Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Translation: godsn
Two people also attended tonight's banquet.
They had come to follow up on new leads obtained from the Shadeia Prophetess in Ashilom Street not long ago.
"They say there's a book written by a sage in Valdina. We might find something about that Gold Star there."
Having received an invitation to the banquet, it was the perfect opportunity to search the now-empty Royal Palace.
After sending out their subordinates Alpha and Zeta, they waited perched on a tree outside the banquet hall for their signal.
Hiding from ordinary people's eyes was hardly difficult for the two of them.
"What are you looking at? The spectacle?"
From their tree, they could observe both the banquet hall and the lounge in the corridor.
"Boss—"
"Wait."
Those golden eyes remained fixed on Etienne.
The Minister, huffing irritably, entered the lounge and grabbed a glass to throw.
Apparently boiling with rage, he took out his anger on a servant for quite some time.
"What's wrong with him? Did he eat something bad or something?"
The servant, who had been rubbing his sore knee, bowed hastily and scurried out of the room.
Even after the servant left, the Minister kept pouring drinks down his throat before suddenly tearing at his clothes.
When smashing nearby objects didn't quell his agitation, he paced around the room like a dog needing to relieve itself.
Suddenly, Cesare remembered how the Minister had casually picked up and drunk from the glass the Princess had subtly set aside during their conversation.
Hadn't the Princess been holding that glass continuously since the banquet hall?
That goblet of red wine—there must have been a reason she hadn't drunk from it.
"Keuk, kkeuk. Ahahaha."
When Cesare burst into laughter, Gallo looked at him with utter bewilderment.
"Boss? Have you lost it?"
"Who was it that called Valdina's Princess stupid?"
Cesare turned his head.
There, joining the crowd, was the Princess with an expression so innocent she seemed completely unaware of what had transpired.
Where in the world could you find such a brazenly audacious fool?
The corners of Cesare's eyes involuntarily curved as he watched her.
"Let's go back."
"Already? Zeta's report isn't in yet... Wait, Boss. Where are you... You don't mean home, do you?"
Cesare leaped down from the tree in one fluid motion.
He had initially planned to avoid the banquet hall to dodge the idiots who would swarm him upon hearing Facade's name, but he'd changed his mind.
"What? Why's he acting like this again?"
Gallo hurriedly followed Cesare as he headed toward the banquet hall.
Banquet Hall.
Having concluded her conversation with the Minister, Medeia returned to the banquet.
'It'll take time for the drug to take effect.'
Having confirmed that the Minister had gulped down the glass she'd subtly left behind, her steps were light.
An unexpected card to play, but one that would likely make her plans even more certain.
'Should I thank Virna?'
Her dress rippled gracefully.
"What are you all discussing so merrily?"
"Oh, Your Highness!"
Marchioness Aspasia greeted Medeia warmly.
Having confirmed Medeia's changed standing at tonight's banquet, her demeanor had shifted accordingly.
She leaned in close to whisper familiarly in Medeia's ear.
"Do you see that man standing by the eastern ice sculpture? That's the leader of Facade."
The leader of Facade? Medeia turned her head. There stood a cheerful-looking young man with golden hair reminiscent of straw.
His amiable appearance made it hard to believe he was the notorious weapons merchant.
His playful smile and innocent demeanor broke down people's barriers, making him seem easy to approach.
"I'd heard Facade was extremely closed off, but that doesn't seem to be the case."
"Don't let your guard down too much. Do you know who that is behind the leader?"
Someone abruptly interjected that there was another figure who better matched the organization's infamous reputation.
"Acares."
A taller man standing beside the leader.
Though nearly motionless as an ancient tree, he drew people's gazes nonetheless.
"Ah, I recognize that iron mask. That's the famous mercenary of Facade, isn't it?"
"They say he suffered burns as a child—over half his face was scorched. So horrific even his own mother abandoned him."
The sharp jawline and refined lips visible beneath the half-mask created a stark contrast with the grotesque scars presumably hidden beneath.
The women, especially, couldn't tear their eyes away from him.
"He's of lowborn immigrant stock, right? I heard he doesn't even know who his real father is."
"They say he handles all the dirtiest and most dangerous jobs for Facade. Treats human lives like specks of floating dust, doesn't he?"
