01
01
"Ah... geez... this is uncomfortable."
Yeah, it's uncomfortable.
The tie choking my neck?
No, I loosened that a long time ago.
Given the place, that is.
More so than the suit I was forced to wear because of the stern warning that I had to at least dress up.
It was just the Imperial Palace itself that was uncomfortable.
Maybe it's because my birth is lowly.
Not just the space, but everything didn't fit me.
"Hoho... did you hear, Madam? A while ago..."
"Oh my! Really? More importantly, about the Imperial Princess's expedition..."
If they're going to talk loud enough for everyone to hear, why bother covering their mouths with fans?
Anyway, starting from the noisy nobles to the wine and food laid out in the banquet hall.
There wasn't a single thing I liked.
"Well, doesn't matter... I didn't come here to enjoy the banquet anyway."
At that moment.
A man and a woman caught my eye.
"Um, Young Master Pendragon. Would you perhaps like to..."
"I don't really like dancing."
"Ah..."
Poor thing.
She seemed to have gathered some courage, but it looks like she got rejected.
"Pendragon, huh..."
I heard the disciple of the Sword Saint, who became the youngest Swordmaster this year, was from the Marquis Pendragon family. It must be that guy.
"His name is Lancelot, age is probably twenty. Impressive, truly impressive."
Admiration came naturally.
With that kind of talent, he could even aim for Grand Swordmaster.
Not to be outdone.
"Young Master Simon... um...!"
"Ah... ah... Saint-nim...!"
Scenes of the Empire's prominent, handsome men rejecting the courtship of young ladies unfolded one after another.
"..."
Loki Simon, who is in the spotlight as the next Master of the Magic Tower, didn't even reply and roughly shook off the young lady's hand.
"May the blessing of Anastasia be with you..."
The guy called the Saint just gave a light blessing with a good-natured smile, and that was it.
"Sob..."
"Sniff...!"
Oh, poor young ladies.
'Should I hand them a handkerchief or something...'
Just as I was rummaging through my pocket with that thought.
"What is it? I'm already in a bad mood, so could you stop looking at me with those unpleasant eyes?"
"That's right, if you're a waiter, hurry up and bring some wine here. I need a drink."
"..."
Excuse me, young ladies?
I know you're heartbroken, but isn't it a bit much to judge someone by their looks?
And my eyes have always looked like this. Besides, I'm not a waiter! Can't you tell by my outfit? This is a suit, you know?
I had a huge urge to point that out and argue, but...
"Why don't you lower your eyes quickly!?"
"Just hurry up and bring the alcohol!"
At the fierce energy of the young ladies glaring at me,
"...Understood. I will only look at the floor. I will bring the wine quickly."
I immediately tucked my tail.
No, this is definitely not because I'm scared of those young ladies.
It's just me treating the ladies politely as a gentleman. Yes, that's it.
"That young lady seems like she wants to see blood today, so red wine would be good."
Even on the way back with the wine, I kept seeing young ladies getting rejected after confessing.
"Excuse me, Captain Michael...!"
"I apologize, young lady. I cannot neglect the security of the banquet hall, so please understand."
"Imperial Prince Leon, if you have some time...!"
"Haha! Sorry, young lady. I have to manage the hall until His Majesty arrives."
"Tsk...!"
I'm definitely not clicking my tongue out of envy. It's just that as a gentleman, my heart aches to see ladies getting rejected.
Ah, but I, who had already made a mistake once, didn't linger my gaze on them since I was already carrying wine.
Because I don't want to hear more harsh words or take more orders here.
More than that, isn't it a bit strange? Shouldn't the men be the ones working hard to court?
"Grrr...! Why, of all places, at the banquet hall...!"
"Why did Heaven create me, and also create Imperial Prince, Captain Michael, Young Master Pendragon, Young Master Loki, and Saint Yudia-nim!"
"..."
Hmm. I think I know the reason.
Gentlemen, you have it rough.
"Why aren't you bringing it quickly!?"
"Ah, yes. Here it is, Lady."
"It's unpleasant, so could you not call me Lady?"
"...I apologize. I'll just stay out of the way."
"Good, at least you know your place. Go find a trash can and crawl into it."
"No, that's not what I meant by staying out of the way... Ah, understood. I will go somewhere out of your sight."
Their words are a bit harsh, but they are heartbroken girls, aren't they?
