novelThe Banquet
| ← Ch.05 | Ch.07 → |
Part 1
When told that Percy wished to attend the banquet, his father had not looked pleased.
If Percy attended, he would naturally attract attention. This was to be the ceremonial occasion that would symbolise mending their relationship with Allion, so Percy could sympathise with his father's feelings, and he understood why Nordred did not want to bring a potentially dangerous trigger to it – especially not one from his own House. However, Percy desperately wanted to see the man called Hayden Swift with his own eyes.
He was the man who had been sending orders from behind to the marauders and to Allion's enlisted soldiers whom Percy had clashed with first-hand. And he was probably the man who had attempted to carry out the scheme to erase Lord Leo; a plan which was incomprehensible, but which was all the more horrifying because of it.
Percy didn't have any concrete intention of doing anything when he saw the man, nor did he expect anything to change, but he could not bear the thought of waiting and leaving the situation to others.
Because his son, who did not usually ask for anything of his parents, was being unusually persistent, Percy's father eventually gave in.
"But no heroics. Try to stand out as little as possible. And don't even think of speaking to Sir Hayden, the guest of honour, " he warned.
Percy had never had the slightest intention of starting a fight, but, only a few hours before he was to leave for the banquet, Sarah suddenly paid a visit to the mansion. Just one glance at her urgent expression was enough to tell him immediately that something bad had happened. A 'fight', exactly what he hadn't been aiming for, was brewing.
Hastily adjusting his outfit, Percy rushed from the mansion. Led by Sarah, he found Kuon waiting at their destination, but this time, the boy was not responsible for the commotion; Sarah's brother Camus was.
When he heard that the envoy from Allion who was currently staying in Atall was Hayden Swift, Camus had flown into a rage. Hayden was the very person who had gone to the temple to mediate yet who, faced with failure, had immediately claimed that they had "shouted curses at the royal family", before leading the army to attack.
Camus had already been on the verge of losing all patience with Atall, which still hadn't taken action. Upon learning that Hayden, who should, by all rights, have been despised in the principality, was going to be the guest of honour at the banquet, he had finally snapped.
"I'll march straight into that banquet. If I strike Hayden down there, Atall won't be able to go back anymore."
Yesterday, he had said words to that effect. And today, he had disappeared from the inn. To make matters worse, Sarah's gun had vanished at the same time as him.
At that point, even Sarah had worried, and she raced outside, forcibly dragging along Kuon, who had been in the next room. They had run all around the downtown area, but there had been no sign of Camus. They realised that in the worst-case scenario, he might already have gotten into the palace. It was at that point that Sarah had come to find Percy.
Leaving the two of them at the palace gates, Percy went galloping into the castle. He searched the courtyard that would serve as the venue for the banquet, as well as the great hall that gave onto it, but they were filled with crowds of people who were still getting things ready for that evening. Ignoring the group of irascible, elderly nobles who were sitting in a corner of the hall, snitching food as they chatted together, he went over every nook and cranny.
Honestly, what kind of priest are you! He cursed him inwardly.
His blood ran cold as he imagined Camus shooting Hayden dead. That would spell destruction not only for Camus, but also for the entire country of Atall.
He went around the hall two or three times and searched its vicinity. There were a few people who looked like Camus from behind, so Percy deliberately walked past them to check their faces. He also called his name out loud. The young warrior monk, however, was nowhere to be found. As he left the castle grounds, Percy was making up his mind to either give Camus's description to the soldiers, or else to consult with his father about whether to organise a guard for Hayden.
"Ah!" Just as Percy was about to join up with them, Kuon let out a cry of surprise.
A different voice echoed the same cry. Camus was by the outer corner of the wall.
He disappeared at once, running back the way he had come. Kuon started sprinting after him in that same moment, with Percy and Sarah chasing a little behind.
Camus ran down the street, either avoiding people or shoving them aside, but Kuon was much faster than him and continued chasing while skilfully weaving through the crowd.
Constantly looking back, Camus tried two or three times to lose his pursuers by ducking into alleyways, but Kuon nimbly climbed up the walls that lined the road and got ahead of him. He jumped. Camus had hurriedly turned on his heels but stumbled forward when Kuon flew onto his back. It looked like the boy was pony-riding on Camus's back.
"Let go, " Camus shouted behind him."What do you think you're doing, kicking your teacher! Even speaking of it will bring down divine retribution!"
"Shut up, Camus. Our positions are reversed compared to that time, " Kuon pinned down the struggling monk.
Having come rushing after them, Percy and Sarah grabbed the panting Camus by the arms and made him stand once Kuon had gotten off. Camus did not have the gun. When asked about it,
"I already sold that thing off, " he answered angrily.
"Whaat!" Sarah shrieked."Why? That was my gun."
"You don't need it any more. And besides, there was that event at the mountain. Your brother was worried that you'd cause some needless commotion in town. What, why are even Percy and Kuon getting so worked up over just a single gun."
"The one who's been going around kicking up 'needless commotions' is you, Big Brother!"
Camus assumed an air of complete innocence. He insisted that the only reason he had left the room taking the gun with him was so that he could sell it for his sister's sake.
Percy stared searchingly into the monk's face.
"Apparently, you were threatening to shoot the envoy from Allion."
"Don't be stupid! That was just a joke. Sarah foolishly took it seriously and then you two took a woman's babbling at face value. Honestly, it's ridiculous."
"Then why did you run away?"
"If someone suddenly shouted at you and started chasing after you like a hunting dog, you'd run away too."
Although he was putting on a show of anger, Camus turned his eyes slightly away from Percy's. And this was a man who, when he was angry, displayed it much more openly.
When he left the inn at least, Camus might have really intended to shoot Allion's envoy dead. But what was certain was that, now, he did not have the gun but had the money from its sale instead. Although he could somewhat guess the reasons, Percy avoided probing too deeply at this point in time.
"Whatever the case, that was definitely my gun. How could you just go and do whatever you wanted with it!"
"Didn't I already tell you that you don't need it anymore? Did you think that I, your older brother, would wholeheartedly approve of you acting like a man and fighting? You should stay in this city and look for happiness like a woman. I'll find a partner for you."
"Piece of shit."
"Sarah, what did you just say to your brother!"
Glancing at the siblings who were snarling at each other, Percy gave a small sigh.
To shoot Hayden... ? The chills he had been feeling as he searched the castle had vanished but for some reason, now the matter was settled, his heart seemed to be burning with emotion. Emotions that were in agreement with Camus.
Percy shook his head, a little afraid of himself. Honestly, those guys – it looked like it wasn't only at Coscon Temple: even here in Tiwana, the city he knew so well, they still had their own way of doing things. While deploring something a little ridiculous, he discretely called Kuon over.
"I still haven't gotten my money, " Kuon said abruptly.
Percy wondered for a second what he was talking about, but Kuon had previously announced that, "with the money I receive, I'll buy weapons and armour, hire soldiers, and return to the temple." This was probably him forestalling the question of how come you're still in Tiwana? Percy gave a small laugh.
