Ch.82Chapter 82 – Karen Lucien Decatro Gelebrio Aurelios (2)

As I reentered the banquet hall, I could once again feel numerous gazes turning in my direction.

Etherna patted my shoulder a couple of times as if to encourage me, then headed toward where the people from the Sun Order were gathered.

As soon as she moved away from me, I noticed young nobles who had been waiting for an opportunity approaching me.

“It’s an honor to meet the renowned Demon Sword Destroyer. I am Andrew Strendel, the eldest son of the Strendel Count family.”

“Pleased to meet you, Young Lord Strendel.”

“I heard you inspected my younger brother’s equipment at the Academy? Thanks to that, he was able to receive good marks this time.”

“Is that so? I’m simply glad that I could be of help to your brother’s academic achievement.”

Unlike the older people, these young nobles first mentioned what I had done at the Academy.

They probably have family members who attend Glesius Academy.

Looking closely at the young nobles who approached me, they appeared to be around my age.

“Hahaha. It’s been four years since I graduated from the Academy and I’m now twenty-eight, but you must be the first person to receive a title at such a young age, Count.”

At that moment, when Young Lord Strendel asked his question, my mind suddenly went blank.

‘Come to think of it, how old am I now?’

In my previous life, I had completed military service, graduated from university, and gotten a job… I remember being around twenty-seven or twenty-eight.

‘Right, from today, let’s just say I’m twenty-eight.’

I’ve been speaking formally to everyone I meet and only becoming casual after getting close, so I’d forgotten how old I was.

Alright, from today, I am twenty-eight years old.

“So we’re the same age. I’m also twenty-eight.”

“Oh my.”

“Twenty-eight, you say? You look younger than I expected, but you’re actually quite mature.”

When I revealed my age, the people around me were surprised, and the older nobles’ gazes changed as they looked at me.

“Twenty-eight. That’s impressive. Very few people have reached your position at the same age as you, Count. Truly, you are a role model for us young nobles.”

The nobles who appeared to be around my age nodded in agreement with Young Lord Strendel’s words.

“I’m humbled by your praise.”

“When I become the head of my family, would you visit our family’s territory?”

“If you invite me, I would be delighted to come.”

“I, I would also like you to visit our territory!”

“And ours too!”

After I promised to visit Young Lord Strendel’s territory, others eagerly requested that I visit their territories as well.

I knew why these people wanted me to visit their domains.

‘They must not have much influence in their families yet.’

This applies not only to noble families but also to the imperial family.

Whether noble or royal, the successor to the family head is ultimately the person with the greatest influence within the family.

And that influence includes how many famous people you know and how well you know them.

Therefore, they were thinking of increasing their influence in their families by inviting me to their territories.

‘It’s not a bad thing.’

Their requests for me to visit their territories meant that I had made quite a strong impression in the current noble society.

I had personally studied the history of this world, which served as the background for Erasto Chronicle, out of interest.

Among other things, I had researched cases of people who received titles from the Emperor and became nobles. Surprisingly, most nobles received the title of Baron or Viscount only after reaching at least thirty years of age.

Moreover, cases where titles were received at a younger age usually involved the sudden death of the previous family head, leaving only their direct children as successors.

Above all, titles of Count or higher were directly bestowed by the Emperor.

To receive such a title, one had to achieve tremendous merit.

Throughout history, only three nobles had received the title of Count or higher from the Emperor, and even those records were not entirely certain.

In other words, I was as rare as someone who should only appear in history books.

‘Now I understand why the nobles are showing interest in me.’

“By the way, Count. Do you happen to be in a relationship with anyone at the moment?”

Just then, one of the noble men asked me a question.

It was about whether I was currently seeing anyone.

When he threw this question at me, once again all eyes in the grand banquet hall focused on me.

“A woman I’m seeing… you mean?”

I had no reason to ponder his question.

In the world of nobility, being in a relationship meant meeting someone with the prospect of marriage in mind.

In that sense, I didn’t have any woman I could say I was in a relationship with.

“Unfortunately, no.”

“Ah, I see… so you’re not currently seeing anyone.”

This feeling of both regret and relief upon hearing that I wasn’t in a relationship with anyone—what is it?

It feels suspicious.

Usually, this is where some kind of proposal follows.

“In that case, would you perhaps be interested in meeting my younger sister? After hearing about the Count’s fame for destroying the demon sword, she desperately asked me to convey her wish to meet you when I attended this grand banquet.”

Ah. Just as I expected.

Look at how quickly they move to matchmaking after hearing I’m not in a relationship.

It’s not just the person speaking to me now.

Though they hide behind their fans, noble women around my age or slightly younger are also casting glances my way.

I didn’t yet have a woman I wanted to seriously date with marriage in mind.

Having never experienced romance in my previous life, I wanted to date a bit before getting married in this life.

The romance I couldn’t have in my previous life—

Shouldn’t I experience it in this one?

“Y-Your Highness the Princess!”

While I was in a difficult situation due to these awkward requests, suddenly there was a commotion behind me.

‘What’s happening?’

I turned my head toward the source of the commotion and…

“Princess… Your Highness?”

The First Princess of the Gelebrio Empire.

Karen Lucien Decatro Gelebrio Aurelios.

She was walking straight toward me.

With her platinum blonde hair flowing down to her waist, she exuded dignity with every step.

And those golden eyes, seemingly inherited from her mother, were fixed directly on me, which made me feel somewhat pressured.

“I, Count Pathos Severio, greet Karen Lucien Decatro Gelebrio Aurelios, the Star of the Gelebrio Empire.”

“Raise your head, Count Severio.”

When I bowed my head in formal greeting, she commanded me to look up.

“Indeed… you haven’t changed, then or now.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing. Rather… I’ve heard rumors circulating in Glesius Academy about your exceptional abilities. Is that true?”

After muttering to herself, she abruptly changed the subject and asked about my abilities.

“They pale in comparison to abilities that can split the sky, reverse waterfalls, and set the earth ablaze.”

“You jest too much. What ability in this world could possibly compare to yours?”

When I deliberately responded with humility, Karen snorted and refuted my words.

Honestly, her rebuttal was correct, so I couldn’t say anything in response.

“Who else in this world could cure incurable diseases, destroy demon swords, fix carriage wheels, and turn tasteless bread into bread with heavenly flavor?”

“…?”

I understand about curing incurable diseases and destroying demon swords, but carriage wheels?

And she even knows about ‘that incident’ which I’d rather not mention?

Wait, this princess—just how much does she know?

“Hohoho. Are you surprised that I know so much about your affairs?”

Karen looked at me with an enchanting smile.

“There’s no need to be afraid. I’ve come to find you not to harm you.”

As she approached me, she extended her hand.

“I would like to request a dance… with the Empire’s Divine. Will you accept?”

“I humbly accept Your Highness’s command.”

Since Karen extended her hand and asked me to dance, all that remained for me to do was accept.

I mean, when a princess asks you to dance, how could you refuse?

If I did, I’d immediately be summoned by His Majesty the Emperor and hear something like, “Do you perhaps not like my daughter?”

In the end, I had no choice but to be led by Karen to the center of the banquet hall, and soon we began dancing to the flowing music.

Oh please, I sincerely hope this ends with just dancing together.

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Hehe. This man is surprisingly fun to tease.

When I set the mood, he couldn’t refuse and even accepted my dance request.

Hmm, it seems a bit of a waste to just meet him once and be done with it.

Should I find out if he’s a decent man?