“You look so handsome!”

At the maid’s exclamation, Berge examined his reflection in the mirror. His neatly styled suit had just the right touch of extravagance. It fit beautifully without restricting his movements.

“Not bad.”

The suit wasn’t the problem. The banquet hall he had to wear it to was. Who would have thought he would end up playing a human’s escort?

As he sighed, Ernyan entered. At a glance from her, the maid hurried out.

“You look handsome. How do I look?”

Ernyan twirled once. Her sky-blue dress, complementing her snow-white hair, was striking.

“Quite nice.”

“Isn’t it?”

“There’s nothing in particular I need to do at the banquet, is there?”

“Of course not. Just stay beside me. I’ll take care of everything else.”

Well, then.

“It’s time.”

She offered her hand first, and Berge took it.

“Shall we?”

“Let’s go.”

The splendid carriage carrying the Crown Princess and Berge set off for Duke Heinz’s mansion.

* * *

A banquet’s standing depended on who hosted it and who attended. Royal banquets stood at the very top, and others were judged by the power their hosts wielded.

By that measure, this banquet ranked quite high. It was hosted by Duke Heinz, the kingdom’s foremost noble, and the Second Prince and his wife were known to be attending.

Many guests had come hoping to pick up some scraps from the marriage alliance with the Kingdom of Hessen. But that wasn’t everyone’s chief concern.

“Have you heard? An invitation went to the First Detached Palace, too.”

“Then Her Highness the Crown Princess will be coming as well.”

The Crown Princess, Ernyan Hilderan. An invitation had reached the most talked-about woman in the kingdom, and news that she had recently dined alone with a man was shaking high society. Everyone wondered whether she would bring Hillen Cargill as her partner or this new man named Pale.

“Surely she’ll still come with Sir Hillen?”

“But I hear Her Highness’s knight went out personally to greet this Pale. They dined together, and he’s staying at her palace. Clearly, they’re more than casual acquaintances.”

Viscountess Orian opened her fan as she whispered.

“I’ve heard he belongs to Sir Hillen’s raiding party.”

“Yes, so it’s hardly surprising that they know each other.”

“Then could it really be...?”

“Won’t we be able to tell from whom she brings as her partner tonight?”

‘How irritating.’

Obest Hilderan, the kingdom’s Second Prince, listened to their conversation while savoring his wine. He didn’t like it. Ernyan Hilderan was not the name that ought to be on their lips.

“You seem displeased.”

“You’re imagining it. Aren’t you going to talk with them some more?”

“I was enjoying myself. I found several people I got along with quite well. But how can I enjoy myself alone when Your Highness looks so troubled?”

“This occasion was arranged for you.”

“You and I are in this together, Your Highness. What is there to hide?”

Yes, that was true. Obest turned to meet her gaze. She was Feria Hessen, the Kingdom of Hessen’s Second Princess—the woman who was now his wife.

“If you can hear their whispers, you can surely guess.”

“I understand. This country’s nobles seem very fond of the Crown Princess.”

“They are.”

Obest disliked his younger half sister. He, too, was a child of the World Tree, born after surviving that accursed great rite. He, too, had grown into adulthood through training that bordered on abuse. Most of the kingdom’s knights could not rival him, and countless royals could not even come close.

But everything changed when Ernyan Hilderan, his sister ten years his junior, was born. The king’s favor shifted from him to her. And the king’s favor dictated the prevailing tide. Slowly but surely, the nobles’ support shifted from him to Ernyan Hilderan.

Anyone who had never endured watching that happen could go their entire life without understanding how it felt.

“Relax your expression. Everyone is watching.”

A gentle touch eased his rigid face.

“The past is the past. Look at them. They may speak of the Crown Princess, but aren’t their actions directed toward you?”

She was right. This banquet had two main purposes: to introduce Feria Hessen to Hilderan’s high society, and to establish ties with those interested in the trade between Hessen and Hilderan that Obest was spearheading. Though he had sent them away to take a short break, until moments ago he had been surrounded by nobles discussing that very subject.

