Yustia Banquet (14)
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
A graceful girl with shimmering silver hair made her entrance,
and the small click of her heels echoed through the banquet hall.
A pure white dress trailed behind her like smoke.
Her steps were elegant, exuding refined poise.
The silence was so profound, it felt like no one dared even breathe.
Even the piano playing softly in the background came to a halt.
Astoundment, bewilderment, disbelief, suspicion.
These were the emotions filling the gazes fixed on the petite girl.
The nobles, utterly dumbfounded, couldn't hide their fluster.
"……Serena Yohayden……."
"She really came……."
"How could a Yohayden show up at a Yustia banquet……."
"Th-this has never happened before……."
Everyone trailed off, staring at the girl with faces frozen in shock.
Most of the people here were nobles aligned with the pro-Yustia faction.
Yet not a single one took Serena's appearance lightly.
The Yustia and Yohayden houses—longtime rivals locked in fierce competition.
Two ducal families so evenly matched that neither could claim clear superiority.
And she was the Yohayden's youngest lady.
Serena, her expression resolute, lifted her chin slightly and locked eyes with the red-haired girl.
The banquet's hostess spoke first.
Iriel Yustia.
"Lady Serena Yohayden."
"Yes, Lady Iriel Yustia."
"What brings such an exalted person to this humble gathering?"
"I received an invitation to the banquet, so I came to accept it. Gracing this lowly place with my presence, no less."
Ha.
Iriel snorted and turned her head away.
The pro-Yustia nobles watched her, eyes brimming with eager anticipation.
She could feel everyone's attention riveted on the exchange between her and Serena.
Tch, what a pain—I can't crush her here like I want.
Iriel curled one corner of her mouth and spoke softly.
"The exit's that way, if you're leaving?"
"Oh my, hand out an invitation and then chase me off right away? Is that the Yustia way? We'll have to learn from you in Yohayden."
"Spouting such shameless words must be the Yohayden way, then. We have much to learn."
Their tones were aristocratic and ladylike, but the words themselves hid razor-sharp blades.
The two ladies traded barbs without yielding an inch.
"Serena Yohayden, do you truly understand what it means for you to show up here?"
"Of course I do. Perfectly well. I've shattered the long unspoken rule between Yohayden and Yustia."
"And you still had the gall to come?"
"Well, the person I wanted to see is here. What can I do? With him present, I had no choice but to come."
Hah.
"You really know how to put a person in an awkward spot."
Serena let out a deep sigh and shook her head as if she had no choice.
"The person you wanted to see?"
"Yes. And I wanted to introduce him to everyone, too. To show just how precious he is to me."
A person precious to Serena Yohayden?
Her mere appearance was shocking enough, but these words were even more extraordinary.
Names of the First Prince, the Second Prince, or high nobles flashed through their minds in succession.
"So, I'm borrowing this occasion to make the announcement. Gathering people myself would be such a hassle."
"……!"
"Why, this much is fine between us, right?"
Grind—
Iriel knew this situation was a meticulously scripted play.
But seeing that infuriating smirk as Serena mocked her for using the Yustia banquet—it ignited a real blaze in her chest.
And that genuine reaction made her performance all the more convincing. No one suspected it was all prearranged with Serena.
At last, Serena scanned the room and fixed her gaze on one spot.
"Zeke Clayman."
Serena called Zeke's name.
"My savior."
She flashed a dazzling smile.
"Come to my side."
Zeke trudged over to her at her call.
The crowd's eyes followed him.
Zeke stood stone-faced beside Serena.
"Allow me to introduce him to you all. The swordsmanship instructor at Lamieli Academy, Zeke Clayman."
Serena spread her arms wide.
"This man saved my life on the way to enroll at Lamieli Academy, when monsters attacked and I was in mortal danger."
She swept her gaze over the audience, reading their varied expressions.
"Therefore, to all gathered here, in my name—"
—touch the instructor,
"in my family's name—"
—and see what happens.
"I declare that I will protect Zeke Clayman."
—Think carefully. Yustia.
"Savior……?"
"So he's the rumored swordsmanship instructor, Zeke Clayman."
"Black hair, black eyes—must be from a northern noble house."
"……Hah, he doesn't look that old. To think he's already on Lamieli Academy's faculty at that age."
"I hear Lady Iriel Yustia and even the Second Prince are in his class?"
"The First Prince attends indirectly, from what I hear."
"No wonder…… I saw him talking with the First Prince earlier."