"I'll ask the people at the castle about the money later. More importantly, you're a good friend to have. Just because Sarah asked you to, you went running around looking for Camus until you were drenched in sweat from it."
"It's not like I had anything else to do, anyway."
"Hmm? But if Camus had shot the envoy, Atall and Allion would definitely have gone to war. It would have been a good opportunity for you to gain as much glory as you wanted."
"Maybe." Percy was half-teasing but Kuon frankly acknowledged what he was saying, even as he turned his eyes away."But that... would have been a betrayal."
A betrayal, murmured Percy. Did he mean that letting Camus run loose while knowing that it would lead to war would have been a betrayal towards Atall? It was difficult to understand in that moment. Since it seemed like there was some tangled circumstances behind those words, Percy deliberately decided to return to the problem at hand.
"Sorry, but could you keep watch on Camus tonight? Just in case."
"Don't worry, " Kuon looked towards the still-squabbling siblings."Sarah won't be leaving him alone, anyway."
After parting with the three of them, Percy immediately went home to the mansion and got himself ready in a mad hurry.
The banquet began as the stars started to twinkle in the sky.
It was a huge affair. Flames burned brilliantly from the chandeliers ornamenting the hall's ceiling and from the iron braziers in the courtyard, casting a light that was as bright as day. The feast was spread out over the rows of table tops. Percy's eyes were drawn to the food that would not normally be seen even at the Leegan House's dining table: the freshest of fruit, fish baked straight from the water rather than having been salted and preserved, a whole roast of pork... normally, Percy's young stomach would almost have been growling, but tonight, perhaps because of his feeling of tension, or perhaps because of the earlier crisis, he had no desire to wolf down food.
There were a few people he knew, here and there, as well as dignitaries from the city and the vassal-lords who had come hurrying from the south. So far, Sovereign-Prince Magrid and the guest of honour, Hayden Swift, had not yet appeared.
Whoops – as he was surveying the hall, the people from the Laumarl House came into his sight, and Percy quickly put some distance between them before they noticed him. As mentioned earlier, the Houses of Leegan and Laumarl were antagonistic towards one another. On top of which, there was the issue of the process through which he had left Nauma behind and returned on his own; he did not want too much inquiry into those details.
That was how Percy came across a corner of the hall which was like a gaping hole, empty of people.
Leo Attiel was standing alone near the wall.
It was the first time that the prince had shown himself in public since returning to the country. Although there was no end of people who came to give him their greetings, there was no one who stopped and talked with him for long. After exchanging a word or two, everyone moved away from him as if they were fleeing then, once they were at a sufficiently safe distance, they would steal furtive glances towards him.
Having been told not to attract attention, Percy simply stopped and observed him for a while.
Compared to the mud-covered figure he had met in the mountains, he was of course currently dressed much more neatly, but there didn't seem to be any spirit in him as remained gazing downwards throughout. Even his long hair, which had previously been carefully braided, was now simply tied in a single bunch behind his head.
When the hall herald announced the sovereign-prince's arrival at the same time as Magrid appeared, almost everyone there turned to welcome him, so Percy took advantage of the opportunity to approach the prince. When he called out to him, he was met with a hesitant gaze. The next moment, however, Leo Attiel gave him the same relieved smile he might give an old friend.
"Oh, the Leegan House's... I was feeling bothered by the fact that I still haven't thanked you sufficiently."
Percy found it heart-rending. Even though he had saved the prince's life, the fact that Leo would show so much affection when greeting someone that he had only met once indicated how isolated he had been since returning to their country.
"I was hoping you would come. The others aren't with you?"
"They all said that they don't can't really handle formal ceremonies. I am to give you their greetings in their stead, Prince, " Percy picked suitable words for glossing over the situation. Just like he himself, Camus and Kuon had never been invited.
"I'm not good with them either, " Leo's tone became casual as he shrugged."Anyway, I spent more than six years in a backwater in Allion. I don't have connection to sumptuous feasts."
"I-Is that so?"
"The castle lord and his family were often invited to banquets at other castles or mansions, but I didn't go even when I was included in the invitation. I hate being the centre of attention. But it was a bit of problem: Florrie used to insist that if I didn't go, she wouldn't go either. That girl has always worried about others, even way back when. To be honest, I'm not sure which would be worse: being shamed as a criminal in front of a crowd or trying to soothe and coax Florrie, " Leo gave the slightest of laughs.
Immediately after, he seemed to regret having shown happiness, and his expression tightened. He was probably aware that being publicly shamed as a criminal was, in a way, a good description of his current situation. Percy felt his heart wrench again.
"Enough about me; won't you tell me tales of heroism?" Leo asked, looking like he was trying to change the mood.
"Tales of heroism? But you know, if you wish to hear some, there are several minstrels in the courtyard..."
"I don't want to hear boring old legends and mouldy old myths. I want to hear new epics from one of the people themselves about the brave men who rescued Attal's second-born prince, " while maintaining a straight face, Leo showed a glimpse of playfulness.
Percy was somewhat modest about his own "tales of heroism" but, as Percy Leegan of the Leegan House, he did not have many stories or topics of conversation that could help dispel the prince's boredom. The only thing they had in common to talk about were the events in the mountains in Allion, so he chose to talk, in the hopes that it would help raise the prince's spirits, if only by a little. He had only intended to sketch the briefest of outlines, but seeing Leo's eyes sparkle and the way that he leaned forward, occasionally letting slip a wondering sound, Percy began talking with enthusiasm.
"What? That girl, Sarah, she looked like a young saint from a legend, but she actually shot a bandit leader through the head?"
Percy did not only talk about himself, but also spoke at length about Kuon, Camus and Sarah.
At that point, since most people had finished giving their greetings to the sovereign-prince, their attention was drawn back to Lord Leo.
Never mind.
Percy deliberately pretended not to notice, and continued his tale, enhanced with hand gestures – sometimes pretending to stab at something with a spear, sometimes pretending to be harshly scolding Nauma, his superior officer. He finally reached the climax of the story. Percy and the others had arrived at the end of their forced march and the enemy headquarters was right in front of them.
"The stronghold seemed to be almost empty, right? That's right... If only I hadn't escaped into the mountains at that time, the soldiers would not have been sent out and that means that you wouldn't have been found, and instead, you would definitely easily have taken the enemy headquarters. If you had, you really would have been extolled as patriotic heroes in Atall. And then, your tale wouldn't have been wasted by telling it only to me in a corner of the hall; you would have crowds of people at banquets like this begging to hear it, it would become a new ballad for the minstrels, and it would become known throughout the country. It's my fault; I'm truly sorry."
"What are you saying?" Percy smiled."In the first place, it was thanks to Hayden sending his soldiers out to look for you, Prince, that the camp was empty. So your assumption doesn't hold."
"Oh, right, " the prince laughed.
Percy laughed with him as if to encourage Leo to continue smiling, but, perhaps because they were once again attracting attention from their surroundings, the prince pulled back his happy expression.
