Chapter 16: The Banquet
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 16: The Banquet
Aiden had just learned that bond types could change within the Weaver of Fate, but that wasn’t what shocked him the most.
— Additional copyable skills have been unlocked!
That single line demanded his full attention.
He had peeked at Katya’s skill list a few times before, but looking at it now, the sheer scale of it was mind-boggling.
Well, look at that.
Scrolling down the endless list, Aiden muttered to himself without realizing it.
He had only checked out of curiosity when the notification popped up, but…
Every single class is here?
Even in the original game, the main characters grew through vastly different routes, their paths diverging based on player choices.
In other words, despite their currently mind-blowing combat power, Noel and Katya were technically still at their starting points. As the main scenario progressed, their respective “specializations” would change depending on the paths they chose.
Noel, for example, could specialize in swordsmanship, physical enhancement, or even learn magic to become a magic swordsman.
Yet, the newly added skills on the list encompassed all of those specializations.
Normally, once a specialization is chosen, you can’t learn the others…
Aiden’s Weaver of Fate could only copy skills the target currently “possessed.”
But now, simply because their bond had evolved, the pool of copyable skills had expanded astronomically.
It was almost as if…
As if he could copy their entire “futures”—
“Your Highness, as I was saying…”
“I’m not going back.”
“…”
“More importantly, give me the aide position.”
A blunt voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
As if declaring she wouldn’t return to the Holy Kingdom wasn’t shocking enough, Katya’s subsequent demand made Noel massage her temples in exasperation.
Having discovered that Noel’s “aide” position—the person who would accompany her to all official events—was vacant, Katya had become relentless.
Thanks to her, a rather awkward standoff was currently underway.
Calling it a standoff was a bit of a stretch, honestly. It was mostly just Noel desperately trying to reason with Katya, who was letting it all go in one ear and out the other.
“It makes absolutely no sense for the royalty of one nation to behave this way in another, Your Highness. Customarily, culturally, administratively—”
“Aide.”
“—Which is why I keep telling you. Not only will it put the Empire in a difficult position, but Her Holiness the Pope of the Holy Kingdom will also be placed in an awkward—”
“Aide.”
“…”
“Aide.”
“…Please restrain yourself.”
Aiden uttered that last line upon seeing Noel’s hand slowly creeping toward her scabbard.
Her movement carried enough genuine bloodlust to make him think she might actually slash Katya, knowing the saintess wouldn’t die anyway…
Well, it’s still better than when they were trying to kill each other not too long ago.
Compared to the atmosphere back then, this was practically cute.
Still, it was a relief that Noel had such a forgiving personality. To treat someone who had committed such crazy acts with so little lingering resentment was genuinely impressive.
“Your current situation is a bit strange in the first place, you know?”
Whether she noticed Noel’s murderous aura or not, Katya spoke nonchalantly, clasping her hands behind her head.
“You two are going to be attending all sorts of official events as a married couple soon. How did you plan to handle those schedules without even an aide?”
“…”
She had a point.
Come to think of it, hadn’t Noel postponed appointing an aide, claiming she wanted to select someone truly outstanding?
“It’s weird. Attendants are one of the best ways to display your status. At your rank, not having one is practically begging for dirty looks.”
“Is it really that serious?”
“…It’s common sense in high society. Lionheart, how on earth are you treating your husband?”
Good grief.
Hearing the phrase “common sense” slip so naturally from Katya’s mouth was absurd enough, but seeing Noel clear her throat sheepishly in response was an even more bizarre sight.
“Before we attend official events, I can just handle the escorting and other minor tasks myself. I simply haven’t found anyone who meets my standards yet,” Noel said.
“Well, whatever the reason, the point is that if you don’t bring one along, people won’t look kindly on it.” Katya tapped her cheek as she continued. “Like I said, showing up to those places completely empty-handed only ruins both your and your husband’s reputations. Surely you know that?”
Finding nothing to refute that, Noel pursed her lips and fell silent.
