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116. Childhood Friend – Banquet

A banquet was held at Nevis Castle.

While it wasn’t unusual for a banquet to take place almost every week in the castle, this time the scale was impressive.

Since the King of the Orun Kingdom hosted the event to welcome the New Year, all personnel at the castle were mobilized, and invitations were sent out to all nobles.

The innermost hall, which served both as the king’s office and his private sanctuary, was chosen as the banquet hall.

Nevis Castle, with its spacious corridors, had relatively small halls, so this was about the only place large enough to host a big banquet.

The five stairs set up at intervals in the hall were a bit inconvenient, but the distance from one step to the next (twenty steps) was enough not to cause any special problems.

In fact, it served as a sort of boundary.

At the highest first step at the very back of the hall sat the royal family, including the King, Queen, and Princes.

The nobles serving the First Prince gathered on the second step, while those serving the Second Prince crowded the third.

The fourth step was left wide open in the center, surrounded by musicians, transforming the area into a ballroom where young nobles danced and socialized, while the fifth step had neutral nobles (or the odd ones out) awkwardly loitering about.

Of course, there were also heavyweights like Marquis Gaidan and Marquis Drazin, so it wasn’t merely a pathetic display.

Finally, in front of the massive brass door on the sixth step, several tables were set up.

This area wasn’t meant for nobles. There were already enough tables and chairs on each step for nobles to rest, so there was no reason for them to come down here. This space was used by the castle’s handmaidens to prepare and serve various drinks and foods.

Well, that was the rough division; there wasn’t a strict rule against crossing the steps.

Handmaidens scurried up and down serving drinks, while young ladies and nobles who received dance requests, even knights, roamed about, giving the place the bustling atmosphere of a marketplace.

It was just that the positions of the key figures representing each faction were as described.

Leaning against the long-draping curtain on one wall of the fifth step, Marquis Drazin asked with a skeptical tone,

“Is it really not something you did?”

The short-statured man glanced suspiciously at Marquis Harvey Gaidan, who was sipping on a drink beside him.

The two major families of Nevis had vanished. According to the testimonies of a few survivors, a crazy knight had indiscriminately slaughtered them.

The death of thugs was of little consequence, but the unfortunate part was that they were all from families supported by nobles serving the princes, and Marquis Drazin was suspicious of his friend who had mentioned ‘rebellion’.

“Not at all. It has nothing to do with me.”

Marquis Gaidan feigned innocence, though he felt guilty inside.

Drazin pressed on.

“Is that so? You’re not still concocting that ridiculous plan, are you?”

“…Of course not. Don’t worry about it.”

I’m sorry I have to answer like this to my friend’s well-meaning question, but he couldn’t go against his lord’s orders. In the back of his eyes, a strange shadow flickered.

‘How do I persuade this friend…’

His lord had told him to persuade Evni to join in the rebellion.

However, every time he opened his mouth to say something, it was always “You’re not still having useless thoughts, are you?” so he never had a chance to speak.

“…Hmm. You’re not hiding something from me, are you? Ah! Finally, it has appeared.”

Marquis Drazin, about to say something, pushed away from the wall and strode forward.

He was waiting for someone to show up, watching the brass door.

“Count Ogerton! It’s been a long time. I don’t even know how many years it’s been. Have you returned from your travels well?”

A well-dressed man resembling a scholar bowed lightly.

“It truly has been a long time, Marquis Drazin. Yes, I returned safely, though the results weren’t very satisfactory.”

Count Soarel Demetri Ogerton.

He seemed like a man who had never faced the harshness of the world, sporting a soft jawline.

He was also quite young to have experienced such hardships; now entering his forties, he was still fifteen years younger than Marquis Drazin, who was nearing thirty.

Yet, in this world, being in one’s late twenties was not considered young, and reflecting this, Count Ogerton’s calm expression held depth.

His intensely pink eyes, which appeared almost purple, looked down at the world with piercing clarity.

Given his unique position as both a noble and a sorcerer, one might misinterpret him as arrogant and dismissive, yet in reality, it was quite the opposite.

He was humble and a scholar thirsty for knowledge.

Merely viewing things objectively brought about his somewhat arid gaze.

“You went on a journey right after leaving the tower… didn’t your father worry?”

Marquis Drazin, accepting a glass of wine from a passing handmaiden, offered it to him. However, Count Ogerton politely declined and chose a sweet juice instead, taking a sip.

“Actually, my father scolded me. He said I abandoned the family to travel abroad. And thus, I really didn’t want to inherit this family.”

The Count spoke frankly.

He had manifested magical talent at a very young age and had spent a long time at the magic tower, growing up less like a noble.

However, because of his noble birth, he wasn’t as closed off as other sorcerers, making him quite a complex figure to categorize based on groups.

Marquis Drazin wore a knowing smile as he began to speak. Surely, a more direct conversation would be better than the usual noble exchanges.

“Speaking of which, I suppose you’ve finally seen your son.”

“Ah… embarrassingly, yes.”

As soon as Soarel Demetri exited the magic tower, he inherited the family and married.

In his early twenties, at a notably late age, he hastily wed the daughter of Lord Bokali, who was six years younger than him, and upon returning from a long journey, he found he had a son.

A son who was already five years old.

Soarel let out a faint sigh.