Camus might have been right, thought Percy. Even though the prince was seventeen-years-old, there was a trace of childishness in every one of his actions. At the same time, perhaps because he had spent so many years as a hostage, he seemed to hate catching people's attention any more than necessary. Just as Camus had said, you could not hope to find in Leo the dignity and boldness of "a commander capable of rallying people at a single one of his commands." However –
"You truly are braves. I would dearly like to listen to Camus, Kuon and Sarah as well."
Percy felt an overwhelming feeling of affection for Leo when he spoke that innocent wish, like a child longing for a toy that they could never have. He wanted to talk more with the prince about his friends and himself.
"Being too brave can also cause unnecessary trouble. Take today for example: because of that, I felt as though my blood had frozen in my veins."
"What do you mean?"
"That damn Camus was raging about how if Atall wasn't going to move anymore but was going to sit down to peace talks with Allion, then he would shoot the messenger from Allion dead."
Despite knowing that he was treading on dangerous ground, Percy talked about the day's events. Although naturally, he did not mention that they had only been able to stop him through sheer use of force, but kept the story at a level where everyone had to desperately talk Camus down after he had drunk too much.
He had expected Leo to be astounded before maybe breaking out into laughter, but Leo did not say a word about the story.
The princess-consort of Atall had entered the hall right at that moment. While everyone present clapped their hands to greet her, Leo quickly hurried out of his mother's line of sight.
Part 2
Leo Attiel still did not have the courage to meet his mother's eyes.
Percy could not read his feelings to that extent, and thought that he must have lost interest in his stories. Just then, he caught sight of Lord Gloucester – his fiancée Liana's father – in the crowd.
"I have to go and greet some people, " he excused himself and took leave of the prince.
Leo, left behind, once more loitered in silence.
Had it really been six and a half years since then? I still haven't even seen my mother's face clearly, Leo felt horribly discouraged about himself.
On top of that, he felt he even harder to understand his own feelings. Did he hate and resent her? Or did he desperately miss her? No matter how far away he had tried to keep it from the surface of his mind, the shadow of Leo's mother had always been at his side. Yet he felt that if she only turned to him with a smile, and said, "Leo, it's been hard on you, " that shadow would vanish like the mist.
With just that little... He felt disappointed and irritated with himself at the thought.
Still – he did not have the leisure to think about his mother at any great length. Now that he was alone again after Percy had left, Leo was once more made aware of how complicated his situation was. Although he was still looking down, he could feel gazes piercing him from every direction.
"Why did he run away?" He could hear their voices."Even if he came back to Atall, the second-born prince is worthless. The first prince and heir has grown up healthy, while the third prince is loved by everyone at court. Whether the second prince exists or not, it's all the same."
"Since he's not good for anything, at the very least, we could have hoped that he carry out his job as a hostage."
Naturally, those voices were no more than auditory hallucinations. At that point in time, the second prince was in a strange frame of mind. It was as though his eyes had flown away from his body and he was looking from afar at himself, who was standing still and staring down near the wall. Watching himself from the other people's point of view, he really was nothing more than a tiny, wretched little boy.
Perhaps it was a phenomenon unique to Leo, who had been honing his eyes and his skill at observing his own emotions from afar. And in this case, the word 'eyes' could just as well be replaced by 'his heart itself'; that was how Leo was able to cool-headedly observe himself and his surroundings from the viewpoint of a third party.
Basically, he could see himself as others saw him. Leo understood other people's feelings very clearly, which was he heard so many of those imaginary voices.
Honestly, why did you come back, me? Wouldn't it have been better to be killed in Allion?
Six years earlier, Claude had told him to wait "until you obtain power equal to the name 'Attiel'." However, in the end, he had done nothing in those six years to either surpass it or find a substitute for it. It was entirely fair to say that he was useless.
Compared to that...
He vividly recalled the tales from the battlefield that Percy had just told him. Be it Percy, Camus or Kuon, their ages were not so very different from his, yet they had fought a fearsome foe. They had put their lives on the line in that struggle, without letting themselves be overwhelmed. His heart thumped just thinking of it. The feats they had accomplished did not have any relation to either their family names or their lineages. Percy had fought to accomplish his duty, Camus to protect the faith he believed in, and Kuon probably to gain fame. Those reasons had been enough.
As far as Leo was concerned, they were dazzling. What on earth was there for him to fight against or to fight to obtain?
Although he had no way of knowing it, his laments were a lot like those of Hayden Swift. Neither of them had anything more that they could wish for, nor any way of showing their abilities, so they had sunk far down instead.
Leo felt envious as he imagined Percy and the others dashing across the battlefield. If he had been born a commoner, would he too have charged shoulder-to-shoulder with them, a spear in his hand and his face flushed? Would he then be standing with his shoulders miserably hunched up in a place like this, which was more hostile even than enemy territory?
And... what was it Percy had talked about last? Oh right, he had said that the warrior monk called Camus had wanted to kill Allion's envoy, Hayden, to get the situation to move again. He had gotten distracted because his mother had made her entrance at that moment, but thinking back on it now, it had been a truly audacious and thrilling conversation.
Leo's lips curved into a faint and bitter smile.
He could imagine being born a commoner, but even so, he didn't think that he would be able to show the same determination in any situation that Camus had. He who had no value other than as a hostage, he who could not even look directly into his mother's face – he probably would not be able to carry through with that way of life like the level-headed Percy or the reckless Kuon.
They will make names for themselves. That's an impossible fight for me, since I'm enmeshed in the name 'Attiel'.
It was that bitter thought that had made him smile, but he quickly retracted it in case it made him look arrogant. He returned to seeing things from his own position, and lifted his head. The piercing gazes that had been shot at him like arrows scattered and fell.
Everyone chatted light-heartedly about things that had nothing to do with Leo. Outwardly, at any rate; before long, there were people who started sending glances his way again. Earlier, Leo had turned away from them, but this time, mostly on impulse, he deliberately returned their looks. His eyes met those of a portly noble. Leo smiled sweetly; looking flustered, the man sketched something like a bow before turning to avoid his eyes.
Interesting, though Leo Attiel.
The reason why they were currently looking down on him and disregarding his presence was because Leo was an Attiel. Meanwhile, the reason why they could not ignore him and had to show him more than common courtesy was also because Leo was an Attiel.
When he realised that, a faint feeling of mischievousness took root in him. In the end, he had not been able to obtain anything equal to the name of 'Attiel', but Claude had said something else six years ago: "I didn't have a name. So I made a name for myself and proved my own existence." Looking at it the other way round, the power that Claude had struggled for, fought for, and had desperately grabbed with his own hands was something that Leo had been given from birth.
Power, huh?
A power so insignificant that it almost made Leo burst into laughter. If he had to make a comparison, it was like one of those stray dogs that lived off scavenging scraps in alleyways trying to fight one of the giant dragons whose civilisation had once swept over the entire planet. But, even so, the other dogs in the small area of those narrow backstreets might perhaps be afraid of that stray. Maybe it had the authority to get first pick of the leftover scraps. That was still a form of power.
Leo once again let his gaze wander around the hall. Those whose eyes met his and those whose eyes seemed about to do so all turned away. Among them were three men standing diagonally across from the wall he himself was next to.
