Chapter 90

Episode 90

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the Kalisto Dukedom, a banquet commenced within the inner castle.

Thanks to ample preparation time, all the vassals of the Dukedom were present. If young master Eloan of Caribe had been the guest of honor, more than half of them would have been absent.

Hundreds of nobles gathered in the banquet hall, exchanging pleasantries and enjoying themselves.

The doors opened, and Princess Beatrice made her entrance.

While not as striking as Lucia, she possessed a beauty that captivated the attention and admiration of all present.

“She’s truly beautiful. I never expected to see the princess here.”

“Indeed. How can someone be so graceful?”

“She truly is the jewel of the Empire.”

I intentionally kept my distance from the entrance. I didn’t want to be called “Aubrey” in front of everyone.

Beside me stood Jericho, holding a plate and scanning the food with a hungry gaze. He was eager to devour everything in sight, but I had him on a leash.

“I received valuable information from the princess earlier. There are rumors that Prince Arthur is learning magic.”

“Learning magic?”

Jericho was more knowledgeable about magic than anyone else. He knew it wasn’t something you could learn through sheer willpower.

“Isn’t it just a rumor? If Prince Arthur had any talent for magic, he would have joined the Magic Tower long ago.”

“It’s not confirmed. But it came from someone within the palace, so it’s not entirely baseless.”

“That’s true. Our information network doesn’t reach that far. Did she mention who’s teaching him?”

“A court mage named Muon.”

“Muon… He’s a big shot. Alright, I’ll narrow down the scope and investigate.”

Investigating Muon directly would be difficult. As a high-ranking mage, he would easily detect our presence.

“How’s the progress on placing our informants within the Imperial Family?”

“We need more time. We’re planning to infiltrate them as servants. They don’t recruit frequently, so we have to wait.”

“I assume placing informants within the Magic Tower is impossible, even for a top graduate of the Kalisto Academy?”

“Are you trying to challenge my competitive spirit? Just wait and see. The Magic Tower is also inhabited by humans. They need to procure food and supplies from outside, so there must be a loophole. Or we could establish a supply route from our trading company to the Magic Tower. I’m also skilled in crafting magic tools. It’s a family secret.”

Securing the Magic Tower as a client would definitely make it easier to gather information. As expected of Jericho.

“But don’t create anything too revolutionary. Remember, we need to gather information discreetly without exposing ourselves.”

“I understand. Can I eat now? I came here for the food!”

“Go ahead.”

Finally released from my grasp, Jericho darted around the banquet hall, piling his plate high with food. It was customary to take small portions, but such formalities were meaningless to him.

“Wait, Jericho.”

There was something I needed to ask.

“Do you need anything? I’m planning to visit the Lucius Club soon.”

“There’s one thing I need.”

“What is it?”

“A vacation. I need a break…”

His words were sincere, so I patted his shoulder.

“Even the owner of the Lucius Club can’t grant you that. Give up.”

“Then, I’ll eat till I burst today. Don’t stop me!”

“I won’t.”

It seemed Jericho didn’t need anything else. I was once again impressed by my subordinates’ lack of greed.

Chloe asked for some delicious snacks. She could have asked for a beautiful dress or jewelry, but she wasn’t greedy at all.

Selendis was the same.

I was honestly touched when she said she was content with her current situation.

‘But I can’t just let it go.’

I planned to find a good weapon for Selendis. And if I could acquire a magic tool using the gem I had received, I would give one to Jericho as well.

‘I should also get Chloe a nice writing set.’

Just as Selendis was skilled with a sword, Chloe was skilled with a pen. She would need a good writing set as she interacted with more clients.

I decided to visit the Lucius Club tomorrow. I was curious to see the sommelier’s reaction to the gem.

“Master.”

It was Selendis’s voice. I turned around and saw her in a banquet dress.

“You look good. You definitely look better in a dress than armor.”

“Is that… a compliment?”

“Of course. You’re of noble blood. You’ll have to reclaim your kingdom someday. It wouldn’t hurt to socialize with the nobles of the Empire.”

“I joined the Inspection Unit with the intention of serving you for life.”

“You can’t be an Inspection Unit member forever. We both need to think about our future. I’ll help you reclaim your kingdom someday. Then, you can take me in and let me live a life of luxury.”

Selendis was speechless, seemingly touched by my words.

The music started. It was time for the dance.

Selendis stared at me, her hand hovering in the air, then she shook her head. It was too easy to read her thoughts.

“Do you want to shake hands?”

“No, sir. Excuse me, Master.”

“What’s there to excuse?”

I grabbed Selendis’s hand and led her to the dance floor.

“You’re always so concerned about right and wrong, yet you hesitate over something so trivial?”

“Well…”

“Don’t worry. It’s common for a master to dance with their knight.”

I repeated the words Lady Lucia had once said to me.

We faced each other. Selendis still couldn’t meet my gaze. Her face was flushed red.

