New Year's Banquet (2)
"Uh… um… hello?"
What the hell is going on here.
Rosaria scrambled to make sense of the sudden turn of events unfolding right in front of her. One moment she'd been about to thrash the irritating creep who'd been hitting on her at the New Year's banquet — the next, a man had stepped cleanly between them.
"That's Bordergrave Bores…!"
Bores? That Bores?
The voices rising around her finally told her who he was.
Jin Bores.
The character Felix had told her about — a companion of the protagonist in Flame of Dawn. Felix had mentioned he was a regular with a considerable role even in the original story.
"I'd like a word with the young lady, if you don't mind. May I go first?"
His grip tightened —
"Ghk—!? Y-yes! Yes, I understand, so— my arm! My arm…!"
"Pardon me."
Jin Bores squeezed harder on the arm of the man he'd blocked, fixing him with a cold stare. The young noble's earlier bluster vanished on the spot; he crumpled into a pathetic, flustered mess.
"D-damn it…!"
When Bores finally released him, the young man clutched his forearm — already turning a deep purple — and fled.
"Ah, thank you."
"It was nothing."
Watching him go, Rosaria dipped her head in an awkward show of gratitude.
"But what brings you here, Bordergrave…?"
"While I was away in the north on succession business, some rather interesting things apparently took place at the Academy. I found myself particularly curious about you, young lady — so I came to find you."
"Ah… I see."
"Yes."
"………"
"………"
Without further preamble, Jin Bores sat down at Rosaria's table and stated his reason for seeking her out. A faintly heavy silence settled between them.
Is that it? Is he done? Does he have nothing else to say?
One of the people Felix had flagged as someone to watch had sought her out — and yet he simply sat there without another word. Rosaria tilted her head.
I can't read him at all.
She tried to parse his expression, but there was nothing to parse. From the moment he'd stepped between her and that man, right up to now, Jin Bores had maintained the same blank, expressionless face. His cold features carried a faint air of decadence, sharp and lifeless as a doll's.
"…Young lady. Your thoughts are written entirely on your face."
"Excuse me?!"
"When discussing important matters, you might consider wearing a mask."
"Ah… right…"
What is this guy's deal?
The completely unprompted critique of her expression only made Jin Bores harder to understand.
"Incidentally, you're quite the tough one. I'd heard the rumors about the Academy incident… and from what I just witnessed, those rumors appear to be true."
"I-is that so?"
"Had I not intervened just now, that young man would have left with at least one broken bone."
"Ah, haha…! So you stepped in on purpose to—"
"I have no particular interest in that young man. I simply didn't want a commotion preventing us from speaking like this."
"Ah… haa…"
"…………"
"…………"
God, this is suffocating. There's delicious food right in front of me and I feel like I'd choke on it.
Every time a conversation seemed about to start, it died mid-breath. She couldn't bring herself to speak, and eating felt like a recipe for indigestion. She was just beginning to wish she could escape the table entirely when—
"By the way, young lady. Did you leave your guns behind today?"
"Huh? Oh, yes. I couldn't exactly bring them somewhere like this, so I left them else—"
Wait.
She'd answered Bores's casual question without thinking — then felt something off.
Rumors about Rosaria's weapons had already spread far and wide. The extraordinary armaments that had subdued an intruder at the Academy in a single stroke. But among the Academy students, no one except Louis had ever called those weapons guns.
People of this world had no concept of firearms. At best, they thought of them as magic tools.
And yet.
This man just now. He definitely said "guns."
The man sitting across from her — Jin Bores — had clearly and deliberately identified her weapons as guns.
No way…!
"Hold on — how do you know about—"
The moment Rosaria caught the discrepancy and rushed to press him—
"Ah. I'd have liked to talk a little longer, but… it seems our time is up."
"T-time?"
"Well then. Until next we meet."
"W-wait a second! Wait!"
Jin Bores rose from his seat without warning, turned on his heel, and walked away.
And then—
Ba-ba-ba-baaam—
"Whoa?!"
Rosaria shot up from her chair to chase after him — only to clap her hands over her ears as a trumpet blast thundered through the ballroom.
Master of Mankind!
His Majesty Emperor Obina Magnus enters!
Creeeak—
As the herald's cry faded, the ballroom doors began to open.
Along the red carpet, ranks of knights and musicians stood in perfect formation to receive him. Attendants followed behind, holding the hem of a heavy crimson fur cloak so it would not drag upon the floor.
The first impression was of a sun rising — brilliant golden hair that caught every eye. Then came a face weathered by years yet still grave and resolute, and the countless golden ornaments and the crown that marked a sovereign.
