Chapter 6 Part 5
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Two days later, on the day of the Latan delegation’s visit, matching Latan’s lifestyle pattern of starting the day early, I also entered the palace early in the morning.
The celebratory banquet commemorating the delegation’s visit was scheduled to be held all day until the moon waned.
Though it wasn’t particularly interesting, since attendance was unavoidable, I needed to at least make some pretense of participating.
Meeting Abel, who had also finished preparations early, I met with the Imperial Chancellor alongside him.
Only after being explained several times about the proper etiquette for the Latan delegation and points to note when conversing with Latanians could we continue on our way.
“Raphla.”
Taking advantage of a moment when Abel and the surrounding knights turned their attention elsewhere, I quickly and quietly called out Raphla.
The party would have started by now, and various political figures and major nobles would all be attending today’s banquet. So Hyle must be somewhere in the Imperial Palace too.
“Go find Hyle. He should be somewhere in the palace.”
When Raphla soon approached spreading its black wings, I secretly instructed it to find Hyle.
Of course, though Hyle said he would give a signal, I planned to use Raphla to prevent any possible mishaps since there would be many people today and we might miss each other.
“Nervous?”
“…Who knows.”
We were gradually getting closer to the banquet hall where the delegation was said to be.
In the heavily settled silence, Abel’s dry answer came readily to my casual question.
Abel’s hand, which I held mindful of the High Priest’s gaze, was colder than usual.
From my experience of watching him since childhood, Abel was sufficiently nervous right now.
For Abel, who usually handled everything composedly, to be so noticeably nervous, there was only one reason.
It was because he would be standing before his father, the Emperor.
Since the Emperor treated his own son almost like someone else’s child, it wasn’t strange for Abel to stiffen in front of the Emperor.
The Latan delegation, who had arrived in Pendium in the early dawn and briefly exchanged greetings with the Emperor, had since moved to the largest banquet hall in the Imperial Palace and were said to be enjoying food and drink from dawn until now, saying they were making up for missed fellowship.
When the servant said we only needed to briefly show our faces and leave, Abel and I simultaneously let out short and long sighs of relief.
It was a reaction that came because we both knew too well how tiring it would be to deal with the Emperor and Latanians together.
“Announcing His Highness Crown Prince de Lascio and Lady Laté!”
When the servant’s voice echoed through the huge banquet hall, the delegation’s gazes all converged on us both.
Especially the eyes of Garend, the High Priest of Latan, stuck persistently and thickly on me.
As the High Priest, he must find me, a demon contractor, quite irritating, so I approached the Emperor with a face that seemed to say ‘so be it’.
“It’s been a while, Your Majesty.”
Whispers spread among the delegation seeing me greet him while keeping my neck straight without bowing either my waist or head.
House Laté was originally proud and noble, so they never simply bowed their heads even if the other party was the Emperor.
But the Emperor couldn’t point this out as a problem.
This was an implicit rule that had continued since the days when the Imperial family first let go of Laté’s hand.
In fact, even without that reason, I had no intention of showing courtesy to the Emperor.
From the start, since the Emperor didn’t particularly welcome receiving greetings from Laté either, this wasn’t a problem.
The Emperor slowly blinked his bland eyes that showed no concern as usual and opened his wine-soaked lips.
“I hear there have been unfavorable rumors lately regarding the relationship between the Crown Prince and the young lady. Remember that position is not children’s play.”
Though it was clearly words meant for us both, the Emperor continued speaking in a cold voice while fixing his gaze straight ahead.
It was a clear expression of refusal, not wanting to meet either Abel’s or my eyes.
I worried if the High Priest might have heard his words, but fortunately or unfortunately, the High Priest appeared not to have heard the Emperor’s words as the Latan delegation members, thoroughly drunk, were making a loud racket.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Though Abel, already used to the Emperor’s cold dismissal, calmly answered, I closed the gap in my lips without making any particular response.
In fact, the Emperor himself had many problems first.
What with all sorts of discord rumors and various scandals involving adultery being more than a few.
Thanks to that, Pendium now had four women who had held the position of Empress.
Among them, there was even an Empress younger than Abel.
Who was he to tell others to behave properly… The title of villain seemed to suit the Emperor better than me no matter how you looked at it.
“The banquet is almost over. You can now move to the party hall.”
Following the servants who informed us of the schedule, Abel and I entered the party venue together.
Soon, magical-looking lights floating in the air and brilliant desserts filled the boring view abundantly.
“Now we just have to sit.”
“I’m already bored.”
Taking my place on the high platform following Abel, I just looked down at the festival venue with cool eyes.
However, one strange thing was that while I was being dragged around like this, Hyle was nowhere to be seen.
As the young lord of House Feros, Hyle’s presence would normally draw attention wherever he went, so he couldn’t be this quiet.
But it was too late to say he hadn’t arrived yet, as quite some time had passed since the party began.
It seems like an hour has passed since I ordered Raphla to find Hyle earlier… why hasn’t there been any news?
How much time had passed in this boring and gloomy state? Just as my vision was darkening from boredom, suddenly a small white light quickly flashed before my eyes.
“…What was that?”
When I turned my head, Abel was still handling work with his aide even in this situation.
Then did no one, including Abel, see that light just now?
While looking around in confusion, the light flew in once again.
Looking carefully, it wasn’t light but…
“A bird?”
