Chapter 53 — The Grand Banquet
Chapter 53 — The Grand Banquet
Translation: Godtl
Several days had passed since the grand banquet officially began. The banquet was expected to last for seven days.
Those invited to the banquet were Auraria's high-ranking nobles and the heroes who had distinguished themselves in the recent war.
Though they had not attended the party for the past few days, today the four of them had to attend.
For today, the Emperor himself was scheduled to be present.
Among the gathered people, some discussed why Oscar, Kalix, Griffith, and Romeo had come to Auraria.
Those who viewed it positively said with pleasure, "It's a good opportunity to demonstrate our Empire's dignity."
On the other hand, there were those who suspected, "Didn't they come to gather information about Auraria?"
In truth, the four of them were indeed considering killing the Emperor if he turned out to be the culprit.
Therefore, it was better to avoid suspicion for the time being.
Because of that, today they wore splendid formal attire and attended the banquet in an orderly manner.
People kept glancing at the four unusually tall and handsome young men.
There were noble ladies who considered approaching them first, but everyone hesitated due to the atmosphere that made it difficult to speak carelessly.
It was as if a transparent barrier had been erected only around them.
Inside the banquet hall where elegant music flowed.
Among the glances directed at the four young men, there was one unexpected gaze.
It was the gaze of a handsome young man named Lute.
'Why on earth did those guys come to Auraria?'
Lute was also a key figure in the Dragon Subjugation Party, but unlike Cedric and Damian, he was on relatively good terms with the four of them.
At the very least, they exchanged greetings when coming and going.
Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed everyone found it difficult to approach because the four were gathered with such serious expressions.
Lute deliberated whether he should go as a representative and speak to them.
Thump, thump.
Just then, the sound of an attendant striking the floor with a staff from above the stairs was heard.
Soon the large doors opened, and what appeared were the brothers Cedric and Damian dressed in splendid formal attire.
And in the middle of them….
'Julianna…!'
Princess Julianna came walking elegantly with her arms linked through Cedric and Damian's.
Lute had reunited with Julianna yesterday after a long time and shared many stories.
In that process, he felt that special emotions had been exchanged.
How happy Julianna had been to learn that he had been waiting for her.
Just then, Lute's gaze suddenly turned toward the four young men.
"……!"
Lute suddenly felt as if his heart had dropped with a thud.
The gazes of those four were directed above the stairs. They were very intense gazes.
Soon they began to converse while looking in that direction.
'Surely not….'
One suspicion crossed Lute's mind.
'Did they come to Auraria because of Julianna?'
It shouldn't be possible, but the thought crossed his mind.
It was because of Princes Cedric and Damian who had joined the subjugation party late.
They always carried Julianna's portrait in their necklace pendants and would frequently show it off to the heroes gathered from various empires.
Every time, Lute had not liked the two brothers.
No matter that she was their younger sister, to him she was the woman he liked.
'Did those guys see Julianna's portrait too?'
One corner of Lute's mouth rose in dissatisfaction.
Well, it made sense.
The Julianna depicted in the portrait was beautiful enough that no one could take their eyes off her. Of course, the real person was even more beautiful.
In any case, it was certainly worth coming to see her in person.
It was a joke, but there were even people who gossiped saying, 'Are they going to Auraria to see Princess Julianna's face?'
However, he had never imagined that those four, who always carried themselves with dignity, would come to this place for that reason.
'So they're men too.'
Lute felt a vague sense of jealousy along with tension.
He straightened his attire and walked quickly to Julianna who was coming down holding her brothers' hands.
"Julianna."
"…Lute."
Seeing the two smiling as their eyes met, Cedric and Damian coughed in disapproval.
Meanwhile, Romeo, who was watching them, muttered.
"Is there any chance those princes are the culprits?"
"…They could be behind it, but they probably didn't administer the poison directly. They would have been outside the Imperial City at the time."
When Griffith answered with some sincerity, Romeo's face scrunched up.
"I hope they're involved."
So we can kill them together.
Romeo quietly muttered the last part.
There was a reason he was grinding his teeth like this against Princes Cedric and Damian.
Originally, when it became known that the four were heading to Auraria, Cedric and Damian had come to find them and said:
"What is the reason you're going to Auraria? Do you think you'll gain something?"
"…Perhaps you're not welcomed in your home countries."
Damian, standing beside Cedric, had spouted openly rude words. Cedric had nodded.
"Well… perhaps. Or maybe… did you see our Julianna's portrait too?"
"…Is that true?"
Damian reacted very sensitively to Cedric's speculation.
Immediately after, a battle suddenly broke out, cutting off the conversation.
Unlike the other three who had ignored it, Romeo still remembered that conversation.
"So that Julianna they kept going on about is that woman, I see."
When Romeo muttered this, Kalix pulled down his bothersome cravat irritably and asked with annoyance.
