Chapter 19

"Oh my gosh~! Big sis, you are so beautiful~!"

Aile-la exclaimed as she praised me

"Fufufu, I'm honoured"

I replied as I giggle. It's already evening as I finished myself getting dressed up, for the banquet that will be held in the [Town Hall] tonight. A white bardot, or off-shoulder top dress, with a ruffle design on its top, with a long veil at each side of my back –at the back wings - with a touch of light yellowish-orange, white, and light shade of yellow line. A dress that is tight on my wrist, but quite loose till below my shoulder, while ampling my bosom and waist, coupled with a long skirt, with an open front till above my knee, just below my thighs, fully exposing my pale tan legs, with a ruffle design on the front, coated in light shade of yellow, and a touch of light yellowish-orange line, just above of the skirt edge of the dress I wore.

I also wore a fishnet-like dress underneath, covering my cleavage, and half of my neck. Cecile made my hair a bit wavy, while clipping the left top which is revealing my left ear, with a few make up and a glossy soft, pinkish shade of red lipstick. I could say to myself, that I could seduce darling with this easily

"You are truly beautiful today, my lady. Wish Sir Creeper could see this, especially your mother and father"

Cecile spoke in a pleased tone, as she express her delight. I just smiled as she told me that. It's truly regretful that they couldn't attend the banquet, but it can't be helped, as darling is on his mission in the south, while my parents are busy, especially on this ongoing unknown phenomenom

"Mooo~"

Giggle

"What are you pouting for, Aile-la?"

I asked, as I saw Aile-la staring at me with her hands on her cheeks, as she pout, how cute

"Big sis is really a league above me, and this is troubling"

"Hmm.....how so?"

"You might be able to hug all darling's attention, truly a rival that befit me~!"

She spoke, as she crossed her arms while nodding. Aile-la is wearing a dress made of wide, full skirt, that resembles a hoop skirt, coated in a midtone, pure, coral pink. I could only smile as I look myself in front of the mirror, and hold my chest with my left hand

"I wish....."

Yes, I do wish. If I could just hug darling all by myself, then I don't need anything more than that

"Big sis?"

"It's nothing. Aile-la....you already know what to do"

"Got it big sis! I will smack that man's ball into smithereens!!"

"Fufufu then I'm looking forward to it"

"Eheheh"

She chuckled

"Please watch how you word it, both of you"

I then looked at Cecile, who seems to be in distress as she looked at us

"Is everything ready?"

"Yes, my lady"

"The attendees?"

"All of them came, and right now, one of my servants is surveying that suspicious individual, you told me to look out for"

"Then we are set, let us go. Can't make my audience wait for long"

I said as I stood up from my chair, and took a last one look at the mirror, and smiled at myself

'I wish you were here with me'

(Author's POV)

Evening has fallen to the [Town of Fall]. Busy streets, merry folks, sang and songs echoed the night. In a particular place at east edge of the town, towards the [Town Hall], people with high status, fame, and wealth, gathered, greeted, and welcomed as they one by one, came out from their respective carriages. Some were gold, some were ivory, and some were coated in elegant blue. Wearing a fancy dress, an elegant gown, and a stunning clothe. Trying to make themselves known, be look up for, as they walk down the aisle with their dignity and pride.

As they entered the hall, buzzled with murmurs and clamoring whispers, they tried to fit in with the latest news and trends, issues and scandals, while displaying their authority and power

Clop Clop Clop

The sound of the carriage horse came and halted. A Knight dress in a fine clothe, opened the carriage door. He then hand his hand to support the lady as she went down. With such elegant demeanor, even the Knight can't take his eyes away from such lady before him. The woman bowed to thank the man, so he did too, as he hurriedly bowed his head to not disrespect the woman before him. The woman then walks, closing the distance between her and the hall, followed by her servant who walked behind her, but even so, the man still can't look away, as if he was dreaming, staring to a woman he can't reach

Tap Tap Tap

The sound of her heels resound the hall's floor, as she walked down and reached its entrance. She then waited as the maid then went in front. The woman hates introduction, but she likes a grand entrance

Creak

As the maid opened the huge door, the busy words of murmurs and whispers halted, one by one they look towards the opened door, seeing who might be it, from curiosity their expression change, dying with surprised and shocked, as the woman who just came in, was the woman who all of them awaited.

