Chapter 13
Chapter 13
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: 12th Birthday Ball (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Pam-parara-pam~ Pababa Pam-parara-bam~
"His Imperial Highness, the Third Imperial Prince Yuno Alexander Windrage von Valkan, enters. Please welcome him with applause."
The master of ceremonies for today's ball was none other than Staufen Count, the Chief Chamberlain of the imperial palace, which spoke volumes about the grandeur of the event.
Clap clap clap clap clap clap
Amid thunderous applause, Yuno entered the banquet hall.
Yuno responded to the cheers from the assembled nobles with a smile, waving as he took his seat. Staufen Count then raised his glass high.
"Today marks the day His Imperial Highness Prince Yuno makes his debut on the social stage, celebrating his twelfth birthday. Let us all raise our glasses in toast to the Third Imperial Highness's growth."
Not a single guest held back as they lifted their glasses, and cries of "To the prosperity of the Empire!" echoed so loudly they seemed to shake the palace.
Yuno too raised the cocktail glass before him and shouted along, then began receiving the nobles who came to offer their congratulations.
"Hahaha, Your Highness! Congratulations on reaching the ripe old age of twelve. You've grown into such a fine young man."
The first to approach Yuno was his maternal grandfather, Windrage Duke.
"Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Grandfather. I'm always grateful for the tremendous support you provide."
Windrage Duke was a leading hawk in the Empire, having earned his ducal title through great merit in the Xenon Plains battle. He had married his second daughter to the Emperor, positioning himself at the heart of the imperial military. Though he clashed frequently with the Emperor over further expansion, curbing his political influence somewhat, he had brilliantly repelled Leon Kingdom's invasion of his territories last year until the central army arrived, reaffirming his status as the Empire's top warlord.
"Heh heh heh, what kind of grandfather would I be if I couldn't manage that much? If there's anything you need for your training in the future, this old man will support you anytime."
"Hahaha, no need, Grandfather. What you're already doing is more than enough."
"Every time I see Your Highness training so diligently on your own, it fills me with pride. If only my son took after you even halfway..."
'Ugh... Here it comes. The lamenting about Uncle Kent compared to me... This'll drag on once he starts...'
As Yuno predicted, Windrage Duke pulled up a chair and launched into a tirade against his son, which lasted over ten minutes.
"That boy Kent turned twenty last month, yet he shows no interest in training—just chasing skirts and debauchery. It drives me mad. To think my late-life only son, my baby, turned out such a wastrel... My heart can't take it."
The Duke gulped down his drink in front of Yuno, glancing toward the back. Yuno reflexively looked that way and saw his uncle, Kent Windrage, shamelessly flirting with noble ladies, making a spectacle of himself.
"Sigh... Grandfather, why not just enroll Uncle in the Windforce Knights as a trainee? A bit of hardship might straighten him out..."
The Windforce Knights were the Windrage family's order, vying for second or third best in the Empire after the Imperial Guard Knights. With iron discipline and rigorous training, Yuno suggested it thinking it might toughen his uncle up, much like his own training in the Guard Knights.
"Think I haven't tried? The moment I hint at it, he comes running, crying and begging, promising to shape up... And this old fool's heart softens for his youngest..."
"Hahaha... He'll pull himself together soon enough, so don't worry too much. Uncle's in line to inherit the Windrage name—he'll change when the time comes."
"I appreciate the kind words, Your Highness. Lately, I've heard he's been hanging around the Second Prince's faction at night, with that unsavory crowd... Ugh~"
Yuno could only give a wry smile at his grandfather chugging liquor in frustration.
"Doesn't Brother Heinrich have plenty of good people around him? They're not like you in temperament, Grandfather, but they're still core figures in the Empire."
Bang!!
"Even so!! To lead House Windrage, he must stand at the vanguard, inspiring the troops! That fool's mindset disqualifies him from inheriting the duchy!!"
Unable to contain his excitement, Windrage Duke shot to his feet, jabbing a finger at his son and bellowing.
