chapter 19
19 – 6. Banquet (1)
The war against the demons is still in progress.
Although the Empire declared victory.
Although it is different from the time when destruction was right in front of us.
Still, the Magician is being created everywhere.
Even today, someone is injured and dying while fighting the demon.
In other words, it was premature to eat, drink, and be merry.
Therefore, the scale of the imperial banquet was not so large.
I didn’t even call all the nobles in the empire like before.
Don’t waste your money on extravagant extravagance.
Just those who gave strength to the empire in this difficult time.
I just call them up, encourage them, and congratulate them.
“Karina Regram. The Empire will never forget the hard work of you and the Merchant.”
Everyone applauded as the princess congratulated them.
The Demon Merchant Guild took the lead in relieving the people of the empire by releasing the Merchant Merchant funds.
They are being thanked by the princess of the human empire.
Among the nobles, there are still those who have a bad opinion of the demons.
Fiore is like that, and so are other aristocratic families.
However, this is the imperial palace, not their own territory.
And the imperial family officially declared the demons as ‘brothers in arms’.
There’s nothing good about tea in a place like that.
So, it was natural for everyone to celebrate.
‘It’s all revealed on the face, these things.’
With the medal bestowed by the princess hanging on her chest.
Karina thought as she stepped off the podium.
I know that the evaluation of demons is divided.
Like the nobles gathered here, some think good.
Some are neutral, and others are hated as much as witches.
It is unavoidable. This is their land, their world.
No matter how hard they fight, it will be difficult for them to be understood.
I have no intention of forcing them to understand.
However, it would be nice if they at least acknowledged their efforts.
It would be nice if you would accept the fact that we fought together at the cost of blood and life.
In the end, they wanted to ignore and forget even that.
However, he is not a nobleman.
Because money, rather than fame, is the measure of strength in the end.
Even if the evaluation of the demons is not good.
In the end, I didn’t worry too much because it was the ‘top’.
‘but… .’
My friend Shien is different from me.
She is the head of the Lichtenauer, a human aristocratic family.
As a mixed race of humans and demons, he must endure the weighty position.
I know very well how fierce the conflict between noble families is.
It was said that they did not only hold a spear, but it was as fierce as a battlefield.
There, Shien’s lineage is sure to be its worst weakness.
Just look at the current situation.
The imperial banquet began after all the rewards were over.
There, nobles centered on Fiore openly ignore Shien.
Even nobles who want to approach her are blocked at the source.
There are many intentions to isolate Liechtenauer from the start.
‘Bad children.’
He wondered if someone in the imperial family would stop him.
However, neither the emperor nor the princess could be seen where they had gone.
In addition, the Fiore family is a family that successfully annihilated the Demonic Realm.
This time, when I received encouragement and congratulations, I was ranked as the best.
Of course, the nobles had no choice but to pay attention to it.
“… .”
Sien is silent while drinking a glass alone.
Seeing that pitiful figure, I gnawed my lips.
‘In my heart, I want to go to my side too… .’
Even if it is not, it is a situation where it is ignored because it is ‘mixed blood’.
In addition, if a top lord, not even a noble, approaches the ‘Evil tribe’, it will only have the opposite effect.
For now, it’s more helpful to not step out on your own.
“Haaa… .”
I just tilt my glass with a frustrated heart.
Karina looked at Shien, who was far away.
I hoped she would get through this moment.
* * *
“Shin-nim.”
Adele, who had been paying attention from earlier, opened her mouth slightly.
Adele knows nothing about politics.
It is difficult to understand the sharp words exchanged between nobles.
Even that, I could see what the current situation was like.
An act of openly ignoring Cien and trying to embarrass him.
The family at the center was, of course, Fiore.
Even Adele feels slightly annoyed.
During the time he was active, in other places, things like that used to happen.
Creating a small group within a group.
And the one who uses it to cause internal division.
Divide sides, create conflict, and build on that.
Those who seek to lord it over others.
‘What did you do when you saw those guys?’
How to do it, hit them all and kill them.
You have to go out strong from the beginning so that other guys don’t do stupid things.
It can be annihilated with just one distraction.
That’s why you need to stick to the rules even more firmly.
The first wolf of Wolfheddin was Adele.
Internal disputes could be resolved on their own line.
The emperor also condoned.
In a group, such a person becomes poison and benefits the enemy.
I just kept Adele from sparking.
‘Originally, His Majesty or His Highness would have stepped forward… .’
All in all, Shien is not just a human, but a half-blood.
Within the empire, the blood of ‘Evils’ with bad public sentiment is mixed.
Even the imperial family cannot defy public sentiment unconditionally.
Even if they acknowledged the demons, they couldn’t force it.
Moreover, everyone made great sacrifices to fight the demons.
