ICM Chapter 8

It was the largest banquet ever held since the construction of the Empress Dowager’s palace.

The building, modeled after the Empress Dowager’s palace, was lit up as bright as day with lights all around. Noble carriages kept arriving, and knights dispatched from the imperial palace frequently patrolled both inside and outside the palace.

At the main entrance of the banquet hall, Ashika hesitated at the hand extended before her. The owner of the hand looked at her with his usual gentle smile.

“My hand is starting to feel awkward.”

His voice was slightly higher pitched for a man. Feeling something crawl up her spine, Ashika imperceptibly tightened her lips.

‘How can he be so brazen?’

His attitude, showing not even a hint of hesitation or guilt, was almost impressive. If she hadn’t deliberately investigated, she wouldn’t have even suspected.

Unable to wait any longer, the gloved hand grabbed Ashika’s hand. Unable to refuse even that, she was practically pulled into the banquet hall by Coral.

“Entering Lady Ashika Igraine, Young Duchess of the House of Igraine, and Lord Coralrod Oclein of the House of Oclein!”

At the attendant’s resonant voice, all eyes in the banquet hall turned toward them at once.

Ashika passed through the crowd with her usual cold expression, focusing all her attention on the feeling of cool silk brushing against her legs.

The nobles glanced at her while conversing, their expressions eager to strike up a conversation with the rarely-seen Young Duchess Igraine.

However, they couldn’t approach directly largely because of another person’s presence.

After confirming Ashika’s entrance, people’s gazes shifted to Drushia, who had arrived earlier.

‘Will those two stay quiet today?’

‘I heard they had a confrontation at the Security Force headquarters last time?’

‘My, it’s like walking on thin ice everywhere.’

The nobles in the banquet hall remained tense.

The Empress Dowager’s much-discussed banquet. Add to that the encounter between two houses known to be archenemies. Their faces showed both anxiety and anticipation about what might unfold.

Drushia’s gaze briefly touched upon Ashika. Among people with light brown hair, blonde hair, and various other colors, Ashika stood out distinctly.

‘Still so cold.’

Black eyes like obsidian, gleaming but frigid. Her glossy black hair was tied up without a single strand out of place.

Her hair, decorated with platinum accessories, looked elegant while making her cold expression appear even colder. Even her silver-gray and white dress that exposed her shoulders didn’t convey a hint of warmth.

‘This is the real Lady Igraine.’

The image from the last banquet seemed like a lie now. Lady Igraine crying and clinging – it seemed unreal.

The memory he’d tried to bury resurfaced, making his throat feel parched. Drushia swept his indifferent gaze across the banquet hall.

“The people’s expressions are quite entertaining.”

“Well, it’s the Empress Dowager’s banquet. I suppose it’s a bit of a burden.”

The owner of the clear voice was Shafri. The legitimate daughter of Marquis Maiheller and his longtime friend, they were known to be quite close.

Drushia nodded slightly in agreement.

“They must find it tiresome to be cautious around a toothless tiger.”

“Only the newly debuted ladies and young lords seem excited.”

Those who had just come of age gathered in small groups, creating the only lively atmosphere in the banquet. However, Drushia showed no interest in any of it.

“Come on, Dru, try to enjoy yourself. It’s not like you attend banquets often.”

“You don’t need to stick by my side. Go have fun if you want.”

“How could I leave such a handsome fiancé alone? What if someone tries to steal you away?”

“Isn’t that what you were hoping for?”

Drushia looked down at Shafri with a slight smirk.

Deep golden hair and spring-like blue-green eyes. Her tall, slender figure was both delicate and graceful. Shafri pressed closer with friendly familiarity, her beautiful eyes sparkling.

“I can’t let just anyone steal you away. Whoever becomes your bride, I must approve of them first.”

“You seem ready to find one for me yourself.”

“I’ve been telling you all along. If there’s a lady you’re interested in, just tell me. I’ll arrange something.”

While saying this, Shafri scrutinized each woman in the hall. Drushia fell into quiet thought.

“It’s been over a year since our engagement, hasn’t it?”

“Has it been that long already?”

“Yes. It’s dragged on longer than expected, so perhaps now…”

“Ah, what about that lady over there? I heard she’s been attending banquets since last month looking for a match. See all those jewels she’s wearing? They say her family’s gem mines are so large even the imperial family has their eye on them.”

Shafri cut off Drushia’s words and pointed to the edge of the hall. Drushia’s gaze naturally followed.

“That’s a family from the Antalos region. They’re wealthy, but most of their assets are fixed, so they rely on external merchant groups for management. Their weak distribution network wouldn’t be helpful to me.”

The House of Talion was a house of knights. Their powerful knightly order guarding the borders was the backbone of the family. However, they faced many management challenges after becoming responsible for half of the grand duchy.

The biggest problem was the emperor’s order controlling entry to the grand duchy and the resulting difficulties in distributing goods.

