Chapter 109
Chapter 109
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Merit Awards Ceremony
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This victory banquet had quite an elaborate program, as befitting the occasion.
Before the ball began, an event as precious as pure gold yolk kicked off.
The merit awards ceremony.
“In this war, our Caliper forces fought bravely and seized victory.”
With the king away resting due to health issues, Duke Helian took center stage. He declared solemnly.
*Gulp!* Lynette, overwhelmed by the sight she was seeing for the first time, swallowed dryly.
“The soldiers and officers who fought, and even the laborers who aided with supplies—all are heroes! But here, I shall name those who shone the brightest among them.”
The merit awards ceremony began in earnest.
“Tenth in merit!”
As expected of a national event. Unlike my own rankings that only went to third, they were announcing generously down to tenth.
The first familiar name I heard was at fifth.
“Fifth in merit! Ironheart Ranvers!”
“This honor is beyond my worth! I scarcely know where to put myself!”
Ironheart knelt on one knee before Duke Helian. He seemed to receive a treasure of great value as his reward.
“Next, fourth in merit! Dorothy Grimwood!”
“Ah…!?”
Dorothy gaped in shock, trembling so hard she couldn’t even close her mouth.
A nearby noble whispered something and nudged her.
Dorothy staggered toward Helian.
She did kneel on one knee, but in truth, she had more or less collapsed.
“Dorothy Grimwood. You led your unit by example, tended to the wounded after battle, distributed bonuses equally, and showed exemplary fairness. The officers who served with you sang praises of your reputation. You’ve proven you can succeed Dunhan Grimwood.”
“Y-You overpraise me. I have no talent for military strategy.”
“Such humility.”
“N-No, that’s not…!”
“Withdraw now. The next merit will be announced.”
“Ah….”
It seemed this merit ceremony came with a cadet premium. Ironheart had the higher objective merit, but expectations differed.
Dorothy had exceeded those expectations by a wide margin, earning her this high ranking.
‘Something feels off.’
Dorothy at fourth? I hadn’t even thought cadets would make the list. Their objective merits were low. At best, Kasper or I might scrape in, and even then, low or mid-tier at that.
But Dorothy at fourth?
“Next, third in merit! Kasper Milias, Ruan Chase!”
Even so, I should’ve been called here.
My stomach suddenly cramped sharply.
Kasper and Ruan knelt with sour expressions. They clearly disliked not only the ranking but also sharing the award.
Still, the reaction around us was hot.
“As expected of Milias’s prodigy!”
“Ruan of the Chase family is impressive too! His reputation for martial prowess was no exaggeration!”
Polite applause echoed here and there.
“Amazing….”
Lynette gazed at them with eyes full of envy.
They were shining as the stars of her age group, after all.
“You’re in the same class as them, right, Lord Ilrain?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Wow! To train alongside people like that… I’m so jealous.”
Lynette’s gaze was fixed on Kasper.
“That’s him, isn’t it? Kasper Milias… the genius Wade!”
I had no time to respond. Oblivious, Lynette kept going.
“He’s incredible. Just two years older than me, and he’s already that skilled. Do you think he’d talk to me if I approached him?”
“Yeah, sure….”
“Lord Ilrain? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just a bit dizzy for a moment.”
Then second place was announced. At this point, I almost wished they’d call my name here.
“Second in merit! Delbadova Rguin!”
The fallen General Delbadova was ranked second. His son stepped forward to receive the reward.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“Delbadova at second?”
“Then who’s first?”
Meanwhile, the quick-witted nobles were already eyeing me.
“Who could be first in merit?”
“…”
Lynette asked innocently, her eyes brimming with anticipation.
I steeled myself.
No surprises.
“First in merit! Als Ilrain! Step forward!”
Nobles unfamiliar with me craned their necks, while those who knew watched with serious, appraising eyes.
“Als Ilrain… Yes!?”
Lynette gasped in shock. She knew I was a cadet but had no idea of my merits or standing.
Holding back a sigh that threatened to escape, I walked toward Duke Helian.
The entire banquet hall watched me.
My cadet classmates eyed me with complicated gazes, while Erina looked worried.
“Lord Platinum…! Incredible!”
“It reminds me of the protagonist, Wilson Camelot! It was based on you after all!”
“Congratulations!”
My fans let out cheers of celebration.
They were still the better ones, at least. They treated me as an author. Some other young ladies eyed me with sticky, predatory stares.
Kneeling on one knee, I shot Helian a resentful glare.
“I thought you’d downplay it appropriately?”
I muttered just loud enough for him to hear, and Helian grinned.
“I’d have to be able to, first. Should’ve held back a bit, then.”
“Ugh.”
Helian raised his voice again.
“Als Ilrain. In the crisis at the Kallon Mountains, you devised a brilliant stratagem that left all officers in awe. Unfortunately, that plan didn’t come to fruition, but in the ensuing Dels tone Mountains battle, under Delbadova’s orders, you flanked the enemy. You slew Barrett Enlorin, the commander of the enemy unit, and even Fisher Partin, the foe who killed Delbadova. For a cadet, these are merits hard to believe!”
