Ch.95Banquet

I pause to think for a moment.

The trolley dilemma, was it?

If you could save five people by killing one person, would that be the right thing to do?

Everyone might have their own conclusion, but no one can assert with certainty that it’s the correct answer.

That’s what makes it a dilemma.

Then I ask myself again.

What if you could save tens of thousands of innocent people by killing one evil person?

– Of course that’s the right thing to do.

…Yes. I think so too.

—-

Forcibly suppressing my murderous intent, I turned my gaze away from Empress Isabella.

She’s quite sensitive to hostility… and my killing intent is far too intense.

It wasn’t time to reveal my cards yet.

If she discovered that I harbored deep murderous intent toward her personally, not just as a political opponent, her vigilance would only intensify.

Following Isabella, three imperial family members walked in side by side.

Leopold with his light smile. Ernst with his stiff expression.

And Leonore, who recognized me and flashed a smile in my direction.

Both princes wore imperial ceremonial attire, but Leonore was dressed in her knight’s uniform despite this being an official banquet.

Normally, a princess would be expected to wear a dress… but it seems everyone has decided to stop worrying about her.

Well, who could stop such a stubborn person when even the Emperor has given up?

The Emperor advanced to the high seat in the banquet hall, receiving the nobles’ respects, then turned to face the gathering.

“…Everyone, raise your heads.”

What a dying voice.

I hadn’t expected Emperor Ferdinand to be in such a state already.

Indeed. Was the burning of the island such a severe psychological shock?

Whether this will be favorable or unfavorable for me, I’m not yet sure.

The nobles gradually straightened themselves.

The Emperor continued with difficulty, each word slow and trembling in a small voice.

“Today is… a joyous day when the island has finally officially regained its form… Everyone, forget your worries… and enjoy the banquet.”

With those words, the Emperor collapsed into the throne at the high seat.

Then Isabella, standing beside the throne, spread her arms and delivered a congratulatory address.

“Thank you all for gathering here today. As His Majesty said, this banquet commemorates the revival of the island, so please bless and invigorate the risen heart of the Empire with your enthusiasm and joy.”

Her voice was like a lake filled with honey.

Full of sweet fragrance, but once you step in, the stickiness clings to your legs, a viscous swamp where you slowly sink, unable to escape.

The banquet began.

—-

Following the orchestra’s melody, pairs of nobles filling the central hall spin and dance.

A strange heat fills the venue.

Men and women who make eye contact exchange peculiar smiles.

Whether of lust or affection, it’s hard to tell.

I watched the scene while leaning against a wall.

I wasn’t dancing. I had no intention to…

If I were to spin around and my veil happened to shift aside, I had a feeling those laughs and cheers would turn to shock and screams.

Imagine a tiger joining in to dance among people.

…That might actually be amusing.

The image of a tiger prancing about and performing a waltz flashed in my mind, and I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

I left the role of Frider’s partner to Nigel.

Nigel was momentarily flustered but soon nodded heavily in agreement.

Looking at him dance, I could roughly understand why he hesitated.

He clearly looked somewhat awkward.

It seems Nigel isn’t accustomed to such occasions either.

Constantly sweating, Nigel wore the expression of someone who had committed a grave sin after stepping on Frider’s foot once.

Frider whispered to console her.

Thankfully so—if I had stepped on her, she would have been walking on one leg until fully healed.

Empress Isabella sat beside the Emperor, while Leopold danced with a young girl who appeared to be about sixteen.

The daughter of Lord Wien, perhaps.

Since he abandoned the plan to get engaged to me, it seems he’s targeting Lord Wien’s family.

A correct judgment.

Since two of the five electors, the archbishops, support Ernst, he needs to target the remaining three.

Ludwig is definitely on Leopold’s side, and although Faelrun claims neutrality, considering the second prince Karl’s activities in the north…

They’re likely to ultimately support Leopold.

If he can win over Lord Wien, he might have a chance.

So he’s thrown out the imperial unwritten rule about not marrying into elector bloodlines.

Well, it would be foolish to worry about unwritten rules when it’s a matter of life and death.

As for the lady dancing with Ernst… I don’t recognize her. I’ve never seen her before.

That means she’s not particularly high nobility.

Isabella must hate that.

While Leopold is building relationships with an elector’s daughter, her son is wasting time with a useless woman.

Leonore wasn’t dancing.

