Victory Banquet (2)

Inside the lavish banquet hall, where bright and lively music echoed, ironically, sinister gazes were being exchanged.

These were jealous eyes fixed on me.

“Count Vanhart, greetings! It is an honor to finally meet you.”

“I heard you achieved great merits in this recent war—might we hear about it?”

“My daughter has admired you for a long time, Count, and I can finally speak up about it now.”

But even more bothersome than those stares were the people who feigned favor as they rushed toward me.

They were twice as troublesome as those who simply sent open hostility.

If I’d lacked the ability to read people’s intentions, I would have struggled greatly to distinguish who truly bore goodwill among them.

‘What an empty honor. And what’s this about admiring me for a long time?’

I’d never really attended social events, instead focusing on managing the estate.

So hearing that someone’s daughter had admired me for years was simply laughable.

‘Times have really changed. Not long ago, these same people were mocking House Vanhart, and now they talk like that.’

Perhaps, aside from my achievements in the war, the fact that I had gained the trust of the duke was a major factor.

And with His Majesty also viewing me positively, lesser nobles were probably trying to use me as a stepping stone to approach those two.

[And besides, you’re a young count—of course they’re interested. Your face is decent enough, too.]

‘I suppose I’m not bad.’

[Have you ever heard of the word “modesty”?]

‘Also, being called a young count among nobles usually means you’re a greenhorn with power you don’t deserve.’

[Ha. If only you really were just a greenhorn, you might at least be cute.]

At least with Grancesia grumbling and picking fights, it helped me deal with this uncomfortable mood.

Had it not been for Grancesia, I wouldn’t have been able to keep smiling and chatting with all the nobles.

“And… may I ask who this lady is?”

“Oh, this is Monet. She’s my maid.”

“Excuse me? Your maid…?”

At my words, I could sense a few nobles subtly frowning.

Naturally, Monet tensed up and shrank back a little.

“How could a maid wear such a dress…? And Count Vanhart, this banquet is a victory celebration. Bringing your maid is…”

“Haha, yes, that’s true. But Duke Gale expressed a wish to see Monet, so I had no choice.”

“Pardon?”

At the mention of Duke Gale, the nobles who’d been frowning instantly smoothed their expressions.

Their faces changed so quickly that I nearly burst out laughing.

“His Grace treats Monet almost like a daughter. The dress was also sent by His Grace himself.”

“Ah, ah! Is that so? Did you say Miss Monet? She’s truly beautiful!”

“P-Pardon? Oh, thank you…”

Monet seemed bewildered by the nobles’ dramatic change in demeanor.

Once again, it was proof of the value attached to the name of Duke Gale.

“But shouldn’t you have tactfully declined even if His Grace suggested it? Then again, you never had much tact anyway.”

Just as things were wrapping up amicably, someone decided to spoil the mood.

‘Nior Bellen.’

I was secretly glad to see a familiar face.

‘Of course, from your point of view, this must rub you the wrong way.’

I hadn’t expected him to attend the banquet.

[Do you know that guy?]

‘He was a regular visitor, since his holding is nearby.’

The Bellen family used to have frequent contact, but after their fall, that ended.

You could compare it to the Deoric family’s situation, but honestly, it was unfair to put the two on the same level.

Compared to Baian Deoric, Bellen was simply laughable.

“Watch your tongue, Nior Bellen. Have you forgotten that I’m a count?”

When I retorted sarcastically, Nior gritted his teeth.

“Is there a problem? Things suddenly seem a bit lively.”

As things got tense between Nior and me, more nobles gathered, and among them was Duke Gale.

With the duke present, Nior seemed to take the opportunity to loudly protest.

“I apologize for the disturbance. But I believe wrongs must be righted! The Imperial Tournament is a festival of our nation’s dignity. Having Count Vanhart represent us is unacceptable!”

“… Oh ho. Are you saying Count Vanhart is unworthy?”

At Duke Gale’s frosty words, Nior flinched, but, emboldened by those who agreed with him, he shouted out.

“That’s right! If someone like Count Vanhart, who is merely a ‘sword user’, is our representative, our kingdom’s reputation will surely be tarnished!”

“Sir Vanhart has already proven his abilities by achieving success in war.”

“I’m certain he must have used some trickery for that too!”

Duke Gale seemed completely at a loss for words at this absurd claim.

I’d expected my accomplishments to be disparaged, but I hadn’t thought it would come out like this.

Duke Gale’s expression twisted as he was about to say something.

“It’s fine, Your Grace.”

I stepped forward and grinned.

“They won’t listen no matter how much we explain with words.”

They were the sort to stubbornly argue without logic.

It was useless to explain logically to people like this.

‘Well, I can understand how they feel.’

A scion of House Vanhart, once insignificant, returns from war a hero? Of course they’d have trouble accepting that.

‘If words won’t work, I’ll just have to show them with action.’

