Chapter 24: What Happened at the Social Party (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 24: What Happened at the Social Party (2)
Every noble attending this gathering had crossed paths with Roman before.
Back when he still associated with the Barco family, he had frequently shown his face at these parties, only to make a drunken fool of himself. With a flushed face and a pathetic demeanor, he had been an easy target for their disdain. Naturally, the whispers about him were never kind. Though none of them knew the exact reason behind his recently canceled engagement, his past behavior made it impossible for them to view him in a positive light.
And yet, the moment Roman entered the hall, everyone collectively held their breath.
It wasn't out of fear of his status as a Dmitry. Rather, the man standing before them was entirely unrecognizable from the Roman they once knew.
'That's Roman Dmitry?'
'He looks completely different.'
In their memories, Roman was an unsightly man. His modest height had seemed even shorter due to his slouched, slight frame, and his heavily blemished skin had ruined whatever image he had left. Even his gait had been frivolous and erratic. Given how vastly different Dmitry's second son was, rumors had often circulated that Roman's birth was somehow vulgar, an innate flaw that made it impossible for him to hide his uncouth nature.
But the man before them now shattered those rumors.
Roman's steps were calm and measured. His broad shoulders gave him a striking, imposing presence, hinting at a lean, muscular physique that couldn't be hidden beneath his clothes. His skin, in particular, was remarkably clear. The blemishes that had once marred his face were entirely gone. Now, his pristine skin, deep dark eyes, and vivid features perfectly accentuated his striking appearance.
His splendid attire was the crowning touch. The black suit, accented with intricate gold embroidery, brought out his newfound charisma to the absolute fullest.
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
"Was Roman always that handsome?"
"...Absolutely not. Back then, he was shorter than me, but now, even at a glance, he's clearly taller."
The nobles muttered among themselves in disbelief. In the past, Roman had tried desperately to dress up and win people's favor, but he had never exuded a presence like this. It wasn't merely a physical transformation. It was a shift in the very aura he carried—an aura forged by the life one lived. The old Roman, who had achieved absolutely nothing, had worn his pathetic frivolity on his sleeve.
Roman Dmitry and Baek Joong-hyuk. The two had lived entirely different lives.
The aura of Baek Joong-hyuk—the Heavenly Demon who had stood at the absolute peak and looked down upon all beneath the heavens—possessed a tyrannical gravity. It commanded instant attention, regardless of the physical vessel it inhabited.
Still, appearance was undeniably a crucial factor in high society. Initially, everyone had intended to give Roman a wide berth, but upon seeing his transformed self, they found themselves inexplicably drawn to him, wanting to strike up a conversation.
Driven by this magnetic pull, a few nobles stepped forward.
The first to reach him was a young noblewoman. It was the same woman who had been asking the others about Roman earlier, unable to suppress her curiosity after seeing a man so vastly different from his terrible reputation.
"It is an honor to meet you. I am Sophia of the Grisel family."
Step.
Roman stopped in his tracks.
As his calm, steady gaze fell upon her, Sophia added with a slightly embarrassed expression, "The name of the Grisel family is likely unfamiliar to you. My father, Baron Grisel, leads a family that has dedicated itself to the Cairo Kingdom for generations. We are not a grand house, but our history is by no means short."
Sophia was the daughter of a lower-ranking noble. Settled in a small territory on the outskirts of the kingdom, their standing was so low that most people didn't even know the Grisel family had held a barony for generations. The only reason she was able to attend the Barco family's party was her beauty. Her striking looks, combined with her status as a noble's daughter, were reason enough for the eldest son of the Barco family to send her an invitation.
Because of this, Sophia always felt compelled to explain her family's background. Her status as a fringe noble gnawed at her self-esteem, making her feel the need to justify her presence to whomever she met.
In stark contrast, families like Barco and Dmitry required no such explanations. In the northeastern region of the Cairo Kingdom, not knowing their names was equivalent to lacking the basic qualifications of a noble.
Just then, Roman spoke.
"I am well aware of the Grisel family. As a noble of Cairo, there is no way I wouldn't know the name of a family with over a century of history."
"...You really know the Grisel family?" Sophia's eyes widened in surprise.
She had merely intended to strike up a brief conversation; she never expected Roman to actually recognize her house.
'Is he just pretending to know?'
Doubt crept into her mind. Such things happened often. Since failing to recognize a noble family was considered a faux pas, some would feign ignorance and pretend they knew. Roman was likely doing the same. Otherwise, how could he possibly know of the Grisel family, which had never once made a name for itself outside its remote territory?
However, Roman continued seamlessly.
"I once heard my father speak of the Grisel family. He mentioned that your house has been settled in the northeastern region for a long time, and that the timber you produce is famous throughout the Cairo Kingdom for its excellent quality. That is why your family crest is a giant tree with wide-spreading branches, is it not? I also heard that your younger brother recently succeeded in mana sensitivity. I sincerely congratulate him on his achievement."
‘...Ah!’
In an instant, Sophia's doubts completely crumbled. Now she was certain. Roman truly knew about the Grisel family. She hadn't needed to explain herself at all.
Human nature was a fickle thing. Simply because Roman recognized her family, Sophia found herself thinking:
'Perhaps Roman Dmitry is a completely different man from the rumors.'
This brief exchange was the exact moment the gazes of the onlookers began to shift.
*
Two weeks ago.
Upon deciding to attend the social party, Roman had made an unprecedented request to Hans.
