Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Victory Banquet (3)
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As soon as he stepped out from the balcony, he spotted Princess Lucia and Irene Arkabella walking toward him side by side.
'Whatever it was, looks like they sorted it out amicably.'
The sharp tension between them that had seemed ready to clash had clearly eased.
Now, they looked like true close friends.
…Of course, they really were friends. It was just that sharing(?) the same man had caused some friction.
"Did you have a good talk?"
They both wore bright smiles.
"Yes. Thanks to you two, we were able to have a smooth conversation."
"When we came back in after finishing our chat, we couldn't see you anywhere, Your Excellency. Did you step out somewhere?"
He froze—
He barely suppressed a sigh.
"…I stepped out to the balcony for a moment of rest, but some uninvited guests barged in midway, so I'm just coming back now."
He glanced toward the balcony where he had been. They followed his gaze and looked over…
And there they saw the Northern Grand Duke and the Crown Prince facing off with Sena sandwiched between those two blockheads.
"…The Northern Grand Duke and Crown Prince His Highness…? Why are they over there…?"
At Irene's mutter, Yujin once again held back a sigh.
'They're still at it, huh.'
He had thought they would feel embarrassed and slink away. Instead, they were arguing even more fiercely…
"…Ah."
"…You must be exhausted, Your Excellency."
They realized what had happened upon seeing Sena caught between the Crown Prince and the Northern Grand Duke.
Sympathy poured toward Yujin.
Did those lunatics torment you?
Of course, directing that thought at the Crown Prince was quite irreverent…
He nodded—
No one paid it any mind.
Letting out a small sigh, Yujin asked about the Crown Prince, the Northern Grand Duke, and those blockheads.
"I don't know the reason, but one day, the Marilsian Lady caught the eye of Crown Prince His Highness and the Northern Grand Duke."
"There are lots of guesses. Like maybe they met by chance at a café in the capital, or she got lost in a flower field outside the capital and ran into them…"
Listening to them, Yujin thought, 'As expected of a romance novel protagonist.'
His stomach twisted at the thought, but he didn't show it on his face.
"Anyway, after that, the Prince and the Grand Duke started seeking out the Marilsian Lady at every opportunity, courting her like they'd fallen at first sight. It was quite the scandal at the time."
Irene added.
"There are plenty in high society who envy the Marilsian Lady."
"Why is that?"
"Even if they don't look it, they're the Crown Prince and the Northern Grand Duke, right? Lots of ladies think snagging even one would make life a breeze."
Hmm… That's a very realistic reason.
What, the princess being courted? He thought they might yearn for that fairy tale stuff, but it's ambition…
Anyway, 'even if they don't look it'—from their tone, it seemed Princess Lucia and Irene didn't think highly of the Crown Prince or the Northern Grand Duke either.
What on earth had those guys been up to for reactions like this…
'Truly, they're unnecessary for the empire's future.'
They seemed even more like people who needed to be removed.
"It's a pretty famous story in the capital. You might not have heard since you've been on the front lines, Your Excellency."
"I see."
"In that sense, you're one of the top marriage prospects too, Your Excellency."
At the word "marriage prospect," Irene and Lucia exchanged knowing smiles and clung to Yujin's sides.
"…"
'Feels nice, but… this is drawing a lot of eyes.'
This would probably make the morning papers tomorrow.
Just as he savored that pleasant awkwardness, Lucia asked cautiously.
"…By the way, if it's not too rude, can I ask you something?"
"Of course. Go ahead."
"I heard the Marilsian Lady was your former fiancée. Does it not bother you…?"
…He froze.
He stated firmly.
"It bothers me."
"As expected…"
Lucia started to nod.
Before their assumptions could solidify, he added.
"To be more precise, it's those guys coming along as her baggage that bothers me. They show none of the demeanor expected of nobles or of imperial blood. As a subject of the empire, it's deeply concerning."
Lucia chuckled.
"That's the angle, huh."
Well, Sena bothering him was true too.
Yujin paused for a moment.
"…In Your Highness's view, what kind of person is Second Prince His Highness?"
"Ah, my blood kin? Hmm, well… to be as objective as possible, he may lack legitimacy, but no real issues otherwise."
"I see."
After that, the banquet continued with light conversation.
"Hmm…"
The Emperor let out a small groan in his office.
"The Crown Prince and Northern Grand Duke caused 'another' incident… What was it this time?"
At the Emperor's question, the bowing Chief Steward replied.