“…I will just avoid bringing Aiden to those events as much as possible.”
“And what do you think people will say if you don’t even bring your husband-to-be to high society? Wild rumors about your marriage will spread like wildfire.”
“I will handle that myself. Neither Aiden nor I want him to get dragged into major affairs.”
…Wait, what?
Aiden stared at Noel in sheer disbelief as she stubbornly pressed her point.
“I don’t want to place that kind of burden on you, though.”
Thinking about it again, this woman could be so inflexible at times that it made him wonder how she had survived this long.
Yet, upon hearing his words, Noel’s eyes softened into a gentle curve, as if she had heard something completely unexpected.
“Pardon? But…”
“We can just go together. Wasn’t the whole point of marrying me to avoid being put in a difficult spot in those situations?”
“…That is true, but…”
“Then you should make use of me. I have to do my part, don’t I?”
Although their relationship had started under circumstances bordering on kidnapping, he could feel her sincere desire to help him at every turn.
Whether it was money or convenience, she always went above and beyond what was written in their contract.
Returning the favor wouldn’t be that difficult.
After all, he had heard that the reason she “hired” him in the first place was because leaving the position of her husband vacant would cause all sorts of trouble.
“Oh…”
Hearing his words, Noel hesitated, her lips twitching slightly. She looked as if she were agonizing over what to say for a long moment.
“Thank… you.”
“…”
Her reaction—making it seem as though she was entirely unaccustomed to receiving goodwill—left Aiden utterly speechless.
It wasn’t even a special favor, just a natural obligation, yet her visible discomfort was mind-boggling.
How on earth did she end up with this kind of personality?
It was truly fascinating how someone with her level of ability and status could have such low self-esteem.
Sighing inwardly, he continued.
“Then, if you’re not comfortable with Her Highness acting as your aide right now, can’t we just assign any random servant to the role and go?”
“Nonsense.”
“That is out of the question.”
Both of them shot down the idea instantly, as if it wasn’t even worth considering.
“An aide is someone who remains in close proximity to you at almost all times. No amount of vetting is ever enough. There is a reason I haven’t appointed anyone until now.”
“And the easiest professions for assassinating VIPs are chefs, tailors, secretaries, and aides, you know?”
“…”
It was the first time he had ever seen the two of them in agreement. Seeing them dismiss the idea so simultaneously made him realize just how dangerous high society actually was.
“…So, appointing just anyone as an aide is a no-go.”
“Exactly. That’s why I’m offering to do it. What is there to hesitate about?”
At Katya’s words, Noel shot her a sharp, sidelong glance.
“Are you not taking this far too lightly?”
“In the first place, the regular Imperial Palace banquet is coming up soon. Even if you skip other events, you have to attend that one, don’t you?”
“Even so, Your Highness becoming Aiden’s aide is an entirely different matter—”
“…No, actually.”
Aiden cut in, interrupting Noel. He stroked his chin, lost in thought, running calculations in his head.
“Actually, that might not be such a bad idea.”
“…”
Noel stared at Aiden as if she had been struck in the back of the head.
“What on earth do you mean—”
“If her being royalty is the issue, we can just hide it.”
“Pardon?”
“As long as we don’t get caught, right? There are plenty of ways. We could at least cover her face.”
“Oh, now you’re speaking my language.”
In contrast to Katya, who spoke with a broad grin, Noel pressed a hand to her forehead and spoke with difficulty.
“…Aiden, your attitude seems somewhat different from before.”
“No, it’s just that we need to leave a ‘good impression’ on people.”
“…Pardon?”
“It’s our first event together, so shouldn’t we do it right?”
“…”
Noel stared at Aiden with wide eyes.
She clearly hadn’t expected such words to come from his mouth, of all people. To her, it looked as though the man who usually went to great lengths to avoid anything troublesome was now welcoming a massive headache with open arms.
However, Aiden was in no position to ignore what had just been said.
While other official events might be negotiable, the specific schedule Katya had just brought up was impossible to skip.
