Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Blackguard's Triumphal Gate (4)
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The original plan had been to get plenty of rest before the banquet began.
However, someone once said that life doesn't follow plans—and that's precisely what makes it so enjoyable.
Recalling those words, Cain thought to himself: What utter bullshit, the likes of which I'll never hear again.
No matter how you sliced it, you didn't just casually deal with three royals—people whose single offhand remark could get your head lopped off.
"Hm, the time has flown by already."
"Regrettably, it seems our little gathering must come to an end here."
"Then, I'll see you at the banquet hall later!"
It was only with two full hours still left before the banquet that Cain finally wrenched himself free from the royals' grasp.
But that didn't guarantee him any rest. If anything, the real ordeal was only just beginning.
Meeting people required preparation, especially when those people were of dizzyingly high status.
And so Cain was promptly led away by palace maids to start with a bath.
"I can handle this myself."
"Please don't refuse..."
"Would you want to tarnish His Majesty the Emperor's specially prepared banquet, even a little?"
"......"
Was it because they knew of the feat Cain had personally accomplished in the imperial palace a year ago?
The maids moved with military precision—disciplined, efficient, impeccable.
And since they appealed to duty rather than emotion, Cain had no retort. In the end, he surrendered his body to their care.
The fact that they had sent palace maids instead of mere servants was proof enough of how highly the imperial family regarded him.
Even after the bath, he endured layers of grooming, perfumes, and adornments before he was finally released.
I've spent nearly my entire possessed life on battlefields... This blatant primping feels downright awkward.
Cain had never worn makeup in his previous life, nor in this one.
Thanks to that, the reflection staring back from the mirror before him felt utterly alien.
His sharp gaze stood out even more starkly, his jawline chiseled like sculpture... Cain shook his head to clear the stray thoughts.
Am I losing it? Admiring my looks at a time like this... War with the alliance is right around the corner.
War demanded preparation in advance, or you'd pay dearly—especially in chaotic times like these.
To protect the precious people around him, Cain was already plotting for the next conflict.
There were plenty of ways to do it. With enough time, money, and talent, he could bring to life anything he'd ever imagined.
"Lord Blackguard."
"...Her Highness the Princess?"
But the voice from behind made his mind go blank for a split second as he turned.
Luxuriant golden hair framing a seductive crimson dress, her red eyes glistening with shy moisture...
For a brief moment, he almost mistook Princess Morgana for someone else. But he quickly pulled himself together.
"You look truly beautiful, Your Highness Princess Morgana."
"If it pleases you, then I'm satisfied. Cain..."
"......"
Seeing her blush even after saying it herself, Cain entertained a fleeting thought.
Does the princess... like me?
But he brushed it off like scraping residue from a plate—an irreverent notion not to be entertained.
Get a grip... She's the princess, of all people. One misstep, and it's your head.
She wasn't someone you could just blurt things at and walk away.
Besides, Cain knew himself well from countless experiences.
He wasn't ugly, but he wasn't the type to make a princess fall head over heels. Unfortunately, that was just fact.
Pushing down the sudden quickening of his pulse, he offered his hand.
"Your Highness, may I have the honor of escorting you to the banquet hall?"
"Gladly."
Blissfully unaware of his inner turmoil, Morgana simply smiled, pure and radiant.
Surprisingly, in over a year together, this was the first time Cain had complimented her appearance directly.
Not a single woman he'd met so far had been anything less than stunning.
That had quietly eroded her confidence over time, but...
Now, all those worries vanished in an instant. She just wanted to savor the warmth of his hand in hers.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Banquets varied in formality based on host and scale. By that measure, this one was top-tier.
It wasn't just nobles feasting—the emperor had opened the granaries, sharing food with the empire's commoners.
He'd even pardoned all prisoners save the most heinous criminals. A clear sign of his buoyant mood.
The nobles' reactions split sharply. Moderates argued to win over the undeniably capable Cain Blackguard.
Hardliners refused to let some unheard-of upstart steal their positions.
At first, hardliners dominated, but after a year, moderates had surged ahead in numbers.
This is an opportunity. If we play it right, we can secure a powerful connection through Blackguard...
A young noble with the emperor's trust and proven talent. We must forge ties, no matter what...
In just one year, Cain had gone from the madman who beheaded a palace maid in the imperial palace to a rising star general of the empire.
Capable talent was always welcome anywhere—and the empire's nobles were no exception.
This banquet was a golden chance for them. A connection to the center?
For nobles weak or disconnected at court, it was a lifeline from the heavens.
Even just getting acquainted was worth it; a formal invitation was jackpot.
Thus, nobles kept stealing glances at the doors, counting the moments until the star arrived.
"Her Highness Princess Morgana and Lord Cain Blackguard are now entering!"
"Oh, finally...!!"
"But why with Her Highness...?"
The question answered itself. Morgana entered arm-in-arm with Cain, clinging to his like a newlywed or betrothed.
The sight left every noble speechless.
This wasn't about power or rivalry. They simply matched too well.
Noble ladies sent to woo on their families' behalf couldn't muster the nerve to approach.
Morgana openly gazed at their hesitant forms with smug superiority.
You ignored him outright back then. Think you can win his heart now? I get it, but...
I recognized his worth first. I claimed him first. You think I'd hand him over to the likes of you?
Women like you, frittering away time at salons, wouldn't understand Cain's raw ferocity...
She still remembered that moment. Utterly surrounded, life on the line, his desperate special forces charge.
Overcoming the colossal wall that was Master Grandel to capture her alive—that intense figure.
Maybe she'd been ensnared then. Body and soul alike. But it didn't feel bad.
"Oh! It's been ages. Your Highness."
"...Indeed it has, Lord Bearwolf."
Without this interloper, she might have savored the moment fully.
The man blocking Cain and Morgana sported a scruffy beard, disheveled clothes reeking of booze.
He looked every inch the drunkard—at least at first glance.
Yet neither Morgana nor even Cain could dismiss the middle-aged man. Cain clicked his tongue.
This pressure... Not quite Scardi-level, but similar vibe. Don't tell me this guy's...?
"Come to think of it, I forgot introductions. I'm Baltar Bearwolf—one of the knights guarding His Majesty the Emperor."
Not just any royal guard, but the emperor's personal knight. That alone revealed his identity.
Baltar Bearwolf.
One of the empire's scant five Masters—and the sole one who'd stood with the emperor during the Duke's Rebellion.
And he had sought out Cain himself.
"Truth is, my daughter's reached marriageable age now."
With a young girl standing right behind him.