Chapter 53
Not understanding what he meant, Laria just blinked and stood still, and then Jenox’s hand fell away.
“If you stay here any longer, your face might get pierced,” he said.
Laria turned her head to follow him.
Right behind them, her family was standing.
Judging by the way they suddenly averted their eyes, it seemed they had been staring at Jenox.
“Let’s depart quickly.”
Laria grabbed Jenox’s arm and climbed into the carriage.
Only then did the intense gazes of her family fall away.
Sitting facing Jenox, Laria naturally recalled the events from a few days ago.
They had also sat facing each other in the carriage then, so it was impossible not to remember.
Laria tried to hide her nervousness while discreetly observing Jenox.
But Jenox didn’t bring up the topic at all.
It seemed they would move past it.
I need to be careful not to say anything wrong.
Since they were going to be together all day, she had to stay sharp.
No one spoke, and the carriage was filled with silence.
The carriage was so large and well-made that even the sound of the wheels rolling was inaudible.
Unable to bear the silence, Laria spoke first.
“I’ll give you the check I received the other day.”
“What check are you talking about?”
“The money for selling Your Excellency.”
It sounded a bit odd, but it wasn’t wrong.
After all, it was the money for selling Jenox in his young wolf form.
“Oh.”
Jenox finally understood what Laria meant and snorted with amusement.
“I don’t need it.”
“Then should I take it? After all, it’s Your Excellency’s ransom…”
“It’s too little to be called my ransom. Want me to add something?”
Jenox asked if that amount would even be enough.
With 150 million, she could buy several gems of decent quality and still have money left.
“To demand as much as my ransom, the Crasseum family would probably go bankrupt, so I’ll refuse,” Jenox said with a short laugh.
Laria couldn’t understand what was so funny.
“You value my ransom more than I expected,” she said.
“Well…”
Jenox was the head of the Crasseum family, after all.
Not only did he control most of the capital’s estates, but the majority of the northern empire as well.
“For all that, you treated me like a dog,” she muttered, recalling the times he had ordered the young wolf around.
Had he held a grudge…?
Fortunately, Jenox didn’t seem upset.
He simply observed Laria quietly as her cheeks flushed while nervously swallowing the check.
Should I ask him or not?
If she asked, she would have to bring up the conversation from that day.
After some thought, Laria finally asked,
“Have you checked who was behind it?”
Through Jenox’s insight, they might even identify the sorcerer who used forbidden magic.
“They were still denying it,” Jenox said.
“Of course, without evidence, that’s expected.”
If someone had ordered the use of brainwashing magic, it would be a grave crime.
The moment Laria broke the forbidden spell in the mansion, the evidence might have been destroyed.
“Still, you know who it is, so be careful.”
“Are you worried about me?”
“Of course. Forbidden magic is dangerous.”
Jenox rubbed his chin.
“Even if I storm into the enemy alone, no one would worry.”
But no matter how strong he was, he was still just a beastman.
He wasn’t a god, so there was no guarantee he wouldn’t get hurt.
“Even if others don’t care, I’m concerned,” Laria said.
Jenox, who had been staring at her, turned his head away.
Before she knew it, they were near the palace.
Talking as if nothing had happened, Laria had momentarily forgotten where they were headed.
“How should we act like a couple?”
Until now, the farthest she had pretended was in front of her family.
Could they deceive everyone here, especially the royals, who would watch closely?
“Just standing beside each other will make them think you’re a couple.”
“…Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?”
Jenox only shrugged lightly.
When the carriage stopped, Jenox got out first and extended his hand.
Accepting his escort, Laria stepped out and gazed at the banquet hall building as if spellbound.
Music and laughter flowed from outside the building.
Although the sunset had already fallen outside, the interior shone as brightly as midday.
Tensing slightly, she shrugged her shoulders, and Jenox stepped close, linking arms with her.
Startled by the sudden closeness, she looked up.
With no sign of nervousness, he whispered,
“I take back what I said earlier. Linking arms is necessary to look like a couple.”
Right, no one would think they were a couple just by standing beside each other.
Laria relaxed her arm and leaned slightly on Jenox.
At least there were two of them—this would help distract attention.
With other nobles present, the focus would quickly shift.
As they began to step into the banquet hall, Jenox shattered Laria’s careless thoughts.
“You will be the main attraction of today’s banquet.”
“Is it true that the Duke of Crasseum is attending?”
When someone brought up the topic, people looked at him as if he was too late.
That conversation had happened long ago.
Of course, now the Duke was still the center of chatter.
“Isn’t it his first time attending the banquet?”
The young man repeated what had already been said dozens of times.
“Since the previous Duke and his wife passed away, this is his first attendance.”
“Wow… that’s intimidating already.”
Even children knew the rumors surrounding the Duke.
The young man glanced around the banquet hall.
“That’s why the atmosphere is like this.”
The long-awaited palace banquet was strangely somber, despite the excitement.
Although everyone smiled and chatted, their tension was apparent.
Many glanced at the entrance, unsure when the Duke would arrive.
Some were ready to flee to the corners immediately upon his arrival.
“I’m an herbivore beastman… I might faint if I see the Duke.”
“Carnivore beastmen too,” the man said, dismissing the matter.
“Is it true that he looks extremely strange?”
“I haven’t met him myself. He stayed in the capital for a long time, but very few people actually saw him.”
The Duke of Crasseum was known for staying secluded in his estate.
Recently, there had been a few witnesses, but most wanted him to remain at home.
What misfortune it would be if someone bumped into him on the street.
The mustached middle-aged man shivered as he asked more questions.
“I don’t understand why he’s attending this banquet.”
“Isn’t he the Emperor’s nephew? It’s a gathering of all the capital’s nobles. He couldn’t miss this one,” the young man explained.
He hinted that the banquet was related to the Duke of Crasseum.
“Could it be for a wedding?”
“You must be slow with news. The official announcement has been long sent. They’ll likely announce the engagement at today’s banquet.”
The middle-aged man, who seemed from the countryside, coughed awkwardly.
The capital nobles knew little about the provinces.
He had even dressed in new clothes to look like a capital noble, but it was apparent.
He thought he should keep his mouth shut.
Others who overheard the conversation began to gather.
When the ladies joined in, the man’s face brightened.
“What’s the name of the fiancée?”
“Probably Laria Rohan… I think?”
“Rohan family? Never heard of it.”
“It’s a count family with a mansion in the capital.”
“They seem like a fairly ordinary family. Why would she marry the Duke?”
The ladies whispered among themselves.
They seemed more curious about the Duke’s fiancée than the Duke himself.
The mustached man clicked his tongue, as if it were obvious.
“Without even looking, it’s clear. She’s probably marrying to improve her fortune.”
