Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: The Imperial Banquet
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***
“His Highness, Grand Duke Descartes, has arrived!”
With the chamberlain’s booming announcement at the entrance, the eyes of everyone in the ballroom turned toward the doors.
Curiosity, awe, jealousy, and apprehension.
The distinct emotions held within hundreds of pairs of eyes felt like sharp blades flying through the air, piercing the skin.
And at the center of their gazes stood the ruler of the North, Grand Duke Elbadin Descartes.
His presence alone seemed to cast all the brilliant light of the lavish ballroom into shadows at his feet.
Elbadin impassively accepted every stare, leading his children into the hall.
Countless dress hems swept across the marble floor, showered in the light pouring from golden chandeliers.
“Greetings, Your Highness, Grand Duke Descartes.”
“It has been a long time, Your Highness. Is the North still at peace?”
“I would like to discuss the mana stone trade, Your Highness!”
“Your Highness, the grape harvest in our southern region has been excellent this year.”
Nobles offered their greetings from all sides, but Elbadin did not respond, his eyes fixed forward as he walked toward the center of the ballroom.
Flanking Elbadin were Serdian and Reiden, followed by Lucillea and Irnel.
When Elbadin showed no reaction, the attention shifted to the children.
An old, wizened count sized up Serdian and remarked.
“So you are the Young Lord we have only heard rumors about. Indeed, you are the very image of His Highness, overflowing with dignity.”
Then, a marchioness, hiding her mouth with a fan, glanced at Reiden and whispered pointedly to the person beside her.
“Oh my, isn’t that the young master of the Sidrat marquisate? To think His Highness would bring him personally. The bond between the two families must still be quite special.”
“But who are the children behind them? Could they be the ones chosen by the Elite Corps?”
“Ah, the commoners?”
“Commoner would be a relief. I heard that…”
Though they were merely standing behind Elbadin, the nobles’ blatant stares and hushed whispers flew at them from every direction.
Just then, someone approached from the opposite side, arms spread wide.
“Elbadin!”
It was Reiden’s biological father, Marquis Diego.
Elbadin gave a slight nod.
“You seem to have arrived early.”
“Hm? You don’t think you’re the one who’s late?”
“I arrived on time.”
“Not at all. You were the last of the nobles to arrive. Do you have any idea how anxious I was, thinking you might not attend today’s banquet?”
Diego chuckled softly, glancing at the children who had trailed after Elbadin.
“Well, I suppose it couldn’t have been easy bringing the children along, so I understand.”
His gaze then fell on Reiden, who stood beside Elbadin, and he smiled warmly.
“You’ve put on some weight. It seems you’ve been well?”
Reiden returned the smile.
“Yes, His Highness has been taking good care of me.”
“Well, of course he would.”
At that, Elbadin nonchalantly threw in a word.
“There is no ‘of course’ in this world.”
“Come on, not between us.”
Diego burst out laughing.
Soon, a crowd gathered around Elbadin, Diego, and the two heirs.
Lucillea and Irnel naturally stepped back.
For some reason, it felt like this was not their place.
*But really, why am I even here?*
She had heard from Serdian that it was Elbadin’s order, but she still didn’t know the exact reason.
There must be a reason for presenting Serdian before the Emperor, and for bringing the chosen children along.
*I shouldn’t worry needlessly.*
The Grand Duke wasn’t one to do things without a thought.
Having organized her thoughts, Lucillea looked at the table laden with food and muttered.
“Should I go get something to eat?”
Hearing this, Irnel, standing beside her, looked at Lucillea with a worried expression.
“I think it’s best if we stay put. It’s our first time here, and there are many unfamiliar people.”
“Huh?”
Lucillea patted Irnel’s shoulder reassuringly.
“Hey, sis. This is the Imperial Palace. No one can carry weapons, and the halls outside are crawling with armed royal guards. What place could be safer than this?”
