SWNOVELXO 3 - Book Club
The center of the Empire.
Montblancfre, the high-end dessert shop that every noble lady dreams of.
Four women are seated in the VIP room that money alone cannot access.
Each of them is the next candidate for family head of the Empire’s five great houses.
Not only the serving staff, who is accustomed to high nobles and rarely gets nervous, but even the patissier who brought out the desserts has evident tension on their face.
With expressions hoping they would eat quickly and leave soon, the premium desserts were arranged.
Whether they were aware of the staff’s situation or not.
Despite all the desserts having been served, the four women showed no sign of picking up their forks.
“Is Cain late again? Does he think others aren’t busy?”
“Ah, t-there’s still about five minutes left…”
“Eri. I always tell you. Please, just don’t open that mouth, okay? Do you think I’m early because I don’t know that?”
Merchen Eildarin roughly pulled at the rice cake in front of her.
“I-I’m sorry Merchen… I won’t d-do it again…”
“Looks like Eri has forgotten my personality after not seeing me for a while. Want me to refresh your memory today?”
“Eek…”
Eri Astralnor hugged her hat and curled up her body.
“It’s still not late, so isn’t it fine?”
“Risiella, are you defending Cain too? Is it because he helped you sell some potions?”
“Not particularly? Some of the elders seem to like it, but… that’s not my concern.”
“There you go again with that talk… Fine. You’ll manage well on your own anyway.”
Risiella Tierniel smiled slightly as she watched Merchen shake her head as if giving up.
It didn’t matter to Risiella what the elders thought.
After all, she planned to clean house with the elders as soon as she became family head.
The only thing that mattered to Risiella was whether someone was her enemy or ally.
“Anyway! Between nobles, one should arrive at least 30 minutes early. If Cain steps into politics, he definitely won’t last long.”
“Since Calderon is a swordsmanship family, I don’t think it matters? He doesn’t seem interested in politics anyway.”
“Risiella. Politics can change anytime. You never know who will emerge from where, right? Don’t you agree, Luina?”
“…I wonder.”
Luina Terranos, who had been staring blankly into space for quite some time, gave a brief response when her name was called.
She turned her head away as if she had little interest in the current conversation.
The Terranos family is hostile to the Calderon family, but Luina didn’t seem to care much about that.
“I see you’re all gathered.”
At that moment, Cain Calderon opened the door to the VIP room.
A momentary silence fell over the shop with his appearance.
A subtle atmosphere crept along the skin.
But only for a moment. Once Cain took his seat.
“I’ve always told you to come early!”
Merchen’s scolding erupted as if she had never said otherwise.
‘…’
Luina Terranos quietly observed the scene.
Arriving at Montblancfre on time, I was greeted first by Merchen’s scolding.
She was the one who always said that nobles should be courteous to each other and allow extra time.
But.
‘They seem to be talking well together… Is there really a need?’
I recalled the situation when I opened the VIP room door.
Though it was just small talk, they seemed to be conversing quite a bit, suggesting their relationship wasn’t bad.
I used to arrive early, but at some point, I noticed they would talk among themselves after I left.
Since they’re all women, there might be conversations they can’t have with me, a man, present.
“I was on time.”
“But I! Hah… Fine. It’s not the first time… Just don’t be late. That would really make me angry.”
“I won’t.”
Merchen let out a short sigh, but she didn’t seem angry.
The others didn’t seem interested from the start.
Despite her words, Merchen also doesn’t seem to care much as long as the appointment time is kept.
She’s probably just saying it before someone else complains.
If someone was truly displeased, it wouldn’t end with just this.
“Then, let’s start the book club. Is it Merchen’s turn this time?”
“Yes. You had a lot of time this time, right? So I chose a thick one. Here, take one each.”
Merchen handed out papers that looked expensive at a glance.
The smooth yet firm texture felt like the paper used by the imperial family.
Inside, it was filled with detailed reviews.
“It’s a novel called ‘Kapla’s Poem.’ It’s a story based on poems written by Kapla himself, and I found it quite moving.”
Merchen recited the plot of ‘Kapla’s Poem’ as if performing a play.
In her rendition, Kapla desperately pleaded for love, fell madly into burning passion, and finally faced a tender moment of farewell.
Her voice changed with the emotional shifts, providing a rather colorful story.
