Chapter 14
Chapter 14
No One Cares About Me in Reality, but Everyone’s Looking for Me on the Plaza!
The carriage passed through the gates of the capital.
The dazzling imperial city spread out before me as we rolled along the grand avenue.
At the end of this road—
the imperial palace awaited.
From afar—
cheers erupted.
A massive bonfire rose into the sky, signaling the start of the eve festival.
“…So this is how it begins.”
The closer we got, the more I felt the pressure.
Every noble.
Every gaze.
Waiting.
“Master Ian, we’re almost there!”
The coachman called out.
I adjusted my clothes.
Prepared myself.
Once we passed the palace gates—
there was no turning back.
“…What a ridiculous tradition.”
Every noble had to arrive by carriage—
step out in front of everyone—
and be loudly announced.
Public spectacle.
One by one.
Until all had arrived.
“Am I in some kind of romance novel or what…”
I muttered.
But—
that didn’t matter.
“…This is going to be exhausting.”
We reached the queue.
Carriages lined up endlessly.
Each noble receiving applause—
cheers—
attention.
Then—
my turn.
“Eldest son of Baron Haiger! Ian Haiger has arrived!”
I stepped out.
Clap… clap…
Weak applause.
Murmurs.
“Haiger? Who?”
“That fallen family?”
“Nothing special.”
Just as expected.
No one cared.
The attention vanished instantly.
“…Yeah. Figures.”
I walked in quietly.
Ignoring the whispers.
“Pathetic.”
“They’re only alive thanks to the Empire.”
“Look at that carriage…”
I clenched my jaw—
but said nothing.
Not worth it.
“Focus.”
I came here for a reason.
To rebuild the family.
Not to argue.
I grabbed a glass of champagne—
and scanned the room.
“…No interest.”
No one cared about a normal-difficulty climber.
Of course.
Those are common.
To stand out—
you needed at least Hard.
“…Too bad.”
I couldn’t reveal the truth.
So—
I sat in a corner.
Eating.
Watching.
“Still… they’re definitely searching.”
Groups of nobles.
Moving systematically.
Gathering information.
About KimHunter.
“…They even asked me.”
Subtle questions.
Any strong climbers in your territory?
I answered—
no.
And they left.
“…They don’t suspect me at all.”
Exactly what I wanted.
And yet—
strangely disappointing.
All that worry—
for nothing.
“…Maybe I’ll check the plaza.”
I almost laughed.
At a grand imperial party—
scrolling a forum in the corner.
Reality vs online.
Completely different worlds.
“Quite overwhelming, isn’t it?”
A voice interrupted.
I turned—
A beautiful noble lady sat beside me.
Elegant.
Composed.
A glass of wine in hand.
“…It is.”
I answered carefully.
She wasn’t ordinary.
Her approach alone proved that.
“Sometimes, in places like this, I’d rather sit quietly and browse the Climbers’ Plaza. Everything there feels… more refined. Filtered.”
“…You’re a climber?”
“Yes. Not a very impressive one, though.”
Humble.
But sharp.
“And you are as well, aren’t you?”
“…You know that?”
“I overheard earlier. My apologies.”
“…No problem.”
So she knew.
But that was fine.
“I wanted to speak with you.”
“…With me?”
“Yes.”
Her smile—
was dangerous.
Too perfect.
“…Strange.”
Why me?
Then—
“Eldest son of the Haiger family. Ian Haiger.”
She knew my name.
Not surprising.
But then—
“I remember when the Haiger count family came to the Empire.”
“….”
My expression froze.
Count.
Not baron.
She knew the past.
The humiliation.
My father—
begging for survival.
“…You know quite a lot.”
“I was young. But I remember.”
Which meant—
she wasn’t ordinary nobility.
“…My mistake. I should have asked your name first.”
I straightened.
Composed myself.
“You’re quite captivating. It made me forget.”
She smiled.
“I’m Lien Obury.”
My heart dropped.
Obury.
The ducal house.
The very people—
looking for me.
“…Of course.”
I kept my expression steady.
No reaction.
No slip.
“An honor.”
“Flattery won’t help you.”
She said lightly.
But her eyes—
were sharp.
Observing.
Testing.
“…So this is how it begins.”
Had she noticed?
Or just probing?
I couldn’t tell.
And then—
“Lady Obury!”
A man approached—
interrupting us.
I glanced at him—
wondering—
whether this interruption—
was luck.
Or the start of something worse.