"They barged into the balcony where Marquis Banus was resting. And not only that, they raised their voices and made remarks that seemed to belittle the Marquis…"
Barging into the balcony…
It might seem minor on the surface, but it was a grave discourtesy.
It was tantamount to invading someone's private space without permission.
Thus, it was basic etiquette that nobles and imperial family members should possess…
"Hah…"
The Crown Prince and Northern Grand Duke showed no such thing.
Unaware or uncaring of the Emperor's feelings, the Chief Steward continued.
"Notably, the Marilsian Lady was caught between them."
…Marilsian Lady?
It was a name he'd heard frequently lately. Usually in connection with the Crown Prince and Northern Grand Duke's romantic squabbles.
"…So the trigger was the Marilsian Lady again… Tsk."
"I can't understand what they see in that mere count's daughter to chase her around. Isn't my princess far prettier?"
"…Yes, Your Majesty. Her Highness the Princess is truly beautiful."
"Right, right. So why is my Crown Prince, and that damned Northern whelp, chasing after that count's daughter…"
Of course, he had no intention of marrying her off to the Northern Grand Duke even if he did desire her.
Neither personally nor due to the entanglements between their houses.
"…"
The Emperor clicked his tongue.
"We'll back Marquis Banus. And if he shows any signs of supporting Second Prince over Crown Prince because of this, support him from behind."
"Support, Your Majesty?"
"Yes. Connect him with loyalist nobles or whatever. We need to reshuffle the board anyway."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Bonus: Spread rumors that the Crown Prince picked a fight with the war hero and caused a scandal.
Until now, with the war ongoing, he'd tolerated the Crown Prince's recklessness to avoid internal chaos, but now that the war was over, that no longer applied.
"Anything else noteworthy?"
"…Ah, Marquis Banus enjoyed the banquet with Princess Lucia."
"Hm? That's good news. But is that really noteworthy?"
They'd even exchanged marriage proposals; enjoying a banquet together was natural. They even entered as partners—practically son-in-law material soon.
"…Arkabella Duchess was with them too. And they seemed quite close…"
…Arkabella Duchess?
"Hmm…"
The Arkabella Duke family…
The Emperor knew his daughter and the Arkabella lady had been close friends since childhood.
"…Don't worry about that side."
The Emperor believed his exceptional daughter would handle it somehow.
Whether becoming the sole victor or marrying in together.
"You're dismissed, Chief Steward."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Chief Steward withdrew.
Once he was gone, the Guard Commander stepped forward from behind the screen like a folding partition.
"…Your Majesty. Is it wise to concentrate so much power on Marquis Banus?"
His voice carried unease.
"Worried?"
"…"
"I see you are."
The Emperor chuckled softly.
"I understand your concerns."
It was a natural reaction, after all.
"Marquis Banus is already the greatest genius and a Master in history."
No one could deny that.
Even the Guard Commander before him was a Master, but there was a clear gap in their levels.
"Giving immense power and now piling authority on top could indeed make him precarious."
"Your Majesty, then…"
But the Emperor firmly dismissed the Guard Commander's worries.
"However, Marquis Banus is not the type. If I, his liege, don't trust my loyal retainer, who will trust Marquis Banus?"
Ah, and I'll trust my daughter and the Arkabella Duchess too.
The Emperor muttered jokingly.
"Politically, it's beneficial anyway. Marquis Banus will soon be part of the imperial family. The more power he gains, the stronger the imperial authority becomes. So laying the groundwork now is smart. Young folks these days call it building goodwill or something like that."
Yet the Guard Commander couldn't shake his concerns. Not from distrust of the Emperor, but from utmost worry for His Majesty's safety.
"…What if the Marquis goes rogue…"
"That won't happen. Even if he did, he wouldn't turn his blade on the imperial family. You know that from seeing him yourself."
"…True. He is a man bound by loyalty to Your Majesty."
The Guard Commander still remembered his first meeting with the Marquis. He'd only summoned the rising star from the battlefield to the palace once, but who could have foreseen it leading here?
Though Yujin had been a blood-mad killer back then, he'd changed greatly after meeting the Emperor.
'Your Majesty even treated him half like a son.'
After that, Yujin had been reborn as a knight filled with loyalty to the Emperor.
"Exactly. And if Marquis Banus ever turned his sword on me or the empire, you and the other Masters could stop him."
The Emperor's voice conveyed trust in yet another loyal retainer, the Guard Commander.
The Guard Commander bowed silently.
"So, let's trust Marquis Banus."
"…Understood, Your Majesty."