Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Banquet (2)
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At the imperial banquet, there was a human who picked a fight with me.
So I killed them.
[⋯⋯.]
“⋯⋯.”
[⋯⋯It’s not that big a deal, is it?]
“How is that not a big deal?”
How warped does a person’s brain have to be for their first murder to feel like no big thing?
In response to my rhetorical question laced with that sentiment, the Holy Sword grumbled on.
[They were someone who deserved to die from the start. Just look at the fact that they managed to stay alive as the Holy Sword’s wielder until I met you.]
“⋯⋯That’s not the issue.”
The problem was that at such a young age, she killed someone just because she was angry.
A person’s personality is the sum of their accumulated experiences. The issue was that this incident provided the perfect trigger to warp her perception enough to file away a murder experience as ‘no big deal.’
From that perspective, the fact that she got away with it scot-free was a problem in itself.
It demolished her emotional barriers about what was right and wrong in one go.
The reaction Gray was showing right now from within the Holy Sword proved it.
I thought she’d been somewhat reformed, but she was still a mountain of issues piled up from childhood.
[So, what do you plan to do?]
What else? Block it, no matter what.
By Carlyle’s instincts, this was one of the biggest triggers that could drastically alter Gray’s personality.
However.
“Well, since the goal is correction.”
He let out a sigh as he spoke.
“I need to let her know there are other ways to handle it.”
As for that ‘method,’ he’d probably have to steel himself to stand out a bit.
The key was to do his utmost to control the atmosphere so she wouldn’t get angry, and that role fell to him.
After all, he just needed to set things up so she could respond mildly even if someone picked a fight.
[System Log]
The Hero’s curiosity toward you has amplified in a positive direction.
- Trait ‘Hero’s Companion’ activates.
- A ‘Positive Trait’ has been added!
[ ★ Trust 0% → 5.1% ]
- Rewards have been granted!
- Check the Trait tab!
[ Additional functions of the ‘Holy Sword’ can now be unlocked! ]
[ Build your relationship with the Hero going forward and exert positive influence to unlock even more functions! ]
He scrolled through the window that had opened previously as a Trust reward.
Well, in that sense.
The skill he needed to acquire was set.
‘Hero.’
[What.]
‘You’re way too versatile, aren’t you?’
There was indeed a skill that warranted such an impression.
[Skill Info]
◆ Aristocratic Etiquette
Gray Chasefield, as a member of a prestigious noble house, has been thoroughly trained in all the refinements of high society. If you so desire, no noble will find any flaw in your conduct.
To think she mastered this to the point it became a skill.
On one hand, it was scary.
Even with etiquette drilled into her this thoroughly, she had no intention of following it, so she rampaged freely...
[⋯⋯.]
She couldn’t even refute it, confirming the truth.
◆
This wasn’t her first imperial banquet, but the dark cloud hanging over Gray’s face showed no sign of lifting.
“⋯⋯My dear, is something bothering you?”
“Everything.”
“⋯⋯.”
Of course, Gray wasn’t the type to hold back even with her father, but this blunt tone was still hard to get used to no matter how many times he heard it.
And Lionel, who could brush it off with a hearty laugh every time, was Lionel in his own right.
“Still, you seem a bit in better spirits than before.”
“⋯⋯Pardon?”
“You’d normally not even respond. But since that Carlyle fellow started sticking around you, you feel a little softer somehow.”
A beast that would tear people apart at eye contact had mellowed to merely looking like a beast that tears people apart when nearby, but anyway.
It was true that Gray’s irritability had decreased compared to before.
“⋯⋯.”
Gray clamped her mouth shut without a word.
What should she say.
She hated to admit it.
“⋯⋯He’s useful.”
Ever since that guy showed up, the usual surge of irritation had noticeably died down.
He was a weird one.
Without her ever saying what she needed or liked in daily life, he always nailed it perfectly.
That was why she’d brought him to the imperial banquet too.
As those thoughts crossed her mind, Lionel stared at her with wide eyes.
“W-what did you just say?”
“⋯⋯.”
“U-useful? You, saying that about another person-”
“⋯⋯Father, shut up.”
“⋯⋯.”
Lionel, sunk in one shot, stayed silent until they arrived at the venue.
“We’ve arrived, let’s go.”
“⋯⋯.”
She took her father’s hand and stepped down from the carriage.
In an instant, every gaze in the venue locked onto her.
“The youngest ever to receive the Holy Sword-”
“That must be the famous-”
“⋯⋯.”
