Chapter 355

The cool breeze from the lake refreshingly brushes past the hair tied back.

In front of Leopold’s Villa.

Here, a banquet for the nobles who attended the award ceremony was currently taking place.

On the long, pristine white tables placed throughout the garden, all sorts of delicacies were laid out, and neatly dressed maids and servants busily moved about, filling the tables with drinks and food.

After the grand award ceremony under the radiant halo of the festival, Leopold invited the nobles gathered at the cathedral to his villa.

It was customary in the empire to hold a banquet after such award ceremonies, but using the grand cathedral as the main venue was considered sacrilegious.

The main palace, which Isabella had destroyed, was not even close to being rebuilt, so the only remaining venue was his villa.

To be precise, it was only the garden in front of the villa.

The interior of the villa had no space prepared for a banquet.

Thus, this banquet had no choice but to be held outdoors.

—

A noblewoman in a splendid dress tilts her wine glass as she chats with a middle-aged man.

The dizzyingly strong scent of perfume, the sly smiles filled with hidden desires.

Sweet and sticky breaths, like melted sugar, crossed between them.

Before long, they quietly disappeared somewhere.

They didn’t seem like a married couple… Well, it’s none of my business.

I moistened my throat with grape juice instead of wine and glanced around.

The garden, once filled with the dismembered bodies of knights, had been perfectly restored to its former beauty, and the nobles who had gathered to enjoy the banquet admired the flower garden with lively expressions, their laughter blooming.

“By the way, have you heard the rumor? Apparently, the young lady of the Bernwolf family eloped with a servant not long ago.”

“My, the baron’s family must have been in an uproar. Kids these days. To be swayed by a mere servant….”

…The direction of the laughter didn’t seem very desirable.

Anyway, once the alcohol started flowing, the banquet atmosphere began to heat up.

…Which also meant more nobles were clinging to me.

“Greetings, Count Median. I am Jerome of the Millen Baron family. We met at a previous banquet.”

I don’t know. Who’s that?

“Ah. It’s been a while, Baron Jerome. I hope you’ve been well.”

“Haha, it’s an honor that you remember me. Thanks to His Majesty and you, Count, for defeating the wicked witch and her minions, I’ve been living peacefully as well.”

Like this man in front of me, there were plenty of nobles who greeted me, claiming to have met me before, even though I didn’t remember. Annoying.

They were generally part of the 1st Prince faction, but they were from minor families too weak to catch Duke Bien’s eye.

In other words….

[They’re the fallen ones. Clinging to you, hoping to lick up the crumbs of power.]

A harsh expression, but not wrong.

Their intentions were clear—they saw me as a lifeline to stand against Duke Bien’s faction.

An unpleasant situation. The civil war had just ended.

But I couldn’t outright rebuff them.

This was a banquet hosted by the Emperor of the Empire, celebrating my achievements. If I caused a scene, only Duke Bien would be pleased.

Leopold would also be in a tough spot.

So, I had no choice but to play along and respond, even if half-heartedly.

“I am Ziben of the Millard Baron family. I’ve long admired your valor, Count. It’s an infinite honor to meet you like this!”

Occasionally, there were those who approached with pure goodwill and admiration rather than political ambition… but personally, these people were even more awkward.

“To single-handedly defeat the King of the Beastmen! Truly a feat worthy of the descendant of the Twelve Knights, an achievement that leaves one in awe!”

“You flatter me. The victory in the north wasn’t achieved by my strength alone. It was thanks to the knights of the north and Duke Pailoon leading the charge.”

“Hoho, you’re too modest. If it weren’t for you, Count, could His Highness the Duke have truly defeated those beasts? The Beastmen might have even descended into the mainland.”

It’s nice that they’re praising me, but does this guy realize he’s tarnishing Duke Pailoon’s reputation?

No, probably not.

If he realized, he’d have chosen his words more carefully.

—

‘I’m exhausted….’

[It’s your own doing. Endure it.]

Even if you say that….

The nobles gathered around me, spouting stories I had no interest in.

Responding to each one, I felt like I was losing all my energy.

Questions about how I planned to manage the Median territory, whether I intended to take vassals….

Really, such transparent questions.

Why do you even care? Unless it’s Leopold or Lacey.

