Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Social Gathering Uproar - 1
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After a somewhat exhausting journey, we finally arrived at Duke Grimjack's grand mansion.
As we passed through the main gate and entered the mansion's garden, Maribel, who had been silently following behind me, suddenly posed a question.
"The Grimjack Duke's gatekeepers treated even you with utmost respect. Is it their strong professional spirit?"
"The Duke must have given them prior instructions to treat me courteously."
"Were the Altesia and Grimjack families that close?"
"No, there's no particular friendship between the houses. If I had to point to a connection, it would be through the imperial family."
"The imperial family?"
"Duke Grimjack is Princess Rosmel's uncle."
"Ah...!"
Maribel let out a small exclamation, realizing why the lord of the west, Duke Grimjack, was paying attention to me.
The benefactor who lifted the curse on the princess and a hero of the imperial family.
There was no way the Duke, upon hearing of his niece's full recovery, would neglect me.
Otherwise, what reason would a prestigious duke of the empire have to accommodate the convenience of a wastrel heir from a mere count's house with more money than sense?
"The Duke will be a solid backer for you, Sir Heinz."
"Exactly. Thanks to that, staying here should be much more comfortable in every way."
When I first received the invitation, things had seemed daunting, but now my mind felt considerably lighter.
At the very least, it meant there was at least one noble in this grand mansion who viewed me favorably.
A bitter smile crossed my face at the reality where that single fact alone brought joy, and then Maribel hit me with a piercing question.
"By the way, all the nobles of the west are gathering, right? Besides Duke Grimjack, do you have any other close acquaintances?"
I hesitated without answering immediately.
Placing my hand on the heavy door leading to the banquet hall, I let out a hollow chuckle.
"Someone close to me?"
I pushed the door wide open with force.
The dazzling chandelier lights greeted me as the door swung ajar.
At the same time, the noise in the hall died down as if by magic, and hundreds of eyes turned toward me in unison.
Like arrows piercing through, countless gazes fixed upon me.
Among that multitude, not a single one held even a trace of goodwill—no matter how hard I searched. Only contempt, disgust, and displeasure.
"As if."
Wastrel, entering the stage!
In a certain sense, I was no different from a superstar right now.
Where else in the empire could there be someone shunned by every noble like me?
The old Ketchup Young Master would have at least mingled with the troublemaking heirs from noble houses who shared his vibe.
But since I banished them all on the first day of possession, even they hated me now.
In short, in this glittering banquet hall, I had not a single ally.
"This is the reputation I've earned in society."
As I stepped into the hall amid the cold reception, the nobles immediately began whispering among themselves.
Those standing in my path scattered swiftly like cockroaches.
Not out of fear, but revulsion—their body language made it blatantly clear.
To them, a wastrel was treated like shit.
"See?"
"...I'm sorry. I asked a rude question without knowing anything."
"Curiosity can lead to that sometimes."
I settled into a secluded corner, and soon the gossip about me came crashing in like waves.
"What business brings the Altesia wastrel young master here this year?"
"Count Altesia had no choice, having been summoned by His Majesty the Emperor to conduct trade in a distant foreign land."
"Hah...! Even so, sending the wastrel young master is too much, isn't it?"
"It's been so long since the last social gathering, but with this, I doubt we can enjoy it properly."
Their concerns felt trivial.
I planned to behave quietly and leave without a fuss.
Having confirmed I didn't need to care about others' stares, I picked up a plate and stood.
Having come all this way, I might as well get my money's worth.
Ignoring the pouring gazes, I eyed the dishes in the banquet hall.
Filling my plate with exotic delicacies I'd never seen before, I savored the anticipation.
As expected, Koreans run on rice power.
Even as I loaded my plate, the backbiting continued unabated.
Seeing no reaction from me, the slander grew bolder, and Maribel's expression darkened accordingly.
Fiddling with the pocket under her skirt, she seemed to be debating whether to plant a dagger between their brows.
