Chapter 48
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: A Famous Feast Has Plenty to Eat (2)
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3.
Leo noticed Karron's expression harden.
He could feel the killing intent radiating from Karron.
It was the same murderous look he'd seen when the train was attacked.
Karron's sea surged more violently than before. The hostility emanating from him was enough to make Leo break out in a cold sweat without realizing it.
What are you thinking, you bastard?
A banquet hosted by the Imperial Family.
Causing trouble here meant dragging the Imperial Family's authority through the mud.
That's why Leo put an arm around Karron's shoulder and said,
Karron. The guests are arriving. We should greet them.
Did his effort work, even a little?
The killing intent flowing from Karron's body subsided for a moment. Then, a moment later, Karron replied with a smile.
Thanks, big brother. If it weren't for you, I might have made a mistake.
The stinging hostility was masked by a smile.
Karron expertly hid his expression and looked ahead.
The group that had approached them just moments ago, drawn by Rebellio's provocation.
At the forefront of the group stood a young nobleman with a relaxed expression.
Your Highness, the Sixth Prince, it has been a while.
The young nobleman greeted him in a soft voice.
Rebellio gave him a slight wave.
Karim of Marquis Diaz. It's been a long time.
Your Highness, you don't seem to have changed at all.
Well, I always try to be consistent, don't I? Ah, please, introduce yourselves. Leo Leston, Karron Leston. This is Karim of Marquis Diaz.
One of the families instrumental in the restoration, the Marquisate of Diaz.
A powerful family that currently shared control of the central political scene.
Unlike the Leston Duchy, where Halo was still the head, the previous Marquis Diaz, who had participated in the restoration, had passed the family leadership to his son.
Karim was the third son of the current Marquis Diaz.
Nineteen years old.
His name had been in the information Jeras had provided beforehand.
Karron recalled the information about Karim and gave a slight smile. He extended his hand toward the other man.
Karron Leston.
A pleasure. Karim Diaz.
Karim smiled and took Karron's offered hand. But a moment later, he felt a strange sense of unease.
Although Karron was looking at him and smiling, his mind seemed to be elsewhere.
His face looked as if he were deep in thought about something.
How rude.
Etiquette among nobles begins with focusing on the other person. However, his counterpart was merely going through the motions, showing no sign of concentration.
He had heard this was Grand Duke Halo's youngest grandson, but he hadn't expected him to be so impolite from their very first meeting.
Wasn't the Leston Duchy the most prestigious noble family in the Empire?
Is it because he's just a kid?
Just as Karim was about to show his displeasure, Leo, standing beside Karron, smiled and spoke to him.
I am Leo Leston. Karim Diaz. Please don't be offended. Karron has a personality where he focuses solely on one thing when he gets fixated.
Ah, I see.
I've heard a lot about Marquis Diaz from my father. I hope we can build a good relationship from now on.
At least this one seems reasonable.
Karim shifted his gaze to Leo.
On behalf of my father, I extend my gratitude to the heroes of the Leston Duchy. I heard you subjugated the bandits? Truly worthy of the Leston name.
We only did what we had to do.
Just as a friendly atmosphere was about to form, Rebellio, who had been listening quietly, began to stir up trouble.
Grand Duke Halo truly seems to care for the Empire. Unlike the nobles in the capital, who are too busy cooped up here, licking the boots of power.
The blatant insults continued.
Karim barely managed to swallow the rage boiling inside him.
The Sixth Prince.
A vulgar bastard who, as expected of someone with commoner's blood, knew nothing of manners.
Why would a guy who'd normally be playing with handmaidens in the palace come all the way here?
It's obvious.
This guy was like a cockroach.
He knew how to survive in this damn palace.
He must have come to curry favor with the Leston Duchy. He was a vermin with excellent survival instincts, after all.
But would things really go his way?
There was no way the people of the Leston Duchy didn't know about the Sixth Prince.
Especially judging by the reaction of this Karron fellow, who was making a displeased face right next to him.