“Phew… I really think I will be a terrible father. Or rather, I already am a terrible father…”

“Ha ha, don’t be too hard on yourself. You can get closer to him from now on. Besides, it must still be awkward between you and your son… Should I come visit with my granddaughter? She has just begun to walk, but kids tend to like those around their age. That way, you could have some time to bond with your son, right?”

“Oh! That sounds like a good idea. I truly appreciate it. I hope it’s not too much trouble.”

“Trouble? I just need some time to play with my granddaughter. Oops, sorry about that. I should have greeted your father-in-law first, but in my excitement, I made an oversight.”

Evni Drazin pointed at Lord Bokali, who was sitting bored in the distance. Count Ogerton promised Marquis Drazin to have a simple gathering at the estate next, and then left.

Marquis Harvey Gaidan, grinning as he returned to his friend, asked,

“I didn’t get a chance to ask earlier due to the rush, but can you persuade Count Ogerton? After all, he’s a sorcerer. Sorcerers get so absorbed in their research that they neglect other matters.”

“That may be so. But I think the Count will be focused on family affairs for a while.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Hmm.”

Before Drazin could speak, he stifled a laugh. Gaidan quickly noticed he was about to brag and joke.

“Though there’s the issue of his son… I know why Count Ogerton went on his journey, where he went, and what he did. He was studying the ‘Mana Overlapping Theory’ with Swordmasters…”

Just then, the lively melody flowing through the hall took a dramatic turn downwards.

The deep and grand notes captured the attention of chatting nobles.

As the song gradually faded into silence without a clatter, the King spoke.

His voice echoed through the hall with the help of magic.

– Today recalls the day of my coronation, forty years ago. On that day, the heads of all noble families pledged their loyalty to me, and although many years have passed, your oaths remain unwavering. I thank you for your honor.

The old king looked around and made eye contact with the heads of various families.

A tension settled within the slow pace.

The king typically did not start speeches this way; he usually opened with phrases like “Dear heads of the kingdom, welcome.”

– Today, I have reaffirmed your loyalty once again. The busy heads of families graciously attending to grace this occasion proves that our kingdom is tightly bonded.

Also, it was the first time he used a formal tone in his speech (though he often did in private), signaling a significant announcement was forthcoming.

Indeed, a bombshell was dropped.

– But I am old now.

While many didn’t change their expressions as if they had already known or expected this, a considerable number of nobles showed surprise, glancing at each other. The implication of his words was clear.

The King continued. He glanced at his two proud late-born sons in the middle of his speech.

– This Orun Kingdom needs a young and capable ruler. Therefore, I declare… the First Prince Aton de Lognum as the successor to the throne. The ‘Akiné’ ceremony will take place on an auspicious day, and I have no doubt the noble heads of our kingdom will bless this. Now, may the glory of Lognum accompany us in the New Year!

As the King raised his glass, everyone echoed, “Glory to Lognum!”

When the King sat down, the hall erupted with noise. Nobles hurriedly discussed what had just happened, while some keen eyes rushed to flatter Aton de Lognum.

However, beside Aton de Lognum stood the Second Prince Alzeor de Lognum, so they had to tread carefully… Alzeor’s reaction was refreshing.

“Brother! Congratulations!”

“Thank you. I was thinking of greeting the heads of families. Would you care to accompany me?”

“Of course.”

The two twin princes descended the steps, exchanging greetings like “I look forward to your support” or “Please bless my brother”.

The nobles offered their various courteous responses to the princes, but what was peculiar was that the Second Prince seemed to exhibit more joy than the First Prince chosen as the heir.

After some time passed, the princes approached Gaidan and Drazin.

Marquis Drazin spoke first.

“Congratulations on becoming the protagonist of Akiné.”

‘Akiné’ means the ceremony of bestowing royal succession. It was a term derived from Lord Todler Akiunen, who founded the Orun Kingdom, and had been used since the Acaian Empire.

The coronation ceremony was referred to as ‘Akinén’.

“Thank you. I promise to do my best, even though I feel inadequate. I believe Duke Drazin will provide much assistance.”

“Wouldn’t that be the case.”

“And…”

Aton de Lognum’s eyes shifted towards Marquis Gaidan. Unlike the properly formal Drazin, Gaidan stood slightly stiffly.

“Duke Gaidan, you will assist me as well, won’t you?”

“…Of course. Congratulations.”

An awkward atmosphere filled the air.

Perhaps there were several reasons for it.

Maybe it was due to Gaidan’s stiff demeanor or perhaps because he hadn’t yet promised to marry Hirie.

Alternatively, it could have been because of Earl Taradin Amus and Count Geogis Jermin, who followed the two princes…

They were nobles who supported the Dorph Family, which was involved in the slave trade, and the Theobik Family, which dealt in weapons.

The twin princes passed by, breezing past Gaidan, who had been urging him to marry Hirie every time they met, but this time, they didn’t even mention her.

“Count Ogerton, it’s been a while…”

As the princes approached Count Ogerton to speak, Marquis Harvey Gaidan tightly shut his eyes.

He felt unbearably dizzy, as if he could hear giggles echoing from somewhere.

It sounded eerily like his lord’s laughter…

Evni Drazin briefly glanced at his long-time friend before unconsciously putting some distance between them, and the banquet grandly concluded.