Chapter 110: The Mock Battle
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 110: The Mock Battle
“Wow… It feels like the whole world is here!”
Zant’s eyes went wide as he followed me into the palace court.
As if to prove the fervent excitement for the first mock battle in a long time, the garden in front of the palace was so packed with people from all over the kingdom that there was no room to even set one’s foot down.
“Jeez, try not to act like such a hick, will you? You’re embarrassing me.”
Piole chided Zant before subtly sidling up next to me.
Then, glancing at my intertwined hands with Eleanor, she whispered.
“What are you doing after the banquet…?”
“The mock battle is just a day away, so I have to practice.”
“Again…? Ah, no. It’s not that I don’t like practicing… but we’ve done nothing but train since we arrived in the capital, without even a proper look around. Don’t people need to rest, too?”
“Things will free up after the mock battle.”
Piole pouted.
I discreetly squeezed her butt, making sure no one else saw.
“I’ll visit you tonight instead.”
Piole’s expression brightened instantly. But only for a moment. As if realizing she’d shown her delight too openly, she snorted and whipped her head away.
“Do whatever you want.”
As she walked away, her steps were strangely light. The bouncy curve of her buttocks, accentuated with every step, seemed to be tempting me.
“You womanizer.”
Eleanor glared at me with a sullen expression.
“Well, this is hardly anything new, is it?”
“How can you be so shameless? I’m aware of your womanizing, but could you please exercise some restraint today? It’s not polite to your partner.”
“That’s a difficult request. I rather enjoy seeing you jealous, Your Highness.”
“There you go again, spouting nonsense! Why would I be jealous?”
“If you say so.”
I gave a nonchalant shrug. Leaving Eleanor to glare daggers and grind her teeth, I gestured to Dreng.
“I trust you’ve taken care of the mercenaries so they don’t feel left out?”
The cutoff for attending the pre-battle banquet was knighthood. The mercenaries, who were inevitably excluded, needed to be looked after separately.
I had judged Dreng, a knight of mercenary origin, to be the perfect man for the job and had entrusted him with it. And Dreng had carried out his mission perfectly.
“They’re probably acting like kings of the red-light district by now.”
“I suppose that’s better than a banquet full of people they have to be wary of.”
Dreng bowed his head and stepped back.
“Mademoiselle. Might I have a moment?”
The last of my knights, Muel, was busy hitting on noble ladies. The opportunist was once again seeking a chance to climb the social ladder.
His success rate, however, wasn’t very high. It was due to the fact that his looks weren’t exactly what women swooned over.
Aware of this himself, he had roped the handsome Zant into joining him, but it only backfired. The young ladies only had eyes for the handsome and innocent Zant.
The result was the exact opposite of his intention.
‘Still, his effort is commendable, so who knows.’
Don’t they say God helps those who help themselves? There were surely people with unique tastes in the world, so his chances weren’t zero.
I passed through the garden and entered the palace. From here on out, it was the real deal, and the attire of the banquet attendees changed dramatically.
The women were adorned with expensive silk dresses and jeweled accessories, while the men showed off their shapely legs in flamboyant coats trimmed with lace and the latest fashion, silk stockings.
Both sides looked like peacocks with their feathers fanned wide in a courtship display.
Compared to them, Eleanor and I were dressed rather plainly. Still, the face is the ultimate accessory. The moment we entered the grand hall, all eyes were on us.
“Wow… what a beautiful couple.”
“A lost cause, though, isn’t he? Look, they’re holding hands.”
“My, how shameless. Young people these days have no sense of decency.”
“Countess, if you’re jealous, just say so.”
“Hmph, he’s just a country bumpkin from the south, anyway.”
“Oh my, you know who he is?”
“The King and Dresden joined hands this time, didn’t they? The king’s knight in that story is that man right there. And the woman… don’t tell me, is that the princess?”
“The sister the king kept hidden away? I heard she was sent far away to recuperate…”
“Recuperate, my foot. He sent her into exile because he was afraid. Weren’t there all sorts of unpleasant incidents when the princess was at court? That’s why rumors of her being a witch started. The fact that the court quieted down after she was exiled only made those rumors spread further.”