I glanced at the tense-faced Nior, then raised my voice to address the banquet hall.

“I will give every doubter a chance!”

If Duke Gale got involved, people like Nior would be forced to be silent.

But if things ended there, rumors questioning my merits would never die down.

After I’d worked so hard to restore House Vanhart’s image, I couldn’t let that happen.

Instead, this was an opportunity.

A chance to silence anyone who doubted me and make my name known.

“From two o’clock tomorrow afternoon until before the evening banquet, I will accept challengers.”

Nior looked puzzled, not understanding what I meant.

“Challengers…?”

“You’re dissatisfied with me representing us in the Imperial Tournament, right? Then there’s a simple way to resolve it.”

As Grancesia always says,

“Let’s settle this properly.”

Anyone who challenges me, I’ll defeat without exception.

So thoroughly that they’ll never think of catching up again.

“I’ll beat every last one.”

This time, I intended to put those words into practice.

* * *

After the banquet, my declaration spread across the entire capital.

Apparently, no one had expected me to respond like this.

[But isn’t this a bit reckless?]

“Reckless?”

[Your skills have improved, but if they line up and keep coming, won’t it be tough?]

That was certainly true.

Even if it was one-on-one, if the fights kept coming without rest, my stamina would eventually run out.

“You’re right. Even with the Hidden Star Sword, there’s a limit to how many I can defeat.”

With the Hidden Star Sword, also known as InvincibleUponFirstGlance, I could defeat opponents in a single move without using up stamina.

But in duels observed by everyone, any technique I used would surely be noticed and countered by the next challenger.

It wouldn’t keep working.

“But even so, that’s enough.”

[What?]

I gave a wry smile to Grancesia, who clearly didn’t understand.

“This is a fight where I’m inevitably at an advantage.”

[What do you mean?]

She didn’t understand, but I didn’t bother to explain.

She’d see soon enough.

“Look over there. Maybe the rumors are really true.”

People who’d heard the rumors gathered around and were whispering, staring at me.

I was at the royal training ground, a place meant for the Royal Guard to train, but with Duke Gale’s help, I’d borrowed it for the day.

I waited there, warming up a bit for my opponents.

[Your maid seems pretty worried about you.]

“Monet’s never seen me fight.”

After what happened yesterday, Monet had urged me not to get into needless fights.

In her mind, she only remembered the weakling she’d seen at the count’s estate and my battered self on the battlefield.

“I’ll show Monet what I can really do this time.”

That should ease her worries in the future.

[Just don’t get beaten to a pulp. You know it’s about to start soon, right?]

Just as Grancesia said, it was almost 2 o’clock—the appointed time.

Already, the training ground was packed with nobles.

“That’s not going to happen.”

[Isn’t that too optimistic? I know your skill surpasses your rank, but still…]

As Grancesia began to offer more advice, a commotion stirred among the nobles seated like spectators.

“Why do they look so beaten up?”

“Did they get into a brawl before coming here?”

The crowd’s attention was drawn to a group shuffling in.

They looked exhausted, sporting wounds and appearing to be in poor condition.

[Are those the guys who are challenging you today?]

“So it seems.”

There were about eight of them—and among them was Nior Bellen, who’d picked a fight with me yesterday.

[Only eight? Isn’t the Founding Festival supposed to be more popular?]

“No, it’s the opposite. The only reason they look like that is that it was too popular.”

Grancesia seemed completely lost, unable to hide her confusion.

I decided to kindly explain.

“Do you remember when I said I’d have the advantage in this fight?”

[Yeah.]

“There are three reasons why.”

I looked calmly at the group deciding the order to fight me.

“First, the truly skilled fighters—the ones I’d have trouble with—are already members of the tournament team. So none of them are fighting me today.”

Representatives for the Imperial Tournament aren’t chosen as a single person.

The best in the kingdom had already been picked for the team.

In other words, those challenging me today were the leftovers—the ones not good enough to make the cut.

“Second, their interests align, but they don’t, at the same time.”

[What do you mean?]

“Even if I give up my position, only one person can take it. Naturally, whoever beats me first gets it. Look at them—just deciding the fighting order is making things nasty.”

Indeed, the eight gathered were already tense and glowering at each other just over the order of duels.

“And finally, while there are lots of people who want to fight me, there isn’t enough time.”

[But from 2 PM “till the evening banquet, that’s almost five hours. How is that not enough?]

“You never know how long a fight will take. Wouldn’t each of them want to fight earlier rather than later?”

There were only so many slots for challengers. They ended up fighting each other fiercely to get a spot.

Plus, since the announcement was made in the evening and they had to be here by 2 PM the next day, they barely had time to rest.

In short, I would be facing the ones who’d worn themselves out fighting from yesterday until today.

Finally understanding, Grancesia remarked as if exasperated.

[You swindler…]

‘It’s been a while since someone called me that.’

And honestly, it felt good to hear it again.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep