Chapter 15
-Neigh!
The horse snorted vigorously.
The Grand Duchy of Cardenos was the Empire's sword, holding sway over the West.
I expected them to send quite a special carriage from the capital.
A spirit carriage with pale blue wind (靑風) swirling between its spokes.
Contracts with spirits weren't exclusive to humans.
Animals could contract with spirits as well, and this carriage was proof.
This was a spirit carriage pulled by a horse that had contracted with a lesser spirit of wind.
"It's two or three times faster than an ordinary courier horse. It can run over rough mountain roads as though they were flat ground, so it should reach the imperial capital in three days."
At the coachman's respectful report, I nodded and climbed into the carriage.
Celine followed right behind me, her face bright with excitement.
"Courier horse, spirit horse. They sound like they're only a hair's breadth apart, but I guess they aren't?"
Celine stared at me, waiting for my reaction, but I pretended not to hear her. I couldn't take that sort of thing.
Ssshhk-
The carriage set off as smoothly as a glide. Perhaps thanks to the spirit's blessing, the ride was quite comfortable.
Munch-munch-
Celine happily devoured the refreshments prepared in the carriage.
I glanced at her cheeks, puffed out like a hamster's, then leaned lazily against the backrest.
The most important thing at the Founding Festival was managing connections. I had to restore the reputation I'd built up and shake off the image of having assaulted a young lady.
Lucia was a secondary concern.
Meeting her was already a certainty. What stance should I take when we met?
If I won Lucia over, I'd gain an army, so should I just seduce her outright? She wanted that herself, didn't she?
Easy to say. When it came to seducing women, I was hopelessly inexperienced.
In my previous life, I had been so devoted to training, training, and more training that I spent more time rubbing shoulders with men.
'Even if I could win her over, the consequences would be too great.'
Building a good relationship with Lucia would help me in many ways, but....
The Empire's heavyweights would all be gathered at the Founding Festival.
If they were all actively flirting with Lucia and I tried to seduce her too?
That would be the quickest route to becoming rivals with the head of the greatest trading company, the Northern Grand Duke's second son, the vice tower master, and the crown prince.
Of course, if I was going to seduce her, now was the only chance. At this point, Lucia was probably more burdened by their feelings than flattered by them.
'The problem is, she'd probably hate my guts.'
Azeline was the obstacle.
Weren't the two of them best friends?
With Azeline's deceitful nature, she had undoubtedly already filled Lucia's ears with slander about me. She would have twisted her own wrongdoing and mixed in lies to frame me as an assailant.
That meant an exhausting battle of nerves from our very first meeting.
"Ha."
Just imagining the troublesome farce in advance made my temples throb.
This was why I was craving something sweet.
I stealthily reached my hand to the side.
"Celine. Give me one macaron too."
"Eek-"
Celine's jaw abruptly froze mid-chew.
Celine looked down at her lap in dismay. The three-tiered tray was empty except for crumbs.
This brat had already eaten everything.
"Uh, um, ah, er, well...."
Celine stammered and flailed, her eyes darting around as she broke into a cold sweat.
"You're at the age when you crave sweets. It's nice to see you eating so well."
Contrary to my words, my hand showed no mercy.
I grabbed her plump, soft cheek and pulled it out to either side.
"Eeeek- It huwts, Owder Bwother...."
Celine squirmed, but I didn't let go until the very end.
The springy, stretchy feel of her cheeks was fantastic. What a squishy little glutinous rice cake.
***
The Founding Festival.
It was the heart of high society, where all the Empire's interests and the nobles' vanity lurked.
"I wonder if the brat will manage."
Valdemar muttered to himself as he skimmed through documents in his office.
He was hardly worried about Celine traveling with her older brother.
She was a mature and well-behaved young lady for her age.
The problem was Astin, the legitimate heir.
It was true that he had changed completely these days.
Everything about him had changed, from the way he held a sword to the look he gave his subordinates, right down to his very roots.
There wasn't a trace of the seemingly irredeemable wastrel left.
However, that didn't mean he had become docile by any means.
Astin was walking the right path, but he was stomping along it.
No matter how correct his words were, if they were loud and rough, the world would see him as violent.
The recent romantic farce with the Rosenthal family was proof enough.
He hadn't said a single incorrect thing, but his unfiltered words and actions had caused the matter to spiral. Valdemar himself had sweated blood cleaning up the mess.
He couldn't help worrying whether Astin would be able to complete his itinerary there without incident.
Creeeak- Bang!
The office door suddenly flew open without a knock.
Who the hell opens a door without knocking—
Valdemar's mouth, which had been about to roar, closed again.
