Duke’s Mansion. Annex.
“Thank you all for gathering here today.”
The voice of Duke Lagrind, Dasus El Lagrind, echoed from the familiar podium.
With the same blue and white hair as Leje, a solid build, and deep bronze skin.
A large scar above his closed left eye gave him a rather sinister impression.
“Time is something given equally to all. It’s an unavoidable fate for all life.”
As he spoke, the Duke gazed at Leje sitting beside him.
It was as if he wanted to say he found it strange to see his daughter so grown up.
“And now, Leje, my daughter, has become a proper adult. Honestly, I wished this day would never come…”
At those words, a low laughter rippled through the hall.
The Duke, observing the scene with a faint smile, raised his glass towards the air.
“That would purely be my selfish desire.”
As if on cue, everyone in the hall lifted their glasses together.
Then, at that moment, the Duke shouted in a loud voice.
“Then what I can wish for my daughter is to endure whatever trials may come her way!”
“My daughter. Congratulations to Leje on becoming an adult!”
Cheers!!
With the loud cheer, the glasses glimmered under the lights.
And simultaneously, the banquet officially began.
“Time flies so fast~ That kid who used to chase after me calling me ‘sister’ has grown so much already.”
“Have you known the Duchess for a long time?”
As Kaylee quickly emptied her glass, Rudell asked.
In the original work, it was mentioned that Kaylee had known Leje for a long time, but it never specified when they first met.
“Well, yeah. I first saw Leje when she was five.”
“I see…”
Rudell had first met Leje when she was seven.
In terms of duration, Kaylee had known Leje much longer than Rudell.
“That adorable little kid used to be so cute, but these days she throws punches at the slightest tease… I can’t believe she became such a violent child.”
“Oh. I think I understand.”
Having been one of Leje’s main victims for a while, Rudell could fully relate to her words.
“Well, if you think about it, it means Leje thinks of us as comfortable, right?”
“That could be true.”
At Kaylee’s words, Rudell let out a low chuckle.
Just then…
“Oh my. Who’s this? It’s Kaylee!”
“…?”
A high-pitched voice came from behind the two, making them turn their heads in surprise.
And there, before their eyes, stood a woman.
With a figure so voluptuous that it was hard to compare with Kaylee, her long blond hair was styled in an iconic bun shape.
Below that, sharp red eyes glinted like a snake stalking its prey, and her face bore the confident demeanor only those of high status could possess.
“Helena.”
Her name was Helena Renshi Oberthas.
Like Kaylee, she too was a duchess from one of the five dukedoms of the kingdom—Oberthas Dukedom.
“How surprising? You’ve always been too busy to meet me.”
“Today, I found some time.”
Responding to Helena, who sounded a bit hurt, Kaylee smiled gently, but Rudell knew.
That smile wasn’t genuinely friendly.
“By the way… who is this?”
“Nice to meet you, Duchess Oberthas. I’m Rudellheit Weinstein from Count House of Weinstein.”
“Weinstein? I’ve never heard of it before.”
Such treatment was becoming familiar to him.
Thoughts crossed Rudell’s mind as he lowered his head.
“She’s a friend of Leje.”
“I see. I heard that girl made a new friend, and it seems you’re that person.”
“I suppose that’s right.”
Rudell respectfully nodded in response to her question.
At least to Rudell’s knowledge, that was the only other friend she had.
“Hm… Whatever.”
With a low groan, Helena scanned Rudell from head to toe as if appraising something.
And then, seemingly losing interest, she shrugged and turned her gaze back to Kaylee.
“So, have you thought about my proposal?”
“My answer hasn’t changed. You know that.”
“Really? That’s disappointing. My offer is open anytime, so if you change your mind, come find me.”
With that, and a soft laugh, Helena made her way through the crowd.
Before long, her figure disappeared among the people.
“That girl is really persistent.”
Kaylee remarked with dissatisfaction.
Then, narrowing her eyes at Rudell, she said.
“Don’t tell anyone about the conversation we just had. Got it?”
