Chapter 100: I Am Not Close to Women

Chapter 100: I Am Not Close to Women

Upon hearing Louis’s words, Kate’s eyes lit up and she became very excited. She really thought it was some kind of wonderful magic and ended up talking to Louis at length.

It was only when her father, the bishop, the mage, and others raised their glasses in toast repeatedly that the young lady realized she was acting rather unladylike. She quickly sat up straight: ‘Heavens, I must have drunk too much. Was I a bit too enthusiastic just now?’

‘Would Mr. Louis misunderstand?’

‘That isn’t what I meant at all.’

‘Why isn’t he talking to me anymore?’

While Louis was socializing, on the other side, Helen’s Crystal Ball lit up. Her sister was secretly asking how things were going. When Helen saw the kingdom’s dignitaries, scholars, and bishops all eagerly toasting Louis, her expression became extremely colorful.

Discovering Helen was secretly live-streaming, Louis frowned and glared at her, signaling her not to use magic recklessly. Helen stuck out her tongue and turned off the Crystal Ball. When the exhausted Earl, noticing the banquet was winding down, excused himself and left, Helen also found an excuse to leave, going off to secretly tattle to her sister.

Seeing Helen finally gone, Louis was overjoyed.

[Master, Miss Helen calls for me. It seems Her Highness Ocris has business with me—I once served as a eunuch in the Royal Court and know some of the old ministers…]

[Go, go on. Get going.]

Seeing Miss Kate also about to excuse herself and leave, Louis hurriedly waved his hand at Stuart, telling it to get lost.

He didn’t care about those unimportant old ministers—how long had it been since Ocris left the court? Any old ministers still willing to stand by her side now were just useless old fools who could only applaud and cheer, lacking any real power.

Even all of them combined couldn’t match the influence of Bishop John, who was now sitting next to him trying to strike up a conversation. Louis pulled back his sleeve roughly, telling John to get lost. He also ignored the drunken dancing priests and Archmages who tried to invite him to drink.

Pushing through a crowd of arms, Louis quickly made his way to Miss Kate, who was already getting up to leave. He pushed aside a maid trying to help her, took Kate’s drunken arm, and said, “Miss Kate, let me help you back. Didn’t you wish to meet the person you long for? I have a book in my room with detailed records.”

Hearing this, this well-educated lady of twenty-six or twenty-seven, who knew exactly what was what, hesitated and gave Louis a searching look.

“Come, Miss Kate. I’m a little drunk myself. I’ll escort you back and get the book for you. If you have any questions tomorrow, you can ask me anytime.” Louis wore a gentle, very gentlemanly smile.

Seeing Louis’s sunlit smile, Miss Kate felt a pang of shame inwardly—how could she have thought such things of Mr. Louis?

She nodded reservedly and, amidst the noise, left with Louis.

At the door, Kate looked back and specifically whispered, “Mr. Louis, I’ll just wait at the doorway; I won’t come inside.”

“Of course, Miss Kate,” Louis replied very chivalrously, taking her hand. His expression clearly stated: I am not close to women.

Kate nodded reservedly too and placed her hand, clad in lace gloves, gently into the gentleman’s. Her smiling face clearly conveyed: I believe you.

On the way, they exchanged addresses, saying they could write letters in the future. It seemed they planned to start as pen pals and get to know each other slowly.

En route, they discussed ‘Pol literature’ for a while (Polst used the name ‘Pol’ in the Muggle World—he was a super famous writer). As they neared the guest rooms, Miss Kate hesitated slightly and very reservedly mentioned if it might be a bit late; perhaps she should return to her room early or the Mother might come for room checks.

Louis very gentlemanly suggested they talk about the book tomorrow and that he would escort her to her room.

Miss Kate gladly agreed.

Halfway there, however, Louis suddenly remembered he didn’t have the key to his guest room.

Miss Kate gave him a slightly reproachful look, then accompanied Louis to the steward’s semi-basement office to get the key. He picked up a few living essentials as well.

Soon, they reached Louis’s guest room. Louis took the items, telling Miss Kate to wait just a moment while he fetched the book.

Miss Kate thanked him very properly and waited at the door with the candle.

Louis opened the door and went inside, rummaging through his luggage. Things quickly became a mess.

