The Tension Before the Banquet

Albert and Aila returned to the banquet hall.

Yet, no sooner had they arrived than the servant’s announcement at the entrance echoed through the air.

“Ludwig, son of Duke Preste, has arrived!”

The announcement resonated throughout the hall, drawing the attention of all but the most oblivious nobles. Most guests abruptly ceased their conversations, their gazes narrowing as they turned towards the entrance.

In recent days, the most fervent topic of discussion within the imperial capital had been the escalating discord between His Majesty the Emperor and Duke Maximilian.

Duke Maximilian’s aggressive expansion within Bari Province had undeniably incurred Emperor Uther’s severe displeasure.

The conflict had erupted, culminating in Duke Maximilian’s dismissal from his position as Chancellor and his subsequent banishment back to his own demesne.

Given this fraught atmosphere, Ludwig’s presence at Prince Albert’s banquet, as Duke Maximilian’s son, was undeniably a matter of great intrigue, prompting speculation about his true intentions.

A collective expression of eager anticipation settled upon every face, as guests couldn’t help but raise their wine glasses towards Ludwig, offering him a polite yet expectant salute.

“Good evening, Lord Ludwig.”

“Good evening, everyone.”

Ludwig casually procured a glass of white wine from a passing server, taking a sip before responding.

He then returned the glass to the server’s tray, stepping further into the grand hall.

From across the hall, Aila, sensing the subtle shift in atmosphere, turned to Albert with a curious tilt of her head.

“What’s happening, little Albert?”

Albert let out a faint sigh, proceeding to apprise Aila of the ongoing friction between his father and Duke Maximilian, alongside the recent confrontation he had endured with Ludwig at the auction house a mere month prior.

“What, he actually tried to snatch Fú Nī Yà!?” Aila exclaimed, her eyes widening in indignation. “Little Albert, does your sister need to help you kick him out?”

“There’s no need.”

Albert shook his head, explaining, “Ejecting him would only concede a victory to him. For now, it is best we observe and await developments.”

“Alright then.”

Aila nodded in agreement, then her eyes swept across the room, quickly locating Mitchell, who had been quietly sipping his drink by the wall ever since she had sent him away.

She jogged over to him, playfully patting his shoulder.

“Mitchell!”

Mitchell lowered his glass. “Is something amiss, Captain?”

“Nothing,” Aila shook her head. “Why are you hiding here? Why aren’t you going to chat with others?”

Upon hearing her, Mitchell offered a wry smile and shook his head.

“I don’t know anyone here…”

“Oh, I see, that’s true.”

Aila nodded in understanding, acknowledging that this was, after all, Mitchell’s inaugural visit to Saint Mir City.

Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. She lowered her gaze slightly and, with a determined air, linked her arm through Mitchell’s.

“C-Captain?”

“Since that’s the case, today, let me introduce you to my old friends!”

Aila lifted her head, her smile fully restored, and declared with an air of triumphant mischief.

“Hmph hmph~ Mitchell, you’re so handsome; my former sisters will definitely fall head over heels for you after seeing you.”

“Fall in love, you say…”

Mitchell’s expression remained one of wry amusement.

Yet, Aila was not entirely mistaken. Mitchell, at merely twenty-five years of age, was undeniably in the prime of his masculine charm.

His lithe physique, coupled with his brilliant golden hair and the refined scholarly aura that emanated from him when he donned his gold-rimmed spectacles, held an undeniable allure, easily captivating impressionable young women.

Despite Mitchell’s resigned expression, Aila was not only his superior but also possessed a slight edge in strength. Ultimately, the smaller arm could not twist the larger thigh (TL Note: A Chinese idiom meaning a weaker party cannot contend with a stronger one), and he found himself reluctantly pulled by Aila into the bustling throng.

As they passed Albert, Aila waved a hand and called out.

“I’m taking Mitchell to experience the social scene. Find me if you need anything.”

“Alright.”

Albert merely shrugged in response, observing Aila as she, arm in arm with Mitchell, engaged in conversation with the other nobles.

‘Mitchell, indeed…’

Albert mused, a contemplative expression settling upon his face.

In his previous life, Aila had certainly known this man, but their relationship had been nothing more than that of ordinary colleagues.

Why, then, were they so remarkably close in this current life?

‘No, that’s not right.’

Albert shook his head, dismissing the thought.

