Chapter 31
“Ruan… Why are you giving the water you were drinking… to His Grace?”
“Oh. When I drink water, His Grace takes a sip each time.”
Ruan answered Hans’s question in a cheerful voice. Hans’s pupils began to shake more violently upon hearing the answer, but Ruan, feeling proud about the cat’s slightly increased water intake recently, didn’t notice.
‘A cat drinking water… How touching…’
In the end, the Grand Duke didn’t even touch the water melted from eternal snow. Despite having a face that looked like he would fill the refrigerator with only water melted from eternal snow and live drinking only that, he showed no interest in the water Ruan had specially obtained.
What the cat chose instead of ignoring the water Ruan had brought… was the water Ruan had casually poured for himself.
After failing to feed the Grand Duke the water melted from eternal snow and becoming gloomy, Ruan watched as the Grand Duke lapped up the water he had placed on the bedside table a few times. Then, the Grand Duke started to steal a sip each time Ruan drank water.
If Ruan seemed pleased by this, the Grand Duke would drink a few more sips.
Although it was a bit disappointing, at least the cat was drinking water now. As a cat butler, Ruan was satisfied.
Of course, while trying to make the cat drink water, the human’s water intake had doubled…
‘I’d do anything as long as the cat drinks a lot of water. And it’s good for humans to drink a lot of water too, right?’
Ruan stroked his cheeks, which seemed strangely moist recently, and sorted through the documents handed over by Hans. Still unaware of Hans’s complex feelings, Ruan spoke.
“Father, then I’ll head back to His Grace now. I’ll see you at the banquet later.”
Hans stood up and replied to Ruan’s greeting.
“Alright. I should get going too… to prepare for welcoming the delegation.”
Today was the day the dwarf delegation was arriving. Although the knights had gone out to greet them outside the castle walls, it was Hans’s responsibility, as Reinke’s chief administrator and person in charge of diplomatic affairs with the dwarves, to welcome the delegation upon their arrival at the castle.
‘Come to think of it, the dwarves are really coming now.’
Although they had been busy preparing to welcome the dwarves, it felt strange to know that they were actually close by now, and that they would meet them in person soon.
‘A different race…’
In the world of “Tales of the Sirah Empire,” there were various races that didn’t exist in reality. From nearby examples like orcs, ogres, and goblins, which were Reinke’s sworn enemies, to intelligent beings like dwarves, elves, and dragons.
Among the fantasy creatures that were incomprehensible by modern common sense, the intelligent non-human races could communicate with humans and, though rarely, engage in inter-racial exchanges.
However… Even if communication and exchange were possible, they were still different races in the end. Not just different nationalities like foreigners, but beings of entirely different races, they had differences from humans in many aspects. Their appearance, habits, culture, everything.
Among them, dwarves, characterized by their small stature, were a race where every individual lived as a master craftsman. A race that dedicated their entire lives to a field that resonated with their hearts, constantly honing themselves, with the goal of creating masterpieces. Craftsmen who lived fueled by their passion for their work. Those who lived in a political system and society built on such a nature.
‘I’m going to actually see these dwarves.’
Ruan’s heart swelled with anticipation as he recalled the images of dwarves depicted in various media.
‘Right. This is what a fantasy world and possession in another world are about. My life in another world can’t just end with becoming the town gossip and my cat suddenly transforming into my naked superior.’
Excited at the thought of fully experiencing fantasy, Ruan bid farewell to the administrators and started walking.
The delegation was set to arrive around noon. With not much time left, he had to move quickly.
First, he stopped by the kitchen to get a box just big enough for a cat to squeeze into. Since the cat in question was a giant cat, the box had to be large, and naturally, just the weight of the box was considerable. After refusing Paula’s offer to carry it for him, Ruan headed towards the office where the Grand Duke would be, half-dragging the box.
After struggling to arrive at the office… As expected, there was a cat on edge, nervous about the impending visit of unfamiliar creatures to his territory.
‘Perfect state to intimidate people who’ve heard rumors about the terrifying Northern Grand Duke.’
Ruan, who had carefully taken off his coat to avoid getting cat hair on it, approached the Grand Duke.
