Suikoden VI

Chapter Five: Part Five

Part Five

With Luciano's invitation, Daunte's group had no problem getting past the guard at the gate of the mansion. The magnificent double doors opened wide for them, and the group entered inside to see a sea of extravagantly-dressed men and women in a large open foyer. Yellow wardrobes lined the wall, and a buffet table filled with rich appetizers stood near the stairwell at the back. Two photorealistic paintings of two men hung on either side of the stairwell. Daunte looked at their plaques and read the names. The left was titled "Charlemagne", and the right was titled "Schtolteheim Reinbach III".

"I am Schtolteheim Reinbach III! The greatest swordsman in all of Middleport and all of the Island Nation Federations!"

Daunte arched an eyebrow as he remembered Nash's proclamation, and looked at the painting of the seemingly arrogant man. So this is who Nash was referring to?

"Everything okay, my Lord?" Caesar asked him.

Daunte gestured to the painting. "When I first met Nash and Sierra, Nash told soldiers that his name was Schtolteheim Reinbach III."

"Ah," Caesar said, nodding. "It's not surprising. For some reason, people love invoking Schtolteheim Reinbach III's name if they travel incognito."

"How come?" Gunther asked.

Caesar shrugged. "Apparently he had a considerable amount of luck. Maybe people wish to have some of his luck when they travel?"

"Maybe it's because it's a funny name?" Arin asked, laughing.

The partygoers were speaking with rich vocabularies in lofty tones. In the center of the room Kasios was playing a harp, but Daunte could not hear the notes over the accordion ringing in his ears.

"I-I-I can't believe it," Luciano sighed, clasping his hands to his cheek. "I can't believe I'm attending a party for the Milich Oppenheimer! And I'll be participating in the Male Beauty Contest! This is a dream come true!"

Daunte was starting to see some validity in both Caesar and Futch's reluctance in associating with Narcissists.

"Have you seen this skirt?" Josephine crooned, spinning around in a wide circle. She twirled her parasol in time with the spin of her skirt. "Only true DIVAS of Armes wear these kind of skirts!"

"Oh dear," Esmeralda sighed, looking into a compact mirror. She was adorned in exclusively white-stoned jewelry. "I knew I should've worn the other headdress. I don't have enough opals in this headdress!"

"It was one of the most heartbreaking moments of my life!" Augustine Nabor declared dramatically before a captive audience. "I wouldn't have ever been able to face Vincent without it! I can barely face him now as it is!"

"You needn't worry so much, Vincent!" another Narcissist assured him. "Sir Vincent is coming down the stairs! I'm sure he will understand if you talk to him!"

The Narcissists clamored and clapped aristocratically as three individuals came down the stairs. The man dressed in red in the center was identified to Daunte by Caesar as Milich Oppenheimer. The man to Milich's right brushing off his own shoulder dramatically was Vincent De Boule, and the man to Milich's left with his nose buried in a soft pink rose was Simone Verdricci.

"Thank you, thank you all for coming!" Milich announced to the party. Kasios stilled his music as the partygoers clapped again. "It is a wondrous pleasure to see so many—Caesar?!" Milich abruptly broke off, his eyes going wide.

"Oh boy," Caesar groaned quietly.

Milich hurried forward, closely followed by Vincent and Simone. Caesar forced a painful smile as Milich grasped his hand. "Caesar Silverberg! I am most honored to have a Silverberg attend my party! How long have you been back in Toran?"