I ended up holding Dietrich’s hand tight and entering the banquet hall.
‘It’s much bigger than I thought.’
It was the first party hall in the Nature palace. There wasn’t a large enough hall in Dahlia’s palace that could hold the banquet.
As you might have seen in movies, a chandelier made of stainless glass hung on the ceiling higher than a regular room, illuminating the hall even with the dark night.
The lantern hanging between the stone walls contained a small demon Salamander instead of a candle.
The Dahlia palace was so cold in winter that I often fell asleep with tremors, but the Nature palace was incredibly warm.
I miss the heating system from Korea.’
“It’s warm.”
“You must have locked dozens of Salamanders.”
Dietrich looked for his seat by pointing his chin at the devil that looked like a burning lizard. The seats were arranged in rank, so we could sit fairly close to Derreck.
“Long time no see.”
The meal hadn’t been served yet, but Derreck, who was already drinking wine, found Dietrich and sent him a smile.
‘It’s a rotten aura no matter how I look.’
The aura was a terrible sight, but I bowed to him calmly.
Don’t show him you’re afraid.’
“Hello.”
“Hmm?”
Derreck looked at Dietrich, frowning as if he had no idea who I was. He hesitated and proceded to open his mouth.
“This is my sister.”
“Did Camille have a daughter? I guess I’m getting old. I don’t remember her at all.”1
He glanced at me indifferently, as if he had seen stones strewn along the street. My eyes soon lifted and my expression remained calm.
“You don’t seem to have much fear.”
Dietrich sighed secretly as if he were relieved that I hadn’t attracted his attention. As soon as they sat down, the servants began to serve the appetizers.
I cleaned little by little the aura of each elder who made eye contact with me, hoping it might help. The elders had an aura that was just as hazy and murky as Lancel.
“Oh, I’ve never seen a princess before.”
An old grandfather with a long beard that looked like an alchemist at first glance smiled at me.
“He.”
I laughed innocently and nodded, smiling helplessly as if I had done nothing.
“Well, I had a headache when I came into Lagrange Castle, but I don’t think I have a headache anymore. How strange.”
“Oh, Sir, you too? I’ve been having headaches recently.”
“By the way, who knew there was a young princess like this. It’s rare to see girls in the Lagrange family.”
The table we were seated on was a place where only the most promising candidates were seated.
The youngest of them was Dietrich, and I, who was five years younger than Dietrich, was noticeably small.
Thanks to the high chair, I couldn’t touch the ground and people burst into laughter one by one when I looked at my feet rolling in the air.
‘Cute.’
People’s aura started to softly sway as if acknowledging that I was adorable.
‘The purification seems to be working.’
I sighed with relief and began to look around. At the moment, it seemed like Leon’s gaze was on me all the way across the hall, but I soon noticed that he was looking at Marilyn standing behind me, not me.
“You son of a bitch!”
What do you think you’re doing? Coveting my subject.
A person named Leon seemed to have had a child of Marilyn’s age since he had gotten married early.
Besides, why are you doing this? Is it because Marilyn doesn’t like you?’
I moved sideways to protect Marilyn and covered her up. As I dragged the chair, Leon’s and Derreck’s eyes reached me at the same time.
I escaped ‘only’ Leon’s gaze, flinching, and startled.
“What’s wrong with you?”
As expected, Derreck asked carelessly. His face was expressionless, but I could feel that he was displeased.
‘You’ve tasted the predator.’
A person with despicable power like Derreck is bound to feel joy and enthusiasm from people who fear them. Just like my father.
‘If I look like I’m more afraid of Leon, I’m sure you’ll be interested.’
I bowed my head without eating any of the dishes in front of me. Leon twisted his mouth tightly, Derreck questioned again.
“I asked why.”
As the tune of the music changes to a calm one, the attention focused on me. I breathed slowly and pretended to look at Leon’s eyes.
“It’s nothing…” I shifted uncomfortably.
“Why are you so wary of Leon? You’re a child of Lagrange. Leon is a loyal follower.”
“He’s a scary uncle. I’m saying he is scarier than the head of the family.”
“What?”
