A Banquet Full of Veiled Eyes
Vehtsa Kingdom.
Positioned on the edge of the Gaia Continent where it bordered the Minerva Kingdom and the Mars Empire, the kingdom faced the vast Okeanos Ocean to the east. Because the ocean shaped its destiny, trade flourished here. Vehtsa had become the continent’s greatest trading nation, its fleets carrying goods between the Gaia Continent and the Uros Continent across the sea.
Trade brought wealth, and wealth brought power. In Vehtsa, power had accumulated until it was the strongest among the five kingdoms of the Gaia Continent.
Yet even in Vehtsa, the greatest noble family stood out: the Bathory Ducal House. It was the ancestral home of the hero who was widely regarded as the strongest in the current age—Elfride Bathory.
“Have you called me, Father?”
“…Yes. You’ve come.”
After parting from Abel, Elfride had returned to her family’s main house in Vehtsa’s capital, Poculum, on the summons of the house head. She had come to ask why she had been called.
“You came without a moment’s rest?”
“It is fine. But why summon me to the main house?”
Elfride asked the question with a tone of suspicion. If the reason had been trivial, her father would have seen it in her eyes and let her return. The Duke Bathory, however, noticed nothing and spoke to her.
“Hmm. As you know, the Crown Prince’s birthday approaches soon. You already know that, don’t you?”
“…Yes, I do.”
“Attend the banquet. I know the Hero is busy, but surely you must attend the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet?”
Though displeased by the order, Elfride understood her father would be furious if she refused. She nodded reluctantly.
“Very well.”
“Good. Think carefully. Go and rest. The banquet is tomorrow evening.”
“Yes.”
Leaving the Duke’s study, Elfride sighed. Then she frowned at a voice that reached her mind directly. She ignored it and turned toward her room, only to stop again. She could not silence the constant chatter.
“Luna, you’re loud.”
Luna was the name of the ego that dwelt within her own Holy Sword of Trust. The Sword of Trust paid no heed to Elfride’s scolding and kept speaking.
[I’ve been asking since earlier whether you’re going to the banquet, and you’re ignoring me! So, are you really going? Then I’ll see lots of handsome men, won’t I?]
This was not a voice coming through the ears but one reaching her mind. It was the ego of the Sword of Trust speaking to her.
“…Yes, I have to go.”
[Kya~! I’m so excited! You always refuse the banquets, so I’ve been so bored! Ah, I’m looking forward to it!]
“…What is there to be bored about?”
[Don’t you know? We egos have likes and dislikes too, just like humans! Ah, right. Since you’re talking about handsome men, I want to see that guy. The one who was just made a Hero!]
Abel’s name caused Elfride to halt mid-step.
[He really is handsome, isn’t he? I’ve seen plenty of men, but I’ve never seen one like him—someone who looks like a beautiful boy. And his hair is that rare, shining white! I was shocked when I first saw him!]
Despite Luna’s rapid-fire words, Elfride did not interject this time. She judged that a portion of what the ego said was true.
In truth, even Elfride found Abel exceptionally handsome. She had grown up surrounded by the noble daughters of great houses, yet his appearance still surprised her.
His personality was also fine. The other Hero, Revius, had a handsome face too, but his character was the problem. Abel had none of those flaws: kind, pure, and possessed of every quality a Hero should have. It was almost unbelievable that such a man existed.
[Isn’t that right, Elfride?]
When Luna asked, Elfride could not deny it.
“…Some of what you said is accurate.”
[Right~? I’m not making this up. I wonder how he was born like that. Did his parents have exceptional looks? Probably. Beauty is mostly inherited, after all…]
Again, Elfride shook her head and headed toward her room while Luna continued her chatter.
The next evening, Elfride attended the banquet celebrating the Crown Prince’s birthday as planned. She appeared as the representative of the Bathory House, alongside her father, the Duke.
When the two most influential members of the kingdom’s greatest noble house appeared, every Vehtsa noble felt a flicker of tension. Especially Elfride, who rarely attended such gatherings.
Her cascading golden hair shimmered like starlight, and her blue eyes were as clear as an unclouded sky. The pure white dress she wore that evening harmonized beautifully with her skin, lending her an ethereal beauty.
Even the Crown Prince could not look away. When he saw the two approaching, he spread his arms in welcome.
“Duke Bathory, welcome. Ah, Lady Bathory, you’ve come as well.”
“I offer my sincere congratulations on your birthday, Your Highness.”
“Congratulations, Your Highness.”
The two spoke with perfect courtesy, and the Crown Prince, Serhio, smiled with delight.
“Elfride, go and mingle with the others. I will speak with His Highness for a moment.”
“Yes, Father.”
Elfride stepped aside. As she withdrew, the Duke Bathory and the kingdom’s leading power-brokers gathered around the Crown Prince.
[This is the same as always…]
Elfride quietly found a corner and waited. As a Hero she was famous, yet as a noble she rarely left the main house, so she had few close friends. Consequently, few people bothered her.
“Lady Bathory, you are as beautiful as ever today.”
Of course, some approached purely to bask in her reputation. The man before her now was one such example.
