A banquet was specially held under the favor of the Imperial Household.
The gathering was solely to celebrate Shiron Prient’s safe return and his accomplishnts, so the number of attendees was small.
Only those closely related to Shiron, or those the Emperor trusted and sought favor from, were invited.
Of course, a small number of attendees didn’t an the scale was modest. Unlike the world Seira knew in the future, the Emperor here was a woman, had openly acknowledged it, and was even romantically involved with Shiron Prient.
The once emotionless and cold-hearted Emperor was now deeply attached to a man who already had a partner, even trying to win him over with coquettishness—a truly astonishing sight. But for now, the focus wasn’t on Victor.
Lucia Prient.
A woman concentrating on her food in a corner of the banquet hall.
It might seem like she was simply lost in the variety of delicacies served, but on closer inspection, that wasn’t the case.
The crumbs of at scattered on her plate weren’t from the banquet’s offerings.
Originally, they had been thick, juicy steaks. Yet Lucia had cut them down to their smallest limits and was nibbling on them bit by bit.
[…Why is she doing that?]
Seira from the future murmured in bewildernt. It looked as though she was playing with her food, but since her plate was neatly emptied, that wasn’t the case.
‘She doesn’t want to talk to people.’
[She’s doing that just to avoid conversations?]
‘Exactly.’
Seira replied in a detached tone to the voice resonating in her head.
‘Think about it. Have you ever seen Lucia talking to anyone at this party?’
[…No. But how does doing that prevent her from having conversations?]
‘Because no one wants to approach soone acting so strangely.’
[…!]
A spark went off in the mind of future Seira.
Indeed, when soone was oddly fixated on ticulously slicing at into crumbs, it could make people hesitant to strike up a conversation.
Even Hugo and Glen had approached her earlier but quickly turned away, likely for the sa reason.
It was a silent plea:
-“I’m in a bad mood. Please leave alone.”
Without uttering a single word, Lucia conveyed her wish to be left undisturbed.
Of course, the ever-clueless Yoru was finishing off her plate without a hint, but aside from that, Lucia had been an utter loner since arriving at the party.
Despite wearing an exquisite dress, she wasn’t dancing, engaging in conversation, or even enjoying the food.
It was unclear why she had attended the party at all, but as though sensing future Seira’s thoughts, Seira gestured toward a man with her chin.
Shiron Prient.
Lucia couldn’t take her eyes off the man who was switching partners as he danced across the floor.
‘Lucia is waiting for her turn. For when Siriel or the cross-dressing Emperor lets go of Shiron!’
[…Why doesn’t she just tell him she wants to dance? He’s kind enough to agree.]
‘Like Lucia could just ignore those two domineering won.’
Tsk! Seira clicked her tongue in disapproval, rejecting the idea entirely.
‘The Lucia in your world might be different, but the one here relied on the kid for too long. Attending the academy kept her from spiraling completely, but it’s true that she’s grown more timid compared to when she was Kyrie.’
[I see.]
‘And Lucia is so unnecessarily kind that she’s aware of her place as “second.” That depraved masochist cross-dressing Emperor may be shalessly thick-skinned, but Lucia carries guilt.’
[Got it.]
‘She wants to dance with the kid, needs to seize an opportunity, and can’t risk missing her chance while talking to people. That’s why she’s resorting to such a ridiculous tactic.’
Even though she was a friend, Seira defended Lucia to so extent. However, her lengthy criticism remained largely a rebuke.
Future Seira found herself sowhat agreeing with Seira’s perspective. But,
[Still, how does that relate to her intelligence? If anything, it just shows she’s ridiculously kindhearted.]
Being overly kind and having low intelligence were entirely different matters. Seira’s claim that it stemd from sex, however, was harder to agree with.
‘Do you really think so?’
Seira smirked faintly, her breath reeking of alcohol. Clearly, she was tipsy.
‘When we faced the Apostle, Lucia almost fell for a kid disguised as the Apostle. Even though he had such an obviously sleazy face.’
[Maybe she was just exhausted? Anyone’s cognitive ability would suffer after a week of overwork.]
Future Seira retorted weakly.
‘Lucia aside, others were the sa.’
Seira recalled Siriel and the Emperor as she had encountered them in the mist.
Although they were re shells crafted by the Apostle, their original forms existed outside the mist.
A tiline where Shiron hadn’t slept with them.
In that world, Siriel and Victor hadn’t tried to charm Shiron, nor had they worn foolish grins.
They were perpetually cold and rational. And none of them had any sexual experience.
‘Siriel, Victor, Yuma. Including Lucia, that makes four won I know. Experiencing that alternate world convinced : every woman who’s slept with Shiron has had a drop in intelligence.’