He grinded his teeth at my words. I hurried to talk because I was afraid that I might get caught in the fire.
“That’s right. That’s the uncle from the last time. Right Marilyn?”
“Yes? Are you okay, miss?”
When Marilyn noticed what I was going to do, she nodded disconcertingly.
“Yes. What was it that you said? Ah, yes, that The LaGrange is secure in Euler’s palm.”
“What the hell is this crazy bitch talking about! She’s lying sir!”
Leon raised his voice and banged the table with his fists. Derreck growled like a beast and glared at him.
“What kind of ‘secure’ are you talking about, Leon Euler?”
“I am being falsely accused, Your Excellency. I feel falsely accused.”
Leon lowered his eyes gently, putting his hands together obsequiously. I tried to point my finger at him and speak as clearly as possible.
“That uncle has the key to the seal. Let’s just say he’s the scariest one.”
“……Okay. How do you know that?”
“Give jewellery to another other uncle and…..” (They follow the orders)
My tongue twisted with nervousness due to all the attention being focused on me. I sat and hid my sweaty fist behind me.
Dietrich, who looked at me and Leon alternately grabbed my forearm as if grasping the situation.
“Jewelry? You’re not talking about Seal Stone. Are you? “
“Of course not! She’s lying!”
Leon who seemed confused now stood up and declared that he was innocent. He was not used to being accused of crimes, but his pale face seemed to declare all his crimes.
“It’s obvious that the kid is stealing and lying!”
Leon’s words began to rumble around. I fluttered my innocent eyes like a child who knew nothing and hid myself behind Dietrich.
“Oh, my. Look at her frightened face. She’s very gentle for a Lagrange.”
“Yes, she is a rare and cute princess.”
A few of the Lagrange’s elders began to whisper about me. Before I came to the banquet, I learned through Lancel beforehand that there were fewer users who didn’t know about his embezzlement.
But everyone had just shut up because they were scared of Marquis Euler.’
I knew that the Euler family was like a candle in front of a strong wind. Powerless.
The reason they were able to meddle in Lagrange was because Derrick’s successor, Alphonse, is a descendant of Marquis Euler.
‘But it’s Dietrich who ends up being the Grand Duke.’
No matter how hard Marquis Euler tries, Alfonso will always be far behind Dietrich. Never being able to catch up he’ll be defeated.
‘There’s no reason for me to look good to him.’
Realizing that things don’t turn for his favor, Leon points at me and raises his voice again.
“She stole it! I’ve never even seen a seal stone!”
“My younger sister is just a weak kid who can’t even show her powers. How could she get into the basement guarded by demons and steal the sealing stone?”1
After watching the situation without saying a word, Dietrich looked back and opened his mouth. His eyes were so dry that it seemed like he was reprimanding me.
“Well, then you were the one who stole it!”
“Does this look like a training center?”
“What?”
“You are acting like my teacher at the training center, don’t forget that this is the banquet hall, and you are only Euler’s second son. Know your place.”
With Dietrich’s cold words, Leon glanced back at Derreck and nodded pathetically.
Derreck didn’t like Dietrich, but Derrick Lagrange was the northern lord here. Though strong in power, Marquis Euler was one of the flag-bearers of Lagrange.
“…I’m sorry, Young Master.”
Eventually, Leon had no choice but to bow to Dietrich.
Leatrice who sat quietly next to him approached her brother as if she was avoiding wanting to ruin the banquet.
“Leon, get out.”
“What?”
“It’s a divine night. Let’s not make a fuss. Lord, if there’s anything wrong with my brother, condemn him after the banquet.”
Leatrice was a beautiful woman with purple eyes that shone like a dawn night. I looked at her face as if possessed.
“You’re right. Let’s continue.”
The situation hadn’t seemed to be done yet, but before leaving the banquet, Leon had no choice but to return the key to the seal.
‘That key is also used as a key to the basement room with a sealed stone.’
The basement, where demons lurk, is a place like a grave.
“Did you follow for this reason?”
Dietrich lowered his head and whispered in my ear. He sounded angry as if he would scold me when we got back to Dahlia.
“… Are you angry?”
I asked carefully, but the answer did not return.