With such beauty and glamour, all men stared at her as they can't look away. Women felt jealousy and admiration, while other was mesmerized. Their eyes who seek authority suddenly vanished, as they pay respect towards the lady in front, bowing as showing their etiquette and delight. None dare to speak, none dares to disrespect, as each one bowed as the woman walked passed them. But among the crowd, some hold animosity, hatred, and displeased, as they saw that person pass them, smiling as they look at her

(Isabelle's POV)

I then stood in front of everyone as I turned around. The hall had a wide space, with a bundle like flowers engraved on it. A covered entrance with 3 pillars at each side, and a 4 sphere stage that are piled up together like a stair, with an elegant chandelier hanging atop. 4 long tables were then placed, 2 at each side, while leaving the center clear.

The walls are coated in an ivory paint, while the floor was painted in mixture of touch of pale yellow hue, and light yellowish-brown. I was standing before them at the stage, where I will be seated, while Cecile who followed me from behind, is stationed at my left. I then took a glass of wine as the maidservant came, and raise the glass up with my right hand, and spoke

"May this evening be blissful for all of us, please enjoy the night"

I then drank the wine after I muttered a few words, and went down.

Banquet, is a social gathering for noble, or more in a sense a social hierarchy. It's also referred as women's banquet, or ladies hierarchy, as all female noble will shine in such gatherings. Their beauty and skill will gracefully showcase its sharpness, to lure, bait, and coax, anyone that their vexing tongue could capture. Each noble will try to at least attain a few allies and investors, even trying to play tricks just to procure one. High standing merchants and Knights are also attending in such occasion, especially if it's for the king and queen, even this town of mine have accounted a numbers of nobles

"My lady"

As Cecile spoke, I then turned to my side, and saw few nobles coming at me, 2 were Barons, and 3 were Baronets

"Greetings your honorable, I'm..."

After a few pleasantaries, well it was more of a showcasing of their power, and trying to gain my favor, they then leave

"It's my honor meeting you here your honorable, I'm....."

"Your honorable..."

"It's my pleasure to meet you, your honorable. I'm..."

After few greet and meet, I then went back to my seat, and sat down

"That was tiring. Doing a tedious report of piled documents is much better than this"

"Great work, my lady"

I then crossed my legs, and placed both of arms beneath my breast

"Sigh, meeting them, and even talking to them, takes a lot of energy than fighting a strong variant"

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"My lady, please act accordingly. You are a noble today, not an adventure"

"Still strict as ever, Cecile"

"Such compliment I am grateful about"

Sigh

I could only sigh in defeat

(Lord Tibalt's POV)

"I will annouced something that my lord would truly appreaciate"

"Just wait until the curtains fall, and you shall be the star tonight. Fufufu~ I can't wait to see their expression when my lord shine~!"

Were Isabelle's words on me, but to make sure there won't be any unexpected turn of events, I brought the [Recording Orb] along with me. So if she dare try betraying me, I could humiliate her in front of the masses

'Thankfully, I prepared another one after the other was shattered'

"But nevertheless, she's truly a whore worthy for me"

I said, as I keep staring at her, and imagining all those fun plays we made

"Let see what kind of moans, those vexing lips of yours will let out this time"

I then turned myself, and went over to some of the nobles that attends the banquet

'But where are those damn bastards went?'

I askedly thought, as I keep looking around the hall

(Isabelle's POV)

As an hour came, I then stood up, and took the glass of wine

Clink Clink

As the sound of the glass, that I gently tap with a spoon clink, all the attendees then looked towards me

"It's truly my greatest pleasure that all of you attended this banquet"

I spoke

"Tonight, I have called all you to announce, that there will be changes in the [Town of Fall]"

Everyone then started clamoring as they heard the word I have spoken, while others were patiently waiting, anticipating as they listened

"The preparations aren't yet lead out, but we are already set. We just need few things to settle, and we shall be starting soon"

(Lord Tibalt's POV)

'!?! What? What did she just say?'

I was flabbergasted to what I just heard. Preparation? Setup? What the hell is she talking about? Last time we have spoken about the town's development into a city, there were just only a laid out blueprint to what we, she, was trying to accomplish. Just simple ground work without any solid setup yet, but now she's telling me, telling everyone, that all the preparations are already laid?

"It will be a secret, so that my lord will be surprise~!"

Is what she said, but.....

"Hmm...maybe I'm just overthinking it"

I said, as I tried calming myself, and awaits for whatever this cunt would throw

(Isabelle's POV)

'I think Aile-la truly did a good job, seeing he was in such state'

I thought, as I could see Lord Tibalt's expression among the crowd. It slightly changed and went back like nothing happened, to not cause any disturbance to the people alongside him. His truly good at it

"The town was now busting with people, from a simple little town, we are already achieved much than the last. Our trade routes are now pact with merchants and peddlers, and our port is now one of the most stopping point, of some travellers and Adventurers. So I think it's much more needed if our town move forward, a reformation if you like"

I then halted, and looked at everyone

"The town's renovation. I will develop the town into a city, and I need your cooperation for that to happen"

From simple astonishment, everyone were dyed in shocked and surprised, trying to clarify what they just have heard

"Y-your honorable, isn't too soon?"

