Chapter 61
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The dining hall was massive, even though there were less than thirty students there. Among the round tables scattered around, there was a rectangular table that hosted the lords. We sat down at our respective round tables. In contrast, the lords sat at the rectangular table, seemingly discussing something essential.
As I pondered about it, Ghander came and joined them. Edelweiss followed twenty minutes later. Ghander made this dinner sounds so important. was it alright for them to attend this banquet late? These elves are lax with time.
Even though we were done eating, nobody moved from their seat, and everyone continued to stare at the lords gathered at the tables. Edelweiss then glanced around and stopped when our eyes met.
"Lord Lily, please sit here." She beckoned me with her hands to sit beside her.
As everyone's gaze turned to her, she nervously stood up and walked to Edelweiss. When we sat down beside her, she started talking.
"I thought you were late. Apparently, you sat in the student's section despite being a lord." other lords commented on our behavior. "How silly."
"She is technically a student here, so she has done nothing wrong," Edelweiss said.
"Alright. Seems like all the lords were here. We might as well welcome the king who will come later. Should we start the high council now?" An elf with white hair talked softly.
"We came to Hoeth Academy every year. Naturally, everyone knew each other. However, we have a sudden lord among us. Shouldn't we introduce ourselves to Lord Lily? She may not be our lord for that long however she is still an elven lord right now. We should extend our warm welcome to her," Ghander spoke as if he were leading the meeting.
"This is the high council? I thought the council was more like a senate in a building, but I never expected it to be held in school. Moreover, in some kind of dining tables…." I muttered.
"Did you have a high council in your previous life, Shiro? I never knew. Humans don't have it, either. Luigi and Albert only spoke about it briefly. I assume it was just a meeting."
"Let me introduce myself! My name is Lord Alistar, and this is Heckthorne and Farne. We oversee Reminiscence Region! I heard you have been to Reminiscence together with Lord Edelweiss. I hope our region fascinates you!" The elf with white hair stood up. He looked pretty regal with his white clothes and green cape. Together with him another two elves also stood up. They dressed in a similar fashion.
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"Yeah, it is a charming town. Even at night, the town was bustling with activity!"
"Thank you. Now that Northlangard was occupied by that vile beast, Reminiscence became the next trading hub. I am happy but feel guilty at the same time. My region was but a failed replica of Northlangard." Alistar bowed down
"My name is Ghander. I oversee Hoeth Academy. I am also the general of an Elven army, so I am granted the title of a lord though I have no lands."
"My name is Edelweiss. Lord of Regoia. Nice to meet you, Lord Lily. I suppose I should not introduce myself since you already know who I am, right?"
"Yes! You are the first lord that I ever met. And you also granted me Edenthal Region!"
"When you do an introduction, you should also tell their region's specialty or the lord's main occupation. It will be viewed more objectively, Lord Lily. I suppose I have to reintroduce myself again to you. I am Lord Edelweiss, former Lord of Northlangard and now lord of Regoia. My region specialized in healing and apothecaries."
The other lords started to introduce themselves. We had Lord Silvane with his 2 lords under him, The lord of Rephresse. It was the elves' only source of iron ore. Then there were the other 4 lords who were former Northlangard lords and now hold bureaucratic administrator jobs. These arrogant bunch called themselves central nobles, with Lord Resse as the king's prime minister. And lastly, Lord Silvainesse, with his 3 underlings, was lord of Hendthrall. His region primarily exported freshwater fish and meat.
The introduction was finally over. There were a total of seventeen lords present. I could not possibly memorize everyone's name here. I hoped they would forgive us for forgetting their names later when we did business with them.
"Lord Edelweiss, may I ask a question?"
"Yes. Of course, you may."
"Where is the king? Lord Ghander told me that he will be present for this meeting?"
"He will come in an hour later." She replied. I wanted to retort about the king arriving so late. But since I might breach a taboo subject, I should not ask. Maybe it is in their custom that the king must come late to the party as the most important people.
"Lily, pay attention to the utensils. Spoon on the right hand, and don't lean your face near the plates." I occasionally reminded her of eating etiquette that was taught in Synctail.
"Lord Lily, will you participate in the liberation of Northlangard?" one of the central nobles asked.
"Of course. I have personally seen the destruction the undead caused in the human fort. I wish for them to be exterminated as quickly as possible."
"I see. Then we shall leave them to you."
"Wait a minute, you sounded like you will not be participating in this," Alistar commented.
"We shall send troops. Just like the others. We could not afford any more elves, of course." The central spoke out. At once, Lily felt her guts being punched. Her gaze turned sharp at the central nobles.
"Lily, calm down."
"I am calm."
"Oh, I am very grateful. That means Northlangard will be for Tailfolk when we liberate them." Lily smiled sweetly. The air then froze as all the other lords turned toward us.
"What an ungrateful tailfolk. We have saved you, and now you bite the hands that feed you." The central nobles scoffed. Edelweiss twitched. I am sure that in her mind, she facepalmed so hard at the behavior of these central nobles.
"Of course, that is not our intention. I am merely speaking in jest. We understand how much you valued Northlangard." Lily spoke sweetly. The battle at the high council now began.