How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 213

238. National Foundation Day (2)

National Foundation Day.

The celebration commemorating the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Selvas Kingdom was about to take place.

There would be a banquet in the castle and a festival in the city.

By order of the King, the royal palace was enlisting various merchant guilds to prepare to provide the citizens with at least some alcohol and meat to enjoy.

“These guys are preparing what they’ll put out on the day.”

They seemed busy preparing food and goods to sell at the festival.

“That sounds promising.”

I smiled and handed over a few fairy tales. The merchant, quick on the uptake, portioned out some of the meat he was preparing and gave it to me.

Taking a bite, I looked towards the royal palace, lost in thought.

“…National Foundation Day.”

So it’s really happening.

Amidst the atmosphere of everyone looking forward to the festival,

I felt a pang of regret.

If the information I knew was correct, then surely…

If I were to borrow the description from the original work,

It would be the worst National Foundation Day in the history of the Selvas Kingdom.

“Haa… Hieee Eoheodaaaaaaa?” (A sigh of frustration)

So, what to do now?

Munching on the meat, I looked at the royal palace and began to think about what to do from now on.

‘The National Foundation Day banquet at the royal palace. Pelen Tronel attacking there was an event from the original, right?’

Then the goal is when those guys execute their plan.

Move then and snatch what they’re aiming for.

If I can do that, I can seize the initiative.

* * *

The problem is how to get into the banquet where the event takes place.

‘Honestly, there’s no answer even if I think about it?’

It’s not a neighborhood town festival; it’s a banquet held in the royal palace.

Of course, those who can enter are nobles or those with equivalent status.

Wouldn’t that be common sense?

But what about me?

I’m just a commoner, and while I have money, it’s only a lot for an individual.

Lowly Aileen can’t go to the banquet.

‘Reality is, there’s no such thing as a pumpkin carriage or glass slippers.’

This isn’t a fairy tale world.

Sadly, no one will take Aileen to the party.

That’s the headache.

Well, as a last resort, there’s also the method of sneaking in.

Considering the security level within the Selvas Royal Palace, if I put all my effort in, there’s no way I couldn’t crawl in.

But that’s a last resort.

Considering the detailed aftermath and my position and response after that, I need to intervene with a proper method if possible.

So what should I do?

‘Then I need to bring in someone who can help me.’

Reality is, pumpkin carriages don’t come if you just stay still.

You have to hijack a passing carriage, steal clothes, and confidently barge in to win!

Fortunately, there’s a place I can guess.

“…Roant Academy.”

I think there’s a high possibility of getting their understanding.

I immediately wrote a letter and sought contact with a certain person.

* * *

As soon as I sent someone to deliver the message, I received a reply immediately.

“That’s fast.”

Well, he wasn’t the kind of person to reply slowly.

I checked the reply with satisfaction and headed to Roant Academy.

Roant Academy.

The head is Marquis Roant, and as mentioned before, it’s a quasi-military academy that cultivates influential figures within the kingdom.

A royal institution established with the aim of gathering nobles, wealthy merchants’ children, or those with special backgrounds, and nurturing talents who will contribute to the future of the kingdom.

Those who want connections between nobles.

Or those who want to succeed as knights or administrators.

Or those who have other purposes.

For these and other reasons, many young people gather here, each wanting to achieve merit or hone their skills.

‘Well… I don’t care.’

For me, educational institutions managed by the kingdom are places I don’t care about.

As I waited some distance from the main gate where the academy’s main building was visible,

Eventually, the person who came to guide me as promised appeared.

A silver-haired boy appeared from inside the main gate.

“Long time no see… or not really, Aileen?”

Sylvester greeted me with a surprised look and extended his hand.

“Good to see you’re doing well, Sylvester.”

I lightly shook his hand and answered without hesitation.

Even though it’s only been a few months, this boy’s hand seemed to have an even firmer strength.

His skills must have improved.

That’s a good thing.

I smiled brightly and replied.

“Sorry for calling you out of the blue. I didn’t originally intend to do this.”

“I was the one who told you to come and visit if you ever came to the capital. If you remembered and came, then it’s a happy thing.”

Sylvester showed his good-natured side without reservation and led me inside the academy.

“I’d like to guide you further inside if I could…”

“I know. The regulations only allow outsiders to enter part of the main building, right?”

Of course, I know.

I came here for a separate reason anyway.

Once that’s resolved, that’s all that matters.

“…Honestly, I was surprised. Not only that you suddenly came.”

Sylvester immediately expressed his surprise.

“But even more so that I would receive a request from Marquis Roant to guide you and bring you here…”

“You know, strange things happen in life.”

I casually brushed it off as if it were nothing.

The person I sent someone to contact was none other than the founder of this place, Marquis Roant.

Originally, a commoner’s contact would have been ignored, but.

However, that person willingly responded.

It’s proof that he’s the same person I’ve been aware of.

“A meeting with Marquis Roant, what are you trying to do this time?”

“…You’ll find out soon enough.”

I just pretended to say something meaningful.

I can’t exactly say, ‘I’m going to make you fight the boss of an evil organization.’

“But do I have to wait to see Marquis Roant?”

“Ah… just wait a little bit. It’ll be over soon.”

Sylvester scratched his cheek as if he was embarrassed.

I don’t need to ask this boy what that means.

“Listen up! Talented individuals with promising futures!”

Someone’s voice echoed loudly from afar.

“What’s that?”

“The Marquis is giving a speech to the new students.”