The regular Imperial Palace banquet…
In the original game, it was merely glossed over as background lore, but digging into the details revealed its immense importance.
It was an event where not only members of the imperial family and powerful nobles, but also influential figures from other nations frequently made appearances.
In other words, there was an extremely high probability that key figures of the main scenario would show up.
Because…
— Skill Info
◈ Weaver of Fate
Only you know the truth of this world. Build bonds with key figures of the main story to obtain new rewards!
…It meant he would soon be able to put this skill to excellent use.
Now that he had a reason to actively intervene in the main scenario, collecting powerful abilities as quickly as possible had become far more critical than before.
And he already knew exactly who his first targets should be.
The Shrine Maiden. And the Imperial Prince.
The Shrine Maiden of Urgan, hailing from the Tribal Alliance.
And the legitimate heir to the imperial throne… who also happened to be the persistent suitor pursuing Dame Noel. The very reason Aiden was in this position in the first place.
These were major figures who exerted massive influence over the main scenario.
“…Aiden.” Noel spoke again, looking as if she were developing a headache. “I trust your abilities, and I am grateful that you are thinking of me. However, high society is a battlefield in more ways than one. It is a place where people will seize upon the slightest detail to find fault with you, so please reconsider.”
“When you say finding fault, what exactly do you mean?”
“Etiquette, customs, or even the subtlest glances and gestures—it is practically a tradition there to use anything to tear others down. Anyone who has never been to such a place is unlikely to have a pleasant experience.”
“…”
Seeing Noel speak with such bitter distaste, Aiden tilted his head slightly.
It was rare for her to express such a strongly negative opinion so openly.
How should he put it?
“This might be rude to ask, but do you happen to have had a bad experience?”
“…I cannot say I have any pleasant memories of it.”
At Noel’s stiff reply, Aiden smiled wryly.
Given her straightforward personality, she probably lived completely detached from underhanded schemes, delicate relationships, and politics.
And if that was the case…
“Then let me boost your confidence a bit.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’ll make sure no one can look down on you.”
It was his turn to be of help to Noel for once.
I need to stay on good terms with her anyway…
…He didn’t want to view people merely as skill vending machines, but even so, his “relationship” with her would remain a massive pillar crucial to his future survival.
In that sense, helping her was by no means a bad investment.
With that in mind…
Etiquette? Customs? Reading the room?
Unless it was a place where raw violence decided the victor, any arena where such things were used as “weapons” was practically Aiden’s home turf.
After all, what had been his livelihood in his past life?
And on top of that…
He knew of an ability that would give wings to his natural talents.
— Skill Info
◈ Weaver of Fate
…
『Lionel XIII』
— Bond: Level 1
— You can copy 1 skill.
The copy ticket he had obtained from the Emperor previously.
It was time to use it.
[ Copying ‘Unique Ability: Imperial Bloodline’. ]
* * *
In high society, where silence was a rarity, all kinds of rumors and stories inevitably drifted around, tangled together like a complex ball of yarn.
This was especially true for an event as grand as an Imperial Palace banquet, which drew elites from all across the Empire.
Rumors of which noble lady had dumped whom, or which high noble was having an affair…
While such venues served as hubs for backroom gossip, today’s banquet featured one particular topic that heated up the room more than usual.
“I heard the Imperial Prince is attending today’s banquet?”
“To be able to gaze upon his noble countenance once more… we are truly blessed!”
While there were many envied men in high society, it was safe to say none were as perfect in every aspect as the Imperial Prince.
Status, ability, appearance—he was remarkably young, and his position within the imperial family was rock-solid.
It was only natural that his mere attendance would become the talk of the town.
Just mentioning his name brought bright laughter and giddy excitement among the young noble ladies.
“Ah, there is one more interesting piece of news.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“I hear that ‘Lionheart’ is also attending today, accompanied by her partner.”
“…Ah, is that so?”
In stark contrast to moments before, a subtle tension settled over the table.
“Lionheart… She is a magnificent knight, indeed.”
