MFWSP 61

Chapter 61

* * *

On the second night of the victory banquet.

Unlike the previous night’s golden theme, the banquet hall was now adorned in a radiant amethyst hue.

Under a lavish chandelier encrusted with amethysts, Balthazar shone brilliantly.

“At Imperial banquets, Your Highness the Second Prince always sparkles the most.”

A beautiful noblewoman gazed up at Balthazar with glittering eyes. The Empress, seated deeper inside the hall, was of course watching with a satisfied smile.

“How can your dancing steps be so light? You must also be excellent with a sword.”

“Is it that impressive?” Balthazar flipped his bangs and asked.

“Well, I’m not bad with a sword. I haven’t lost to anyone since I was fourteen.”

That wasn’t exactly true — up to that age, he had lost repeatedly to strong opponents like Carsiel or Luten and had simply refused to duel ever since — but he didn’t feel the need to explain that.

“Oh my!”

“Really?”

The woman and the surrounding young nobles looked at him in admiration.

“Everyone knows of Your Highness’s skill. Weren’t you originally meant to lead the elite troops in the recent war?”

That remark came from Viscount Damon Gideon, who had only just recently reconciled with Balthazar by offering several chests of gold.

“Of course. If I had gone, the victory would have been even greater. It’s a shame the war ended so quickly.”

“His Highness the First Prince is always so lucky,” Damon subtly belittled Carsiel, and Balthazar puffed up with pride.

He was in an unusually good mood.

Though it was Carsiel’s victory banquet, the man himself had only briefly shown his face the day before and then vanished.

Many nobles, having arrived from the provinces and attending from the second day, were quite disconcerted not to even catch a glimpse of Carsiel.

Some murmured that it was impolite not to attend the banquet without a reason. Most notably, the Emperor looked visibly displeased upon hearing Carsiel was absent.

The Empress, as if anticipating this, dressed Balthazar in the most splendid uniform and pushed him into the center of the ballroom — and it worked wonderfully.

The nobles who had been hoping to hear tales of Carsiel’s valor now turned their ears to Balthazar. The ladies gazed at him with sparkling eyes.

Though it was a shame that the arrogant Iris Apellemeon wasn’t among them, this was still shaping up to be an enjoyable night.

Balthazar glanced at the round clock near the ceiling.

It was already late. It seemed Carsiel wouldn’t be showing up tonight.

He decided to get bolder.

“The reason the war ended so easily was more due to strategy than luck.”

“Pardon?”

“Specifically, thanks to the advice I gave my brother. I was the one who emphasized how important terrain is in war.”

“Oh my, then the true hero behind the victory isn’t Duke Apellemeon but Your Highness the Second Prince?”

“What would a lady know about warfare? Don’t believe everything you hear.”

“Wow, as expected!”

Everyone gasped in admiration.

Except for one red-haired man quietly drinking wine nearby.

What are you staring at?

Balthazar glared at Luten Sate, who had just received his barony.

Luten sighed and turned away, prompting Balthazar to smirk victoriously and turn back to the woman.

“You seem unusually interested in warfare for a lady. I have many stories to share with you.”

The woman was quite attractive.

She didn’t seem particularly smart, so if he promised eternal love at first sight, he might be able to spend the night with her.

Her reputation might take a hit, but since she was from a low-ranking border family, there would be no need to take responsibility.

With that in mind, Balthazar lightly pulled her by the waist toward him.

“It’s too noisy here. Let’s go to my private lounge. I originally prepared it for my future wife, but I’d like to show it to you.”

“R-Really?”

“I can’t not take the most charming woman I’ve ever met to such a place.”

“I’m not that special… no, wait. My father doesn’t allow me to be alone with a man…”

The woman hesitated and pulled back, but Balthazar sensed she was halfway convinced and pulled her closer.

“Don’t worry. I’m a gentleman.”

He whispered in her ear.

“If, by some chance, something happens between us tonight, I’ll seek your father’s permission first thing tomorrow. As a prince of the realm, taking responsibility for my woman is only right.”

“You’re thinking that far ahead…?”

“Trust me and come.”

Blushing furiously, the woman took his hand.

Just as Balthazar smiled in satisfaction and started leading her away, a tall man stepped in their path.

“Your Highness always uses the same tricks.”

“Luten Sate.”

Balthazar growled a warning.

“What nonsense are you spouting in front of a lady? Get lost.”

“Rumors have spread in the capital, so now you’re targeting ladies from out of town?”

The woman’s eyes widened at Luten’s words.

“What are you talking about? His Highness would never do such a thing. You must not have heard, but he just promised me—”

“Ah yes, the same old line about getting permission from your father tomorrow. It’s such a pity I have to interrupt.”

