Chapter 17.
So, going back to the beginning of all this, it was like this.
“So, you want to throw a banquet?”
Rene secretly called Cyril into the room and started the conversation.
Cyril, hoping that his younger sister had come to her senses and reflected on herself, clicked his tongue in disappointment.
It seemed that she hasn’t come to her senses yet.
“Yes, as quickly and grandiosely as possible.”
“Did you also leave your common sense at home?”
Cyril shook his head with a tired expression. It was almost certain that Rene had lost her mind, otherwise, there was no way he would want to throw a banquet at a time like this.
“Hey. No matter how crazy you’ve become, having a banquet during this time is just inappropriate.”
“Why? It’s not like I’ve killed anyone.”
“Even if you didn’t personally stab someone with a knife, you’re still responsible for their death.”
“No, I’m not.”
“What?”
“I’m saying I didn’t kill her.”
“But in Lian’s suicide note…”
“It was fabricated.”
Rene set down the teacup and sighed.
“Who would fabricate something like that?”
“The actual culprit who killed her, probably.”
“I was willing to help you out as much as I could, but if you keep saying such unreasonable things, I might as well—”
“Read this diary.”
She handed the diary to Cyril and anxiously watched him read through it while drinking tea. Cyril had a sceptical expression as he went through the pages, causing Rene to feel a slight tension building up within her.
Showing the diary to Cyril was a gamble. If he didn’t believe it even after reading it, she was ready to convince him even if it meant using violence.
Sometimes, if words didn’t work, fists were always the original plan.
“…Is this really true?” Cyril asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
“Yes, it’s all true.”
However, despite Cyril’s initial scepticism, his expression hardened and grew darker. It was clear that he was making an effort to believe the contents of the diary, despite the implications it held.
“If this is really true, why didn’t you tell us until now?”
“Would you have believed me if I had?”
“Of course…!”
Cyril stopped talking and closed his mouth. He probably wouldn’t believe it. Since he had always been acting that way for so long.
It hasn’t been long since Cyril decided to trust Rene. Even now, he didn’t completely believe everything.
He believed that Rene had changed to some extent, but he wasn’t denying the wrongdoings she had committed in the past.
“Even though our brother hates you, he couldn’t do anything to you because of the Marchius name. Father had already abandoned you from the start.”
Cyril spoke abruptly, tightly clutching the diary. Rene listened to him silently.
“But I’m different from my older brother and father. It doesn’t matter if the person who betrayed me is my younger sister or a Marchius. It’s irrelevant to me. I will never forgive you.”
“Cyril.”
Rene looked at Cyril’s crumpled face. This world truly had pushed even children into such a swamp of distrust.
“Even if you hold that much grudge, it’s not that intimidating.”
“You!”
As Cyril fumed, he suddenly stood up, his face flushed with anger and embarrassment.
However, Rene only laughed lightly and firmly pressed his shoulder to make him sit down again. Ah, children.
“Why are you so strong? Do you think I’m—”
“Sorry for teasing you. And, thank you.”
Only then did Cyril’s stream of curses come to a halt.
Rene patted him on the shoulder and continued.
“I know it’s hard to believe everything right now. That’s why I’m asking you to host the banquet. So I can prove my words.”
“Hey, what kind of influence do you think I have? Only Father or older brother can host banquets of the scale you’re talking about. I can manage, at best, a small gathering or a tea party.”
“Why?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Both you and I are members of the Marchius family. Why can’t we do it?”
“Well, that’s…”
Cyril hesitated and mumbled.
Well, ‘Because father values our brother much more than us.’ That would be the true answer, but.
He didn’t want to admit it.
Cyril despised the thought of acknowledging his own brother more than anything else.
“And it’s not like my brother can just host parties as he pleases. Father hates wasting money. So our brother could only host such parties when there was a significant promotion in his Sword Expert rank or something like that.”
Rene had explained to Cyril the scale of the banquet she wanted to organize. She wanted to invite all the nobles in the capital city, and if possible, even the local lords from the provinces.
They can also invite knights with prominent names as well. Sending invitations to the imperial family was also part of the plan.
This was almost something that could only happen on the level of the Duke’s birthday celebration.
“Cyril.”
“What?”
“Be honest, you hate Ante, don’t you?
“….”
Rene gave a wicked smile and playfully jabbed Cyril on his side. Cyril’s inner thoughts were exposed as he became flustered, but he raised his chin defiantly.
“Don’t poke me!”
“I’ll take care of that Ante guy myself.” (Rene)
[Cyril Marchius’ affinity has increased by 10.]
This guy is really simple-minded. Rene chuckled softly in amazement, but Cyril, who did not know the true intention behind her laughter, got even angrier.
“What are you scheming now?”
“Hey, didn’t you see me when I landed a clean hit on that knight before?”
“I saw that, but…”
Cyril reluctantly agreed, but he still felt it wasn’t enough.
Ante was like an insurmountable wall to Cyril. Even though Cyril was undoubtedly a skilled swordsman, but Ante still surpassed him in that aspect.
Even considering the history of the Marchius family, Ante was indeed a prodigy with exceptional talent.
“Still, I can’t do it. There are some things that can’t be done.”
“You’re too boring, you punk.”
“Hey! It’s not that I don’t want to do it, it’s just that I can’t!”
Rene leaned back in her chair, looking somewhat annoyed. Anyway, it seems there’s no one useful around, whether it’s this guy or that guy.
“Wait a second. What condition did Father give for Ante to be able to host a banquet?”
“To reach the advance level of Sword Expert?”
“Yeah, that. If it’s that, then Father would definitely host a banquet, right?”
As Rene’s eyes sparkled with excitement, Cyril glanced at her strangely.
Did she suffer from some sort of memory loss? Why can’t she even remember this?