"Hans. Bring me all the information on the noble families located in the northeastern region. I want to know every family in the northeast of the Cairo Kingdom, what their family crests look like, and what recent events have occurred within their territories. To attend this social party, I must know the backgrounds of the people I will be meeting."
It was a highly unexpected request. However, as always, Hans did not question it. He gathered all the information on the surrounding region exactly as Roman ordered.
From then on, Roman read through the documents whenever he had a spare moment. It was a tedious task—memorizing the crests of obscure families and reading up on people he had never met. Even so, Roman knew it was an absolute necessity.
'I am no ordinary commoner. As the eldest son of the Dmitry family, I am attending Barco's social party as a representative of my house. Therefore, I must display at least a basic level of courtesy. I need to know which families the people I meet belong to, and how those families have maintained their legacies. For someone branded as the Fool of Dmitry, this level of effort is required to turn the tide and win their favor.'
Back when he reached the absolute peak of the Demonic Cult, Baek Joong-hyuk had studied the true role of a ruler. In a world governed by the law of the jungle, martial power was naturally the ultimate currency. Yet, his past experiences had taught him just how crucial remembering names was in forging human connections.
He had commanded thousands, tens of thousands of subordinates. When he called them by their names—men he had never even spoken to before—they became willing to lay down their lives for him.
It was a funny thing. Simply because he remembered their names, those men would scream Baek Joong-hyuk's name into the heavens, declaring that they wouldn't hesitate to die for him.
'Human relationships begin with the smallest of things. Those who know me as the Fool of Dmitry will hold deep prejudices against me from the start. But if I recognize them and remember their names, their attitudes will change. To earn the interest of others, the correct approach is to show interest in them first. Since I have resolved to live as Roman Dmitry, I must put in at least this much effort.'
Sophia Grisel.
Roman did not know her personally. But the moment she approached him and identified herself as a Grisel, the information surfaced in his mind.
'The Grisel family...'
Their crest. Their history. Even the recent events, both big and small, that had occurred within their territory.
Seeing the warm, friendly atmosphere between Roman and Sophia, the hesitant nobles finally broke and began flocking to Roman.
The party quickly grew lively. And at the very center of it all was Roman.
"It is a pleasure to meet the eldest son of the Bolt family. Of course I know of your house. Didn't Viscount Bolt achieve distinguished military exploits on the battlefield in the past? Reading about his deeds, I thought to myself that I, too, must bear myself honorably on the battlefield just as he did."
"How is your mother doing? I heard she has been suffering from a chronic illness recently. As the weather grows colder, she must take good care of her health."
"Was it about ten years ago? Dmitry benefited greatly from a transaction with the Heros family. My father always spoke of how much consideration your family showed us, so I, too, hold a deep sense of gratitude toward the Heros family."
Roman.
As the absolute peak of the Demonic Cult, he had once built an unrivaled, supreme empire. People claimed his success was solely due to his overwhelming martial might, but raw power alone could never achieve perfect dominion.
The true virtue of a ruler lay in understanding the importance of human connection. Roman knew just how firmly a foundation of power could be solidified simply by remembering others and creating an environment where they felt valued and heard.
The Barco family's party was taking an entirely unexpected turn. Initially, everyone had expected the bat-like Fool of Dmitry to be completely ostracized. But with his striking new appearance and his eloquent way of speaking—remembering names and offering tailored compliments—the nobles flocked to him of their own accord.
Those who hadn't known Roman quickly took a liking to him, and even those who did know him began to see him in a new light, stunned by how drastically he had changed.
For over a decade, Roman's terrible reputation had been built up layer by layer. He had just been served with a humiliating engagement cancellation and was widely treated as a pathetic nuisance, yet he had completely melted the icy atmosphere with just a few words.
One noble spoke up with a bright smile.
"It seems I misjudged you all this time, Lord Roman. Since you were always drunk in the past, I thought it would be difficult to have a conversation with you without alcohol. I had no idea you were this witty and pleasant! I hope the Bolt family and Dmitry continue to maintain a great relationship in the future."
It was the heir of the Bolt family. Simply because Roman had praised his father's exploits, the young man laughed heartily, his face flushed with sheer delight.
The atmosphere in the hall had completely shifted.
No one badmouthed Roman anymore. Even those who, just moments ago, had insisted Roman was a degenerate were now subtly drawing closer, laughing and chatting along with him.
Dmitry. The true powerhouse of the northeastern region.
In the past, Roman had failed to command any respect despite having the massive weight of Dmitry at his back. The reason was simple: although he was the eldest son, his chances of actually inheriting the family were considered slim, and his frivolous, pathetic personality made people keep their distance.
But now, things were entirely different.
Roman, whose very appearance had transformed, knew exactly how to handle people. Amidst the warm, inviting atmosphere, the nobles belatedly realized his true standing. Roman was the eldest son of Dmitry. If he was truly this capable and dignified, they calculated that there was absolutely nothing to lose by befriending him.
Right at that moment, a servant of the Barco family pushed through the crowd, approached Roman, and bowed.
"Lord Roman. My young master has invited you to the secret room."
The young master the servant spoke of. There was only one person that could be.
Antony Barco.
This was the meeting he had been waiting for. Roman politely excused himself from the surrounding nobles and turned to the servant.
"Lead the way."
From this moment on, it was time to uncover the truth about Roman—the man who had been getting on his nerves.