Episode 92

The Imperial Banquet

Idnia wasn’t the only one getting ready after the sudden invitation.

“Oh, um, Lady Idnia. Do you think this is okay?”

Marie looked uncomfortable as she brushed the dust off her school uniform. Unlike the other students who had several sets of uniforms, Marie only had one. She would wear the same uniform with different coats and blouses.

Even though it hadn’t been long since the school year began, her uniform looked a bit messy.

“Well, it’s not torn, so it should be fine. Everyone will be wearing their school uniforms anyway.
The Dunais Academy uniform is as formal as a military dress uniform, so it’s suitable for any official event.”

Idnia said this and used an extraction spell to clean Marie’s clothes. Since Marie wasn’t good at magic yet, Idnia helped her.

“Oh… thank you. I’m sorry.”

Marie blushed as she saw the dirt being magically pulled from her clothes.

Idnia didn’t mind and handed Marie her coat while checking her appearance.

“You look fine. Don’t worry too much. The Emperor personally invited you. That means your position as a saintess candidate is important. So, Marie, you’re going as an honored guest. They should be thankful you accepted.”

“That’s a relief to hear… But what could this be about? Why is the Emperor suddenly hosting a banquet? Is he trying to make peace with the demons or something?
I’m not sure if I should even be going to something this important.”

Marie didn’t understand much about politics or the power struggle between the Emperor and the Pope, but she could tell the situation was serious.

As someone under the Pope’s influence, being ordered by the Emperor to attend a peace banquet with demons could be seen as betrayal.

But she couldn’t refuse an imperial order either—especially not as a poor farmer’s daughter.

“Don’t worry so much. If you’re nervous, just stay close to me at the party.”

“Haha. Just hearing that makes me feel better.”

Marie smiled, thinking Idnia was joking to help her relax.

A carriage arrived at Dunais Academy.

Usually, people arranged their own transportation to banquets, but the Emperor had sent a special carriage for the students.

Crown Prince Rudolf, Prince Lorenzo of Mazdari, Prince Karl of Oxbach, Lady Idnia of Betelgeuse, and Saintess candidate Marie—
A double-horse carriage was prepared just for the five of them.

Vice Principal Deneve saw them off and gave a warning.

“You all have noble backgrounds, but right now, you are Dunais Academy students.
If any problems arise at the banquet, the Academy will protect you—but only if you uphold your duty as students.”

“What exactly does that mean?” Rudolf asked.

“It means that if you stay out of political matters and ask for help as a student, the Academy will protect you.
You probably know in your heart whether that applies to you.”

Deneve knew that most of these students had been secretly acting for their families or nations and breaking school rules.

Even so, he promised protection if the outside world became too dangerous.

“Oh…”

As Idnia guessed, everyone was wearing their school uniforms.
Hearing Deneve’s words while dressed in uniform made them feel strangely loyal to the Academy.

‘They’re always taking advantage of students, but they do care in their own way.’

As the carriage door closed and they departed, Rudolf sighed.

“I’m not sure if the Academy is generous or if its curse is just that powerful. Don’t you agree, Prince Lorenzo?”

“I don’t understand what you mean,” Lorenzo said, pretending not to know.

Karl scoffed at him.

“Hmph. Even a child wouldn’t believe that. You’re disgusting, Lorenzo. Aren’t you trying to play all sides—Emperor, Pope, and Vikrant Empire? No wonder you talk like that.”

“Yes. I really have no other choice,” Lorenzo replied, covering his mouth with his hand.

“Aren’t you scared of the papal agents? They didn’t seem that tough. But why are demons suddenly visiting the Empire? And why is the Emperor throwing them a banquet? What do you think, Crown Prince?”

“I don’t know either. It’s probably the first time in our history. Oh?”

Rudolf looked out the window in surprise.

The carriage had crossed into Dunais in the blink of an eye.

“Wow. Is this really Dunais? That was so fast.”

“We must’ve traveled at least a thousand kilometers instantly. It barely took any time at all.”

