Chapter 153 – Catastrophe (1)
It’s impossible for to know what happened between the two of them.
‘I’ll have to ask either Marquis Foltaine or Narakas when the ti cos.’
However, resolving the current situation took priority.
Booom!
“……!”
The mont I organized my thoughts, I unleashed my aura. The surrounding nobles jumped in shock.
“W-Was the Baron really this powerful?”
“To reach the level where he can manifest mana as aura…… He’s at least a mid-grade Expert!”
“Mid-grade Expert? Impossible! I heard the Baron is only in his mid-teens!”
Reaching the beginner level of Expert before one’s early twenties was considered a sign of a genius.
That was common sense.
‘If they keep provoking like this while I’m trying to act like a gentleman…… I’ll just have to play the thug.’
I strode toward Marquis Laksir with purpose.
“I’m deeply disappointed in you, Marquis.”
“……!”
“I was willing to tolerate the part where you forced to make a choice. But this? This crosses the line.”
I looked at the three people who had co all the way here for my sake.
“These people are all precious to . Surely, Marquis Laksir, you know that well?”
“……”
“Don’t deny it. You’ve ntioned it yourself. Even without that, rumors must already be widespread in the capital.”
Everyone opposed at my title ceremony, but these three stood by and cast their votes of support.
I was deliberately referring to that event. Marquis Laksir was perceptive enough to understand.
“……If the Baron had aligned himself with the royal faction, naturally, both I and Duke Kairos would have cast our votes in your favor.”
“Once again, you bring up political talk that I have no interest in.”
“You’re a noble now.”
“Perhaps one day I’ll face a mont when I have to make a choice. But for now, it’s clear that I’m not aligned with any faction. Even Count Arsene, a core mber of the royal faction, is close friends with .”
“……”
Marquis Laksir fell silent. It was another undeniable, well-known fact.
“Is he actually angry on our behalf?”
“So it seems.”
“Heheheh. To think that wild youngster would regard so highly.”
“You look like a father being doted on by his children in your twilight years.”
Duke Herman and Marquis Foltaine bantered back and forth in audible voices.
Duke Serin listened silently. One day, he would be able to naturally join that conversation as well.
“I see I’ve ruined the party. I’ll take my leave now.”
“We’re leaving too.”
The three followed behind. As though their only purpose for coming here had been .
“P-Pardon us!”
Following suit, Winley and the others quickly stood and left.
“Well then, until next ti.”
I turned to leave, sensing fiery gazes on my back. Along with them, a voice as fierce as flas.
“Are you leaving too?”
“Of course. You’ve ruined the party, after all.”
With Erina trailing behind, all of us left the ballroom together.
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[Translator – San]
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We had travelled a considerable distance from the Marquis Laksir’s estate.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave here.”
Duke Serin was the first to bid farewell. I bowed my head deeply toward him, expressing my sincere gratitude.
“Thank you for your help today.”
“……”
Duke Serin regarded with a peculiar look before shrugging his shoulders.
“I was rely here for so entertainnt.”
“In that case, I’ll do my best to beco soone worthy of being your equal, continuing to boldly thrive like a madman.”
He gave a bemused expression.
“I rescued you, and yet you call a madman, Prince.”
“What’s the harm? We’re all mad here.”
Duke Serin chuckled in entertainnt, then turned to leave.
“Contrary to the expectations, you two fit quite well together.”
Duke Herman remarked with mild surprise, having observed our exchange.
“Why did you leave so quickly, Your Grace?”
“Why? Should I have stayed to dance and drink there as a man of leisure?”
“Well, no. But—”
“I ca to help you. Now, give a proper farewell.”
I responded after studying him briefly.
“I’d gladly offer my farewells…… But you’ll have to get it from soone else today.”
“Soone else? And who might that……”
Duke Herman trailed off, realizing where my gaze was directed.
“……It seems I’ve ruined your first party in a while. My apologies, Your Highness.”
“……”
Winley, who had been staring at Duke Herman, soon turned around.
“There’s no need to apologize, Your Grace. It wasn’t a party I intended to enjoy.”
Winley replied curtly before walking away quickly.
“W-We’ll take our leave as well!”
The younger attendees stamred, sensing this wasn’t their place, and hurried after Winley.
“What are you waiting for? Will you let a princess of this kingdom walk down the streets so recklessly, unguarded?”
“……!”
Duke Herman was startled at my words, then smiled bitterly.
“Go on, Your Grace.”
