{T/N: This is an important WARNING from your beloved TRANSLATOR... I'm already at Chapter 60 in that other platform, and Florent is, for a lack of a better word, extremely Naive and very Foolish...
Though he'll probably grow out of it in future (Character Development and all that...), I know most of the readers here are not tolerant enough to entertain that notion. I good-naturedly recommend dropping this fic before the impending (inevitable) disappointment forces you to...
From here on, read at your own discretion... Remember, you've all been thoroughly WARNED...}
...
Florent's worries proved unnecessary the moment he heard a familiar voice.
"Hey, Florent! Over here! I was wondering if you'd be late... most people haven't shaken that habit yet. Come on, I'll take you into the salon."
Warm and lively, the voice matched Florent's impression of Quevedo perfectly.
Raising his eyes, he saw Quevedo dressed in a black suit with a white shirt underneath, arms spread open in greeting. Beside him stood Erich, his expression cool as ever, clad in a deep blue, nearly black suit. He gave Florent a nod when their eyes met.
Florent didn't waste words, responding with equal enthusiasm by embracing Quevedo:
"Quevedo, I'm pretty sure Roselle didn't invent the hug as a greeting. Wasn't it the handshake? Did your idol change his mind?"
Quevedo laughed, pulling back and gesturing for Florent to follow him into the Crimson Gold Café:
"Ah, Florent, you must be misremembering. Roselle 'did' invent the handshake, but he also introduced the hug as a form of greeting!"
He continued animatedly, "Roselle is the jewel of Trier... no, all of Intis Republic, even the entire world! His brilliance illuminates the continent. And no offense, but I believe his achievements surpass even those of the Steam Pope and all previous Steam devotees."
Florent didn't argue, though he knew most modern Steam followers would vehemently disagree.
Instead, he smiled and said, "Roselle is the 'Son of Steam', the foremost figure of the Church of Steam. Of course he ranks above the Pope... the Pope merely shepherds in the name of the divine. How could he compare to the son of a god? Aside from Roselle, only the first Steam Pope could claim that title."
Quevedo grinned, "Ah, how foolish of me! Anyway, where was I? Right... hugging was originally a custom of the Northern barbarians, like the bows popular in Intis and Loen, or the 'Wise Man's Salute' in Lenburg. Roselle was the one who introduced this passionate gesture to us."
Pausing, Quevedoʼs expression turned reverent, as if speaking of a saint, "The first time Roselle used this greeting was at a gathering hosted by Countess Casedo. He embraced her upon arrival, shocking (even scandalizing) everyone present."
"Roselle didn't explain himself then. He endured the criticism and later wrote an article categorizing all the continent's greetings, praising simplicity and warmth while condemning excessive formality. 'That' is the greatness of Roselle, his fearless dedication to reform!"
Florent stared at Quevedoʼs fervent expression, unsure where to even begin dissecting that story.
Finally, he asked, "This Countess Casedo… was she beautiful?"
Still lost in admiration, Quevedo answered absently, "It's not about whether she was beautiful... she was stunningly gorgeous. But don't think Roselle was after her! Her husband had just died, and Roselle would never take advantage of a widow."
Florent sensed something off, "Did this Count Casedo have any conflicts with Roselle before his death?"
"Ah, that's the greatness of Roselle! Though Count Casedo was a staunch supporter of the Sauron family and constantly opposed Roselle, it was because of Roselle's protection that the count's widow and children thrived afterward."
'Well, that explains it...' Florent had suspected as much.
Roselle was the real culprit behind Trier's increasingly decadent culture. The old Kingdom of Intis had been conservative compared to the Republic's current openness, which now rivaled that of Europe and America in his past life.
He mentally lit a stick of incense for Count Casedo, one that burned with a distinctly green hue...
'Cross Roselle, and you'll be cuckolded posthumously...'
As they chatted, the trio reached a room upstairs. The door, though modest in size, was lavishly decorated with intricate patterns, glass inlays that reflected candlelight, and translucent pearls.
Quevedo knocked twice before pushing it open. Inside, some guests turned to see who had arrived, while others remained engrossed in heated discussions. The most striking figure was a young man seated at the head of the room.
What made him stand out wasn't his looks (though he wasn't unattractive) but his opulent attire.
He wore a gold-trimmed white robe with a retro aesthetic, adorned with small but dazzling rubies, emeralds, and agates arranged like constellations.
His most striking feature was his sapphire-blue eyes, which contrasted vividly with his red lips and complemented the blue gems on his robe. His short brown hair further accentuated their charm.
The only flaw was his overly delicate face, softer than even Trier's current preference for refined features.
In Florent's past life, such a face would be considered excessively feminine: an oval face with narrow eyes that would suit a petite beauty but seemed incongruous on a man.
Spotting the newcomers, the young host stood eagerly, his usually cool voice tinged with excitement, "Master Erich! You've come! Please enter. You are the brightest gem in this philosophical salon."
To Florent's surprise, the host ignored Quevedo (the obvious social butterfly) and instead greeted Erich first, despite Erich's clear disinterest in socializing.
Erich showed no reaction, stepping forward with his usual detached tone, "No need for flattery. Your philosophical prowess is the true jewel here. It's an honor to attend..."