I'm getting drunk! (3)
“Mmm-hmm-hmm―!”
Humming a tune, Lilith was admiring the Clausen Count family’s villa.
Though not as grand as the main estate, it was clear much care had gone into its upkeep. Although the border count seldom came to the royal capital, the air of “I will never allow my family to appear weak or insignificant” was strongly present.
“Not bad. Hmm… Since Sion will be staying in the master’s chamber… I guess I’ll take the room next door?”
“Lady Lilith.”
At the voice of a woman calling her, Lilith tilted her head slightly. There stood Lischida, waiting in a polite posture.
“Preparations are complete. You may leave now.”
“Really? Hmm… In that case, shall I go take care of the errand Sion gave me?”
Lilith pulled her hood over her head and left the villa.
Lischida, lightly dressed, followed close behind.
“How do you feel?”
“Excuse me?”
“The fact that the woman walking beside you right now isn’t human but a demon, no, not just any demon, but one of the highest rank.”
Sion had already told Lischida that Lilith was a demon. Since she was to be his bodyguard, not knowing such things could cause troublesome issues later.
“…I do not know.”
“You don’t know?”
“I simply follow my master’s will. That is, the young lord’s command. Whoever might be at his side, I believe it is not my place to interfere.”
“Hmm… Boring one, aren’t you?”
After watching Lischida briefly, Lilith’s lips curved into a mischievous smile as she suddenly clung tightly to her side.
“You like him, don’t you?”
“W-what?”
“I mean Sion. The way you look at him is so full of yearning it almost makes me feel heartbroken myself.”
“What are you saying?! I am nothing more than a knight serving my lord! I cannot harbor such feelings!”
“If you say so. But why are you so flustered, hmm?”
Only then did Lischida realize she’d fallen for Lilith’s teasing. Her face turned crimson as she quickened her steps, trying to act as if nothing had happened.
Of course, deceiving a succubus, who was more sensitive than anyone to desire, was impossible.
‘Phew. They say capable men always attract women, and I guess it starts this early.’
Whether Lischida realized it or not, she was walking on, feigning indifference.
Lilith scratched her cheek for a moment, thinking, ‘Ugh, why am I even bothering with these worries?’ and quickly caught up to her. After all, women-related issues were supposed to be men’s business, something they should deal with themselves.
Her meddling wouldn’t solve anything.
‘More importantly, finding people loitering around near the palace walls? Isn’t that too much, Sion?’
Sure, she’d insisted on staying, but still, being given such a task was the last thing Lilith wanted.
There were nearly a hundred thousand people living in this royal capital alone. And though the palace grounds were separated from the city by thick walls, the populace inevitably lived in close proximity to it.
In such a situation, how was she supposed to find “suspicious people near the palace walls”? It was like being told to find people in swimsuits at a beach.
‘I can’t figure out what goes on in that boy’s head.’
From their very first meeting, she had thought him strange, and that impression had never left.
At times he seemed like a mere twenty-year-old brat, at others he displayed the cunning of someone worldly and experienced, and sometimes he even spoke and acted as though he knew absolutely everything.
What was the real face of this man called Sion Clausen?
Lilith shook her head.
It didn’t matter. She had made a contract with him. Whether she liked it or not, she would be by his side until the end.
“Hey, Lishi! Wait up!”
“It is Lischida. The nickname ‘Lishi’ is a privilege reserved only for my master, the young lord.”
“Aw, don’t be so cold. If you let me, I might tell you a little something about Sion.”
“…I’ll think about it.”
* * *
A royal banquet, held for the first time in a long while.
Nobles from across Hispania had flocked to the capital for this day. This was no mere social gathering for greetings and congratulations, drinking and dining.
Here, countless nobles exchanged views on continental affairs, built their own factions, and let both noble heirs and royal children display their abilities.
It was not just a party or feast, it was a battlefield without blades.
“The Marquis of Guchen’s household…!”
