Severed Ties and Banquet Evasions
“The banquet’s not far off now. Plenty of people must be waiting, so shall we head back?”
“If I go… if I go, they’ll just avoid me again.”
Rene’s words made Eden’s body stiffen rigid, leaving him speechless for a moment.
“That’s…”
“It’s true, isn’t it? Why are you avoiding me! We could just go back to how things were!”
Sadness, resentment, and anger mingled in Rene’s voice, growing louder with each word.
“Those carefree days are over, Your Highness. Compared to you, I’m far too insignificant a man.”
“Why are you doing this!”
“Since we’re on the topic, I’d ask that you refrain from meeting me like this. A princess belongs in higher circles.”
Rene’s body froze cold at Eden’s words.
“Un… Uncle? What on earth are you saying? You’re not going to see me anymore…? How could you say that to me?”
Her voice dropped low, trembling with icy fury.
But Eden’s resolve didn’t waver.
“It must be this way. It’s the path for both me and Your Highness.”
“When did I ever ask for that…? Don’t joke. Did Father threaten you or something?”
“No, it’s my own judgment.”
Betrayal, rage, and fear made Rene’s hands tremble like slender twigs.
“You… selfish bastard. You only care about yourself. Fine! Live well! Just live well!”
Rene fought back the tears threatening to spill and turned away.
Deep down, she hoped he’d stop her, but Eden didn’t move an inch.
“Bad man.”
Pain stabbed through her like thorns as she bit her lip hard and fled the scene.
“Did you really have to go that far?”
The corridor fell silent soon after, and Rosen emerged from the room, shaking his head.
“It was a conversation that had to happen eventually. If you don’t cut it clean, the pain just drags on.”
“I meant, was there any need to push her away like that? You could at least stay on good terms, even if not like before. His Majesty isn’t blocking it.”
“Master.”
Eden turned to meet Rosen’s gaze.
“I hate my life. This incident made it crystal clear.”
Rosen knew exactly what he meant and could offer no reply.
“I just want to live out the rest of it in isolation and die quietly. If that end serves the Empire, then I’ll have done my part.”
“If you’re that set on it, I won’t say more.”
“Please look after Rene. She seems tough, but her heart’s soft—she’s probably hiding somewhere crying right now.”
“And you know that, yet… Tsk, you’re a cruel one.”
Rosen clicked his tongue in disapproval at Eden’s words.
“You’re right. I’m a wretched man. If we meet again, I’ll pay my respects.”
Eden bowed his head in farewell and departed.
Left alone, Rosen sighed and shook his head.
“Human lives are so short, yet tangled and tormented like this.”
Even after over a century living among them, their pace was too frantic for Rosen to keep up.
“I’m Lorentina Haul, eldest daughter of the Haul Count family. It’s been two years since we last met, by my count, and you’ve grown remarkably splendid.”
No sooner had he arrived at the banquet hall than a swarm of unmarried women descended, just as his father predicted.
Among them was his eldest brother’s former fiancée, a face from Palan’s memories.
“It’s been a while. I hope you’ve been well?”
“Yes, I narrowly escaped marrying some weirdo and have been living a bit more at ease since.”
“H… haha, I see. That’s a relief.”
The weirdo’s obviously my eldest brother.
Tems seemed decent to his fiancée, from what I recall.
In this lottery of a world, Lorentina ranked high on the beauty scale, so Tems treating her well made sense.
“I was so worried about marrying that sleazy creep— you can’t imagine my relief.”
Her expression radiated genuine joy.
Palan’s memories of Tems being good to her must’ve been off.
“No need to worry about that anymore. You can take your time finding a new match.”
“Indeed. Have you decided on your first dance partner yet, young master?”
“First dance? Not yet.”
The opening dance signaled the banquet’s start, and for unmarried men and women, one’s partner carried weight.
“What if you danced with me, someone familiar? You don’t attend many banquets, so I could guide you.”
As Tems’s ex, Lorentina knew the family inside out and made her pitch.
Hm, not a bad idea.
First time seeing her through his own eyes, but Palan’s memories held plenty of encounters.
Yeah, go with someone I know—keep it easy.
It didn’t take long to decide.
“In that case, then…”
“Oh my! Isn’t that Major Palan Oclo?”
As he began to accept, a flamboyant woman with a high-pitched voice swooped in and grabbed his arm.