They tried to whisper behind their hands, but their voices were loud enough for everyone to hear. The murmuring spread like wildfire.
Eleanor squeezed my interlocked hand even tighter.
“Is the atmosphere at a banquet always like this?”
I had expected our presence to become a hot topic for gossip.
The King and the House of Dresden, who were practically arch-enemies, had joined forces, and at the center of it all was a mere knight no one had ever heard of.
Eleanor’s existence, after more than a decade in seclusion, must have also stirred their imaginations.
The problem was that they were whispering so openly.
Bronx II was a powerful grand lord, and by joining forces with Dresden, he had become even more influential.
Ordinary nobles should have been walking on eggshells. But the situation was the complete opposite.
How was I to interpret this?
“That’s Countess Genos. She was once my brother’s staunchest ally.”
“Meaning she isn’t anymore?”
“She’s his ex-wife’s mother. My foolish brother couldn’t keep it in his pants and turned a powerful ally into a powerful enemy.”
They say the sense of betrayal is often several times greater than the trust that was broken.
Eleanor shot me a look and continued.
“This isn’t just someone else’s problem. If you let your lower half run wild without understanding the interests of each family, you’ll find yourself in a corner in no time.”
“Are you jealous? Even though you know I like it when you are?”
“I’m worried it will harm Aenya.”
Eleanor drew a firm line.
I shrugged.
“Don’t worry. I’m not foolish enough to be distracted by other flowers when I have the most beautiful one right beside me.”
“Spoken like a true womanizer. You think that’s going to make me happy?”
“Then how about this?”
I pulled on our clasped hands, drawing Eleanor into my arms. Before she could react, I stole a kiss from her forehead.
“Are you… are you crazy!?”
Finally breaking free from my embrace, Eleanor shot back, glancing around nervously.
The noblewomen who had been badmouthing her were now staring with wide eyes, cooing with delight.
Wasn’t the romance between a highborn lady and a dashing knight with nothing but his body to his name the classic trope of the knight novels popular among women?
Seeing a scene from their imagination brought to life, they couldn’t help but get excited.
I deliberately wrapped my arm around her waist. Since I had let go of her hand, she didn’t know what to do and pressed herself closer to me.
It was only natural that the noblewomen’s gasps grew louder.
“I was just staking my claim. It seems there are a few louts eyeing what’s mine.”
My words about her being the most beautiful flower were not an exaggeration. And beauty always incites the greed of men.
From the moment we entered the banquet hall, quite a few men hadn’t been able to take their eyes off Eleanor. Louts who would approach her the moment they got a chance.
I was warning them whose she was.
“Honestly. Why am I yours?”
“I was just trying to make others believe so. It would be troublesome if you started receiving requests to dance.”
Dancing is an indispensable part of any banquet. And it’s customary for partners to dance only the first and last dance together, stepping aside for others in between.
But that was impossible for Eleanor, due to the side effects of her ability.
“Now that I’ve made such a public display of affection, no one will take issue with me monopolizing you, Your Highness. At worst, they’ll just curse my name.”
“Even if you were drowning, your mouth would still float.”
Despite her sarcastic remark, she didn’t seem particularly upset.
In fact, she had been excited since this morning. It was because she was attending a banquet for the first time in a very, very long time.
She took my hand that was on her waist and interlocked our fingers again, then took the lead and guided me forward.
Unexpectedly, she knew many people and was well-versed in court politics and the interests of the various families.
“I thought you were in seclusion because of your ability’s side effects.”
“I didn’t live with my ears plugged.”
Eleanor’s tone suggested she didn’t want to talk about this topic any further. Perhaps being forced into seclusion had made her even more sensitive to news from the outside world.
I changed the subject.
“By the way, it seems quite a few people hold a grudge against His Majesty.”
Besides Countess Genos, whom Eleanor had mentioned, there were many others who looked down on us. Looking around the entire hall, it seemed to be eight or nine out of ten people.
