomen from the capital, Komer couldn’t help but admit that the women of Cyprus paled in comparison—more simple and natural, but less graceful and refined.
Nights at the hunting lodge were extremely lively, especially when His Majesty the King stayed there. Accompanying him were royal relatives, high-ranking officials, wealthy merchants, along with their wives, concubines, lovers, and servants, turning the lodge into a place that never slept. Although the kingdom had to cut expenses due to economic reasons to support the war efforts, this was only spoken of; those who came here were either nobles or wealthy merchants. No one worried about money. Even if funds were temporarily short, usurious lenders, like tumors, would immediately swarm in to meet all demands, so there was no need to worry about any awkward situations.
The ones who were most restless were naturally the noblewomen who came with their husbands or lovers. While their husbands and lovers scanned the crowd for new targets, their eager gazes were just as insistent. Handsome and strong young nobles were their first choice. Countless young people who came with their parents to see the luxury of the king’s hunting lodge also lost their virginity in this opulent and decadent environment.
Comer raised his glass and coldly watched the noblewomen flirting in the banquet hall. There were more and more women, far outnumbering the men. Many of them had come with companions, probably seeking new thrills in such an occasion. A few graceful noblewomen occasionally cast flirtatious glances his way, but out of respect for their own dignity—since none of them recognized this handsome young man—they hesitated to approach him, hoping that someone familiar would arrive to break the awkward silence.
“Baron Comer?” A hesitant yet pleasant voice came from behind, startling Comer. Could he really have any female acquaintances here in Versailles? Aside from Tracy, it seemed none of his acquaintances would frequent such places. Slowly turning around, Comer’s calm expression flickered with surprise. Beneath her long dark brown hair lay a face as smooth and round as ivory. Her slightly upturned nose was framed by rose-colored lips that shimmered with a mesmerizing glow under the lights. Her eyes, the same shade as her hair, appeared deep and profound. Her pure black evening gown accentuated the whiteness of her chest, with a diamond-encrusted emerald brooch pinned high on it. White silk embroidered gloves covered her hands, her slender fingers looking delicate and exquisite. Like a focal point, Comer immediately sensed the jealous glances from the other women surrounding him and this woman before him.
“Yes, I’m afraid I don’t know who you are…” Comer bowed politely, his gaze fixed on her face. He was certain he had never seen such a woman before; if he had, she would surely have left a lasting impression on him.
“Giggle,” the woman said with a delicate laugh, covering her mouth elegantly with one hand. Her chest rose and fell with each laugh. “Baron, I heard you were quite the romantic and charming man in Cyprus. But today, I find you quite different from the legends.”
Comer felt a tightening in his chest. Another person who knew about his past. It seemed his notorious history had indeed spread throughout the upper circles of the Kingdom of Nicosia. He was puzzled as to how his past as a noble troublemaker had caught the attention of the elite in Jazair.
With a strange smile on her face, Komer had to be extra careful. The other party seemed to know everything about him, while he knew nothing about her at all. Such a conversation was indeed difficult. “Miss, sometimes rumors aren’t reliable. Many voices can destroy even gold, and rumors can ruin one’s reputation. Only the wise can stop them.”
“Haha, Baron, you’re quite humorous. Were all those rumors about your past affairs spread by outsiders? I doubt it. Even the idol in my brother’s eyes seems to have had an affair with you. It’s well-known in Cyprus, isn’t it?” The woman’s tone suddenly became extremely vulgar, and her voice rose several notches. Even many noblewomen listening in nearby showed signs of attention.
Komer’s expression changed abruptly. He had already guessed her identity—Princess Kakiya, the king’s third daughter and the third in line to the throne. A woman rumored to be flirtatious and promiscuous, she was engaged to Viscount Meipeng, the deputy leader of the kingdom’s Royal Fire Shadow Knights. He came from a noble family that was declining, but whose relatives still held influential positions throughout the kingdom. It was said she chose this fiancé herself, and her decision caused a huge uproar. No one could understand why she would choose such a declining knight with no substantial financial power. Even the position of deputy leader was secured for him by Kakiya herself. Some speculated that Princess Kakiya chose such a powerless knight as her fiancé so as to have more freedom to indulge in pleasures outside. Various rumors and legends abounded.