If you recklessly cover the demons who are pointed out as the cause, you will lose your justification.
“Adele.”
“Yes, Shien.”
“I expected it. That you won’t welcome me. I knew all about this.”
“Why don’t you decline the offer if you don’t?”
“Are you avoiding it by avoiding it? have to collide I am the family head of Lichtenau. And like it or not, sometimes you have to unite with the nobles over there, and sometimes you have to compete with them.”
“… .”
“If you do this, it only makes Fiore better. Still, I was a little hopeful that one of them would move first, but it seems to be difficult. So, it would be better to move directly, right?”
Even though I try to speak casually.
Adele noticed that Shien’s voice was shaking a little.
Anger, humiliation, humiliation, and other negative emotions.
Trying to push them away and ignoring them.
We intend to think and act only for Lichtenauer.
There aren’t many things you know how to do.
I’m very sorry about that part and I’m sorry again.
I’ve never had anything like this before.
Why do I feel that way at this moment?
It seems that she has become strange, thought Adele.
“Go to Lichtenau.”
Just then, someone approached Shien.
At first, I thought he was an aristocrat who escaped from the grip of the Fiore family.
However, soon everyone knew that he was not a person of that level.
“Ahhh.”
The person who appeared in front of him right now is the next to the emperor.
The eldest daughter of the imperial family, the first in succession, and a strong person who even uses chakra.
“Sien of Lichtenauer sees Her Highness, Princess Catherine.”
Shien hurriedly lowered her head and took an example.
Thanks to her, though it was very fleeting.
He did not see Adele and the princess exchanging glances behind him.
“Your Highness the Princess?”
“The princess came back?”
I heard that the princess didn’t like banquets very much.
So just a little while ago, I just praised many people.
Didn’t you just leave the banquet hall?
However, that Princess Catherine came back.
And the head of Lichtenau, a mixed race of humans and demons.
I was standing facing Sien.
“It is as it is. The new head of household this time.”
“That’s right, Her Highness the Princess.”
“I heard the story. Apparently, he completely annihilated even the third-class Demonic World while protecting the people of the empire with a knight less than twenty. He did a great job.”
At the words of the princess, the nobles all looked towards Shien.
Less than twenty knights, even while protecting civilians.
Did you even annihilate the 3rd grade demon spectacle?
I thought it was just a rumor, but I thought it was nonsense.
Wouldn’t it be great if the princess would say such a thing?
While the nobles once again admire Lichtenauer’s might.
Shien had to gulp inwardly and swallow dryly.
‘I tried to keep it as secret as possible in case Adele would come out… .’
Measures were taken to prevent the story from leaking out.
Thanks to this, even nearby nobles did not know the exact work.
But the princess suddenly mentioned that.
Even though I didn’t do anything wrong, my heart is stabbed for no reason.
“Would you like to talk to me a little longer?”
“to? Ahh! Hey, it’s an honor, Her Highness the Princess.”
“Thank you for taking the time. Lord Lichtenau. Then let’s go for a while.”
Ekaterina is perfect in every aspect.
As the eldest daughter, she already has a legitimacy that no one can shake.
With his outstanding insight and wisdom, he also took care of state affairs instead of the emperor.
In addition, he is a strong man who can easily kill even a monster.
Of course, seeing Shien stepping out with such a princess.
It was only natural that the aristocrats looked a little flustered.
“What is it? What is the situation now… .”
“I don’t understand. Unbelievable.”
“Even though Lichtenauer is a renowned swordsman, there was no particular contact with the imperial family… .”
The sudden death of the family head and heir, the family suffered tremendous damage.
Because it was thought that Fiore would now have an advantage over Lichtenau.
They were the nobles who had been ignoring Shien along with Etria.
But the moment I saw the appearance of the princess and Shien.
Everyone fell into the crucible of chaos.
The one they despise is perhaps the closest to the power of the future.
It might be the kind of person you need to build a friendship with.
“… .”
Etria of Fiore, who led this situation.
She pursed her lips and looked at Shien’s back.
* * *
“Oh, wait.”
Princess Ekaterina, who was traveling with Shien.
Then, as if remembering something, he stops.
“I’ll leave the escort behind for a while. I think it would be a little like that if there were a lot of listeners.”
“Ah yes. You see. Adele? I’m here for a second.”
Shien, without thinking, orders Adele to stand by.
Taking Shien with her, the princess disappeared toward the garden.
“… .”
Adele happened to be left alone.
So I was standing still, and I felt someone from behind.
“He said he was going on a trip. Did you come back in less than half a year, let alone a year?”
“… A brief route only led to this place.”
“Anyway, it’s surprising. I never expected to see you again so soon.”
Saying so, the emperor who leads this huge empire.
He gestured to Adele as if to talk for a moment.