There also seemed to be an invisible line drawn between those who did and those who didn’t, a palpable distance.
“What noble would like a powerful king?”
Unlike her, who spoke of it as if it were nothing, I felt a sense of tension. It was like facing a volcano on the verge of eruption.
I discreetly listened to the conversations around me.
“Who would have thought the King and Dresden would join forces?”
“Tell me about it. The King’s power is growing too strong. This is by no means a favorable turn of events for us.”
“He is an ambitious man. If he gains any more power from this, who knows what will happen…”
“He might even proclaim himself Emperor.”
My actions, connecting the King and Dresden to obtain the County of Broua, were leading to an increasingly uncontrollable outcome.
Now, there were more nobles wary of the King than of a future that would not come. Considering this was one of the factors that led to the Great War…
‘The probability of the Great War breaking out is increasing.’
It seemed more preparation was needed. Of course, for now, I had to focus on the banquet. Just then, the musicians changed to a tune suitable for dancing.
As if on cue, noblewomen and young ladies took to the floor with their partners.
I didn’t remain idle either.
“Your Highness. Shall we have a dance?”
“If you step on my foot again, I won’t just stand by.”
Eleanor stomped her foot, as if to say she would stomp on mine right back.
“It will be different this time.”
“I highly doubt that.”
Eleanor looked unconvinced. It was because I had two left feet—or more accurately, no sense of rhythm—and hadn’t managed to master even a simple dance despite two weeks of effort.
As we reached the dance floor, she whispered.
“I’ll let it slide once or twice.”
“There’s no need for that.”
I quickly grabbed her waist and closed the distance. She placed her hands on my shoulders, getting into the starting position, and looked up at me.
“A man’s bravado…”
The smile on her face was surely one of ridicule.
I paid it no mind and took a step. At that moment, the world began to slow down.
What others would feel as a fleeting instant became a long stretch of time for me, enough to check Eleanor’s foot placement and observe the skilled dancers around us for reference.
“H-How…?”
Eleanor’s eyes, which had been mocking me while also tensing up in fear of being stepped on, went wide.
Right after her turn, I grabbed her waist and pulled her in close.
She flinched as our lower bodies pressed together. Her flushed face, reminiscent of a newly blossomed flower, was surely not just from the dance.
“Just enjoy this moment.”
Eleanor gently pushed against my chest and spun away again. The mocking smile was gone, replaced by the smile of someone enjoying herself.
As for me, thanks to the slowed world, I couldn’t enjoy the rhythm and speed of the dance, but I was content just seeing Eleanor genuinely happy.
“What happened? Were you tricking me this whole time? Stepping on my feet on purpose?”
“A misunderstanding. I’m just strong in practice.”
“I don’t think so… Tell me the truth. I’ll forgive you if you do.”
When I shrugged, Eleanor lightly stepped on my foot. She widened her eyes and put on an apologetic expression, but the corners of her mouth were twitching.
“Is that a challenge?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’ll regret this.”
Just then, the song changed. It was a slow, sultry tune.
I instantly wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her in. We were so close we could feel each other’s breath. It was a position no different from an embrace.
“This is… too close!”
Glancing around, she looked up at me with a flushed face. The corners of her eyes were trembling.
“And yet you’re not pushing me away.”
“Well… it would look bad, wouldn’t it?”
She averted her gaze when I looked down at her pointedly.
I chuckled and moved to the music. It was a slow, simple song, so this time I could enjoy the dance as well.
Eleanor, who was following my lead with her face buried in my chest, whispered softly.
“Thank you…”
When I glanced down, she avoided my eyes again and whispered.
“After I learned about the side effects of my ability, I thought I’d never be able to attend a banquet again. Dancing with a partner was something I couldn’t even dream of. I was trapped by iron bars that neither power nor money could break. That’s why… this moment feels like a dream to me.”
“I’ll take my reward in bed.”
Eleanor’s fine brow furrowed. She grumbled with a deep sigh.