Thud— thud—
The Emperor crossed the ballroom in silence. And yet each step carried a presence so heavy it defied description; not a soul dared open their mouth.
He walked the length of the hall and seated himself upon the golden throne.
One after another, the imperial family began to file in behind the Emperor. With every entrance the trumpets blared madly and the hall erupted in fervent reaction.
Time stretched on.
We're still only on the Fourth Princess?
Even after so much time had passed, the royals kept coming. Rosaria watched with growing indifference, muttering to herself. The Emperor's entrance had sent a genuine shiver of awe through her — but there were simply too many of them. Had they not streamlined the introductions for everyone but the Emperor, the whole procession would have taken even longer.
Ah — that's Rachel.
By then Rosaria's rigid posture had loosened, and the sight of a familiar face drained away what tension remained.
Looking at her like this… she really does look like a princess.
The Rachel she knew from the Academy had always come across as a polished noble elite with a mage-obsessive streak. Seeing her fully dressed for the Imperial Palace was something else entirely — a quiet dignity that never showed in everyday life. Maybe it really was true that the place made the person.
Just as the interminable entrance ceremony of the imperial family was finally winding down—
"…I trust you have all been well."
At last, the Emperor spoke.
"That our Obina Empire has prospered to this degree is, as I am reminded once again today, thanks to your tireless efforts."
His voice filled the quiet ballroom — weighty and resonant, just as his appearance suggested.
"This past year has seen no shortage of trials, yet through the labors of those present we gather once more for this New Year's banquet, and my heart swells with pride."
"As we welcome the new year, there are those among us who will brighten the Empire's future still further. Of these, I wish to commend the efforts of those whose deeds have reached my ears."
"Begin."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Ahem…! First — House Cromwell, Marquis Bel Cromwell!"
"May the Empire's glory be eternal."
After a brief exchange of greetings, the Emperor gave a slight nod to a minister standing a short distance ahead. The man drew a document from his breast and began calling out noble houses.
"House Cromwell has devoted itself to the improvement of the lands granted by His Majesty and to the apprehension of brigands—"
The New Year's banquet carried many meanings, but this was its greatest purpose: to gather the achievements of every noble house over the past year and praise them before the assembled aristocracy. The praise was not merely verbal — medals of honor and rewards were bestowed according to rank — but at its core, the ceremony was about prestige.
The real point, however, lay elsewhere. Simply being mentioned by the Emperor before every noble in the realm was enough to solidify one's political standing going forward. That said, truly groundbreaking accomplishments were rare within a single year, and the present banquet had long since become a closed league of those already holding seats of power — more formality than substance.
"Bordergrave Bores!"
"Jin Bores!"
When Jin Bores was called next and stepped before the Emperor, Rosaria watched him intently.
"May the Empire's glory be eternal."
"Ah, yes — the new head of House Bores."
"Yes. I have taken up a burden far beyond my measure."
"Raise your face and let me see you."
"…."
"The late Bordergrave… he was a truly reliable man. And of course, seeing his son grown so fine and now standing as head of the house — he would have been well satisfied."
"It is an honor, Your Majesty."
"And my word, you look exactly like him. Haha! The very image!"
Unlike the other houses, which the Emperor had passed over with perfunctory formality, he regarded Jin Bores with a distinctly different light in his eyes. House Bores held the barren northern frontier — the Empire's shield against the beasts and demonkin that might cross the border — and the Emperor's special regard for them was plain for all to see.
"The late Bordergrave and I shared many adventures in our youth. After he became head of house and departed for the north, we rarely met… but looking at you, I am reminded of my own younger days."
"I am far too meager a man for such comparison, Your Majesty."
"Well said, Bordergrave Jin Bores. Continue to serve as the Empire's steadfast shield."
"As head of House Bores, Jin Bores shall be the Empire's shield — and turn aside every enemy that comes."
"Haha! Bold as ever! Youth truly is a fine thing."
The Emperor seemed especially fond of Jin Bores, the son of the previous Bordergrave with whom he had clearly shared a close friendship.
As Jin Bores withdrew—
"Noona."
"Huh? When did you get here?"
"I've been standing behind you for a while. Mom and Dad are here too."
Felix had appeared behind Rosaria at some point and whispered in her ear.
"Next… House Evergarden!"
"Children, are you ready?"
At last, House Evergarden was called.
"Then let us go."
At Freya's words, the Evergarden family stepped forward as one.
The final act of the plan they had been preparing for so long was finally at hand.