MDRH 61

Chapter 61

“His Grace, the Grand Duke Descartes, arrives!”

With the herald’s booming announcement at the entrance of the banquet hall, every gaze inside turned toward the door.

Curiosity. Awe. Envy. Wariness.

Hundreds of eyes, each filled with different emotions, seemed to fly like sharp blades that pricked at the skin.

And at the center of those stares stood Elbadin Descartes, Grand Duke of the North.

With his arrival alone, the brilliance of the banquet hall seemed to collapse into shadow at his feet.

Elbadin received all the gazes with indifference, leading his children as he strode into the hall.

Marble floors glimmered beneath countless sweeping skirts, while the chandeliers overhead showered golden light.

“Greetings to Your Grace, the Grand Duke Descartes.”
“It has been a long time, Your Grace. Is the North still at peace?”
“I wish to discuss matters concerning the mana stone trade, Your Grace!”
“Your Grace, the southern vineyards have yielded wonderfully this year.”

Nobles called out from all directions, but Elbadin gave no reply. Without a glance, he fixed his eyes forward and walked toward the center of the hall.

At his sides were Serdian and Raiden. Behind them followed Lucillea and Irnel.

Since Elbadin ignored the nobles, their attention shifted to the children.

An elderly count scrutinized Serdian.
“So this must be the young lord I’ve only heard rumors of. Indeed, he is the very image of Your Grace—so full of dignity.”

And a marchioness, hiding her lips behind her fan, whispered about Raiden for all nearby to hear.
“My, isn’t that the young heir of House Sidrat? Who would have thought His Grace would personally bring him here? It seems the bond between the two houses remains as close as ever.”

“But those children at the back—who are they? Could they be the ones chosen by the elite corps?”
“Oh, those common-born ones?”
“If only they are merely commoners. From what I’ve heard…”

Just by standing behind Elbadin, Lucillea and Irnel were bombarded from all sides with blatant stares and hushed gossip.

At that moment, someone approached from the opposite end with arms wide open.
“Elbadin!”

It was Marquis Diego, Raiden’s biological father.

Elbadin gave him a brief nod.
“You must have arrived early.”
“Hm? Don’t you think it’s you who came late?”
“I arrived on time.”
“Not at all. You were the very last of the nobles to arrive. I nearly thought you wouldn’t attend at all—I was on edge the whole time.”

Diego chuckled lightly, glancing at the children trailing after Elbadin.
“Well, I suppose it couldn’t have been easy to bring them along. I understand.”

Then he turned to Raiden beside Elbadin and smiled warmly.
“You’ve filled out a little. It seems you’ve been doing well?”

Raiden smiled back.
“Yes. His Grace has taken good care of me.”
“Well, of course, that’s only natural.”

To that, Elbadin muttered indifferently,
“There is nothing natural in this world.”

“Come now, between us?”

“Haha!” Diego burst out laughing.

Soon, nobles began to gather around Elbadin, Diego, and the two heirs.

Lucillea and Irnel naturally stepped back. Somehow, it didn’t feel like a place where they belonged.

‘But really… why am I here?’

She’d heard from Serdian that it was by Elbadin’s command, but she still didn’t know the exact reason.

Surely there was a reason for bringing Serdian before the Emperor, and another for having the chosen children present.

‘There’s no point worrying needlessly.’

The Grand Duke was not the type to act carelessly.

Having sorted her thoughts, Lucillea’s gaze fell on the tables heaped with food.
“Maybe I should fill my stomach first?”

Irnel, standing beside her, looked at her with concern.
“I think it’s better if we stay put. This is your first time here, and there are so many strangers.”

“Hm?”

Lucillea gave her sisterly comrade a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
“Come on, this is the imperial palace. No one is allowed to carry weapons here, and outside the hall there are armed guards everywhere. Where could be safer than this?”

Besides, this was also the domain of Elbadin himself, and Serdian, his heir, was right there.

Though she worried for Serdian standing before the Emperor, it was natural to feel secure in such company.

“Still, I understand your worry. I’ll stay on guard too! Our mission is still to protect His Grace, after all!”

With that, Lucillea’s feet were already carrying her toward the food tables.

“….”

Irnel was left speechless watching that confident little back.

How such boldness came from such a small body was something that amazed her every time.

Lucillea’s steps never faltered. Like a nimble squirrel, she darted between nobles in dazzling dresses, until she finally reached the tables overflowing with radiant dishes.

“Wow…”

Her eyes sparkled like jewels.

She grabbed a small plate and began piling it high with quick, precise hands.

[Lucy! Lucy! That shiny jelly! Put that on! Oh, and what’s that fruit next to it?! I’ve never seen it before—it smells sweet! Give me that one! Give it!]

Cookie, perched on her shoulder, swiveled its head wildly as it scouted the food.

Alright, alright, calm down.

Lucillea set the jelly on her plate and grabbed the fruit Cookie had demanded.

Then—

Hm?

While busily stacking her plate, she suddenly felt a gaze and turned toward the banquet hall window.

What…?

For the briefest instant, beyond the glass, she locked eyes with a dark figure staring in at her.

The moment their eyes met, the figure vanished. The lower half of the face was hidden beneath a mask, but those fleeting eyes—somehow they didn’t feel unfamiliar.

Light green…?

