Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: The Hilfenberg Banquet
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67
6
“…It feels uncomfortable.”
My throat felt tight.
I wanted to loosen the tight collar of my outfit a bit, but… I could feel Johan’s gaze on me, so I gave up.
The formal wear, tailored perfectly to my measurements, was incredibly uncomfortable.
It was a design that blended riding attire and a tailcoat just right.
The top was black, the bottoms white, accented with gold thread and gold buttons.
The fabric was impossibly soft, and the decorations weren’t overly flashy, which was nice.
Still, it was just as uncomfortable.
The clothes themselves fit my body perfectly and should have been comfortable…
But it felt like discomfort itself had been cut into cloth and made into an outfit for me to wear.
“I miss Choco…”
“Be patient. Animals aren’t allowed at banquets.”
Johan, dressed in a similar formal outfit, scolded me.
It was obvious to anyone that we were father and son.
On top of that, Johan pulled it off effortlessly, thanks to his striking features.
He was the epitome of nobility, like something out of a painting.
Anyway, Choco wasn’t with me right now.
No one could attend the banquet except the invited guests themselves.
Naturally, that meant no escort knights, no Memphis, and not even Choco.
Choco was sulking alone in the guest room.
Memphis… had bought something at the market yesterday and locked himself in the room ever since.
-I’m here, aren’t I?
How was a black sword allowed inside…
Well, who would suspect a sword could talk?
-Hmph. If you’re so unhappy, just skip the banquet.
I can’t do that.
I had to make sure nothing went wrong at this banquet.
-You troublesome guy… You always swear you won’t step up, and yet…
…
Coward. Hitting me with facts like that.
-Anyway, what’s this banquet for?
Oh, right. You wouldn’t know.
This banquet isn’t anything special.
It’s the twenty-fifth birthday of the Hilfenberg Duke family’s eldest son… Leon’s non-blood-related older brother.
-To gather this many people just to celebrate a birthday? I can’t comprehend it…
I agree.
Looking around, countless people were walking about in their formal wear.
Glamorous dresses, tailcoats adorned with all sorts of decorations, ornate swords that were clearly ceremonial…
Blending into the crowd, Johan and I walked along.
The Hilfenberg Duke family owned a mansion befitting their status… no, a full castle.
The garden alone was wide enough to fit two soccer fields, with patterns embroidered into the lawn.
There was even a strolling path at the back.
“We’ll check your invitation.”
As we reached the mansion entrance, knights blocked our path.
Johan handed over the invitation with dignified poise.
After confirming its contents, the knights lined up and saluted.
“Confirmed. Lord Agrit.”
“Please proceed inside.”
Creak… The mansion doors opened.
The Hilfenbergs had turned an entire section of the mansion into the banquet hall.
The moment we opened the doors, the vast hall spread out before us.
Walls embroidered with intricate patterns, numerous display cases and artworks, all illuminated by chandeliers.
Nobles chatted in small groups between neatly prepared round tables and buffets laden with light fare.
Ah, the ideal image of a banquet.
A refined, elegant venue for socializing.
But peel back one layer, and politics lurked in the shadows.
Thud!
The guarding knights struck the ground with their scabbards in unison.
“The lord of Tatron, Count Johan Agrit, and his eldest son, Theo Agrit, have arrived!”
The moment Johan stepped into the banquet hall, the knights announced.
Every gaze in the hall turned to us at once.
A sudden pressure weighed on my shoulders.
I’d known from my game days that this happened upon entering banquets.
No, but back then, you could skip it…
Experiencing it firsthand was… honestly cringeworthy.
Ironically, the scrutiny kept me from making mistakes.
Showing any weakness here could lead to trouble later.
Mindful of the pressure, I followed Johan as steadily as possible.
The first thing to do at a banquet was greet the host.
Johan strode forward with stately grace.
He stopped before a middle-aged man with wavy red hair cascading down.
“It’s been a while, Duke Lucius.”
“Thank you for coming, Count Johan. It’s been ages since the social gatherings.”
The man smiled warmly. He was Lucius Hilfenberg—the current head of the Hilfenberg family and Leon’s adoptive father.
But no matter how I looked at him, he didn’t seem a day over forty.
At most, late twenties or early thirties.
His vivid red hair looked painted on, his skin unmarred by a single wrinkle, refined yet sharp features, tall stature, and robust build…
Johan was one thing, but Lucius too.
What did nobles eat to age this gracefully?
Selling that secret alone could let them live leisurely forever.
“You must be Theo.”
Lucius eyed me.
He didn’t put on noble airs, but wasn’t overly casual either.
He struck the perfect balance to earn goodwill.
No needless pressure on me.
“I’ve heard plenty from Leon and Cain. Glad to finally meet you.”
“Pleased to meet you, Duke Hilfenberg.”
But he was a duke.
Even if he didn’t mind, the surrounding gazes were shackles.
I bowed deeply and politely. Lucius chuckled softly.
“I hear you’ve been making waves at the academy.”
“According to my son, it was just a bit of modest skill.”
“Hmm, so my son lost to ‘modest skill’?”
“Perish the thought.”
“Haha! Just kidding, Count Johan. Your seriousness is always amusing.”
Lucius laughed heartily and patted Johan’s shoulder lightly.
