Click―
The servant who entered the facility room on the second floor after hearing Richard Duncan's instructions walked without hesitation. He passed the spare cylinders piled on one side and approached the transformer's groove. There, cylinders containing a yellowish liquid were inserted in parallel into the groove. They were supplying processed mana energy as a power source for light and electricity.
After checking each cylinder by removing them one by one, he found that the remaining energy was sufficient. There was no foreign matter in the joints, nor were there any unusual signs. Thinking it was a temporary problem, the servant put the cylinders back into the groove and moved toward the door.
Just as he was about to close the facility room door and lock it with a key, a shadow fell beside him.
"Hey."
The servant looked up, startled. A man in a suit was leaning against the wall, looking down at him.
There was a strange sharpness to his loosely hanging necktie. It was Henry Digliff, who had attended as Margaret Penrod's partner, but there was no way the servant would know his face.
The servant, thinking he was just one of the nobles, bowed in greeting.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here..."
"Are you a servant of the Count's family?"
"Yes, that's right."
"How long have you been in?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm asking how long you've been working."
Only those with close relationships to the Duncan Count's family could come up to the second floor. Or servants who had received their orders. Among the servants, those brought from outside had different attire, so they were prohibited from entering from the stairs by the guards.
In other words, being up here meant being one of the closest associates of the Duncan Count's family. The servant tried to recall if there had been such a person on the list of close associates he had been memorizing for days before the banquet. Nevertheless, he faithfully fulfilled his duty with his mouth.
"About two and a half years. Do you need something?"
The man who had been staring down at him thoughtfully repeated, "Two and a half years..." Soon, as if something displeased him, he muttered with narrowed brows:
"What a waste..."
Then, gesturing with his chin toward the railing where the first floor was visible, he said:
"There were rats scurrying around on the first floor occasionally, go check with a few others. I can't stay here with my stomach turning."
"Pardon? Rats, you say?"
"Yes, squeaking rats."
"I-I'll go check right away. If you could tell me roughly where you saw them..."
"Over there by the entrance."
The man pointed to the corridor leading to the main entrance of the party house beyond the massive chandelier.
"Go straight out there and outside."
The servant tilted his head for a moment. Guards were guarding that area, so if rats had appeared, news would have already spread. However, if it was something like a mouse rather than a sewer rat, it might not have been noticed due to its small size.
Regardless of size, if it became known that rats had appeared at the banquet hall, not only would the Count's family's dignity fall, but it would also be the beginning of hardship for the servants from that day on. It was obvious they would be caught like rats by the ill-tempered master, asking why they hadn't discovered that one thing in advance. It had to be dealt with quickly before more people saw it.
"I'll go take care of it right away. Thank you for letting me know."
"Mm, go ahead."
The servant bowed his head and quickly crossed the corridor. He took colleagues he met along the way, went down the stairs, and disappeared into the crowd in the hall.
The man quietly watched from behind the railing, leaning against a pillar. A moment later, he took a bag hidden behind a corner and entered the facility room door that the servant had failed to lock.
Just then, at the opposite end of the corridor, the Duncan father and son, having finished changing, opened the lounge door and came out. Close associates who had already secured seats on the protruding balcony on the second floor welcomed them with cheers.
The two men, dressed in white formal attire, stood at the edge of the balcony overlooking the entire hall. The house manager and the main ceremony's host looked around and shouted:
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please!"
At the same time, the area in front of the circular garden of the party house was relatively quiet. Most visitors had gone inside, and the main ceremony had already begun.
The herald who had been announcing the names and titles of guests had temporarily left his post. Only the guards protecting the stairs stood motionless in their places. Soon after, three carriages that had arrived late stopped in a row along the perimeter of the garden.
Two were from the Agrizendro family, and one, though without a family symbol, was a rather luxurious carriage.
"Master, what shall we do with your coat?"
"I'll wear it inside. Give it here."
Hugo, relieved that there was no boisterous welcome ceremony, received his coat from his attendant and hurriedly got out.
As soon as he stepped onto the sidewalk with its curb, he looked up at the splendid exterior of the party house and adjusted his attire. Just then, a gentleman and a lady carefully alighted from the carriage that had arrived first.
The lady, who held the gentleman's hand and gathered her dress, had refreshingly blue eyes. Her hair was close to a mysterious silver, but her jewel-like eyes clearly resembled the Duke's.
The lady, who was walking while cradling her belly that didn't yet show much, suddenly spotted a man noticeable even from a distance and called out:
"Hugo!"
Hugo, who had been striding forward with the tails of his coat fluttering, stopped in his tracks. There were few who would call him by name in a place like this. A warm smile spread across his face as he immediately turned around.
"Silvia."
Silvia, Hugo's cousin, and her husband Jeffrey Marshal were standing there. Unlike Silvia who was waving her hand, Jeffrey bowed politely as soon as he saw Hugo.
"I come before Your Grace the Duke. Glory to Raina Logia."
"It's been a while, both of you."
"Hugo, how long has it been since we last met? Is this the first time since the gathering a few months ago?"
"I think so. You look better than then."
"Hasn't the Duke become more handsome? I heard about the expedition. I'm glad you look healthy."
Excited Silvia examined Hugo's tall figure here and there, and unable to contain her joy, she hugged him tightly. Hugo, who had raised both arms for a moment, looked down at her with eyes tinged with slight awkwardness. His gaze continued to Jeffrey Marshal, Silvia's husband.
There was nothing problematic, but his conscience was just slightly pricked. However, Jeffrey, who didn't know that the two weren't real blood relatives, simply watched the family reunion after a long time with contentment and offered a single remark:
"Congratulations on your safe return and victory."