The Leston Duchy would never extend a hand to the Sixth Prince. They would sooner support another prince than lend their power to a half-blood.
Your Highness, you always have such a coarse mouth. As a member of the Imperial Family, it would be best if you showed a little more decorum.
Therefore, he would show them, right here.
Show these young whelps from the Leston Duchy just how formidable the power of the Marquisate of Diaz was.
That a prince ostracized by the Imperial Family could be suppressed with authority at any time.
And who the true power in this banquet hall was.
My father mentioned that he finds it difficult to see His Majesty upset whenever he hears about you, Your Highness.
Marquis Diaz is truly benevolent. To concern himself with another family's affairs. It makes me think my father has a very fine subject indeed.
Please consider it advice born of loyalty. You wouldn't want to be a nuisance to His Highness the Crown Prince, would you?
Hmm, to think my dear brother the Crown Prince would be brought up. You got me there, Karim Diaz. I can't help my foul mouth. As you know, my mother was a commoner, wasn't she? Haha!
At those words, the other young nobles nearby raised the corners of their mouths in a sneer.
There was no one on the Sixth Prince's side in this banquet hall.
No, there probably wasn't anyone in the entire Imperial Palace.
Karim smiled in satisfaction and looked at Leo. He then spoke in a gentle voice.
If you don't mind, why don't you join us? It's my first time meeting the young masters of the Leston Duchy, and I have so many questions I'd like to ask.
He extended a hand to them.
Having shown them who held the real power here, they would surely take his hand.
They might be the sons of the Leston Duchy, but they were still just young kids.
They were bound to be swept up by the atmosphere.
And I can also hold them accountable for what they did to De Gaulle.
Everything seemed to be going according to plan.
But it was then.
Your Highness.
Karron, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. Rebellio replied with a smile.
What is it, Karron Leston?
You have no talent for acting either, Your Highness. It's truly awful. Let's just be comfortable and act like we usually do.
Ah, is that so? Ha, my mother wasn't a good actress either. But I'm good at growing flowers.
I guess that's why your head is full of flowers.
Oh, is that it?
The situation began to take a strange turn.
Karim frowned for a moment but quickly composed himself and asked with a smile.
Were the two of you already acquainted? Hmm, since when, exactly?
At that, Karron scowled deeply and said,
Hey. You've been chattering nonstop. Shut that damn mouth of yours for a bit. I'm trying to think right now.
A sudden outburst of profanity.
Karim couldn't believe his ears.
What did you just say?
I. Said. Shut. Up.
Even if you are Grand Duke Halo's grandson
But Karim's words were cut short.
Shing.
Because Karron had drawn Guillotine from its scabbard.
The moment the dark blue sword was drawn from its sheath, everyone in the banquet hall held their breath.
Even Karim, who had been chattering incessantly just moments before, fell silent, his face pale.
Karron, gripping Guillotine in his hand, spoke.
I was thinking of letting it slide today, but the more I think about it, the more I feel I can't. Your Highness, could you seal this place off for a little while?
At those words, Rebellio smiled as if amused.
What are you thinking?
Dark mana. There's a rat hiding in here, one that wields dark mana.
Unfazed by the unexpected news, Rebellio replied.
Oh, that's news that would make my grandfather rise from his grave. But there are so many detection spells in the Imperial Palace This time, it's a bit hard to believe.
After the Evil Emperor was dethroned, the Imperial Family had installed thorough defensive magic circles to sever all ties with the demon race.
They even went so far as to periodically import holy water from the Holy Kingdom far to the south to consecrate every corner of the palace.
The idea that such thorough defenses had been breached was hard to believe.
But in that moment, a sliver of possibility flashed through Rebellio's mind.
It's possible if there's an accomplice inside the palace.
As Rebellio's mind raced, Karron's voice rang out.
Whose grandson am I?
At that, Rebellio pulled a wand from inside his shirt. Then he nodded obediently.
Cooperation came first.
