MFWSP 50

Chapter 50

The banquet hall sparkled so brightly it hurt the eyes.

Gold, silver, and jewel decorations covered every corner, and the food and drinks were prepared by the most famous chefs from all over the Empire.

In an annex outside the central hall, there was another banquet area prepared for the common soldiers, and they too were enjoying food of nearly the same quality as the nobles.

“Isn’t this all a bit too extravagant from His Highness the First Prince? I heard he requested all of it himself.”

“Her Majesty the Empress is truly generous. But even after all this, I heard the First Prince still refuses to acknowledge her as his mother.”

Having arrived early but sticking to the wall to avoid people, I overheard this conversation a few steps away and barely suppressed a sneer.

The man speaking was a collateral relative from the Empress’s maternal family, the Marquis of Ludes, and the woman was the daughter of a baronet involved in business with the Marquis’s household.

Their entire conversation was undoubtedly a script prepared by the Empress to drag down Karsiel’s reputation and elevate her own.

Unfortunately for them, it wasn’t working well.

“But didn’t His Highness Prince Karsiel achieve victory in the war? Considering he fought for the morale of his knights, I think this banquet is deserved.”

A young noblewoman interjected.

“I heard His Highness personally rode across the frozen sea and captured the King of Tar himself. If he’d failed, the entire Empire would have burned.”

“Well, wasn’t the Imperial Army bound to win against Tar anyway? Sure, they called him the Supreme Commander, but who knows if he actually did anything…”

“People who didn’t even fight shouldn’t speak.”

As the Ludes relative was about to respond, another young man cut in sharply.

A sturdy build, calloused hands, dressed as a noble but with a rough demeanor.

It was obvious at a glance—he was a soldier. And oddly enough, his face felt familiar.

“I’ve been on the front lines since the campaign started two years ago. I was there when the King of Tar was captured. Let me be clear—winning that battle without reinforcements was a miracle.”

“Oh my!”

The young noblewoman’s eyes lit up as she looked at the young knight.

“His Highness personally commanded every battlefield and appeared to save those in danger time and time again. If anyone insults the knights who defended the Empire alongside him, I won’t stand for it.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

As the Ludes relative stammered, a middle-aged knight standing beside the younger man joined in.

“I too, as a knight of House Morin, participated in the operation to capture the King of Tar. From start to finish, the First Prince led the entire campaign. Watch your words.”

“Sir Mahot! Even if you’re a relative of Count Morin, you’re untitled—how dare you…”

“People should learn gratitude. When war spreads, titles and all become worthless.”

The knight, called Sir Mahot, growled.

“So, His Highness the First Prince really did save the Empire?”

The young noblewoman and several young nobles eagerly asked, and the young knight nodded.

“There is one more person who deserves credit. Though you’ve probably already heard…”

“Oh, I did hear!”

The noblewoman raised a finger.

“Duke Apellemeon! I heard she helped devise the strategy that captured the King of Tar!”

“It’s true. Before that, she even prescribed medicine for knights struck down by an epidemic. The soldiers call her the Goddess of War.”

The young knight nodded again, a strange gleam in his sharp eyes.

“I think she’s here at the banquet too… Oh?”

As he scanned the room, his gaze landed on me and his eyes widened.

“Duke Apellemeon! Is that you?”

“Oh! It really is! I saw you at the Pegasus Horsemanship Exhibition!”

The middle-aged knight also turned to me with a surprised expression.

Both men approached at once and bowed deeply.

“I’m Mahot, knight in service of House Morin.”

“I’m Veil, second son of Marquis Deecan, of the Imperial Knights.”

“The son of Marquis Deecan…”

So that’s why he looked familiar.

He was the elder brother of Louis Deecan—one of the people who had troubled me recently while pretending to help Bartol during his stay at the palace.

“I’ve heard my younger brother gravely offended you, Your Grace.”

Veil sighed deeply and bowed again, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.

Not wanting unnecessary conflict today, I spoke first.

“It’s all in the past, no need to dwell…”

“He’s no brother of mine. If you want, I’ll beat him senseless on your behalf. Actually, I’d be honored.”

His eyes, as he finally lifted his head, were full of sincere hatred.

Apparently, not a close family.

“In case you’re judging me because of him…”

“I didn’t want an excuse. After all, I’m technically related to Bartol Fenton too.”

I shrugged as I answered, and Veil lifted his head properly for the first time.

“I heard about it. You stormed into the palace, exposed the Fenton family’s corruption, and reclaimed your title.”

He spoke with clear admiration.