“It’s so touching… I’m feeling a bit sad, Merchen…”
The sensitive Eri even showed tears.
Honestly, I thought, “Is it really that good?” but it certainly seemed like a well-crafted novel.
Starting with Eri, everyone began to share their impressions.
Surprisingly, even the usually quiet Luina Terranos briefly shared her thoughts.
Waiting for my turn, I added a few words like the others.
“Interesting.”
“Is that all?”
“Is more needed?”
“No… never mind. I’m satisfied just having you listen to my story.”
Merchen shook her head as if giving up.
Her eyes said, “What can I expect from you?”
I thought I had always listened attentively, so this felt a bit unfair.
“I’m sure you’re all busy, but read it when you have time. Though the book is thick, the content isn’t difficult.”
“Yes… I’ll definitely read it, Merchen…”
“Are you okay, Eri? Here, blow your nose with this.”
“Thank you… Sniff.”
Merchen handed a handkerchief to Eri.
Looking at them like this, they seem to get along well, but since the two families are hostile to each other, it’s hard to know what’s beneath the surface.
That’s why I need to spend time encouraging them to become closer.
“Then let’s end for today… Next in line is Cain. It’s your turn, right?”
“Yes.”
“Have you decided on a topic?”
This is why I established the friendship group of the five great families as a book club.
I need to help the others grow based on my knowledge from the game, but if they ask where I got such information, I wouldn’t have an answer.
It would be more natural to say I found it in an ancient book.
If I told them directly, they would obviously be suspicious, so I’ve been using book reviews as an excuse to convey information in terms that only the intended person would understand.
Merchen asking me about the next topic now means she needs help.
Seeing how direct she’s being, it must be quite urgent.
I was planning to get Merchen’s help for this anyway…
‘Let me check something first.’
I activated Mind’s Eye in my mind.
Given all I’ve done for them, the favor should be quite high, but it doesn’t hurt to confirm.
[Merchen Eildarin]
I’m really desperate, Cain. Please help me with anything, okay?
Favor: 55 [Friend]
‘A favor of 55… higher than I expected?’
When there’s no relationship, favor starts at 0.
With a favor of 55, it seems Merchen at least considers me a friend.
Well, we’ve spent three years together at the academy.
I took the opportunity to check the favor of the others as well.
[Eri Astralnor]
If I pretend to be desperate too, will Cain give it to me? I’d like to see Merchen’s face then.
Favor: 52 [Friend]
[Risiella Tierniel]
I wonder if he can do something about our family’s elders.
Favor: 54 [Friend]
[Luina Terranos]
……… Sword.
Favor: 58 [Friend]
Looking at the favor, all were above 50.
This is very positive. It means I’m building favor better than I thought.
Especially surprising was that Luina Terranos, from the hostile family, had the highest favor.
Anyway, it seemed fine to give this to Merchen.
I also need her help.
“I’m interested in ancient evil gods. There’s a lot about them in old books.”
“Evil gods? Hmm…”
Merchen’s expression became puzzled.
She seemed to trail off as if the topic didn’t appeal to her.
It appeared she wanted to make a grand debut with something big before becoming family head.
But she seems to think it would be difficult with gloomy and musty topics like evil gods.
It’s been over 50 years since the Empire eradicated the evil god worshippers.
She seems to think it’s just a past pain now, and that no one in the Empire cares about evil gods anymore.
‘That’s a misconception.’
The premise that ‘the evil god is dead, and there are no more mentally ill worshippers’ is wrong from the start.
However, no matter how much I explain, I can’t make her understand right now.
Some things you have to see to believe.
There are also quite a few entanglements related to this where Merchen’s help is needed.
Once we start digging deeper, attacks will definitely come.
“I’ll tell you the details next time.”
“Hmm… Alright for now.”
Though it wasn’t what she expected, Merchen doesn’t show disappointment.
She is, after all, a noble in the political realm.
She would never do anything to make herself look bad.
“Then let’s meet again next time.”
“Let’s do that. Goodbye.”
“G-goodbye, Cain…”
“Goodbye. I’ll be looking forward to the next meeting.”
I left the shop naturally as they saw me off.
It seems the rest plan to stay and talk.
…They probably have things to discuss as women.
I’m definitely not being left out. Definitely not. …Definitely!