“A family with control over major distribution networks or large merchant groups would be better.”

They also had to consider the possibility of territory expansion. The content coming from his pleasant voice was utterly dry.

Suddenly, the woman who had caught their attention turned to look at Drushia. When their eyes met, she was startled and her face turned bright red.

However, Drushia’s gaze upon her remained cold.

“I’ll pass on marriage connections that aren’t helpful. Romance might be different, but I can’t accept a lady who prioritizes marriage.”

In Drushia’s mind, the calculations regarding the potential match were already complete.

“Well, you seem to know everything without me telling you.”

It meant that even after considering everything, no woman met his standards. Shafri clicked her tongue.

“Fine, then at least try romance. See that lady over there? They say quite a few men have proposed to her after falling in love at first sight.”

Shafri pointed to a woman surrounded by other men in the middle of the hall.

The woman, with her well-textured brown hair braided up and decorated with flowers and accessories, was attractive with her delicate features and slender figure.

“I prefer silver hair. I like a bright, cheerful atmosphere, and someone moderately tall. Rather than thin and skinny, I prefer someone voluptuous and sensual.”

His voice was dry, without a hint of passion. Shafri’s expression turned subtle as she opened her mouth but swallowed her words.

Despite his specific description, none of the women Drushia had actually met matched such appearances.

Shafri’s gaze turned toward the balcony behind Drushia. There stood a woman who was exactly opposite to Drushia’s described ideal type.

Ashika Igraine, with jet-black hair like ink, obsidian-like black eyes, a slender build, and a solid presence.

Why was it? Even though Drushia was describing the opposite preference, Ashika kept drawing attention.

Shafri pushed away her unease and smiled brightly.

“These days, ladies prefer to be thin, but men are so strange.”

“Surely among all these women, there must be one who matches my taste. Don’t worry, I won’t drag this out too long.”

At Drushia’s reassurance, Shafri bit the inside of her lip.

The engagement between Drushia and Shafri was a desperate measure to ward off pressure from their families.

Like the Igraines, the only remaining direct line members of the House of Talion were his grandfather Neoren, the former duke, and Drushia himself.

That’s why the vassals strongly opposed Drushia joining the expeditionary force. Though it was a noble’s duty, they couldn’t send their only heir to such dangerous territory.

Most noble houses sent their second or third sons. In cases where only the heir remained, they would hire knights as proxies.

But the House of Talion had never sent a proxy. It would have been a dishonor unworthy of their reputation as the Empire’s Sword.

Five years ago, after returning from his service in the expeditionary force and receiving his duke title, the vassals began seriously pressing him about marriage. He had managed to hold them off somehow, but the situation was quite tiring.

Then Shafri, his longtime friend, faced a forced marriage situation. She proposed a temporary engagement as mutual protection, and Drushia gladly accepted.

So this engagement was a time-limited relationship that could break off whenever either of them found a marriage partner.

‘What a waste of that handsome face. How can he be so cold and indifferent?’

A man who trusted no one and gave his heart to no one. Shafri swallowed the sigh that threatened to escape.

Even this much closeness from Drushia was only possible because it was Shafri. This was probably because they first met at that funeral.

On the day she approached the boy who stood dazed after losing his family. The completely broken boy allowed the girl who silently offered him a handkerchief into his barriers. That connection had lasted 14 years.

“By the way, why isn’t Kalf here? Didn’t he say he would follow?”

Shafri maintained a distance close enough to almost touch shoulders while looking around. It was strange not to see the aide who usually followed like a shadow.

“I gave him a task. He’ll come later, even if he’s delayed.”

A subtle liveliness appeared on Drushia’s previously dry expression.

He had told Kalf to come a bit later. He couldn’t predict what might happen if they encountered each other at the beginning of the banquet.

‘That woman will surely be an interesting variable.’

A brief doubt about whether he was meddling too much crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.

Glenoa Schwern, Coral’s mistress. It was easy to investigate her background since she frequented the gentlemen’s club like her own home.

He knew she had been secretly inquiring about nobles who received invitations to this banquet. He inserted Kalf, who held a baron’s title, into that situation.

‘To accept the proposal even knowing who Kalf is. Well, I suppose she wouldn’t have known the intention.’

He hadn’t done anything himself. He merely provided a stage to someone who wanted to put on a play. Lady Schwern was the one taking action, and she was the one with intentions.

Their conversation was interrupted by a loud voice.

“Entering Her Imperial Majesty Empress Dowager Ilerna Akfella Contilia, Mother of All People, and Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Asaroa Shivertiel Contilia!”

The soft flowing music stopped, and the arched doors inside the hall opened. The attendants opening the doors from both sides didn’t dare raise their heads, and neither did any of the nobles in the banquet hall.

Silence fell so completely that the rustle of dress hems could be heard with each step.

“Raise your heads.”

At the Empress Dowager’s voice, the frozen banquet hall began to move again.