Chapter 198
Chapter 198: Dreaming of the Future
‘Why the hell is that bastard looking over here like that again?’
With his arms crossed, I watched from a corner of the banquet hall.
A handsome man with silver hair and pale skin.
He was blatantly staring daggers at Cobalt, his eyes seething with murderous intent.
I stuck my lower lip out and asked Manton,
“Manton, who’s that guy?”
“Ah, you mean Prince Kaline?”
“Kaline? The Second Prince of the Imperial Family?”
“Yes, that’s right. I assume he’s here because the Emperor himself is attending the banquet.”
“Ah, is that so?”
So that guy’s him, huh?
The bastard who tried multiple times to kill Medeia.
And probably…
‘That guy called Jubilen or whatever… there's a high chance he’s connected to him too.’
Well, the guy himself had been reduced to dust and disappeared, so there was no physical evidence.
But seeing how that guy was glaring at Cobalt with such bloodthirsty eyes, it was clear his intentions were anything but good.
And my suspicion was fairly justified.
‘These trash… got lucky with one measly accomplishment and now they’re walking around like big shots.’
Prince Kaline was feeling deeply uncomfortable at this banquet.
Princess Medeia, flitting around like a fly in his eyes.
Not only had she survived after he had cornered her at Ruslan Fortress, but now those who had openly taken her side were being treated like heroes. Of course it would make his insides churn.
“Hohoho! Thank you. Truly, thank you!”
While Cobalt was in the middle of chatting with the surrounding nobles—
Kaline strode toward him irritably.
Then,
“Ah, Your Highness. You’ve arrived.”
“Greetings.”
The nobles, faces filled with tension, quickly stepped aside to make way.
Cobalt, surprised, widened his eyes and immediately showed proper courtesy toward royalty.
“Greetings, Prince Kaline. It is an honor to meet you like this!”
Kaline let out a short laugh and replied,
“Of course it’s an honor. A third-rate house like yours… getting an audience with me, the Second Prince.”
Blatant provocation, obvious to anyone watching.
‘What the hell is that bastard saying?’
My eyes, watching from a distance, grew sharp.
“Young Master.”
Manton called me with a worried look, and I cracked my neck from side to side.
Something about this felt ominous.
Then, Cobalt smiled and answered,
“Haha, you’re absolutely right. Our Daphne House was a minor one until just recently. Without the support of the Imperial Family, we would never have made it this far.”
“Then wouldn’t it be best to know your place and keep yourselves out of sight?”
“…Pardon?”
“Instead of basking in undeserved glory here, wouldn’t it be more fitting for your lot to stay buried in your land?”
Thunk.
Kaline grabbed Cobalt’s shoulder and pressed down, his expression twisted in displeasure.
A face full of disgust, as if he were looking at an insect.
Perhaps they sensed something was off.
The nobles surrounding them began to back away, one by one.
‘That bastard…’
Hardin couldn’t hold it in any longer and took a step forward.
“Young Master! P-please, restrain yourself!”
The surrounding knights tried to stop him, but Hardin brushed them off with his shoulder and strode forward briskly.
The distance between Prince Kaline and Hardin quickly closed.
“Hey, you over there…”
Just as Hardin reached out to grab the prince—
Thunk!
A hand suddenly shot out from the side, grabbing Kaline’s arm and pulling him back, accompanied by a cold voice.
“You’d best stop your little game right about there.”
“What insolent bastard dares to…!”
Kaline ground his teeth and turned his head toward the voice—
and in that moment, his eyes widened like lanterns.
Standing in front of him was none other than—
“Medeia?”
“Yes, Brother.”
It was the Fourth Princess, Medeia.
Smack!
Kaline jerked his arm free and snapped irritably,
“What are you doing here?”
“The barbarian subjugation is over. And I’m attending this banquet under royal privilege. Is there a problem?”
Her demeanor was so calm it almost seemed arrogantly relaxed.
