The Royal Social Gathering
After the Alliance Conference concluded and Charles returned home, invitations to a social gathering hosted by the royal family began circulating through the high society of the Arno Kingdom.
This time, it was for the continent's first official Grand Master title — a rank the Western Alliance had formally conferred upon Lucian of their own kingdom.
Because he was of common birth, most nobles had privately looked down on Lucian when he was first named a Master. Even after he became a power player backed by the crown, approaching him had remained difficult. The houses that had coveted his martial strength from the start had found it equally hard to get close, since Lucian refused to participate in social activities.
But now the king himself was hosting a social gathering for the express purpose of arranging matchmaking for the newly elevated Grand Master. By royal decree, every young lady whose marriage had not yet been settled was ordered to attend without exception.
At that news, the lesser houses that had long hungered for Lucian's prestige suddenly found the fire at their feet.
Southern Arno, the Viscounty of Broua.
"Iris, this gathering is a golden opportunity. You will attend the banquet and secure a betrothal from Master Lucian no matter what."
"B-but Father! I have Sebastian—"
"Don't talk like a child! Nobles do not marry the people they want. They marry the people who benefit the family."
Sebastian's house, the Beaumont Barony, was an old knightly lineage. The Broua Viscounty, which had always needed martial strength, had cultivated good relations with them and planned to lock in a betrothal once Sebastian secured a decent position in the knight order. But the Beaumonts possessed neither wealth nor political influence beyond their sword arms. Compared to a Sword Master like Lucian, they were not even in the same conversation. So Viscount Broua had decided to try for Lucian instead.
To a man like him, the news of Lucian's elevation beyond even Master rank — and the matchmaking social that came with it — was nothing short of a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
"Why are you doing this?! You already knew about Sebastian and me! I won't go!"
"Iris, this is a royal command. Every young lady whose house has not yet formally settled a marriage must attend. That means you will bring the Grand Master into our family for the sake of this house."
"But… I don't even know who he is. I've never even met him…"
To eighteen-year-old Iris, the idea of a marriage for the family's sake was almost impossible to accept. She and Sebastian had been together since childhood, yet their houses had never formalized a betrothal. The future they had promised each other existed only between the two of them.
"For the family… what does that even mean…"
And so, young ladies who had never been formally engaged but already held someone in their hearts were forced to swallow their tears under the banner of duty to their houses.
"Marie, how do I look?"
"Perfect! You look as if you were born the heir of a high noble house."
At last the social gathering that would decide my public auction was only a day away, and Marie was giving me the final once-over.
"Hmm. My face is… well, it's something."
When I first reincarnated, I took one look at this body and thought I'd hit the jackpot. But this world is drowning in beautiful men and women. Looks that would have made me an alpha male back on Earth are just "pretty decent" here.
Still — decent looks plus the strongest martial power on the continent, and somehow I'm still a lifelong virgin who has never dated. Why?
"What do you think my problem is? Some tactless idiot in the knight order said my personality looks like the issue."
"Well, you are a little… unique, Lucian."
"Once you enter the singularity, no one ever escapes."
"Isn't that why no one ever goes in?"
This girl just hit me with a cowardly fact-check.
"Hey! Don't use stating the truth as an attack! What do you think the problem is?!"
"Hmm~… Nothing that big, really? Your status is Grand Master now, and even if your moods swing a little, you're actually quite gentle. I've seen far worse people."
Now that was the good stuff. Sure, I can be selfish, but I was raised with modern manners. How could I possibly be worse than these uncivilized medieval types? As long as some basic thug doesn't pick a fight first, I'm a perfect gentleman.
"Right? Marie really knows how to judge people."
"Maybe the reason you've been alone all this time is that you don't know how to judge people."
"I said stop attacking me with facts! Do you even know how dangerous a Factriot missile is?!"
"Enough nonsense. Go to bed early so your skin doesn't suffer."
"Fine. You go sleep too."
Marie left, and I tossed and turned for a long while, too excited about the next day to fall asleep right away. Eventually, sleep took me.
The day of the social gathering arrived. Several houses were scheduled to gather in the great banquet hall of the royal palace.
Sebastian, a newly inducted knight of the royal order, had been assigned gate duty at the banquet hall under the orders of the knight corps, paired with his senior, Jean.
"Good day, Senior Knight Jean. I am Sebastian. I'll be sharing guard duty with you today."
"Ah, welcome, rookie. First assignment?"
"Yes. My first as a full knight."
"Alright. Before we start, there are a few things you need to keep in mind."
Jean explained the precautions for standing gate duty, and they took their posts at once.
"By the way, does your house have any unmarried young ladies left?"
"No, sir. I'm an only child."
The Beaumont Barony, true to its upright knightly traditions, kept no concubines. One wife and one son to carry on the line were enough.
"Anyone you're betrothed to?"
"Yes. Our houses haven't formalized anything yet, but I plan to propose to Iris, the girl I've known since childhood."
"Childhood sweethearts, eh? Romantic. When do you plan to ask?"
"I'm still a rookie. Once I've settled into the order and gotten used to things, I intend to."
Jean remembered his own early days in the order and felt a pang of sympathy for Sebastian's situation.
"I was the same. Proposed a year after I joined."
"Do you think I can manage it?"
"You will. With the Grand Master around now, nothing too dangerous should come up."
Sebastian had always admired Masters as a knight, and curiosity about the Lucian he had never met welled up. He asked Jean.
