Yarra's Adventure Notes-Chapter 124 - 45 Simplicity ?_1

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"This way, please, Madam and Sir." Two butlers in pure black uniforms stood on either side of the path lined with long rectangular stones on the lawn, guiding them at forty-five-degree angles to the left and right. Pannis nodded politely to them and mumbled a thanks, his gaze carrying an appropriately detached composure.

Walking on the smooth, well-organised stones, the pair strolled in leisurely manner towards the villa, moving naturally, without any constraint.

The villa, preparing for the ball, looked plain and unexceptional, indistinguishable from its appearance at other times. It was devoid of extravagant decorations or posh scenery. The only notable difference was the bright lamps sparkling with Crystal Energy, hung on each side of the path by the spaced-out thick stone pillars, illuminating the twilight darkness with their soft light.

Deep into the lawn, similar Crystal Energy lamps were hung on scattered trees, and a bright light shone through the louvered windows of the villa’s first-floor hall. One described the side of the villa with a garden as the venue for the ball. There were two long tables set up with dozens of servants hustling around, preparing food, snacks, and drinks for the ball. Above the venue was a light-blue gauze-like canopy, embellished with countless transparent crystal shards. Beneath their shade, the candlelit banquet tables were adorned with flowers and sat amidst the beautifully designed porcelain dinnerware that dated back to the Karin Dynasty, meticulously set up by the servants.

Catherine, her arm intertwined in Pannis’, did not head straight to the ballroom under the butler’s guidance but instead proceeded down the path towards the villa’s reception hall. Not too far from the villa, a few tables and chairs were scattered about for the early arrivals who might find the hall stuffy. There were only a few people present, with a group of ladies seated together, quietly chatting.

"Lord Marquis is truly a gentleman," said a lady, not even twenty years old and bedecked in grand clothes. "Although the decoration of the venue..."

"You don’t understand." Another lady, in her thirties, clad in classic and austere attire—an evidently noblewoman—gracefully put down her teacup and replied arrogantly, "It’s because the Marquis no longer needs to emphasize his status and wealth through lavish decorations. Yes, his arrangements are simple, but it is a simplicity unique to the nobility."

Pondering for a moment, the other ladies nodded in agreement. At this moment, a lady facing the door spotted the butler leading the two newcomers closer and whispered, "More guests have arrived."

The ladies turned their heads subtly and scrutinized Pannis and Catherine. Upon noticing their outfits, everyone but the young lady who had spoken first frowned slightly in displeasure. One of them murmured in an almost inaudible voice, "They are independent professionals."

"Let’s ignore them." The previously spoken middle-aged noblewoman whispered with a frown, "The Marquis is simply too easygoing, even inviting uncultured barbarians. It’s all right; let’s pretend we didn’t see them."

Pannis and Catherine passed by the ladies. The ladies studiously ignored them, not even turning their gaze. However, the young lady stole a few glances before quickly looking away—only to steal a few more peeks at Pannis.

But just as she turned to look again, the young lady caught Pannis, who had been expressionless until now, winking at her teasingly. She was startled and quickly looked away, her heart pounding.

"Strange," Pannis muttered to Catherine after they had passed the ladies. "Why does my arm hurt?"

"Hmm, I’m not sure why, I don’t feel any pain," Catherine released Pannis’ arm nonchalantly. "You might have got strained from your training this afternoon."

"How unusual, to pull only a finger-shaped muscle." Pannis shrugged, then suddenly slowed his steps and began gazing at the stone path below his feet. Noticing the curious spectacle, he even stomped softly on one of the stones.

Seeing this, Catherine instantly understood what Pannis was up to. She unfolded her fan to cover her mouth and giggled mischievously but kept up the play, "You’ve noticed too?"

"This is a Warm Stone, isn’t it?" said Pannis. "It’s a rare dwarven specialty, with an annual output of less than 500 pieces, isn’t it?"

"Yes, it’s a Warm Stone." Catherine nodded, "It maintains a constant temperature of 35°C no matter the temperature of the environment, but its volume is extremely low. Only members of the imperial royal family or the top-level aristocrats and rich businessmen in various countries can order a few each year to be cut into small pieces for use as heaters. But the key is, this ore loses its properties and turns into ordinary stone after a year, which means it needs to be replaced annually."

"Money cannot buy everything." Pannis looked over his shoulder and said, "206 pieces. Enough to buy your mansion twice over, huh?"

"No amount of money is enough to sell it." Catherine glared at him, pretending to pinch his arm again.

Alert to his faux pas, Pannis quickly changed the conversation to the butler leading the way: "These stones, does the Marquis...."