He recognised them. All of them were vassal-lords with their own established castles.
One of them was Oswell Taholin, the man who had strongly urged the sovereign-prince to send reinforcements to the temple. His hair was already conspicuously tinged with grey. Even six years ago, people were talking about whether he wouldn't soon be handing over the family headship to his son, but it seemed that he was currently still residing at his castle as its lord.
With Oswell were Bernard and Tokamakk.
Bernard was in his mid-thirties. He was tall and had a sturdy build. Both his hair and beard were neatly groomed, but his clothing was dishevelled. With that said, it was undoubtedly an artful disarray. He was, after all, a dandy. Be it at court or on the battlefield, he was man who stood out wherever he was, and equally, he was a young fellow whose eyes followed the behinds of every woman who happened to walk past him.
The third man, slender and fair-skinned, was Tokamakk. He was the complete opposite of Oswell: a youth who had only just been handed the position of head of the family by his father, who had recently been confined to a sickbed. Since his father had been late having a son, Tokamakk was still only twenty-one years old. When Leo had entered the hall, he had made an effort when presenting himself, but his hostility towards the prince was obvious behind the cramped smile that he wore.
His expression then was the same as it was now, and Tokamakk's bearing showed that, for some reason, he disliked being with Oswell. It was clear from his animosity towards Leo that Tokamakk did not want any quarrels with Allion, so he probably did not have any kind feelings towards the one who had advised the sovereign-prince to send reinforcements to the temple. However, their ages were as far apart as that of a parent and child. Oswell was smiling benignly and seemed to be making evasive conversation with Tokamakk, who was a straightforward young man. Bernard looked like he was finding it amusing to watch them, and he occasionally opened his mouth to poke fun at something.
Leo started to walk towards them. His heart was pounding.
I'll give it a try.
In Allion's rural backwaters, the name 'Attiel' had not held any great power – well, actually, being able to provide him with food every day to fill his belly and a warm bed to sleep in was already pretty great, but it wasn't the kind of power that could shake society at large – but how about in the Atall's own palace?
I'll test how far my fangs can reach in this world of stray dogs.
Somewhere in his thoughts, he had the stories that Percy had told about fighting against Allion. He was probably in a frame of mind similar to that of a child who had gone to bed with their heart throbbing after their parents had read them heroic tales, and who wanted to gather up all their friends as early as possible tomorrow to play heroes.
He wasn't being carried away with fervour. This was nothing but a game. An innocent child's game, just as Florrie had sung about.
Was I born to play? Was I born to frolic?[1] He hummed to himself.
The three people noticed his approach. Their expressions were uniformly startled, but each of them greeted "His Highness, Lord Leo" with the appropriate courtesy. Realising that Leo was empty-handed, Bernard offered him a wine cup. Leo was about to refuse, but then changed his mind at the last moment and took it.
"But please keep it a secret from my father, " he said jokingly. Bernard grinned.
"Tonight's banquet is also a celebration of your safe return, Your Highness. His Majesty the Sovereign-Prince will surely overlook something like this."
"Is that right?"
"With all due respect, I believe it would be best to stop, " Tokamakk interjected. Even though he was always pale, his face was now strangely white. Bernard made a fed-up expression.
"You're being so rigid again."
"It's not an issue of being rigid or soft. Allion's envoy has been invited to this banquet. There are still many uncertainties about what direction the relationship between our two countries is heading towards. Since it was our side which acted improperly towards Allion, Lord Hayden's mood might be soured if he sees the prince merrily getting drunk."
By that time, Leo had already shifted his viewpoint to one outside of the four of them. As soon as he did so, his anxiety and fear melted away, and it felt as though he was a spectator watching a play on stage. And the very best actors were those whose field of vision stretched wide, and who could pay careful attention not only to themselves, but also to each of the other people.
In other words, you're saying that I needed to understand my position as a hostage.
Leo put on a fearful expression and seemed about to put the wine cup back down.
Tokamakk smiled when he saw that. It was a smile that was very like the one that Hayden had worn at the Anglatt manor.
In that moment, Leo drained the contents of the wine cup in one gulp.
"Oh!" Bernard exclaimed out loud.
"Y-Your Highness!" Tokamakk's voice sounded as though his throat was clogged up.
"I have no taste for alcohol, " Leo's expression was unconcerned."Getting drunk, not getting drunk... I don't have anything to measure that by. So I tried having a cup. It's fine: if it's just this, then I think it will take three cups before I show any effects."
He stretched out a hand towards Bernard, who immediately handed him another cup. Meanwhile, Tokamakk's pale face flashed as though lit by a fire.
"Your Highness, you are being reckless."
"It's only one or two cups. What are you making such a fuss about?" Bernard reproved him, although he had probably realised that the prince's drinking was not what had caused Tokamakk's anger."Were you always this rigid? When I brought you with me to my favourite brothel in Tiwana, weren't you having a grand old time? How many girls did you go with that time? Three... four, was it?"
"L-Lord Bernard, you can't talk about something like that at a place like this!"
"Oh, I'm just jealous of you being a bachelor. Do you know how what my wife and daughter put me through afterwards? It was definitely someone from your house who betrayed me. It'll be a while before I forget this grudge."
Leo smilingly watched the exchange between the two. At the same time, however, and from a spectator's position, he was carefully observing Oswell's expression and behaviour, as well as those of the surrounding people who were casting interested glances their way.
"Lord Bernard, your wife and daughter are both renowned for their beauty. Personally, I'm jealous of you, " when Oswell said that, Leo looked as though he had just thought of something.
"Did you not bring them with you? How unfortunate... I would love to present them my greetings."
"But of course. My wife and daughter have both been influenced by the Cross Faith, so they might seem a little eccentric, but if you come to visit us, Prince, my entire family will be happy to welcome you. It would be an honour for our castle."
After exchanging some more light-hearted chatter, Leo broached the main topic with an 'oh-by-the-way' sort of expression.
"... Sir Tokamakk, earlier you mentioned that our future relations with Allion remain uncertain."
It looks like I'll have to direct the conversation a little forcefully. Since he realised that the three of them were a little tense, Leo had quickly reached that conclusion, but he continued to smile as though this was not the main issue he had wanted to discuss.
"What do you mean by that? Since we are holding this banquet for Sir Hayden, we should be able to pat ourselves on the back about the fact that relations with Allion will not grow worse."
"It is not that simple, " Tokamakk's voice and expression were stiff, but his feelings showed clearly through his transparent mask –
Brainless brat.
Leo immediately looked anxious.
"You don't mean that there's a risk Allion might declare war on our country?"
"That is a possibility. Even now."
"T-Then, should head towards Allion to put a stop to it?"
What's he saying at this point... It wasn't only Tokamakk's face that reflected that thought; Oswell and Bernard's were the same.
Tokamakk bitterly shook his head.
"Allion probably no longer needs you, Prince. If it intends to start something, no excuses or tribute will stop it. We will have no alternative but to take our spears and put ourselves on the battle front."