"But for all the hushed whispers, people seem to know quite a lot about that man, don't they?"
When someone abruptly pointed this out, the ladies exchanged awkward glances.
A mischievous noblewoman clucked her tongue playfully.
"True enough. Look at him—though his face may be hideous, his body is like a sculpted statue. I've never seen a man who wears a uniform so well. If he looks this striking at a banquet, imagine how dazzling he must appear outside!"
"Good heavens, madam! Have you forgotten Her Highness the Princess is present?"
Medeia, noticing the women's flushed cheeks, found her own gaze inadvertently drawn to him.
The stiff uniform clung handsomely to the thick neck and broad chest visible beneath his mask.
Like the epaulets precariously balanced on his sharply squared shoulders, everything about him seemed poised to slip away effortlessly.
"Don't even dream about it. Do you know how cruel and vicious he is? Have you already forgotten the rumors that he slaughtered an entire clan in the Achel region when their deal fell through?"
Another noblewoman shook her head in horror.
She seemed to hope her words would instill fear, but instead, a rosy flush bloomed on the young ladies' faces.
Disgust and longing, two incompatible emotions, mingled with an undercurrent of secret danger—only making the masked man appear all the more alluring.
The noblewoman clucked her tongue in frustration.
"They say he burned the entire tribe alive, even though they'd already received their weapons but hadn't paid the final installment. The ashes scattered across the fields for over a week, turning the plains into what looked like a snowfield."
"Good heavens..."
"Oh, and it was that very man who gave the order to burn everyone—women and children included. Since then, no one has dared break a contract with Facade."
The noblewoman smacked her chest in exasperation.
The crowd shuddered.
"Hmph, no matter how vicious he is, can he really compare to the First Prince of Kazen? That one poisoned every minister who opposed him before he even came of age."
"Exactly. He was only fifteen at the time, wasn't he? I was utterly shocked when I heard."
"Was his name... Cesare?"
"Yes. Cesare Deisler Kazen."
Someone pursed their lips. The murmured name made the crowd freeze.
"It's been a while since I've heard that name."
"Of course. Three years ago, we wouldn't have been able to discuss the Black Devil so calmly."
"Ansi! Can't you keep quiet? How dare you call an imperial bloodline a devil!"
When a young noblewoman chimed in, her mother—a noblewoman herself—gasped and tried to cover her daughter's mouth.
"Hmph, it's not like I'm wrong. Everyone on the continent knows it. To gain the Emperor's recognition as heir, he burned every small nation he conquered to the ground."
"Enough! Ansi, didn't I tell you to stop reading that nonsense? This girl—she's still so immature, believing every bit of third-rate imperial gossip she reads!"
"It's true! I swear it is!"
"Ansi! Honestly!"
The noblewoman hastily muffled her daughter's mouth, stammered out an awkward excuse, and then, realizing it was hopeless, hurriedly dragged the girl away.
"Ah, that's right. It's been years since we've seen him—I'd almost forgotten. Is the First Prince even still alive? I heard he suffered grievous wounds on the frontier..."
"They say it's an unknown poison with no hope of a cure. He's just waiting for death now."
"That's why the diplomatic mission coming to Valdina this time includes the Fourth Imperial Princess instead of the First Prince. Whether that's fortunate or unfortunate, I can't say..."
It's a relief to avoid the First Prince, who once terrified the continent.
But word has it the Fourth Imperial Princess of Kazen is no less ruthless.
"This aid from the diplomatic mission is crucial for our country..."
"And the Empire knows that full well. Just imagine how much the Fourth Princess will extort from us. It's already worrying."
Just as everyone was feigning concern over national affairs, Virna, the Regent's daughter, leisurely picked up a pastry.
The drug should be taking effect by now.
What epithet would they attach to Medeia this time?
Madwoman? Insane princess? No—Valdina's crazy bitch would be perfect!
Virna watched Medeia moving through the banquet hall with eyes full of envy.
If possible, she hoped the princess would hallucinate and dash straight toward where Facade stood.
So that the startled mercenary might "accidentally" snap the princess's neck in the process.
But... huh? What are those brutes doing now?
A stir ran through the crowd of noblewomen.
Facade's leader, accompanied by his mercenary, was striding purposefully toward Medeia.