Besides, the master of the North, Elbadin, and his heir, Serdian, were both present.
Separate from her concern for Serdian standing before the Emperor, it was no wonder she felt a sense of security.
“Of course, I understand why you’re worried. I’ll stay on high alert too! Our mission is still to guard His Highness, after all!”
With that, Lucillea was already heading toward the table.
“…”
Irnel was at a loss for words as she watched that confident back.
It was a marvel every time she saw it, wondering where such boldness came from in that small body.
Lucillea’s steps were without hesitation.
She skillfully weaved through the nobles in their splendid dresses like a little squirrel, finally arriving at the table laden with dazzling food.
“Wow…”
Lucillea’s eyes sparkled like jewels.
She picked up a small plate and began to fill it with a determined hand.
[Lucy! Lucy! That one! The sparkly jelly! Get that! Ah, and what’s that fruit next to the jelly?! I’ve never seen it before! I think it smells sweet! Give that one to me! Me!]
Cookie, perched on her shoulder, swiveled its head back and forth, scouting the food.
*Alright, alright. Calm down.*
Lucillea placed the jelly on her plate while picking up the fruit Cookie had mentioned with her other hand.
It was then.
*Hm?*
As she was distractedly piling food onto her plate, Lucillea suddenly felt a gaze and glanced out the ballroom window.
*What was that?*
It was just for a fleeting moment, but her eyes had met with a dark figure standing beyond the ballroom window, watching her.
Of course, the moment their eyes met, the figure quickly vanished. It had been wearing a mask, so she couldn’t see anything below the eyes, but the gaze she had met for that instant felt strangely familiar.
*Light green…?*
Suddenly.
-“Then, I shall see you at the Imperial Palace.”
-“Then, I shall see you at the Imperial Palace.”
-“Then, I shall see you at the Imperial Palace.”
For some reason, Mei’s words from the capital residence came to mind.
*…*
Lucillea spaced out for a moment. Then, she let out a soft laugh and went back to filling her plate.
*What am I thinking?*
There was no way Mei would be at the Imperial Palace dressed like that.
*It was dark outside, I must have seen it wrong.*
After dismissing the thought, as Lucillea turned her gaze from the window, she noticed a person leaning against the wall right next to it.
*Huh? Who’s that?*
The man was leaning against the wall, facing forward, but he was wearing a dark-colored cloak instead of formal attire.
He looked a little older than Elbadin and didn’t fit the ballroom’s atmosphere at all.
His pale skin, deeply set eyes, cold gray irises, sharp cheekbones, and lips set in a firm, humorless line were utterly dry.
The man’s dark red hair was tied back, and he stood like an ascetic who had just returned from arduous training. His presence felt out of place, as if he alone existed in a different dimension within the lavish ballroom.
*My master used to wear a cloak like that.*
Ah, so is he a mage? A mage at the Empress’s birthday banquet?
As Lucillea tilted her head, observing the man, Cookie’s booming command echoed in her mind.
[No! No! The redder one next to it! That one’s bigger! Come on, Lucy! Why are you being such an amateur?!]
Cookie bit Lucillea’s hair and pulled it like a jockey holding reins, shouting.
*I know! I know! Just calm down!*
At Cookie’s fussing, Lucillea had no choice but to follow its orders and pile on the food.
*You greedy thing. You’re going to turn into a pig.*
[Pig parrots are cute!]
While bickering with Cookie and filling her plate, Lucillea kept one eye on the mysterious man, sneaking glances.
*I should keep an eye on him just in case.*
I can’t be lazy with my guard duty!
Lucillea checked on the suspicious man a couple more times as she put food on her plate.
Just as she filled her plate and turned her gaze for one last look in the man’s direction.
*Huh?!*
The spot where the man had been was empty.
Only the curtain swayed slightly, as if a breeze had just brushed past it.
*He disappeared?!*
Where did he go? As Lucillea looked around, Cookie hurried her.