“You’re impossible……”
“I’ll see you again soon.”
Duke Herman nodded briefly before vanishing in the sa direction.
“You have quite the talent for enchanting people.”
Marquis Foltaine finally spoke, as though he’d been waiting for his turn.
“Of course. Whose son do you think I am?”
“Son or not, the chaos around you is never-ending. Keeping up with you is enough to drive mad.”
“Thank you for everything.”
“And what exactly are you grateful for?”
“For always being on my side.”
“Enough. You’re making cringe.”
I smiled faintly and turned my gaze toward the direction Duke Herman had disappeared.
“By the way, what’s the relationship between Duke Herman and Marquis Laksir?”
“I’m not entirely sure.”
“Even as fellow high nobles?”
“High nobles or not, how can I know the personal affairs between individuals?”
He countered, and stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“That said…… There are so publicly known facts I’m aware of.”
“Such as?”
“Marquis Laksir’s house was once a vassal family of the Iris Marquisate, back when he was still Count Laksir.”
“……?”
I tilted my head, puzzled.
“What does that have to do with them?”
“It has everything to do with it. The family of the Third Queen happens to be the fallen Iris Marquisate.”
“Ah!”
The realization dawned on . The Iris family was Princess Winley’s maternal family.
‘Co to think of it, wasn’t the Third Queen known to have co from a fallen noble family?’
The puzzle pieces began to fall into place.
“With the King and Duke involved in a complex triangle, surely this isn’t becoming a four-sided affair with a forr vassal mixed in?”
“Well, you never know with people.”
“Now I’m curious. How beautiful must the Third Queen have been to cause all this?”
“Can’t you tell just by looking at Princess Winley? She greatly resembles the Queen in her youth.”
It made sense.
Even at a young age, Winley was already showing signs of growing into a breathtaking beauty capable of captivating nations.
“But if you ask for my personal opinion……”
Marquis Foltaine paused briefly before continuing.
“The odds that Marquis Laksir held romantic feelings for the Queen seem low.”
“Why do you think so?”
“I already ntioned it. Before her marriage, the Queen and Duke Herman were long-ti lovers. There was no room for soone else to co between them.”
“Feelings don’t work that way. A shield doesn’t stop a blade if it’s determined enough.”
“That shield was the strongest and most unyielding in the kingdom. With competition that overwhelming, most would simply give up.”
Perhaps Marquis Laksir, acknowledging his rival’s strength, felt betrayed when Herman let the Queen go so easily.
‘This sounds like a story without an ending.’
Like Marquis Foltaine said, it’d be better to ask them myself.
“Anyway, I should be heading to the ballroom.”
“Pardon? You’re going back there?”
“Are you crazy? Not that one. I’m talking about ours.”
Marquis Foltaine dismissed it like it was nonsense.
“Whenever the royal faction hosts a ball, the noble faction hosts their own nearby. It’s childish, but it’s a show of strength.”
“That really is childish.”
“Heheheh. That’s how politics is. Biting, undermining, and slandering like kids, hoping sothing sticks. All to inflate one’s own image.”
I shook my head in disbelief.
“Clearly, I’m better suited for the battlefield than the ballroom. But why are you attending?”
“I need to let our noble faction know, don’t I? The royal faction are making every effort to recruit you, so we can’t just sit on our hands.”
“……!”
My eyes widened.
“You weigh your options, then make the best decision for yourself. If you lean toward the noble faction, I’ll support you wholeheartedly. Even if you choose the royal faction, you’ll still be my child.”
“……”
I stared at Marquis Foltaine with growing admiration.
“……Ugh, not that look again.”
He muttered, then he, too, vanished like the wind.
“You’re quite loved by many.”
Erina, the last one standing, finally spoke.
“Does it seem that way?”
“Yes, it does.”
“But why haven’t you left? You claim to be the Princess’s knight, yet here you are.”
Erina looked at with an indifferent gaze.
“There’s a problem.”
“A problem?”
“Just before we left, Marquis Laksir sent a ssage into my mind.”
“What did he say?”
“He told to keep my promise.”
“……!”
My eyes widened in shock. It was ti to test my hypothesis.
“By any chance, is Duke Herman the one Marquis Laksir asked you to kill?”
“Yes.”
Erina confird and added.
“He’s instructed to return to the ballroom tomorrow night.”
“……!”
It wasn’t sothing that could simply be dismissed.
“Wait. Does that an……?”
Erina nodded.
“It seems he plans to kill Duke Herman tomorrow night.”
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