“W-What?”

At Luten’s words, the woman looked up at Balthazar, eyes wide.

“He’s lying. This scoundrel…”

“Lying? That so-called lounge of yours has seen so many women that even the bedspread pattern is well-known — gaudy red velvet cushions, a rose-patterned bedcover and blanket…”

“L-Let go of me, Your Highness.”

The woman, apparently having heard enough, yanked her hand away.

Balthazar’s face turned beet red.

“Watch your mouth, Luten Sate.”

Then a border noble who had been listening to Balthazar with shining eyes earlier stepped in to defend him.

“Prince Balthazar is a genius swordsman and strategist—”

“A genius swordsman? Can he defeat me in a duel right now?”

Balthazar couldn’t answer.

Luten’s skill was strong enough to be called the continent’s best.

Even if three Balthazars charged at once, they couldn’t defeat him.

“And this so-called genius strategist — is he the one who kept delaying his deployment under the excuse of poor health? A man who’s never even set foot on a battlefield…”

“N-No! Before the war, I told my brother to watch out for the terrain—”

“Oh, how enlightening! You taught him that terrain is important in battle. Such keen insight.”

Luten sarcastically raised his voice, and a few nobles snickered.

“Well, who doesn’t know terrain matters in war?”

“It only counts as a strategy if you plan around the terrain — like Duke Apellemeon or Prince Carsiel.”

“To be honest… I don’t think Prince Balthazar could defeat Prince Carsiel in swordsmanship either.”

Balthazar’s expression grew more sour by the moment.

He didn’t know when Carsiel had taught this guy to speak with such cutting words, but the fact that he was being outdone by a mere knight of common birth was intolerable.

While Balthazar glared as if to kill, Luten calmly sipped his wine.

In that moment, Carsiel’s smug face overlapped with Luten’s.

“You dare…”

Balthazar clenched his fists. He wouldn’t be satisfied until Luten was brought to his knees.

Fortunately, he had one thing he could use.

“Luten Sate, how bold of you to act so casually after committing a grave offense.”

At the sudden low voice, everyone, including Luten, turned to look at Balthazar.

Smiling slyly, Balthazar continued, thinking the moment he had been waiting for had arrived.

Yes, today would be Luten’s downfall.

“Father, Mother, this man must be punished immediately!”

Balthazar suddenly pointed at Luten and shouted. The Emperor and Empress turned their eyes toward him.

“What are you talking about, Balthazar?”

“This man neglected his duty to protect my brother, putting the prince in danger.”

He answered coldly to the Empress’s question.

“What nonsense is this, Your Highness…?”

Luten asked in disbelief, but Balthazar cut him off.

“Father, Mother, one of my attendants reported to me today that my brother exited the palace via portal yesterday.”

Balthazar smiled triumphantly at the Emperor and Empress.

He had overheard it by chance and hadn’t thought much of it at the time, since Carsiel would likely return soon. But seeing Luten show up alone at the banquet, it seemed it was more secretive than he had thought.

If Carsiel’s return was delayed, this was the perfect chance to press the attack on Luten. Even if Carsiel returned, it would be too late to reverse the punishment.

“…”

Luten bit his lip.

He knew Balthazar’s accusation was baseless, but he couldn’t come up with a good response right away.

After Carsiel disappeared through the portal the previous day, Luten had intentionally left out the details and merely reported that Carsiel would not be attending the banquet.

He hadn’t mentioned where Carsiel had gone — if the Empress knew he’d gone to the Adelon Marquess’s estate without escort, who knew what assassins she might send.

“Am I wrong?”

Balthazar pressed, confident he had the upper hand.

“Baron Sate, is the First Prince not in the palace? You don’t even know where he is?”

The Empress’s eyes glinted sharply.

Instead of replying, Luten pressed his forehead.

“Answer, Baron Sate. If this is true, you’ve committed a serious crime.”

The Empress spoke again.

Her eyes sparkled as though she had found a golden opportunity. To her, Luten — Carsiel’s right hand — had always been a thorn in her side. This situation was a dream come true.

Damn that master of mine.

Luten cursed silently.

This was all Carsiel’s fault.

He had dumped the aftermath on Luten without explanation and vanished.

“Answer, Baron Sate.”

This time, it was the Emperor who spoke. His expression was stony.

“If what Balthazar says is true, then punishing you is the just course.”

“Your Majesty, I…”

Just as Luten prepared to accept punishment and opened his mouth—

Whiiik—

The banquet doors, half-shut, burst open.

Everyone — the Emperor, Empress, Balthazar, and Luten — turned toward the sound.