Perhaps in his previous life, they had been equally intimate, but the ‘window paper’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom referring to a thin barrier of unspoken understanding or a secret that has not yet been revealed) had never been ‘pierced,’ leaving him none the wiser.

Just as Aila had remarked earlier, he had stood too high.

In his previous life, his ambition had consumed his first half, leading him on the path to unifying Lothiris. Yet, in his latter half, he had languished in the north, observing Lothiris being ravaged by myriad factions, his spirit utterly broken. In such a state, he could indeed only perceive the most blatant realities, inadvertently overlooking countless crucial details.

Only now, unburdened by the weight of past ambitions, could he truly afford the leisure to discern the deeper currents at play?

‘What a pity…’

Albert let out a helpless sigh. Had he been but a fraction more observant in his previous life, he might never have plummeted to such a tragic end.

Yet, it was not too late. So he mused, then withdrew his pocket watch to check the hour.

‘Fifteen more minutes, then…’

With a brief interval remaining before the banquet’s commencement, Albert slipped his pocket watch back into his waistcoat, resolving to seek out Fú Nī Yà for the serious conversation Aila had recommended.

Before he could even make a move, a voice drifted from behind him.

“Your Highness, Fourth Prince, I’ve missed you dearly in this past month…”

Albert’s brow subtly arched at the words. He turned, a composed reply already forming on his lips.

“By the sound of it… it’s Lord Ludwig. I’m surprised you’re here; I thought you had returned to Preste with Duke Maximilian.”

Ludwig’s pleasant smile immediately stiffened, and for a fleeting moment, an almost imperceptible glint of ferocity flickered in his eyes.

Albert’s words had been a thinly veiled taunt, clearly implying that Ludwig’s father had failed in his power struggle and was now relegated to a quiet retirement in the countryside.

However, Ludwig had not borne the mantle of nobility for so many years without learning composure. Despite Albert’s deliberate provocation (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, ‘nǎ hú bù kāi tí nǎ hú,’ meaning to intentionally bring up a sensitive or sore subject), he merely allowed a momentary flicker of discomfiture to cross his face before quickly regaining his composed demeanor, shrugging with a slight smile.

“I was originally planning to leave, but isn’t this your Highness’s banquet? Of course, I must stay and attend.” After speaking, Ludwig asked as if remembering something, “By the way, where is that half-elf Your Highness bought from the auction house last month? I only saw her in a hurry last time, and I’m quite curious about what she looks like.”

Albert replied with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Are you referring to Fú Nī Yà? She is presently occupied as a maid, serving refreshments to the esteemed ladies and young misses attending the banquet. I fear it would be quite inconvenient to disturb her.”

“What’s inconvenient about it? She’s just a half-elf s*ave.” Ludwig’s lips curled. “Your Highness, Fourth Prince, surely you’re not reluctant to part with her, are you?”

…

Witnessing Ludwig speak of Fú Nī Yà as if she were a mere chattel, Albert felt an unwelcome surge of indignation ignite within him.

Only at this moment did Fú Nī Yà’s earlier words begin to resonate with a newfound clarity.

To have one’s inherent worth so callously denied was, indeed, a profoundly unsettling sensation.

Fú Nī Yà had been incensed by Albert’s dismissal of the worth of commoners and demi-humans. Now, Albert, in turn, found himself inflamed by Ludwig’s blatant disregard for Fú Nī Yà’s inherent value.

Taking a measured breath, Albert forced himself to regain his composure before speaking.

“Reluctant? Not at all. I merely wouldn’t wish for Your Excellency, upon returning to the countryside with Duke Maximilian, to be deprived of ever again witnessing such a beautiful and rare species as a half-elf, thereby experiencing a profound sense of loss.”

“You don’t need to worry about that, Your Highness. Lusitania, where you are going, is much more remote than Preste.”

Albert merely offered an indifferent smile.

“But I can return to Saint Mir anytime.”

His demesne was not an obligatory destination; if he so desired, he could remain in Saint Mir indefinitely. After all, how else would Saint Mir City be home to such a multitude of nobles?

Only those explicitly banished, such as Duke Maximilian, found their return severely restricted.

…

Upon hearing this, Ludwig’s face visibly twitched with barely suppressed fury. Yet, he managed to rein in his temper, forcing a strained smile as he spoke.

“No matter, I am merely curious. Even if I were to desire one, the Wittelsbach family is not so impoverished as to be unable to afford a single half-elf.”

“That’s good. However, I must still remind Your Excellency that spending too much money on enjoyment is not a good thing for the family.”

