Chapter 25

The Berze Family Mansion regained its liveliness after a long time, thanks to a grand reception for guests.

Due to the previous family head, Raul, being extremely reclusive and ascetic, no proper banquets had been held for a long time. As a result, the banquet hall, which had been gathering dust, finally regained its purpose.

Even the mansion’s servants seemed delighted by the rare burst of energy.

“It’s been so long since the place was this bustling…”

“Right? At least we can oil our bellies after the party ends.”

“…Honestly, the previous family head was so frustrating. He had no interest in things like banquets.”

“He’d just coldly say, ‘What’s the point of such events?’ and argue with the current family head for hours.”

Not many in the Berze Family Mansion liked Raul.

Though they lived under a lavish family head, Raul rarely spent money.

He ate like a monk and dressed like a fallen noble. It wasn’t unreasonable for them to feel ashamed of such a family head.

“If you have time to chatter, use your hands a bit more.”

Of course, there were also those, like the butler, who admired Raul.

While other servants scurried away, the butler glared disapprovingly at the banquet hall.

“Family Head… why did you…”

To him, Rizel seemed like a simple girl unfit for the position of family head.

But Rizel, indifferent to such gazes, was dressed in a splendid gown, chatting with the guests.

“With Lady Rizel as the family head, the Berze Family is sure to prosper like never before.”

“Thank you. As the new head of the Berze Family, Rizel Berze, I will wholeheartedly care for the family. I ask for your continued support.”

“To think you’d invite even us, the branch family… we’re deeply moved.”

“Unlike the previous family head, I intend to embrace everyone. Those closed-off, gloomy ways are now a thing of the past.”

As Rizel conversed with the guests, a dazzling carriage arrived at the Berze Family Mansion.

The person who stepped out was a handsome young man with long red hair reaching his waist—the Emperor of the Empire and Raul’s closest friend.

“What a beautiful mansion. Truly… I almost want to burn it down. Don’t you agree, Empress?”

“Your Majesty, please mind your words…”

“It’s a joke. You really lack humor. And Empress, why don’t you relax a bit?”

“I’ve told you exactly 163 times that I didn’t want to come to this disgusting place.”

“What can I do? I’m a bird with only one wing; I can’t fly without you.”

The imperial couple, seated at the highest place in the Empire, entered the banquet hall, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

Rizel wasn’t pleased that the attention she deserved was being stolen by the wheelchair-bound Empress.

Everything annoyed her, but what bothered her most was the sword strapped behind the Empress’s wheelchair. Bringing a sword to a banquet felt like a personal insult.

“Your Majesty, the radiant sun of the Empire…”

“Enough. Such formal greetings only sound amusing when Raul does them with that annoyed face. When you do it, it’s just boring.”

The moment Raul’s name was mentioned, Rizel’s mood began to sour.

Even though this was supposed to be her moment to shine, she couldn’t understand why she had to endure such frustration.

“Yes, understood, Your Majesty.”

She tried to walk away to cool off, but the Emperor’s voice stopped her.

“It seems the new Count Berze has only half an eye.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I can see you, but you can’t see the Empress. Raul always greeted the Empress before me.”

At the mention of Raul’s name again, Rizel almost clicked her tongue in annoyance.

But given who she was dealing with, she had no choice but to bow and offer her respects.

“I greet Her Majesty the Empress.”

As she bowed, Rizel secretly glared at the Empress.

Her expressionless face, like her brother’s, those condescending blue eyes, and that filthy body—she was truly a vulgar existence Rizel couldn’t stand.

“By the way, I didn’t know the Berze Family had such a grand banquet hall. Raul never held banquets, not even for his own birthday.”

“…I’m different from that man, Your Majesty.”

“Indeed. Very different. Who would dare compare? At least I’m not that foolish.”

The Emperor seemed determined to humiliate Rizel with subtle remarks.

Rizel felt anger but couldn’t protest, so she bowed her head instead.