Kaline’s brow twitched as he grit his teeth and replied,
“Ha… a problem? Did you say problem?”
“Yes. If there is one, do let me know. I’m always ready to lend an ear to your words, Brother.”
Kaline glanced around with a flick of his eyes.
Everyone in the banquet hall was watching him.
Even… the Emperor, Leorine.
‘Damn it all.’
Thud!
Kaline let out a heavy sigh, bumped Medeia’s shoulder as he passed, and stormed off somewhere.
As that storm swept through and passed—
“Goodness, Princess. Are you alright? You're not bruised anywhere, are you?”
Hardin immediately changed his expression and asked in a teasing tone.
Medeia let out a sigh and replied,
“Save it. You're disgusting.”
“Well now, that’s a bit harsh. I asked out of genuine concern.”
Maybe it had been too long since their last bout of banter.
The corners of both their mouths twitched upward at almost the same time.
“It’s been a while, Princess Medeia. Have you… been well?”
“Thanks to you. Good to see you, Viscount Cobalt. I’ve heard about the Daphne Viscounty’s accomplishments.”
“Haha, it's nothing.”
The tense atmosphere soon relaxed, and Hardin turned his head slightly.
‘That bastard… I’ve got a bad feeling about him.’
He wore a thoughtful expression, clearly lost in deep consideration.
---
---
Crash! Shatter! Crackle!
“You filthy bitch!!”
Prince Kaline.
He angrily hurled an ornate plate in his room to the floor, shattering it.
His face was red as a demon’s, his entire body trembling.
“If not for those idiot bastards from Ignima…”
The ones who’d confidently declared they’d deal with Daphne had completely cut off contact.
He had tried reaching out to Ignima’s side as well, but was only met with silence and disregard.
He couldn’t stand the current state of things.
“Bardin!”
The moment he called out a name—
Creeeak!
“Y-yes, Your Highness! You called for me?”
A knight burst into the room in a panic.
His loyal retainer and right-hand man—Sir Bardin.
He looked at Prince Kaline with deep concern etched on his face.
Kaline began walking across the room, his footsteps echoing sharply. He pulled open a drawer and took out a small pouch, then handed it over.
A faint scent of apricot fruit wafted out from inside.
Sir Bardin frowned and asked,
“Your Highness, this is…”
“Feed it to the insects. Make sure no one finds out.”
“Are you certain about this?”
When Bardin swallowed hard and asked, Kaline’s voice turned even colder, sharper.
“I’ll take responsibility. I also have a way to erase the traces. So just… do as I say.”
“Yes, understood.”
Bardin bowed deeply and hurried out of the room.
“Those fools. I’ll show them exactly what happens when they dare parade themselves before me.”
A murderous glint flared in Kaline’s eyes.
---
---
At the center of the banquet hall—
“Veritarun was so powerful that, with a single swing of his sword, entire mountains crumbled and storms howled! And do you know how desperately we fought to block that?”
“Ooohhh…!”
Beryl, his face flushed red, chattered excitedly.
The nobles surrounding him listened with eager expressions, like children hearing an old grandmother’s tale.
And—
“Vice-Captain Lucilis, is that true?”
“There’s a bit of exaggeration, but… if you’re talking about the essence of it, he’s not entirely wrong.”
“Really? Haha, quite impressive.”
Even the knights guarding those nobles were chatting animatedly, all discussing the recent subjugation and enjoying the lively feast.
Princess Medeia, too, was enjoying the banquet in her own way.
“So, how were the barbarians? Manageable?”
“Not easily. We’re still investigating the drug that causes their awakening… but the progress hasn’t been much.”
“What a gloomy topic. If it’s too difficult, shall I lend you a hand?”
“I was actually considering entrusting it to your side.”
“…Huh? Just like that, as if it’s only natural?”
“Why? Are you refusing?”
“Well, even if it’s you, Princess, I should at least think it over a bit…”
As she and Hardin exchanged lighthearted banter—
That was when it happened.
