Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 16. Birthday Party (2)
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Is it because it's been so long since I wore a tie?
Just arriving at the imperial palace already feels suffocating.
"This kind of event is the last thing I want..."
The lavish eastern imperial palace in the capital looms before my eyes.
Nobles climbing the tall staircase.
Massive knights standing on either side of the steps.
Just seeing the bustling crowd makes me feel hotter.
"A birthday party this extravagant."
How much time passed?
The sound of clicking heels approached from behind.
"Sorry... I'm a bit late, right?"
Miya hurried over, breathing heavily.
She bent over slightly, clutching her waist as if her shoes were uncomfortable.
A deep green silk dress.
It clung to her body, accentuating her feminine figure.
Even if she's fallen nobility, she's still a noble at heart.
Unlike her decadent uniform look, she appeared far more refined now.
She had draped white silk over her arms.
It nicely concealed the training scars on them.
'No wonder her mana was so solid—consistent training.'
Lost in thought.
Senior Miya tilted her head and asked.
"What, can't take your eyes off me because I'm too beautiful?"
"No, because your body's tougher than I thought."
"Tough...?"
Her tear mole quivered.
Miya huffed and caught up to me.
"What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying I'm some brute?"
Not a brute.
If anything, she's on the beautiful side.
"Hurry up! I'm all skin and bones waiting."
As I stared blankly, Miya strode ahead alone.
'I just meant her mana was solid...'
Eastern knights lined up long on both sides of the stairs.
Their gazes focused on us.
Maybe because of that.
Miya, who had been striding confidently ahead, started to falter.
"Nervous?"
"No, not at all! It's just the usual escort duty—what's there to be nervous about!"
'She's super nervous.'
Well, can't blame her.
For a fallen noble like Miya, this was a prime chance to make herself known to the higher-ups.
"I'll teach you how to enter properly, so watch and learn."
After climbing all the stairs, a hulking knight guarding the entrance came into view.
Batsu of the Eastern Knight Order.
Exactly one year from now, he'd become the vice-captain of the Eastern Knight Order—a top rising star.
"Welcome to the banquet. Please state your names, and someone inside will guide you."
He extended a massive hand toward us.
He was clearly smiling, but maybe because of the helmet.
Shadows cast over his face made him look angry.
'Odd.'
Would they normally station this much muscle at the door for a party?
This must be Lydia's strategy.
She's turning nineteen this year—almost an adult.
On top of that, the emperor is frail and could die anytime.
In this situation, boldly placing her strongest force at the entrance...
It's a message to the attendees.
I've got this much power on my side.
Come join me.
"Ca... Capital Defense Corps, Miya Greta. This is Sir Veil Mikhail..."
The massive shadow looming over her.
Faced with Batsu's bear-like bulk, Miya shrank like a scared cat.
"Capital Defense... Capital Defense."
The doorman paused at Miya's words.
Then, as if something clicked, he smirked.
"Ah, you Capital Defense guys?"
Batsu's formal smile vanished.
He switched to a mocking tone, dropping the polite speech.
"No idea how Capital Defense made it here, but..."
He jerked his thumb lazily toward the banquet hall.
He'd personally guided every other guest so far, but ignored us.
"Just find a seat in the guest area or whatever."
'Look at this guy?'
Outright discrimination—infuriating.
In response, I clasped my hands behind my back and called out loudly.
"What, they even bothered giving us guest seats."
Calling it out right in front of him, Batsu's eyes flashed.
He scowled at my attitude, even more arrogant than his.
"Senior, let's go in quick. No one's even guiding us here."
I passed him leisurely.
Then tossed out a line for him to hear.
"The Third Imperial Princess's banquet's nothing special."
Hearing that.
Batsu turned his thick neck to glare at me.
"You... what did you just say?"
Ignoring his anger, I sauntered into the banquet hall.
Batsu stomped after me in his heavy boots.
"You think getting invited as a guest makes you a noble too?"
I teased him by pointing at the entrance with a finger.
"Whoa there, what's the point of a doorman leaving his post?"
Following noble ladies arrived.
They paled at the furious Batsu.
"Go guide them already. They're waiting."
"You... I'll remember your face. We'll settle this inside."
The Eastern saint ground his teeth and turned away.
He forced a smile and escorted the ladies.