“…By the way, it’s quite terrifying. If your brother were here, he’d have pointed out my rudeness and swung his weapon.”

“……”

“So how does it feel? Facing rudeness without a brother who’d always have your back? Not very pleasant, is it?”

The Emperor kept mentioning Raul.

It was as if that was his sole purpose for coming today—to constantly bring up Raul and make Rizel miserable.

“You’re still so immature. To let your expression show over such trivial criticism. Your brother would’ve taken such criticism as easily as breathing…”

“That man no longer exists in this family…!”

The words slipped out before she could stop herself, shocking not only Rizel but also the Empress and Emperor.

But the arrow had already been shot, and instead of retrieving it, Rizel nocked another one.

“That pathetic brother ruined my life…! He took everything from me and gave nothing in return…! Now, with the authority of the family head, I’ll erase even his traces…”

“Did you just say you’d erase my friend?”

The guests at the banquet began to sweat as the tension rose.

The ice sculptures started melting, and black smoke began to rise from where the Emperor stood.

“You, of all people?”

“Yes…! My life was ruined because of that man!!!”

The Emperor had only intended to throw a few jabs and leave.

But Rizel’s words had shredded his patience, and like a wild horse losing its reins, he began to rage.

“A bug with no dignity as a family head, a warrior, or an adult…!”

Flames erupted from his body, taking the shape of a sword that plunged before him.

As the Emperor grasped the sword, its blade glowed red and began to burn.

“Today, I’ll clean this place up thoroughly.”

“Y-Your Majesty…?”

He scanned the faces of the other guests.

Most of them were those who had insulted the Empress and Raul, so the Emperor had no qualms about unleashing his power.

“If you all spend the rest of your lives wrapped in bandages, next year’s banquet will be even more entertaining.”

The other nobles tried to flee, but it was too late.

No matter how fast they were, they couldn’t outrun the sword of one of the Five Heroes.

As the Emperor swung his sword to inflict unforgettable burns on those present, Rizel, overwhelmed by fear, screamed without thinking.

“Brother!!!”

The Emperor ignored her and swung his sword, but its heat didn’t harm anyone.

Instead of burns, people began to shiver uncontrollably.

“…You went a bit too far, Your Majesty.”

“Empress.”

The frost emitted by the Empress’s sword had frozen even the Emperor’s flames.

Not just the flames—the entire banquet hall had turned into an ice castle, ruining the event.

“…Fine. Let’s go back.”

As the Emperor sheathed his sword and turned to leave, Rizel’s mother, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, quietly protested.

“Even for Your Majesty, this is a bit too much.”

“Too much? Funny. I have no reason to show courtesy to the fiancée of the trash who tried to steal my throne.”

“That’s…”

“The only reason I respected you until now was because you were my friend’s family. Now that Raul is gone, I have no reason to respect you.”

To the Emperor, Rizel was merely the fiancée of the Second Prince, who had tried to kill him.

Logically, after killing the Second Prince, the Berze Family should’ve been wiped out, but Raul’s achievements had spared them.

“If you want my respect, start rebuilding the reason for it from scratch.”

The Emperor turned his back and left the banquet hall. The Empress looked at Rizel with pity and said:

“If you hadn’t called for your brother at the end… I wouldn’t have stopped him. And remember this: the world isn’t your mother’s embrace.”

With that cold remark, the Empress also left the banquet hall.

###

After ruining the succession banquet, Rizel returned to her room, hugged her pillow, and began to sob.

The Empress’s position should’ve been hers. Why did she have to endure such humiliation? She felt so wronged it was driving her mad.

“That impotent traitor… the worst scoundrel in the world…”

Rizel finally turned her arrows of blame toward her brother.

“Sigh… how many people have suffered because of that girl…”

Witnessing this, the crow unconsciously clicked its beak and began pecking at the window of Rizel’s room like a woodpecker.