#10 Banquet (4)
Among the many buildings in the royal castle, the grand banquet hall boasted a huge and splendid exterior that naturally stood out.
Could it be explained by saying that its grandeur is worthy of being second only to Daejeon, which determines the direction of the kingdom, and Sun Palace, where the king resides?
Maybe it was because of the banquet, or if it wasn’t that, there was a long red carpet from the entrance to the banquet hall, and carriages with all kinds of fancy decorations were lined up nearby.
Elric was able to find people dressed in heterogeneous clothes among them.
‘You’re a reporter.’
There were people who took pictures by manipulating heavy cameras here and there.
The aristocrats, conscious of them, took a more artificial and splendid gait.
Everything looked like a skit.
It was because there was a concern inside, but it didn’t last long.
“Captain, since I can see the reporters, could you straighten your back?”
It was because Tyria was by his side.
Didn’t he attend today’s banquet because he had the heart that he couldn’t let her go alone?
To be lost in other thoughts and to forget one’s duties is unacceptable.
“Okay.”
Answering, Elric corrected his posture.
Of course, it was like using a cane, so it could be a little wild, but it was the best way for Elric.
I brushed off my thoughts.
‘I’ll find out if they’re right when I go to the banquet.’
There was no need to moan already.
baba night~
Entering the banquet hall, the orchestra was playing a calm tune.
All over the place, nobles who had arrived first were gathering in groups of threes and fives, chatting, and royal attendants were moving briskly here and there.
It was a familiar yet uncomfortable place.
This was especially true of the eyes of the nobles who moved in and out the moment they entered.
Sensitive hearing captured each and every one of their voices.
-Oh, that man looks like the rumored Baron Portman.
-After leaving home for 10 years, it’s really nice to come back at this point… .
-What can I do? Aren’t you short-sighted because you were born lowly? If you get a title of nobility, you will think that the whole world belongs to you.
It’s an expected reaction, but still.
There is no way that these trivial gossips went unnoticed by those who like to talk about others.
With no reason or qualification to be angry again, Elric passed on the reaction without hesitation.
At that moment, Tyria led Elric to a seat in the corner of the banquet hall.
“Please sit down. You had a hard time climbing the stairs.”
“Somehow, even in the mansion, you don’t always go up the stairs.”
“It’s an unfamiliar staircase.”
Whether or not she knew this evaluation, she did not show a change in her expression.
You will definitely feel the corner of your eye.
– My wife is really sorry. If only that man hadn’t returned, the entire family would have been his.
Trembling, the fingertips holding the staff trembled.
Elric’s gaze turned to those who could not stand it and whispered at that moment.
They are middle-aged women with wrinkles on their faces.
It was like a cockroach that everyone looked away the moment they looked at it.
and,
‘The author… .’
Elric found a familiar face in the gap.
-Ah, come to think of it, this time in our estate… .
It is Baroness Wibin who hastily changed her words and broke out in a cold sweat.
Tyria’s mother and one of the opponents that Elric personally visited and threatened.
I thought I had given up on Portman to keep quiet, but was he playing behind the scenes like that?
‘What should I do… .’
Should I organize it one more time thinking about the future?
No, moving hastily is a mistake.
Tyria spoke while worryingly poking her head out.
“Do you have anything to worry about?”
“… Oh, um?”
“Your complexion is not looking good.”
The terrace was close by.
The sunset, which was slowly starting to set, was buried on Tyria’s face, and for some reason, it felt like something was showing over her expressionless expression.
is it a concern
Elric answered with a smile.
“no. It’s because I’m awkward in a place like this.”
“Of course, since you have never attended a noble banquet. It won’t be long, so please be patient.”
“Okay.”
“After His Majesty enters, the ball will begin in earnest. By that time, it won’t be a problem if you drop out.”
Tyria also seemed to be making up her mind to leave soon.
Suddenly, I felt sorry.
Seeing her dressed up and coming back brings up a strange feeling that the end will soon come to mind.
I was so surprised when I first saw this.
It was embarrassing because it was so hard to take my eyes off her even while worrying about Wolyeong.
I thought I’d gotten used to it by now.
‘What are you familiar with?’