“That’s why it’s called Dunais Academy,” Karl joked. “Anyway, Lady Idnia, what do you think of this banquet?”

“Well, we’ll have to see. Something like this has never happened before, so I don’t think I can say anything for sure.”

Even though Idnia had knowledge from the game, she didn’t want to show off.

Besides, things had already changed because she wasn’t acting like the villainess anymore. She wasn’t even sure if events would happen the same way.

The Dunais Imperial Palace banquet hall was known as the Rose Cross Palace—a large hall supported by strong steel beams without any blocking columns.

There, the banquet was being prepared.

The royal orchestra played music, and servants hurried to prepare food and drinks.

In a waiting room divided by curtains and folding screens, Rudolf and the others were guided in.

“Security is tight,” Idnia said, nodding as she saw imperial knights guarding the hall entrance.

It was expected. Even if the demons claimed peaceful intentions, they had recently been enemies in war.

“But why were we invited too? We’re just students.
Well, except for the rest of you—I’m just a farmer’s daughter.”

Marie looked uneasy in the tense atmosphere.

“Maybe the demon side also brought young people around our age. That’s probably why we were invited.”

Just then, a woman who had been managing the servants came to their waiting room.

“Oh, you’ve arrived. Crown Prince, and… you must be Prince Lorenzo, Prince Karl, Lady Idnia, and Miss Marie.”

“It’s been a while, Baroness Polchen. You look as young and beautiful as ever.
Everyone, this is Baroness Polchen, who taught me etiquette as a child.”

Rudolf greeted her and introduced her to the group.

“I met Lady Idnia when she was a child, though I’m not sure she remembers.
In fact, I was present… even on that day. The day the entire Empire will never forget.”

Baroness Aura Polchen tried to pressure Idnia.

She was referring to the day Idnia broke off her engagement to Rudolf.

But Idnia didn’t even blink.

“Yes, I remember, Baroness Polchen. You are still very lovely. Ah, and Isolde is doing quite well.
She’s smart and beautiful, admired by many students, and even I look up to her. She’s a great example.”

Idnia casually praised Isolde.

But Aura still seemed cautious of Idnia. Even when her daughter was praised, she didn’t seem pleased. Maybe they didn’t have a good relationship? Or maybe she just didn’t like Idnia that much.

Idnia was surprised that Aura hadn’t changed at all since her younger days.

“So… what is this about?” Idnia asked.

“Well, demon envoys have come to the Empire.
They want peace and cooperation and even brought large tributes.”

“Tributes?”

“Yes, gold coins from Albion.
At first, we planned to reject them, but then we found out there’s a civil war among the demons.”

After the death of the Demon King, the demons had been fighting among themselves for the throne.

To resolve the chaos, the rightful heir, the First Prince Kais, sent his mentor, the elder mage Gimmel, as an envoy.

Emperor Franz held an emergency cabinet meeting.

The war hawks strongly opposed the demons, but the parliament welcomed the offer.

‘If the demons are fighting each other, we should take advantage of it. Let your enemy shed his own blood.’

In the end, the Emperor followed the majority’s opinion and secretly arranged a banquet to meet the demon side.

“So officially, the Empire hasn’t announced talks with the demons yet?”

Prince Lorenzo asked with a smile, but his eyes were sharp.

From the Church’s point of view, this could look like a betrayal.
The Vikrant Empire might even use it as an excuse to attack.

“We’re still holding many meetings with both our ministers and their delegates.
It’s uncertain whether we’ll make this public.
The Church would be furious, but if others reveal their cards first, it could be worse.

This banquet is partly to relieve the pressure on our officials and partly to introduce the demon elites—Gimmel’s students—to our high society.

Also, the demon side believes that the elite students of Dunais Academy will become future leaders. They want to build friendships with them.

So… even during the semester, we had to invite you.”

Baroness Polchen explained the background.

So, as expected, young demons were here too.

The Empire had arranged this banquet to compare the talents of young people from both sides.

At that moment, the music changed.

The banquet had begun.