“I, and all the knights who served with me, truly respect you, Your Grace. Fortune clearly favors you.”

“I agree.”

The middle-aged knight chimed in.

“I’ve wanted to meet you too. I’m the Countess of Kellen.”

The noblewoman, with a shy smile, approached.

“My husband said it. That now, His Highness Prince Karsiel and you, Your Grace, symbolize the peace of the Empire.”

As she and I exchanged greetings, the Ludes relative who had started the earlier conversation stiffened visibly.

Once again, I sneered inwardly.

Public opinion campaigns only work when you have the numbers.

Karsiel hadn’t declined the Empress’s offer of an extravagant banquet. In fact, he went a step further and invited even more people.

People who normally wouldn’t have received invitations were here. Among them were many knights who had fought alongside Karsiel, his loyal comrades.

As long as they were here, his reputation couldn’t be tarnished. Two years of fighting side by side had forged their bond.

“The Emperor and the Empress are entering!”

At that moment, the herald’s booming voice rang out, and every gaze in the hall turned toward the central staircase.

Dressed in dignified attire, the Emperor and Empress descended the stairs arm in arm, appearing affectionate.

From across the hall, where he’d been hidden behind the crowd, Karsiel emerged and stepped forward.

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Rise, First Prince.”

Karsiel, who had knelt on one knee, stood up, and the Empress offered a radiant smile.

“Does the Prince like the banquet? Each bite of food here costs its weight in silver. Is this the grand event you wanted?”

Which loosely translated to: ‘Everyone, look how this boy is wasting the national treasury and my personal fortune!’

“How could I complain when it’s Her Majesty’s choice?”

Which, of course, meant: ‘You picked this, don’t blame me later.’

As expected, the Empress’s expression darkened.

“I’m relieved. There are ridiculous rumors that I deliberately withheld reinforcements. I was worried you might be upset.”

‘We spent all this money, so don’t bring up the lack of reinforcements.’

“I’m sure my younger brother had his reasons for not leading the reinforcements.”

‘Let me remind everyone here again how useless he was.’

As the Empress’s face grew even more grim, Karsiel gestured to Luten, who had been standing behind him.

Luten approached the Empress, holding a box the size of an adult man’s head, and knelt on one knee.

“To dispel the false rumors that I am disrespectful toward Her Majesty, I brought a special gift from Tar.”

“…What is it?”

“Before my departure, didn’t Your Majesty ask His Majesty the Emperor to give you the most valuable spoil from Tar?”

The Empress’s face flushed red.

It wasn’t a lie.

She just hadn’t expected that comment to be made public like this.

“…You must know I didn’t mean war supplies.”

“Of course. Military supplies were excluded. So were dangerous mana stones and enchanted artifacts.”

Karsiel responded lightly to her angry excuse.

The Empress, who had most coveted the mana stones, now looked even gloomier.

Ignoring her mood, Karsiel opened the box and took out its contents.

A dazzlingly ornate golden crown, encrusted with gold and jewels, with a ruby the size of a fist at its center—its value was incalculable.

“It’s the crown worn by the late King of Tar’s second queen.”

A single sale of this could host ten banquets like today’s. Yet, the Empress’s expression remained sour.

“…The consort’s crown, you say.”

The consort—the second queen in Tar’s polygamous system. To Imperial eyes, she wasn’t much different from a royal concubine.

Given that the current Empress had once been the Emperor’s concubine, this was a veiled insult disguised as a gift.

And since it was a war trophy, she couldn’t even sell it off to recoup her private expenses.

It was a gift that cleared Karsiel’s name for spending too much while giving her absolutely no benefit.

“…Such a magnificent gift.”

After a brief silence, the Empress barely managed to maintain a smile.

If she questioned why it wasn’t the first queen’s crown, she’d only look worse.

Seeing her forced to accept defeat, Karsiel’s lips curled into a smile.

“I gave it much thought to find the perfect gift.”

Though his expression was warm, his eyes, for just a fleeting second, glinted coldly.

“For the sole desire of seeing that very expression on Your Majesty’s face, I traveled a long and difficult road.”

It struck me again—he was far from innocent.

For the first time, I understood why the Empress couldn’t settle for just pushing him out of the Crown Prince race, why she insisted he had to die.

He understood revenge. He knew hatred.

He had ambition, ideals, and a far-reaching vision for the future—all burning and locked tightly inside him.

No matter how much she pushed or pressed him down, he wouldn’t yield. That fire inside him would eventually break free, and it would come straight for her throat.

Hiding it all beneath a gracious mask, Karsiel smiled once again.