“Look at them. Every last one is waiting for you, Your Highness.”

“... For me.”

“Go on, stand up and answer their expectations. Their talk of Crown Princess Ernyan is merely a little diversion to pass the time while you’re absent.”

“... Ernyan is not so easily dismissed.”

Still.

“This time, you’re right.”

Obest rose. The nobles who had been keeping a close eye on the Second Prince and his wife began approaching one by one. Just then—

“... Hilderan’s rightful...”

An elaborate, lengthy string of flowery phrases followed. From their content, everyone realized who was arriving.

CREEEAK

The doors slowly opened.

“... Her Highness Ernyan Hilderan, Crown Princess of Hilderan, and her partner, Lord Pale Krafain!”

The hall fell silent in an instant. As though by prior agreement, every head turned in the same direction.

CLICK, CLICK

Footsteps broke the silence.

Platinum hair falling to her waist, amethyst eyes, and snow-white skin complemented by a sky-blue dress and jewelry. Ernyan Hilderan was as she always was: radiant yet demure, refined yet innocent, elegant yet noble.

“Beautiful.”

“Just as one would expect of Her Highness.”

The men were drawn into her charms, and the women, too, were intoxicated by her presence. That was why their gazes took a moment longer to move past Ernyan to her partner.

But then—

“Ah.”

Viscountess Orian let out an exclamation.

His fiery red hair caught her eye first. His ruby-like eyes were steadfast and deep, while his snow-white skin and the contrasting black suit gave him an impeccably neat, distinguished appearance.

“... He’s handsome.”

The viscountess’s eyes grew dreamy.

Ernyan and Berge walked slowly, enjoying the attention. The crowd parted. At the end of their path stood Obest Hilderan and Feria Hessen.

“It’s been a while, Brother.”

“I think ‘a while’ is something of a misstatement.”

“Then let’s call it a polite greeting.”

“I expected you to attend with Hillen Cargill.”

“I came with someone every bit his equal.”

Obest’s gaze turned to Berge.

“Who are you?”

“My partner, Pale.”

“I didn’t ask you.”

“Pale Krafain.”

Berge gave his false surname with a slight bow of his head.

“I am Obest Hilderan.”

“An honor to meet you, Your Highness.”

“I’ve never heard the surname Krafain.”

“Understandably so. I wasn’t born in Hilderan.”

“May I ask what you do?”

“I run a small trading company.”

“I wonder just how small it really is. If you were ordinary, surely you could not have displaced Hillen Cargill as Ernyan’s partner?”

“Brother, that’s enough.”

“I was so pleased to meet him that I asked a few questions, that’s all.”

“The meaning of ‘pleased’ seems to have changed considerably from what I remember.”

“You did spend a very long time in the Demon King’s captivity.”

The Crown Princess and the Second Prince locked gazes.

“What a tense atmosphere. This hardly seems fitting for siblings who ought to be close.”

Feria Hessen stepped into the tension.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness. We haven’t seen each other since the wedding, have we?”

“Good to see you. You seem to be getting along well with my brother here in unfamiliar Hilderan.”

“His Highness treats me well, so I’m settling into life in Hilderan.”

“Is that so?”

“Your beauty is as dazzling as ever, Your Highness.”

“As is yours.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“I wasn’t finished.”

Obest threw cold water on the now-amicable atmosphere.

“Pale Krafain, I have actually heard a great deal about you. Though I hadn’t known your surname was Krafain.”

“Have you?”

“You possess the mana Akan’s mages are so desperate for, I believe. Would you give me an opportunity to see that mana myself?”

“Brother, that is terribly rude.”

“I am speaking with Lord Pale.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t think I can do that at a banquet.”

“Even if the Second Prince commands it?”

“If Her Highness the Crown Princess commanded it, that might be another matter.”

Obest’s lips twisted.

“Indeed, your arrogance matches your reputation.”

“You flatter me.”

“I see why Ernyan chose you as her partner instead of Hillen Cargill. However...”

