Chapter 147
The Hawkbat Family.
One of the Empire’s three ducal families.
There was the setting that House Balmuth was the Imperial Sword, and the Isrinbloom Family was the Imperial Knowledge…
And the Hawkbat Family was the famously known, the Imperial Eyes and Ears.
‘That too, eyes and ears that performed far too well.’
Through the Hawkbat Family, the Emperor could know everything occurring within the Empire.
Members of the Hawkbat Family existed in every corner of the Empire’s territory, gathering and delivering all information for the Emperor.
‘One of the Empire’s most powerful weapons.’
Additionally, the Hawkbat Family’s information network wasn’t limited to the Empire alone.
They infiltrated foreign nations and extracted information from them.
Infiltration, concealment, information operations, and even assassination.
The Hawkbat Family, commanding countless spies, was truly one of the Empire’s real strengths.
And the head of that family was now standing right in front of my eyes.
“Hmm, looks like Lisa has been biting you quite a lot.”
“…Pardon?”
“Seeing the wounds around your neck, she bit you recently too… and I see marks showing she bites you often. At least once every two days, it seems.”
“Ah, yes. That’s… true, but……”
“Don’t provide blood too often. Lisa, this is for you as well. If you drink too much blood, you can harm the other person’s health. Didn’t your mother tell you that?”
“…This is the first time I’m hearing it.”
Lisa’s eyes genuinely looked like she was hearing this for the first time.
Andrew snorted softly at that.
“I figured. Your mom’s the kind of person who forgets even the Emperor’s requests. She probably didn’t tell you the precautions about bloodsucking.”
“Hey! What do you take me for?!”
“Then was I wrong?”
“I… uh… that…….”
“I roughly know what you want to say, so don’t bother.”
Ignoring Kafka, who looked like she had a mountain of things to say, Andrew looked toward me and Lisa.
“Bloodsucking twice a week, usually with three to four days in between, is best. Before, your mother ignored that and drank Kale’s blood every single day, and Kale collapsed sick for two weeks.”
“For two weeks?”
“Yeah. Your father was in real danger back then. Getting your blood sucked is basically the same as losing a huge amount of blood. If it’s every day, it’d be weirder if the person didn’t break down.”
At Andrew’s words, Lisa slowly nodded, and Kafka trembled slightly beside her.
Seeing her darkened expression, she didn’t seem eager to recall that time.
“After nearly killing him with her own hands, your mother matured a bit. From then on, she slowly started showing the qualities of a family head.”
“That’s right. After that… I felt so sorry to Kale that I listened to him well… and thanks to that, I somehow ended up becoming the head of the family.”
“Yeah. Kale did well supporting you. Anyway, Lisa. Once every three to four days. Remember that clearly.”
“…Gideon.”
Hearing Andrew’s explanation, Lisa immediately looked my way.
“You’re not hurting anywhere, right? You’re not silently enduring something, right?”
“Yeah. I’m really fine. Seriously.”
“…No. Let’s meet a doctor later. I should have you examined separately……”
“Gideon is healthy, so don’t worry.”
Andrew spoke with a small smile.
“I’m saying this as someone with some medical knowledge: Gideon is healthy. Your father was a frail friend who aspired to be a librarian at the Imperial Library and ended up bedridden, but Gideon, who aims to be a knight, won’t collapse so easily.”
“I’m relieved to hear that, but…….”
“Still, be careful from now on and don’t drink too much. No matter how sturdy Gideon is, if he loses blood every day, his health will deteriorate rapidly.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
“Don’t mention it. Teaching you things like this is the role of an adult. Isn’t that right, Lisa’s mother?”
Andrew looked at Kafka with a sly smile.
Kafka awkwardly scratched her head.
“I thought Lisa would manage well on her own. She’s the type to handle anything alone… I didn’t pay enough attention. I should reflect on that.”
“Yeah. Even if she does manage well, show a little interest in her. And… also show some interest in His Majesty’s commands.”
“…As long as I take Gideon properly later, won’t that be enough?”
