Chapter 103
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 103
"Hey, look at me for a second, Luka... us Custoria."
Enrico said, approaching me. He seemed to be struggling with my new identity.
"Excuse me for a moment."
I excused myself from Giselle and Ilay, then followed Enrico out of the banquet hall. A long brown carpet stretched down the corridor.
As if he had a death wish, Enrico grabbed me by the collar without warning and shoved me against the wall. If I hadn't felt a twinge of guilt toward him, I would have snapped his arm clean off.
"You—you bastard! You said you'd hook me up with Giselle!"
"I never said I'd hook you up. I said I'd help."
I had used Enrico back at Cracia Academy. Knowing full well he stood no chance with Giselle, I'd egged him on to confess anyway.
Naturally, Giselle rejected him. That heartbreak had left a deep wound in Enrico's heart. I did do him dirty—I'll admit that much.
But so what?
Compared to the world I lived in, a teenager's heartbreak was utterly trivial. I lived in a world of kill or be killed. I couldn't sit around listening to some brat whine like his entire world had ended just because a girl dumped him.
"Ilay is your friend! You—you're the one who set Giselle and Ilay up, aren't you?!"
Enrico screamed, spitting as he spoke. I wiped the saliva off my cheek with a finger and shoved him back.
"What am I supposed to do about two people falling for each other on their own? Besides, Ilay's better-looking than you, and his family's better too."
"W-what?"
Enrico's eyes went wide with shock.
Just then, a servant carrying glasses of alcohol passed through the hallway. I snatched two glasses and handed one to Enrico.
He took it, dazed. I slung an arm around his neck, pretending to be chummy.
"First, take a big gulp and think it over, you idiot."
"I-idiot?"
"Giselle has a terrible personality. On top of that, she's stubborn as a mule. She's not exactly the gentle type."
"B-but that's what drew me to her."
"That's because you've got zero experience with women. You've never actually dated a girl before, have you?"
Neither had I, technically. But this was the time to bluff and play the know-it-all.
"My heart beats only for— Oof! "
I clapped my palm over Enrico's stupid mouth. He flinched, shoulders jerking in utter bewilderment.
"Bullshit. Devoted, are you? If Giselle won't date you, are you going to live alone for the rest of your life? Never meet another woman?"
"W-well, no, but..."
"Since I owe you one, I'll introduce you to a girl. I know one who's into pampered young masters like you."
At that, Enrico looked intrigued and didn't reject the offer outright.
"Really?"
"Of course."
...If I reached out to Martina Diva, she'd pick a girl to Enrico's taste from La Vie en Rose and send her his way. It was win-win—La Vie en Rose stood to benefit from securing another connection to a noble family.
Enrico sank into thought, as if he'd never been angry in the first place.
"Do—do you happen to have a younger sister? Not Giselle, but a blood-related sister."
"What?"
I frowned.
"I once saw a maid serving Giselle who had a similar vibe to you..."
Ah. He meant Keisa. A woman who was no longer of this world. She would never show her face here again.
An unpleasant memory surfaced. My voice went cold.
"I don't."
"O-oh, okay. I thought you were going to introduce me to her— Ow! Why do you keep hitting me, you bastard?!"
I flicked Enrico's nose with my finger. The tip swelled red, making him look drunk.
"I see your taste in women is remarkably consistent."
It seemed Enrico had a thing for fierce women. Then again, given his personality, dating a woman like that would probably suit him well.
"Out of respect for your sincerity and our f-friendship, I'll accept the introduction—but I haven't given up on Giselle yet. You do know engagements rarely lead to marriage, right?"
That was the first I'd heard of any friendship between Enrico and me.
"Sure, whatever. Just send me your terminal's unique ID before you go. You'll hear from someone soon."
In any case, I'd succeeded in placating Enrico. His steps were light as he walked back into the banquet hall.
I didn't follow right away, pausing instead to catch my breath.
"Haha..."
A self-deprecating laugh slipped out. I stared quietly at the untouched glass of alcohol.
"Who am I to be giving anyone advice..."
It was honestly hilarious when I thought about it.
