Chapter 467
As the banquet began, I slipped into Dark Templar mode, exchanging only the bare minimum of greetings. The claim that this banquet was primarily for fostering camaraderie among Imperial Counts was merely a facade. If I roamed the banquet hall, the traffic lights for Erich’s love life would be flashing red—no, they might as well disappear altogether.
‘That’s not gonna fly.’
In consideration of Zenobia, who had gone out of her way to attend, it was best to hold my breath. If the host Count moves actively, the visiting Count must dance along too.
So, after exchanging pleasantries with the retainers of the Krasius family and those from the Hiden family that Zenobia had come with, I settled into a corner to keep an eye on Erich.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the host hide away like this.”
Marga, who had inadvertently found herself hiding in the corner with me, chuckled softly.
It’s indeed rare for the host of a banquet to be tucked away in a corner. And how could Marga, the youngest daughter of the Iron-Blood Duke, have experienced such a quiet gathering?
“Sorry! It’s my first time hosting as the lady of the house, and I started things off like this.”
I pressed my lips against Marga’s cheek as an apology. This banquet, after all, was for Erich, Serra, and Zenobia, as well as a debut for Marga as the Countess of Tailglehen. It would be an embarrassment for her to flaunt her status with events like this—if I didn’t feel sorry, I’d be a terrible husband.
“It’s all right. We can hold another banquet for me, but we can’t guarantee one for the Young Master if we miss today, can we?”
“… That’s true.”
Seeing Marga gently shaking her head brought a wry smile to my face.
It was a gracious act for her to step back for Erich as both his brother and her husband. Yet, a socialite like Marga giving up her first banquet entirely? That just indicates how serious Erich’s situation is.
‘What a pathetic guy.’
I let out a small sigh while watching Erich standing all alone. I wondered how many people in this banquet hall actually cared about his plight. If each of those folks landed one hit on him, he’d be bedridden for weeks.
‘Huh?’
Just as I was about to take a sip from my champagne to calm my burning insides, I caught something odd.
Erich stood alone, but his gaze was fixated on one spot. His body was stiff, and even his fingers didn’t budge. He looked like he had seen a ghost.
What the hell was he looking at to be so startled? Following his line of sight, I turned my head.
“Oh.”
I let out a short gasp. He was staring at Serra and Zenobia.
A hidden anticipation began to wiggle inside me. Even with my fashion ignorance, I could see that both Serra and Zenobia had put in a considerable effort.
Serra wore a pristine white dress giving off a pure vibe, while Zenobia showcased a passionate red one. They adorned themselves with just enough jewelry, making their appearance worthy of being the center of attention at such a gathering.
And thankfully, it seemed Erich was one of the boys in their crowd.
‘He’s taken the bait.’
A faint blush appeared on Erich’s face as he gawked cluelessly at the two of them. I have no particular interest in watching him blush as a male, but right now, I couldn’t be happier. This meant he was at least feeling a bit of genuine emotions—just a tad.
That’s enough. As long as he’s not stuck in the ‘But we’re just friends!’ trope from those old rom-coms, there’s room for hope. If he begins to see them not as childhood friends but as potential partners, then the path ahead is smooth sailing.
Honestly, both Serra and Zenobia could be described as overly charming yet not lacking in allure. Once he starts viewing them as possible romantic interests, affection would stack up swiftly. It has to happen. If it doesn’t, we’d be talking about a tragic case of unrequited feelings.
“Hey, but Carl…”
“Yeah?”
Amidst this, Marga lightly tugged at my sleeve and leaned in to whisper in my ear.
“It’s best to marry for love, but there’s nothing wrong with forming bonds after a political marriage, is there?”
Surprised by her question, I fell silent.
Frankly, Marga made a valid point. Among the nobles, arranged marriages are more common than love matches, and those unions often involve friends they’ve known since childhood. This means Erich, Serra, and Zenobia are perfect candidates for an arranged marriage.
Even so, the reason I’m stubbornly supporting love matches is simple.
“If he marries for duty, he’ll treat his spouse like an obligation alone.”
“Oh…”
If he fails to realize his own feelings and gets trapped in the arranged marriage mold, he’d stay stuck in that role forever. As a husband and childhood friend, he might express some affection, but romantic love would remain forever dormant.
That would be terrifying. The relationship would merely exist in name; it’d be no different from their current friendships.
“Fortunately, Mother doesn’t seem in a rush to marry off Erich, so we have to steer this toward a love match.”
Saying that, I turned my gaze toward my mother, chatting with Trixie while being served by the nanny. Marga smiled benignly as my mother received the food from Rizie and Lin.
I sincerely hope that my mother’s patience outweighs Erich’s inaction.