“Don’t worry. As the Emperor’s eyes and ears, I’ll be sure to report that you forgot to deliver His Majesty’s invitation……”
“Hey!”
Kafka swung her palm toward Andrew’s back.
But Andrew avoided her hand without even looking.
“Don’t say that! Nazar-oppa is already itching to make me write a report! I can’t afford to get caught on even a tiny mistake!”
“How many reports do you have accumulated now?”
“…Thirty-eight.”
“If it hits forty, you get a week in the underground prison, right? That’ll be fun to watch.”
“Hey!”
I remembered this setting from the game as well.
A light punishment given to high-ranking nobles.
A noble who accumulated forty reports would be sent to the underground prison of the Imperial Palace for a week.
In truth, a high noble being sent to the underground prison only meant they would spend a week comfortably and then return.
They weren’t put in the actual underground prison where real criminals were held.
It was essentially a performative punishment, but everyone said that experiencing it was quite humiliating.
“If you go this time, it’ll be the second, right? Looks like you’ll be going soon. I’ll be sure to visit.”
“Hey!”
“Think positively. While you’re in prison, Lisa can get some early experience as the head of House Balmuth in your place.”
“How can you even say that!”
Kafka tried to grab Andrew, but befitting the head of the Hawkbat Family, he never allowed himself to be caught.
“Ugh! If I had my sword… Hey! Get down here! Before I rip this tree out!”
“Hey, that tree is part of the taxes. Uprooting it would actually be report-worthy.”
Andrew chuckled and came down from the tree.
Then he looked Kafka up and down.
“Come to think of it, you did bring your formal attire, right? No matter how close you are with Nazar-hyung, you still need to dress properly to enter the Imperial Palace.”
“Eh. Hey, let’s just all dress comfortably. We’re going to drink today anyway, so…….”
“Don’t worry, Andrew. I brought the formal attire Mother will wear.”
“…Lisa. What do you mean by that?”
Kafka looked at her daughter with slightly trembling eyes.
But regardless of her reaction, Lisa’s expression remained as blank as usual.
“Because I thought Mom would act like this, I brought two sets of my formal attire. Since our body shape and height are similar, my clothes should more or less fit Mom too.”
“…D-daughter, I really didn’t want to wear those uncomfortable clothes, so until now I’ve…….”
“Wear them. At least for today, please set an example as the Head of House Balmuth.”
After firmly speaking to her mother, Lisa looked toward Andrew.
“Mother and I will go together, so shall we meet again at the Imperial Palace entrance in thirty minutes?”
“That’s a good idea. Let’s do that.”
“Hey, Andrew. Did Dilug come?”
“Yeah, I heard he arrived a few hours ago. He’ll probably make his own way here just fine, so we’ll see him at the palace.”
The Imperial Palace, built at the center of Lysquare, the capital of the Arium Empire.
That palace was enormous and magnificent.
It literally shone with splendor, like a jewel.
And right now, I was inside that very palace.
‘I didn’t think I’d be entering the Imperial Palace this soon.’
At least during my time at the Academy, I never thought I’d have a reason to come here.
But perhaps because I’d been a bit too active lately—
Or because my relationship with Lisa had become rather well-known—
His Majesty the Emperor of this Empire took an interest in a fallen baron like me.
Thanks to that… I was invited here as Lisa’s fiancé.
“Hey, Lisa. Do you really think it makes sense for me to wear this dress……”
“You wore it just fine when you met Father, didn’t you?”
“That was back when I was still seeing your dad. After becoming the family head, I stopped wearing things like this even to banquets.”
“You’re meeting His Majesty the Emperor. Please endure it, just this once.”
“Tch, Nazar-oppa doesn’t care about stuff like this……”
Kafka, standing beside her, grumbled discontentedly.
At that sight, Andrew, standing opposite her, burst into laughter.
“If you didn’t want to wear clothes like that, you shouldn’t have become a family head.”
“I don’t regret becoming one. It was the choice I made to prove I was worthy of Kale. But seriously, this thing—! It’s so hard to breathe! What kind of lunatic ties the waist this tight……”
“What? Did you gain weight?”
