Ch.225225. Harvest Festival

●

So.

It’s good that I managed to calm down the situation where I almost got severely scolded by Elnore.

But a second storm was waiting.

Unlike with Elnore, this one is worse because it’s someone I can’t even squeak against.

“So, Darwood.”

“…”

“Do you have anything to say in your defense?”

Come to think of it, I haven’t been scolded by my father that much since I was young.

Of course, that makes sense since I entered a child’s body with an adult’s mind, but I was apparently widely known as a precocious child within the territory.

Perhaps that’s why my father and the territory’s residents all liked me.

In that respect.

Being on my knees and getting scolded in front of my father is quite an unfamiliar experience for me.

He’s always gentle and can’t even properly express dislike to others, but as everyone knows, when someone like him gets angry, it’s truly terrifying.

He barged into my room, made me kneel, and has been crossing his arms and delivering stern reprimands for dozens of minutes now.

The main reason being.

“Why am I being treated as an honored guest in the Tristan Dukedom right now?”

“…”

“Why am I receiving more lavish treatment than even counts or marquises?”

I’m rendered speechless by his stern voice.

From my father’s perspective, he was peacefully managing his territory when he was suddenly dragged here and given treatment so burdensome it could drive him crazy, so I completely understand his distress.

“…”

“I’m pretty sure you promised to behave and not cause trouble when you entered the academy.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Although it wasn’t entirely my doing, I have nothing to say at this point.

The fact is that I failed to keep that promise—truly, really, terribly.

“Of course, even I didn’t expect you to actually keep your word.”

“…”

“I can’t even remember how many girls you made cry in our territory, so there’s no way you would have behaved properly at the academy.”

Father.

That hurts.

Your strange but firm trust in that particular aspect of me hurts too much…

“But I should at least know why the dukedom is doing this to me.”

Father continued with a deep sigh.

Hearing that, I scratched my head and answered awkwardly.

“…It’s probably similar to what you’re guessing, Father.”

They’re clearly planning to call my father in advance for some kind of meeting or to create that kind of atmosphere.

So they’re doing this to create a good impression in advance—

“Did you get the Tristan duchess pregnant?”

“…”

“I knew this would happen. I knew you’d cause this kind of trouble someday…!”

“…What do you really take your son for?”

Even though I’m being scolded, I need to say at least this much.

After calming my half-crazed father with that sentence, he sighed with a dizzy expression.

“I heard that His Majesty the Emperor will also attend this harvest festival event. Please, I’m begging you, I hope everything goes smoothly. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Don’t worry about—”

I open my mouth with an expression that suggests he’s worrying too much.

I’m a bit concerned about Elnore previously mentioning revenge at the harvest festival, but no matter what, I wouldn’t cause trouble at an event where the Emperor and countless important people gather—

!! URGENT NOTIFICATION !!

[ A ‘Main Quest’ related event is being created! ]

[ Prepare in advance! ]

“…”

“…”

I close my mouth at the window that suddenly appears before I can finish my response.

Then I read the other sentences that follow with an expression of disbelief.

“…Why aren’t you answering?”

“…”

I’m sorry, Father.

But I can’t lie, no matter what.

Thinking that, I glare at the window in front of me.

“…Father.”

“…”

Seeing my expression, Father tightly closed his eyes.

Then he takes several deep breaths. Hoo- Ha- like that.

“…You’re planning to cause trouble again, aren’t you?”

“…”

“You’ve been like this since you were young. You had that same expression when you were seven and said you were going to catch a bear that appeared in the mountains by yourself…”

“…”

Family is indeed family.

Others took months to figure out my characteristics, but he knows them without me saying anything.

“…It seems likely that Father will have a hard time at this harvest festival.”

“What does that mean? What are you planning?”

“I’m not planning anything.”

I sigh and run my hand through my hair.

< System Message >

[ Main Quest ]〖 Chapter 5 – The Great Imperial Turmoil 〗

[ Related events will occur soon! ]

[ The quest progression will vary depending on the branches in this event! ]

[ After assessing the difficulty level, we provide some hints to facilitate progress! ]

[ Tip ]

[ We inform you in advance about persons of interest who require attention! ]

[ 1. Yuria Greyhaunter

2. Cecilia XI

3. Armin Campbell ]

“…Something is coming.”

As is always the case with what I do.

This time too, it’s unlikely to pass without incident.

The harvest festival is tomorrow, but.

