"I shall see to it that the liquor is delivered by the time the party begins... But I assume I'll be receiving an invitation as well, won't I?"
It was the morning after his strange dream.
Celestine broached the subject while they were seated for breakfast at the ryokan. She wore a pleasant, ladylike smile, but Rest felt a distinct sense of pressure behind her words—an unspoken warning that she wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Of course. After all the help you've given me, I wouldn't dream of being so rude as to leave you off the list."
"I'm very glad to hear that. I'll also have the villagers from the fishing village deliver the octopus, so you needn't worry about that, either... By the way, what are your plans now?"
"Next... well, I’m thinking of heading toward the Margrave Lavender Territory."
"The Margrave Lavender Territory? Whatever for?"
"Well..."
It was difficult to explain that a ghost had given him a tip in a dream. Rest kept his explanation intentionally vague.
"I’ve heard rumors of a creature called the Diamond Bear that lives there. They’re supposed to be quite the delicacy, so I thought I’d go and see if I could find one."
"Oh, so you know about the Diamond Bear. They were served at a Royal Palace banquet some time ago, but only a handful of people should even be aware of their existence today. Wherever did you hear about them?"
"Er... I think I read it in a book?"
Rest instinctively averted his eyes.
That reaction alone made it painfully obvious he was lying, but Celestine, being a woman of tact, chose not to press him further.
"It’s true that serving the Diamond Bear—a legendary ingredient—would certainly add prestige to your event. However, I’ve heard those bears only dwell within a Forbidden Forest inside the Margrave’s lands. Hunting them is strictly prohibited."
"Oh, is that right?"
"Yes. You would need Margrave Lavender’s personal permission just to enter the woods."
That sounded like a much higher hurdle than he had anticipated. He knew Urula, but he had never even met the Margrave himself.
"For some time now, Margrave Lavender has been a vocal proponent of war with the Geisel Empire to the east. He’s quite distant from the Royal Family, who favor a more cooperative diplomatic path. He might be rather stern with you, Rest, considering how closely you're tied to the crown."
The hurdle just kept getting higher.
Rest was the Marquis Rosemary House Matrilocal Husband and a close associate of the King. He was also intimately linked with the Marquis Catreia and Duke Crocus houses. Politically speaking, he belonged to a faction that was essentially an enemy to the Margrave Lavender House.
"...Maybe I should just give up on the idea."
"Personally, it would be a great help if you could act as a bridge between us and the Margrave," Celestine noted.
"Please, don't put that kind of weight on me... My backpack is already full."
He felt as though he might be crushed under the sheer volume of his responsibilities.
(I feel bad for Shoko after she gave me the advice, but I think I’ll pass on the Diamond Bear.)
Having changed his mind, Rest left the fishing village behind once his business there was finished.
He parted ways with Celestine in the Royal Capital and returned straight to the Count Clover House—only to be met with an unexpected report the moment he stepped through the door.
"Lord Rest, an invitation has arrived from the Margrave Lavender House... Do you have any idea why they might be contacting you?"
"............Huh?"
Rest stared at the invitation the butler handed him, completely speechless at the impossible timing of it all.