[That’s not enough data.]
‘Not enough? All four beca irrational after it. That’s a 100% probability. What more do you need?’
[…Hmm.]
Future Seira groaned. Four examples weren’t enough to make a strong case, but she couldn’t find any counterargunts either.
After all, even future Seira knew what it ant to fall in love.
When soone was in love, they were willing to give their life for their beloved.
Scholars often claid that the aning of existence was to leave offspring.
Yet, throwing away one’s life for soone who wasn’t even a spouse was undeniably irrational.
Seira from the future, unable to forget Shiron, who had already passed away, found it only a hindrance to her resolve to move on and find a new partner.
It was at the mont she was about to be persuaded that a question suddenly arose.
[But does it lower one’s intelligence so much that they can’t use magic?]
“I’m an Archmage, you know. Casting delicate and magnificent magic requires high intelligence. It also takes considerable passion to create new spells. Once you indulge in such late passions, wouldn’t your focus entirely shift in that direction?”
[But I loved my disciple and still created new magic…]
“Wasn’t your obsession with the kid your driving force?”
Seira shook her head.
“Think about it. What if you and that kid beca intimately involved, and you ended up carrying a child? You might have already had one by now. Do you think you’d still have been able to create such dreadful possession magic?”
[…I’d have raised the child and wrapped it all up as mories, I suppose.]
“Exactly! That’s the point!”
Seira was gradually being convinced. She clenched her fist tightly and raised it high.
“What’s she doing now?”
At the center of the banquet hall,
Shiron cast a sympathetic glance at Seira, who was muttering like a madwoman.
“I don’t know. Maybe she’s drunk? Anyway, Shiron, you’re dancing, so could you focus on ?”
“…Alright.”
Diverting his gaze, Shiron turned his attention to Victor before him.
For so reason, she was wearing a blue dress, seemingly emphasizing her femininity.
The neckline plunged deeply to highlight her chest, and the daring design revealed a teasing glimpse of her hips. Her short hair remained, but it only served as a striking contrast, adding to her unique allure.
Shiron clearly saw Victor as a woman.
“You look good in that dress.”
“Fufu, thank you.”
“Are you declaring that you’re a woman now?”
“I haven’t made a declaration, but it doesn’t matter if people find out now. The crusade that caused trouble for hundreds of years is over, and most of the power my father held has shifted to .”
Victor didn’t refer to Franz Beizos as “His Majesty.”
“Won’t His Majesty have sothing to say about it?”
“Well, I think my father would accept it, even if I’m a woman.”
As she said that, Victor gently placed Shiron’s hand on her stomach. It didn’t need to be said whose child was in her slightly protruding belly.
“My father was quite fond of you. He might even welco it.”
“Then I hope things go well.”
“Don’t worry. I didn’t get pregnant to trouble you.”
“…”
“What are you doing? Your steps have stopped!”
Victor smiled faintly and wrapped her arms around Shiron’s back, completely leading the dance.
Even though she wasn’t alone, Victor danced until she was sweating.
Watching this, Louise clapped along to the rhythm and approached Lucia.
“What… what is it?”
“Why are you sitting alone? Miss Lucia, aren’t you going to dance?”
“Look who’s talking. You’ve just been clapping this whole ti.”
“I’m just happy watching His Majesty dance with Sir Shiron.”
“…You’re pregnant too.”
At a loss for words, Lucia changed the topic. Louise, as if conscious of Lucia’s downward gaze, emphasized her stomach.
“Oh, this? Sir Shiron pitied us and showed us great kindness.”
“…I see.”
Lucia gave a perfunctory response, her voice indifferent. Then, her gaze turned to Seira slumped in a corner of the banquet hall.
“Why is that one so drunk again?”
Lucia vaguely knew about Seira’s circumstances.
She had experienced a sorrowful farewell with her future self. Lucia could understand drowning in alcohol to cope with loss, but she also found it sowhat pathetic for an elder to act so recklessly, like an incorrigible drunkard.
…Just as she found this banquet disheartening.
Even though it was a party held by the Emperor’s unilateral decision, she couldn’t help but wonder if it was okay for things to be so chaotic.
When Victor appeared without her usual disguise, Hugo and Eldrina had been visibly shocked. Now that she was dancing with Shiron, the atmosphere had turned into one of silent acceptance, but the uneasy tension had yet to dissipate.
“Even Siriel has her eyes ablaze.”
Resting her chin on her hand, Lucia sighed.
The banquet was ostensibly held to celebrate Shiron, but to Lucia, it seed nothing more than a cover for the Emperor’s selfish desires.
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