“Yes?”

“Doesn’t that concern Akan? Do you think you are better than Hillen Cargill here in Hilderan?”

To be honest, Obest was actually pleased. He already knew the king was pushing for Ernyan and Hillen’s marriage. If they married, his own position would become even more precarious. He needed to prevent it by any means necessary, yet Ernyan herself was throwing it away.

He was pleased, but he could not relax without knowing her intentions. Why on earth was Ernyan abandoning her relationship with Hillen Cargill? He wanted to know. Only then did he feel he could do something.

“Well, at least in Hilderan, I doubt I can match Hillen Cargill.”

But Berge stepped closer, leaning his face between the Second Prince and his wife. Before their surprise had passed, he whispered quietly.

“But I think I can at least do better than Hessen and your wife, Your Highness.”

The prince’s and his wife’s faces contorted hideously.

* * *

The Second Prince and his wife, whom Berge had expected to explode, controlled their emotions better than he had anticipated. Other nobles descended on them afterward, preventing any further conversation. Time passed, and the banquet ended without incident(?).

“That nearly killed me.”

Surrounded by nobles and forced into the utterly unnatural role of a gentleman, he had almost broken into a cold sweat. Once inside the carriage, Berge took off his jacket, feeling stifled.

“I was surprised. I never imagined you would say that.”

“He kept getting on my nerves. I nearly snapped that damned prince’s neck.”

Berge spoke informally even to the illustrious Stars and the Third Prince, conceding a measure of politeness only at best. But he hadn’t done that this time. Though his whole body recoiled, he barely suppressed his rising defiance and played the polite human—for Ernyan, to keep her from being put in a difficult position. That final provocation was the greatest compromise he could manage.

“Of course, you wouldn’t have been put in a difficult position if you hadn’t brought me in the first place.”

“That was never an option.”

“Now we wait for the king’s reaction?”

“Yes. Attending the banquet made it conclusive, so he’ll react.”

“That woman.”

“Woman?”

“The princess of Hessen, was it? She had a snake’s eyes. Don’t underestimate her.”

“I know.”

Ernyan toyed with an ornament on her dress.

“I sent someone to Hessen to look into her. Apparently, she competed for the succession with the First Prince—the current Crown Prince—right to the very end.”

“She lost?”

“Yes. She lost, and with that, her entire support base. But ambition doesn’t simply disappear, does it? Feria Hessen was the one who pushed for exchanges between the two kingdoms.”

“She plans to use that to win over the nobles and expand the Second Prince’s faction.”

“Exactly. You can assume Hessen’s Crown Prince is behind her. She means to become queen of Hilderan, at least.”

“Do you have a countermeasure?”

“I don’t have connections among trading companies, so I have no clear solution.”

Ernyan’s primary supporters were nobles who faithfully followed the king’s wishes, mages, and knights.

“Mages?”

“Spirit summoners are mages, too. I’ve had extensive dealings with mages since childhood.”

“And the knights?”

“Fundamentally, knights admire a strong monarch. That isn’t the only reason, of course, but I’ve built my reputation by personally going on subjugation campaigns since I was young.”

“What about the Second Prince?”

“My brother did the same. But many knights support me over him. I’m certain of that.”

“So the military is entirely in your hands?”

“Not entirely, but to a fair extent. And above all, Hilderan’s people are deeply patriotic. My brother’s move to bring Hessen into this won’t end well for him.”

Ernyan spoke confidently.

“Do you have a trading company, too?”

“I was given a royal trading company a few years ago. But I have no talent for commerce, so I’ve left it in capable hands.”

“The Third Prince has agreed to give me trading companies in the Traparta Union. White Rose and Hyacinth. How about trading with them?”

“When did you manage to get those?”

“When I went to check on the sword.”

“You’re quite resourceful. I’ll put in a word.”

“Good.”

Just then, Berge frowned and opened his storage dimension to take out a communication orb.

“Who is it?”

“Aman.”

The orb glowed, revealing the face of the person on the other end.