“Of course.”
Though they spoke those words, their faces betrayed sneers of subtle displeasure.
She was indeed a remarkable person. To have established such a position through her own strength at her age was undeniably impressive.
However…
“…So she really does have a husband. I heard she got married, but I honestly thought it was just a baseless rumor.”
“I wondered who could possibly love such a violent woman, but I suppose there are men with peculiar tastes out there.”
The young noble ladies, who had little interest in complex political affairs, held very little respect for Lionheart, despite her being a knight who represented the nation.
Even her legendary military achievements in the war that had dragged the entire continent through the mud didn’t resonate much with them.
Despite her high standing, her stiff, old-fashioned, and closed-off attitude in high society had firmly earned her a reputation for being “arrogant.”
From Noel’s perspective, she was simply maintaining neutrality to avoid being swept up in factional struggles, but that was of no concern to them.
And above all…
“Let’s see just how outstanding this husband of hers is. To think she rejected the Imperial Prince’s courtship so many times for the sake of someone like him—”
The noble lady who had let her true feelings slip quickly shut her mouth under the sharp glares of her peers. No one there was foolish enough to not realize that speaking such thoughts aloud was far too indiscreet.
Yet, seeing that no one spoke up to disagree, it was clear they all shared the sentiment.
To think Lionheart had dared to repeatedly reject the courtship of the Imperial Prince—someone they could never even hope to approach—was deeply grating to them.
“Dame Noel Astria Seimurs of the Imperial Capital Command is entering!”
Speak of the devil, the woman of the hour was making her entrance.
The noble ladies covered their mouths with their fans, casting haughty gazes toward the entrance.
The first to catch their eyes was Lionheart, stepping into the hall with her usual expressionless face.
“…A uniform again?”
“How dreadfully old-fashioned. We’ve always known she has no fashion sense, but she could at least make an effort to pretend.”
To not even bother matching the basic dress code—she truly was arrogant.
Sharing these thoughts, the ladies soon shifted their gazes to the side.
And there, walking arm-in-arm with Lionheart, was her husband.
“…”
“…”
“…”
The noble ladies, who had been tearing Lionheart apart just moments ago, fell silent all at once.
In that instant, they were likely all sharing a similar thought.
…No wonder her standards were so high.
If having a husband like that had been an option all along…
Judging solely by appearances, such an assessment was entirely justified.
He wasn’t a sculptured beauty, nor was he a wealthy tycoon draped in obvious luxury. Superficial traits rarely elicited this kind of reaction anyway; high society was already overflowing with such men.
Rather, the man standing beside Lionheart was someone who, under normal circumstances, wouldn’t even fit in with this crowd. He would have been ridiculed as a commoner who had wandered into the wrong place.
And yet, he possessed the kind of “aura” usually seen only in the Imperial Prince they had just been discussing.
An air of sheer “dignity” that could only be felt from members of the imperial family.
At a single glance, he exuded an atmosphere that made it clear he was no ordinary man.
“H-His first impression is… quite decent.”
“H-Hmph.”
When one lady cleared her throat and offered that remark, the others let out reluctant snorts of agreement.
However, their evaluation was far from over.
Just because he looked dignified on the outside didn’t mean he was a man of high standing. Without proper ability or lineage, he would be nothing more than a pretty, empty shell.
While these thoughts crossed their minds, the venue’s guards stopped the couple as they attempted to enter.
“And the identity of the person beside you…?”
Lionheart’s usual escort was Dame Stella, well-known as her aide. But the figure currently beside them, clad in full plate armor with a visor that completely obscured their face, was a complete mystery.
Hence, the guard’s intervention.
“My aide.”
As those brief words slipped from Lionheart’s partner, an undeniable “proof of identity” flared up from the armored figure.
A colorless flame. It was small, but it was a “supernatural ability” that no one could fail to recognize.
Those who wielded Divine Power fell into two categories: royalty, and the Paladins bound to them by a Vow.
Since there was no way it was royalty, the figure standing there had to be a Paladin.