There’s nothing strange about it.

As the founder of this place, it’s natural for the Marquis himself to give speeches or educate young people.

“Everyone has talent!”

Looking in the direction of the sound, a man was standing on a platform in front of the students gathered in a spacious training ground, shouting.

“Everyone has promising talent. From the merchants commonly seen on the streets to the workers they employ, everyone has their own special talent.”

The man was expressing his beliefs without reservation, proclaiming them in front of everyone.

A nobleman in his early 30s, with neatly arranged slightly faded blonde hair, was giving a speech as if pouring out all his sincerity, not just pretending.

No doubt.

That’s the nobleman I’m looking for.

“Cultivating that talent is your mission and everything for your future. And supporting you is what I have to do. Yes! Absolutely!”

The self-proclaimed ally and supporter of all talented young people.

A young nobleman who founded Roant Academy to realize his idea of nurturing all talents according to his beliefs.

That’s Marquis Roant.

He is now preaching at length about his beliefs.

“May there be blessings on all talents!”

As he shouted the closing remarks of his speech as he always did, the students applauded as if they had been waiting for it.

I also watched the scene from afar and muttered a word.

“What a tiring old man.”

“…”

Sylvester is giving me a look like, ‘What kind of impression is that?’ but he doesn’t seem to be able to deny it.

* * *

Soon, I was able to meet the Marquis who had finished his speech.

As I headed to his office, he told me to come in as if he had been waiting.

As soon as I faced him, I bowed politely.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Marquis. My name is Aileen.”

“Yes, I’ve already read it. And I’ve heard from this friend too. I’ve heard you’re a very promising young man!”

Marquis Roant fluttered the letter I had sent him and subtly pointed to Sylvester.

So he had already had a conversation about me.

I was curious about what he had said, but I held back.

At least I believe he didn’t say anything bad.

“I’d like to hear your story at length, but unfortunately, I don’t have the time. So I’d like to hear the main point right away. …Sylvester, I’m sorry, but would you excuse us?”

“…Yes.”

Sylvester readily agreed and stepped back first.

I sat down as he suggested and calmly expressed my gratitude.

“First of all, I’m grateful that you took the time out of your busy schedule.”

“Hahaha! Don’t mention it. It’s just that this letter you threw, Aileen, caught my interest. Above all, meeting a promising young man is never a waste of time.”

As expected, his personality is really good, just like in the original.

“Then I’ll tell you about the matter that the Marquis is interested in right away.”

There’s no need to beat around the bush.

“I want to attend the National Foundation Day banquet.”

“…The reason?”

“Anything is fine. I can pretend to be a student here, or even insist that I’m a servant.”

All that matters is getting in.

The purpose of contacting this man is to attend by borrowing his name.

In the original, Marquis Roant attends the banquet with Sylvester.

Sylvester is not a noble in terms of his external status, but he is only a student from a commoner background, but the Marquis recommended him to attend because he wanted to show him the aristocratic society as a talent he was watching.

He could somehow get even an ordinary merchant to attend.

However, Marquis Roant has not yet shown much interest.

“I know what you want.”

He speaks gently, but his eyes are subtly dry.

He’s not just a nice guy.

He also has a side that moves while calculating his own interests.

My proposal is not enough to give him a reason to listen.

He wants to hear more.

“Well, I’ll just say whatever I want. I probably wrote in the letter that it’s because I want connections with nobles.”

“That’s right. It was definitely written that way.”

“That’s all a lie.”

For a moment, his eyebrows twitched.

I know this guy’s tendencies.

He’s not the kind of person who’s happy just because you flatter him.

It’s better to reveal some of my true feelings.

“Connections with nobles? It would be nice to have them. But I can eat and live well enough without them.”

“Then what is it for?”

“First, it’s a matter that can’t be written in a letter. Second, I just didn’t have anything to write. The letter looks empty if it’s short.”

Or should I have written a poem?

Normally, it wouldn’t be strange to get angry and kick me out for these ridiculous words, but he urges me to continue as if he wants to hear more.

He’s interested in strange people.

That’s how it was in the original too.

“I’ll use some magic for a moment.”

“Hmph, there’s no need for that.”

Marquis Roant scoffed and shook the bell on the table.

Strange mana flowed out and formed a barrier exactly the size of this office.

It’s a barrier to prevent sound from leaking out.

Is eavesdropping prevention a basic skill for nobles?

“Yes, something that can’t be written in a letter and must be said directly to me. I want to continue hearing it.”

“Let’s be blunt. Rupel… Duke Rupel Selpenead will cause an accident.”

Let’s drop a big spoiler.

Well, who cares.

After all, he’ll proudly come out on the night of the banquet.

Originally, spoilers one or two days before the premiere are the basic skills of attention seekers.

“…”

“You can pretend to be surprised. You’ve already figured out that Duke Rupel isn’t a very clean person [implying he’s corrupt or involved in shady dealings].”

Of course, it’s a metaphor.

It doesn’t mean that the old man actually smells.

“If this continues, the day of the banquet could be the Marquis’s death anniversary.”

Continuous spoilers.

Of course, this is a lie.

Because in the original, he will be in danger, but Sylvester saves his life.

But it’s true that he’s being threatened.

“Does Sylvester know that fact?”

“Of course not. Do you think that friend would readily step back after hearing this?”

“He wouldn’t.”

I haven’t said a word to him and have no intention of doing so.

It’s not because I hate him.