Eustia's Banquet (4)
And so, Zeke succeeded in extorting 40 magic stones, just like a wicked loan shark.
He then asked Rosnante,
“Ah, by the way, do you like the brand 'Wings of Nike'?”
He needed to confirm if this was the same guy who fought off the bandits chasing after Iriel ten years ago.
“M, magic stones… 20… plus another 40… now it's 60… what else can I sell…”
Rosnante mumbled with dead eyes and a vacant expression before lifting his head.
“…You mean 'Wings of Nike'?”
“Yes.”
He looked down at his shoes.
The emblem, a 'V' shape engraved with gold thread.
The shoes he was wearing now were also 'Wings of Nike'.
With their excellent fit and breathable fabric, they were perfect for training.
“If I sell… these…”
“Hmm, so those are 'Wings of Nike' products. Take them off for a moment and let me see.”
“Y-Yes.”
Rosnante took off his shoes and handed them to Zeke.
Zeke meticulously examined the shoes.
Watching him, Rosnante regretted his hasty answer once again.
‘…Why did he ask for that? D-Don't tell me… Is he after my Hermes 97s!? No way! They're limited edition, I can't get them anymore! If I sell them, it's one magic stone!’
This swordsmanship instructor, not satisfied with squeezing 40 magic stones out of him, was now after his expensive shoes.
Rosnante couldn't hide the anxiety in his eyes.
‘Ugh, the smell.’ Zeke's nose twitched.
‘This kid didn’t even train today, what’s that smell?’
Zeke quickly memorized the trademark and returned the shoes to Rosnante.
Rosnante, with a visibly relieved expression, quickly put his shoes back on.
“Do you often wear shoes from that brand?”
“…Yes. I've liked them for a long time.”
“How long has it been?”
“I think I’ve been buying them since I started walking.”
'Okay, so this guy likes this brand.'
'But I can't be sure with just this. I need to use my eyes.'
<Eyes of Judgment>
He needed to check on the Second Prince anyway, and this was the perfect time to dig up some past information.
'Well, it’s not a lie detector, but…’
Still, by looking at the color of his soul, he could at least tell if he was the type to lie through his teeth.
'Alright, then tell me, is Iriel really the female lead, and is this really a romance fantasy that ended 10 years ago?'
A blue light flickered in Zeke’s eyes.
<Fear 30%, Frustration 20%, Burden 15%, Will 12%, Doubt 10%, Awe 10%, Resistance 3%>
[LIFE 99% DEATH 1%]
The color of his soul was ordinary.
He was born ordinary.
He wasn't born inherently good like Selena and Iriel, but he wasn’t problematic either.
Just an average light, with a healthy mix of lies and truths.
As for life and death, he was in good shape for the time being.
'The fear is probably from that one lesson he learned, and frustration and burden? Is that because of the magic stones?'
“Rosnante.”
“Y-Yes…?”
“One more question. Answer truthfully.”
“Yes…”
Zeke released a bit of mana, applying pressure.
“Ten years ago, do you remember saving a red-haired girl at night? Bandits were chasing her. I'm asking if you intervened and fought them with your sword.”
Rosnante couldn't bear to look directly at Zeke's suddenly glowing eyes.
He had a feeling that lying here would be a very bad idea.
“T-Ten years ago, you say?”
“Yes.”
'Did I save a red-haired girl?'
He racked his brains, trying to remember what happened ten years ago.
However, those were the days when he was swamped with work every single day.
Every time he returned from the academy, mountains of assignments awaited him.
He had so much to learn as a prince, and then there was swordsmanship training on top of that.
There wasn’t a moment to breathe.
'Back then, I ran away from the Imperial Palace so many times I can't even count…'
And he couldn't even remember how many times he tested his swordsmanship skills on back-alley thugs to relieve stress.
Of course, thanks to the Imperial Knights who secretly followed him, nothing dangerous ever happened.
“I don’t quite remember. It’s hard to recall something from 10 years ago…”
“Then, did you have feelings for Iriel back then?”
“…?”
What was Iriel doing here all of a sudden?
It hit Rosnante like a bolt of lightning.
‘Don't tell me, that girl was Iriel, and he’s looking for the man who saved her…!?’
The First Prince had indeed mentioned that the swordsmanship instructor was close to Iriel back then.
What if he were to say it was him right now?
Could he turn Eustia completely to his side?
The temptation was sudden, but strong.
“…Back then, almost all the students had a crush on Iriel and Selena.”
However, Rosnante chose a convenient truth.
‘But, it really could be me! Hmm. Could this be why Eustia sent the invitation?’
Originally, Rosnante had no intention of accepting Eustia's invitation, even for the sake of the Yohaiden Dukedom.
The lifesaver of Iriel…
The thought that it could be him made him feel inclined to attend.
The effect of Zeke's Eyes of Judgment wore off.
The mana gathered in his eyes dissipated.
Zeke clicked his tongue.
He had thought he could pinpoint it this time, but all he had was still vague information.
