CHAPTER 92
CHAPTER 92
The Imperial Palace Banquet
It wasn’t only Idnia who was busy preparing for the sudden invitation.
“Ah… um, Lady Idnia. Will this be alright?”
Marie, too, looked troubled as she dusted off her uniform.
Unlike the others who owned several sets, she only had one uniform, rotating between different outerwear and blouses.
Since the semester had only just begun, it wasn’t worn out—but it did look a bit untidy.
“Hmm. Well, it’s not torn, so it should be fine. Everyone will be wearing their uniforms anyway.”
Idnia spoke calmly as she cast an extraction spell, removing the impurities from Marie’s clothes.
“The uniform of Dunais Academy is like a formal military dress. It’s appropriate for any official occasion.”
Marie still couldn’t properly control extraction magic, so Idnia stepped in to help.
“Ah… I’m very sorry.”
Marie flushed in embarrassment as the dirt was pulled out of her clothes.
Idnia paid no mind, handing her a coat and adjusting her appearance.
“It looks fine. You don’t need to be so nervous. If the Emperor himself invited you, it means the position of saint candidate is that important. In other words, Marie, you’re attending as a guest. It’s them who should be grateful you accepted.”
“That’s reassuring… but still, what could this be about? For His Majesty to host a banquet so suddenly… Are they trying to make peace with the demons?”
Marie didn’t understand politics or the power struggles between Emperor and Pope, but even she could tell the situation was delicate.
If she followed the logic, a saint candidate under the Church attending a peace banquet with demons at the Emperor’s request… could easily be seen as betrayal.
But refusing the Emperor?
That wasn’t something a farmer’s daughter could do.
“Well, don’t worry too much. If you’re concerned, just stay close to me during the banquet.”
“Haha… just hearing that is reassuring enough.”
Marie smiled, thinking Idnia was joking to ease her nerves.
A carriage arrived at the entrance of Dunais Academy.
Normally, guests would arrange their own transport for such events, but for the academy students, the Emperor had personally sent one.
Crown Prince Rudolf, Lorenzo of Mazdari, Karl of Oxbach, Idnia of Betelgeuse, and Marie.
A twin-headed carriage had been prepared for the five of them.
Vice Principal Deneuve saw them off with a serious expression.
“You all possess noble status, but at present, you are students of Dunais Academy. If any issues arise at the banquet, the academy will protect you—so long as you fulfill your duty as students.”
“Duty as students… what exactly does that mean?” Rudolf asked.
“It means withdrawing from political matters outside the academy and requesting protection as students. I believe you all understand what that implies.”
Deneuve knew well that many of these students were already entangled in external affairs.
He was offering them a way out—protection, if they chose to step back.
“…I see.”
As Idnia expected, everyone was dressed in uniform.
Strangely, hearing those words while wearing it stirred a sense of belonging.
‘A place that squeezes students dry… yet it still has this side to it.’
As the carriage departed, Rudolf sighed.
“I’m not sure whether to call this boldness… or the strength of the academy’s influence. What do you think, Lorenzo?”
“I have no idea what you mean. That’s all I can say.”
Lorenzo feigned ignorance, as always.
Karl scoffed.
“Hmph. Even a child wouldn’t fall for that act. You’re juggling loyalties between the Emperor, the Pope, and the Vikrant Empire, aren’t you?”
“…That is the only answer I can give.”
Lorenzo raised a hand to cover his mouth.
“Are the Papal envoys really that frightening? They didn’t seem particularly strong. More importantly, why would demons come to the Empire—and the Emperor host a banquet for them?”
Rudolf turned to the window—and froze.
“…Ah.”
The scenery had changed.
They had crossed dimensions.
“Is this… Dunais? Already?”
“At least a thousand kilometers in an instant…”
“So that’s why it’s called Dunais Academy.”
Rudolf turned to Idnia.
“And you? What do you think of this banquet?”
“We’ll have to see for ourselves. This is unprecedented—I can’t pretend to know.”
She had knowledge from the game, but revealing it would be pointless.
Especially now, when everything had already begun to diverge.
The imperial banquet hall of Dunais was known as the Palace of the Rosy Cross.
A massive structure built with steel beams—an architectural innovation allowing uninterrupted space for grand events.
Inside, the court orchestra played, servants moved busily, and partitioned waiting areas were set up with screens and curtains.
Rudolf’s group was guided into one of them.
“Security is tight.”
Idnia nodded at the Imperial Knights stationed throughout.
Naturally so.
Even if the demons claimed peaceful intentions, they had been at war not long ago.
“But why invite us?” Marie asked nervously.
“We’re just students…”
“Perhaps there are others our age present,” Idnia replied.
At that moment, a woman entered.
“Ah, Your Highness. And you must be Lord Lorenzo, Lord Karl, Lady Idnia, and Miss Marie.”
“Lady Polchen. It’s been a while. Everyone—this is Lady Aura Polchen, my former etiquette tutor.”
Aura smiled.
“Lady Idnia… we met when you were younger. I wonder if you remember. I was present that day… the day the entire Empire will never forget.”
A subtle pressure.
She was referring to the broken engagement.
But Idnia didn’t flinch.
“Yes, I remember. Lady Polchen, you look as beautiful as ever. Ah—and Isolde is doing quite well. She’s become an exemplary student. I find myself reflecting on my own shortcomings because of her.”
A polite counter.
Yet Aura didn’t soften.
“So. What exactly is happening?”
“A demon delegation has arrived. They seek peace—and brought considerable tribute.”
“Tribute?”
“Albion gold coins. At first, we refused… but it turns out there’s a civil war among the demons.”
The former Demon King had died.
Now factions fought for succession.
Prince Kice, the rightful heir, had sent Archmage Gimel as envoy to seek peace.
Emperor Franz convened his council.
Hardliners opposed it fiercely.
But the assembly supported it.
‘If the enemy is divided, we must exploit it.’
In the end, the Emperor agreed to meet them—and held this private banquet.
“So it’s not public yet,” Lorenzo said with a smile.
His eyes, however, were sharp.
If exposed, it could provoke both the Church and the Vikrant Empire.
“Not yet. Discussions are ongoing. We may never announce it… or we may be forced to, if someone else reveals it first.”
Aura explained.
“This banquet serves to ease negotiations—and to introduce the demon elites to imperial society. They also expressed interest in meeting academy students.”
Just as expected.
A comparison.
Between the Empire’s future and the demons’ elite.
At that moment—
The music changed.
The banquet had begun.