Chapter – 50
While the banquet was just getting underway, at Joshua’s estate…
“No. Absolutely not. I can’t go to a banquet of all places and lose face like that.”
Joshua paced nervously around the drawing room.
“I haven’t set foot in a place like that for far too long. It’s a matter of principle.”
Through all the investigations he had conducted into other people, Joshua had learned one thing:
All kinds of ridiculous nonsense happened at banquets.
Infidelity was a major trauma for him.
That was why he only wanted to hear reports about such things from his informants—he had no desire to witness them firsthand. Even if political marriages were normal among the nobility, Joshua found the whole thing disgustingly unacceptable.
A single affair was enough to destroy an entire happy family.
Because he still vaguely remembered how happy his own family had once been, he could never accept it.
“But…”
He bit at his fingernails anxiously.
“But that idiot will be all alone.”
“Especially since Alex isn’t there. And Melissa isn’t either… no, wait, is that actually a good thing? At least her cousin won’t be there to grab people by the hair.”
Wrapped around his arm, his green snake familiar Leah tilted her head.
<Why is that girl who likes right angles being alone such a problem? Doesn’t she already have an incredibly handsome partner with her?>
“Handsome, yes. But can that guy really support Kiana properly?”
<Since when did being a partner mean being a personal assistant?>
<And why would Kiana need support at a banquet anyway?>
“Of course she would!”
Joshua exploded.
“What if someone steps on her in a crowded place? She’s mean as hell, but it’s true that she’s physically weak!”
<Honestly, I’d be more worried about her stepping on someone else…>
<Still, if you want to go, just go. I like banquets.>
“I don’t want to go!”
Joshua shouted while selecting an extravagant jeweled tiara that would suit Leah.
“Why would I go to a banquet? I hate those places more than anything in the world!”
He continued angrily.
“Besides, Lord Julius will be there soon anyway!”
When Scary had asked Kiana what she wanted in return for healing Hou, Joshua had also heard the answer through his information network.
Kiana had said she wanted to meet Julius at the banquet.
She had even specified the time and place.
Coincidentally, Julius’s expected arrival date happened to be the same day as the imperial banquet.
Julius, who had once been Eners’s godfather, had been exceptionally kind to Kiana ten years ago.
Not to Alex.
Not to Joshua.
Just Kiana.
“What is this pretty little brat who looks like some thief named Hyde? That rotten Frelai family that stole Eners away—”
“…Lord Julius, I’m a Frelai too. And so are you.”
“Ah, right! That’s true! I’m a Frelai too. I forgot. Hahahahaha!”
And in front of everyone, Julius had openly said things like:
“Eners would never do something like that. There must have been some misunderstanding.”
Of course, everyone knew Julius’s intelligence was alarmingly low, so nobody took those comments very seriously.
In any case, Kiana still seemed to think fondly of him.
“Wait a minute.”
Joshua suddenly shouted while rummaging through his wardrobe.
“If she’s willing to summon Lord Julius after ten years, doesn’t that mean Kiana hates being alone at the banquet?!”
“She obviously couldn’t openly ask Grandfather or me to come because we’d never attend!”
<…Is that really it?>
<She doesn’t seem like the considerate type.>
Pulling out outfit after outfit covered in expensive designer logos, Joshua fumed.
“Besides, I have information that needs to be delivered to her!”
<It’s not urgent though. Weren’t you going to tell her tomorrow?>
“The future can change because of the smallest details.”
“If I tell her today, something really good might happen.”
“Regardless, I should go.”
Joshua stood up decisively.
“That idiot definitely wants her family to come to the banquet!”
<And if she doesn’t?>
“Then she doesn’t!”
Leah wisely chose not to dig any deeper into Joshua’s increasingly confusing logic.
Instead, she silently pointed her tail at a massive emerald tiara.
<If we’re going to a banquet, I’m excited. Put jewels on my tail too. Big pretty ones.>
And so Joshua finally began preparing for the banquet.
* * *
After glancing at my watch, I slipped out of the ballroom.
It was still much earlier than the time I’d arranged to meet Judith.
There was something I had to do first.
