Ch.105Celebration (3)

A banquet was held to celebrate Ruide Christopher’s new achievement.

“Gasp, look at that person.”

“I heard he had disappeared!”

“It’s Count Moer. The Great Mage Moer!”

While some nobles were enjoying the banquet, others were not.

But even those individuals had attended, proving how significant this banquet truly was.

“The discovery of the century.”

“If it hadn’t been presented by the youngest of the Windsor family, I wouldn’t have believed it. I would have kicked my assistant’s behind, calling it nonsense.”

Hearing the Tower mages whispering, Justin, who was attending the banquet, broke into a cold sweat.

At a table where five commoners gathered, they spoke in hushed voices, unable to touch the lavishly prepared food.

“Young Lord Ruide must be more impressive than we thought.”

“Of course he is.”

Catherine shrugged her shoulders.

“He’s the only young lord in the Empire. It would be problematic if he didn’t receive this much respect. You might have thought everyone was equal at the Academy, but I never forgot. He’s one of the top two power holders in the Empire.”

“…But, Catherine. I remember you confronting Young Lord Ruide at the beginning of the semester.”

“T-That was!”

Catherine’s face turned red.

“When I was immature!”

But even without Catherine’s words, the commoners were feeling it deeply.

The difference between nobles and commoners.

A certain count’s heir, who had been gossiped about at the Academy, was now surrounded by mages from the Tower.

A certain young lady, who had been ridiculed for having magic skills similar to commoners despite years of training, was now receiving courtship from numerous young lords.

They had temporarily forgotten because of the Academy’s rule that ‘everyone is equal at the Academy.’

That they could never match the nobles.

That they lived in completely different worlds.

“It’s unfair.”

Justin muttered blankly.

Catherine scanned the banquet hall and said:

“I see why they invited us.”

“Why?”

“Think about it. Why would they invite us to such a lavish banquet? To intimidate us. To make us feel the difference.”

Catherine strode forward and grabbed some food.

Then she took a big bite.

“You should eat too. Don’t be intimidated.”

Justin nodded nervously and followed Catherine’s lead.

His etiquette was perfect, and he was clean.

He thought that aside from social status, he wasn’t particularly inferior to the nobles.

“Ha, I wondered why there was such an unpleasant smell at this glorious occasion.”

Just then, a noble with curled bangs and a somewhat unpleasant impression approached and picked a fight.

He covered his nose and sneered at the commoners.

“So cockroaches have gathered here?”

“…!”

Justin stepped forward to face the noble.

In his view, he could see a young lady covering her mouth and laughing from behind.

She must have instigated this.

Justin began with a fundamental point.

“We were invited here. You have no right to…”

Slap!

But the noble struck Justin’s cheek without a moment’s hesitation.

“How dare a commoner speak informally to a noble! Guards! Guards, come here!”

Several guards who were guarding the entrance to the banquet hall rushed over.

“Baron Iso. What’s the matter?”

“This insolent commoner has insulted me! Execute him immediately for defaming nobility!”

“He is also a guest who has properly attended the banquet. Even if you’re angry, please be patient…”

“Are you saying your opinion is more important than the supreme imperial law?”

“W-Well…”

“…I wasn’t forgetting my position.”

Flames flickered in Justin’s eyes.

“What I was forgetting was the true nature of nobility.”

This was the true face of nobility.

Dirty, vile, and selfish—that’s what nobles were.

He had forgotten while living in the utopia called the Academy.

Justin picked up a handkerchief with trembling hands.

Noble and commoner.

A relationship that could never be equal.

But as a mage, he could bring his opponent to an equal playing field.

“Baron Iso!”

Justin tried to throw the handkerchief at Baron Iso’s face with full anger. It was to request a duel.

But at that moment—

“Entering now: Amelia Windsor, the second of the Windsor family, and Lady Hersy Minerva, heir to the Minerva family.”

At the announcer’s words, attention focused on the entrance of the banquet hall.

Two women entered shortly after.

Amelia was wearing armor as if to flaunt her status as a knight, while Hersy had a different aura than when seen at the Academy.

The white dress suited her extremely well. Hersy entered the banquet hall escorted by Amelia.

It was a sight that would captivate anyone.

Especially Justin, who was entranced by Hersy.

For quite some time.

“Insolent commoner.”

If Baron Iso hadn’t spoken, he might have remained in that state for hours.

Justin turned his head again.

The baron was looking at him with a flushed expression.

“You dare challenge me to a duel?”

An ordinary noble would feel shame just for being challenged to a duel by a commoner.

“What, are you scared?”

Justin provoked the noble.

Iso flinched momentarily.

Justin’s ominous aura was a type of pressure that the sheltered baron had never experienced before.

“How dare I, cower before a commoner?”

But his pride wouldn’t allow it.

Iso gritted his teeth and called over a maid who was circulating through the banquet hall.

“You there.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The maid approached with a bright smile.

“Do you need something?”

“Go to the Triss barony’s carriage and get my magic…”

Iso couldn’t finish his sentence.

His pupils shook as if he had received a great shock.

It was simply because of the maid’s appearance.

With black hair and silver eyes, she was incredibly captivating when viewed from the front.

Enough to make all other thoughts disappear.

“…You. What is your name?”

“This humble one’s name is Lilith.”

Lilith covered her mouth and smiled with her eyes.

Iso’s dazed eyes lingered briefly on her chest.

“You are an extremely beautiful woman.”

“Thank you. Baron, you are also very charming.”

“Really?”

“Yes!”

Iso swallowed hard.

