Chapter 47. At an Illustrious Feast, There Is a Lot to Eat
As the evening arrived, preparations for the grand banquet finally began in earnest. Caron and Leo were in the midst of a near-total transformation, with the royal servants sent by the palace assisting them at a rapid pace. The servants carefully ironed the tailcoats that the Leston family's butlers had sent ahead, dressing the two of them with expert hands. To top it all off, they added jewelry and light makeup.
In just thirty minutes, the two boys were unrecognizable.
"...This feels like cheating," Leo muttered as he stared at his reflection in the mirror with a conflicted expression.
The boy who looked back at him in front of the mirror wasn't the sunburned country bumpkin he was used to seeing. Instead, there stood a refined young nobleman, someone worthy of any prestigious family.
"No matter who looks at me, they'll know that I'm from a noble family," Leo said.
Caron chuckled at Leo's reaction and said, "Well, you are from a noble family."
"I never felt out of place because of my appearance—" Leo began, but his newfound confidence evaporated the moment he saw Caron. He let out a deep, despairing sigh, as if the weight of the world had suddenly fallen on him.
When Caron saw Leo's reaction, he'd been casually chewing on a piece of jerky. He asked, "What?"
"I was just thinking how unfair the world really is," Leo replied bitterly.
"That's how life is," Caron said.
"Damn, you annoying bastard," Leo said.
Caron's silky, well-maintained golden hair gleamed in the light, and his striking blue eyes sparkled like gems. Although Caron was only thirteen years old, he already had a tall, elegant frame, and his alabaster skin only added to his flawless appearance. With the added touch of makeup, Caron's looks were so breathtaking that anyone who saw him couldn't help but be in awe.
Leo, shaking his head, couldn't deny it. The world really was unfair.
But at least I've got a better personality, he thought, trying to comfort himself.
As the two cousins prepared for the banquet, a visitor arrived at the palace where they were staying.
"His Highness, the Sixth Prince, has arrived," one of the attendants announced.
Shortly after, an impeccably-dressed man entered the room. His face was familiar. It was the Sixth Prince, Revelio.
"I see you're about done getting ready. Attendants, could you guys leave the room for a while? I'd like to chat comfortably with my dear friends," Revelio said casually, though it was clear it wasn't really a request. The attendants lowered their heads and quickly exited the room.
Revelio walked over to a table, picked up an apple, and took a bite, smiling at Caron and Leo. He asked warmly, "How have you been, my little brothers?"
Revelio's attire was a stark contrast to the simple clothing he had worn outside previously. His shirt was adorned with gold embroidery and lace, and he wore luxurious trousers infused with traces of magic. Two of the top buttons of his shirt were left undone, giving him a relaxed, almost effortless elegance.
Caron looked at him and offered a compliment. "You're playing the perfect rake. Is this your usual look in the palace?"
"It's the look of a wayward son who has completely been given up on by the family. How do I look? Does it suit me?" Revelio asked.
"Better than last time," Caron said.
Revelio laughed again, inspecting the apple from various angles as if he was searching for something. Caron, who had been watching him, frowned and asked, "What are you doing?"
"I'm checking for poison. I tasted it myself just to be sure. Sadly, there's none. But it's good, I like how sweet it is," Revelio answered.
"Poison?" Caron repeated.
Revelio gave him a casual shrug and explained, "Father might not care, but my brother? He absolutely despises the Leston family. I mean, considering your mother's side comes from House Diaz, it's not exactly surprising."
With a flick of his wrist, Revelio used magic to incinerate the apple down to ashes. Then, with a satisfied expression, he looked over at Caron and Leo, clapping his hands. He remarked, "You should dress like this more often. You look like the stars of tonight's banquet. If I were a woman, I might've confessed to one of you already."
"You didn't come here just to get punched at the banquet, did you?" Caron quipped.
"I'm here to ask you something, actually. Just a moment, Caron," Revelio said.
He winked at Caron before pulling a small stick from his pocket. It was a wand, infused with traces of mana. Such tools served as catalysts to help mages focus their energies.
Revelio whispered a spell and flicked the wand through the air. A soft hum filled the room as a translucent barrier rose up from the floor.
"It's soundproofing magic. I'd rather this conversation didn't leave the room," Revelio said.
What on earth did he want to discuss? Caron looked at him with a hint of suspicion.
Revelio didn't seem to mind and got straight to the point. "Who was in the palace greeting you? My father? Or the Crown Prince?"