[Lucy, what are you doing?! Let’s go! I’m hungry!]
*Ah, uh-huh. Right…*
Lucillea tore her gaze away from where the man had been standing and mentally replayed his features.
*Gray eyes and dark red hair.*
He hadn’t caused any trouble, but just in case!
Lucillea returned to Irnel’s side, her hands full with plates of dessert.
“Here!”
Lucillea abruptly held out a plate in front of Irnel’s face.
“You eat too. This is really good. Especially this one with the strawberry on top!”
Irnel, caught off guard, took the plate with a still-baffled expression, looking back and forth between the fancy dessert and Lucillea.
Lucillea, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding stares, was smiling happily with cream smeared on her lips.
Looking at that smile, Irnel couldn't help but think that the happiest and most joyful person in this entire ballroom right now was probably this child.
“…You truly are amazing.”
“Right? I’m pretty amazing, huh?”
Lucillea took it as a compliment and puffed out her chest with pride.
Finally, Irnel gave in to that bright face, chuckling as if surrendering, and picked up a tart from the plate she’d been given.
For some reason, the tension that had made her feel like she couldn’t eat a thing vanished as if it were a lie.
Irnel took a bite of the tart.
It was incredibly sweet.
***
“Have you gotten closer to the Young Lord?”
Having moved away from the crowd, Diego asked Reiden.
Reiden thought for a moment before answering calmly.
“I’m trying.”
Oh, Diego raised an eyebrow.
His son’s brow would always furrow at the mere mention of Serdian.
But his reaction was different today.
He seemed to be calmly accepting Serdian’s existence and their relationship.
It seemed their relationship was gradually improving while living at the grand duke’s estate.
Feeling mischievous, Diego asked Reiden.
“What about our third child?”
“Third child?”
When Reiden tilted his head and asked back, Diego replied with a wicked grin.
“Lucillea.”
Ah! Reiden jumped but kept his voice low.
“Ah, Father! Didn’t we agree to forget about that?”
“Hahahaha. It was a joke, a joke.”
Just as Diego and Reiden were enjoying their brief reunion.
The gentle music that had been flowing through the ballroom stopped.
In its place, a grand and majestic tune began to play.
Startled by the sudden change in atmosphere, Lucillea, who had been eating, looked around.
“What? What’s going on?”
Irnel answered in a small voice.
“Their Majesties, the Emperor and the Empress, are about to enter.”
“Ah.”
Thump, thump. At the words Emperor and Empress, Lucillea’s heart began to beat a little faster.
There were several reasons for her racing heart. One was because of the Emperor and Empress seeing Serdian, and the other was the anticipation of meeting the Emperor and Empress themselves.
It was a feeling of reverence beyond that of seeing a princess and prince from a fairytale.
*In this empire, no, in terms of status, they’re the people at the very top of this world.*
Of course, knowing the original story, she didn’t personally like the Emperor or Empress.
*After all, the Emperor and Empress were the ones who made Serdian and his biological mother miserable.*
The original novel depicted the Emperor as a cold monarch.
Emotionless eyes, a stoic expression.
He gave no attention even to the Empress, beyond his duty of producing an heir. That indifference was applied equally to all women.
Instead, he was thoroughly engrossed in war and politics.
His only interests were the stability of the empire and the maintenance of his power.
*He may have been a capable monarch, but he doesn’t seem to have been a good husband or father.*
If he had been, Serdian and his mother wouldn’t have been abandoned to live such difficult lives.
*Of course, there might be a hidden story that wasn’t in the original novel.*
Lucillea swallowed the food in her mouth and briefly set her plate down on a nearby table.
At that moment, as if on cue, everyone in the ballroom turned in one direction and bowed their heads.
Lucillea and Irnel, glancing at their surroundings, followed suit.
“Announcing Their Majesties, the Emperor and the Empress!”
With the chamberlain’s booming cry, the heavy doors of the ballroom swung wide open.