This is the situation that you brought down on your own country – It was probably only because he wanted to berate this simple-minded prince that Tokamakk was bringing up such an extreme topic. Honestly, Leo had expected it to take a little longer. But since the other side had offered him such a perfect opportunity...
Now – the Leo Attiel who was watching from a distance whispered to him.
"Is that so? Take up our spears to fight... you say?"
"Exactly. It goes without saying that Allion is a powerful country. If it comes to war, every one of Atall's subjects will need to be prepared to take arms. Naturally, even you, Lord Leo, will be no exception..."
"Hearing that is a great relief."
What? The three people once more wore the same expressions. The only one still smiling, Leo drank from the second cup.
This is bad – it looked as though Oswell was having a hard time stopping that thought from showing on his face.
"What do you mean when you say that you feel relieved?" he asked Leo in a careful voice.
Leo took his time to answer, drinking his cup empty before he did so.
"When I was staying in Allion, I asked the people there, half as a joke, what kind of battles they expected if the situation with Atall once more turned to war, and what kind of outcome they predicted. Their answer was perfectly clear: 'it won't come to war'."
"..."
"'After all, ' they said, 'Atall's vassal-lords don't have any obligation to send soldiers to the central ruler. They would oppose such an overwhelmingly unfavourable war. And if it looks like something is going to happen, as long as we promise to let them keep at least half of their possessions, they'll go from trembling in fear to easily switching sides, and they'll let Tiwana fall to us'."
The three were left speechless.
This time, Lord Leo stretched out his hand in a slovenly manner, and it was Oswell who handed him the third cup. With it I hand, Leo continued,
"Actually, they told me that they had planned to hold out their hand to the vassal-lords during the previous war. That pointless war ended quickly. I had no way of verifying what they said, so I felt terribly depressed. But hearing what you said just now, Sir Tokamakk, I feel at ease. After all, you are all ready to fight for Atall at any time, right? I feel like going straight back to Allion ad thrusting those words at them. This time, it will be their turn to tremble, right?"
"..."
"Oh but no, I don't need to go all the way back to Allion, " Leo nodded triumphantly."Sir Hayden will soon be here. I happen to be acquainted with him. I must go and tell him at once about Atall's determination."
"S – Stop! N – No... I mean, please wait, Your Highness, " exclaimed Oswell, speaking instead of Tokamakk, whose mouth didn't seem to be functioning properly.
His expression mirrored Bernard's, who was next to him. Don't tell me, could clearly be read on both their faces, d – don't tell me that this damned brat is planning to make a fool out of us adults?
Leo did not feel any duty to answer that question of theirs. He simply maintained his smile. Blinking in confusion, Oswell said,
"It's better to keep that determination concealed in our hearts. To let the opponent take us lightly and then, when the time comes, to act decisively is...
"If we allow them to look down on us, we're giving the enemy a chance to invade us. By showing them that we are ready to fight to the very last soldier, we can prevent the enemy from making any hasty moves."
"T – That's true, there is that... But..."
Leo was satisfied with the conversation.
After that, they talked lightly about Allion's possible arrangement of troops and also about how best to deploy Atall's forces. All of this on the assumption that the vassal-lords would send out their soldiers. While attempting to read Leo's expression and to sound him out on how serious he was being, the three of them could not afford to ignore the conversation given the current situation.
A little later, Tokamakk, followed by Oswell, made some vague excuses and left the prince. Only Bernard remained. For a short while, both of them stayed silent. During that interval, Leo's gaze followed Oswell's back, watching as he went to speak to other vassal-lords. Maybe he was walking around making small talk by telling stories of the ridiculous Lord Leo since they turned around to look towards Leo, but when they saw him staring fixedly at them, they hurriedly shifted their gaze forward again.
Leo Attiel's gaze did not only follow Oswell; it travelled carefully around the other vassal-lords and nobles as well. There were plenty of variations even among the nobles: on the one hand, there were those dressed in gorgeous clothes, while on the other there were those whose shabby appearance would make it easy to mistake them for servants working at the palace. There were those who exchanged smiling voices, and those – was it because of some past history or because they were currently in the middle of a quarrel – who would not even look at each other.
They... even if the country were in danger, they would absolutely never unite to defend it – Leo felt that realisation so strongly it left him stunned.
"Oswell Taholin..."
"Yes?" Leo had spoken so suddenly that Bernard answered out of sheer surprise. Leo didn't pay it any attention and continued,
"I had not expected him to behave so boldly."
"... By which, you mean... ?"
"He was the one who advised my father to send reinforcements to the temple. Naturally, everyone here is aware of that fact."
"Of course."
"Given the situation, his position should be as bad as mine, who ran away from Allion.... Or perhaps even worse. Something along the lines of: 'it's your fault that Atall is on the brink of danger', no?"
"That... No, that's true."
Bernard probably didn't know where the conversation was headed. Nor did he notice that Leo's tone had changed; he simply felt uncomfortable.
"Yet even so, " Leo put the third cup, that he had never seemed interested in drinking, back on the table, "he is very dignified. Even when Tokamakk was criticising him, he didn't bat an eyelash. It's been six years since I saw him, but I don't remember Oswell having nerves this strong."
"..."
"That story about what was planned, is it true?"
This time, Bernard did not ask anything. Hs head slightly lowered, he only opened his eyes wide. In response, Leo deliberately pretended to be impatient.
"I asked you a question. Answer."
For a moment, anger flashed across Bernard's face at Leo's high-handed tone. After a few seconds had passed, however, he started to speak heavily.
"... It's true that before the last war began, an envoy from Allion, disguised as an itinerant entertainer, visited the castles of the vassal-lords. He came to mine too. It wasn't anything as grandiose as a plan, though. He claimed that since Allion didn't wish for a war at that time, his mission was to ask us to band together and try to persuade the sovereign-prince out of it."
"That would have been more than enough to throw our camp into chaos. He must have hinted at rewards too, " this time Leo did not demand an answer, switching instead to another question."Does my father know?"
"Lord Oswell apparently travelled to Tiwana at the earliest opportunity and explained everything directly to His Majesty the Sovereign-Prince."
Father knew about it? In that case, this isn't a topic that Bernard particularly needs to conceal anything about.
Leo was a little disappointed, but, well, getting him to tell even this much to a seventeen-year-old boy wasn't a bad result for now. Even if Bernard had, ostensibly, pledged allegiance to Sovereign-Prince Magrid, and even if Leo merited his respect by virtue of being a prince, Bernard had no actual obligation to obey when Leo had ordered him to 'Answer'.
"Is that so, Oswell was it?" having started it Leo, continued with his act."That would certainly have earned him His Majesty's trust. Enough so that when he advocated sending troops to the temple, His Majesty took that advice."
"What do you mean by that?"
Bernard's question was asked in a low voice, but Leo had only spoken an idea out loud, and the conversation had simply veered in that direction by chance. At that point, Leo was preoccupied with something else.
So the 'Attiel power' that I hold is, at best, just this much?