He seemed anything but ducal—refreshingly casual.
With a touch of exaggeration, it was like banter between friends.
No, more than that—when did Leon ever lose to me?
I was the one who got sent flying.
Excuse me?
“Ah, I should head over there. We’ve got plenty prepared, so enjoy the banquet.”
Lucius left with light steps.
I knew he was like that, but… hard to pin down.
As I watched Lucius’s retreating figure, Johan whispered lowly.
“The real banquet starts now.”
“Yes, Father?”
“This is your first time attending one since you were little. Plenty will approach you. Handling them properly is a noble’s duty and skill.”
What a hassle of a duty.
I wanted to slip away, but before I could, several nobles approached.
Marquises, viscounts, barons… They wanted to build connections with the Hilfenberg Dukes and other prominent nobles on this chance.
To them, I was prime prey.
Erica was only five, so when Johan stepped back, I’d be the next head of the Agrit Count family.
They figured early ties would pay off later.
Even somewhat notable nobles showed interest in me while meeting Johan.
Haha, hahaha—my service-industry smile strained my face.
This was bad.
I already wanted to go home.
“Thank you all for gathering!”
Soon, Lucius called out from the dais.
All eyes naturally turned to him, freeing me.
“I won’t bore you with a long speech. This banquet celebrates my eldest son Kuhn’s birthday. I’m not the star here, so let’s bring out the man of the hour!”
A man descended the stairs from the banquet hall’s second floor.
His red hair, like Lucius’s, was cropped short and swept back on one side.
The side part revealing half his forehead suited him perfectly—thanks to inheriting his father’s looks.
Tall and sturdy, he exuded elite nobility from every inch.
“Thank you all for gathering to celebrate my birthday. Esteemed guests, please enjoy the banquet at your leisure. I’ll come around to express my thanks personally.”
His voice was courteous, but his tone carried strength.
Kuhn Hilfenberg was truly the star of the evening.
Capturing everyone’s attention at once was a talent.
Well, that was for others.
I had zero interest in him.
Idly scanning the room, I spotted Leon trailing behind Kuhn.
The red-themed formal wear suited Leon well.
With his dark cocoa hair swept back to bare his forehead, he looked more mature than usual.
Strapping on his holy sword even now was so very Leon.
Well, I’d brought my demon sword too.
Leon was expressionless as always, but a subtle discomfort flickered.
Stare long enough, and you could read faint emotions even in that blank face.
Surprisingly, expressionlessness wasn’t empty.
Our eyes met briefly.
We exchanged a light nod, but then Kuhn glared at me.
Was it my imagination…?
No, Kuhn whispered something to Leon.
Leon’s face hardened—it was inevitable.
Those two didn’t get along.
To put it plainly, they were on bad terms.
Kuhn was the main reason Leon had learned to hide his power deliberately.
As an outsider bearing the Hilfenberg name, Kuhn had pressured Leon since childhood not to tarnish the family.
Even on his own birthday?
I couldn’t comprehend it… but meddling in family affairs was ridiculous.
Maybe I’d slip away now.
7
“Phew…”
A pleasant breeze blew on the terrace where I’d snuck out.
I planned to hide here… but someone stepped onto the balcony.
“…So this is where you were.”
“Didn’t expect you here either, Leon.”
Leon, looking weary, gave a faint smile.
Leaning on the railing beside me, he quietly gazed at the sky.
“Long time no see.”
“How long has it been since vacation started?”
“About… two weeks, yeah.”
We’d been so busy, yet only two weeks of break had passed.
Two more months of lounging ahead.
Vacation, hooray!
“More importantly, you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
Leon shrugged with a weak smile at my casual question.
He thought he’d hidden it perfectly.
His acting was near flawless.
But not enough to fool my eyes.
Suddenly adopted into the Hilfenberg family.
The eldest son ignored him at best, berated him at worst, and plenty of servants snubbed him behind his back.
Leon didn’t snap or ignore them back.
He just accepted the hostility.
Probably blamed himself for entering the family.
There were limits to being nice…
This guy had crossed them long ago.
“It shows, so drop the act.”
“…That obvious?”
“Not to most. But fooling me? You’d need a century. Anyway… If coming home is this tough, just come live with me.”
“I owe them too much.”
Leon just shook his head.
“So what? Plenty of ways to pay back.”
“True, but… I don’t want to leave this family yet.”
Stubborn as ever.
Lucius probably didn’t even see it as a debt, and Kuhn was just bullying him.
“Well, do what you want. Not my place. So, what’d Kuhn say earlier?”
For the first time, Leon went silent.
Must’ve been awkward to repeat.
“Did he say something harsh about me? Or insult your parents?”
Leon shook his head again.
Yeah, touching parents would’ve set even Leon off.
Self-insults? He’d brush them off.
“So, about me then?”
Leon suddenly clammed up.
That silence was answer enough.
He really badmouthed me?
I was just standing there…?
Huh, unbelievable.
I’d been quiet, and still got dragged in.
Why…?
“Haa…”
Something boiled inside.
Leon’s hesitation, me taking undeserved flak.
A strange anger overrode the annoyance completely.
After all, anger trumped laziness.
No wonder anti-aging products existed? Wait, no.
Sigh… No helping it.
“…Should we make him eat shit?”