“Oh my, it’s the Inspector and his knight!”

“Lady Selendis, you’re so beautiful!”

“I know, right? This is the first time I’ve seen her in a dress… She looks amazing!”

We received praise from those around us. Selendis lowered her head even further.

“It’s a banquet. We should enjoy ourselves. You’re of royal blood, so you must be a good dancer. Teach me a thing or two.”

“…Yes.”

Other couples joined us on the dance floor. Princess Beatrice, as promised, was dancing with young master Eloan.

I glanced around, curious about the others, and my eyes met with Lady Lucia’s. She was smiling and clapping.

‘She’s not going to exile Selendis, is she?’

The tempo of the music increased. I pushed aside my unsettling thoughts and focused on the dance.

Meanwhile, a secret conversation was taking place in a corner of the banquet hall.

Baron Roman, who had been exiled to the Alpheon region, was also present at the banquet. He was talking to Grand Duke Hylix and Lady Rosalyn.

“I apologize for being late, young master.”

“It’s good that you came. It’s better to fight than to run.”

“How have you been?”

“It would be a lie to say I’ve been well.”

On the surface, it seemed like they were simply exchanging pleasantries, but they were actually discussing something important in hushed tones.

They were standing with their backs to the wall near the window, making their conversation difficult to overhear.

“It’s been a while since the last Eclipse, hasn’t it? I need to release some stress.”

Rosalyn muttered, sending a seductive smile towards Hylix.

“Hmph. You seemed to have enjoyed yourself in the capital. Don’t exaggerate. Baron Roman, are you ready? I want to create a new history in your new territory.”

“It’s difficult at the moment. As you know, Alpheon is a barren and remote land. According to legend, it’s the place where the God of Death uttered his final lament. It’s a desolate region. We need patience.”

Duke Kalisto hadn’t completely abandoned Baron Roman. He had granted him a larger territory than his previous one. He had even promised a reward if he succeeded in cultivating the land. It was a classic case of giving with one hand and taking with the other.

“We’ll provide you with sufficient support. We need to hold an Eclipse soon. We have a lot to discuss.”

Hylix wasn’t promising support out of generosity. Baron Roman was still useful to him.

Just as Baron Roman had castrated the satyr, Hylix saw Baron Roman as someone he could discard at any moment.

Hylix, Roman, and Rosalyn were the leaders of a secret society.

Its name was “Eclipse.” People had heard of it, but only its members knew what it was truly about.

They held hedonistic parties, free from all ethical constraints, driven solely by their primal instincts.

But it was all a facade. In reality, it was a gathering of Hylix’s loyal followers. They had pledged their allegiance to him, even at the cost of their lives.

The reason why Baron Roman’s territory was called the “land of opportunity” was because membership in this secret society guaranteed a successful career.

“Shouldn’t we deal with him first?”

Lady Rosalyn whispered.

Her gaze was fixed on O’Brien Walker, who was dancing with Selendis.

“Why did you approve the trading company permit? Couldn’t you have handled it yourself, young master?”

“If we had pushed back further, the Lucius Trading Company would have been established in Caribe. That would have been even worse.”

“He was just bluffing. How could he possibly establish a trading company named after the Lady in another territory?”

Hylix shook his head slowly.

“He’s more aggressive than I thought. We need to be careful.”

“But we can’t catch him if we’re too cautious. He’s a cunning man.”

Baron Roman gritted his teeth. He swore to extract revenge on the young man who had tricked him into drinking filth, vowing to pluck out his eyes and tongue.

After O’Brien exposed the secret of the antidote, he had spent days cleaning his tongue.

“In any case, we can’t win with a direct approach. Not only does Lucia favor him, but it seems Father is also impressed by him. We need to find a loophole and exploit it, even if it’s troublesome.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Don’t interfere. It’ll only make things worse.”

Rosalyn was offended by his tone, but she had to hide her feelings to survive.

“Now that the Lucius Trading Company has been established, there will be opportunities. We’ll find the right moment to strike and draw blood. Don’t be impatient. Time is on our side.”

Their secret conversation ended there.

The banquet concluded successfully past midnight. Everyone was reluctant to leave.

“Sir O’Brien.”

The princess called out to him. O’Brien, who was preparing to leave, bowed to her.

“Your Highness, did you enjoy the banquet?”

“I had a wonderful time. I enjoyed speaking with everyone here, especially the young master from Caribe.”

The princess had fulfilled O’Brien’s request beyond his expectations. Her words would be the talk of the social circles for a while.

“Are you leaving now, Sir O’Brien?”

“Yes. My head butler has returned from organizing the territory, and I have some documents to review. He’s a very capable butler.”

O’Brien patted Head Butler Balzac’s shoulder. Balzac bowed to the princess, looking flattered.

“Then, how about we have our spar tomorrow? You didn’t drink much, so there’s no need to postpone it.”

“Alright. I’ll be ready.”

“The Duke will choose the location. I’ll see you tomorrow.”