With her superhuman Hero senses, she picked up every conversation in the hall as if it were right beside her.
The attention pouring her way was as familiar as air by now, but the problem was what slipped through amid it—not all of it was benign.
“The ducal house lobbying the orthodox church-”
“Surely seducing with that pretty face-”
“Rumors of her currying favor with the Prince-”
“Her feats were fabricated-”
“⋯⋯.”
Yeah.
That was why she hated imperial banquets.
She was inevitably exposed to malice from faceless strangers.
Gray’s expression soured.
Lowborns harboring inferiority toward her was nothing new.
But.
Why did it piss her off so much this time.
Unlike before, even ignoring it properly was hard.
‘⋯⋯Ah, I get it.’
After pondering deeply, she reached a conclusion.
- Don’t you have the right to be happy?
Because some guy had said that to her.
Because some guy had shown her the possibility of a life without drawing eyes everywhere.
Because some guy had told her she had the right to live normally, without special treatment.
She’d realized such reactions weren’t ‘natural.’
⋯⋯That was why she was pissed.
As she swallowed that sentiment, another sentence buzzed in her ears.
“No attendant this time either, I see.”
In noble circles, who one brought as an attendant to a banquet was a key indicator.
They judged the master’s caliber by whose support they relied on.
Thus, the ideal attendant was someone flashy and eye-catching.
In that regard, Vespa Luciana—her most loyal maid—was out of the question.
Diligent and impeccable, but ultimately just a maid. Nothing standout.
“Well, she’s the infamous troublemaker of high society. No high-caliber attendant would even consider going near her.”
And that wasn’t entirely wrong.
Ordinary attendants meant to ‘make their master shine’ couldn’t even dream of handling Gray’s temperament.
Gray herself didn’t care much about such facts.
Let them talk shit. No one dared say it to her face anyway, Hero or not.
However.
“The Grand Duke has it rough too. Having to drag around such a vulgar daughter every banquet.”
“Doesn’t she think about how it tarnishes her family? Ruining their reputation like that.”
“⋯⋯.”
She glanced at her father.
She didn’t like the idea of him taking flak because of her.
“It’s fine, my dear.”
“⋯⋯.”
The Grand Duke always brushed it off like that.
But linking it to her current seething anger made her uneasy.
The whispering around her grated far more than usual.
‘⋯⋯Should I just slaughter them?’
Grab those murmurers by the hair and smash their heads into the wall?
Show one example, and maybe they’d all shut up...
“-Wait, who’s that?”
As that thought surfaced, such a sentence intruded on her awareness.
She knew right away who they meant.
“⋯⋯What?”
She muttered blankly.
Carlyle Bellfast, impeccably dressed in a tuxedo, knelt before her and offered his hand.
The perfect pose of an attendant escorting a lady.
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
The young ladies who’d been gossiping about her now exuded an air of refined elegance, folding like fans.
Not a sculpture-like handsome man, nor draped in obvious luxury goods from head to toe. Such types were a dime a dozen in society—no way they’d provoke this reaction.
If anything.
The man beside Gray, on looks alone, seemed closer to the type one might mock as an uncouth bumpkin in such a place.
But every gesture radiated the ‘grace’ felt only from imperial members.
He gave off an aura that screamed he wasn’t the thuggish sort...
“Lady. Shall we go?”
“⋯⋯.”
What the hell was this guy.
He had this trick up his sleeve too?
Where did he learn all these social graces?
Gray blinked slowly.
“How many more things are you hiding from me?”
“I told you. You’ll regret discarding me.”
“⋯⋯Hmph.”
She snorted and took Carlyle’s offered hand.
What to say.
Honestly, to her, his actions bordered on sycophantic, but the gossip about her vanishing completely was satisfying.
⋯⋯A scene she’d never have witnessed alone.
“You did well.”
The small mutter lingered at her lips.
“What was that, Lady?”
“Don’t grin like an idiot. Before I kick you.”
“⋯⋯.”
◆
[System Message]
▶ Trait ‘Hero’s Companion’ activates.
▶ Part of the ‘Reformation List’ has been updated!
[ ★ Human Hatred 95% → 90% ]
▶ Rewards have been granted!
▶ Check the Trait tab!
[System Message]
▶ You have met the conditions for an ‘Important Event.’
▶ The Hero’s first ‘Perception Shift’ approaches.
▶ How you handle this event will drastically alter your relationship with the Hero!
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