I had already guessed as much when she arrived in a knight’s uniform.

Throwing aside all imperial customs, she just stood with folded arms at the corner of the high seat, looking down at the banquet hall.

“It seems you have no intention of dancing, Princess Aishan-Gioro.”

After staring for quite some time, a woman approached me and spoke.

Her voice gave me a strangely familiar feeling.

She appeared to be in her mid-twenties.

A woman with purple dress and red hair tied up, with languid eyes that seemed strangely alluring.

Though she covered her mouth with an ornate fan, the visible upper part of her face was quite familiar.

Familiar enough for me to immediately recognize the source of that feeling.

After all, Ophelia might look like this if she aged about seven years.

Claire van Sigmillus.

A powerful noble in Ernst’s faction and practically Isabella’s right hand.

In the original story, she disappeared after losing a duel to Ophelia.

“…Lady Sigmillus.”

“My, you know me? Pleased to meet you. I’m Claire van Sigmillus. Please call me Claire.”

Claire elegantly extended the back of her hand.

Is she approaching me at this point? I can’t quite understand her purpose. I should at least greet her properly.

I gently took her slender fingers, brought them to my lips inside the veil, and bowed slightly to kiss them.

The scent of chemicals covered by perfume and a faint smell of blood.

The typical scent of a female mage lingered slightly on her fingertips.

“Haschal Median Aishan-Gioro. I occasionally saw a lady of Sigmillus at the academy, so I could recognize Claire at a glance. You two look quite similar.”

“Are you referring to Ophelia? She’s my adorable little sister. She suddenly entered the academy, and I haven’t seen her for quite some time… I wonder how she’s doing these days.”

She’s doing fine. Taking things so leisurely that it drives the instructors crazy.

Though inwardly, she’s probably grinding her teeth at you.

By the way, her dress is similar to what Ophelia wore during the entrance exam.

Or rather, Ophelia dresses similarly to Claire.

Despite claiming to hate her sister, she deliberately maintains an appearance similar to her. What a puzzling personality.

“I’ve only seen her from a distance, but she seemed to be doing well.”

“That’s good to hear. No matter how busy with studies, it would be nice if she visited the family occasionally. I miss her.”

That’s probably because you’re there, isn’t it?

Anyone watching would think you’re a sister who truly cares for her younger sibling.

“First-year students are at a stage where they need to learn constantly. I’m sure Ophelia misses you too, Claire.”

“I hope so… Anyway, why are you standing alone here during such a rare ball?”

“If I were to join them, people around me would be shocked.”

Everyone around would either avoid me or freeze, creating a stage for me alone.

And in that situation, I’d have to dance when I don’t even know how?

Just imagining it gives me chills.

“People fearing the hero who saved the island’s citizens? Surely not.”

“Aren’t you afraid of me, Claire?”

“Should I be? When you’re such a splendid knight.”

Claire took another step closer. Close enough that her peach-like sweet scent became distinct.

This woman flirts as naturally as breathing, even with someone of the same gender.

Did Isabella order her to approach me?

“You should be afraid. Respect stems from fear. Without fear, it’s difficult to expect courtesy. Especially for an outsider like me.”

I responded in a stiff tone, as if keeping my distance.

Yes. If those nobles weren’t afraid of me, they would have approached me as prey worth targeting.

Just like you’re doing now.

Though panicking from excessive fear is problematic in its own way…

“Is that so…? I’m not so sure.”

Claire smiled like a fox.

What do you mean you’re not sure?

Saying such things even after seeing the Emperor sitting over there like a mere decoration, having lost his charisma.

“May I ask why you’re not participating in the ball, Claire? Unlike me, I imagine there are many who would hope for the honor of being your partner.”

“Hehe… what a flattering compliment. Normally that would be true, but I’ve already given up my first dance to someone else today.”

Claire looked toward Ernst. More precisely, at the lady laughing while dancing with him.

So she had planned to dance with Ernst originally.

Beyond the fan covering her eyes, I could sense the hostility she was trying to conceal.

Judging by her gaze, she seems to want to offer that woman to Isabella.

As long as Ernst protects her, she wouldn’t dare act without Isabella’s orders.

“I see. Even so, finding a new partner shouldn’t have been difficult for you.”

“Well, I didn’t feel like it. I wonder why? Perhaps it was fate that I would meet such a charming knight.”

…Isn’t that a bit too obvious?