113 – The Banquet Begins (2)

Thud, thud—

The sound of someone walking

echoed through the long corridors of the royal castle.

The heavy, solid sound of a heel.

The sound mixed and melted away

with the laughter echoing from the banquet hall.

“Haa… the banquet must begin soon,

so I can finish my work… huuk!”

“…Working hard, I see.”

Finally, when the owner of the sound

reached the very entrance of the banquet hall,

all eyes began to gather

at the ballroom’s entrance.

“L-Lord Reinhard, Duke of Reinhard, enters!”

It was a name befitting,

the owner of that heavy footfall.

Thud, thud—

It echoed once more.

That heavy, hollow sound of a heel.

“L-Lord Duke, you’ve arrived… haha…!”

“Lord Duke, might I inquire as to your thoughts

on that… transaction with our house…”

“Oh my… isn’t it Lord Duke…?

What brings you here today?”

No matter how strange the rumors

that floated and spread through society, he was a Duke.

And one of the four great houses representing the Empire.

What did this mean?

That his power was not so weak

as to be shaken by mere rumors.

“Lord Duke, our house, as always,

follows and supports only you!”

“Lord Duke, my father also said that

his loyalty to the Reinhard house remains unchanged… I implore you.”

Look at them now.

Like ants, a swarm of nobles descending upon him.

Unbothered by the rumors so widely whispered.

‘Ha, these sorts of tales, they vanish quick enough…!’

‘…If one considers the future, it’s best to cultivate favor now.’

‘Whether the rumor be truth or lie, few dare speak ill of him…!’

Most gathered in this hall likely thought as such.

For countless eyes darted towards him strolling in the distance.

Hesitation lingered, fueled by the nature of the whispers.

Yet even those remaining would soon approach.

Their gaze locked on one another, gauging the moment.

Too precious, the link to the Dukedom, to sever for mere rumors.

“Haha, Duke…by the way, would you ever consider gracing our lands with a visit…?”

“Ahem, what are you saying…His Grace promised a visit to our trading company…”

“Duke, is the Duchess well? I only ask because we have some specialties from our estate…”

Predictable, wouldn’t you say?

Nobles swarming like hounds.

Any pretense of subtlety now abandoned.

“Duke, if I might be so bold, would you permit me a brief word─”

‘…Pathetic. Utterly devoid of grace or honor.’

The noble, nose tilted high and mustache meticulously curled, spoke with unwarranted confidence.

Arrogance, was the word that came to Duke Reinhardt’s mind as he observed the man.

Empty shells, obsessed with adornment, utterly lacking substance.

Barely capable of keeping their own bellies warm, let alone upholding the family name.

That was his opinion of most nobles, in truth.

It was an assessment that painted the aristocracy as utterly corrupt,

though perhaps the Duke Reinhardt’s judgment was too

severe.

Because, truly, he considered all but a precious few

a disgrace to their noble blood.

“…You’re late, again, arriving on your own?”

“Hah… Hah!”

“D-Duke…!”

Perhaps it was his imposing figure, easily spotted even from afar.

There, in the distance, she appeared.

The head of one of the Four Great Houses – nay, renowned throughout all the families

as wielding the most potent magic.

The woman who had made her way toward him the moment

he entered the ballroom.

Duchess Rüniel.

“…Ha, you look positively radiant.

Contrary to the rumors making the rounds.”

“…What was that?”

Of course, her reasons for seeking him out were far from

any simple romantic fancy.

If one were to pinpoint her motive…

mockery and censure would likely be close.

He wasn’t sure how things had devolved to this point,

but to gloat at his misfortune.

“Why, is there something untrue in what I said?”

“…Melissa, enough.

My patience is wearing thin.”

His mood darkened, and he let slip

a trace of his own fighting spirit, directed her way.

But she, unwilling to yield,

instead matched him, stirring her own mana to a boil.

“Since when have we been on a first-name basis,

Reinhardt?”

“….”

“Might as well just call me Rønnel then,

to use my name… it gives me the chills.”

As if truly offended, she continuously smoothed

her forearm, and at her reaction,

his fist clenched once more,

tightly, but he soon sighed,

deeply, suppressing his rising ire.

To fight any further would only degrade

the reputations of their respective houses.

“..Hah, what’s the reason for your antagonism today?

I’m not in the best of moods, so if possible─”

“Ha…? Are you truly asking that innocently?”