"Senior Jean, you've known Master Lucian for a long time, haven't you?"
Jean had personally witnessed the moment Lucian was first named Sword Master, back when he himself was still a rookie. He had even accompanied the recent Alliance Conference.
"I was there when Master Lucian was first invested as Sword Master. I went with him to the Alliance Conference this time as well."
"What kind of man is Master Lucian? I hope he's a fine example for all knights."
"Well, his strength is obviously extraordinary. The man who beheaded four Masters alone is on another level entirely. But…"
"Is there something that bothers you about him?"
As one of the kingdom's Experts and a top-tier fighter within the knight order, Jean had faced Lucian more than a few times. The Lucian he knew was thoroughly self-indulgent and so indifferent he never even remembered Jean's face no matter how often they met. But was he fundamentally a bad person? Jean would never say that.
"He's… quite a bit unique."
"That doesn't give me much to go on…"
"It's hard to put into words. Master Lucian may be common-born, but he's always overflowing with confidence. Even facing nobles or royalty, he never bows his head. Sometimes it can come off as rude, yet he'll openly admit his own mistakes and apologize even to those beneath him."
"Belief in oneself… isn't that simply the mark of an excellent knight…?"
"From the way it sounds, maybe. But he's very different from the noble chivalry you're imagining. You'll have to experience it yourself."
That completely unpredictable, half-mad energy was something Jean's vocabulary simply could not capture.
"Still, he's no villain. Never that."
The vaguely positive assessment left Sebastian deep in thought. From childhood he had been raised by his knight father on the ideals of pure chivalry, and he had worked hard to become exactly that kind of man — a royal knight. To him, the Sword Master who was now Grand Master Lucian had been a shining example, a goal to aim for. Yet the evaluation from a senior who had watched Lucian from the very beginning simply did not land the way he expected.
"Snap out of it. Guests are starting to arrive."
"Ah—yes, sir."
The appointed hour came, and invited nobles began arriving one by one. The two gatekeepers checked invitations and guided the guests inside.
"Pardon me, but may I see your invitation?"
While Senior Knight Jean took the invitation and verified it, Sebastian stood ready in a guard stance.
"Confirmed. Count Roan and his daughter, please enter."
They continued their duty, chatting between arrivals, until something suddenly tugged at Jean's mind. He asked carefully,
"Come to think of it, what house is your fiancée from?"
"Pardon? The Broua Viscounty."
"I was under the impression every young lady without a settled marriage is attending this banquet. Didn't you say your houses still have no formal betrothal?"
"That's true, but our families have been close for a long time, and I've spoken with Viscount Broua himself. I don't think what you're imagining will happen."
Sebastian believed it without a shadow of doubt. Jean, however, felt a nameless unease settle over him.
"Then that's a relief."
Not long after, a carriage arrived. Jean recognized the crest painted on its side and chose his next words with care.
"I could be mistaken… but isn't that the Broua family crest on that carriage?"
Sebastian looked at the carriage now entering the palace grounds. It was unmistakably the Broua seal.
"No… why would Broua be here…"
"I think we need to hear the story."
Sebastian kept muttering that something must be wrong as he watched the carriage. Then the door opened, and out stepped Iris with a gloomy expression, followed by Viscount Broua, who looked thoroughly displeased with his daughter.
"You take this one. I'll watch from behind."
Jean handed Sebastian the chance to speak with them.
"…Thank you."
Viscount Broua approached with invitation in hand, his expression as bold as ever, and held it out to Sebastian.
"Viscount Gaston… Iris and I promised each other a future. What is the meaning of this?"
"Ah, Sebastian. I'm sorry it has to be this way, but it is a royal command. We never formalized a betrothal with House Beaumont."
"But you gave your permission back then, didn't you?"
"I merely didn't refuse. A better opportunity has come for Iris. If you truly care for her, you will step aside."
"…"
Sebastian stood frozen in silence, unable to process the situation. Senior Knight Jean stepped forward.
"The invitation is confirmed. Viscount Broua and his daughter, please enter."
"Yes. Do try to console Sebastian for me."
With that, Viscount Broua made to go inside. Iris looked back at Sebastian with a piteous gaze.
"Sebastian, I—ah!"
The viscount seized her hand and dragged her away.
"Sebastian."
"Senior Jean… what am I supposed to do…"
"Well… it's not really my place to interfere, but there's no rule that says she has to get engaged to Master Lucian, is there?"
"…"
"Something still bothering you?"
"My family has been a knight house for generations. And House Broua always seemed to want martial strength."
"Then I understand why they're suddenly acting like this."
"Even so, I cannot accept this situation."
Sebastian had known Iris for ten years. They had long since promised each other a future. He could not simply swallow this.
"It's certainly not a good situation. Judging by Lady Iris's reaction, she didn't come willingly. There must have been pressure to secure a betrothal no matter what."
"Would it be all right if I went to Master Lucian and asked him not to become engaged to Iris?"
"Don't. If she fails to secure a betrothal, she'll be blamed for failing her family."
"…"
"I'll speak to him myself. I can't think of a solution, but Master Lucian may know a way to flip the board entirely."
In Jean's eyes, Lucian was always lazy and treated everything as a nuisance — yet the words he tossed out so lightly often contained razor-sharp insight.
"And he hates people who toy with others' hearts more than anything."
With those words, Senior Knight Jean turned and walked toward the banquet hall.