Ch 19: These Aren’t The Real Gifts

Everyone looked and saw a blond man in a white dress walking in.

Ledo Wich?

Why is he here instead of indulging in debauchery?

Anna was suspicious, but still bowed politely: “Young Master Ledo, welcome, welcome. This is a gathering of a few of us sisters; naturally, we didn’t invite you. If you like, I’ll definitely invite you next time.”

“Sisters? Is he a sister too?” Ledo laughed, looking at Dir.

It seemed like a joke, but it sounded very harsh.

Anna frowned, very displeased.

Dir was someone she had specifically invited, and this banquet was specially prepared for him.

Ledo was so impolite; if he upset Dir, she might not be able to invite him again.

She smiled: “Young Master Ledo is joking. Although it’s a sisters’ gathering, many gentlemen also participate. However, we’re here to discuss poetry, which I presume Young Master Ledo wouldn’t enjoy.”

She originally wanted to say he wouldn’t, but worried he would spoil the banquet’s atmosphere, so she softened her words.

Ledo said: “I don’t like poetry, but with so many beautiful ladies at the banquet, how could I not like it?”

“Ledo, be respectful! This is my banquet!” Anna was angry. What did he think they were?

The other noble young ladies also looked unhappy.

“Miss Anna, you misunderstood. Don’t you also have many gentlemen here? I mean I’m the same as them,” Ledo said.

In the end, Ledo shamelessly stayed, and Anna couldn’t drive him away.

Ledo repeatedly embarrassed Dir, but before Dir could react, the noble young ladies helped him defuse the situations.

They had grown up amidst the intrigues of the nobility, and were very familiar with Ledo’s tricks, easily resolving them.

He had originally come to embarrass Dir, to deliberately disgust him.

Initially, he did spoil the banquet’s atmosphere, but later, it became the noble young ladies protecting Dir, while he was besieged by them.

He had wanted to make Dir the clown, but he ended up being the clown himself.

The Wich Family is one of the Kingdom’s five great noble families.

Tailin, over the past six months, had used every method to finally connect with them.

Dealing with a Duke from a border region was nothing difficult for the Wich Family; the Butri Family, lacking any backing, was even easier to handle.

They quickly accepted Tailin’s benefits and began to pressure the Wickel Duchy.

Having Ledo come today was to probe the Butri Family’s background, but Ledo’s tricks against Dir were all intercepted by the noble young ladies, revealing no useful information.

However, the high-ranking officials of the Wich Family still saw something different.

Dir was deeply liked by the young ladies, and their brothers also interacted frequently with Dir.

These young people are not yet in power, so nothing can be seen yet, but once they take power, the Butri Family will have a foothold in the Kingdom.

They have already begun to suppress the Butri Family; this feud is settled, not easily resolved. Of course, they don’t bother to resolve it; a noble from a remote region, even with some connections in the Kingdom, poses no threat to the Wich Family.

Time quickly came to the Queen’s birthday.

The Queen’s birthday banquet was held at her priWatay estate.

The entire banquet hall was lavishly decorated, with all the tableware being silverware.

Nobles from all over arrived one after another.

Dir had few friends in the Capital City, so Anna came with him.

Other noble young ladies, seeing them arrive, also gathered around.

This saved Dir from the awkwardness of being alone.

Seeing a group of noble young ladies gathered together, some noble young masters also came over.

For a time, Dir became the focus of the banquet.

Some curious old nobles inquired about Dir’s identity. Upon learning that he was from the Butri Family, they were surprised. When did those Butri brutes become so adept at socializing?

Soon, the Queen and King arrived and announced the start of the banquet.

The nobles presented various precious gifts to celebrate the Queen’s birthday.

It was Dir’s turn. Dir had someone carry a box and a man-high object.

Seeing that his gifts were covered, everyone looked at him curiously.

“The Butri Family wishes the Queen a happy birthday.”

Dir opened the box, revealing crystal-clear objects inside.

Dir took one out.

“Crystal?”

This large box of crystals; it seems the Butri Family spared no expense.

They had heard that the Wich Family was recently pressuring the Butri Family, and the Dunbar Duchy seemed to be causing trouble on the border.

It seems they are under great pressure.

But relying on these crystals to get the Royal Family to help them out of trouble seems a bit naive.

Dir surveyed the surroundings and said, “These are not crystals.”

“Not crystals?”

“Then what are they? They are so crystal clear.”

The nobles at the banquet whispered among themselves. Since Dir had become the focus before the banquet began, all the nobles looked over when he presented his gifts.

“This is called glass, a new product from the workshop.”

“Glass?”

“I’ve never heard of it. This thing is produced by the workshop? Doesn’t that mean there’s an unlimited supply?”

“Then using this as a birthday gift for the Queen seems a bit cheap.”

The Queen initially liked the glass, but after hearing this, she lost interest.

If it can be mass-produced, then it’s indeed worthless.

Dir said: “Although it’s made in the workshop, producing such perfect glass is extremely difficult.”

“To be frank, these pieces of glass took a whole month to fire.”

“Of course, the Butri Family’s gifts don’t end there.”

He lifted the cloth covering the mirror.

A half-body-sized mirror appeared before everyone, immediately attracting everyone’s attention.

The Queen also stood up and came to the mirror.

Looking at her jeweled self in the mirror, every detail was visible, so clear.

She instantly fell in love with the mirror.

Dir took out several pieces of broken glass he had prepared; everyone thought he was going to present another gift.

He gently tapped the glass, shattering it.

Then he said: “This glass is extremely fragile. Making such a large piece of glass is very difficult; it might not be possible to make one in a month.”

Seeing the glass in Dir’s hand shatter with a light tap, the Queen’s heart trembled. If this mirror were to be bumped or scratched, wouldn’t it also break?

It must be carefully protected.

The more the Queen looked at the mirror, the more she liked it; she couldn’t bear to see it damaged.

She was very satisfied with Dir’s gift.

“Sir Dir, thank you very much for your gift,” the Queen said.

Everyone present was stunned. The Queen actually used ‘Sir’ to address a younger generation; it seemed she was truly satisfied.

The nobles of the Wich Family looked unhappy. If the Butri Family were to establish a connection with the Queen, it would be troublesome.

They could ignore other nobles, but they couldn’t ignore the Queen.

However, what surprised everyone even more was Dir’s next words.

“Your Majesty, these are not the real gifts for you,” Dir said.

“