"...Thank you."
Hugo's hesitant fingertips gently patted Silvia's delicate shoulders and back. She had been a cousin of the same age with whom he had occasionally interacted since childhood, so he was equally glad to see her.
But when Silvia hugged his waist more tightly, Hugo grabbed her shoulders and maintained an appropriate distance. Rather than aversion, it was a touch that was extremely careful, as if afraid she might break.
"You're not alone anymore, you should be careful."
"Just for this much? Even the baby seems happy to meet Uncle."
Silvia pulled Hugo's hand and placed it on her lower abdomen. There was no time to stop her. She, who had once reigned as the lady of the Duke's family, placed her hand on top of Hugo's with uncreased eyes and a bright smile.
"It kicks when it meets someone it likes. Can you feel it?"
Hugo's stiff fingertips loosely wrapped around Silvia's abdomen. He heightened his sense of touch while emitting warm energy from his once cold palm.
Something that was neither a heartbeat nor the pulsation of flowing blood tickled his palm with a thump-thump. It was like the movement of a living fetus, a mysterious fluttering so fragile it was even frightening. Hugo unconsciously smiled faintly as he looked down at where his hand was touching.
Soon, he met Silvia's eyes and murmured softly:
"It's vigorous, like its mother."
"Right? Sometimes even I'm surprised."
It was a greeting from a welcome new life that made him forget even the fact that he was late for the banquet.
"Esteemed distinguished guests. Felton, Valentine, Elsworth, Bainclaire, my old friends. I sincerely express my gratitude to all who have graciously attended this banquet to solidify Count Duncan's accession and our alliance―"
Duncan stood at the forefront and delivered his greeting as if giving an oration. His voice echoed loudly throughout the spacious banquet hall like an opera house.
The guests had to retreat more than a certain distance from under the railing under the control of the guards protecting the area near the second-floor stairs. Some nobles had disgruntled expressions, afraid of losing the spots they had secured, but no one disobeyed.
People all flocked to the center of the hall where they could look up at the Duncan father and son. As servants busily circulated with trays, everyone picked up either champagne or wine.
Duncan also held a wine glass beside him and continued his long opening address.
"The reason the pro-emperor faction has remained an object of admiration and respect for the imperial citizens over the long years is all―"
"Thanks to our unchanging friendship, support for each other, and the virtue and reputation we have built together with blood and sweat."
The speech echoing inside the hall spread to the entrance of the party house. Just as the servants who had heard the eyewitness account of seeing a rat opened the door and came out, the sound echoed even louder.
Hugo and the Silvia couple, who were exchanging greetings at the bottom of the stairs, also heard Duncan's voice. Hugo slowly withdrew his hand from Silvia's belly and extended it again as if telling her to take it.
"The weather is cold, let's go inside now."
"Yes, let's go in."
"By the way, Hugo, is your partner's seat empty today too?"
Silvia naturally placed her hand on Hugo's palm. Her other hand went onto her husband Jeffrey Marshal's palm. At the sight of her with handsome men on both sides, Hugo matched his slow pace and responded with a gentle smile.
"I must have left it empty to enter with Mrs. Marshal."
"Just like the Duke, you're getting more and more shameless."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"My wish is to attend your wedding."
"That will be difficult for a while."
"How resolute... There must be a line of people who like you."
"Silvia, that's disrespectful to the Duke."
As Jeffrey cut in appropriately, Hugo expressed his gratitude with a look. Silvia also seemed to feel she had gone a bit too far and apologized awkwardly.
"By the way, I thought we were the only ones who came late. What's this? His Grace is tardy."
"...There was a bit of an issue on the way."
Hugo answered like that and looked down at his wristwatch. After checking the position of the hour and minute hands, he raised one eyebrow as if something was strange.
"Really? We also had a strange incident today."
"...What happened?"
"When we boarded the carriage to depart, all four wheels were damaged."
Hugo, who had been responding while still staring at his watch, turned his head sharply at Jeffrey's answer.
"What did you say?"
"Concerned for Silvia and the child's safety, we waited for a while until the carriage inspection was completed before finally departing... Fortunately, there were no additional problems afterward."
"If we didn't attend, Lord Duncan would give us the cold shoulder later. I was uneasy and considered not coming, but I came slowly to see the Duke's face after a long time."
At that moment, Hugo stood stock-still. Silvia, who was holding his hand, naturally stopped in the middle of the stairs leading up to the entrance of the party house.
"What's wrong?"
As the three stood blankly, the guards protecting both sides and the servants who happened to be coming down looked at them with puzzled eyes.
Enveloped in a strange sense of discomfort, Hugo unconsciously moved his Adam's apple. Chilly and hot currents alternately swept down his spine.
His eyes, tinged with a mysterious color, turned to the entrance of the party house where bright light was leaking out. Somehow, his five senses developed abnormally, and the music from the banquet hall sounded louder than ever. Beyond being loud, it was even noisy. It was stimulating enough to tear the eardrums.
Meanwhile, the greeting announcing the start of the main ceremony was already racing toward its end.
"I hope this night brings you joy and becomes a new foundation for a brilliant future. Once again, I thank everyone who has graced this occasion, and for the eternal glory and development of the pro-emperor faction―"
Beyond the large and splendid chandelier in the distance, Duncan raised a wine glass filled with blood-colored liquid.
"I, Duncan, and Count Duncan will burn our bodies as one!"
The chandelier piece, like a lightning rod, reflected in the red wine glass, shining dazzlingly brilliant.
The musicians' calm performance reached its climax. The cheers of the guests echoed in the ears along with the music.
They all shouted with one heart and one mind:
"Glory to Raina Log―"
BOOOOOM―!