He had wanted to try out how effective the weapons he had to hand were, but although he gone barging in, the end result was that they only allowed him to 'not be ignored by the vassal-lords'. Even though he was supposed to have known that from the start, Leo felt so irritated that the top of his head seemed to be burning, and at the same time, he felt so anxious that it seemed as though he was about to collapse.
It's not just me. Atall itself is horribly fragile and flimsy. A single whisper from Allion can upset things this easily.
With Atall as it was, even a man as powerless as he was could easily throw it into chaos as long as he simply had Allion's backing. It would be like a dragon stepping forward and trampling over a hut: it would effortlessly be crushed underfoot.
Leo inwardly caught his breath. His body went cold to the core, just as though the castle ramparts, that he had always implicitly believed to be so solid, and the palace walls with them had collapsed with a thunderous roar and left him exposed to the winds.
He was enraged at the people who laughing happily. It felt as though he was the only one who was facing up to their terrifying reality.
However, he had just been made to realise just how weak the 'power' that he wielded really was. It was a paltry thing, incapable of changing anything..
If I want more power...
He could feel himself being bathed in the light – as bright as the noonday sun – coming from the brilliant flames that shone all around from the chandeliers, from the lamps on top of the tables and from the candles; whereas looking at his surroundings, he had the impression that they were somewhat dark and dim.
If I want to be the strongest 'Attiel'... that only means one thing – becoming the sovereign-prince.
Part 3
He had started out only wanting to play at being a hero, but even though it was just a game, his thoughts had taken a strange turn.
For a second, Leo was confused by his ow ideas, but immediately afterwards, he felt his blood seething with excitement. He thought that it was almost like a profanity.
Just then, the voice of the herald announcing arrivals rang out, and new guests appeared in the hall. At a single glance towards them, Leo's blood, which had almost been roaring with heat, seemed all at once to turn chilled.
It was Hayden Swift. He was escorting a woman that he was leading by the hand.
Hayden was, of course, the guest of honour at this banquet, and also an envoy from Allion; the very ones who were thrusting true 'power' at Attiel. Leo could not compare to it. Leo's buoyant feeling receded. Right then, he heard Bernard, who was next to him, ask in a surprised voice,
"Oh? Who's the beauty?"
Leo took another look at the woman next to Hayden. He hadn't noticed because of the distance, but it was Florrie Anglatt.
Just like Leo, it was the first time she had appeared in public since arriving in Tiwana, and she was standing beside Hayden, wearing the kind of dress that he was not used to seeing her in and lavishing her smile on her surroundings. It was not only because of the distance and the dress that she had, for a moment, looked like another person to Leo: she was also wearing makeup, which was unusual for her. Although it might be a slightly exaggerated way of putting it, Leo was utterly dumbfounded.
She who combed his hair every morning when he was in Allion, calling out "Brother, Brother, " to him, now seemed like a completely different person. She was a girl around whom there had always drifted the scent of wind and earth, and the faint perfume of flowers, but now, in her grown-up dress and makeup, and wearing a slightly enigmatic smile, she seemed exactly like a young lady born to a noble house.
Was it Hayden who had brought her here? Also smiling all the while, he was holding her by the waist and showing off their intimacy.
Although the behaviour they were displaying was perfectly appropriate considering their positions, Leo had an uncomfortable feeling about Florrie's smile that he found hard to shake off.
Besides Bernard, a number of voices throughout the hall had started murmuring praise of her beauty. They subsided, however, when the host and the guest of honour – the sovereign-prince and Hayden – finally stood side-by-side. Together, they spoke words about expecting good future relations between the two countries, and they both lead the assembly in offering toasts.
Leo was once again left alone in a corner.
All the many gazes and the idle curiosity converged on Hayden. He skilfully rode the wave of noble ladies who closed in on him, wanting to speak in person to this Allian aristocrat, and bestowed the perfect smile and words on them. With just a few parting comments to the prince, Bernard also gravitated towards Hayden. It was a scene that clearly showed Leo their difference in 'power'.
By nature, he and Hayden were equals. Compared to Hayden's, however, the 'power' that Leo had tested to its limits was, in the end, only something to be used in a world of stray dogs. Leo had tasted excitement strong enough to make his blood roar, and because of that, having truly been made aware of the difference in ability between them, he now felt miserable enough to fall prostrated to the floor. He who had been so proud of his privileged access to leftover scraps had his tail stepped on by humans holding stronger 'power', his back had been hit with a broom, he had effortlessly been sent scampering away.
Playtime is over, he realised.
He became aware that the wave of gazes and curiosity was once again surging towards him. When he looked, Hayden was approaching him, having left Florrie on the other side of the crowd.
Leo's body tensed up. Facing the smile that Hayden was throwing at him, the smile that he desperately pasted on his own face was so stiff that it was hard to believe he had managed to put on that act earlier, in front of the vassal-lords. His heart was beating wildly.
But why? Leo himself was puzzled by it.
When they had met at the Anglatt manor, he had not experienced this nervousness that was almost like dread. When Hayden had mocked him, he had even been seized with the impulse to leap from his chair and strike him. So why was it that the sight of the now-smiling Hayden Swift filled Leo with horror from the bottom of his heart? Why was it that even the silk clothes Hayden wore seemed to be giving off a dazzling radiance? Leo was conscious of the damp sensation of sweat on his forehead.
"It has been many long days since we last met, Prince."
"Y-Yes."
As though the skin of his throat had gone stiff, his voice would not come out smoothly. Hayden raised one eyebrow, ever so slightly, but did not show any other reaction, instead taking two wine cups from the table. He held one out.
"No, I already..." Leo was about to raise his hand to refuse, but at the same time,
"Take it. Everyone is watching, " Hayden whispered in a fearfully low voice.
Leo's shoulders started in surprise. He hurriedly accepted the cup from Hayden. With a clear clinking sound, they brought their two cups together. Hayden emptied the contents of his in one go, while Leo only drunk a mouthful from his. He started coughing immediately afterwards, though, probably because he was so tense.
"Oh my, my, " Hayden raised his shoulders and turned to the people watching."Was it a little bit too soon to offer alcohol to the prince? It's true that he still young. I do not know the customs of Atall, for which I beg your pardon. Or maybe... did the prince perhaps misunderstand, thinking that Allion wanted to kill him, he might have been excessively afraid of me. Thinking, for example, that I might have slipped poison into the wine."
His joke cut dangerously close to the bone.
"Lord Leo, if you come to visit Allion again, please spend your time at ease there. That way, you won't jump to the wrong conclusion and run away so quickly."
Several people laughed. Essentially, Atall would only have the right to exist if they took it as a joke.
Leo felt as though he wanted to just disappear. Although he actually didn't need to cough anymore, he kept it up because he did not know what to do with himself.
Percy Leegan had been closely watching the scene and, much later, Leo Attiel talked to him about it and frankly confided that never, before or since, had he felt as terrified of someone as he had then.