A noble young man called

"Certainly, it might be, but.....we can't move a carriage horse, if the carriage weren't fixed, isn't it?"

The young man then went silence

"Well, if I may your honorable"

The one who spoke this time was an old man, one of the 4 Barons in the town, Lord Ayano Katsu, wearing a deep, vivid blue front clothe, with a peaked lapel, and 3 button design, with a white clothe underneath it, and a pair of glasses

"This might be rude of me, but....aren't we being too hasty? Certainly, the town has now changed from the last time. It became an abundant, independent place. We can now trade from village to village, town to town, and city to city, but aren't we whipping the horse too much? Maybe we did moved forward, but if we tried to ride the horse more than what our carriage could handle, it wouldn't just affect the carriage that the horse is pulling, but also the horse that was pulling it"

I then looked at him, of course with a pressuring gaze, but Lord Ayano didn't back down, neither flinched, which made me smile

"It's precisely the reason why we need to develop the town. If the horse can't pull the carriage, then we just need to make sure, that the carriage doesn't need to be pulled by a horse"

"....?"

"The town's renovation, isn't just centered on the occasion we need to display our worth, but rather to be recognized our status. Maybe with such, we could attract unwanted attention, but wasn't that the purpose why we acted? Isn't hunting all about what to lure to lure, what to be lured? In a simple sense"

I then sat down, and looked at everyone

"We need to reveal our presence, both inside and outside, if we want our town to be recognized. Investment isn't all about simple game of poker, but rather a roulette. If the ball went through the number we choose, then we won the gamble, but if not? Then we just need to rethink to what approach we shall do next. Gambling isn't fun, without gamble"

As I spoke, Lord Ayano then went on silence as he looked at me, judging. He then bowed down and kneeled before me, to pay respect before muttering

"Then this old man had said enough. I, Lord Ayano Katsu, shall give my outmost best to lend a hand to her honorable, Isabelle Fall"

Everyone then started whispering, murmuring, asking the others, themselves, is it worth the risk?

"Roulette is a game of gamble where luck is at stake, your honorable"

I then turn my gaze - the others also did the same - to the sudden protest. We then saw a noble man standing not to close, but not too far from the rest, wearing a light brownish yellow, double breasted (6x2) button vest, with a white clothe underneath

".....and, you must be?"

"Sorry for my rudeness"

The man said and walked towards me. He then bowed

"I'm Lorc Von Groth, Viscount Von Groth of the south, your honorable"

"!!?"

Everyone who heard his title was all stunned. With a complicated expression, everyone could only stare at the man, who introduced himself as a "Viscount".

Viscount is a title which is 3rd from the last in monarchy, just 1 rank above Baron, and 1 rank below an Count. A Viscount could own 20-50 staff, maids, manservants, officers, and the likes in their territory, whereas they could deploy 100-200 men at arms, with 20 or so mounted (note: riding a horse), with 40 to 60 and more Knights in hand (note: having 60 knights indicates a viscount power among the other viscount) plus 5-10 honor guard. Their territory is also much bigger and wider than a Baron, owing 1 city, and 2 or 3 town wouldn't be a problem, so of course, hearing someone referred itself as a "Viscount" will be quite shocking, but that doesn't apply to me.

"My lady, his the man I'm referring about"

Cecile whispered

"I see"

I murmured. I then looked at the man before me, and spoke

"Isn't luck a certain skill one could own?"

I asked. He might be a Viscount, a rank much higher than my mother and father have, but coming here uninvited to my territory while I'm here? That's something I wouldn't just let it slide. The man then smiled at me

"Assuredly, luck is another set of skill a person could attain, but wouldn't that make.....trickery, LUSCIVIOUS, traitorous, scam, and VEXING a skill too?"

He asked. I felt dumbfounded to what he just respond, but it certainly made me boiled, as if he was trying to fan the fire inside me, trying to lit the ember that was emitting inside. His provoking me

".....it might be, a person's worth isn't just justified how he does his work, but also how he did those work. May it be malicious and heinous, as long the work was done, all that matters is the end result"

I said, quite cold I say

"Oh~, indeed. Her honorable seems to be much more knowledgeable in this matter than me"

He joking spoke

'It's just that you are stupid'

I thought as I looked at him

"But regarding the renovation of the town, wouldn't this escalate our chances of getting invade? Developing our town would surely bring us benefits, but how about those may try taking them? The town's development doesn't only need to boost our worth, but also its worth. How could we attain the others attention, if a simple cockroach would make us all scatter? Isn't this seems hasty and unplanned, your honorable?"