‘He was so infatuated he stalked her, I thought he'd remember, but this bastard. Stalking must be his daily routine.’
It only resulted in a further drop in Rosnante's stock.
‘Anyway, I can't rule out the Iriel-as-the-female-lead theory just yet.’
* * *
On her way home after swordsmanship class.
Soi Spoon.
The girl who had gone from being the female lead of a romance fantasy to a mere bread shuttle, on the verge of losing even that.
She let out a deep sigh.
Haa—
‘I’ve been feeling a little left out lately.’
No matter how deliciously she baked the bread, Zeke always just nodded with the same expression, making her feel less rewarded.
Of course, she was somehow managing to keep up with the grueling daily training.
And her body, which had screamed in agony every morning from muscle pain, seemed to have adapted quickly.
Even though it was sore, she was getting used to it.
The issue of her status and name, which she had been worried about at first, was also going smoothly.
Both Iriel Eustia and Selena Yohaiden were kind and friendly, unlike those of high standing.
She wasn't sure about Yuri Gilbert and the Second Prince yet, as they hadn't spoken much.
They were all more ordinary than she had imagined.
However…
‘I guess my mood is low because of this…’
She looked down at the invitation clutched in her hand.
[Eustia Banquet Invitation]
『Elise, I would be honored if you would attend the Eustia Banquet. - Iriel Eustia.』
A short message was written in neat handwriting.
“…How can I go to a place like that?”
Even as a commoner and the daughter of a simple bakery owner, Soi Spoon wasn't immune to the allure of such a banquet.
The longing for beautiful music, dressing up, dancing merrily, and returning home…
Even though Soi Spoon had become acquainted with Iriel, Selena, and even members of the Imperial family, she was reminded of the difference in their social standing at times like this.
It made her realize just how incredible the people she was associating with were.
‘Maybe that’s why I’m more upset with Instructor. He said he wouldn’t discriminate!’
Grumbling to herself, she kicked a pebble on the ground.
“They’d probably frown even if I wore the prettiest dress in my closet, right? I’d be lucky if they just didn’t like the drinks. No, I probably wouldn’t even be allowed in.”
Selena and Iriel only pretended to know her at the academy. They might just ignore her at the banquet, pretending they didn't know her.
She was just a commoner’s daughter who ran a small bakery in the neighborhood.
Ugh.
Feeling restless, Soi Spoon scratched her head.
She trudged towards Hillaise Bakery.
‘Huh? What’s that noise?’
The atmosphere inside the bakery was unusually lively.
“Sob… hic… sniffle…”
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Bro… i-is it real? We really don’t have to pay back the debt anymore?”
“That’s right.”
Soi, opening the door and entering, couldn't help but stare in bewilderment.
Sister Silia was wiping away tears with her apron.
Her mother bowed her head repeatedly, clutching a man’s hand.
And James, his eyes sparkling, was clinging to the man.
And that man was…
“Instructor…?”
Soi Spoon called his name.
He turned his head, his expressionless face meeting her gaze.
“Oh, you’re here.”
“W-What’s going on…?”
“Didn't you say you were free today?”
‘Shoot.’
Wanting to get out of the grueling training as soon as possible, she had told him that she was free today.
‘Iriel specifically told me not to accept!’
But more importantly…
“But why is everyone acting like this…?”
“Instructor…” Celia said, her voice still choked with tears.
“W-Why Instructor?”
“You know those guys who were giving us a hard time…? The ones who kidnapped Mom?”
As soon as the loan sharks left her sister's lips, Soi Spoon's face hardened.
“Why? Did they ask for more money?”
Her sister shook her head.
“We… don't have to pay back that money anymore.”
“What…? Why?”
“Instructor… He caught all those guys and handed them over to the Security Force.”
Soi Spoon's eyes wavered.
‘I thought he wasn’t paying attention to me lately…’
*
Meanwhile.
“Iriel Eustia.”
“Selena Yohaiden.”
The two of them, secretly following Zeke, bumped into each other in an alley.
“Where are you going?”
“I should be asking you that.”
They glared at each other, locked in a battle of gazes.
Iriel was the first to give up.
She couldn't waste time like this when something could be happening.
Mana Road work! She couldn't just stand by and watch that shameless act. Of course, she had spoken to Elise separately, but knowing Zeke, he would just push for it.
If Zeke insisted, would Elise really be able to refuse?
“…Today, Zeke said he would check Elise's Mana Road.”
“…I know. But what does that have to do with you?”
“And you?”
“Me? I decided to observe and study mana myself.”
Selena replied, sounding smug.
“I, I have a Mana Road now too. I have the right to see!”
“Hmm…?”
“A-And Elise is my bread friend!”
Selena couldn't hide her surprise.
‘She’s calling a commoner her friend?’
Iriel quickly added, “We’ll waste time arguing. Zeke might have already started, we need to hurry.”
“O-Oh…”
Selena nodded hesitantly.
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