"Stop with the useless talk. Did you track more?"
At the question, Romeo narrowed his brows.
"Aren't you sick of asking only that question for days? Do you think I'm playing? You don't do anything but whine, yet your mouth is certainly alive."
Kalix shrugged as if accustomed to Romeo's scolding. Romeo sighed and continued.
"Tracking is impossible. It seems they sold or disposed of the magic stone."
Having thought of it, Romeo took out his fountain pen from his pocket, saying let's try once more.
When he tapped the part where the blue magic stone was embedded, invisible magical power flowed from Romeo's fingertips.
That was when it happened.
"Huh? Wait a moment."
Romeo's eyebrows twitched.
"Why?"
Griffith, who had downed champagne in one go, reacted sensitively.
Oscar also gazed at Romeo with sharp eyes, and Kalix, who had asked the question, was surprised and straightened his posture.
"What, what is it? What are you sensing?"
"……."
At Kalix's question, Romeo smiled meaningfully without answering.
That was when it happened.
Thump, thump!
Once again, the sound of an attendant striking the floor with a staff announced the entrance of the Imperial couple.
The curtains were drawn aside, and the Imperial couple dressed in splendid formal attire mixed with gold and white revealed themselves.
Emperor Perseus was a middle-aged man who still retained his youthful appearance.
The noble ladies, seeing his still handsome appearance, recalled their girlhood when they had secretly pined for the Crown Prince.
People lightly bowed their heads to show respect to the Imperial couple.
Emperor Perseus raised one hand to return the greeting and slowly descended the stairs with the Empress.
The musicians began playing an elegant dance tune again.
The Empress separated from Emperor Perseus and headed to where the noble ladies gathered as if familiar with it.
"Your Majesty the Empress."
The noble ladies and attendants welcomed her. However, despite it being a festive day, the Empress's expression was dark.
It was because her mind was troubled by leaving her young son, who had caught a cold, in his chambers.
Three years ago, a new prince was born between Emperor Perseus and Empress Marianne.
Cedric, Damian, and Julianna had gained a young sibling.
It was in the middle of their conversation.
"Your Majesty the Empress, do you know how long they plan to stay in the Imperial City?"
A noble lady asked the Empress with a flushed expression.
The Empress's gaze naturally turned to where the noble lady was pointing. There, the young men who had recently become a topic among the capital's nobles were gathered.
"Are you asking because of your daughter's marriage?"
At the Empress's smiling question, the noble lady quickly nodded, saying that was correct.
'They are decent young men….'
The Empress quietly observed them and, like the noble lady who had asked the question, naturally thought of Julianna.
Julianna also had no fiancé and was at an age where she would soon need to marry.
Marianne was different from Emperor Perseus.
'His Majesty has not the slightest intention of marrying off Julianna, but….'
Marianne wanted a son-in-law without a single flaw.
In her desire to give her daughter only the best, she was the same as Emperor Perseus.
Meanwhile, the four people, completely unaware of the meaning of the gazes directed at them, exchanged serious looks.
"What, what is it."
Kalix asked impatiently as he looked at Romeo, who was frozen as if time had stopped.
Romeo said with furrowed brows.
"…A flow of magical power was detected. Just wait a little."
With those words, Romeo headed to the empty terrace.
The other three looked in the direction where Romeo had disappeared with serious expressions.
It would be easier to concentrate alone, so they deliberately did not follow.
"Anyway, banquets don't suit my temperament."
Kalix completely untied his cravat and shoved it ungracefully into his pocket.
"As you say."
Griffith replied sarcastically, and Kalix sullenly downed champagne continuously.
Oscar, uncomfortable with the curious gazes directed at him, alone moved away from the spot.
"……."
Lute, standing at a distance, observed them.
Just then, Julianna, who had briefly gone to Emperor Perseus, approached Lute.
"Julianna."
Lute immediately changed his expression and smiled at Julianna.
His heart pounded as he saw her beautiful green eyes.
Julianna looked at such Lute and asked kindly.
"Are you having an enjoyable time?"
"Of course."
The two soon began to converse affectionately. Perhaps because they had memories together from childhood, the awkwardness of meeting after a long time was brief.
It was when the topic of conversation shifted to 'where the gaze of the noble ladies attending the banquet was directed.'
"By any chance, you're not interested in them too, are you?"
Lute asked in a slightly tense voice. Julianna raised her eyebrows as if to ask what he meant.
"Those guys."
At Lute's words, Julianna's gaze turned in that direction.
"Ah…."
When Julianna nodded as if she had heard of them, Lute became even more anxious and repeatedly parted and closed his lips.
"I'm worried that those guys might like you."
Perhaps due to anxiety, foolish words slipped out without him realizing.
At those words, Julianna gave a demure smile.
"…Why would that be a worry?"
"Well…."