Albert uttered these words, and before Ludwig could formulate a retort, he addressed a male servant who happened to be passing by.

“Have Fú Nī Yà come here for a moment.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The male servant bowed respectfully and departed to find Fú Nī Yà.

Albert watched the servant’s retreating figure, then turned his gaze to Ludwig, whose face was a picture of discomfort, clearly choked by the insult. A triumphant smile unfurled across Albert’s lips.

****

Meanwhile, Fú Nī Yà moved gracefully through the hall, a teapot held delicately in one hand, poised to replenish the cups of any guest who desired it.

After all, some guests invariably preferred the soothing warmth of black tea over spirits, and their preferences, too, had to be accommodated.

At that very moment, having just finished pouring hot tea for a guest, she noticed a male servant approaching her.

It was, in fact, the very servant Albert had dispatched with a message.

“What is it?”

Fú Nī Yà inquired, a note of curiosity in her voice, as the male servant relayed Albert’s summons.

“Albert is looking for me?”

Fú Nī Yà tilted her head, a puzzled frown creasing her brow, utterly bewildered as to why Albert would summon her.

After all, a considerable amount of time had passed since their falling out, and they hadn’t exchanged a single word.

Yet, despite their strained relationship, as his employee, she understood the fundamental necessity of obedience, especially in such a significant setting.

“I understand.”

Fú Nī Yà nodded to the servant, handing him the teapot before making her way towards Albert’s location.

Upon reaching Albert, Fú Nī Yà first cast a curious glance at Ludwig, who stood beside him, then bowed to Albert.

“Your Highness, did you require something of me?”

“Indeed, there is something.” Albert said, suddenly pulling Fú Nī Yà into his embrace and whispering, “He is the one who bid against me at the auction last time. He’s here specifically to cause trouble.”

The breath tickling her ear made Fú Nī Yà feel a slight blush creep onto her face. Though she couldn’t quite articulate why, Fú Nī Yà sensed a subtle shift in Albert’s demeanor.

She quickly nodded. “I understand.”

At her words, Albert relaxed his grip slightly, his right hand resting gently on Fú Nī Yà’s waist as he smiled and questioned Ludwig, “Well, Your Excellency, are you satisfied with what you see?”

“Excellent, excellent. Your Highness is truly fortunate…”

Ludwig remarked, his voice tinged with astonishment.

He hadn’t been able to discern her clearly from a distance at the auction house. Now, however, Fú Nī Yà’s exquisite, delicate figure, her stunning beauty, and her pitiable aura were all vividly imprinted upon Ludwig’s gaze.

“Yes, my luck has always been rather good.”

Albert said with a smile, then pulled Fú Nī Yà tightly into his embrace, his left hand continuously stroking her soft hair.

“Al—!!!”

Fú Nī Yà’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Her first instinct was to resist, but reason dictated that, in the face of Ludwig, the troublemaker, she should temporarily comply with Albert’s actions.

The scent of a man enveloped the maiden, making Fú Nī Yà feel utterly dazed, and she curled weakly in Albert’s arms.

Sensing the maiden’s compliance, Albert tightened his right arm around her.

“It’s merely a pity, Your Excellency, that neither you nor your father, Duke Maximilian, possess such good fortune…”

“You—”

Ludwig’s face instantly turned a livid shade of liver. Albert’s repeated reopening of old wounds today had pushed him to the brink of explosive rage.

However, before he could erupt, Albert quickly pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at the time.

“Ah, the banquet is about to begin. We can discuss this further later.”

No sooner had the words left his lips than Albert, still holding Fú Nī Yà, departed.

“You…”

“We’ll talk about it later.”

Albert whispered, pressing a finger to the maiden’s lips to interrupt her.

Halfway across the hall, he released Fú Nī Yà, whose expression was a complex mix of emotions.

Then, Albert clapped his hands as he walked to the center of the hall, and the melodious symphony from the accompanying band gracefully softened. The attention of all guests present was immediately drawn to Albert.

After offering a respectful greeting to everyone, Albert delivered a brief speech.

His address contained the customary platitudes, expressing gratitude to all for attending the banquet and encouraging them to enjoy themselves. Listening from below, Fú Nī Yà felt herself drifting into drowsiness, momentarily transported back to her student days.

With the speech concluded, the banquet officially commenced.

Guests settled into their assigned seats, arranged according to their status and position, and the accompanying band’s melodies once again swelled with renewed vigor.