Mercenary System: I can increase innate potential !

"Perfect. Follow me, we haven't got all day."

Aveline led Maxime through the manor's corridors to a bright room with large windows.

Inside was an old man in a suit with a neatly trimmed moustache.

As soon as Maxime entered the room, the old man inspected him from head to toe.

At the same time, Aveline took the opportunity to introduce the old man.

"This is Maître Olivier, one of the capital's finest tailors," she announced with a satisfied smile.

Olivier bowed slightly, a professional smile on his face.

"Lady Aveline, always a pleasure. And here's the..." He hesitated, searching for an appropriate word.

"...Captain Maxime."

Maxime shook his head with a smile.@@novelbin@@

"You can just call me Maxime, Master Olivier."

"Then just call me Olivier," Olivier replied respectfully, smiling back.

"Well, let's not waste time. Please remove your upper body clothing, Maxime, and stand up straight."

Maxime glanced skeptically at Aveline, as if to say:

"Are you planning to watch me undress?"

The latter turned and looked up.

Maxime obeyed, removing his clothes and revealing his muscular frame.

The tailor's expert hands quickly went to work, measuring every inch of his body with precision, touching him everywhere.

"Impressive." murmured Olivier, noting Maxime's broad shoulders and upright posture.

"You were made to wear a noble suit, my friend."

Hearing this, Aveline longed to turn around and take in the scene.

"Resist, resist, resist..."

The sight of Maxime shirtless excited Aveline deeply somehow.

"Noble or not, I prefer armor," Maxime replied to the tailor.

Seeming to regain some composure, Aveline reassured Maxime.

"Armor won't protect you from the judgments those nobles will make when they see you. You need something just as robust, but in appearance."

"Yeah." replied Maxime without conviction.

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An hour later, after numerous fabric and style suggestions, Olivier watched his masterpiece being worn by Maxime.

At the same time, Aveline, who had turned around after Olivier's measurements, was also looking at Maxime in this beautiful suit.

"Elegant and imposing," Olivier declared proudly as he adjusted the jacket on Maxime.

"With that, you'll definitely attract more than one young noblewoman!" commented Aveline with a laugh.

Maxime turned to the mirror and remained silent for a moment.

"Not bad, he thought.

He'd never worn a suit in his life until now, which gave him a whole new feeling.

But it wasn't unpleasant to be dressed like that.

At the same time, Aveline nodded.

"Very well, then. Now you'll be ready to face the nobility tonight."

"If anything, the nobility should be ready to face me," Maxime replied, laughing.

Aveline looked up.

"Have you always been this arrogant?"

"Ever since I arrived in this world." said Maxime, smiling mysteriously.

But obviously Aveline didn't understand the hidden message.

"So since always..great."

...

Evening arrived very quickly.

The banquet organized by the Valderic family took place on the top floor of the manor house, which had been specially designed for the occasion.

Guests entered the mansion, climbed the sumptuous steps and arrived at the giant door leading to the upper floor.

Of course, the doors weren't locked, making it easy to go back and forth.

There were also two guards in charge of announcing the arrival of each participant and protecting the security of the premises.

But of course, the security was just for show.

There was no safer place in the kingdom than this manor, except for the king's palace, where the Valderic family ancestor, Edwin Valderic, still lived.

His battlefield legends still echoed in the taverns of the capital and the kingdom's main towns.

There were also several balconies on the top floor, where guests could enjoy a drink, while taking in the outside breeze and the mansion's breathtaking view of the capital.

The room itself was immense and adorned with glittering chandeliers, it seemed bathed in a golden light that enhanced the rich colors of the tapestries.

Every detail testified to the power and exquisite taste of the Valderics.

Tables were covered with silk tablecloths embroidered with arrangements of exotic fruits on beautifully decorated plates.

Waiters carried trays overflowing with refined dishes and offered them to the guests.

Of course, a small band of musicians was also on hand to set the mood for the banquet.

The guests, representatives of the capital's great noble families, were equally remarkable.

The men wore sumptuous suits, embroidered with gold and silver thread, while the women competed in elegance in their sumptuous gowns, adorned with sparkling jewels.

As hosts of the evening, the Valderics naturally dominated the scene.