“Here now, I brought more wine. Let’s have another round.”
Manton came over carrying a tray of glasses and offered them to the two.
Just as everyone took their glasses and were about to drink—
“Hmm?”
Sniff. Sniff-sniff.
Hardin suddenly flared his nostrils and raised his hand to stop them.
“What is it, Young Master?”
Manton tilted his head, puzzled by Hardin’s behavior that resembled that of a hound catching a scent.
“Everyone, don’t drink this.”
“Why not? I went to the trouble of bringing it…”
Trickle.
Immediately, Medeia poured the wine in her glass onto the floor.
“Manton, this wine… who did you get it from?”
“It was handed to me by a maid standing over there. Huh? Where’d she go?”
Manton pointed toward a spot across the room but then looked confused.
The woman who had given him the wine had vanished completely.
“I’ll step out for a bit. Until I’m back… don’t drink anything. Warn the others, too.”
“Young Master?”
Manton reached out to stop him, but Hardin was already dashing out of the banquet hall.
“What on earth is this about?”
“Well, I’d say… he’s planning to find the one pulling the strings.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Medeia offered no response to the still-confused Manton, remaining silent.
But inwardly—
‘Now, what are you going to do, Hardin Daphne?’
Her thoughts were a mix of worry and anticipation over Hardin’s actions.
---
---
Late at night, in a secluded garden corner of the imperial palace.
“Are you sure you did it properly? Why are those brats still perfectly fine?”
“I-I definitely delivered it. I… I have no idea what could have gone wrong…”
Sir Bardin bowed repeatedly, his face filled with unease as Kaline spat out his frustration in a furious scolding.
Then—
Smack!
Kaline struck Bardin’s cheek mercilessly.
“I told you to make it happen no matter what! Am I supposed to just sit here and watch that woman strut around the palace?”
“I-I’ll find a way. I’ll reach out to other contacts for help.”
“Damn it, how are you messing up something this simple? I even provided you with Parsilin!”
“M-my deepest apologies…”
Smack!
“Apologies?”
Smack!
“Y-yes… I’m truly sorry…”
Kaline’s rage showed no signs of subsiding.
Each time his hand struck, Bardin’s cheek grew redder and redder.
Thud!
“…Hmm?”
Just then, a hand shot out from the side and grabbed Kaline’s wrist.
Kaline scowled at the masked and hooded figure clad entirely in black.
“Who the hell are you? You dare lay a hand on me…?”
“Let go of him right now!”
Shhhng!
Just as Bardin reached for his sword and swung it toward the masked figure—
Bam!
“Guhhak!”
The man’s fist landed squarely on Bardin’s chin first. His eyes rolled back.
Thud!
He collapsed on the spot, foaming at the mouth.
“Y-you bastard… who the hell are you?”
“No need for you to know that.”
A deep, cold voice came from behind the mask.
Whish! Thud!
“Huhhak!”
The masked man swept Kaline’s legs, knocking him to the ground—
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Then began slapping him across the face without mercy.
Just like Kaline had done to Bardin a moment earlier.
“Starting to come to your senses now?”
“Y-you bastard… Who are you?! Did Medeia send you? Or Daphne?!”
As the masked man grabbed him by the collar, Kaline shouted even more furiously.
“I don’t know what kind of stunt you think you’re pulling, but I’ll make you regret it. I’ll find you and tear you apart—”
“…Still haven’t come to your senses, huh.”
With a sigh, the masked man pulled something out from his coat.
An item shaped like a conch shell.
When he infused it with mana—
<<…I told you to make it happen no matter what! Am I supposed to just sit here and watch that woman strut around the palace?>>
<<I-I’ll find a way. I’ll reach out to other contacts for help.>>
<<Damn it, how are you messing up something this simple? I even provided you with Parsilin!>>
<<M-my deepest apologies…>>
“Th-this is…”
Despair swept across Prince Kaline’s face.