It was clear that Revelio had a reason for coming here instead of heading to the banquet hall directly. From his tone, he seemed to suspect that it wasn't the emperor who had been there, but the crown prince.
What's he up to? Caron thought.
It seemed worth tossing out some bait, so he replied, "It was the Crown Prince."
Revelio clapped his hands together and nodded as if he had expected this. "I figured."
"I hear His Majesty hasn't been well," Caron added.
"An old man over seventy? Of course he's not in good health. Still, he personally met with Grand Duke Halo recently, but he didn't come to greet you two in person? My brother must've pulled some strings," Revelio mused aloud.
Caron sensed an opportunity, throwing out another line. "You seem to know quite a bit."
Revelio grinned widely and responded, "Haven't you already figured it out? It's not that hard."
He threw himself onto an empty sofa, and continued as he smiled brightly, "Back in the day, our father got rid of our grandfather. Now, it's my brother's turn to get rid of my father. When you think about it, this is..."
"It's good," Caron interrupted with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Exactly. It's a dysfunctional royal family. But hey, family drama like this? It's a long-standing tradition in our imperial house. It's impressive, isn't it? You're free to be envious." Revelio laughed as he mocked his own situation with a cheerful face.
"Caron, you should join in. Talking trash about someone together always brings people closer," he teased, his eyes gleaming mischievously.
"If you insult my grandfather first, I might consider it," Caron replied flatly.
Revelio burst into loud laughter at that.
"Hahaha! You're such a funny guy. Isn't he, Leo? Isn't he funny? Come on, Leo, laugh a little!" Revelio said as he patted Leo's back hard a couple of times, laughing so much that tears started to well up in his eyes. He quickly wiped them away with a finger before continuing, "That bastard brother of mine... Oh, sorry, that just slipped out. Anyway, my brother has been trying hard to pull strings lately, but it won't be easy for him."
Revelio was far more dangerous than the crown prince, Iorn. At least with Iorn, Caron could see the ambition in his eyes. But with Revelio? There was nothing. He couldn't even begin to guess what this man was plotting.
"Still, thanks to you, I've satisfied my curiosity. I appreciate it. You've been a big help. And since I owe you one, I suppose it's time I return the favor," Revelio continued as he stood up from the sofa. "I heard you destroyed that fool from House Kian as soon as you got into the capital. I can guess what you want. So how about this? I'll help you out."
Caron looked at Revelio with an unimpressed expression and asked, "And how exactly would you help me?"
"I'll give you a successful debut," Revelio offered.
"What?" Caron asked.
"You want to stir up some chaos, right? Let me set the stage for you. How does that sound?" Revelio offered.
Caron didn't know what was going through Revelio's head, but one thing was clear: This guy was just like him. A madman. And not just any madman, either. He was completely unhinged.
"Crazy people always recognize their own kind, don't they? Don't refuse, Caron," Revelio said with a playful grin, laying out his plan.
***
Not long after Revelio left the palace, the banquet began.
The banquet hall was massive, displaying the full splendor and grandeur of the royal family. There were lavish chandeliers and all manner of extravagant decorations filling the space, with countless young men and women gathered inside.
"This... is a banquet?" Leo muttered as he glanced around nervously.
More than a hundred people had taken their places throughout the expansive hall. And all of the young nobles were around Leo's age.
"The banquets I've attended before were just family meals... nothing like this," Leo continued.
"That's because we're a martial family. This is what a normal noble banquet looks like. It's a place where nobles strengthen their bonds with each other," Caron explained.
"Are we... too much like country bumpkins?" Leo asked as a hint of unease creeped into his voice.
"No, Leo. You're the only country bumpkin," Caron teased with a slight smile, raising the glass in front of him.
At least the nice thing about this banquet was that, unlike back at Azureocean Castle, he could drink in peace. Since this banquet was hosted by the royal family, rare and precious liquors had been placed all around the hall.
"Hmm," Caron murmured, taking a sip of his drink as he surveyed the room.
The young nobles gathered here were all from prestigious families. The very fact that they were allowed to stay within the inner palace meant they came from high-ranking houses. Thus, it was no surprise that cliques had already formed among them, their loyalties evident in the way they clustered around the more prominent nobles.
"This bunch of kids are learning all the wrong things," Caron muttered to himself.
It was a familiar sight. Fifty years earlier, the banquets he'd attended were no different. The powerful nobles always formed their own groups, shunning and mocking anyone who didn't belong.
I guess it's better now than how it was in my previous life, Caron thought.
Back then, every time he attended a banquet, all he'd received were looks of disgust. After all, he had once been a slave. But it was different now.