There’s still some time before it happens… but I can’t be late.
My steps quickened.
A large fountain in a secluded area… somewhere near the daisy garden, I think.
According to the original story, a major incident occurred during this banquet.
…There!
Soon I spotted a garden overflowing with blooming daisies.
In front of a large fountain sat a lone girl gazing up at the stars.
Silver hair flowing to her waist.
A proud, feline face.
An elegant dress.
Even from a distance, it was obvious.
Princess Celiette.
The daughter of the Fifth Imperial Consort.
The forgotten princess.
I had heard that the Emperor didn’t have a bad relationship with her.
The problem was that the Emperor had been bedridden for years.
The Fifth Consort had come from a weak foreign nation and was already dead.
Celiette had no one to support her.
Like me, she rarely appeared in noble society.
I have to hurry! It’s not too late!
According to Melissa’s memories, that incident happened when the third dance began.
And her memory was correct.
A man was already approaching Celiette.
“Your Highness.”
Celiette had been staring blankly at the stars.
She jolted in surprise and stiffened.
“So this is where you were.”
His voice was unsettling from the moment he spoke.
“M-Marie? W-Where’s Marie?”
“I sent her away.”
The man smiled.
“Along with your escort knights.”
Celiette hurriedly looked for her maid.
The man grinned wider.
“Have you forgotten? Every servant in the Imperial Palace follows my orders.”
Celiette immediately stood.
Avoiding eye contact, she spoke hurriedly.
“I-I-I should go now. H-Have a pleasant evening.”
“Your Highness.”
The man leisurely stepped in front of her.
“Tonight.”
“Y-Yes?”
“Tonight, you’ll be spending the evening with me.”
He spoke in a sinister voice.
“A few nobles who happen to leave the banquet will see us together.”
“Then Prince Hiten, wishing to avoid further scandal, will force us to marry.”
“W-What?”
“We’ve been secret lovers for years.”
“And Prince Hiten will graciously announce that he blesses our relationship despite the difference in status.”
“T-That’s absurd…”
“Is it?”
The man smirked.
“Isn’t it just as absurd that the princess’s servants obey the orders of a mere attendant from the Crown Prince’s Palace?”
Step by step, he approached her.
“So if you’d like to avoid becoming even more miserable, don’t resist.”
Celiette backed away until the fountain blocked her path.
There was nowhere left to run.
“Don’t feel wronged, Your Highness.”
“My father is a nobleman.”
“I’m merely illegitimate—not a complete commoner.”
“T-That’s not what’s important…”
“You know it, don’t you?”
“Your position. And mine.”
“H-How dare you. Ben, you’re only—”
“Only what?”
He laughed.
“Do you think Prince Hiten doesn’t know about this?”
“…”
“Even if you screamed right now, nobody would come.”
He reached out and grabbed her wrist.
“If you’d like to test it, go ahead.”
Then he smiled.
“A mere servant holding a princess’s wrist.”
Honestly, this was unbearable to watch.
I immediately ran forward and snapped,
“Holding her wrist? Forget that. I’m about to grab your lifeline, you disgusting creep.”
Then I pressed a magical device directly against the back of his neck.
It was one of the many magical tools I’d created during my doctoral studies.
Which meant it hadn’t been commercialized yet in this timeline.
I’d tentatively named it a Mana Shock Device.
“AAAAAAARGH!”
The man convulsed violently and began screaming at the top of his lungs.
It’s not even that painful. What a drama queen.
Since he’d been completely caught off guard, it was incredibly easy.
Without changing my expression, I calmly said,
“Get lost, you lunatic.”
“AAAAAGH! Do you even know who I am?!”
“Why would I care?”
I answered bluntly.
“Whoever you are, surely you’re not about to claim your status is higher than Kiana Frelai’s?”
The man stumbled away from the device and rolled across the grass.
Even then, he stared at me in disbelief.
“W-Why is the Villainess of Frelai here?”
Oh.
That was actually one of the nicer nicknames.
Usually people called me the Shame of Frelai or the Fake Frelai.
I shrugged.
“I came here to catch a criminal like you. Why else?”
