The Banquet
Before I could even unpack after arriving at the detached palace, the maids Edwin sent arrived with my formal attire.
Right behind them came Clara, perhaps to supervise the fitting.
"There's going to be a massive crowd at the banquet tonight," Clara said.
"..."
"Now that it's known you're staying in our kingdom, emissaries from the neighboring countries have been waiting since yesterday, hoping to get on your good side."
"Ah... right..."
The outfit Edwin had sent wasn't a standard tuxedo or typical party attire. It was an Arzen military uniform, the kind usually worn by nobles of knightly lineage.
I knew exactly what this meant. By dressing me in Arzen's colors, Edwin was making a statement to the foreign dignitaries: The Hero wears our uniform; therefore, he belongs to Arzen.
But...
Though it resembled a military uniform, it was adorned with so many ornate decorations that it was bound to draw everyone's eyes. I felt a distinct wave of reluctance.
"It suits you so well, Hero!" Clara squealed.
"..."
"I think this looks much better on you than a tuxedo."
"Um... Princess?"
"Yes?"
"Shouldn't you be heading to the banquet hall ahead of me?"
For a while now, maids had been whispering in her ear, likely urging her to make her entrance. Yet, instead of leaving, she lingered by my side, adjusting my clothes and waiting for me.
"Me? I was waiting so we could go together."
"Pardon?"
"Well, you don't know the way to the banquet hall on your own..."
I could just ask the maids to guide me...
"And I thought you might get bored without anyone to talk to..."
Actually, I'd love a few moments of quiet reflection...
"Besides, if I'm not by your side, the noble ladies will surely pester you!"
I'm already feeling plenty pestered right now...
"So that's why I waited!"
"Ah... I see..."
I had a good idea of why Clara was going to such lengths, but since she hadn't actually confessed or laid her feelings bare, it was difficult to reject her outright.
Showing discomfort or presumptuously telling her not to like me could easily backfire and create an awkward mess.
"Let's go, Hero!"
Once the final adjustments to my uniform were complete, Princess Clara took my arm and led me toward the palace banquet hall.
Looking out the window on our way, I saw a massive traffic jam of carriages carrying nobles and royals from neighboring kingdoms. Inside the banquet hall, the sheer volume of guests generated a palpable, stifling heat.
"This way, Hero..."
The moment I stepped inside, I felt the intense gaze of nobles eager to introduce themselves. A few noble ladies attempted to approach, just as Clara had warned, but they quickly retreated after catching one look at her glaring daggers at them.
Back when I first became the Hero, the Empire had made me stand on platforms to deliver grand speeches. This time, however, I had firmly protested to Edwin. We agreed that I would simply stand by his side and exchange polite greetings with the visiting royalty and nobility.
"You're here?" Edwin slipped beside me and spoke in a low voice.
"Yeah," I replied, my eyes scanning the crowded hall.
"People are going to start swarming you soon."
"I know."
"Don't worry, I didn't send invitations to the Aether Empire, the Jeremiah Kingdom, or the Elf Kingdom, just as you asked."
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
To prevent my former party members from showing up, Edwin had excluded their respective nations from the guest list entirely. He had also strictly instructed the palace guard at the gates to turn away anyone attempting to enter without an invitation.
"It is an honor to meet you, Hero."
The first guest to approach was an Arzen noble dressed in a uniform similar to mine.
"Ah, Carlos, let me introduce you," Edwin said. "This is Duke Berris, our kingdom's Prime Minister."
"Pleasure to meet you," I said.
Duke Berris bypassed the formal greeting to grasp my hand, letting out a hearty laugh.
"My, my! Seeing the Hero in our kingdom's uniform truly makes you look exceptionally dashing!"
"Haha, thank you for the compliment."
"The former King and Queen have also expressed their desire to meet you privately when things quiet down. Please make some time for them in the near future."
"Of course. Please let them know I am happy to visit whenever it suits their schedule."
Duke Berris had served as Prime Minister long before Edwin took the throne. I had heard he was a close friend of Edwin's father, the former king.
"Ah, and Your Majesty."
"Yes, Duke Berris?"
"The former King asked me to deliver a message..."
"A message? What is it?"
"He said... to bring him the Crystal Whiskey while he's still asking nicely."
"..."
Wait... is that Crystal Whiskey the same one Edwin, Kir, and I drank together at my cabin a few days ago?
"Tell him... I will buy something even better and visit him soon."