"They're going to wear out my face staring at me," Caron muttered.
Everyone was looking at him. The young lords looked at him with alertness, while the young ladies gazed at him with curiosity. They knew who the stars of this banquet were, the new heroes. And when those new heroes happened to be the grandsons of Duke Halo, it was natural for the two boys to draw such attention.
Caron took it all in stride, calmly sipping his drink as he endured the looks.
Time passed before suddenly, a loud voice rang out.
"His Highness, the Sixth Prince, has entered! Everyone, please show your respect!" the Imperial Guard stationed at the entrance called out sternly.
Soon, Revelio entered the banquet hall with a wide grin on his face. He exclaimed, "Haha! Looks like we've got some important guests here! My father, His Majesty, prepared the food, so help yourselves! Eat as much as you like!"
The moment Revelio appeared, still looking as rough and careless as ever, the expressions of the noble heirs began to sour. His crude manner of speech and the complete absence of royal dignity in his demeanor offended their sensibilities. Everything about him seemed to provoke them.
But he paid no attention to the disdainful glances cast his way and strolled confidently over to the table where Caron and Leo were. Without hesitation, Revelio extended his right hand toward Caron, saying, "Since this is our first time meeting in an official setting, let's have a proper introduction, shall we? I'm the Sixth Prince, Revelio. Looks like you both clean up nicely."
Revelio's greeting lacked any formality, but Caron and Leo politely bowed their heads in response.
"I am Leo Leston, grandson of Duke Halo," Leo said.
"And I am Caron Leston, grandson of Duke Halo," Caron added.
Revelio burst into laughter, his voice booming so loudly that it echoed throughout the hall. Then he grabbed the drink Caron had placed on the table and downed it in one gulp.
"Haha! Originally, I planned to stay in my palace and relax, but I heard such interesting rumors that I couldn't stay away. I hope my presence at this banquet isn't... upsetting to anyone," he said.
His tone was playful, but there was something disingenuous about his act. Despite his playful demeanor, the crude nature he exuded seemed far from what one would expect of royalty.
Caron mirrored Revelio's smile and replied, "It's an honor to have you grace us with your presence, Your Highness."
Revelio responded with a sly grin that was almost malicious. Then, he raised his voice so everyone in the hall could hear, saying, "I heard a rumor that you beat the hell out of Drogol from House Kian. Is that true?"
A sudden chill fell over the banquet hall. Though some had already caught wind of the incident, it was a rumor people had been trying to keep quiet.
Count Kian was backed by none other than the powerful Marquis Diaz, one of the most influential figures in the empire. Marquis Diaz was also related to the Crown Prince by blood. The Diaz family was a founding pillar of the empire, having held sway over central politics for generations, and they even commanded a private army.
As for the Sixth Prince? All he had was his bloodline, and even that was only half-royal.
Caron recalled what Revelio had told him earlier.
"My mother was a commoner. She was a gardener who caught my father's eye while tending the royal garden."
That was the reason Revelio had been looked down upon all these years. It was because he was a prince born of common blood, an outcast within the royal family. And here he was, insulting a member of a prestigious noble family in a formal setting.
"Heh, it's not really my place to say, but... That troublemaker had it coming. These spoiled brats who rely on their noble blood to look down on commoners are everywhere," Revelio said, his voice dripping with scorn.
The mood in the hall turned tense, almost hostile. Despite the growing tension, Revelio glanced toward one corner of the banquet hall, smirking.
"Those who rely solely on their fathers will eventually get stabbed and die. After all, when someone is cut by a sword, they all bleed red, just the same. Ah! Of course, I'm no exception to that either. Haha!" he continued with a laugh.
As those words left his mouth, a group of individuals who had remained quiet up until then began making their way toward Caron's table. Caron smiled as he watched them approach.
Now, this is what a banquet should be like. Dangerous, and also thrilling, Caron thought.
Until now, everything had practically been an appetizer. It seemed the main course was about to begin.
Just as Caron was enjoying the sight...
Whoosh.
A sudden low hum echoed from Guillotine, which was strapped to his waist. Caron's expression immediately froze. Without realizing it, his hand had already moved to grip the handle of the sword, and in that instant, Guillotine's voice resonated in his mind.
"Owner."
I felt it too, Caron thought.
It had only lasted for a brief moment, but he'd definitely sensed it.
...Dark Mana, Caron thought.
Someone in the hall had just released Dark Mana. It was the very power Caron despised above all else, the cursed energy that had once shattered his life completely.