I can generously accept this much hysteria.
'But this is troublesome, I don't see a place to hide.'
Is it obvious since it's a banquet hall? To fulfill the young ladies' wishes, going to the lounge or leaving the banquet hall is most desirable, but I can't do that.
Even though I look like this, I have someone I'm waiting for.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Roy."
Hmm. Speak of the devil.
Sion von Starngart.
Pure white hair that makes one think of the northern snowfields.
A beauty with blue eyes that look like lapis lazuli cut and set in place.
One of only two children of the Emperor, including Imperial Prince Leon, who is rejecting the young ladies' courtship with a sly smile in the middle of the banquet hall.
She is the Imperial Princess of the Empire.
Therefore.
I bowed my waist politely with a heart of respect more than anyone else.
"That is correct, Your Imperial Highness. I waited for a whole hour."
Hmm. Excellent.
I inwardly hoped for a dress, but as expected, she's in uniform.
But it's fine.
Even though it was covered, there was a greatness that couldn't be hidden.
Very good.
"Hmm... 'It is not here. I also just arrived.'? And your gaze is a little... no, very unpleasant?"
"I apologize. I have an honest personality that can't tell lies... And these two eyes of mine are always filled with loyalty toward Your Highness, so there is no need to be displeased."
"Roy. While I'm asking nicely... hurry up and lift your head."
"...Yes, Your Highness."
"Right, if you had been even one second late, I would have cut your throat."
"Haha... your jokes are quite brutal."
"Does it sound like a joke?"
"...No."
Because Sion asked while stroking her scabbard, I had no choice but to shake my head immediately.
"Right, more than that, can you introduce me?"
"Introduce? What are you talking about?"
"Those young ladies. I'm curious how close you are. I haven't even made you run an errand, let alone bring me wine..."
"Hi, hiccup...!"
As Sion's sharp gaze turned toward them, the young ladies who had just been scolding me started hiccuping in surprise.
"I, I greet the Imperial Princess..."
"I, I greet, greet Your Highness..."
Poor things.
They were trembling so violently, not just their voices but their bodies, that I wondered if they were really the same young ladies who had scolded me just a moment ago.
Well, from their perspective, they couldn't have imagined in their wildest dreams that a guy like me would be an acquaintance of the Imperial Princess.
"Hmm..."
Sion didn't accept their greetings and looked back and forth between me and the young ladies.
It seems she doesn't like that I served them wine.
So here, I have no choice but to step up as a gentleman for the ladies.
"My... jealousy. That's not like you, Your Highness."
"Pfft. Jealousy, what are you talking about? Don't tell me you think I harbor romantic feelings for a man with unpleasant eyes like you?"
"Wasn't it? No, more than that, if you know about the eye thing, didn't you see it from the beginning? If you had already arrived, you should have said something, why make me wait?"
"No way, that can't be. I was just honestly stating my impression of you?"
"...Your Highness. I think one shouldn't be too honest."
"Is that so? But I don't want to hear that from you, who has an honest personality."
"Oh my... Your Highness, I didn't know you were so petty... Ugh!?"
Press-!
"Are you going to keep being sarcastic like this? I made quite an effort to grant your request."
"Ah, understood. So could you please stop stepping on my foot? Unlike how it looks, my shoes are cheap..."
"Unlike how it looks, indeed. It's obvious just by looking that they're cheap. Didn't I tell you a few days ago? To get them properly fitted at the tailor shop I introduced. Because of the occasion."
Preeeesss!
"Your, Your Highness... I think I'm going to be unable to use my right foot for the rest of my life like this?"
"It's fine. The human body is stronger than you think."
"I'm not that strong though... No, wait! Is this a proposal that you will take care of me for the rest of my life after I become crippled!?"
"..."
No, Imperial Princess.
You don't have to be that serious... This is a joke. It's just a joke, right?
Whether my inner voice was conveyed properly or not, Sion let out a sigh with a face that said she couldn't stop me.
"Haa... Fine, I give up. I give up. You never say sorry even if you die."
"Your Highness, you don't have to be so shy. Even if I can't use my right foot, if you take care of me, I would gladly..."
"...If you don't want to see me actually draw my sword, really stop there. And... people shouldn't say things they don't mean so easily."
"Saying I don't mean it, I was actually quite sincere. Anyway, I want to live, so I'll stop here."