Some even introduced their children, subtly trying to make connections.

“Count, my second son has just graduated from Remnant Academy. Since it’s the same knight faculty, you might have heard of him.”

“Congratulations. He’s taken his first step as a knight. Unfortunately, I’m often away, so I’m not familiar with the names of the students.”

Given the state of the empire during the civil war, he must have been lucky to graduate safely.

“That boy, deeply inspired by your heroic tales, wishes to serve you as his lord. If you’re considering recruiting knights….”

“Hmm… I can’t give a definite answer. I’m still contemplating the knight order. There’s already the Rose Cross Knight Order.”

The noble, receiving a polite refusal, looked disappointed but, at least having some tact, didn’t push further.

There were others who approached me using their children as an excuse.

Some recommended their daughters, suggesting I needed a maid since I only traveled with a guard knight, or even introduced children as young as five or six.

At least they seemed aware of the vast difference in status, so no one proposed a political marriage. Thank goodness.

After all that chatter, I desperately craved a cigarette.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

After excusing myself, I headed deeper into the garden.

I’ll take a short break… and then meet Leopold and Lacey before heading back.

—

A stifled moan.

Sweet and vulgar gasps filled my ears.

In the secluded bushes of the garden, nobles in heat were enjoying secret trysts.

They thought they were hidden, but they couldn’t escape my senses, so I vividly perceived their breeding scenes as if I were watching them right in front of me.

Must be the alcohol. They’ve got some nerve.

To do such things in Leopold’s villa garden.

The variety was quite something.

A lady in her prime and a young knight in full uniform.

A noble in a splendid dress coat and a maid lifting her skirt, succumbing to his advances.

Middle-aged nobles indulging in the thrill of infidelity.

A dignified-looking elderly lady and….

Elpinel, have mercy.

What did I just see? An elderly lady?

Ugh.

I shook my head violently, trying to erase the horrifying scene imprinted on my retina.

I felt like I was going to vomit.

I saw nothing.

Yes, I saw nothing. Nothing…!

[…Good heavens. How could someone of that age…….]

‘Stop talking…! It’s going to come back to mind…!’

In my previous world, there were those who posted pictures of grandmothers on internet communities, but at least those were just pictures, this is……!

The cigarette I was biting trembled, scattering ashes.

I didn’t even think to put out the cigarette, quickly turning around and leaving the garden.

No, that place was no longer a garden. It should be called a demonic realm.

A demonic realm that shattered the minds of those who unknowingly entered.

That’s how shocking the scene was.

It felt like half-rotten cockroaches were squirming inside my eye sockets and ears.

I desperately wanted to wash myself under running water.

If I dipped my head in the clear lake water, would the memories I wanted to forget flow away like the waves?

—

“Here you are, Count Median.”

Waiting for me as I left the garden was none other than Duke Bien.

The Duke, without even the entourage of nobles who usually followed him, stood alone, blocking my path.

“If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to have a word. Would that be alright?”

What’s this? After ignoring me all this time.

Has a mouth suddenly grown on you now?

“…No problem.”

Honestly, I wasn’t in the mood to talk to him.

But… when has the world ever gone according to my feelings?

Duke Bien must have something important to discuss, coming alone like this.

So, I couldn’t just ignore him, even if I didn’t feel like talking.

“So, what’s the matter?”

I took a drag and tilted my head to exhale.

The white smoke brushed past the Duke.

Duke Bien, frowning slightly, hesitantly opened his mouth.

“Hmm… Well….”

What’s he trying to say, hesitating like this?

He looks like it’s really hard to bring it up.

“…Have you given any thought to the issue of succession for your family? If you haven’t decided yet… my second son has just turned twenty. How about taking him as a son-in-law for the Median family?”

What?

My lips parted in shock. The cigarette I was holding fell to the ground with a clatter.

“Wait, what did you just….”

“Think about it. The extinction of the bloodline of the Twelve Knights would be a great tragedy for the empire. And we can’t have just anyone as the father to inherit both the Landenburg and Median Marquisates. As your partner, who could be more suitable than a member of the ducal family?”

…The Duke’s words were so close to the truth that I couldn’t help but think carefully.

About the impact on me if Duke Bien were to die of a heart attack.