A Hospital in Another World? C.303

Accepting favors softens the tongue, and taking gifts shortens the arms.

Owing a significant debt of gratitude and yet to repay it, Garrett could only arrive at the Augustus Castle around three or four in the afternoon, just as the tea party was starting, on the day of the ball. Not just him, Aurora and Lynn also tagged along to enjoy the ball, and as for Bernard, wherever there was good food, he was sure to be found...

On the castle’s soft grass lawn, large umbrellas blooming like white flowers had been erected, under which dozens of ladies and gentlewomen were sipping tea and chatting. Seeing Garrett and his companions dismount at the other end of the long bridge and hand over their invitations, they cast surprised glances:

Who are these guests? Why have they arrived so late!

The knights who had gone hunting in the woods had already returned, and the group of knights jousting in front of the castle had already changed twice...

The lady knight personally went to greet them. Aurora and the others consciously stepped back, watching Garrett and her walk shoulder to shoulder across the long bridge, chatting as they went. The lady knight, with a smile full of meaning, pointed towards a tower on the right corner of the castle: freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

"I’m really sorry to bother you knowing how busy you are. But Lord Bartolo, the mage patronized by the Loxi domain, has been deteriorating in health and has decided to retire. We haven’t found a replacement yet, and the news has leaked, so I can only ask you to make an appearance to deter those with ulterior motives."

From this lengthy speech, Garrett only caught the words "deteriorating in health." As soon as the lady knight finished speaking, he immediately asked:

"What’s the ailment? Has he been seen by a physician—or a priest?"

"Elder Wood and the Archbishop have both seen him." Seraina smiled softly and sadly: "Lord Bartolo doesn’t have a serious illness; he’s just old. He was also my mother’s mentor, nearly 100 years old this year..."

Garrett uttered a sound of acknowledgment and refrained from offering any more advice. There are many diseases in the world that, with the advancement of medicine, might be treatable. However, old age is incurable: as one gets older, the resilience decreases, unable to withstand any surgery or illness, and eventually, even without any disease, one could pass away from multiple organ failure.

He simply asked: "Is there anything I can help with?"

"Not for now. Just your presence at the ball, making yourself seen, is enough. By the way, if it’s not too much trouble, may I have a dance?"

"Ah? Heh, heh..."

Garrett silently drifted away, taking Bernard with him to find a place to eat. The majority of Seraina’s guests were nobility, and Garrett hardly knew anyone. After making a round, he only greeted Master Tolga and his daughter Iris.

The young lady was happily engaged in conversation, clearly spoken for, and was here to support her friend. Not wanting to intrude, Garrett excused himself after a brief chat and went off to satiate his hunger.

It was early spring, and the night fell quickly, with a bone-chilling breeze by the lake. Before long, the banquet hall was brightly lit, and suddenly, a grand horn sound echoed:

"Wuooong—"

That sound was definitely not from one or two horns, but at least four. Who could it be, making such a grand entrance even before appearing?

Garrett, along with the other guests, looked outside. Soon, they saw four knights stride into the banquet hall, standing in two rows facing each other. The elderly butler, who had been greeting guests at the door, quickly came over, cleared his throat, and announced loudly:

"Count Inverness and his lady have arrived—"

"Baron Canneh has arrived—"

"Knight Hopman has arrived—"

A series of titles were announced, stirring the crowd. Garrett didn’t need any magic like "keen ears or eyes" to hear the whispers all around:

"The Count has also arrived."

"He’s here to support his daughter, right? After all, it’s her 20th birthday ball..."

"No wonder the Countess came along. And her eldest son, Baron Canneh, though three years younger than the lady viscount, is now a knight, right?"

"Who’s that Knight Hopman? Does anyone know him?"

"It’s rare, since the lady viscount moved to the domain, I remember her stepmother hasn’t visited yet—"

The banquet hall buzzed with noise, drowning out the orchestra’s music. Lady Seraina stepped forward to embrace her father, then curtsied to her stepmother. Count Inverness, smiling, led his eldest daughter to the center of the hall, took a glass of wine from a servant

, and raised it high:

"Thank you all for attending my daughter’s birthday banquet..."

After speaking non-stop for two minutes, he gestured with his glass to the left and right and drank it down. Today’s banquet was buffet-style, with long tables already set up along the walls, and the servers began to bring out dishes. Garrett, already hungry, turned to head for the food but was stopped by Aurora:

"Wait! You can only eat after three dances!"

"...But with whom shall I dance?"

Garrett couldn’t help but retort. Apart from the hostess, I only know one woman here who’s already taken! Am I supposed to ask her for a dance?

NEVER!

"You don’t have to dance! Just stand by and watch, it’s the etiquette! Etiquette!"

Garrett might opt out of dancing, but the hostess couldn’t. As the host of the ball, Seraina danced the first dance with her father, Count Inverness, and then the second with the heir to the count, her eldest brother, Baron Canneh. As the music changed, becoming lively yet tender, the crowd began to move, looking left and right as if searching for something among themselves.

"What are they looking for?" Garrett whispered. Aurora shook her head, and so did Lynn. Shortly after, from behind the countess, another young man they had brought along stepped forward, his left hand behind his back and his right hand elegantly extended, bowing slightly to the lady knight:

"Miss Seraina, may I have this dance?"

Seraina cautiously took a step back. The young man, unfazed, continued to smile:

"Miss Seraina, I am the eldest son of Baron Hopman, 25 years old this year, a level 7 knight. I have been traveling abroad and have just returned to my homeland. Your beauty and valor have left a deep impression on me. May I have the honor of asking you for a dance?"

Ah... so it’s a matchmaking attempt. Got it. Garrett withdrew his gaze, suddenly feeling something amiss, and scrutinized the man again. Knight Hopman was tall and slim, his right hand extended forward with long, well-defined fingers. Those hands, if used to play the piano, would surely be quite adept.

As Garrett watched, he subconsciously stepped forward, nearly breaking through the crowd. Aurora quickly pulled him back:

"What are you doing?"

"Ah?"

Garrett hadn’t yet snapped out of it, his gaze still fixed on Knight Hopman, and absentmindedly responded. Aurora quickly dragged him back, whispering:

"Not now if you’re going to intercept! —He’s brought by the countess!"