Ch#225
In the silence, an awkward air lingered.
The noblewomen exchanged glances with tense faces.
Walker Wavebrill chimed in once more.
"The seating arrangement is really... what shall I say? Bizarre, utterly!"
Her words spread like ripples once again.
Now even the other attendees enjoying conversations from afar were all staring at Walker Wavebrill and Tie.
Every one of them had a stiff expression of tension and surprise.
"M-Marquess......"
Unable to bear it any longer, one attendee stepped forward.
It was Lady Lebora, who had attended at the invitation of her brother, a Holy Knight.
Seeing her approach, Walker beamed and opened wide the arm not holding her cane.
"Lebora! Long time no see!"
Lebora was acquainted with Walker.
Before Walker began limping, Lebora had taught her dancing for several months.
"So many welcome faces today! Thanks to you, Lebora, I danced a hundred more times! Without you, this leg would've stiffened up five years sooner!"
Lebora's face grew complicated.
Walker was boldly hiking up one side of her lavish dress to show her leg.
'Yes, this is how she is......'
Lebora, mindful of the surrounding gazes, tried to compose her flustered heart.
Lifting her head, she met eyes lined with new fine wrinkles that seemed pleased.
'She's always so bold, never dwelling on small things.'
So she might not realize this banquet was hosted by the Emperor himself.
Perhaps she forgot her aide's report, or mistook it for another event.
Otherwise, she wouldn't say such things about the seating in front of everyone.
Lebora parted her lips to remind Walker of this crucial fact.
"Marquess, that is......"
"By the way, Lebora! About that mercenary group Agavert your brother and the others are departing with! Their leader is this person right here."
But Walker lightly cut off Lebora's words.
She nodded toward the small child who had been by her side.
Lebora turned a troubled gaze.
"Hello!"
The Necromancer King greeted her just like a child.
Lebora nodded first.
"Pleased to meet you......"
Then, after slight hesitation, she cautiously kissed both cheeks of the Necromancer King.
It was a greeting among ladies, but after all, the Necromancer King appeared as a girl.
The Necromancer King widened her eyes in surprise, then blushed her cheeks red.
As Lebora tilted her head.
Walker dropped another bombshell remark.
"But Lebora, take a look. Isn't it strange?"
"Pardon?"
"That Clock Tower Mission at the Old Palace a few weeks ago! You know it was quite tumultuous, right?"
Old Palace Clock Tower Mission...... Thinking back, she recalled hearing about it.
Especially how it had come up several times in noble gossip columns.
"There, this person accomplished something truly major."
Lebora blinked while looking at the Necromancer King.
"Is that so......?"
The gossip columns mainly featured the Luminen family's exploits.
Agavert's presence was practically erased, one could say.
"Yes. Everyone who participated knows it. Those rags need fixing from there! If you don't have a title before your name, it's like your feats don't exist."
Someone far away coughed pointedly.
Probably a noble who owned a printing press.
But Walker didn't stop.
"Without the Necromancer King here, how far would those countless mana monsters have spread? There were over a hundred—no, a thousand that could've reached the capital!"
"I didn't count, but it really feels like over a hundred!"
The Necromancer King beside her raised one hand high.
Walker nodded.
"Exactly! Lebora, this person severed hundreds of their necks. Yet the countess's daughter who just held an injured soldier's hand once gets more mentions in the gossip columns! Amazing!"
This time, that 'countess's daughter' coughed awkwardly.
A noble who had visited the treatment center for wounded returnees just once and gotten her name in the columns.
Walker shook her head.
"Those gossip rags printing nonsense—lately, they've given me a real headache. Maybe I should start my own. Anyway."
She pointed toward Agavert's table while looking at Lebora.
"At this banquet, it seems the seat for the Necromancer King is assigned over there. Strange, isn't it?"
Lebora swallowed hard.
She wanted to tell Walker quickly that this was an imperial-hosted event, but Walker had been talking nonstop since earlier.
With no chance to interject, it was natural Lebora couldn't cut in.
Moreover, Lebora had a very introverted and timid personality.
She even struggled to strike up conversations usually.
'And to bring up such a difficult topic...... Can't even suggest moving seats......'
As her mind went blank and sweat beaded, Walker continued.
"Of course! Even though Agavert achieved overwhelming feats in the last mission. That doesn't mean they should get special treatment like this! All who participated risked their lives equally to protect the Empire!"
Lebora's eyes widened round.
Walker clicked her tongue and leaned obliquely on her cane as she went on.
"Worried their faces might tan in the sunlight, so they shoved the seats in the corner."
"......"
"Worried the food might not suit their tastes, so they left the table empty. What enviable consideration."
Walker sighed and asked the Necromancer King.
"Still, quite thoughtful treatment, isn't it, Necromancer King?"
Astie raised her head.
Her large green eyes, pondering Walker's words, slowly widened.
A massive exclamation point floated above the child's head.
'I see!'
That's why only Tie's table was empty!
Because if it was pre-set, she'd have to eat it all out of politeness!
Thinking back, it was the same in South Korea.
Just once, when visiting a kindergarten friend's house.
Tie had eaten every last bean from the small plate her friend's mom served.
Because Grandma and Aunt taught her it was polite.
'Even a single grain of rice holds the farmer's blood and sweat......!'
Tie's eyes sparkled with realization.
"It's not discrimination......!"
They hadn't denied Tie snacks!
It was all consideration to avoid forcing unwanted food, letting her eat only what she wanted to her fill.
'No carrots, just a hundred cakes!'
Too excited, her hips wiggled on their own.
Seeing Astie's mouth corners creep up, Walker said.
"Looks like it won't do, Necromancer King. I've been worried about these blemishes on my skin lately anyway. Mind if I sit with you?"
Tie's eyes widened round.
The child nodded quickly.
"Yes! Plenty of seats!"
With Victor, Aleric, and Libia absent, several seats near Tie were empty.
"As expected of your magnanimity! Then."
Walker flicked one hand.
Then a long line of people entered the banquet hall.
Each carried a silver-domed tray on their hands.
"Set them here."
At Walker's words, food was placed one by one on Agavert's empty table.
Lebora stared at Walker with a face half perplexed, half bewildered.
Lowering her voice, she whispered softly.
"M-Marquess. Bringing in outside food to the Glorious Send-Off Ceremony is prohibited, isn't it......? Since it's an event hosted by His Majesty the Emperor......"
"Got permission."
"Pardon?"
Walker laughed heartily.
"Asked Prince Pides in advance. If I could contribute a bit to this banquet. He permitted it readily."
Lebora blinked slowly.
The prince's permission meant definite coordination with the protocol office or imperial kitchen.
But still, it was odd.
Such things rarely happened.
And sure enough.
"......Is what the Marquess says true, Pides?"
A low voice came from behind.
Startled, she looked to see the Emperor in his golden cape standing with a stern face, glaring at the prince.
Pides gazed at the Emperor with a flustered look.