The next day, renowned families from nearby towns and cities came to visit the estate to join the celebration of Alaric’s advancement.
With the presence of these people, North Pine Town experienced a surge of activity. The streets were packed with tourists and even merchants who came to sell their goods could be spotted at every turn.
The soldiers stationed in the town joined hands with the guards and the Knight Apprentices of the Silversword Household to maintain security.
Meanwhile, inside House Silversword’s estate.
As the star of today’s event, Alaric was dressed in formal attire.
At this moment, he was entertaining a few guests when he noticed some familiar faces in the crowd.
They are finally here.
“Excuse me.”
Alaric excused himself and walked towards a certain spot to greet the acquaintances he had seen.
“Vince! It’s good to see you guys here.” Alaric smiled as he greeted them.
Vince who was wearing a blue tunic jolted in surprise when he heard the familiar voice. “My lord!”
Behind him were the two sales ladies of the shop, Herlene and Criselda.
“Greetings, Lord Alaric!” The ladies bowed respectfully upon seeing him approaching them.
Alaric waved his hand. “How are you guys?”
“The kids are still learning the production method. They are a bit clumsy, but they are obedient.” Vince responded without thinking.
Hearing this, Alaric stared at him with a wry smile. “I didn’t ask about work-related matters, Vince.”
“Oh! Is that so?” Vince scratched his head.
“What about you two?” Alaric stared at Herlene and Criselda.
Both women had been using the scented soap for some time and there were obvious changes in their appearance. Their skin had become smoother and more delicate. They also exuded the unique fragrant scent of lilies.
“I have been well, my lord. Thank you for your concern.” Herlene responded coquettishly.
Before she used the scented soap, her only asset was her bombshell body. Back then, she had some acne marks on her face which made her look average. With the frequent use of their products, the acne marks on her face disappeared, making her look more attractive.
“I’m doing great.” Criselda shyly replied.
Just like Herlene, her physical appearance had also noticeably improved. Her skin looked healthier and smoother. She also became a bit more confident due to the improvement in her looks.
“I’m glad to hear that. It seems like you ladies have been using the scented soap regularly. You look even more beautiful now.” Alaric complimented them which made the two women giggle.
He chatted with them for a while before he went to greet William who had come with a few children from the orphanage.
“I’m happy to see you and the children, Sir William.” Alaric extended his hand while smiling at the old Knight.
William grabbed his hand and shook it lightly. “Congratulations on your advancement, my lord!”
What a young Knight!
“Compared to you, I still have a long way to go.” Alaric chuckled.
“I’m just a retired Knight, my lord. Your future will be even better than mine.” The old man responded wholeheartedly.
After they exchanged pleasantries, Alaric spoke with the children for quite some time before he went to greet the other guests.
By noon, more food was served.
Suddenly, a man in his early twenties clapped his hands to gather everyone’s attention.
“Hello, everyone! I’m Dylann Heinrich, son of Baron Smith Heinrich.”
Dylann was a tall man with short blonde hair. He looked quite handsome in his leather vest.
This man was the son of a baron from a neighboring town called Redonia. Their territory was bigger than North Pine Town, but the military strength of the two households were more or less the same.
Everyone, including Alaric, turned their gazes to Dylann, wondering what he wanted to say.
“To make this event even more exciting, why don’t we hold a small competition between our Knights?” Dylann suggested as he searched for a familiar face in the crowd.
When he saw Alaric, his gaze stopped, and he gave the latter a friendly nod.
“That’s a great suggestion! How about we send one Knight each to compete?” Charles supported the idea, his eyes flashing with a cunning glint.
“What do you think, Lord Lucas?” The crowd looked at the head of the estate to seek his opinion.
As the lord of North Pine Town and the host of the banquet, Lucas had the final say in the matter.
Looking at everyone’s expectant faces, Lucas could only helplessly agree. “Fine. Since everyone is eager to see some competition, I will give you my permission.”
“Thank you for giving your approval, Lord Lucas. I hope you can officiate the competition.” Dylann bowed to him.
“Alright. That’s fine by me.” Lucas agreed with a nod.
“How would you like this competition to proceed?” Lucas asked.
Dylann was already prepared to answer this question. “To make things easier, how about we do single combat? Each household will send their Knights to compete until only the victor remains.”
Hearing this, Lucas had no objections. “Sounds good. Does everyone agree with this?” He swept his gaze at the crowd.
“Yes!”
“Fine by me. Let’s do that.”
“I agree.”
The guests nodded to show their agreement.
Lucas walked towards the middle of the banquet hall and announced.
“In that case, those who want to join the competition please send your Knights here.”
The nobles and the martial households who were eager to show off their might immediately sent their Knights.
The sudden turn of events made the crowd even more excited.
Everyone discussed animatedly as they watched the Knights step forward one after another.
At this moment, there were already fifteen Knights who had stepped up for the competition. Surprisingly, Dylann Heinrich was one of them.
“It seems like Lord Dylann is confident in his abilities.”
“Will he be alright against those veteran Knights?”
“I think Sir Anthony will win. He has been a Knight for decades and he is the most experienced among the participants.”
The guests looked at a certain middle-aged Knight dressed in leather armor.
“My beloved nephew, why don’t you join the fun?” A loud voice drifted into everyone’s ears.
Hearing this, they turned their head and looked at Charles in surprise.
What kind of bullshit plan is this guy up to this time?
Alaric stared deeply at his uncle.