Because of that, Percy would occasionally think,
Hayden Swift clearly made a mistake in allowing the prince to escape from Allion. Within the country, there was some debate about who, between him and Claude, bore responsibility for that. And for Hayden, Lord Leo wasn't the only opponent that he failed to kill: it had been the same with Bishop Rogress, so it wouldn't be surprising if he was furious at the thought that his reputation had been dragged through the mud.
If, at the time...
Hayden had already publicly given the prince a verbal smackdown. If he had been content with leaving Atall out of it...
If only his sadistic tendencies hadn't still remained unsatisfied, if only he hadn't whispered something like that, in a voice deliberately too low for others to hear, in order to deal the finishing blow to the prince...
... then history might have been different.
Perhaps the Principality of Atall would not become what it later became.
But of course, and just as it is widely said, 'what-ifs' cannot change history.
And back then, Hayden Swift had deliberately touched the prince's arm, as though they were close, and, while pretending to have a pleasant conversation with him, he had whispered it.
That fact could never be erased.
Hayden strode jauntily away from Lord Leo. Once more left behind, the prince stared at his retreating back with an almost vacant expression. What Hayden had whispered as he was leaving was still ringing in his ears.
This is what he said:
"Well done from escaping from Allion. But that's the absolute best that you can do. I've said it before: 'if you plan on standing against us, then you have to be ready to give up your own life'. You don't have that. No, actually, every man in Atall is missing that. It's probably just as I said before. Everyone here is carefully watching my mood and continues to live without determination. What the hell does 'live' even mean here? If all you crave is to eat your allocated amount of fodder, and to sleep soundly under someone else's watch, then that's no different from cattle. O Lord Prince of this country of cattle. The peace you are 'living' in is simply something that Allion has granted you. It won't last for much longer."
He was speaking fast into Leo's ear, his eyes gleaming fiercely as he did so.
"I wanted to see for myself – how far can my own power go? The ones who gave me this chance were you and Claude. My thanks."
With those equally rapid parting words, he left.
Leo Attiel was rooted to the spot in surprise. Why, for what purpose, with what intention, had Hayden spoken that way?
Atall's peace won't last for long.
What did those words mean, and what was he trying to hint at with them?
Leo felt like he was being overwhelmed with the 'power' that Hayden held. It was as though he was being once more knocked down by the aberrant words that Hayden, who was still calmly walking away, had uttered.
At the same time, however, a strong sense of resistance emerged within Leo. It was close to the feelings that he had experienced when Hayden had heaped abuse on Atall, Leo's native land, but now, the kindling had taken fire, and the flames were starting to burn brightly within him.
What can I do with my 'power'? What can I say? What can I change?
Hadn't he just been given a vivid demonstration of their difference in 'power'? Leo understood it. Everyone understood it. Earlier, when he had been talking to Bernard, he had the impression that only he himself understood the current situation, but in fact, it was because everyone was aware of that 'power' difference that they had to constantly monitor Allion's mood, and that his father went through so much trouble to seek out good relations with Allion.
It was at that moment, just after he had been verbally belittled by Hayden Swift, that Leo's eyes met those of Florrie Anglatt. Not wanting to see the pity in her eyes, Leo was about to turn away, but the first to break eye contact was Florrie.
Hayden, who had just returned to her side, had urged her about something. The girl who had spent six years with Leo took a step forward and once more gave her greetings to the Atallese dignitaries, starting with Sovereign-Prince Magrid, who was close by.
"Although my abruptness may be impolite, I thank you all for the kindness with which you have received me. I will warmly remember it for the rest of my life. I will soon be returning to my native country, but I pray that both Allion and Atall will continue to prosper."
Hearing that Florrie was going back, Leo forgot for a second about the storm swirling inside him. It had all been to protect Leo's back that she had done the unthinkable and left Allion's domains, but by now, she had already fulfilled that duty. Therefore, it would be best for Florrie to return, both for her and for her father's sake.
Even though his rational mind told him that, Leo could not help feeling melancholy. The relationship between the two countries was still uncertain, ad this might well be where he and Florrie parted ways in this life.
At least a few words... Leo was about to step forward with a different reason from earlier.
His eyes once again connected straight with Florrie's; she once again turned away but then, the next moment, she seemed to change her mind and smiled at him.
Leo suddenly understood why he felt such a strange sense of discomfort from Florrie's smile. This was not her usual smiling face. Although with that said, he had the impression that he had seen it before, but it was only now that he remembered when and why that had been.
It was the same smile that Florrie had given her family just after her beloved mare, 'Princess', had been put down.
From the next morning onwards, she had appeared at table with a smiling countenance. Be it Claude, his wife, Ellen, or Florrie's brothers, Walter and Jack, who usually often teased their sister, all of them noticed that her doe-like eyes were red and swollen, but they pretended not to see. Ellen made a point of asking for her daughter's help in the kitchen, while Walter and Jack hogged Florrie's favourite food until their father was provoked into scolding them. The brothers had done that a lot when they were young, but now, since it was a little childish, it seemed unnatural of them. Florrie had never stopped smiling while her father was forcing himself to yell angrily.
She now had the same expression as back then.
Moreover, now that he had taken a few steps forward and could see her face from closer then earlier, he felt that he understood the reason for her almost incongruously thick makeup. Both her cheeks were rouged, but only the left one was somewhat dark in colour. Or rather, it was to hide that colour that she had needed to put reddening powder on both sides.
Leo realised that there was a mark. And not something like a birthmark, but a recently-given bruise.
In that instant, there was the sound of something clanging in his heart.
The separate gears that had been spinning randomly up until now seemed to suddenly fit together.
He had not logically reasoned it out. It was simply that Leo's brain had retained the fact that Hayden Swift had once wanted Florrie Anglatt. Only by placing that fact at their centre did he now feel like he could make sense of the strange events that had taken place.
The fighting between Allion and the temple. The actions that Allion's side had taken at the time. The reinforcements that Atall had sent. The way Claude's position had worsened. Or how, even without the looming threat of the guillotine, Leo had almost been murdered in the mountains.
Why it was that the only time Hayden had been thrown into a complete panic was when he had learned that Leo and Florrie had escaped, to the point of emptying his own headquarters. And why he had left the battle front and was now to be seen in distant Tiwana, capital of Atall.
To reiterate: there was no logical process of reasoning.
Why, what, how... – he had not thought about any of these. He did not yet hold the key to solving those mysteries.
But the crucial point here was the fact that just as the gears clicked together in Leo's head, Hayden placed his hand once more at Florrie's waist.
When he did so, Hayden once more flashed a scornful – or possibly triumphant – smile. At least, that was how it appeared to Leo, and that was all the answer he needed. Part of the high-handed and oppressive atmosphere surrounding Hayden fell away, and human emotions were clearly visible from him.
"I wanted to see for myself – how far can my own power go?" Hayden had said as he was stepping away from Leo.
Your power, you say?
The driving force behind the first step forward that Leo Attiel took was the fury that raged within him.
Would that be the power to snatch Florrie away and to destroy Atall?
That man could do it. Leo could feel it. Hayden's parting speech had not been a hollow threat or mere mockery. He was the kind of man who, if he could do it – no matter how ridiculous it might seem to other people – would do it. He had basically announced to Leo that he would be leading troops to attack Atall.