It didn’t take long to coax the Grand Duke, who was violently swishing his tail while glaring out the window, into changing into his cat form, and then to half-melt the cat by skillfully stroking between his eyes and under his chin as he entered the box as if entranced.
Ruan looked with satisfaction at the cat who had regained his composure in the perfectly-sized box.
If left like this for a while, there would be no risk of him showing his sensitive nature and being overly intimidating when facing the dwarves.
Leaving the Grand Duke to melt a bit more, Ruan left the office.
He met with the head butler to check the preparations for the banquet hall and welcome party, stopped by each department to review the final schedule, checked the protocol preparations tailored for the dwarves, and made a round of the Grand Duke’s castle interior.
He returned to his post to make final arrangements of matters to be memorized and things to be conveyed to the Grand Duke.
Finally, he tidied up the cat who had become one with the box by now, made him look like a proper Northern Grand Duke, and seated him in the banquet hall.
Ruan, filled with anticipation to enjoy the privileges of being possessed in a fantasy world, moved busily without feeling tired.
After finishing the final briefing to the Grand Duke, who was sitting in the chair like the Northern Grand Duke with his usual impassive face.
At last.
“Entering now: the delegation from the Dwarf Union, including nine master craftsmen led by Greta of the Architecture Guild!”
The dwarves had arrived.
With the announcement of the delegation’s entrance, the doors of the banquet hall opened, and the visitors appeared.
Standing slightly taller than Hans’s waist, yet with bodies so thick and solid that they didn’t feel small at all. Hands and feet large in proportion to their bodies. Features that gave a distinct and strong impression. Serious expressions befitting master craftsmen who pour their souls into creation with sublime skills.
They were really…
‘Dwarves.’
As Ruan was feeling slightly moved by the fact that dwarves, once products of imagination, were really moving before his eyes, a middle-aged dwarf standing at the front of the group stepped forward. It was a female dwarf with a firm mouth and deep eyes.
“I am Greta, the deputy guild master of the Architecture Guild and the leader of this delegation. It’s an honor to visit Reinke, the nemesis of monsters and the shield of the North.”
Dwarf society operates with guilds as political and economic units, centered around them. Guilds were so central to dwarf society that it was natural for them to introduce themselves as someone from a certain guild rather than as someone’s son or daughter.
The Architecture Guild, considered one of the powerful guilds among numerous guilds, and the deputy guild master, who could be called the second-in-command there. This was quite a high position in dwarf society. Having a high position in a society that values skill meant that this person was likely to be called a master craftsman.
Greta was not only the leader of the delegation but also the practical person who would come to Reinke later to work on the castle walls.
‘I can’t really feel how excellent the dwarves’ skills are just from hearsay, but… someone of her caliber must surely be different.’
Looking at Greta, who seemed like the embodiment of a serious dwarf craftsman, Ruan felt a sense of trust naturally forming.
The Grand Duke, looking at Greta whose height was similar to his own seated height, opened his mouth.
“I am Dietrich Reinke. Welcome to Reinke.”
Fortunately, the Grand Duke, who was just greeting like the Northern Grand Duke, didn’t appear to be too on edge.
Of course, there was a moment of tension in the banquet hall when the Grand Duke’s sharp eyes, which looked cool, scanned the visitors…
But observing unfamiliar creatures that had entered his territory with wary eyes was quite a mild attitude for a cat welcoming guests.
Hans, who showed no trace of his usual frail appearance and instead wore the face of a professional in charge, led the subsequent ceremonial conversations. Hans, who had been part of Reinke’s delegation that visited the Dwarf Union, smoothly led the conversation, drawing on that experience.
Ruan discreetly observed the atmosphere inside the banquet hall.
‘The meal prepared considering the dwarves’ tastes seems to be well-received… The distilled liquor is disappearing quickly, but it’s not running short yet.’
The Grand Duke, with his usual strict, solemn, and serious face, also seemed fine.
The meeting with the delegation was proceeding in quite a good atmosphere.
As Ruan, feeling relieved, was about to resume eating, suddenly, he felt a gaze persistently staring at him.
As he turned his head following that gaze… A dwarf was looking at him.