The image of her munching on the refreshments on the table is engraved in her retinas.
Looking at it, it seemed that his worries were going away, and Elric let out a low laugh.
At the sound of laughter, Tyria asked while looking at Elric as if wondering.
“… Why do you look at me like that?”
“no. It’s like seeing it for the first time to eat something that is palatable.”
“The royal patissier is famous throughout the East for her skill. The head of household should try it once.”
“Well, where am I… .”
I ate the biscuit that came in one bite, and indeed, I felt the unique luxurious taste that I could only feel at an imperial banquet someday.
“It looks delicious.”
“Isn’t it?”
I liked this taste.
The thought of knowing one more thing about her made my stomach tickle for some reason.
It felt like it was a very important task to just stare at her.
When I felt comfortable, I was able to speak a little.
Elric sat in the corner of the banquet hall with Tyria and had a private chat.
I was passing the time.
The number of people increased one by one, and a quiet commotion began to spread all over the place.
The owners of the influential families came.
-The Duke of Born must have arrived.
– I heard you’re not feeling well… .
– You must be wary of the Marquis of Yaran. Is that all? Even Count Nimrud… .
Since I was still, information about various characters began to come in from all over the place.
Some of the dogs had unpleasant names.
Count of Nimrud.
The moment he remembered, the accident immediately spread to Wolyeong, which he had put off.
Elric’s brow narrowed.
-That, that was a special order from the headquarters. There’s someone to move to the east and aim for… That, that was a month ago! yes! It’s been less than a month since we came east! It’s real!
Count Wolyeong, who came down for a certain mission, contacted Count Nimrud.
With his support, I was able to settle down here stably, and also connected with the headquarters.
It means that Count Nimrud has a contact with Wolyeong’s headquarters, that is, ‘that person’.
– You’ll find out when you go to the banquet! We only came here for a short while while moving after receiving information that the target was attending the banquet… ah! No, of course! It is not a pastime for the elderly! yes! Ah yo!
-That’s done, so tell me who the target is.
-Mo, I don’t know. The only thing is that the assassination difficulty is set to D for foreign characters… .
– You mean assassinating without knowing who the opponent is?
– This is an order from the headquarters… .
The more I thought about it, the more incomprehensible it was.
From noble mtl dot com
What is the reason Wolyeong, who should be active only in the west, is here, and what is the work that Count Nimrud is trying to cooperate with that man.
That thought was expanding and expanding again.
– Oh, did you hear the news?
-What if it’s news?
-A nobleman from the empire is attending the banquet today. I heard that you are a very important person… .
information
Elric listened to their voices with his senses greatly expanded at that moment.
– Ma, madam! An imperial nobleman has arrived. You say you’re coming here… .
-okay? Where is your husband? I have to go quickly and take a snow stamp… .
Entrance.
At those words, Elric’s gaze turned to the entrance of the banquet hall.
That was the moment.
Barbabam!
The orchestra changed the tune.
This was a phenomenon when the owners of influential families entered.
All the powerhouses have already arrived.
There were some who expressed their doubts about him, but soon the reason was revealed and astonishment appeared on their faces.
“Imperial envoys are entering!”
At the same time as the voice, the door opened.
Elric’s breath stopped at the figure that could be seen through the gap.
‘… ah.’
Then everything made sense.
The reason why Wolyeong was here, the purpose of the man behind them, and what Count Nimrud was aiming for were all causal, centered on the man entering through the door.
A wheelchair, platinum hair, and even a mischievous smile.
Everything was the same as the silhouette of a man in Elric’s memory.
“The third son of the Graham family, Prince Elbus Graham, is entering!”
Barbabam!
Elbus Graham.
An old friend of Elric and a monstrosity called the Empire’s best friend.
A man who should never have been here entered the banquet hall in silence.
Some are astonished, some are awestruck, some are awed.
His innate beauty alone changed the mood.
All the air constituting the space began to be thoroughly reorganized around him.
A man who exudes an aura that cannot be hidden no matter how hard he tries.
That’s why nangjungjichu.
Appearing overwhelming the space, he leisurely scanned the crowd,
“oh.”
When I found Elric, I grinned.
It was an open smile.