After you've destroyed Atall, are you going to hug Florrie's shoulders with your bloodstained hands? Are you going to force to always wear that smile?
Rage managed to propel him forward for his second and third steps, but before he could take another one, an insurmountable wall seemed to appear before Leo's eyes. Even though his fury was so strong that he was almost dizzy from it, there was a limit to anger.
It wasn't rational. Simply giving in to a violent impulse would not allow him to break through or smash down anything and everything. Leo bit the edge of his lip and clenched his hands so tightly into fists that his nails bit into his palms.
It would still be fine if it was just my life. I've already twice prepared myself for death. But the enemy is Allion. If all of Atall gets caught up in this...
"No."
Leo's shoulders started with surprise as he suddenly had the impression that someone's breath had tickled his ear.
There was no other person near him. What had appeared like smoke beside him was the stagnant black sludge, which had taken the shape of another Leo Attiel. It was an existence which could sometimes be called an aggregate of every emotion that Leo had tossed away, and which, conversely, was sometimes that other viewpoint which was utterly detached from all emotions that Leo adopted.
"The enemy isn't Allion. What your power can and should crush, set fire to and overthrow – that is..."
Leo Attiel could feel each of his own footsteps reverberating strangely loudly inside his brain. Before he had even realised it, the insurmountable wall had cleanly vanished from before his eyes. He walked past Bernard, who was standing at the end of the line of people crowding around Hayden, then Tokamakk and Oswell – Leo's profile crossed by the line of sight of each of those three vassal-lords.
The next was Percy Leegan.
Perhaps Hayden had sensed something, because he turned around, looking surprised. By that time, Leo had already passed him by. Hayden continued to look as though he was enjoying his conversation with the surrounding nobles, but he was inwardly nonplussed.
The next moment, both Hayden and Florrie, who was standing next to him, were left startled.
The sound of laughter blew like a breeze through the hall.
It was Lord Leo. He had suddenly appeared right in front of Hayden and Florrie, and continued to laugh loudly, as though he had completely lost all restraint.
"What the..." Hayden Swift was clearly annoyed by it.
Florrie, too, looked surprised. However, she opened her large eyes even wider at what Leo said once he had finished laughing.
"You should stop it with the pranks, Florrie. If you say that you're going back to Allion immediately, everyone will actually believe you. Since nobody here knows you all that well, they'll take even a silly joke seriously."
As mentioned, Florrie's eyes went round and she was left speechless, but her natural complexion gradually slowly returned to her make-up-coated cheeks.
"W-What silly joke? Leo-nii... no, Lord Leo, I..."
"You're really sulking at me for not making many opportunities to meet here in Tiwana, huh? I had my own circumstances. Well, it's not like I don't understand where you're coming from."
"Prince, what on earth... ?"
"It's fine, you don't have to pretend. I had intended to personally tell Father and everyone else once things had calmed down a bit more. But if you can't wait anymore and are talking about going back to Allion, then it can't be helped. Let's make the announcement here and now. Florrie, " Leo casually stretched out his hand and took Florrie's in his.
Hayden opened his eyes wide in anger, but Leo payed him no attention and pulled the bewildered Florrie to stand next to him.
"Father. Mother. I need to introduce you to her."
"Leo, what are you saying?" Sovereign-Prince could not conceal his confusion."I already know the young lady."
"No, this is something nobody will know about, " Leo smiled as he made his announcement."Claude Anglatt's daughter, Florrie Anglatt, and I, Leo Attiel, have promised our future together."
"What!" Hayden let out a voice that was almost a shriek.
He was the only one to do so. Florrie was speechless. Leo's father and mother, as well as the vassals, at first all looked as though they had heard a joke in poor taste. Leo, however, was smiling.
"Sir Claude has not yet officially given me his blessing, but we can send a messenger from here. If it comes down t it, I'll even go myself. When we receive permission from the king of Allion through Sir Claude, I'll be happy to hold the wedding at once, " he continued, at which point, Percy Leegan stepped forward.
"What a happy story, " he smilingly followed Leo up.
Percy, of course, had no way of knowing either the prince's circumstances, or even whether what he was saying was true or not. But this short amount of time had been enough for him to form a good impression of the prince, and he was moved by the impulse to have his back.
"What this means is that when His Highness, Lord Leo, and Miss Florrie get married, relations between Atall and Allion will get warmer, and all those misunderstandings that have occured will all be solved at a stroke."
At that point, the people in the hall grew noisy with excitement. Hearing what was happening, those in the courtyard were also gathering close.
Leo Attiel swept his gaze around the enthusiastic crowd.
"May I hope that you will all celebrate it?" he asked.
Say what you would, the prince who had seemed about to sow the seeds of trouble with Allion was instead going to become their best bridge with Allion. There was nobody who did not welcome this development. Everyone there clapped as they unanimously called out their congratulations.
Florrie Anglatt blushed bright red, and tears flowed out from her limpid eyes.
Unfortunately for her, however, after giving her slender shoulder a single pat, Leo quickly released her arm and, still smiling, walked towards Hayden Swift.
The sound of applause was ringing out incessantly. Amidst it, Leo deliberately took a heavy step forward and trod lightly on the tip of Hayden's boots. Hayden's scowling expression turned into one of surprise.
In exactly the same tone that Hayden had earlier used on him, Leo whispered softly,
"Smile. Everyone is watching."
"W-What?" Hayden was struck dumb, but rage quickly flared up within his eyes."What are you trying to pull, you bastard? Even an ignorant brat like you... you can't think that you're going to get away with s-something like this and..."
"What do you mean?" Leo laughed brightly."There's currently no great cause worthy of sending troops from Allion and Atall. Or instead of a cause, are you, my little friend, going to substitute that power that you were so proud of earlier to move the army? It's fine, I'll happily show it you: how Atall, how its second-born prince, Leo, will turn the tables on you."
Hayden's Swift's eyes opened as wide as they would go.
References and Translation Notes
1. ↑ "Was I born to play or flirt?" or "Was I born to play? Was I born to frolic?", is a line from the Ryōjin Hishō (梁塵秘抄/Songs to Make the Dust Dance on the Beams), a collection of songs popular in 12th century Japan and compiled by Emperor Go-Shirakawa (1127-1192). Thanks to the help of the Taira and Minamoto, Go-Shirakawa seized the throne after a struggle for succession and a brief civil war (the Hōgen rebellion]), but reigned only three years before completely losing effective power to first the Taira then the Minamoto who had once supported him. After the Genpei War between the two samurai families, Minamoto no Yoritomo established the Kamakura shogunate, and the emperors of Japan were reduced to figureheads for the next few centuries. Leo humming a song associted with this emperor is probably ominous. It could also be indicating that he is very well-read, since the anthology he is quoting is relatively obscure. Finally, this song in particular, sung by an aged prostitute, is controversial since it can be interpreted either as her regretting her old way of life, or nostalgically looking back on her youth, which would fit Leo's ambiguous reputation.
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