“Well, if it’s at that level, Father would definitely host one. It’s such a grand achievement.”
“Why didn’t you host it?”
“Because I’m only at the intermediate level!”
Cyril’s face turned red, and he clenched his teeth to hold back his frustration. It was already a sensitive topic, and Rene poking at his sore spot only made him angrier.
For the past four years, Cyril had been stuck at the intermediate level without any progress, which had caused him to be under tremendous stress. Of course, reaching the intermediate level at his age was already an impressive feat, but with Ante’s exceptional record in the Marchius family, comparisons were bound to arise.
[The <Monarch of Waves and Healing> advices you not to bully the child.]
However, the oblivious Rene just gave a mischievous grin and replied.
“Well, there’s your answer.”
“Answer? What answer?”
With a mix of curiosity and unease, Cyril questioned her again. Something’s off. Why did he feel a chill down his spine and a sense of foreboding?
“You know what?”
Rene smiled brightly and grabbed Cyril’s arm.
[The <Lord of Vile Blood> gives a sinister smile!]
“Do you want to achieve that advance level or something too?”
[The <Monarch of Waves and Healing> shakes their head.]
[The <Emperor of Enticement> clicks their tongue upon seeing a scapegoat!]
***
Later in the evening.
A banquet of unprecedented scale was taking place at the Marchius’ mansion in the Capital.
The scale of it was so great that everyone’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“Even if the three generations of the rich goes bankrupt, they will still be rich”
“Yes, but it’s the ‘Marchius’, after all. Of course, they’re overflowing with wealth.”
“They haven’t gone bankrupt yet.”
“I heard that the Duke went all out and splurged, and a bottle of wine costs as much as a commoner’s annual living expenses.”
However, not everyone viewed the banquet favorably. Most people viewed the party with a hint of disdain.
“Wasn’t the Duke Marchius going through self-reflection at this time?”
“Well, still, legally there shouldn’t be any issues, I guess.”
“Is it shamelessness or true confidence, I wonder.”
“But, is that really true?”
But then, someone lowered their voice.
“That rumor, you mean? The one about Lady Marchius knowing a certain…method.”
“Isn’t that why everyone gathered here, after hearing that rumor?”
While pretending not to, everyone was looking towards Rene. Contemplating whether that rumor could really be true.
“But it’s the ‘Rene Marchius’ we’re talking about, not just anyone else. Could she really know such a method….”
“Maybe it’s another scam. She’s not someone who’s done crazy things only once or twice.”
And standing in the middle without siding with either group were two people.
It was Ishir and Cedin. Everyone was looking at them with curious eyes.
The combination of the two wasn’t particularly rare, but the fact that they were present in the ‘Marchius Mansion’ was the issue.
“Your Highness, what brings you here?”
Eventually, a noblewoman gathered her courage and approached the two. And she began asking the question that no one else dared to ask.
Ishir almost showed his disgust for a moment, but he managed to suppress it and responded before the young lady could notice.
“Lady Marchius invited me to attend.”
“Yes? But… Your Highness usually…”
Normally, Your Highness usually never attends events hosted by Rene Marchius. Since she couldn’t continue that sentence, the timid noblewoman trailed off.
“Rene is going through a difficult time as well. Shouldn’t I offer my support?”
“Well, that’s true. But…”
“Is there any problem with that, my lady?”
“There’s no problem at all! I, I apologize.”
“There’s no need to apologize. However, would you mind stepping aside? I have something to discuss with Lord Anshirad regarding the ongoing investigation.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
In the end, the noblewoman left as if she were running away.
Those who watched the scene consoled her, saying they would remember her sacrifice. However, what they remembered was something else entirely.
‘Did His Highness the Crown Prince just called Lady Marchius ‘Rene’?’
‘I heard it loud and clear with both of my ears!’
They noticed it right away.
There should be a very interesting secret hidden in this banquet. However, they didn’t make the same mistake as the previous noblewoman. They intended to observe from the shadows.
There was no need to openly provoke the Crown Prince and earn his disdain, was there?
“Cedin!”
“Ah, my lady.”
At that moment, someone called out to Cedin. It was none other than the mastermind behind all of this, Rene.
“It seems you can’t even see me, my lady.”
Ishir, who was standing nearby, spoke with clear displeasure.
“I apologize. I can see you, of course.”
Naturally, he was completely invisible to her.
Rene shrugged her shoulders.
“You invited people to come here and then treat them like this?”
“Well, you know I’m a bit wicked. It’s not just a day or two, is it?”
Since she had embraced the role of a villain, might as well make the most of it. Rene blinked innocently, pretending to know nothing.
“That personality hasn’t changed a bit.”
“Your Highness, on the other hand, has a consistently questionable personality.”
Tension crackled between Rene and Ishir.
“…Let’s finish this business quickly. Just talking to you for this long is already an insult.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“Shall we start with a dance then?”
Ishir smoothly extended his hand.
How vexing. Rene looked down at Ishir’s hand and slowly took it.
Now, it’s time for work.
She’s on a quest.
“I’ll be back, Cedin.”
The two people clenched their teeth and held hands tightly, and made their way to the center of the banquet hall.
And Cedin just watched their retreating figures.
“…Yes, Rene.”
Sooo, what do you think of this chapter. Let me know if there are any errors you found here, I’m always welcome to constructive criticism. And I’m so sorry for the late update. Tbh, this novel was hard to translate since even when mtling it (even with using different sites), it gives incomplete or vague sentences making it hard to read, and I have to use my limited brain cells to somehow make it readable and understandable, so don’t hate me too much if the flow of the sentences wasn’t smooth, please. :’).
Anyways, thank you for reading!
On another note: I will be choosing Emperor of Enticement as the third constellation’s name.