"Sir Heinz! Don't you have any plans to make them pay?"
"None. Even if I did, I have no intention of acting on it."
"Why not?"
"Because in a little while, they'll kneel and beg on their own."
To the tilting Maribel, I tossed the keyword that would serve as the decisive hint.
"Elixir."
Maribel's eyes widened round.
True to her quick mind, she grasped my meaning immediately.
"Once the elixir is revealed, their attitudes will flip 180 degrees—it's only a matter of time."
The miraculous medicine that cured the princess's incurable illness.
I planned to distribute that imperial-endorsed elixir exclusively through the Altesia Merchant Guild.
Without my permission, no supply—meaning they'd soon regret their current rudeness.
"I get it perfectly! How pointless my worries were!"
"Then hurry and grab some food yourself. This social gathering might be our last chance to enjoy a leisurely feast."
Her mind eased, Maribel flashed a refreshingly cloudless smile.
"Then I won't hold back!"
She grabbed several plates in both hands and dashed off with the momentum to sweep the entire banquet hall clean.
Maribel's appetite was ferocious, belying her appearance.
She could devour five times a normal adult man's meal and still smile innocently, claiming it was just enough to satisfy her hunger.
Even more astonishing was how those nutrients concentrated in specific areas.
Pretty, kind, big eater, and with a noble heart to boot.
In my original era, she'd have skyrocketed as a mukbang streamer and dominated the broadcasting world.
"If so, a guy like me wouldn't have even dared to speak to her."
I truly felt grateful for forging this bond with Maribel—truly more than I deserved.
If marriage were possible for me, I'd want it with a fine woman like her.
Of course, to welcome such a dreamlike future, I'd have to survive the empire that would soon turn into hell.
"Ugh?!"
Crack-!
I'd set aside worries to properly enjoy my meal when a fierce impact struck the back of my head.
My pupils shook as I ducked, and someone placed a hand on my shoulder.
Turning, I saw a man with reddish-brown hair leering down at me with a vile smirk.
"You little shit! When you come to my house, shouldn't you come crawling to greet your big brother first?"
Of course, I had no idea who this thug-like man was.
But the moment our eyes met, my body instinctively began to tremble faintly.
Meaning he was someone who had instilled terror in the original owner of this body, the Ketchup Young Master.
I was shocked such a person existed, but replaying his words made it click.
Cassis Grimjack, the eldest son of the Grimjack Duke's house.
Having grown up arrogant, it was highly likely he'd treated Heinz like a mongrel and looked down on him.
"Oh? No answer?"
Cassis glared, roughly shaking my shoulder.
Without panic, I indifferently pointed into the air.
"Duke Grimjack is watching from over there. You sure about this?"
"What? Where?"
Cassis's face stiffened instantly.
He frantically turned his head, following my finger, scanning around.
Thanks to that, his nape was fully exposed and defenseless.
Fear only gains true value once overcome.
Suppressing the body’s ingrained terror, I reached for a wine bottle on the table.
The cold, heavy glass touched my palm.
Gripping the neck firmly, I swung mercilessly at Cassis's nape.
"Gah!"
Shatter-!
A dull thud was followed by a sharp explosion.
The wine bottle smashed against Cassis's nape, shattering into razor-sharp shards that scattered everywhere.
Simultaneously, the red wine inside drenched his head.
"Oh? Did I not hit hard enough?"
The heavy blow made Cassis lose balance and stagger.
As he nearly toppled, he braced against the table, barely holding on.
If my strength had been just a bit more, I could have knocked him out cold.
Tsking in regret, Cassis glared at me with a demonic grimace.
Regardless, I shrugged casually with a smile.
"I was just touched by your memorable greeting style and tried it myself. What's the problem?"
"You son of a—!"
"His Grace Duke Grimjack makes his entrance!"
The moment Cassis grabbed my collar roughly and raised his fist.