“Hey! You come here! I’ll really kill you this time!”
“Looks like I hit a nerve.”
“Hey!”
As Kafka shouted and looked ready to charge, Lisa sighed and held her back.
Beside me, Jason chuckled quietly at the scene.
“Gideon, does the outfit I gave you fit well?”
“Yes, it’s not uncomfortable.”
“That’s good. Still, I can’t believe I’m coming to the Imperial Palace with you. Honestly, I never thought I’d be here this time of year.”
“Now that I think about it, the ones usually invited around this time are……”
“The dukes. And usually, the next heirs to the ducal families.”
Jason nodded at my words.
“Lisa-nuna’s practically confirmed to be the next head of House Balmuth, so it makes sense she’s here… but I’m actually not the one who should’ve come. My eldest brother should’ve been here instead.”
“Since he couldn’t make it, I guess something must’ve come up?”
“He’s doing something abroad right now. What exactly he’s doing… well, you don’t really need to know, do you?”
“…Thank you for always working hard for the Empire.”
“You sure have a way with words, Gideon.”
Jason snickered, then glanced at a nearby clock.
“Anyway, it should be soon. That person always arrives precisely on time.”
I didn’t need to ask who he meant.
A short while later, two more people joined us.
“Kafka. This is the Imperial Palace. Stop making a scene.”
“Huh? Oh, Dilug. When did you get here?”
“Keep your voice down and behave. And why are you trying to grab someone you can’t even catch again?”
“No, listen—Andrew, that guy called me……”
“Hey, Kafka. Like Dilug said, calm down a bit. Act like a proper head of house.”
“What? You little—!”
Andrew dodged her hand again with a playful grin, then walked over to Dilug.
“Long time no see. Been well?”
“I’ve been doing fine, without major issues.”
“That sounds just like you. But more importantly… Rage, it’s been quite a while, hasn’t it?”
“It’s been a while, Duke Hawkbat. And it’s good to see you again too, Duke Balmuth.”
“Indeed. Rage, long time no see. You look taller somehow?”
“Haha, I’m the same height as always, Duke Balmuth.”
After politely greeting both dukes, Rage turned toward Jason.
“Good to see you too, Jason. Since you’re here, I guess your brother couldn’t make it?”
“Yes, my eldest brother is a bit far away right now.”
“Members of the Hawkbat Family always have it tough.”
After responding to Jason, Rage turned his head toward Lisa and me.
“You two meet again. Judging by how you brought Gideon safely, I take it the invitation was delivered properly?”
“Yes, it was delivered without any problem.”
“As expected, Lisa always handles things perfectly.”
After Rage’s comment, Dilug stepped closer toward us.
“Jason, Lisa. It’s been a while since I’ve seen both of you. And… Gideon, I did say we’d meet again, but I didn’t think it’d be here.”
“Yes, I also… didn’t expect to see you in this place.”
“I heard you came as Lisa’s fiancé, but you’re not officially engaged yet, are you?”
At Dilug’s question, I bowed my head slightly.
“No, not yet. It’s planned.”
“When are you thinking of holding it?”
“Probably this winter.”
“I see.”
Dilug nodded with his usual impassive expression.
“I’ll prepare a gift and make sure to attend the engagement. You’ve done great service to our family, after all.”
After saying that, Dilug turned toward everyone gathered.
“Let’s move now. We mustn’t be late for His Majesty the Emperor’s invitation.”
As soon as Dilug said that, everyone started to move.
Then suddenly, I felt something stir within my shadow.
– Grrrr.
“Hm?”
It was Siri, inside my shadow.
She had always stayed still inside the shadow, but for the first time, she moved.
And from that movement came… hostility.
It was the first time I’d ever felt such hostility from Siri.
‘What’s wrong?’
I asked inwardly, and perhaps because she sensed my thought, Siri’s hostility didn’t subside.
And I could feel exactly where that hostility was directed.
‘…Why toward him?’
Rage Isrinbloom.
For some reason, Siri was showing intense hostility toward that man she was seeing for the first time.