Chapter 115
“To clear Lady Muriel’s name, a reinvestigation is absolutely necessary.”
At Erjin’s words, all eyes turned toward him.
It was, after all, the core issue — me.
The official reason the imperial family was hunting me down was “the Aymond Marquisate’s treason.”
Even though we were the victims of an attack, we had somehow been branded as traitors overnight.
Naturally, there had never been a proper investigation.
But the real problem was—
“The imperial bastards will never allow a retrial,” said Lord Ferdinand firmly, arms crossed.
Even ordinary people find it shameful to retract their own words.
So would the proud imperial court ever overturn its own decree?
It seemed impossible.
But Erjin spoke with calm conviction.
“That’s why we must create a situation that forces them to reopen the case.”
“A situation?”
“Yes. The more nobles we gather, the better. I propose that we host a grand banquet here, at Black Dragon Castle.”
“A banquet… at Black Dragon Castle?”
Both Konig and Lord Ferdinand repeated in disbelief.
It was an absurd combination — Kroyts and banquet were two words that had never appeared together in the same sentence.
In all of Yggdrnia’s history, the Duke of Kroyts’ household had never once held a social gathering.
The family’s most “sociable” member, Eloise, was infamous throughout the Empire for her eccentricity — and the rest of them were even worse.
So to host a banquet at Black Dragon Castle…
And for the purpose of clearing the name of a wanted traitor like me?
“That’s impossible. It would only drag Kroyts into danger!” I protested, pushing myself up from my seat.
If anyone found out, it would look like the Duke’s family had been harboring a criminal.
But before I could argue further, the situation was already flowing exactly as Erjin had intended.
“No, no, my dear,” said Ferdinand, stroking his beard. “Now that I think about it, the boy’s got a point. If all the nobles gather and our little lady appears before them… it’ll be a glorious homecoming!”
His eyes began to sparkle, as though he’d just discovered a new continent.
“The first banquet ever hosted by Black Dragon Castle… it’ll be monumental,” Erjin continued confidently.
“The nobles will come flocking here. Just the fact of receiving or not receiving an invitation will cause a storm in high society.”
“They’ve all been desperate to curry favor with us anyway,” Ferdinand mused. “They’ll drop everything just to see our girl. What do you say, Konig?”
“I agree,” Konig replied simply. “If it’s for Cherry, I’ll do anything.”
Erjin’s lips curved faintly.
“And as it happens, Lady Muriel’s birthday is coming up soon. It would give the event even more meaning.”
He said it so casually — as though stating that one plus one equals two.
I blinked in confusion.
“I’ve never told anyone that… how did you know?”
How did Erjin know my birthday?
But that question was immediately drowned out by a loud roar.
“My dear! Is that true? How could you keep something so important from your old grandfather!”
Lord Ferdinand waved his huge arms, indignant, while beside him Konig rubbed the back of his neck, his expression cold and tight.
His narrowed eyes turned toward Erjin.
“And how exactly does Lord Astrahan know Cherry’s birthday?”
“Who knows?” Erjin only smiled, his eyes curving gently.
But somehow…
“What business is it of yours?”
…that’s what his smile seemed to say.
Invisible sparks flew between the two men.
Before their silent standoff could escalate — again — I quickly stepped in.
“I wasn’t hiding it, honestly. I only realized it myself a few days ago…”
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
During the three years I lived as a squirrel, birthdays hadn’t really mattered.
The first year had passed in a blur, just trying to survive.
After that, every day the caravan made a successful trade was everyone’s “birthday.”
After all, none of the beastfolk at Mount Bear even had birthdays — they simply called any day filled with food and laughter a day worth celebrating.
“Even when I lived at the Marquisate, my birthday wasn’t really important,” I added softly. “There was no need to bring it up.”
My voice faded as I stared down at my hands on my lap.
Until now, my birthdays had always been just my mother and me.
Simple — but happy.
She’d slip the kitchen maid a few coins and come back with a plain little cake.
No candles, just the two of us singing quietly.
Sometimes, a mysterious gift would arrive — fine stationery, a popular doll from the capital, or a small trinket.
They couldn’t compare to the diamond brooch or the glass conservatory Father gifted to Lania, but to me, they were priceless.
Because they meant that someone, somewhere, was thinking of me.
I’d tried everything to find out who was sending them, I thought bitterly. But I never did.
Instead, Lania found out — and I paid the price.
“Who would send you presents? You probably stole one of mine and called it a gift!”
“I didn’t! Why would I steal—”
“You take everything that’s mine anyway!”
“That’s you, not me—!”
The argument had ended with her slicing off the silver hair of the doll I’d received.
It wasn’t even my hair — yet I cried as if it were.
A faint, bitter smile touched my lips at the memory.
Could those gifts… have been from Erjin?
The absurd thought popped into my mind before I could stop it.
I glanced up at him.
He still wore that soft, painterly smile — sunlight glinting off his golden hair, his face too graceful to be real.
“No way,” I muttered, shaking my head.
After all, I’d only met him a few months ago, when he’d first come to Black Dragon Castle to “observe” Konig.
Someone with a face like that? I’d remember immediately.
And yet…
I might’ve been imagining it, but his smile looked a little sad.
Before I could think about it any further—
Clap!
A sharp sound cracked through the air, like lightning on a clear day.
“My dear!” Ferdinand boomed. “I’ll throw you the grandest birthday banquet this empire — no, this world — has ever seen!”
He immediately called for the butler, ordering preparations to begin at once.
“Konig…” I pleaded silently. Do something!
But he only stroked my cheek gently.
Then he called for Gerard and asked for pen and paper.
“My lord, do you wish to send an order?” Gerard asked.
“Something to be delivered to the capital.”
“Shall I prepare a fast horse?”
“No need. I have something faster.”
Konig set down the pen and walked to the open window.
He made a small signal — and with a gust of wind and a powerful whoosh, something massive landed on the windowsill.
“Bishop?”
Wait— why are you here?!
You’re my subordinate!
While I stood there speechless, the great bird bowed its head in obedience.
“That’s the most shameless sycophant I’ve ever seen,” Gerard muttered.
“I didn’t even know birds could bow like that,” Erjin remarked, intrigued.
[Hmph. In the animal kingdom, the strong rule. I serve only the mightiest, you foolish half-breeds.]
Bishop snorted disdainfully at the beastfolk watching him.
“Deliver this letter to my sister in the capital — today,” Konig ordered.
“A letter…?”
Bishop’s leg was already tied with a sealed message.
My jaw dropped.
So now the mighty warbird was acting as a carrier pigeon?
But what could be so urgent that Konig needed to send it in secret — and through Bishop, of all creatures?
I swallowed nervously, my eyes flicking toward him.
Konig’s lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile.