His gaze held calculation and impure intent. Elfride’s Holy Sword of Trust let her see through such intentions.
“Speak plainly. Terhnak, son of an earl.”
Elfride did not like this type.
“Plainly? I only wished to know you better, Lady.”
“Then please return. I am a little tired and would prefer to be alone.”
The clear dismissal made Terhnak lower his head in embarrassment and leave. The other earls, witnessing the scene, lost their courage and gave up approaching her.
[Wow! He’s so handsome and you kicked him out!]
“Who sent him out…?”
If it had not been the Holy Sword of Trust, Elfride would never have known the man’s intentions. Yet the sword itself was now chiding her. She found the situation ridiculous.
[Humans build relationships on trust, yet you let someone approach without any? You’re still naive…]
[There was one. I saw it too.]
The ego protested.
[That one was special! Most humans aren’t like that!]
[Maybe there are more like him.]
[Ugh, what fairy tale did you learn the world from?]
At that moment, Elfride noticed a familiar face. Short-cropped red hair, narrow snake-like eyes, and a sword at the waist—all instantly recognizable.
It was Revius Grossphel, the other Hero from the Minerva Kingdom. The reason he stood here was obvious.
[Who…? Ah, Revius! Revius is also handsome. If only he weren’t so prickly… I wonder if I still prefer the guy I saw earlier over men like Revius?]
“Your taste does not interest me, Luna.”
Unlike Elfride, who had brought only Cynthia, Revius had brought his companions. Elfride wondered why he felt the need to parade them at a noble gathering, but Revius clearly wished to show off his status.
[What a useless display.]
[What are you muttering about?]
“Nothing.”
Perhaps because he had stared too long, Revius noticed Elfride’s gaze and realized he had been found out. Smiling faintly, he approached her with his companions.
“Elfride, it’s been a while!”
“…It has, Revius.”
Revius greeted her warmly. The Holy Sword of Trust detected no hidden motive in him; he truly rejoiced at their reunion.
Yet the joy was not as pleasing as it once had been. Elfride knew why.
Revius was a member of the noble Grossphel family of Minerva Kingdom. That explained his attitude. He did not view anyone outside the nobility as an equal. He had shown disdain for commoners more than once, treating them as tools or livestock.
His affection for Elfride arose from the same worldview.
Elfride was not a commoner; she was the eldest daughter of the Bathory House, the greatest noble family in Vehtsa.
“I heard the news. You’ve defeated another Barbatos-class monster in Habsburg City. You are truly formidable, Elfride.”
“You don’t need to flatter me. Honestly, I’m not sure whether what I did was right.”
Revius looked puzzled by her answer. Yet he did not press further.
“Is that so? Still, you did save Habsburg City. Congratulations. You will undoubtedly receive a substantial reward at the next regular report.”
“…Yes.”
“By the way, I heard a certain person was there when the monster appeared in Habsburg City.”
“Certain person?”
Elfride did not immediately understand whom Revius meant. She assumed he was referring to Abel, but there was no reason for Revius to call him that.
“A Hero who came from the empire. Abel… was that the name? Honestly, I can’t even remember it clearly.”
“Abel. As you said, we fought together.”
“We fought together? That’s impossible. How could a Hero who has only just been appointed be able to fight a Barbatos-class monster?”
“That is not what I meant. We saved people together.”
“Ah, so… you defeated some middle-class monsters, I suppose.”
Elfride frowned slightly. The way Revius spoke subtly diminished Abel.
“It was only recently that I became a Hero, so I can’t be blamed. Rather, I am proud that I answered the call to save people despite my lack of strength.”
“…Elfride, you are far too pure for your own good.”
At those words, Elfride’s expression turned instantly cold.
“…What do you mean?”
“Would a pure Hero like Abel really have come with such innocent intentions? He probably used your achievements to sneak in and seize some credit.”
“…What?”
“You know commoners are like that, don’t you? They swarm toward any opportunity. Even as a Hero, the core is still a commoner. What is there to change? He came here hoping to ride on your back and claim even a little glory.”
Revius turned to his companion.
“Isn’t that right, Natalie? What else could explain a Hero who has only just begun fighting middle-class monsters?”
“Er… yes, you’re right. But Revius, that….”
“Natalie, what’s gotten into you?”
Natalie looked ahead with cautious eyes. Revius read her expression and turned forward, startled.
Those blue eyes were glaring at him with icy hostility. Seeing Elfride clearly displeased, Revius frowned.
“Elfride? What is the matter…?”
“Revius, do you remember when you first became a Hero?”
“Why the sudden question… Of course I remember. At that time, I received much help from Elfride.”
“What reason did I have for helping you?”
Revius still looked bewildered, but he answered.
“Because… we were fellow Heroes, of course.”
“That is what I thought you knew.”
Elfride narrowed her eyes and spoke in a freezing voice.
“Yet you, who claim to know that, still cannot help your successor and instead keep belittling him?”
“…Elfride, are you defending that commoner Hero?”
Elfride gave a short, mocking laugh.
“Whether commoner or noble—what does it matter? A Hero is a Hero. In that sense, Abel is more of a Hero than you.”
Revius’s brow twitched.