*
My father would surely be curious about how the banquet was progressing, so I quickly stepped out to the terrace and pulled out my comms device. Luckily, I could gather some news that would surely please him.
Of course, it wasn’t a picnic, but I could see Erich glancing at Serra and Zenobia several times, trying to look away only to glance back again. If he viewed them merely as friends, those kinds of actions wouldn’t even occur. It felt more like avoiding them out of the burden of having confessed his feelings.
Yes, now he finally stands at the correct starting line. This would be enough news to proudly share with my father.
– If Erich starts to consciously regard them, it’ll eventually lead somewhere. They know each other well, and they’re perfectly suitable.
Without a doubt, that’s how it should be.
– Now Georg, that fellow shouldn’t be causing any more trouble.
Somehow, my father’s expression seemed rather pale, contrary to his words.
– … Ah, my bad. The work’s been more complicated than expected; I’ve been somewhat preoccupied.
As if sensing my confusion, my father muttered with a hint of bitterness.
That’s unexpected. Even though Zenobia had a hard time making time for anything, she was the youngest member of the Imperial Council.
Being the youngest, her workload could indeed be overwhelming. That’s the fate of the youngest, but the complexity of the work shouldn’t be that bad, right? Who in their right mind would hand significant responsibilities to someone who’s still a rookie?
– When I volunteered for tasks, they dumped all kinds of paperwork on me.
“Oh.”
However, after listening to his continuation, I understood. A rookie or an inexperienced member might have stepped back, leaving their work to a veteran. So, taking the opportunity, other council members probably piled on the work for him.
Thanks to that, my father, who had gladly taken on the substitute role, was now engaged in a paperwork battle after quite some time. Truly unfortunate.
‘I must avoid going to the council at all costs.’
Watching my father, I made up my mind. Once I retire from the administration, I’ll pass down the title of Imperial Count to my child before I depart. I must not leave room for an Imperial Council role.
If someone has already made it to the Minister level, that’s plenty. There’s no need to stretch that out to being a council member.
*
As the banquet atmosphere shifted from a peak to a lull, I entered a small room near the Great Hall with Serra. The terrace attracts visitors frequently, so if we want to have a private conversation, a room is best.
“How was it?”
“It was good.”
And the moment I shut the door, a short question and an immediate response exchanged.
“The way he looked at us was different. I’m sure of it.”
Serra, with her excited expression, clenched her fist and nodded vigorously. Erich’s gaze towards us had shifted, meaning there was a change in his heart.
I couldn’t help but agree. Erich usually had a steady smile, but since our confession, he’d awkwardly shifted his gaze or created distance.
Now, though, he was looking at us directly. Sure, he occasionally glanced away, but he quickly turned back.
‘It’s the first time.’
I felt my lips involuntarily curve upwards. That expression, that gaze. It was the first time I had seen Erich show such a side. Serra likely felt the same.
I subtly covered my mouth and took a deep breath. I feared I’d start grinning even when I left the room.
‘This is a promising start.’
At long last, I pushed my joy back momentarily and thought about what lay ahead.
The start went well. Achieving the recognition of Erich seeing us not as friends but as potential partners was a solid win. We were no longer just “those childhood friends” to him.
If there was one downside, it was that we only reached this point right before the new semester. Of course, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of starting any of this without Carl’s support, but failing to keep that momentum going is indeed a pity.
“… Let’s keep our heads forward until the club fair. I’ll try to reach out as much as possible, but I can’t be as available as if we were sitting next to each other.”
“Leave it to me.”
Finishing my thoughts, I opened my mouth again, and Serra nodded resolutely.
Thankfully, unlike me, Serra would be spending time with Erich at the Academy. So she planned to shake him up with that momentum, and I would make sure to drop my name frequently in their conversations.
When physical distance is considerable, this is the best strategy. Combining Serra’s efforts and my communications, we could somehow minimize the effect of our absence.
*
Returning from the terrace to the banquet hall, I spotted Erich looking around.
That sight annoyed me for some reason. Instead of wasting time searching for random things, he should be focused on Serra and Zenobia—
“Ah, brother.”
I ended up locking eyes with Erich.
“Did you see Serra or Zenobia? They were here a moment ago but suddenly disappeared.”
Hearing that, my previous annoyance melted away instantly.
‘Look at this guy, now he’s actually seeking someone out.’
I was touched. This might be a small step for Erich, but it’s a monumental leap for his love life.
“They should be over there. Looks like they might’ve just taken a break.”
I pointed to Serra and Zenobia coming out of the room, and Erich’s face lit up with a bright red hue again.
‘This is a great leap…’
I couldn’t help but pray silently as I watched Erich drift further away from me.
Watch over my brother for me, Neil Armstrong.
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