If there truly was a being with dark mana as Karron claimed, that alone would be enough to turn the Imperial Palace upside down.
Sickness to the doctor. Demons to the Leston Duchy. That's the advice Sir Mason always gave me. Alright, what do you need me to do?
Don't let anyone leave this place.
That's a bit difficult with my abilities but, well, there is a way.
A small crystal orb popped out of Rebellio's pocket.
Rebellio expertly shattered the crystal orb with his wand. And then.
Vwoooom-!
Mana enveloped the entire banquet hall.
An illusion magic artifact my sister gave me to use when my life was in danger. Duration is about ten minutes? The Imperial Guards outside will probably notice by then. Ah, this thing is expensive, so I'm definitely going to make you pay for it. Got it?
The only one smiling here was Rebellio.
Zzzzzzzing-!
Karron infused mana into Guillotine's blade and scanned his surroundings.
And he spoke in a voice as cold as ice.
Ten minutes is more than enough.
Could he really just walk away after discovering dark mana?
Even Grandfather will understand this.
Karron's hostility boiled over.
4.
It was suffocating.
Watching Karron walk through the banquet hall, Karim couldn't even lift a finger.
He didn't know why, but sweat was pouring from his entire body.
His mind was screaming at him to run, but his body wouldn't obey.
Even his mouth wouldn't move.
A terrifyingly dreadful aura was emanating from the small boy's body.
What is this situation?
He couldn't comprehend it at all.
Why did the youngest of the Leston Duchy draw his sword in a banquet hall?
And how did that vermin-like Sixth Prince cast a spell?
But he couldn't voice his questions.
He felt that if he uttered even a single word, that sword would sever his neck.
It wasn't just the sword.
The true object of his fear was the boy himself.
The fact that he couldn't tell what the boy was thinking was terrifyingly chilling.
The Imperial Guards, why!
By now, the Imperial Guards waiting outside should have entered.
But no one stepped into the banquet hall.
This is the happiest I've been since entering the Imperial Palace.
Karron's voice echoed throughout the banquet hall.
To be honest, I was planning on beating up a few people today as an example. It seems the other noble bastards have forgotten what kind of family we are.
Karron continued to walk forward.
Click, clack.
The sound of his dress shoes hitting the floor spread rhythmically.
I didn't think the people in the Imperial Palace would welcome us. But
Vwoooooosh-!
Karron's body shot forward. At the same time, Guillotine's sinister blade flashed.
It turns out there was someone here to welcome us. Ah, not a person, though.
Karron arrived at a table located in a corner of the banquet hall.
In front of that table stood a woman wearing a mask.
Beneath the mask that covered her nose and eyes, she was smiling.
Oh my. I've been found out?
Shingggg.
Guillotine stopped right in front of her neck.
Blood began to trickle from her neck where it touched the blade.
Kyaaaaaaaah!
Screams erupted from the young noble ladies who had been watching the scene with bated breath.
But Karron paid them no mind and glared at the woman before him.
Even at a moment like this, a smile lingered on her lips.
I came because I was curious. It's not often one gets to see Halo's bloodline outside the Azure Sea Castle. Do you have any idea how anxious I was that you might not notice my signal?
She threw off the mask she was wearing.
It seemed to have a built-in function to hide dark mana, as the moment she took it off, dark mana began to spread rapidly.
And at the same time, a dazzlingly beautiful face was revealed.
A beauty so captivating that it was impossible for anyone to look away.
But Karron already knew that it was nothing more than an illusion.
An illusion created by the dark mana flowing from her body.
The moment one's heart was captivated by that illusion, their soul would be stolen.
Karron Leston. You are quite a pretty thing.
The moment her long, white fingers tried to caress Karron's face.
Swish.
Karron swung his sword and cut off her head. Then he said in a cold voice,
For a vulgar succubus bitch.
Then, the 'head' that had fallen to the floor replied.
What a truly lovely child.
A moment later.
Shaaaaaaa-!
Dark mana began to gush from her head like a fountain.