“Who…”
“Seirin Estel of the Estel Marquess family! I thought you looked dashing in the triumph parade, but up close, you’re even more striking.”
“Ah, thank you.”
What man hated compliments from a beauty?
He nodded, a touch embarrassed.
“I heard you haven’t chosen a first dance partner yet. What about me? I’d love to learn more about you.”
Her eyes curved slyly as she purred her offer—a textbook vixen.
“Lady Seirin, sorry, but Major Palan is dancing with me…”
“Pardon? He hasn’t agreed yet. Has he, Major?”
Lorentina tried to intervene, but Seirin whipped around, cutting her off.
Then she turned to him with the question.
Both women fixed their gazes on him—an awkward standoff.
Damn, banquets are war zones?
As he agonized over a response—each second stretching like a year—a saving voice rang out.
“His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Princess are entering! All pay homage!”
The stern knight’s announcement swung open the head table doors.
Conversations halted naturally as everyone turned.
Whoa, flashy.
The siblings entered arm-in-arm.
Not overly adorned, but every gem and their aura screamed elite.
Siblings linking arms? Bold move.
Normal siblings recoiled at mere contact, right?
Public duty forcing it, probably.
Only they knew the truth.
“She’s truly beautiful.”
Lorentina murmured beside him, entranced by the princess.
Yeah, unreal beauty.
Delicate features like a goddess sculpted with divine care, enhanced by makeup.
And that weary allure adds a decadent edge.
Undeniably the most stunning being he’d ever seen.
Doesn’t matter what’s inside. Tsk tsk.
Her restaurant meltdown had thawed some grudge, but first impressions lingered.
“The Empire’s sun and moon, His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress enter!”
The voice boomed two octaves higher than for the prince.
Men dropped to one knee; women in gowns bowed heads to the floor.
Thud! Thud!
Two sets of footsteps echoed in the hushed hall—the imperial couple’s.
“Rise, all.”
Only then did heads lift to behold them.
They went heavy on the regalia.
Where the heirs dressed light for revelry, the emperor and empress meant business.
No dancing for them.
Gems encrusted their thick coats.
He’d bet they’d sit through the whole event.
“Before the banquet begins, we gather to celebrate our Imperial Army’s stunning victory.”
The emperor’s opening address commanded total attention—ears perked for every word.
“Tonight, raise this first glass to the soldiers sacrificing across the fronts. To the Empire’s triumph!”
“To the Empire’s triumph!!!”
Shorter than expected, the emperor downed his wine with flair.
The banquet kicked off proper.
And naturally, Palan…
“Young Master Palan… Huh? Where’d he go?”
Bolted.
“Derek, there you are. Took me forever to find you.”
“Bro!”
Alone meant target practice again, so he stuck to Derek.
“This spot’s nice and quiet.”
“Haha, yeah.”
Soldiers ringed Derek—no women in sight, safe zone.
“Got surrounded by randos earlier—nearly died.”
“You’re one of the guests of honor, bro. Enjoy it—why hide here?”
“Not my scene. Drains me.”
Those two women’s glare-down had chilled his blood.
“Figures—you’re a soldier’s soldier. Banquets don’t suit.”
Derek nodded sympathetically, dead wrong.
What’s soldiering got to do with hating parties?
He wanted to correct him, but no time, and too many troops around.
“Just tired. Anyway, no ladies after you? You’re prime bait.”
Objectively, Derek outshone him—medal or not.
We’ve got cash, but their prestige? No contest. Younger, brighter future.
99% lock for Imperial Knights—guaranteed jackpot.
Plus great personality, handsome enough. How do girls resist?
If he were a noble dad with daughters, betrothal first, questions later.
“Me? Haha, nah. My match wouldn’t be at a place like this.”
“Oh, engaged already? Never heard.”
“Not yet. But family rule: only swordswomen for wives. They all know, so no takers.”
“Ah…”
Didn’t know that twist.
“Used to limit options big time, but women enlisting more now. Kinda hopeful.”
Derek looked faintly excited.
Guy was human after all.
“Any criteria?”
“Nothing strict. Father approves, that’s it.”
“Approval from the Imperial Knights’ Commander…?”
Toughest endorsement imaginable.
“Not like that. Just sees sword passion, y’know?”
“Oh, right?”
Real scrutiny, and Derek’d die single.