Seeing the chaos on the floor, Miss Kate gave the slightly clumsy young man a reproachful glance. Like an elder sister, she stepped inside, seemingly intending to help Louis tidy his luggage and perhaps clean the room.

But once the door closed, what happened inside lasted the whole night.

Below, Bishop John, reading a book in his bed, felt dust shaking down from the ceiling constantly. Shaking his head, he got little rest all night.

That very night, heavy rain fell outside the castle, pouring down relentlessly the entire night.

The fertile farmlands outside, starved for rain, greedily soaked up every drop.

The rain fell so fiercely, drenching the rich farmlands thoroughly.

Just as Louis had previously mentioned, on this night, Miss Kate really did meet the person she longed for in her heart.

And throughout the night, amid joyous and emotional tears, she called out this person’s name again and again—Louis.

Utterly happy.

…

Opening his eyes, Louis saw Kate asleep beside the bed. He rubbed his head, feeling a strong hangover. Recalling the previous night, he remembered that after dinner ended, Kate had come to his room to help him organize his luggage and tidy the place… and afterwards, they had kissed and embraced…

(Got a complaint that the chap was confusing, added few lines, then got reported. My bad. Let’s just skip this part.)

Getting out of bed, Louis pushed aside the heavy curtains.

The morning sunlight streamed in. Louis squinted, took a deep breath, and felt refreshed and clear-headed.

Last night’s heavy rain had left the air exceptionally fresh.

He flipped open his Storybook to check the record.

[Strength +5]

[You grew another half a centimeter taller…]

[Achievement +1]

[Troublesome Report/Letter of Recommendation (to be sent) that annoys Stuart +1]

[Red Four (2/3)]

[Note: You’ve accumulated two major achievements consecutively. If you can gain one more unique feat, even though you are still very young, the Barriffs may be able to pull some strings to manage a position like ‘Department Head’ or ‘Bureau Director’ for you—perhaps you should ask ‘Archie Barriff’ (CEO of Stogg’s Dragon Fighting Arena, Shadow Boss of Stogg’s Mercenaries, Close Friend of the Dragon Clan, Big-Time Smuggler…)]

[Solerndor Kingdom Reputation +200 (Spreading)]

[Lunar Court Reputation +500 (Certain unique individuals have noticed you)]

[(To be claimed) Invitation from the Queen and the King 1]

Reading this, Louis stroked his chin. He recalled there hadn’t been any Lunar Court reputation reward listed in the Storybook’s completion rewards before.

Looking further down, Louis saw an entry that boosted his presence/influence:

[Strange Baron Title 1 (1/2): Presence/Influence +300]

[Required to complete task: ‘The Real and the Fake ‘Gundam’ Battle’]

[Trigger Location: Mage Association]

[Target: Defeat ‘Dragon Slayer Gundam’ (a Dragon-class creature) during the ‘King’s Birthday Celebration Performance’ at the ‘Stogg’s Dragon Fighting Arena’ in ‘Englen City’—so this creature actually exists in this world!]

‘Strange baron title…’

For an ordinary person, as long as they gained some fame in various countries, the opportunity to be granted a noble title still existed during this Age of Exploration.

But this was just an ordinary noble title; only the Muggle Kingdom that granted it would recognize the holder as a noble.

However, a few noble titles had worldwide recognition. This kind of title held one as a noble, both among Muggles and Wizards.

Most of these titles originated from three thousand years ago. Back then, there was no distinction between Muggles and Wizards. The world had just been liberated from the Moon Goddess. Humans, Elves, and Faeries jointly established twelve Magic Kingdoms.

The nobles granted titles in that era were world nobles. They are still recognized by all Muggle Kingdoms, Wizard countries, and the Lunar Court to this day.

Even recognized by Dragons and Gods.

Many noble titles from that era three thousand years ago remain today, and most of these titles lie with the Wizards.

But Sorrento possessed a few such titles because the kingdom was founded by the Isolda Witch King, and ‘Isolda’ hailed from a Great Noble Family with red Dragon Blood.

Therefore, both ‘Ign’ and the young Witch Queen, ‘Dai,’ held several such titles.

Naturally, the various Great Wizard Families also held a number of such titles.

If Louis could inherit such a baron title, it would be extraordinarily meaningful.

But compared to the title, Louis was more interested in the ‘Real and the Fake ‘Gundam’ Battle’—it seemed like a conflict between Wizards and Muggles.