"The Marquis has grown older and his health isn’t as robust as used to be, so he purchases half of the dwarves’ annual Warm Stone output. From autumn onwards, the stones are laid on the areas he frequents the most to protect his legs from the cold." The butler replied in a tone that was neither proud nor arrogant, but more of an accustomed casualness, like a common man stating the usual fact of having bread for dinner.

"What about that lamp?" Pannis asked, pointing to a Crystal Energy lamp hung on one of the pillars.

"A lamp?" asked Catherine with confusion. "I don’t find anything special about the lamp."

"You don’t understand magic, so you certainly wouldn’t be able to tell," Pannis explained. "Just like Vivian’s backpack."

"A Nidification Array?" Catherine asked in surprise.

"Yes, it probably has an Insect Repellent Array nested in it," replied Pannis, nodding his head. "Surely this could not be mass-produced, it’s all down to individual hand engraving, and I estimate there are less than ten people in the entire Yarran World who could do this."

"Indeed," answered the well-trained butler calmly and politely, "The Marquis and the owner of the Tower of Alchemy, Master Okomi, have some personal relationships, and they do some business together. Every year, the Master gifts him a few Crystal Energy lamps like these."

"Subtle luxury indeed. Simple? Haha." Pannis chuckled lightly, shaking his head in resignation. "The lavishness of such powerful figures is beyond the likes of us crude barbarians. Oh well, let’s keep moving."

Leaving behind a few flustered and embarrassed noble ladies under the watchful eye of a nosy young lady, the pair continue to move away.

"You’re truly despicable," Catherine whispered to Pannis after they left the group of ladies. "Why would you pick on those people?"

"I really can’t stand those idiot nobles from Falar," grumbled Pannis. "Hey, don’t pinch. When did you learn to pinch people? I wasn’t talking about you, you’re just a has-been noble from Falar. Alright, alright, I apologize. Please forgive me, respected knight."

Catherine gave Pannis a sidelong glance. "How did you know that they are from Falar?"

Pannis shrugged dismissively. "Where else but the knights’ country, Falar, would nurture such rigid, dim-witted blockheads? In this day and age, they still cling to the delusional mindset of ignoring independent professionals. What’s even more laughable is that the high-ranking nobles of Falar have already adjusted their views and are actively seeking to make friends with or hire independent professionals. Yet these lower-tier nobles are still clinging to their old traditions."

Catherine looked gently at Pannis with a warms mile tugging at her lips. She murmured, "Thank you."

"Thank me for what?" Pannis blinked, confusedly.

"Who’s the one deceiving themselves now? Do you really want me to spell it out?" Catherine, amused, hid half of her face behind her fan and smirked. "Alright, I know. If it were only you, you would have just ignored those idiots. It’s because I’m here, and they were primarily targeting me. After all, I’m the one dressed in knight’s attire. You didn’t want me to be upset, did you?"

"Pssh, flatter yourself." Pannis’s face flushed slightly as he turned his head to gaze at the twilight sky.

Catherine covered her mouth and chuckled for a long time before letting Pannis off the hook and changing the subject. "Speaking of which, I didn’t expect you to have perfect manners at such an occasion. Did you learn this from your adventure teammates as well?"

"It’s more... from my childhood... family education, I suppose," pondered Pannis with a wistful look in his eyes as if recalling some memory. "My parents were two fallen nobles who yearned for me to become a perfect person since childhood and to carry on their ideals. Never mind, let’s not talk about that anymore. We’re almost there."

Looking up, they saw the villa just in front of them. A tall, skinny old man who appeared to be in his sixties was waiting for them by the entrance, wearing an amiable smile.

"Thank you for your visit, esteemed Miss Field and Mr. Wood," greeted the old man as he made a gentle bow stepping out from the stoop of the villa.

"It has been quite some time, steward. I’m glad to see you’re as healthy as ever," replied Catherine, extending her hand. The butler adeptly took the parasol that was hanging on her arm, surprised by the weight, causing a mild twitch of his eyebrows.

Catherine opened her mouth, hesitating for a moment over how to address him, before finally choosing a courteous yet distant appellation, "How has the Marquis been?"

"The Master is still quite healthy," replied the butler with a nod. "Madam, it would certainly contribute to the Master’s health if you would refrain from addressing him in such a manner."

Catherine looked around and noticed that the butler who led the way had already returned to the main entrance. Seeing that there was no one else around, she finally asked, "Alright uncle, where is Grandpa Snape right now?"

The steward’s face broke into a joyous smile upon hearing her words and he energetically swung open the villa’s front door for Catherine and Pannis. "The Master is resting in the study on the second floor, I’ll show you the way."

"I’ll just stay here," Pannis stated politely. "I’ll wait for you in the reception room."

Catherine thought for a moment before nodding, "Then wait for me. I’ll come find you in a bit."