Despite his age past sixty, his voice boomed, drawing all eyes to Kent and eliciting waves of snickers.
"Whoa whoa, Grandfather, calm down."
"My apologies... I've shown an ugly side at Your Highness's birthday celebration. I'll take my leave now, so you should enjoy the lovely ladies instead of this old man. Even someone as dedicated to training as Your Highness needs to unwind occasionally. Hahaha."
The Duke patted Yuno's arm and shoulder, chuckling appreciatively at his massively developed frame, then rose. Glaring at his son one last time, he clicked his tongue and departed.
"Uncle... Grandfather must've had too much to drink and lost his temper. Don't take it to heart..."
Yuno approached to console Kent, whose face burned with shame, but before he could finish, Kent grabbed a low noble's daughter by the waist, spun on his heel, and stormed out of the hall.
"That insolent cur!! Daring to ignore Your Highness while you're speaking!!"
"Punish that wretch! Acting like he's already Duke!! Your Highness!"
"It's fine. Uncle's clearly upset. I don't want to ruin my birthday with unpleasantness."
"A wise and merciful judgment, Your Highness."
Nobles desperate for any scrap of power swarmed Yuno, but he had no desire to mingle and bided his time to slip away.
Suddenly, trumpets blared, and Garcia Marquis's voice boomed, halting the music.
"The absolute ruler of the Empire, master of the Xenon Plains, patriarch of the Valkan imperial house—His Imperial Majesty Emperor Karl III, accompanied by Her Imperial Majesty Empress Yuria, the Empire's mother, and the rightful heir to the throne, Crown Prince Franz, now enter."
All nobles prostrated themselves. Yuno seized the moment to escape the sycophants.
Seated on the throne, Karl III lightly tapped his staff, signaling them to rise. Yuno straightened as well.
"Today is the twelfth birthday of my beloved third son, Yuno, who shall be a steadfast shield for the imperial house. I thank all you nobles for brightening this occasion with your presence. Forget my presence today and celebrate Yuno's birthday with joy. I hereby declare the imperial ball open!!"
With the Emperor's proclamation, the orchestra resumed, filling the hall with music as the feast reignited.
A new dance tune played, and young nobles paired off, ascending the floor. Spectators clapped, admiring the elegant couples.
But the guest of honor, Yuno, sat alone sipping a drink, watching. Crown Prince Franz approached.
"Hahaha, happy birthday, Yuno! But come on, the star of the show sulking alone? Can't you see all those ladies eyeing you?"
The Crown Prince grabbed Yuno's head and gave him a knuckle-rap, urging him to dance, but Yuno whined and sassed back.
"Hey! Aren't you here without Crown Princess sister-in-law? Why pick on me?"
"You little punk!! Talking back to your brother? Hahaha. You know my wife doesn't care for these events. And..."
Franz nearly blurted out his marital woes but swallowed it.
His wife, the Crown Princess, had a voracious sexual appetite, demanding intimacy often, but his frail body couldn't keep up. He had a secret even she couldn't know, making every night a ordeal.
Still, doting on his brother, he ruffled Yuno's hair casually and offered birthday wishes.
"The gift I prepared is already in your palace via servant—check it later. Now go ask a lady to dance. How can you ignore all those beauties?"
After a brief chat, Franz shoved Yuno toward the ladies. Unable to refuse his brother, Yuno stood and surveyed the hall. As Franz said, countless young ladies sparkled with anticipation.
"Ahh, I'd heard the Third Prince was handsome, but the rumors don't do him justice... Oh my..."
"Tell me about it... No chance of marriage for our family, but I'd love a fling~"
They whispered about Yuno's looks, hoping he'd choose them. But Yuno headed not to them, but somewhere unexpected.
"Mother. May I have this dance? It would be an honor to share one with the Empire's queen mother."
Yuno approached the throne and boldly ascended, extending a hand to Empress Yuria, seated quietly beside the Emperor.
