In Mushoku Tensei with an A.I. Chip

Luke glanced at the girl who looked to be around his age amusedly. Unlike the other noble girls who immediately took the chance to flatter him with coquettish flirtations despite being literal children, this Eris who did not seem to care one whit about him was frankly much more interesting. 

"Yes, yes, welcome." Pilemon replied almost dismissively. His interest in this family was focused entirely on Hilda and the deep cleavage revealed by her low cut dress. 

Philip cleared his throat and also politely ignored the narrowed gaze Pilemon directed at his wife's chest, "Ahem. Thank you for your invitation, though admittedly we were surprised that we received such a… specific invitation for your son's birthday."

"Yes, quite- hm? Specific invitation?" Pilemon had begun a dismissive response before repeating in confusion.

"Indeed… My wife and I did not expect for our family to be invited by name."

Pilemon looked truly lost at the claim before Luke interjected.

"Ah yes, that was me. I asked grandfather to extend a special invitation to you and your family." The birthday boy explained with a smile.

The Boreas family now looked as lost as Pilemon. 

"It was your idea?" Sauros murmured in confusion and interest. This whole time, their family had been debating the ulterior motive behind Amarant's invitation. Might the Notos Greyrats be working with James to deal with a loose end? Was it an engineered slight against James? Did they have designs on Eris?

To think that Amarant had only invited Philip and his family on the behest of his grandson! It made him feel foolish for having lost sleep over this very issue. Yet, the question remained. To what end were they invited?

"May I ask why?" Philip questioned before realizing they were in a very public place with many people around them, "Or perhaps this conversation should be moved to another time when you're not as busy?"

Luke smiled in agreement, "Yes, that would be wise. There will be time after the festivities to have a private conversation."

Philip blinked, slow to respond for a second. He had suddenly just remembered he was talking to a boy only a year older than his daughter. It was easy to forget he was talking to a child with how Luke carried himself - he had a relaxed composure that would have seemed uncanny on any other boy his age, yet it fit him as well as the tailored tunic he wore. 

"Oh, I almost forgot." Philip gestured towards a servant who led towards them a majestic silver-coated courser. Standing a full sixteen hands tall, the warhorse's frame was lean but corded with dense muscle. Its coat was a rare and lustrous silver-grey, so pale it shimmered white in sunlight. 

The servant handed the reins over to Ghislaine who then led the silver warhorse to Philip. 

"Your gift, Luke of House Notos Greyrat. May she carry you fast and far." Philip announced proudly. The silver courser had been a rare find. Bred in the desert highlands of the Begaritt Continent, it had somehow found itself part of a merchant's wares in Roa. It was young, at most four or five years of age to the best guess of the Boreas' stablemaster. 

It had cost close to 60 Asura gold coins, but a single glance was all that had been necessary to know it would be a perfect gift for Luke.

Luke's smile was sincere when he gazed upon the majestic creature. Finally, something original. "Beautiful. Does it have a name?"

"Solenya. It is a name in the Fighting God Tongue that is spoken on the Begaritt Continent." Philip answered. 

Luke stepped forward slowly, eyes fixed on the deep black orbs of the courser who met his gaze unblinking. For a moment, they take the measure of the other, instantly recognizing each other as prideful creatures of the same breed. 

He lifts a hand steadily in offering. The horse snorts, tosses its head once, and steps forward of its own accord. It lowers its head. Gently, he touches his palm to her brow.

The Notos family exhales, even Eris who had found her attention drawn to the picturesque scene that would be fit to be immortalized in a master painter's magnum opus. 

Luke runs his fingers through her mane, thick and frost-pale, and his smile widens. He does not mount her—not now. There's no need. This is ceremony, not performance.

Instead, he takes the leather lead from Ghislaine. 

"Thank you, Ghislaine." He says, ignoring the fact that the Beast Race bodyguard had not been introduced until now. 

The Sword King looks at the boy from up to down then back up again. The tamed bestial instinct within her recognizing a hidden strength in the child that was unnerving. She had nearly pulled out her sword the moment their fingers touched when handing over the reins of the horse to the birthday boy. 

Thankfully she restrained herself, but her tenseness was not overlooked by Luke who chose not to point it out.

"It is a beautiful gift, granduncle. You have my gratitude." A much more familiar term of address, and his noble bow was directed to Sauros, despite Philip having been the one to present the gift from the start. A performative formality for the nobility. 

"Please, enjoy the party. Lunch will be served at midday at the courtyard." Luke continued before handing over Solenya's reins to a servant waiting by the side. 

Philip and his family moved deeper into Notos Keep, having gotten the official greeting and well wishing of the birthday boy over and done with. They would have to remain until the end of the party or risk being gossiped about as having shown the Notos family disrespect. 

Eris tugged at her mother's sleeve. "Mom, who was that guy?" For some reason, she, who showed little interest in anyone but her direct family and certain servants like Edena, her etiquette teacher, and Ghislaine who teaches her how to fight, felt intrigued by Luke. 

It was rare for Eris to meet other kids. She couldn't even say that she had a same-aged friend. But that was fine. She had her family and Ghislaine, and that was enough. She didn't need to care about anyone else. But something about that guy, who was only a year older than her, fascinated her in some unknown way. Like a mystery or a puzzle that she couldn't figure out at a glance.

"Seriously…?" Hilda chided disapprovingly, "He is Luke Notos Greyrat. He is your second cousin. His grandmother is your grandpa's sister. This is his birthday party that we are at now." 

"Luke… cousin…" Eris murmured under her breath. "He looks strong."

Hilda tilted her head at her daughter's comment, "Well, he is quite tall and fit for a 10 year old, isn't he?"

Their silent bodyguard Ghislaine spoke up at this point, "He is rather strong for his age."

It was a casual observation that drew the attention of the other Boreas family members. 

"Hoh? If you are the one saying that, he must be quite talented." Sauros remarked. 

Ghislaine nodded, "Yes. I almost wanted to pull out my sword and fight him." 

"...Please don't do that." Philip felt perspiration forming on his brow. 

"He's strong?" Eris questioned, not knowing how to feel now that her idol confirmed it. "How strong is he?"

Ghislaine paused and thought for a moment, "I can't be sure. His body is definitely stronger than most grown men. But the feeling I get from him is like I'm facing a monster. I think I can kill him, but I just can't be certain until I try."

"...Please don't do that." Philip repeated once more, with a heavier, commanding tone. 

"I will not." Ghislaine confirmed, but then paused. "But I wonder if he will be open to a duel…"

Philip sighed tiredly, hoping his normally disciplined and rational bodyguard would remain so for the duration of the event. 

"Oh right," He turned to his father, "Should we go find Aunt Valentina? Lord Amarant should be in private audiences right now, but she might be around somewhere."

Sauros nodded silently in agreement, his eyes scanning the crowd for his sister, who was also Luke's grandmother. It had been nearly a decade since he last saw her, shortly after Luke's mother had given birth.

The years had really slipped by without warning. The little thing he had previously seen cradled in his sister's arms was already a strapping young lad now.

Sauros regretted not having visited his sister more often. Between the succession war, and subsequently 

"Hm, she must be inside the Keep entertaining guests." Sauros concluded, not seeing her familiar visage.