Suddenly—

—“Then, I’ll see you at the palace.”

She recalled the words Mei had said back at the capital townhouse.

…

Lucillea blinked blankly, then let out a short laugh before returning to piling food.

What am I thinking?

There was no way Mei would be at the imperial palace in such a disguise.

It must’ve been a trick of the dark window.

Shaking her head, she turned her gaze from the window—only to notice someone leaning against the wall right beside it.

Hm? Who’s that?

The man stood with his back to the wall, facing forward. He wore not banquet attire but a dark cloak.

He looked a little older than Elbadin, yet his presence fit not at all with the hall’s glittering air.

Pale skin, deep-set eyes of cold gray, sharp cheekbones, tightly closed lips devoid of any trace of a smile.

His dark red hair was tied back, his stance like one who had endured harsh training. Against the splendor of the hall, he seemed like a being from another realm altogether.

That cloak… my master used to wear something like that.

A mage? A mage, here at the Empress’s birthday banquet?

As Lucillea tilted her head at the man, Cookie’s loud voice rang in her head.

[No! No! The redder one next to it! That one’s bigger! Lucy, why are you acting like a rookie?!]

Cookie tugged at her hair like reins, squawking.

Fine, fine! Stop yelling!

She yielded to Cookie’s demands, scooping more food onto her plate.

You glutton. You’ll turn into a pig at this rate.
[Pig-parrots are cute!]

While bickering with Cookie, she kept sneaking glances at the cloaked stranger.

I should keep an eye on him, just in case.

Her duty as bodyguard meant she couldn’t afford to slack.

But when she finally looked back toward where he had been standing—

What?!

The spot was empty. Only the curtains stirred slightly, as though brushed by a passing breeze.

He’s gone?!

Where had he gone? Lucillea glanced around, but Cookie urged her impatiently.

[Lucy, what are you doing?! Hurry! I’m starving!]

Ah… right, okay…

She tore her eyes away from the place, replaying the man’s features in her mind.

Gray eyes and dark red hair.

He hadn’t caused trouble yet—but still. Best to remember.

With a plate now piled high with desserts, she returned to Irnel.

“Here!”

She shoved a plate in front of her.
“You eat too! This is really good—especially this one with strawberries!”

Irnel, caught off guard, accepted the plate with a baffled look. She glanced between the colorful desserts and Lucillea.

Lucillea, cream smeared on her lips, smiled blissfully without caring for anyone’s eyes.

Watching that smile, Irnel thought that perhaps this child was the happiest person in the hall right now.

“…You really are something.”
“Right? I am kind of amazing.”

Lucillea puffed her chest proudly, taking it as a compliment.

In the end, Irnel couldn’t help but laugh softly and pick up a tart from the plate.

The heavy tension that had seemed to choke her earlier had melted away.

She bit into the tart.

It was incredibly sweet.

“Have you grown closer with the young lord?”

Away from the crowd, Diego asked Raiden.

Raiden thought a moment before answering calmly.
“I’m trying.”

“Oh?” Diego raised his brows.

Until now, his son’s expression had always tightened whenever Serdian was mentioned.

But today, his reaction was different. He seemed to be accepting Serdian’s presence, their relationship slowly improving after living together at the Grand Duke’s estate.

Diego, feeling playful, asked,
“And how about our third child?”

“Our… third?” Raiden tilted his head.

Diego smirked mischievously.
“Lucillea.”

Raiden flinched, then whispered frantically,
“F-Father! Didn’t we agree never to mention that again?!”

“Hahaha! I was only joking.”

As Diego and Raiden savored their short reunion, the gentle music flowing through the hall suddenly ceased.

In its place, solemn and majestic music resounded.

Lucillea, in the middle of eating, looked around.
“Huh? What’s happening?”

Irnel answered softly,
“His Imperial Majesty and Her Imperial Majesty are about to enter.”

“Ah.”

Thump, thump. The words alone made Lucillea’s heart beat faster.

Her racing pulse had two reasons: one, because the Emperor and Empress would see Serdian; and two, because of the sheer thrill of witnessing the Emperor and Empress themselves.

It was like seeing the prince and princess from a fairy tale—but with far greater awe.

‘They’re not just rulers of this empire… in this world’s hierarchy, they’re at the very top.’

Of course, knowing the original story, Lucillea didn’t like them as people.

‘After all, it was the Emperor and Empress who made Serdian and his mother’s lives so miserable.’

The novel had portrayed the Emperor as a cold monarch—emotionless eyes, a stern face.

Other than the duty of producing heirs, he gave no affection to even the Empress. His indifference was the same toward all women.

Instead, he devoted himself wholly to war and politics. His sole concern was the stability of the empire and the preservation of power.

‘He may have been an excellent ruler, but he was no good husband or father.’

Otherwise, Serdian and his mother wouldn’t have been abandoned and forced to live such harsh lives.

‘Of course… maybe there are hidden stories the novel didn’t tell.’

Lucillea swallowed her food and set her plate down on a nearby table.

At that moment, everyone in the hall, as if on cue, turned in one direction and bowed deeply.

Lucillea and Irnel copied the action, following the crowd.

“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and Her Imperial Majesty the Empress enter!”

With the herald’s resounding cry, the massive doors of the banquet hall swung wide open.