“Honestly, is that all you ever think about?”
“Any man would react the same way if he were holding a woman as beautiful as you in his arms.”
“You’re truly incorrigible.”
“I’d like an answer, though.”
Eleanor averted her gaze slightly and mumbled something with her lips. I couldn’t hear her voice, but it was answer enough.
Looks like I’ll have to postpone my promise to Piole.
“Understood.”
“…I didn’t say anything.”
“Sometimes, things can be understood without words.”
Eleanor didn’t deny it. As soon as the song ended, she fanned her face with her hand and fled to a corner of the banquet hall. Of course, her hand was still interlocked with mine.
The unwelcome guest arrived just as we were drinking the prepared beverages.
“Lady Eleanor. I thought your first partner would be me, your fiancé.”
He was a middle-aged man with sharp, predatory eyes and a large frame. Though I’d never seen him before, he felt strangely familiar.
“I’m not sure what past you’re referring to, Lord Aron Eldritch de Dresden.”
Eleanor said, glancing at me. She was a wise woman.
By stating his full name, she warned him to watch his words and also informed me of his identity.
As if that explanation wasn’t enough, she quickly added.
“Besides, for a man who has a child to bring up a broken engagement? It’s not only rude to me, but also to your wife, my lord.”
“My heart remains the same as it was then, my lady.”
“As does mine. Our past engagement was merely for the benefit of our two families, irrespective of my feelings.”
This was an excuse meant for me.
I playfully squeezed and released her hand as a sign that it was okay.
I had expected some bug, drunk on the flower’s scent, to ignore my warning and overstep its bounds.
After all, men become infinitely brave in front of women.
However, the eldest son of Count Dresden was unexpected. He was to be my brother-in-law.
“Still, for old times’ sake, you will accept my request for a dance, won’t you?”
“What to do? I’m afraid I don’t know the next song, so it would be difficult to accept. I’m also tired from dancing two songs in a row.”
Though she put it politely, it was a firm rejection.
“Then may I look forward to the song after that?”
Aron continued to pester her as if he didn’t understand. It was one rudeness after another.
I saw another motive at play.
It was because while he was talking to Eleanor, he kept glancing my way. It seemed his target wasn’t Eleanor, but me.
“It will be an opportunity to more clearly display the alliance between the royal family and Dresden.”
He was deliberately pestering her in front of me, even after I had put on such an intimate display. I didn’t know the reason, but my prospective brother-in-law was provoking me.
What was certain was that this was not Count Dresden’s will. To gain the throne of the northern continent, he would need all the help he could get.
Eleanor gently tugged on our clasped hands. She wanted me to step in like a knight in shining armor.
But why should I play along when his objective was so obvious?
I whispered to Eleanor so my prospective brother-in-law couldn’t hear.
“What was the reason the engagement was broken?”
Eleanor shot me a look as if to ask what that had to do with anything. But only for a moment. When I just stared at her silently, she had no choice but to whisper in my ear.
“It was because of my ability.”
She added that it was more precisely because of the rumors that she was a witch.
So he was asking her to dance even though he knew about the side effects of her ability? Convinced that I was his target, I nodded and straightened my posture.
My prospective brother-in-law’s expression hardened slightly at seeing us whisper right in front of him.
Talk about double standards, considering who had been rude first.
I held out my interlocked hand with Eleanor’s toward my prospective brother-in-law.
“I will yield the next turn to you.”
Eleanor glared at me as if she couldn’t believe it. Her face turned beet red, as if she were about to breathe fire. Just as she was about to open her mouth—
“Uh, um… well.”
My prospective brother-in-law’s flustered voice came out first. It seemed he finally realized that Eleanor, too, understood he had approached her with another motive.
“Since Lord Aron desires it so, I’ll push myself.”
Eleanor released my hand and offered hers to my prospective brother-in-law.
He reflexively took a step back. As if that wasn’t enough, he turned his gaze to one side of the banquet hall.
At the other end, Bronx II, who must have entered the hall at some point, was clicking his tongue.
How was I to interpret this?