The patriarch, Luc Valderic, stood near the entrance, greeting each guest with calculated courtesy.

His imposing presence and measured tone exuded unquestionable authority.

Lady Marissa Valderic, his wife, was equally gracious, chatting deftly with the other noblewomen while glancing around to make sure everything was running smoothly.

As for Dorian Valderic, he sailed between the guests, a confident smile on his lips, exchanging elegant words and flattery with disconcerting ease.

Everyone knew his reputation, but reputation didn't matter if the family behind you was powerful enough.

And the Valderics were only below the king in terms of status and power, so no one could ignore them.

The banquet went rather smoothly at first, until Maxime and Aveline's arrival at the banquet did not go unnoticed.

"Lady Aveline Ardan and... the captain of the Saber-toothed Tigers, Maxime, have arrived!"

The doormen's powerful voice drew all the attention of the guests already present to Maxime and Aveline.

And as all the capital's nobility looked on, Aveline made an impeccable entrance, her hand elegantly resting on Maxime's arm.

Her midnight-blue gown sparkled under the candelabra lights, and she wore a most charming smile.

Without a doubt, in this room, Aveline momentarily eclipsed all the young noblewomen in the kingdom.

If she wasn't beautiful enough, the Valderics wouldn't have agreed to marry their greatest genius to a mere heiress of an earl.

Between count and duke, there were also marquesses.

So the difference in status was quite substantial.

But that didn't matter at the moment.

Next to her, Maxime, in his suit, radiated natural confidence. His imposing silhouette and calm yet penetrating gaze forced conversations to come to a halt.

His deep black suit was embellished with subtle silver-thread embroidery around his heart, depicting a Saber-toothed Tiger motif with crossed swords in the background.

Master Olivier had certainly touched his innocent young heart with this symbol.

Maxime felt particularly comfortable in this outfit.

The murmuring resumed as soon as they entered the room.

The ballroom, bathed in golden lights, vibrated with constant animation.

As Aveline and Maxime mingled with the crowd, eyes continued to converge on them.

While Aveline attracted compliments for her elegance and beauty, it was Maxime who quickly became the main topic of conversation.

His natural presence, enhanced by his impeccable suit, did not go unnoticed.

Several young noblewomen subtly approached, casting admiring glances or discreet smiles.

"Who's that man with Lady Aveline?" whispered a young noblewoman to one of her friends.

"According to the doorman, he's the leader of a mercenary group, the Saber-toothed Tigers."

"Are they famous?"

"I don't know, but they're going to be with such a handsome leader."

"So much so, I thought mercenaries were country folk, always unshaven with questionable hygiene."

"And leaders to me are the worst of the worst, besides being generally old, they want to fight all the time over nothing."

"But clearly, he..."

"Ahhh I'm melting..."

And what had to happen, happened.

A damsel dressed in a crimson gown arrived in front of Maxime, with a fan that she waved delicately in front of his face.

"Captain Maxime, is it?" she asked in a gentle voice.

Maxime, a little surprised but polite, replied with a slight smile.

He didn't know how, but he was very good at controlling his composure in front of women, no matter how beautiful they were.

Maybe it was his improved strength, his status in this world or his experiences on the battlefield.

"That's me, miss."

"I wonder if the captain would give me the honor of spending some time together?"

Maxime raised his eyebrows in surprise.

But he nodded.

"Of course, who am I to refuse the request of a beautiful lady?

The latter blushed slightly.

Many people had already told her she was pretty, but when it came from the mouth of such a handsome man, it had an entirely different effect.

As the evening progressed, other young women joined the conversation, forming a circle around him.

And surprisingly, Maxime handled being surrounded by so many young women very well, as if he'd done it many times before.

He could make small talk and make each of them laugh.

But not far away, the critical murmurs of some nobles could be heard.

"A mercenary, really? And he dares to strut around here as if he were one of us." tossed a thick-bearded man, with a tone of disdain in his voice.

"Lady Aveline could have chosen someone more... appropriate as an escort," declared a man at her side.

Another, with meaner eyes, continued:

"It doesn't matter what he looks like. A dog of war is still a dog of war. He only belongs here because of the Valderics' generosity."