I tossed the glass straight into a trash can and straightened my rumpled clothes. Today was an important day for Ilay. I needed to have his back.
Creak.
I stepped back into the banquet hall.
Ilay and Giselle stood close together, chatting amiably. But I could tell their eyes weren't smiling. A strange, awkward tension hung between them.
"Ah, did you finish talking with Enrico?"
Ilay welcomed me with a visibly relieved expression. He must have found it awkward, left alone with Giselle.
"Pull it together. It's painfully obvious how awkward you two are."
"I can't help it. Giselle is..."
I didn't catch the rest of Ilay's words. My gaze drifted to the crowd beyond. Among them, a violet-haired boy stood out, drawing attention as if he radiated some strange luster.
My eyes locked onto him. I barely managed to suppress the sudden tension that stiffened my entire body.
"Luka? Do you know him?"
Ilay followed my gaze to the violet-haired boy.
"I met him during a mission."
I answered briefly. It wasn't a lie. I really had carried out a security detail for him.
Ivan Cracia!
I wanted to scream his name. A cold shiver crawled down my spine. My mind flooded with questions.
Why the hell are you here?
...Ivan Cracia was attending the banquet. No one in the hall seemed to realize he was royalty. And he wasn't just any royal, either. He was the next emperor—the one designated as the 'true Crown Prince.'
He had likely disguised himself as some low-ranking noble to slip in.
When our eyes met, Ivan offered a faint smile. I had no idea what he was thinking. Anxiety hammered wildly against my chest.
To make matters worse, Ilay's cousin was strolling toward us with an arrogant look on his face. What a goddamn mess. Seriously.
"Congratulations on your engagement, Ilay! My dear cousin! Forging such a deep bond with the Custoria family is a tremendous blessing for the Kartika family!"
Garcia Kartika. He was one of the rivals Ilay had warned me about.
Garcia was an officer in the Armored Brigade—a unit that operated mass-produced Myrmidon full-armor prosthetics, and its officers ranked among the elite even within the Imperial Army. He had served for over twenty years and was one of the candidates for brigade commander. That alone made him more than qualified to head a military family. On top of that, one of his children had been selected as an Imperial Guard Cadet during the selection trials.
"To meet the daughter of the Imperial Guard Captain in a place like this is a great honor, Lady Giselle Custoria."
Garcia greeted her heartily. His speech was easy, and he carried himself with an air of magnanimity. He had the kind of personality that won people over effortlessly—soldiers especially.
But my eyes kept drifting back to Ivan Cracia instead of Garcia. I had to find out what he was after.
"And you must be Lucaus Custoria! The first in the Imperial Guard—no, has anyone in the entire history of the Imperial Army ever received the 4th Class Cross Sword Medal at your age? I truly envy Ilay for having such a great friend! I'd love to hear the tale of your heroics..."
If I stayed to chat, this would drag on forever. Ivan Cracia was already slipping through the crowd, as though beckoning me to follow.
I couldn't afford to lose him now. It was time to trust my instincts.
"Please excuse me. Something urgent has come up."
I cut in bluntly. Giselle and Ilay flinched, and the smile vanished from Garcia's face, replaced by a deep scowl.
"It seems we have someone here who answers goodwill with rudeness. Well, I suppose one's low birth can't be helped..."
Garcia never finished his insult. Ilay cut in with a cold smile.
"I apologize on behalf of my guest's rudeness. However, I will not tolerate insults directed at my friend."
"By what authority do you speak of tolerating or not, Ilay?"
Because of me, Garcia and Ilay had clashed. At least, that was how it looked on the surface.
No, my rudeness is just an excuse.
The two of them would have clashed no matter the reason. This was a place to compete over who held more influence.
"If you've got business, go ahead, Luka."
Ilay stepped forward, planting himself between me and Garcia. I simply nodded and walked past them.
I pursued Ivan. He glided through the crowd like a fish, weaving effortlessly. At times he seemed to vanish entirely.
Is he playing games with me? How irritating.
I didn't like Ivan. In fact, I rather disliked him. Of course, that was a thought I could never say aloud.