The hall fell silent. Yuria panicked at her son's request, but the Emperor, amused by his boldness, nudged her forward, bursting into laughter.
"Puhahaha! Empress~ Yuno wants a dance with you! His first social partner the Empress Dowager! This is rich~ Our daughters flee at the sight of me."
"Y-Yuno, honey, leave those pretty girls and ask your mom? Pretend I didn't hear—go on back."
Yuria rose cautiously to turn him away, but Yuno's body, now larger and harder than most knights, didn't budge.
"In my eyes, you're still the prettiest, Mom. No one in this vast hall outshines you, so that's why I asked you. Please, one dance with me."
Blushing at his earnest plea, Yuria relented and accepted.
As she descended the throne hand-in-hand with her son, Franz started clapping, and all nobles followed. The Emperor smiled and signaled the orchestra, which shifted from lively tune to waltz.
"Mom."
With sweet music flowing, they faced each other, clasped hands, and glided elegantly to the rhythm.
Yuria's steps faltered from rustiness, but Yuno matched her perfectly, helping her regain poise. Soon, muscle memory took over; she danced proficiently, pressing close to her son and reveling in the waltz.
"Hee hee, aren't you too good at this, my boy? Not just training—you've practiced social dances too? Such a good son~"
"Hehe, how could I not excel at anything physical? If it makes you happy, Mom, I can do anything."
Yuria beamed at his words, but timing had them gripping hands with lower bodies pressed tight—her son's massive cock fully against her.
The birthday outfit she'd made clung skin-tight, outlining his snake-like bulge perfectly. Blushing, she pressed closer to hide it.
Of course, this only made her feel it more vividly. The hot masculine heat stirred her body, starved for over a decade.
'Ugh... This child... already so huge...'
She couldn't show it, but Yuria's pussy grew wet responding to his giant cock.
'Ahh... If he pleases Mommy with his body... Let this son's huge cock ravage Mommy's pussy...'
In her mind, Yuno forced himself on her with that monster, and she welcomed it deep, moaning in ecstasy. Though dancing, her fantasy of incest raged until the music ended.
"Mom~ That was great. Promise to dance with me at the next ball too."
His words snapped her back.
"Y-Yes, Yuno. Mom's a bit tired—need to sit."
'Yuria, you crazy bitch!! Fantasizing about your own son!! Heavens... Have I lost my mind?!'
Legs weak, she couldn't return to the throne. The Emperor had slipped away after watching, so she sat at Yuno's table, fanning her flushed cheeks, inwardly cursing herself.
"Hahaha, Mother Empress, that dance with Yuno was beautiful. You two are soulmates! Hahaha."
"Hohoho, thank you, Crown Prince. I was so flustered when Yuno picked me first... You didn't put him up to it, did you?"
"Hahaha, me? He adores you—that's why. I'll head out now. Can't steal the spotlight from today's star."
Franz bowed to Yuria and left. As she saw him off and resat, a breeze under her skirt revealed her soaked panties.
'N-No way... Got this wet dancing with Yuno? I don't even get this aroused with His Majesty... Oh god... Crazy bitch...'
Self-reproach halted as cheers erupted ahead.
"Yuno's picked a partner... Who could it be...?"
Peeking, Yuria saw he'd chosen Second Princess Isabella.
Chatting with friends, Isabella lit up at her brother's request, forgetting decorum and bouncing to the floor, dragging him by the hand.
'Oh right... This is Isabella's debut too, isn't it? Famous for rejecting every high noble suitor...'
The orchestra played an upbeat tune for the young pair. They embraced and shook to the rhythm exuberantly.
After a lively spell, they returned to Yuria's table for drinks.
"Yuno, it's your social debut—dancing with Isabella? Plenty of other girls there."
"Mom!! You'd let our Yuno rub up on those hussies?!"
"Of course. He should date around."
"Absolutely not! Over my dead body!!"
Yuria sighed inwardly at her daughter, wondering how she'd handle Yuno's eventual marriage.