“From the Count of Isik’s family…!”
Each time a powerful noble entered the hall, the herald announced their family name, echoing through the banquet hall. With all three Marquis houses and all five Count houses of Hispania in attendance, the royal banquet was about to begin in earnest.
“Presenting His Majesty Edgar Astarius IV, rightful sovereign of Hispania and head of the royal family, host of today’s banquet!”
At the herald’s cry, every noble present froze mid-sentence and movement.
King Edgar IV entered first, followed by Prince Erador and Princess Vanessa.
“Hm?”
But there was one more figure behind them. King Edgar IV had only two children, Erador and Vanessa. So who was that young man walking behind the royal family?
“It has been quite some time since such a gathering. As you know, Hispania and Nudia have fought war after war, both sides taking heavy losses, back and forth. But this last war was different. It ended in Hispania’s absolute victory! The Clausen March has perfectly fulfilled its role as both spear and shield!”
The nobles, already aware of the victory, responded to the King’s words with applause.
Once the applause subsided, Edgar IV continued.
“Today is both a day to honor your continued loyalty to the crown, and also a day to celebrate a new hero who has emerged in Hispania. Sion Clausen, step forward!”
At his words, the young man at the back stepped forward.
Murmurs rippled among the nobles.
Some admired his appearance, some whispered suspiciously of his past deeds, and others keenly watched the suddenly transformed heir of the Clausen family.
“Though it is regrettable that Count Lichten Clausen himself is absent, the fact that you were the decisive factor in this war’s victory is acknowledged by your father, and even by me.
So remember, tonight’s star is all of us, but also you. Enjoy yourself.”
“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”
“Let us rejoice tonight.
Enjoy yourselves, so long as you keep within the bounds of ‘duty’ and ‘propriety’.”
Taking his seat, Edgar IV gestured, and music swelled as the banquet began.
‘…Too many people.’
Sion was already dizzy.
He had known, both from novels and from people around him—that royal banquets were grand affairs.
But he hadn’t imagined this scale.
At a glance, well over a hundred nobles filled the enormous hall.
“Lord Sion Clausen.”
The first to approach was, as expected, Marquis Volco, whom he had met that morning.
Though casual at his own estate, here he maintained proper decorum.
“First, congratulations on Clausen March’s victory.”
“Thank you once again, my lord.”
As he spoke, Sion glanced around.
Several were watching him with peculiar eyes, though they hadn’t approached yet.
Most of them were young noblemen and women.
“Be careful.”
Marquis Volco leaned closer and spoke quietly.
“I’ve been through it many times, but still can’t get used to it. These pampered brats, who don’t know the first thing about war, always try to belittle heroes at such gatherings. Just listening to them makes me sick, makes me want to snap their necks.”
“It’s inevitable, isn’t it. Politics always works that way.”
“I wouldn’t know. I’d rather face enemies on the battlefield.”
The Marquis took two glasses from a passing servant, handed one to Sion, and lightly clinked them before downing his drink.
“Anyway, do well tonight. And since Count Lichten isn’t here, be extra careful.”
It was a warning not to cause trouble like last time. But Sion, unaware of that nuance, simply nodded, taking it as general advice.
As the Marquis moved away, other nobles swarmed in like they’d been waiting.
“Lord Sion! Have you been well? I am…”
“Haha! Meril, long time no see. How have you been?”
“I’ve been fine, so could you please step aside? I have matters to discuss with Lord Sion.”
“Oh my, my apologies. But it seems Lord Sion doesn’t particularly wish to speak with you. What do you think?”
The competition among young noble ladies, drawn to his looks, was fierce. Like alley cats squabbling over a juicy piece of meat.
At this rate, Sion half-expected claws to fly. He wanted to escape before the catfight exploded.
“Sion Clausen.”
No “young lord” attached.
Which meant the speaker was of equal or higher standing.
Sion turned at once toward the voice.
