Chapter 79
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Banquet (3)
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"What could possibly be good about an old lady like this......"
"No."
I'd thought she was Cornelia and got handsy with her, but it turned out she was actually Cornelia's aunt.
In other words, at a banquet I'd been invited to by Cornelia, I'd ended up trying to flirt with her aunt.
Hmm. No wonder the nobles around us were freaking out.
Still, this was too much...!
Writhing inwardly with frustration, I raised both hands as if to say I had no such intentions and took half a step back.
"Misunderstanding. I thought you were Cornelia."
"......What were you trying to do to me?"
"What else? Just ask for a normal dance."
Keeping my hands raised, I turned toward Cornelia. And just as I was about to lower my arms to wrap around her shoulders...
"Ahaha! Even if my niece is much younger and cuter, getting me all heated up like this and then leaving me hanging... might hurt a little?"
Her aunt slipped between us so naturally.
By the time I came to my senses, my hand was on the aunt's shoulder instead of Cornelia's.
......Even if I'd let my guard down, to slip through all my senses like that?
Even back when I was much weaker, I'd seen through the stealth of Calypso's assassins. For me to not even properly register the movement.
A chill ran down my spine in an instant, and naturally, all my senses focused on the woman before me.
Long, wavy pink hair cascading like waves. Proud eyes reminiscent of a cat, lips curved in a faint smile.
Up to here, she looked exactly like Cornelia. So similar it was hard to tell them apart at a glance.
But looking closely, there were clear differences.
A small beauty mark under her right eye. A slightly more curvaceous figure. And... the leisure that Cornelia lacked.
These were what gave her a slightly more mature air than Cornelia.
Especially that last one.
She hid it well behind etiquette, but... I'd always sensed a hint of impatience from Cornelia.
Probably because the battle for the throne was in full swing. I'd heard from Ellis that her faction was relatively weak.
However, the leisure from Cornelia's aunt felt different from Cornelia's impatience.
If I had to put it into words, it was close to what I'd felt from Ignatius.
The leisure of a strong one born from overwhelming power.
A presence so complete and solitary that it didn't care about the faction it commanded or its standing in the imperial court.
She'd said she was Cornelia's aunt, not cousin. Unless the imperial family was an incestuous noble house like House Zahav, she shouldn't have inherited imperial bloodline abilities.
Yet if she possessed this level of power...
"......Cornelia. What's your aunt's name?"
"Hm? Little Zahav boy. With the person herself right in front of you, is there any reason to ask Cornelia?"
Cornelia's aunt smiled playfully. As she stepped half a pace closer to me, our bodies nearly touched.
Just like I'd done to her at first.
"Adriana."
One corner of Adriana's mouth twisted upward.
Less a sneer, more like the manifestation of belligerence.
The moment that thought crossed my mind, a chill grazed my nape. Like having a blade held to my throat.
It wasn't hostility directed at me. Just Adriana momentarily revealing the aura she'd been concealing.
"I'm called the Empire's First Sword for now, but if you're Cornelia's friend, feel free to call me Aunt Adriana casually. Of course, 'big sis' would be even better. I'm single, after all."
"Swordmaster...?"
Only then did it click.
Adriana Makaira. The empire's one and only Swordmaster.
A superhuman among superhumans who transcended racial limits with a single sword.
Not born with any great bloodline ability, just an ordinary human race, having lived only a few decades at most.
Yet through innate talent and obsession with the sword, they permitted only those who rivaled the Four Great Dukes to bear the title of Swordmaster.
House Zahav was an exception due to the degeneration of its blood over time... This was probably comparable to Igni's martial prowess before he slumbered.
In the empire's thousand-year history, only about three had ever appeared, they'd said.
One of them existed in this era, beaming brightly right before my eyes.
"What the hell."
I'd thought she was Cornelia and got touchy, but she was actually Cornelia's aunt?
And that aunt was the empire's sole Swordmaster, asking me to call her familiarly?
I was left dumbfounded, unable to comprehend the situation for a moment.
Adriana, who had been gazing up at me quietly, spoke with her ever-smiling face.
"So? Weren't you going to ask for a dance? This kind of passionate invitation goes against etiquette... but personally, it doesn't feel bad. Yeah. It's been about thirty years?"
"That's......"
"At some point, no one would partner with me anymore. Maybe because I've gotten older, I'm not appealing to you young ones' eyes?"
"You look about the same as Cornelia at a glance, so probably not."
"Oh, come on. Flattery like that won't get you anywhere."
"But maybe it's because you're too strong."
"......Tch. I figured as much?"
Her status as a Swordmaster aside... her inherent strength was surely a big reason too.
Even when concealing her aura, I'd flinched. Now that she was naturally letting it show, what about that?
As if matching her, I instinctively drew up my energy.
Even though I was deliberately suppressing my power since I wasn't yet used to my expanded mana circuits.
Naturally, most people would find it hard to withstand Adriana's aura... no, just her mere presence.
In fact, no one had approached Adriana while she stuffed her cheeks full of desserts.
Those without a certain level would instinctively shy away from her.
"Enoch, was it? Little Zahav boy. I have so much I want to ask you."
"I don't have much to say. And 'little boy' feels off. I'm pretty big, you know. Where? That's a secret."
"Saying that to me, who watched Shar Khan—the one you killed with your own hands—being born? Though if you let me properly check how big, my thoughts might change."
Adriana giggled provocatively. But given her still sharp aura, I could tell her intent wasn't anything lewd.
I'd brought Ellis to avoid hassles and put on various shows in between... but getting entangled wrongly with Adriana here would waste all that effort and spark real trouble.
It was a bit sorry for Cornelia, whom I'd promised the first dance, but for now, pulling back seemed wise...
"Or... are you lacking confidence? Well, lately there've been rumors that House Zahav isn't what it used to be."
"......"
Ah, that stung.
The biggest thing to watch at this banquet wasn't political issues.
In front of the imperial family... no, the emperor, I had to appear as an undeniable Zahav.
Fleeing after hearing something like 'How'd you win when you're so pathetic these days?' wouldn't be Zahav-like.
Steeling my resolve, I quickly reached out, pulling Cornelia and Adriana to my sides. My arms around their waists, sandwiching them.
"Wh-what are you doing?!"
"Oh? Oho?"
Cornelia trembled. Adriana, on the other hand, just looked at me as if daring me to try more.
I grinned, curling up the corner of my mouth.
"I don't know about past Zahavs, but I can tell you all about this era's."
"Sounds promising. After one dance, you'll make time right away? The training grounds should be fine."
"Not bad. Personally, I prefer the bedroom. Ah, but first, there's something I want to know about you too......"
"Age is a secret."
"Not interested in age."
"Hm?"
"I don't play favorites."
"......Ah."
"But I'm curious why you look so much like Cornelia, even if you're her aunt."
At my words, Adriana began to smile meaningfully.
"That means... you're curious about the imperial family's secrets?"
"What."
No way Cornelia had some birth secret...
Taking advantage of my momentary distraction, Adriana suddenly grabbed my arm around her waist.
With such natural, agile movement, she pulled it down. Anyone watching would think I'd lowered my hand first, and she belatedly resisted by grabbing it.
Squeeze.
My hand clenched late, gripping the flesh hard.
Soft yet firm sensation. The satisfaction filling my palm made me realize I was roughly kneading Adriana's ass.
"Kyaa~"
It was a blatantly performative scream.
......Excuse me?