Perfectly timed, the announcement boomed across the entire hall.
Cassis's fist froze mid-air, trembling.
His face screamed he wanted to smash mine, but he had no choice but to release my collar.
No matter how wounded his pride, he couldn't afford to disgrace himself before the family head.
"Tch!"
Cassis clicked his tongue sharply, glared once more, then swept back his wine-soaked hair and strode toward the center of the hall.
I was relieved he didn't swing.
If he'd laid a hand on me, Maribel—who was ready to hurl a knife from afar—would have sent his wrist rolling across the floor.
"That said, did that guy get no word from his father about my connection to the princess?"
The gatekeepers were polite, yet the heir acts like a thug—quite the irony.
If he knew I was the princess's savior, he couldn't have behaved so brazenly.
Seems like the message didn't get through, or there's some misunderstanding.
If so, it was regrettable.
Because what was to come next would fall entirely on his shoulders.
"It's Duke Grimjack!"
"W-wait! Th-that person next to him...?!"
"Huh? Oh?"
"Princess Rosmel?!"
The hall erupted in shock at the utterly unexpected figure.
As if by agreement, everyone bowed low on their knees. I set down my fork and lowered my posture as well.
Speak of the devil, and she appears—the princess I just mentioned showed up.
Gone was her frail form; Princess Rosmel entered gracefully in a splendid dress.
At her side stood Duke Grimjack, majestic, attending her like an escort.
"First, I apologize for not informing those gathered here in advance. Today, Her Highness Princess Rosmel has graciously attended to grace our social gathering!"
"Have you all been well? I, Rosmel el Certisia, offer my greetings to those who contribute to the empire's peace."
Her clear, resonant voice filled the hall.
In that instant, gasps of admiration exploded simultaneously from the nobles.
"Ahh...! The rumors of Her Highness's recovery were true!"
"To think I'd live to see Her Highness in a dress again...!"
"Even after so long bedridden, she remains dazzlingly beautiful!"
"Long live the empire! Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live Her Highness the Princess!"
It was pure fanaticism.
The princess, once too ill to even step outside the palace, now appeared at an official event.
Those who had worried for the empire's future naturally went wild.
"...She really knows how to startle people."
With that, Princess Rosmel became the star of this social gathering.
As the main stars descended the platform, young nobles swarmed her eagerly.
They offered formal greetings of concern, but that was mere pretext.
Their true aim was to secure the princess's hand for the upcoming dance.
Thus, a sea of hopeful suitors surrounded the princess.
As she looked troubled amid the flood of praise and courtship.
A figure parting the crowd silenced the men at once, exuding an untouchable aura of intimidation.
"Princess Rosmel, would you grant me the honor of dancing with you?"
The one who emerged was none other than Cassis Grimjack.
Hard to believe it was the same thug who'd just threatened me—his voice carried gentle elegance.
Having wiped the wine from his hair, he knelt on one knee before her and extended his hand gracefully.
The other men, having long given up, stepped back.
Like it or not, this was Grimjack territory, and Cassis was the heir.
No man here wielded greater influence at this gathering, so all expected him to be chosen.
But reality proved harsher.
"I'm sorry, but I have a prior engagement."
A short, firm rejection.
Cassis, who hadn't doubted for a second, froze in stunned disbelief.
"Pardon...?"
His extended hand trembled awkwardly in the air.
Without a hint of hesitation, Princess Rosmel turned away.
Crossing the throng, she strode straight toward me with a beaming smile, locking eyes and winking.
A blatant, mischievous preview of trouble.
"That princess, honestly...!"
Reaching me, Princess Rosmel seized my hand without regard for the stares.
She forced my palm open and lightly placed her white hand atop it.
An elegant gesture, yet the force in her fingertips felt coercive somehow.
"Young Master Heinz, if it's alright with you, would you dance with me?"
A woman inviting a man first.
And that woman being the empire's flower, the princess—the banquet hall erupted in chaos.