“Yes. Understood.”
Helena’s proposal.
It was regarding some business matter.
Rudell didn’t quite remember the details, but it involved a conflict between Helena, who took a nonchalant stance since it wasn’t illegal, and Kaylee, who couldn’t ignore the ethical implications.
They had years before things escalated to a serious conflict, so it wasn’t something Rudell needed to worry about for now.
“Ugh, I’m exhausted. It feels like I’ve aged a few months just dealing with her.”
“Ahahaha…”
Though she said that, their relationship was one of a complex mix of love and hate.
Even without Rudell’s involvement, their connection would naturally continue.
“I’m going to head out and rest. What about you?”
“I think I’ll stay a bit longer.”
There was still much to do.
“Okay. Then please let Leje know I’m heading off to rest.”
“I’ll do that.”
After bowing her head to Rudell, Kaylee moved toward the exit of the banquet hall…
Once she confirmed that she completely disappeared, Rudell stretched lightly and looked around.
“It’ll take ages for Leje to get away from all that…”
The long line starting from the podium where Leje and the Duke were seated.
They were people waiting to give gifts to Leje.
Just like before, it would likely take at least a few hours before that line disappeared.
“I should prepare something in the meantime.”
The attack from the assassins was scheduled for exactly seven o’clock tonight.
Before that, he needed to lay the groundwork to get through today’s events safely.
“Alright… then, time to move.”
Muttering to himself, Rudell headed out of the banquet hall, unnoticed by the crowd.
*
Duke’s Mansion, Guardhouse.
Yawn…
Alex, a guard of the Duke’s House, opened the visor of his helmet and let out a loud yawn.
The warm spring sunshine had a magical quality that could make even the best-trained guards feel drowsy.
“Hey, wake up! Are you trying to get us both punished again?”
“Don’t worry. The higher-ups are all on extra duty at the annex, so no one’s coming this way.”
“That’s easy for you to say. Just a few days ago, your chatter got me punished too!”
That night a few days ago, while they were chatting, they had been caught by the head guard and had to jog around the yard twenty times as punishment.
It hadn’t even been a few days since that incident, yet this guy was already slacking off…
If he weren’t a childhood friend, Rudell would have cut ties with him long ago, but now that they had shared good and bad experiences together, it was hard to do.
“Well, I didn’t know either! Who would’ve thought the head guard would come at night?”
“Just focus on your duties already.”
Unlike Alex, who was casual about everything, Jamie took pride in his role as a guard.
Even as just a guard, it was a position earned through a strict selection process.
“Seriously, you really take everything too seriously. If you keep living like that, you’ll dry up emotionally!”
“Our job is to maintain security. Emotions have no place in that.”
Does this guy never tire of such pointless conversations?
Just then, as Jamie let out a short sigh…
“Huh?”
Suddenly, a black shadow began to loom over them.
Today’s sky was clear, without a cloud in sight…
As he thought that and looked up, Jamie couldn’t help but swallow hard.
A figure shrouded in a dark hood, face hidden by a mask.
An unknown assailant was barreling down towards them!
If it weren’t for the glimmer of green eyes beneath the hood, they might have mistaken it for a monster.
“What, what is that!?”
“Intruder…!!”
Panicking, Alex could only let out a confused shout…
But Jamie, who quickly assessed the situation, shouted as he prepared to use the magical tools provided to the guards.
However, the unknown intruder was a step ahead.
Gya gya gya gya!
Gkhaaaa!
With a sharp sound, a flash of electricity surged towards the two, and with a scream, they both crumpled to the ground.
“What the…?”
Unlike Alex, who lost consciousness immediately, Jamie remained vaguely aware, but that was all.
His body wouldn’t move as his vision began to blur.
“I need to… let them know…”
As the black shadow approached him, Jamie thought that.
Meanwhile, the shadow bent down as if trying to get a better look at him…
“I’m sorry. It couldn’t be helped.”
As the shadow spoke those words, Jamie slipped into unconsciousness.