After Serena's shocking announcement, a brief awkward silence passed.
Iriel quickly signaled for the music to resume, as if to regain control, and the guests buzzed with talk about Zeke Clayman.
The youngest instructor ever at Lamieli Academy.
The man who hadn't shown his face at the entrance ceremony.
The one who thrashed the Second Prince.
The one connected to the First Prince.
Rumors about Zeke had been circulating quietly before,
but this was the first time he'd stepped forward so publicly.
His youthful looks and icy aura.
Or rather—
[Why make such an announcement here, at the Yustia banquet?]
She'd appeared right as the dancing was about to start, as if on cue.
Everyone assumed she'd come to ruin the banquet.
They'd expected barbs at the royals or provocations against Yustia.
So this left them all puzzled anew.
But those in the know from Yustia were stunned.
Hades in particular, who had planned to approach Zeke soon, stiffened.
'Zeke Clayman is Yohayden's savior? But that guy is definitely…….'
He glanced at Iriel, but her bitten lip suggested even she hadn't anticipated this.
'He's using Yohayden as a shield to dodge Yustia's pursuit…… to protect Lady Iriel…… But this complicates things.'
They'd agreed to leave him at Lamieli under the condition of monitored contact.
But with Serena stepping in, even that was now tricky.
Yohayden had declared protection—casual approaches were off the table.
'Damn it. I should have met him sooner and talked.'
Prioritizing the Lost Hope pursuit had delayed Zeke, and that was a blunder.
Just then, he spotted the First Prince approaching Iriel.
"Iriel Yustia."
"Yes, First Prince."
"May I have this dance?"
The First Prince extended a hand to request a dance from Iriel.
But his stiff expression suggested other motives.
"Yes, gladly."
Whatever the case, dancing with the First Prince bolstered her position.
Iriel lightly took his fingertips.
As they moved to the music, the First Prince whispered to her.
"What was that about? Zeke Clayman as Serena Yohayden's savior?"
The First Prince cut straight to the chase.
"……I don't know either."
"This isn't good. Not good at all. Iriel Yustia—wasn't Zeke Clayman your plant?"
The leisure was gone from the First Prince's face, fresh off his recent humiliation by Zeke.
He spoke as if reproaching her for failing to control her own asset.
And since he'd openly backed Second Prince Rosnante,
this raised the possibility of Yohayden aligning with the Second Prince too.
That's why he'd come to Iriel Yustia.
Iriel glanced sideways at Serena while dancing.
She saw Zeke kneeling on one knee before Serena, requesting a dance.
Grind.
"……I'll ask him later, so please don't pry into what I don't know?"
"……My apologies to the lady. Hmm?"
The First Prince tilted his head slightly.
"By the way, Iriel Yustia. Has your temperament changed? If rumors hold, it's odd for you to stay this composed……?"
"You thought I'd slap Serena Yohayden across the face!?"
"Hmm? And you're fine with your man defecting to Yohayden?"
Iriel swallowed hard.
'The First Prince was said to be sharp.'
"Ha, First Prince, that's amusing. As if Zeke Clayman would ever betray me?"
Iriel stared piercingly into the First Prince's eyes.
Since it came straight from the heart, her voice brimmed with conviction.
The First Prince's pupils dilated for a split second.
"……N-no way……. A sp—"
Shh.
Iriel pressed her index finger to his lips and winked.
"You mustn't say more than that, Prince. Speaking of which, you don't seem yourself either. Is this your true face?"
"……!"
The First Prince realized he'd failed to hide his desperation.
But he had no choice.
'Damn it. That bastard Zeke Clayman is tied to both Yustia and Yohayden.'
The two most powerful factions among his supporters.
The pampered heirs of those houses,
both entangled with Zeke Clayman.
Touching him was now even riskier.
The First Prince could almost hear Zeke's parting whisper echoing in his ear.
[One more thing: after tonight's banquet, you'll come seeking me out again. Let's talk then—with a better attitude.]
'Damn it.'
The First Prince bit his lip.
Then, a bolt of realization struck his mind.
'Wait. What if I secretly contact Serena Yohayden and reveal Zeke Clayman as a spy?'
That might force a rift with Iriel Yustia and Zeke.
They'd back the Second Prince inevitably, but if he could pull Yohayden firmly to his side……?
Winning over one of two evenly matched powers meant no loss.
Ilouis Leonine gazed coldly at the beautiful red-eyed girl dancing with him.
'Yes, you'll have to be my sacrifice, Iriel Yustia.'