Chapter 36 3 The lady of the salmon family

In a tailored tailcoat, with his hair styled in elegant waves and a touch of bright powder on his face, the freshly transformed Liszt shimmered with radiance.

"Perfection!"

Meopo patted Liszt's shoulder. "You'll be the center of attention for all the men at tonight's ball."

"I didn't have that intention. Perhaps in a few years, I'd be enthusiastic, but for now, sorry, Cousin, I have no plans to get acquainted with any noble ladies."

"Don't try to fool me with words. Trust me, Liszt, the most wonderful thing in life is meeting the right person at the right time. Don't just let things happen; seize the opportunity."

"Is that why you've remained unmarried all these years?"

"Don't steer the conversation towards me. We're talking about you now."

Liszt adjusted his cuffs. Meopo had been quite supportive, and he actually wanted to tell his cousin that it would be better to find a reputable noblewoman to marry sincerely rather than chasing after the Duke of Sapphire's socialite daughter, who might eventually upend the Longtaro family's status.

But the words stayed unspoken.

There was surely the Marquis's will behind this – the Longtaros prided themselves on their shrewdness, and they might be seeking an even higher position. Once married to the Duke of Sapphire's daughter, their family's standing would become unshakable.

As a rural baron from the countryside, he should not be indulging in noble ambitions while chewing on coarse bread.

Dressed elegantly, Liszt followed Meopo to the grand hall where the ball would soon take place. A few nobles had already arrived and were chatting leisurely while enjoying beverages prepared by the servants.

"Sir Meopo, you've finally decided to grace us with your presence?" a noble approached with a glass of wine in hand.

"It's not yet time for the ball, Martel, no need to rush," Meopo replied.

Martel turned to Liszt. "And who might this be?"

"This is my cousin. His father is the Earl of Coral Island."

"I see, you're from the Tulip family. Nice to meet you, I'm Martel Nussac."

"Liszt Tulip," Liszt maintained a polite smile, but it was not overly warm. He was not a noble who enjoyed socializing and had only attended the ball out of necessity.

Nonetheless, he endured the situation as Meopo introduced him to the young nobles of Red Crab Island. Most of them were followers of the Longtaro family – vassals of the Marquis, completely loyal to their lord.

The intriguing aspect of the noble system lay in the fact that...

Nobles appointed by the king were vassals of the royal family. The lesser nobles appointed by these nobles, however, were not the king's vassals and did not owe their loyalty to him. For instance, Earl Lee William of Coral Island was a noble appointed by the king and thus a vassal to the monarch, but Liszt was not. He only needed to be loyal to his father.

Upon his father's passing, he would then be loyal to his elder brother, Levis.

"Have you spotted any charming ladies? If so, let me know, and I can help make an introduction. Don't hold back," Meopo said after greeting the other guests before returning to Liszt's side. "Look at your brother; he has already adapted to the ball and is chatting up three daughters from viscount households."

Following his gaze, one could see the average-looking Levis engaging a young lady in conversation, making her burst into laughter.

"Even your sister has admirers."

Over at Li Weiwei's side, two male nobles were conversing with her merrily—she wasn't particularly beautiful, but a bit of inquiry would reveal that she held the title of baroness, making her an attractive marriage prospect for those knightly baronets or nobles unable to inherit their family titles.

Marriage would allow them to maintain their noble status.

Liszt raised his fruit wine and clinked glasses with Meopo. "May they find happiness soon. As for me, cousin, you really don't need to worry about me."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely."

"Very well, but I'll still keep an eye out for suitable ladies for you," the young lady said.

"Liszt was speechless. His cousin was being too much. Was he really that enthusiastic about playing matchmaker?

Meopo shrugged slightly and whispered, "Actually, this is Grandfather's idea. He knows that you're not highly regarded in the Tulip Family and hopes that you can come to Red Crab Island. Besides, I need help as well. The Longtaro Family isn't very populous. I have no siblings, you know. I would be delighted if you came."

Liszt could tell that Meopo was sincere.

According to his estimation, Coral Island was roughly the size of a prefecture-level city, around ten thousand square kilometers.

Red Crab Island was ten times larger, around one hundred thousand square kilometers.

That was the size of a province like Jiangsu or Zhejiang. Without roads, transportation relied on horse-drawn carriages, which made governing such a large area more difficult. Furthermore, nobles didn't govern in a centralized manner. With many petty nobles holding their own territories, the governance would become chaotic and might even undermine the ruling family's foundation.

Upon reflection, Liszt couldn't deny that he was tempted. Flower Town was a remote backwater with limited development potential.

If he went to Red Crab Island to develop, the Longtaro Family would at least promote him to the rank of Viscount, allowing him to govern a small city.

However, he was resistant to the idea of relying on a woman to achieve this. "Let nature take its course, Cousin. I won't miss out on someone I like, but I won't force myself on someone I don't."

"Well."

...

As night fell, the ball began.

A soothing piano melody flowed from the fingertips of a skilled pianist, setting the appropriate ambiance for the event.

As the host, Meopo took to the floor with a viscount's daughter for the opening dance, then stepped aside, signaling for everyone else to choose their own partners freely.

Liszt sat in a corner, observing the young men and women twirling gracefully in the center of the dance floor.

He took no action.

He had already sized up all the female guests, noting their heights, weights, beauty, and ugliness. Unfortunately, none of them stirred his heart. Though there were a few mature women who aligned with his aesthetic preferences, age was a hindrance—he was only sixteen years old, after all.

At this age, many nobles had already begun to indulge in more reckless pursuits.

However, it was not yet the proper age for marriage. For men, it was twenty, and for women, eighteen—the season of matrimonial frenzy.

His gaze swept over the crowd, seemingly resting on some unseen point in the void. Then, after a moment, an intangible mist began to materialize, coalescing into twisting, serpentine runes.

"Mission: Tender and succulent alfalfa, beloved by both cows and horses, forms the foundation of a prosperous stable and marks the beginning of great endeavors. Please provide a habitat for the alfalfa beetle, nurturing the growth of cordyceps. Reward: Three stalks of wild corn."

The mission has been in place for several days, and a slight sense of urgency resides in my heart.

"Several days have passed, the alfalfa should have grown by now. Upon returning, I'll likely be able to settle the alfalfa bugs... Wild corn, wonder how it looks. Its yield should at least be several times that of wheat, I suppose."

As he pondered over the quest at hand.

A melodious voice, akin to the song of a thrush, suddenly rang in his ear: "Hello, Liszt, may I sit here?"

The smoke dissipated in an instant.

Liszt regained his focus and found himself facing a girl around seventeen or eighteen years old. She bore a resemblance to Edith, the second daughter of the Earl in the series "Downton Abbey." Her wavy flaxen hair cascaded down, complemented by a sharp nose, deep eye sockets, and a thin, seemingly smiling lips.

She was quite the epitome, almost an eight out of ten.

Meopo had previously introduced her as Athena Salmon, the youngest daughter of a Viscount. Their family was renowned for their abundance of salmon.

Liszt revealed a gentle smile and gestured with his hand, "Beautiful lady, any seat would be delighted to have you."