'Yeah, whatever.'
No reason to fight him anyway.
Batsu would soon be crippled.
He'd enter the imperial tournament, lose to the crown prince's knight.
And sever a nerve in his leg in the process.
"Sorry, senior. I messed up right from the start."
I looked at her apologetically.
But senior's reaction was unexpectedly different from what I thought.
"No, you did great—"
She gazed at me warmly and smiled instead.
"Looked about our age, but what a rude punk."
In her dress, she spat out harsh words.
Yeah, this is the senior.
I'd almost forgotten her sullen, smoking face.
―――.
Entering the banquet hall, one table immediately caught my eye.
The guest seats with our nameplates clearly displayed.
Right in the center of the hall, no less.
As I sat at the prized guest table, all eyes turned to me.
The imperial prime minister, foreign minister, and others.
All heavyweights in the empire.
"Who are they?"
"No idea, but the nameplates say Capital Defense officers."
They don't know me yet with just topping the appointment ceremony?
Better that way.
I casually picked up peanuts from the table.
Pretended to inspect them with a disappointed face.
'No watermelon... Guess no seeds.'
"As expected of a soldier—such sharp eyes."
"Indeed, a true guardian of the nation. Even checking the banquet food so meticulously."
Guests watching from afar admired me.
They looked at me with eyes full of awe.
'What’s with those looks.'
Dodging the burdensome stares, I leaned back.
Then spotted the imperial seats on the second floor.
Overlooking the entire party hall.
And there...
Lea sat on a platinum chair, holding a teacup.
Unlike the tournament, she wore a dress with a plunging neckline.
Our eyes met, and she gave me a light smile.
That intense gaze made me choke.
"Pffft!"
"What's wrong, Veil? Too nervous?"
Miya asked brightly.
As if relieved she wasn't the only tense one.
"Don't worry too much. We're just guests today."
Right, just guests today.
Lowly knights treated as state guests, no less.
Ironic.
The rookie knight sits at the guest table, while seniors stand rigidly behind the princesses.
Their overlooking expressions were vicious.
Among them, the Radiant Knights guarding Lea.
Lydia's Eastern Knights too.
But...
'Who's that?'
Black uniform.
Gold epaulettes.
I remember.
The uniform I wore back when I guarded Irina.
But the face wearing it was unfamiliar.
'Her first recruit?'
Most boring so far, but this piques my interest.
I propped my chin, staring intently at the blond man.
'Looks like a first-year senior.'
Hair parted five-five.
Subtle blond with crimson eyes.
Clearly raised like gold or jade.
Plus, the robust mana emanating from him.
Perfect blue color, and an enormous amount.
'Talent's not bad.'
I stared at the man like he was my subordinate.
Miya whispered softly to me.
"Hey, junior. Why stare at the princesses' side like that?"
"Watching Irina's knight."
"Second Imperial Princess's knight...?"
Miya glanced up curiously at the imperial seats following my gaze.
Then realized who, her tear mole flickering.
"Ah, that's my classmate."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, one's a count's wastrel son. Allen Mitrov, I think."
Weakest princess with a wastrel combo.
Already disastrous...
"Allen was originally Lea's knight but got fired right away for fighting a senior."
Miya crunched on nuts from the plate.
Just hearing it gives me a headache.
Can Irina handle someone arrogant even under Lea?
Eyes screaming he's the strongest here.
That cocky gaze alone draws a sigh.
"But his skills are solid. Flashy at the appointment ceremony."
"Flashy?"
"Yeah, his main weapons are dual swords."
Dual swords—my face soured instantly.
"So romantic."
"Right—?"
Miya munched peanuts happily.
I pitied her.
"Romantic" was just a euphemism.
Dual swords...
He'd die first to arrows, not protect anyone.
I watched the second floor with mixed feelings.
Irina finally appeared.
She entered her seat slowly in a white dress.
Back to silver hair and green eyes, unlike her disguise.
Her dress remained simple as ever.
No jewels like the other royals.
Yet, her face still exuded imperial princess dignity.
A composed expression to not yield before others.
Sharp eyes too.
On formal occasions, she was the coldest empress of them all.
That's what I thought.
But...
"Hey, Veil...!"
The moment our eyes met.
Irina dropped her princess facade and beamed at me.
Friendly, like any childhood friend.