And the moment that conclusion was reached, a silence far heavier than before descended upon the hall.
Everyone watching closely—not just the gossiping noble ladies at the nearby tables, but everyone in the hall—was utterly shocked.
“…D-Divine Power…”
“A Paladin of the Holy Kingdom is serving as his aide…?”
Paladins were the most vital assets, reserved exclusively for escorting the royalty of the Holy Kingdom. They were the strongest military force the Holy Kingdom possessed.
Employing such a figure as a mere “aide” clearly proved that this man, at the very least, was treated on par with the royalty of the Holy Kingdom.
It was an immense luxury that even the highest nobles could never dream of enjoying.
“…”
“…”
The sound of someone swallowing hard echoed clearly in the quiet hall.
With just that single display, a new reality was firmly engraved into everyone’s minds.
The man standing over there might, perhaps, be the most “important” man in this entire hall right now.
* * *
— Skill Info
◆ Unique Ability: Imperial Bloodline
Members of the imperial family who are born with noble blood naturally exert an innate, overwhelming charisma that effortlessly captivates crowds. Whenever the user is noticed by a large number of people, the ‘Charm’ stat increases exponentially in direct proportion to the size of the audience.
Additionally, this ability automatically resists certain types of mental interference and psychological manipulation, while simultaneously triggering specific, pre-determined ‘actions’ to maintain an imposing aura so long as the effect remains active.
…Just as I expected.
Copying this particular ability had undeniably been the right choice.
Aiden thought to himself, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he casually observed the translucent, glowing system window that hovered unobtrusively before his eyes. The glowing text merely confirmed what his heightened senses were already telling him.
— System Message
[The vast majority of individuals in this location are currently focusing their undivided attention on you.]
[A significant number of individuals are feeling highly favorable toward you.]
[Conditions are currently optimal for the activation of the skill ‘Weaver of Fate’!]
Perfect.
Reading the glowing blue text of the system message, Aiden let out a cheerful whistle in the quiet confines of his own mind.
I knew that putting so much painstaking effort into dressing up and meticulously preparing for this banquet was the right call. It looks like my strategy of using Katya to make an overwhelming first impression was a complete and utter success, too. The entire atmosphere in the room has shifted entirely in our favor.
He swept his gaze across the opulent hall, noting the stunned and awestruck expressions of the gathered nobility.
Now, all that is left to do…
…is to quietly and efficiently scrape as many valuable skills as possible from the ‘key figures’ gathered in this hall.
As Aiden confidently strode forward with those calculating thoughts swirling in his head, a low, amused whistle trailed just behind him.
Clad from head to toe in heavy, gleaming full plate armor, Katya let out a muffled giggle that resonated with a metallic echo from deep inside her enclosed helmet. The sheer absurdity of the situation seemed to amuse her to no end.
“He said he was just going to boost your standing a little bit, but would you look at him? He’s completely in his element, swimming through these nobles like a fish in water.”
Her voice drifted over to Noel in a low, conspiratorial whisper. Perhaps the holy knight still harbored a petty grudge from their recent skirmish, because her tone was absolutely dripping with a wicked desire to tease the flustered woman.
“…”
Hearing Katya’s teasing words, Noel remained completely silent, simply reaching up to pull the brim of her hat down as low as it could possibly go.
It was a very clear, desperate sign that she had absolutely no intention of letting a single soul see her face right now. Given how a deep, burning shade of crimson had already spread to the very tips of her ears, it wasn’t hard for anyone to guess exactly what kind of overwhelmingly embarrassed expression she was currently wearing beneath that hat.
“At this rate, rumors are going to spread like absolute wildfire throughout the capital about what a remarkably wonderful and capable husband you have,” Katya continued, her tone laced with poorly concealed mirth. “You’ll never have to worry about being looked down upon by the snobs in high society ever again, Lionheart.”
“…Be quiet,” Noel finally hissed back, her voice trembling slightly with a mixture of profound embarrassment and helpless frustration.