*Ooooh!* Gasps of admiration rang out.
“Thus, you are most worthy of first in merit! In high recognition of your service, I grant you the southern small city of Mowbray.”
“…An honor.”
Applause thundered through the hall.
I’d wanted to keep a low profile at the banquet as much as possible.
Now that was impossible.
*
*
*
If I could, I’d leave early.
After the merit ceremony came the ball.
I’d become a flower pig dropped into the savanna.
I could feel the predators circling me.
‘What to do.’
With a partner, they wouldn’t approach rashly. But that only lasted until the dance. Once I danced with her, they’d pounce.
If I didn’t dance, they’d assume she wasn’t pleasing me, and requests would flood in.
A no-guard situation.
Better to keep dancing with Lynette.
“Would you honor me with a dance, milady?”
“Y-Yes….”
Lynette had been dazed since earlier.
I led her in a very slow tempo dance.
Lynette, held in my arms, whispered.
“You’re an amazing person, Lord Ilrain.”
“Hm?”
“Writing such a great book. And taking first in merit here.”
“No, first in merit aside, the book isn’t that great.”
“It is! I was moved, at least. That last scene where he leaves with the knight was really good.”
Lynette must be a knight faction fan. Eonia would like her.
And so, I chatted with Lynette as we danced.
That’s when it happened.
“Whoops.”
Nearly colliding with another couple, I quickly pulled Lynette closer and turned.
I nodded apologetically to them, but they reacted first.
“…Hmph.”
It was Erina.
“Brother. You should watch where you’re going. There seem to be people dancing rather sloppily── *mmph*.”
Jealous eyes.
Well, I’d never danced at parties before, so it must look unfair to Erina.
Feeling a bit guilty, I kept my promise.
“Lynette, mind if I ask for some advice?”
“What kind of advice?”
“I want to give a gift to a girl I like, but I don’t know what to get.”
I figured this would put up an iron wall with Lynette.
“Hmm.”
Lynette pondered seriously before answering. She didn’t seem to like me romantically—just saw me as an extraordinary big brother figure.
“I think jewelry would make her happy.”
“Guess that’s the safe choice.”
“Oh, but be careful depending on her background. In some northern regions, giving an uncut gem means you want to be with her forever.”
“Hmm. Similar everywhere, huh.”
Even in the modern world, diamond rings are for proposals. Not strange.
“The music’s ending. Want to take a break?”
“Y-Yes, please.”
Lynette’s steps trembled, probably from nerves.
Back at our seats, I planned to use eating as an excuse to dodge dance requests for a while. Then dance with Lynette again after.
But then, an unexpected situation arose.
“Als Ilrain. Come with me.”
“...?”
It was a royal guard, by the look.
“What’s this about?”
“A summons from His Majesty. No more questions. Follow.”
A summons from the king.
Bewildered, I glanced around.
The other nobles vaguely assumed the top merit earner was getting special praise from the king.
‘A summons from the king? Did he find out I’m Wade?’
No, if so, he wouldn’t call me like this.
Following the guard through maze-like corridors, I finally arrived.
‘No way. The king’s bedroom?’
Even I couldn’t hide my fluster at this unforeseen turn.
“Your Majesty, I’ve brought him.”
“Let him in.”
The voice that replied didn’t sound particularly fatigued.
Guided by the guard, I entered to find King Gares busily rummaging through his bookshelf for something.
He soon found his target book and *thwack thwack*, dusted it off.
Placing it on the desk, he turned his piercing gaze on me, staring straight through.
“Indeed, the spitting image. Just like Lizna…!”
“...!?”
My birth mother’s name, out of nowhere.
I barely concealed my agitation.
The king approached and stroked my face.
“Yes, looking closely, I see Myos in you too.”
Now my birth father’s name.
“Tell me. Who are your father and mother?”
“My father is Berial Ilrain, and my mother is Claire Ilrain.”
“Hm. You haven’t heard the details, then. Well, if they only took you in, they wouldn’t know the full story.”
He spoke as if he knew everything.
Not that he knew Crossing had massacred the Pensilon revivalists, but rather guessed I was adopted because my age matched that time.
I couldn’t fathom why he’d cling so firmly to mere speculation, but King Gares already seemed convinced I was a prince of Pensilon.
I thought maybe he’d seen the necklace, but it didn’t match my dress uniform, so I’d left it off today.
Meaning King Gares had pieced together the truth just from my face.
‘He knew my birth parents well.’
Not strange. King Gares had been the head of Duke Asmond’s house during the Pensilon Empire era, serving as prime minister.
He was about twenty years older than King Paraine.
“I don’t quite follow Your Majesty’s words.”
Playing dumb, I got a nod from the king.
“You’ll learn it all naturally someday. The whirlpool of fate has already begun to turn.”
“…”
Fate.
He began recounting the tale to me, as if mumbling to himself.