"I have delivered the message as requested."
"..."
Edwin's face darkened. Seeing his expression, Duke Berris, satisfied that his duty was done, slipped back toward the other nobles.
"Greetings, Hero. I am Count Rochelly of the Horon Kingdom."
"Ah... yes. Greetings."
"We sincerely welcome you to the northern part of the continent."
"Thank you. I am glad to be in such a wonderful place."
The Horon Kingdom. I recalled they were Arzen's neighbor and had clashed over territory in the past. Recently, however, they had been struggling heavily due to the surge of monsters following the resurgence of the Demon King's army.
"If you ever have the time, perhaps you could visit our kingdom..."
Count Rochelly trailed off, casting a wary glance at Edwin. Given their historically strained relations, Edwin was hardly going to look kindly on a neighboring nation trying to recruit his Hero.
"Haha, I understand. I'll make sure to visit sometime."
"Yes... we would be deeply honored."
"Is something troubling your kingdom?"
"Well... to be honest, over seventy percent of our land is mountainous, making it a breeding ground for monsters. Lately, their numbers have surged—likely due to the Demon King's influence—and we are facing severe difficulties."
"I see. I understand the situation. I'll slip away and pay a visit when my friend here isn't looking."
"Thank you, Hero! Thank you so much!"
Count Rochelly bowed repeatedly in gratitude before departing. The moment he was out of earshot, Edwin began to grumble.
"Are you seriously planning to go to Horon? We aren't even on good terms with them. They're obviously using the monsters as an excuse to win you over."
"That's why I referred to you as 'my friend.'"
"??"
Edwin didn't seem to grasp the nuance, but Count Rochelly surely had.
By calling Edwin my friend, I had signaled that our bond was too close for them to try any underhanded recruitment tactics.
Furthermore, saying I would visit when Edwin "wasn't looking" was a roundabout way of stating that I wouldn't go without the king's implicit consent.
"Honestly, how do you expect to rule a kingdom like this..."
"You know, if the knights behind us heard that, they'd throw you in prison for treason."
"Sure. Then I'd just break out and head straight to Horon."
"I'm calling Clara."
"I'm sorry..."
I couldn't win against the threat of Clara. I apologized immediately, prompting Edwin to chuckle and pat my shoulder.
"Hey, she's coming. Get ready."
"What? Who?"
Edwin gave me a subtle nod. A moment later...
"It's been a while, Hero."
The person who approached was someone I knew all too well. It was Imperial Princess Cecilia of the Fiore Empire—the dominant power of the north, which had nearly gone to war with Arzen on multiple occasions.
"Have you been well, Princess?"
"Yes. But more importantly, I heard you went through some rather unfortunate events..."
"..."
"If you were facing such troubles, you should have come to our Empire instead."
"Ah... right..."
With her long silver hair and sharp, piercing eyes, Princess Cecilia exuded a fierce, almost aggressive beauty. Even as she offered me words of comfort, she kept casting pointed glares at Edwin.
"You must visit the Empire next time. I have a few private matters I'd like to discuss with you..."
She stepped closer, tracing a slow line with her index finger from my shoulder, down my chest, and toward my stomach.
"Princess Cecilia? Excessive physical contact is strictly prohibited."
"Pardon? Me? I have no idea what you're talking about..."
Clara, who had been chatting with some nobles in the distance, suddenly materialized and lunged between us to confront Cecilia. In an instant, a crowd gathered to watch the sparks fly between the two women.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Edwin and I quietly slipped away to the terrace, sipping our wine as we watched the spectacle unfold.
"Those two never change..." I muttered in amusement, having witnessed their clashes before.
Edwin, watching beside me, spoke up quietly.
"She might be a princess now, but the next time you see her, you'll probably have to call her Empress."
"Empress?"
"Yeah. She's currently the leading candidate for the throne of the Fiore Empire."
"The leading candidate?"
"Yeah. She's not a woman to be underestimated."
Outmaneuvering her numerous siblings to secure the position of crown heir was no small feat.
And Clara, who stood her ground against such a formidable woman without flinching, was equally impressive.
As we watched the two trade verbal barbs, a knight approached in a hurry and whispered something to Edwin.
"What? Here?"
"Yes, Sire. They are currently waiting at the castle gates and demanding entry."
Edwin gave a quiet command to the knight, his voice too low for me to catch. The knight bowed respectfully and quickly left the banquet hall, heading back toward the gates.