"..."

I stared at him silently. I then closed my eyes and spoke in a low voice

"It seems idiots do think, but I do wonder which HEAD do they use"

"...?"

"Certainly you have a point"

"Then wouldn't thi-"

"But my action wouldn't change"

"!?"

He was baffled as to what I spoke

"Indeed, a hasty decision may be reckless and unprofessional, unbecoming of a person as me. But if things are easy as cutting a cake, then why do I need everyone's approval, and cooperation in the first place?"

I asked, as I looked at him with deep gaze. He was quite taken aback when I did such

"A teacher couldn't teach if it can't learn, isn't it? In a simplier sense, so some of YOU would understand. If I let this town stay in stagnant, then why did I take it over from my parents?"

"So it's all about showing off to your mommy and daddy, how good little girl you are it seems"

I then raised my left hand, as to stop Cecile from taking her weapon out, as she look at him with an intent of disseminating him, as to what this man spoke is quite disrespecting. He might be league higher than me, but this is my town, my territory, saying such thing in front of me, is nothing but simple way of telling me, I am not worth the respect for

"Showing off.....? Maybe I do"

I said, the man then smiled, and before he could open his mouth, I spoke

"But not to my parents. My mother and father are someone I adore and admire, they both someone I cherish and love, and I have been chasing them since the time I look up to them. But both of them knew my worth, so why should I dare to show off on them?" (note: can't find another word to use than "them" lol)

I then stood from where I seated

"The one I'm trying to impress was someone I want to become mine, technically speaking his already is, but figuratively he isn't. His someone who I wanted to be mine alone, but it seems it won't happen, but I could at least tell him I'm worthy for such. My action might be abrupt and audacious, but could we human possibly attain such growth, if a simple recklessness could back us off?"

I spoke, as I went down and walked towards the man

"The town needs not another horse, but a wheel. If a horse can't pull it, then why need one? A carriage could be driven by another. We won't settle on a crippled horse, or even a worthless one. The town isn't a stable for a mere horse to be leashed up, isn't it, Viscount Von Groth?"

I asked as I put pressure on him. I was just a few distance away from him, just a another 3 steps away from him

"Ugh!"

He groaned, as he can't refute my word back

Clap Clap Clap

"Such a wise and precise judgement, your honorable"

I then looked towards the person who spook, and saw Lord Tibalt clapping, as he got closer to us. He wore a double-breasted button vest with a wide notch lapel, coated in medium greenish-gray vest, with his favorite cane in hand

"But your honorable, isn't a carriage needs an henchmen?"

He questioned as he looked at me. I stared at him, as he did to me

"It is, but why asked?"

"By horse or by wheel, by man or by beast, doesn't a carriage need someone to lead it for it to move?"

I frowned as he states his words

"....yes, it is, but why asked, Lord Mack Tibalt?"

I annoyingly questioned. He then smiled, and from his left hands middle finger, a ring glow in a dark reddish-purple

"Then it seems, her honorable wouldn't be one"

"Argh!!?"

I groaned, as out of nowhere my body became heavy, as if I was step by a gigantic foot, trampled by mountain size behemoth. So heavy that I could barely stood up

"My lady! You bastard! Release her!!"

Cecile yelled, as she looked at me first, before coldly staring at Lord Tibalt. She then dashed herself forward, and took her daggers out. But Lord Tibalt weren't bothered. As he smiled, his ring then shown again

"Ughh!!"

"M-my lady!?"

Cecile called out, as she halted herself just a meter away from us

"Oh~, what's seem the problem? Aren't you about to slash my throat? Why not do so? Afraid of what will happen to your mistress? How unfortunate"

He smilingly spoke, provoking Cecile

"I didn't know where this gemstone came from, but I heard it could paralyze a strong young {Ogre} in an instant. I was hesitant on believing such, but now....look and behold! The great Isabelle Fall is now kneeling before me! buahhahaha!"

"Y-youu!!! Grrr!!"

I could only sneer at him, as I am powerless in this situation. How stupid and careless of me! I already laid everything out, but how come I am now in such situation? Truly laughable! How disgraceful! Lord Tibalt then looked at me, and maliciously smiled

"So what should I do with you, my exclusive whore?"

Everyone were then shocked, as they heard what Lord Tibalt referred me as

"It seems I wasn't mistaken of putting my guard up. Now, let see what fun play should we do today, my dear cunt?"

He disgustingly stated, as he licked his lips, and unzips his pants

'FUCK!!'