No matter what, Ivan Cracia was royalty—the one designated as the next emperor.
"You've grown quite arrogant, Ilay, after crippling your own brother with your own hands!"
"I wasn't the one who initiated the duel, and it was a legal duel, with witnesses present."
Behind me, the argument between Ilay and Garcia was in full swing. The attention of the entire banquet hall shifted toward them.
No one spared a glance for me or Ivan. Well—perhaps only Giselle was watching my back.
Ivan waited in a corner of the hall. As he stared at me, his pupils slit vertically like a beast's, glowing with golden light.
"You seem to enjoy putting me in difficult positions."
I spoke sharply.
"It seems my very presence troubles you. I only came because I wanted to see you."
Bullshit. I hadn't met many royals, but... there was always a reason behind their words and actions. They never made idle chatter or paid visits just for friendly socializing.
"If you have business, please speak. I am ready to obey."
"Haha, you don't believe a single word I say. That wounds me..."
His smile and laughter were bright, without a single shadow. Yet the boy standing before me could slaughter every noble in this room with a single wave of his hand. He had the power and the authority to do exactly that.
Ivan parted his lips slightly, then went on.
"...And you already know the mission you've been given. Surely you won't pretend otherwise?"
Every anxiety, every worry I'd carried had just become reality.
The Imperial Family intends to purge Heilas and the Custoria family.
Even without direct orders from the Imperial Family, Kinuan and I could read their intentions. When the time came, we would have to move according to the Imperial Family's will, each from our own position.
That was what it meant to be an Akies Domini who had mastered Akies Victima—the Emperor's Watcher.
"I am aware."
I conveyed my reluctance indirectly. Ivan likely knew what kind of person I was anyway. There was no need to play the loyal doll by lying.
"Luka, I'm not like my father. My father is my father, and I am myself. This plan is my father's will."
I narrowed my eyes. Was Ivan telling the truth, or lying? Even my intuition couldn't tell.
...But if his words were true, it meant a sliver of hope—no larger than a fingernail—still shone for the Custoria family. Perhaps Ivan's own plans didn't include purging them.
Even if his words were a trap, I had no choice but to walk right into it.
"If you were aiming for my weakness, then I'd say you've succeeded."
By becoming part of Custoria, I had gained power and status—but I had also acquired a weakness.
Luka, the Irregular from the orphanage, had nothing to lose. But Lucaus Custoria did. I wanted to protect the Custoria family.
"From now on, don't trust anyone but me."
"I will keep that in mind."
I nodded. But I had no intention of trusting Ivan, either.
"Ah, and did you bring your weapons?"
Ivan asked, gazing out over the banquet hall.
Weapons.
An incredibly unsettling word to bring up.
"I brought a dagger and a pistol."
"You'd best prepare for battle. I'll take my leave now."
Ivan left the banquet hall after dropping those cryptic words. But I knew all too well that his warning was no joke.
I slowly awakened my combat senses. As my nervous system began to load, my body heat rose.
Beep.
My terminal rang. I frowned.
Heilas?
It was an emergency contact from Heilas, the Imperial Guard Captain. Whether I willed it or not, his message flashed across my retinal display.
– Word has leaked that you and Iskan killed the nobles. According to our intel, an ambush is imminent. Prepare yourself.
I suppose family is still family, however disgraceful. There were plenty of people out for revenge. That was why Heilas had tried to bury the information about Iskan and me.
But in the end, the secret had gotten out.
Whirrrrr!
A deafening roar drowned out the music and chatter of the banquet hall. An armed helicopter appeared beyond the glass windows.
Its searchlight swept through the hall, as if hunting for something. Finally, the beam stopped on me.
The people in the banquet hall didn't seem to grasp what was happening. Some, thinking it part of the event, even smiled brightly and waved.
Whir.
The machine gun mounted on the helicopter's underbelly rotated. Its muzzle aligned directly with me.
"This is driving me absolutely insane, seriously."
I threw myself to the side, scraping across the floor. The sharp crack of gunfire erupted.