“The Imperial family uses such talent merely for serving?”

Iso carefully asked.

“What is your position and status? Are you an Imperial maid?”

“I’m just an Academy student.”

“A student of the Imperial Academy?”

“Yes. The student council was… recruiting part-timers!”

“There’s someone like this?”

Justin could swear he had never seen her before.

But then again, he didn’t know every Academy student.

He wasn’t familiar with seniors and members of the Swordsmanship Club.

“I’ve struck gold.”

Meanwhile, Iso smiled triumphantly.

“I am Iso, the head of the Triss barony.”

“Oh my, y-you’re the head of the family?”

Lilith covered her mouth with a very surprised expression.

Soon, her face flushed.

“A natural reaction for a lowly commoner girl. When would such a lowly creature ever see a family head? I should take her away before other nobles notice. To a quiet place.”

“Lilith. Would you accompany me for this banquet?”

Iso knelt on one knee and extended his hand.

“It would be my honor.”

Lilith extended her hand with a shy expression. Iso took her hand and stood up.

Leading Lilith by the hand and walking away somewhat hurriedly, Iso had long forgotten about Justin.

The situation flowed as quickly as a wave.

Justin, having lost the target of his anger, wore a bewildered expression.

“Y-You’re amazing, Justin. Not intimidated by nobles at all.”

The commoner group praised Justin, but his expression wasn’t good.

“Sorry. I’ll be back in a moment.”

Justin moved to follow Iso.

He was worried that Iso might do something strange to Lilith.

**

“Thank you so much…!”

Asha, dressed as a maid, repeatedly expressed her gratitude to Hersy.

“I-It’s nothing, really.”

Hersy tried to calm Asha, feeling embarrassed.

“I’ve told you many times, anyone can work here as long as their identity is verified.”

“Without Lady Hersy’s recommendation, it would have been absolutely impossible.”

Asha was deeply moved.

This job, which Hersy had recommended Asha for, paid a whopping 5 gold coins for just a few days of work.

With 5 gold, one could survive comfortably for a year.

For the poor Asha, it was like rain in a drought—no, a year-round monsoon.

“Hersy has a warm heart.”

Amelia smiled.

“N-No, not at all.”

“Did I… score points?”

Hersy inwardly shouted “Nice!”

“By the way, are those knights selected by Lady Amelia?”

Hersy’s gaze focused on a corner of the banquet hall.

About 20 knights were gathered, whispering among themselves.

“Yes, they are.”

“Why are they over there…”

“Because they’re not yet officially recognized as knights. His Majesty is scheduled to bestow knighthood on them today.”

Amelia looked somewhat tense.

“They’re still unpolished.”

Being asked by the Emperor to establish a knighthood was an unparalleled honor for a knight.

Amelia didn’t want to make even the slightest mistake, but—

The problem was ‘etiquette.’

With limited time, she had no choice but to recruit heavily from the former Teuton Knights, but the Teuton Knights, selected purely for their skills, were all headstrong.

Amelia sighed.

“Still, I’ve pleaded with them repeatedly, so I hope they’ll understand a little. Well, shall we enjoy our meal?”

“Ah, yes. …What?”

Hersy was surprised.

Because…

“We need more food. Please prepare some more.”

Dozens of plates were already placed in front of Amelia!

“S-She really eats a lot. Is it because she’s a knight?”

Still, not wanting to sit alone quietly, Hersy carefully deboned a fish and offered it to the fox.

“Miho, eat this.”

Upon her quiet command, Miho quickly came down and ate the fish.

“Hmm. It’s Ruide’s familiar.”

Amelia said after swallowing a steak larger than her face in one bite.

“…Yes. Though it’s mostly by my side.”

As Hersy was conversing, she noticed the Imperial Knights moving busily.

Hersy whispered to Amelia.

“His Majesty seems to be entering soon.”

Amelia, who had been chewing with both cheeks full of food, swallowed instantly and hurriedly wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.

“Thank you, Hersy.”

She whispered to Hersy and sat with a neat posture.

“Entering now: His Imperial Majesty, ruler of this world and master of our race, the Emperor above all! Show your respect!”

The magical amplifier’s sound filled the banquet hall.

The nobles who had been chatting all stopped and stood up.

They knelt on one knee and bowed their heads.

Amelia moved to the front of the imperial throne set at the highest point of the banquet hall and knelt on one knee.

The sound of the orchestra was heard.

By the time this 10 to 15-minute piece ended, they would be able to see the Emperor seated on the throne without anyone noticing.

But then.

Creeeeak—

The door to the banquet hall opened.

And it made a noisy sound.

“Kuh, kugh. Everything, everything.”

It was a rough breathing sound.

The nobles in the banquet hall frowned.

“Who is it?”

“Foolish one.”

But they couldn’t turn around.

Moving carelessly during the Emperor’s entrance could result in execution.

Whoever that presumptuous person was, the guards would take care of them.

But Hersy wondered:

“How could they enter?”

During the Emperor’s entrance, the guards were supposed to be guarding the door.

It was impossible to enter.

Unless they had killed the guards.

“M-Miho?”

Miho, whom Hersy had been holding to prevent any trouble, climbed onto her head.

Just as she was hurriedly trying to retrieve her, Miho spoke with a voice full of hostility.

[That man smells of black magic.]

“What?”

Hersy was shocked.

Amelia rose without hesitation, drew her sword, and shouted.

“Restrain that person!”

“For His sake.”

Just as the knights were rushing over, Baron Iso’s body was enveloped in black smoke.