84
The ball held under the princess’s command was dismal.
The orchestra played, participants danced, and singers sang.
Well, up to this point, it’s not much different from a normal ball.
That’s right.
The only difference is that the participants, the orchestra, and the singers cannot smile, and the princess is sitting on the throne.
And except for the fact that the heirs of the former nobility and the leading family of the west are standing side by side on both sides.
It feels like a strange ball where broken dolls are roughly hosting it.
The authority of the “royal family” in Selenium is beyond imagination.
Well, it was “Rephelheit” who rang the victory bell in history 300 years ago and completely split the head of the demon.
After ending the war and sealing them, it was “Selenias” who united the forces and created the empire.
Heroes and leaders are different.
Anyway.
The appearance of the “royal family” at the ball to establish the “Western Reconciliation” brought fear to everyone.
Also, the fact that they casually made jokes about the royal family and naturally raised their heads, saying, “There is no such thing as power,” brought even greater fear to everyone.
Tianwai Tian (Heaven beyond Heaven).
A man who presents himself as a “royal family” that is like the sky above the sky.
A rejected scavenger of Rephelheit. A third-rate villain.
If I were the only one here, I would have received countless finger-pointing and contempt, but now no one tries to meet my eyes.
Even though they are nobles from the west who can easily make fun of me, they cannot do so when they think of my backing.
If they oppose me now and anger the person behind me, it is obvious that they will be twisted and crushed for three generations unless they cling to another royal family.
They can no longer maintain “neutrality.”
“…What are you really thinking? Do you know how big the aftermath will be if you do something like this?”
Except for the blood relative who is making a loud noise next to me, everyone said that.
“The aftermath, huh.”
“…Yes, the aftermath. Do you know what you’re doing right now? This is a direct challenge to the Wolfgang family… no, to the west!”
Is this a challenge to the Wolfgang family?
Well, you could see it that way…
Glancing at him, Marquis Kaisen stood still with a red face, and Marquise Alren was pale blue.
“Ebenis.”
“What?”
Note: The translation has been provided while preserving the line breaks and symbols from the original text.
I looked at those dancing like dolls with frozen expressions and spoke.
“…Did Count Kailsen know about his interest in the Repelheight family?”
“What?”
“Think about why Raina and I were engaged. Back then, I had nothing but lineage. No martial arts, no magic. I couldn’t achieve anything. Whereas Raina von Wolfgang, at a young age, made a name for herself in the West as a magical prodigy.”
Ebonyss bowed her head, seeming lost in thought.
I continued speaking.
“Of course, based on lineage alone, I was the most suitable fiancé. But from their perspective, the losses would not have been insignificant. Yet, do you understand why I was chosen?”
“…No way.”
After pondering for a moment, Ebonyss muttered.
“Starting with a facade, were you planning to tear apart the Repelheights one by one? …But, that’s impossible. Repelheight is not a family that will bend so easily! Even the Marquis acknowledges that.”
“Ebonyss.”
“What?”
“Look to the future, not the present.”
The future.
Ebonyss looked momentarily shocked by my words.
“He saw the future. Imagine if I had not been driven out and succeeded the family.”
“Ah….”
Yes.
If ‘I’ hadn’t possessed Adrian, he would have become the Marquis of Repelheight, disregarding official duties and playing around, while Count Kailsen schemed during that time.
In the setting book, it only mentions ‘ambitious,’ ‘contemplating ways to swallow Repelheight.’ But from a veteran’s perspective, such things are naturally open to speculation.
“…The possibility of that happening is quite sufficient.”
“And another thing, did you know that this ball, aside from being a place for Western harmony, had another purpose?”
“What do you mean….”
“Do you know that Raina von Wolfgang and my engagement vanished due to Count Kailsen’s unilateral annulment?”
“…No way.”
Yes.
Your ‘no way’ is correct.
“Today was supposed to be the announcement of Raina von Wolfgang’s marriage partner. They wanted to expedite things using this ball as an opportunity, right?”
“…So, you ruined it to that extent? Like this?”
“Isn’t it only natural?”
I looked down at Count Kailsen from the dais.
He, in turn, looked up at me.
“Daring to take away my party members, revealing your ambition to swallow Repelheight.”
Phew.
Thinking about it again, it really pissed me off.
Who does what they want with whom?
[The dignity of lineage trembles!]
From Noble mtl dot com
“…He will be the perfect example here.”
[Exuding dominance through his gaze!]
[Everyone except two with equal or higher lineage status will suffocate under your dominance!]
**Forever it will shine! Repelheight!**
“He is paying the price for daring to dream beyond his station.”
Completely, thoroughly crushed.
Stamped out in a way that he can never rise again.
