KFBRV Ch 68

She offered a smile toward the dark-complexioned potato of a man.

[Odette] "Ah. Corporal Marco. I’ve heard your name before. It’s a pleasure to meet you."

[Marco] "Haha! I’m sure you have. If you had feigned ignorance, My Lady, you would have witnessed quite a spectacle. I may not look it, but I have a very venomous side."

Yes. I’m sure you do. You look exactly like a potato swollen with venom.

She reached out with a friendly air and plucked a loose thread from the medal on Corporal Marco’s chest. Or rather, she made it look as though she were plucking a thread. She needed to confirm this man’s exact status as indicated on his decoration.

A C-class Transcendent......? What?

He’s more significant than I expected. That would put him among the top ten Transcendents in the Barzeha Empire. Why is he still only a corporal?

In that moment, a thunderous crash echoed through the hall, sharp enough to make the ears ring. When she turned her head, she saw that the glass the Crown Prince had been holding was shattered into pieces.

[Johan] "Pardon the interruption. I misjudged my strength."

Blood was streaming from his hand.

Because the sound of the breaking glass had been so loud and jarring, the orchestra stopped mid-song. Every musician and guest stared at Johan with looks of pure shock.

It was common knowledge that a Transcendent overflowing with power could make such a mistake, but no one had ever seen the consistently elegant Johan lose his composure like this.

[Johan] "Resume the music."

He issued the command in a dry, flat voice. The guests, swayed by his refined demeanor, tried to brush it off, but the Chamberlain began to fuss.

[Chamberlain] "How could this be a simple mistake of strength? It looks like glass, but this vessel was specially crafted from mana stones for Your Highness! We must call for Your Highness’s physician immediately!"

[Johan] "The physician is unnecessary...... Please, just start the music again. The sooner it begins, the sooner it ends, does it not?"

[Chamberlain] "Your hand is covered in blood, Your Highness!"

[Johan] "The music! Now!"

He appeared to be utterly incensed.

I have never seen Johan, the knight of knights and the gentleman of gentlemen, act like such a tyrant.

Then again...... the Emperor had been excessive today. There was a limit to how much a father should use his son for political leverage.

Sensing a storm on the horizon, Odette quickly took Corporal Marco’s arm and moved toward the wall furthest from the imperial seats. She was determined to avoid being struck by any stray sparks from Johan’s fury.

[Odette] "I’m curious. What sort of 'venomous side' do you possess, Corporal Marco?"

The man was a lowlife who didn't deserve her respect, but there were many listening ears nearby.

I had attended many such banquets, but this was the first time I was seen conversing with a male guest.

The curiosity of the crowd was palpable.

There is no need to ruin my reputation further by speaking informally in a situation like this.

A soldier who had received a medal had contributed significantly to the Empire. Although he was technically of lower social standing, using formal language in such a setting was a matter of unspoken etiquette.

At her polite speech, Marco squared his shoulders and puffed out his chest, transforming into an even more unsightly potato.

[Marco] "Well. Perhaps I might tell the Count that you secretly visited the containment zone?"

[Odette] "......"

[Marco] "I am the Count’s right hand, after all. It is only right that I report the fact that My Lady visited the containment zone on the final day of the Founding Festival."

[Odette] "......And?"

[Marco] "I have even forsaken my duty for your sake, My Lady. How disappointed would I be if you failed to recognize my efforts? It isn't as if I could bring myself to torment you in the same way I torment the Fenrir clan."

He was a complete thug. To claim he was doing something for her sake when this was their first conversation...... furthermore, his tone was nothing short of a blatant threat.

The Empire claimed to be strict regarding merit and honor, yet they gave a medal to a dog like this? And the highest medal the Emperor could bestow at that? The country was indeed falling into ruin.

Just then, the orchestra’s song ended. The background noise that had filled the room vanished.

It would be problematic to stop the conversation now, but I can't exactly continue it here either......

This was not a discussion she wanted others to overhear.

[Marco] "Lady Odette, would you care to dance with me?"

The potato man offered his hand.

[Odette] "And if I refuse?"

She dropped her playful smile and asked the question with a serious expression. At that, Marco’s face lit up with even more excitement.

He stepped closer, seemingly delighted that he had managed to make her turn grim. He whispered low enough that those around them could not hear.

[Marco] "My Lady, I told you that I kept my mouth shut regarding your cheeky little outing. That means I have a very good idea of how you are treated within the Count’s house. Do you understand?"

[Odette] "Go on."

[Marco] "If you refuse to dance with me, might my tongue not become infinitely lighter when I stand before the Count?"

[Odette] "Oh dear, how terrifying."

She spoke in a tone that suggested she wasn't frightened in the least. Incensed, he pressed his lips closer to her ear and hissed.

[Marco] "I wonder if those Fenrir children are genuinely buried in the graves inside that camp? You really ought to stop me before I submit such a report to the Count."

Look at this. He even knows how to blackmail.

The more despicable a person was, the more interesting the game became.

[Odette] "Very well...... That sounds lovely. Let us dance."

She smiled brightly and took the potato’s hand. She glided toward the dance floor. The song happened to be a waltz, which meant they would be close enough to share private words.

How can I lure this man out to the terrace?

As the potato’s greasy hand escorted her—a touch as unpleasant as Ferdinand’s—it was easy to discern his feelings. They were base, disgusting, and filled with violent desire.

Following the music’s cue, the gentlemen bowed first. She lightly lifted her skirt to curtsy. Just as dozens of men and women were about to join hands with their partners, the music cut off abruptly.

Everyone, including Odette, turned to look at the orchestra in unison.

Johan stood there, having snapped his conductor’s baton in half.

[Johan] "Forgive me. I simply didn't care for the song selection."

He spoke with an expression far more savage and tyrannical than before.

But for some reason...... it feels like he is glaring right at me.

Had she asked Johan to look at her dress earlier? She wished to take that back. Her instincts told her that if she got caught by him today, she was finished.

The hall, which had turned terrifyingly cold for a moment, began to buzz with whispers.

[Johan] "Change the selection to something less grating."

At his command, the conductor frantically shuffled through his sheet music. Instead of a waltz, the orchestra began to play a quadrille.

The Crown Prince is a member of the Imperial Family and a host of this banquet, so changing the music isn't forbidden. But this is unexpected.

Wasn't he known for being gentle and strictly adhering to rules? He might not like the song, but to handle it in such a crude manner—something even the current Emperor wouldn't do—was shocking.

The Emperor himself looked quite bewildered, as did the other guests. With the sudden change in music, the people on the dance floor awkwardly shifted their positions for a quadrille.

I won’t be able to have a private conversation now.

The quadrille was a group dance; even with a partner, it was difficult to share secrets. She followed the steps, thinking that things were exceptionally difficult today.

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[Marco] "We still have things to discuss. Shall we step out to the terrace for a moment?"

As the song ended, he spoke with a smug expression. His face was flushed with the intoxication of having danced with the noble Odette.

[Odette] "I would love to."

She had been wondering how to lure him to the terrace herself. She was so grateful he had brought it up first that she could almost cry.

It’s a perfect place for a secret talk. And above all, if things go south—

But just then, Johan’s voice, amplified by a magic tool, boomed across the dance floor.

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