A shabby man stood in the doorway with one leg cocked. His old teacher, Hendrickson, stood there.
"It's shabbier than I expected. Hardly fit for someone of noble status to stay in."
Valdemar's gaze remained on him for several seconds.
Hendrickson paid it no mind. He strode over and plopped down on the finest leather sofa.
"What brings you here?"
"What do you mean, what brings me here? I decided to come on my own two feet. Why, does that leave a bad taste in your mouth?"
Hendrickson shot back gruffly.
Valdemar couldn't bring himself to answer and kept his mouth shut.
An awkward, heavy silence filled the office between the old teacher and his grown pupil.
After some time had passed,
Hendrickson, who had been leaning crookedly against the sofa, tossed out a remark.
"A black lion came from beneath a wildcat."
He was talking about Astin.
It was an unexpected remark, but Valdemar had no choice but to agree with it inwardly.
Anyone would acknowledge the growth he had shown in such a short time.
No, they would doubt their own eyes even after seeing it. Even Valdemar, his father, had felt that way.
"The bastard is the same."
"...You mean Celine?"
"Yes. She has talent enough to rival the legitimate heir. I thought she was a Cardenos even if she turned out rotten, but she hasn't rotted at all—she's ripened beautifully."
"......."
"You raised your children damn well. That's all I came to say, you useless brat."
Hendrickson brushed off his knees and rose, walking toward the door.
"Master."
Hendrickson's footsteps stopped abruptly.
"Some excellent liquor came in from the north recently. If you don't mind, would you care to have a drink with me?"
"Do I look like I have that kind of free time?"
"Yes."
"I suppose I am free."
Smack-Hendrickson smacked his lips.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm staying because I like the liquor, not because I like you."
"Shall I simply give you the bottle and send you on your way?"
"Listen to the way this insolent brat talks. I can tell exactly who he learned it from."
***
The grand ballroom of the imperial palace where the Founding Festival was being held.
It was packed with hundreds, even thousands, of nobles.
As magnificent chandeliers scattered rainbow-colored light, the young ladies bustled about, each harboring ambitions of her own.
The Founding Festival could be called the grandest social gathering in history.
A sharp tension lurked beneath the brazen laughter.
The young ladies flocked to great nobles—men whose names alone were renowned, all at least counts. There wasn't room to set foot in front of four in particular.
"That tailcoat looks wonderful on you. It's the new fabric you imported yourself, isn't it? My eyes are feasting, hoho!"
"Head of the trading company! I heard you opened a new trade route to the south this time. Please be sure to stop by my family's territory."
"Is that the new clothing-business line you recently launched? Roxfelt also has something to discuss with you about clothing distribution. Would you care to speak for a moment?"
The young, handsome head of the Patrian Trading Company, which controlled the economy of the Empire's eastern region.
The elegantly dressed young ladies openly flirted around him.
"Ahaha. Thank you for the compliments. But if it doesn't concern money, I don't talk about it."
The responses that came back, however, were lukewarm.
On the other side, it was no different.
"Vice Tower Master! The theory you presented at the symposium last time was so astonishing. When might you give me a lesson privately?"
"Hehe, I'm a girl who's interested in magic too. I'd love to discuss your expertise with you."
"I saw the magical artifact you made yourself. Isn't it gorgeous? How wonderful it would be to receive such a gift from you...."
The genius mage who effectively led Sirius Tower.
Young ladies seeking to appeal to his intellectual charm and make an impression crowded around him as well.
"What would these flower-brained young ladies know? You can explain it to them, and they still won't understand."
Despite his harsh words, the young ladies covered their mouths with fans and giggled, saying, 'He's so mischievous, as expected! Hohoho!'
"The tales of Young Master Raven's exploits have spread far and wide, even here in the imperial capital. Seeing the hero of those rumors in person feels like a dream!"
"I've spent my whole life seeing slender men, but looking at you, Young Master.... My heart is fluttering. Can you hear my heartbeat?"
"I heard you cut down a horde of magical beasts all by yourself. That's truly amazing!"
The second son of the Northern Grand Duke of Winterhart, the Giant of Eternal Snow.
The young ladies, bewitched by his massive build and bestial charm, made him their target.
"Um...."
He merely groaned without saying a word.
Even that struck the young ladies as a taciturn charm.
"Prince Xenon! You're so noble...."
"We are honored to behold the Empire's next sun."
"Prince Xenon. Would you grant me the honor of sharing the first dance with you? If I could merely match my steps to yours, I wouldn't mind if tonight never ended."
Most young ladies couldn't even approach the crown prince.
Only the great central nobles engaged in fierce contests of influence while showering the crown prince with advances.