It seemed she had no intention of obliging.

Judging by the way she continued to amplify

her mana by yet another degree.

“…?”

“Whether the rumors about you swirling through

the streets are true or false, I care not.”

“….”

“Though, as a fellow parent, I did think it too cruel,

it was, in the end, another’s affair.”

“..Is that so?”

“Indeed. What concern is it of mine as long as

that truth doesn’t harm my house?”

It was the truth.

Melissa, full name Melissa Quinn Rønnel.

Having taken on the role of head of the house as a woman,

she truly didn’t give the rumors much thought.

Being restricted in many ways as a woman

in this place, she was busy enough just protecting her house.

However, if these rumors were true,

there was a matter she needed to address.

A matter that needed to be addressed quite firmly.

“You, if those rumors are in truth,

I advise you prepare yourself.”

“..Why? As you said, this is an affair within

our house, not yours.”

“Isabella’s betrothal is the business of my house.”

In that instant, the Duke’s eyebrows twitched, a subtle

flicker, barely perceptible.

Yet her eyes, sharper than most,

missed not the slightest deviation.

“If the rumors hold true, from the start you intended

to mold that child into such a wretch, yes?”

“….”

“To make it seem, from the very beginning, that the child was

riddled with flaws in character and skill.”

“..Indeed.”

“And you sought to bind such a child to my daughter

in betrothal?”

The sheer volume and potency of mana

emanating from her intensified, a palpable surge.

Even the nobles surrounding her

edged away, seeking to distance themselves.

“It felt strange, somehow. I should have known the moment he did

something so uncharacteristic. But alas…”

“….”

“Well, perhaps you had your own reasons, I won’t

criticize your methods.”

“….”

“But if you intended to raise that child to be a scoundrel,

you shouldn’t have pursued an engagement with my daughter…”

“….”

“It all makes sense now. No matter what, he vehemently

opposed the engagement with your elder son…”

“….”

“So you meant to use that child as a discarded pawn to secure

a tie with our family, didn’t you?”

“….”

“Arrogant, you old fool who knows nothing of his place…”

As she finished speaking, the color of her eyes

shifted, darkening into a chilling blue.

A clear sign she was on the cusp of channeling her mana.

The moment that azure gleam appeared,

the blade was drawn from his scabbard without hesitation.

With a speed as if he had been waiting for this very moment.

“If your house wished to intertwine fates with ours,

such a sacrifice was necessary, wouldn’t you say?”

“Such eloquence from that gaping maw.”

“Spare me the pronouncements of the obvious.”

A shimmering mirage, as if sparks were

igniting in their eyes, flickered between the two.

They gathered their power, as if intending to

resolve this in a single, decisive blow.

One, a crimson sword-aura overflowing with mana,

the other, pure, cerulean mana itself.

“Hh… Hhik…!”

“I… Is it time to flee…!”

“Su…Surely, they wouldn’t fight

in a place like this…? Haha…”

The other nobles, worried about being caught in

the crossfire, nervously sized each other up, while

someone began to slowly walk toward the silently

confronting pair.

“Enough, all of you.”

A man with pink hair and a mustache that

brought someone to mind.

A middle-aged man with an average build,

neither too large, nor too small.

“…Do not interfere.”

“Yes, this is a matter between houses.”

Of course, it wasn’t as if the two would

listen to his attempts to dissuade them, but

the other party possessed enough power to

certainly *force* them to stop.

“…What are you doing?”

“Hmm? If you two won’t stop,

I’ll have to make you, by force.”

“…Listen, Charlotte. I don’t know why

you’re suddenly interfering, but this is–”

“I have plenty of reason to interfere.”

So saying, he tilted his wineglass once,

simultaneously extending a finger.

And pointed.

Towards the staircase rising high above.

“They will be arriving soon.

We cannot afford to display such unbecoming conduct, can we?”

“…What does that─”

“His Imperial Majesty arrives!!”

With that thunderous announcement, nearly every head in the ballroom bowed.

All eyes turned to one solitary figure.

“Haha, greetings all, it has been some time.

Though I see a few familiar faces from not too long ago.”

“””We behold the Sun of the Empire!!”””

The Empire’s master, of noble solar lineage.

Siegfried Pravel had finally revealed himself.

“….”

“Hey, what’s wrong with you?”

“Good heavens, are you insane?”

Leading a boy with hair as black as night.