This is a shame.
I missed the chance to become the Imperial Princess's husband.
"And um... Your Highness? Can you please let those young ladies over there go first?"
"Haa... I don't understand this."
"Yes?"
"I mean I don't understand you. Ah, young ladies, you may leave now."
"Th, thank you. Your Highness!"
"Then, we will be going..."
As soon as Sion's permission was given, the young ladies ran away in a hurry.
Poor things.
It would be hard enough just to be rejected, but to get tangled up with a bad-tempered woman like the Imperial Princess.
As a soft-hearted person, a sigh came out naturally.
"Pfft... No, that's not it. Sigh..."
"...What are you doing?"
"What do you mean, I was just letting out a deep sigh to soothe my heart, which was rejected by the Imperial Princess."
"...Stop talking nonsense, and let's get to the point."
As if to say the small talk ends here.
Sion straightened her expression seriously and asked me.
"Is your mind unchanged?"
"Of course."
"...It doesn't seem like a very good idea..."
"Are you doubting me, by any chance?"
"If you're talking about your character or personality, I'm always doubting it."
"Haha... is that so? I thought I had a better character and personality than anyone else. Well, still..."
Doubting, is that all?
I naturally thought that I am indeed trusted a lot by Sion.
"That's a relief, since it seems you don't doubt my skills. The opponent won't be easy, though."
"That's obvious, isn't it? It's you, Roy, not anyone else."
"Oh my... this is also a propo... Ah, no. Understood. So please take your hand off the scabbard, Your Highness."
"Haa... It's truly a pity. That you, who even cares about such pathetic things as just now, are in a situation where you have no choice but to make such a choice."
"Ah... so that's what you meant by unfortunate."
"Yes, so think about it again. The path you are trying to take now is too rough."
"I see it as not much different from the path you are trying to take, Your Highness?"
"That's why I changed it. Thanks to you."
"Ah, oh my... is that true?"
"Yes, so... you too..."
"You know very well that I can't do that..."
If possible, I want to follow the advice of a beauty like Sion.
However, I absolutely cannot.
"Actually, as you said, there are many flaws in my character and personality..."
"That was obviously a joke..."
"No, I know better than anyone that my personality is bad."
"...You don't have to self-deprecate like that. It's natural that even the Saint who keeps smiling over there wouldn't be able to stand it if he went through what you did."
"Would he? I think he would just forget it while looking for the Goddess..."
Well, whatever choice the Saint makes, it's none of my business.
Because it's something that happened to me, not someone else.
"Hey Roy, don't do that... just with me..."
It was then that Sion was repeatedly trying to stop me and give advice.
"The three young masters of Sirius and the young lady are entering!"
The attendant shouted loudly.
At this.
"..."
"..."
Sion and I stopped talking and turned our heads to the entrance of the banquet hall.
Kkiiik...
As the huge door opened.
The Empire's only Grand Ducal family.
The children of Sirius appeared side by side.
"Bathory, hold this oppa's hand tightly so you don't trip."
"Hyung-nim, wasn't it clearly agreed that I would escort Bathory today? Don't try to pull any tricks."
"Bathory, don't hang out with these weakling hyung-nims, come with me! There seem to be too many wolves eyeing you here. So I will protect you!"
"Oh my! Oppa-deul. We're already in the banquet hall. Please stop fighting!"
Bathory, who is troubled while surrounded by her doting brothers.
She was quite beautiful, to the point where the thought that a person could truly shine naturally burst out.
Flowing pink hair, green eyes that naturally bring sapphires to mind. And even flawless, snow-white skin.
It was more than enough to focus the attention of the men in the banquet hall; it was overflowing.
As if to prove this.
"Lady Bathory! I have been waiting only for you!"
"Young Masters, I will take charge of the Young Lady's escort, so please enjoy the banquet separately."
"...They're here."
"Hey Bathory! Why are you so late?"
"Sister, it's been a while. Come here. I will bless you."
Leon, Michael, Lancelot, Loki, Yudia.
The men who had been rejecting all the young ladies' courtship until just a moment ago, all of them ran to her with bright faces.
If this were a romance novel.
The protagonist would definitely be Lady Bathory.
'Then I would naturally be the villain.'
That's the only way it could be.
Because today, I...
Am planning to 'definitely kill' one of her brothers.