Without a doubt, something will happen there.

“…”

I close my eyes and fall into thought for a moment.

I’m gradually getting used to unexpected events erupting.

To the point where I can at least prepare “insurance” on the spot to match them.

For example.

“Father.”

“Hmm?”

“Please call Hermann. I have some tasks for him.”

“…Tasks? What kind?”

“There are people I need to call.”

At the very least, I should devise “safety measures” to prevent those around me from getting involved.

●

The day of the harvest festival.

The main castle of the Tristan Dukedom was extremely busy.

Especially the banquet hall, where most people had gathered.

“…Carlisle, Argos, Palandier…”

Lucien looked around, reciting the names of the families.

Every single one of them is an impressive imperial dignitary. Definitely not people who would be disrespected anywhere.

The fact alone that such people gathered in one place for a mere “anniversary” of a specific territory proves the status of the Tristan Dukedom.

‘…The strange thing is.’

Perhaps it’s the large number of people related to the Council of Elders.

Lucien isn’t particularly knowledgeable about imperial political dynamics, but she knows well that the relationship between the Tristan Dukedom, classified as part of the Emperor’s faction, and the Council of Elders is far from amicable.

Moreover, it’s even stranger that their leader, Marquis Bogart, has personally come here.

“…They’re definitely planning something. Yuria, we don’t know what might happen, so—”

Lucien, who was about to continue speaking, closed her mouth as soon as she checked her sister’s condition.

Yuria was looking around, sweating profusely. Like a small animal that’s extremely frightened.

“…”

No, it’s not like she’s frightened.

She’s scared.

She’s clearly scared.

Until recently, she was a child who only stayed in empty warehouses or alone with her in the chapel. It’s natural that she wouldn’t adapt well to such a dazzling and splendid place.

“…If it’s difficult, should we go back, Yuria?”

“…”

However, Yuria shook her head despite sweating profusely at Lucien’s suggestion.

“…Elia said.”

A murky voice flowed out.

“Something might happen to Darwood here.”

“…”

“This time, this time I have to protect him.”

Hearing this far, there’s nothing to dissuade her about.

She’s a child who has been suffering from guilt and regret about Darwood for months. It would be more unreasonable to try to stop her regarding matters related to him.

“…You must tell me if it’s too much, Yuria.”

That’s probably the limit of what can be said.

Yuria nodded weakly with a powerless smile at those words.

While Lucien was worriedly looking at her, who was clearly pushing herself too hard.

Suddenly, the noisy banquet hall fell silent in an instant.

Wondering what was happening, Lucien looked around and saw that everyone’s attention was focused on the entrance of the banquet hall.

“His Majesty the Emperor enters!”

With those words, Cecilia XI, walking slowly with a cane, gradually revealed herself.

“…The Emperor?”

Lucien muttered with narrowed eyes.

It’s not strange.

The Tristan Grand Duke is known as a representative loyal subject of the Emperor’s faction, like the Margrave of Kendrid.

Although sending a representative would be a more normal response, it’s not that strange for the Emperor to attend in person once.

However.

For the Emperor to personally visit a place teeming with members of the Council of Elders, with whom there’s such animosity?

“…”

What Lucien had just said to Yuria about something happening was partly out of excessive caution, but with things turning out like this, the probability of something actually happening increases exponentially.

The level of antagonism between the Emperor and the Council of Elders is reportedly at a level where they’re willing to go to war openly, unlike the Emperor-Chancellor relationship where they avoid each other out of wariness.

Apparently, this tendency has become more noticeable recently as the Council of Elders has begun provocative power expansion that transcends the Emperor’s authority.

So Lucien turned her head to further emphasize caution to her sister, but.

She paused.

“…Yuria?”

Yuria’s eyes were gleaming with terrible hostility.

For a sister who was always quiet without asserting herself, the intensity of the emotion in her expression was unusually strong.

As if.

She had seen something repulsive.

“…Yuria? What’s wrong?”

“I feel bad.”

It was a clear expression of hostility that was hard to believe came from her always kind and pure sister.

“Yuria? What do you—”

As Lucien opened her mouth in confusion, a stiff, hardened voice replied.

“Sister.”

Those eyes, how should I describe them?

It’s as if she’s looking at something deeper, not at the Emperor himself.

“That one. I feel bad about it.”

As if.

She’s sensing something inside.

Under Yuria’s eyes, ‘white’ demonic energy began to ripple slightly.

●