“It’s been a while.”
Indeed it had, but Sion had no idea who this man was.
He waited, knowing the surrounding noblewomen would identify him soon enough.
“L-Lord Berecric!”
“Would you all step aside? I have words for this friend.”
Berecric, the second son of the Marquis of Guchen.
Normally his elder brother should have filled that role, but due to poor mental health from childhood, the family had barred him from public affairs.
Thus, Berecric was the likely heir.
‘If I recall, the Guchen Marquisate rose to the top three through commerce and diplomacy, unlike the martial Clausen or Redenen.
And in the novel, they looked down on sword-wielding types.’
Not a welcome prospect for Sion. The Clausen March was Hispania’s shield, a cornerstone of military power.
To some, a reassuring force, but to others, something to restrain. From that view, Sion and Berecric were bound to be political and personal rivals.
“Lord Berecric.”
“Since the last royal banquet, isn’t it? Quite a while.”
“Perhaps… yes.”
Perhaps, my ass, I don’t know anything.
The novel had no details like this. In fact, Berecric himself barely appeared: only once early on, when he provoked Kim Yoo-hyun at a royal banquet and got humiliated.
Then, later in the mid-story, a brief mention, and then, dead!
‘In short, just an extra. Not worth my worry.’
If the Guchen family had been friendly to Clausen, it might’ve been different. But they weren’t.
Sion quickly sorted his thoughts.
“They say you distinguished yourself in the war with Nudia.”
“Yes.”
“Thinking of your past self, it seems strange… but since His Majesty himself said so, I cannot doubt it.”
Which basically meant: ‘I don’t believe you, but since the King said it, I’ll grudgingly pretend to.’
Sion cursed inwardly and waited.
“If possible, I’d like to hear your tale of the war.”
“My tale?”
“Yes. What you saw with your own eyes. I want to hear it from your lips.”
A transparent ploy.
Make him speak, then look for flaws or drag out contradictions to latch onto.
If he refused, Berecric would sneer, ‘Why? Almost as if you weren’t there yourself.’
If he spoke and slipped even slightly, Berecric would pounce, ‘Wait a minute, that doesn’t add up.’
‘No wonder you got humiliated in the novel.’
Back then, Kim Yoo-hyun had simply smirked, tripped him unseen, and let him fall flat on his face.
Berecric turned crimson with rage, but Yoo-hyun’s quip, “What, blaming others for falling on your own?”, had finished him off.
“What are you two doing?”
Another voice, this time one Sion recognized: Ludwig Redenen.
He looked sullenly between Berecric and Sion, weighing which of the two he disliked more.
“Just chatting, Ludwig. I’ve never experienced war, you see. So I thought to hear from Sion Clausen, who ‘directly’ fought and ‘directly’ won.”
That bastard was hammering on those words way too hard. It was basically picking a fight. But Sion stayed silent. He wasn’t about to be baited by such clumsy tricks. Even if he did answer, he had no intention of showing any weakness.
“Looks like you’ve all gathered here. Wanting to get close to today’s guest of honor, perhaps?”
A young woman, still with girlish traces, stepped up to the three men.
Her looks gave Sion no clue, but he thought quickly.
‘Berecric and Ludwig are both marquises’ sons. For her to walk in so confidently, she must at least be a marquis’ daughter herself.’
His mind and body moved fast.
“Lady Estia,” he greeted, inclining his head slightly.
Lady Estia of the Marquis of Onere smiled lightly, glanced around, and spoke.
“I’m curious too.”
“Pardon?”
“I mean, I too want to hear Lord Sion’s story. Well? As someone who experienced the war firsthand, don’t you have a fine tale to share with us?”
Do these people have nothing better to do than gossip about war? Or are they just that desperate to catch him in a slip?
Sion grumbled inwardly but kept his face impassive.
In truth, he’d already intended to speak. After all, he and Edgar IV had prepared a little “play” for this very moment.