Thus, the young ladies' attention was concentrated solely on the four men.
They didn't even glance at the other young noblemen, creating a rather awkward situation.
As it happened, all four men firmly rejected the young ladies. Without even a polite smile, they openly adopted an attitude that said, 'I don't even want to exchange words with you!'
"......It's Lady Lucia!!"
Someone's cry rang out. All four men's gazes moved at once.
A colorful, beautiful dress that looked as though the Milky Way had been embroidered across it. A bewitching beauty that inevitably stole the gazes of men and women alike.
The flower of the Imperial Academy and the star of high society, Lucia von Elzerna.
Her appearance instantly transformed the atmosphere in the hall.
The four men who had been standing rooted to the spot sprang into motion. The same four men who had ignored the advances of countless young ladies.
"Lady Lucia. You look as beautiful as ever today!"
"I have been waiting for you, my noble star."
"Lucia, I have something to discuss with you alone...."
"Miss Sia. Why don't you come over here and pop champagne with me?"
The four men quickly surrounded Lucia and began passionately courting her, forgetting even their dignity.
Jealous gazes poured over them from the surrounding young ladies, but Lucia, the woman at the center of it all, swallowed a deep sigh.
'This is so burdensome I could die....'
It was more than burdensome; it was making her furious.
The advances of so many men? It was obviously something she should be happy about.
Being loved by even one person wasn't easy. She was undeniably enjoying a greater blessing than others.
But this was too much. Far too much.
Perhaps it would be different if they were merely somewhat successful nobles. But weren't these four all great figures whose names alone were enough to make anyone sit up and take notice?
Lucia, on the other hand, was the daughter of a fallen baronial family from the frontier.
If she became engaged to even one of them, the disparity in status would be extreme, even if it didn't technically constitute a morganatic marriage.
"Thank you all for welcoming me."
Lucia bowed without losing her elegant smile. Inside, she felt so stifled that even breathing was difficult.
"I appreciate the warm welcome, but I haven't fully recovered from the journey. Could we dance and have a long conversation later?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't we?"
"Travel fatigue? Please, take this medicine. I brought it just in case."
"That's unfortunate. Still, if you're feeling unwell...."
"Don't fall ill, Miss Sia. If you're sick, my heart aches too."
Ugh, how cheesy.
"Thank you, everyone."
Lucia set a reasonable boundary and slipped away naturally.
Even afterward, the men did not give up easily.
They either followed her while maintaining a strange distance or watched her intently, waiting for a chance to speak to her.
For Lucia, it was driving her mad. Couldn't they please leave her alone for a moment?
That was when.
"Isn't that Cardenos's eldest son?"
"Indeed, it is Young Master Astin."
"He has some nerve. How can he, after putting his hand on that delicate young lady's face...."
Lucia shot a sharp look toward the entrance.
A blond young nobleman was walking confidently into the ballroom.
He had handsome, strongly defined features and roguish eyes. The immaculate uniform bore the black lion emblem, the symbol of Cardenos.
The violent wastrel who had reduced her dear friend Azeline to that state. Astin von Cardenos.
'So that's him.'
The man who had dared lay hands on her friend.
Lucia was seeing him for the first time, but one glance was enough to tell what sort of man he was. A wastrel, nothing more and nothing less.
Lucia hurried straight toward him.
She didn't even think about what to snap at him. At that moment, emotion took precedence over reason.
She merely wanted to make him take responsibility for what he had done.
The moment Lucia blocked Astin's path,
Halt-
Astin also stopped walking. Perhaps he had nerves of steel, because he showed no sign of being flustered.
The star of high society and Cardenos's wastrel were facing each other alone.
Whispers spread in every direction around the two of them.
Lucia was a schoolmate of Rosenthal's precious daughter, and Astin had brutally assaulted that schoolmate.
It was a confrontation that no noble who knew the circumstances could help but watch.
Meanwhile, the four men kept a close eye on Astin with eyes like birds of prey.
Their four pairs of eyes held not even a speck of interest, only hostility and murderous intent. They even tensed their toes, ready to intervene if things went south.
"You...."
With everyone's attention fixed on them, Lucia spoke first.
"......."
But her lips closed helplessly before she could say anything more.
The murmuring grew louder and louder.
Those who didn't know what was happening saw it as meaningless commotion.
Those who knew about Lucia and Azeline's relationship waited for Lucia to open her mouth.
The four men, keeping their distance, watched the two of them with murderous eyes.
Lucia's lips repeatedly opened and closed. For some reason, a shadow had fallen across her face.
After a brief moment, Lucia placed her clenched fist over her chest.
"Have we met somewhere before?"