To make the support from within the Wolfgang family completely disappear, and to allow everything to naturally flow to Reina.
If that happens, I will have gained nothing from obtaining the Wolfgang family.
“No one will dare to rebel against Repelheight or dream of devouring him in the future because of this incident.”
“…Can you really handle this? What will you do if the Marquis comes back and issues a summons to you?”
“The Marquis of Repelheight is not the type to return from such a sordid affair. He might rather bow to me. If he is angry about this matter… well, you’ll have to take the blame for it.”
“This scum…”
“And I’m not without any losses either. I made a deal as a condition for participating here under Rezelirias’s command.”
“A deal?”
Rezelirias, who had been crossing her legs behind, answered.
“…It’s a condition for me to participate in the nobles’ meeting. I plan to take Adrian to the palace later.”
“…Really? Ah, Adrian, to that palace, and even to the nobles’ meeting…?”
Yes, we also suffered a tremendous loss.
The nobles’ meeting is an unending three-day conference where the heirs to the throne gather and compete.
The participants choose one noble and one trusted spirit to enter a building.
During the proceedings, unfortunate incidents such as the disappearance or defection of the trusted spirits of the challengers frequently occur.
Eating, dressing, and even sleeping—all must be carefully attended to at the nobles’ meeting.
I agreed to participate in the nobles’ meeting in exchange for bringing her here.
“Adrian, you’re willing to go to that extent…”
“You just stand there and watch. You’ll see how I conclude this matter.”
I didn’t hear the response.
I descended the stairs with steady steps.
Below, the Count Kailsen, who was glaring at me with bared teeth, also passed by lightly.
And…
As if waiting, someone approached and stood in front of me.
With her long, flowing black hair, necklace, earrings, and even her dress exquisitely adorned, Reina stood before me.
“It’s not polite to keep a lady waiting, Adrian.”
“I know. Sorry for being a little late.”
“Yes, instead of accepting your apology, I have a condition. Will you dance with me?”
“Sorry, but I can’t dance…”
I couldn’t say that I can’t dance. He had already taken my wrist and pulled me to the center of the ballroom.
**The dignity of your bloodline speaks to you!**
**You will dance the most attention-grabbing dance here!**
**Everyone is watching you!**
**Everyone is watching you and your former fiancée!**
Come to think of it.
Now, this person is no longer my fiance.
However, that is what the ‘world’ has decided, and as long as we haven’t broken, our relationship remains unchanged in our minds.
“Let’s enjoy the present. Adrian, if not now, when else can we enjoy?”
“Hmm.”
That’s right.
I should enjoy the present.
No matter how difficult the path ahead may be.
[A new one-on-one party synergy is being reconfigured.]
[“My eternity to you.”]
[Designate a ‘target’ and you can transfer everything until your stamina reaches 1!]
I will walk with this person until the end.
[Rayna von Wolfgang’s 1st breakthrough quest has been given!]
[The first condition, ‘top of the magic department,’ has already been confirmed!]
[If you achieve just one more condition, you can proceed with the breakthrough quest!]
[Conditions that match the current ongoing story will be unlocked!]
[Turn Rayna von Wolfgang into ‘Rayna von Wolfgang, acting substitute for the Countess’!]
* * *
Rayna von Wolfgang saw the man in front of her.
As usual, he was expressionless, and she couldn’t read his thoughts.
But for some reason, Rayna felt like she could read a little bit today.
“Adrian, were you worried about me?”
“……”
“I know. But I didn’t break. Because Adrian said he would come to save me, right?”
It’s enjoyable.
Everything about this situation is enjoyable.
It’s so enjoyable that the laughter doesn’t stop.
The dance may seem clumsy, but it’s not.
This is also amazing. Amazing enough that he is matching his own clumsy footsteps surprisingly well.
“Adrian, do you know what?”
“What?”
“I’m happy to be your fiance.”
That’s right.
Adrian is charming, I know that.
Because of this, I know that everyone is gathering around him.
Levrian and Kallen Snowhite might not be… or so I think.
The rest of them probably have similar thoughts.
“So, I won’t hand you over to anyone.”
Adrian’s ‘first’ is himself. And he has no intention of conceding this position to anyone.
As of today, I have made up my mind.
My heart will never waver, break, or change forever.
While thinking like that, Reyna smiled.
“Thank you, Adrian, for coming to rescue me.”
“It’s not too late even after everything is over.”
“That’s right.”
Of course.
The ball was not over yet.
“But now, we must end it.”
“Yes, no matter how good a dream is, one must wake up. Let’s put an end to it now. But… Are you okay with it?”
He nodded faintly.
In the frozen ballroom, only two danced.