Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 37

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Ahem, ahem! Young Master Neo, it has been quite some time.”

Eric Wheelsman immediately stepped forward in front of me, blocking the space between Neo and myself. A flicker of disappointment crossed Neo’s eyes.
He had thought he’d found a promising opportunity, but with Eric Wheelsman’s arrival, it had become far more difficult to pursue.

“Yes, Young Master Eric. It has been quite some time.”

Neo exchanged greetings with Lady Amir and Young Master Gilbert as well. Watching them take their positions beside me, he clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘So they cherish even a reckless fool, as long as he’s on their side.’

Neo decided to refrain from any further action, recognizing their protective stance toward me. Eric, noticing Neo’s shift in demeanor, quietly turned to look at me.
Neo followed suit, his gaze also settling upon me.

“Hmm.”

And without realizing it, I let out a soft sound.

I stood with my arms crossed, looking down at Neo with quiet composure. My gaze was utterly contemptuous. I had not spoken a single word to him since earlier. I communicated only through my eyes and my bearing.

‘A man of inferior standing.’

Neo was suddenly reminded of the way Benion Sten had looked at him. That gaze had stirred his anger, yet he had submitted and praised it as the look of a great noble.

I turned away the moment I saw the wavering in Neo’s eyes. The Black Dragon’s report reached my ears.
There was a reason I had brought the Black Dragon here.

-The sound recording spell is complete.

I had asked the Black Dragon to record every word I would hear today. Video recording was a magic that consumed too much mana and was difficult to sustain for long periods, so I had to settle for audio.
I had planned not to use magic in the Royal Palace, where detection was sensitive, but the Black Dragon assured me that such mana detection was manageable, and instead narrowed the range to my immediate surroundings to avoid suspicion.
I resolved to extract tears of blood from Neo later with this recording, and made my way toward the palace entrance. I was someone who never forgot what had been done to me.

Eric Wheelsman watched my retreating figure with a satisfied gaze. It seemed his efforts of writing one letter per day had borne fruit.
Meanwhile, Gilbert and Amir exchanged peculiar glances as they observed my back. The one who always wore flamboyant clothing had appeared today in a simple black suit with no accessories, his red hair neatly arranged.

Perhaps it was because I had not consumed any alcohol.
Each step I took appeared leisurely yet languid.

Amir and Gilbert could see me turning around at the entrance.
Especially my gaze—there was something peculiar about the way I looked at them, as if silently beckoning them forward.

“Neo, we shall meet again inside the Banquet Hall. Amir, Gilbert. Let us go.”

Eric merely watched this with satisfaction, but when Amir and Gilbert stood before me, they felt that peculiar sensation intensify.
I spoke to these two, and to the satisfied Eric.

“Let us proceed.”

The three of them entered the palace following my words. The strange emotion Amir and Gilbert felt only grew stronger. Regardless, I decided I would make good use of these three today.

“Kale Heniatus, young master of the Heniatus Count Family, makes his entrance!”

As I stepped into the Banquet Hall, I could hear the attendant’s voice calling out the names of Eric, Gilbert, and Amir who followed behind me.

“Quite impressive.”

I surveyed the expansive hall once before following Eric. Amir glanced at me, then matched my pace and opened her mouth.

“Young Master Kale, the Banquet Hall has the Crown Prince’s seat at the highest position, and below that, tables are grouped by region. The reason is—”

Amir, who was about to explain the reason, saw my expression and corrected herself.

“There is no need to explain the reason, is there?”
“I appreciate it, but I understand, Amir.”

I watched Amir nod with a peculiar expression before heading toward the table arranged in the Northeast Region.

Five tables had been prepared in the hall. Northeast, Northwest, Southwest, Southeast, and center. Each table was divided according to the distribution of noble factions.

‘The Crown Prince certainly does this well.’

Subtly pitting them against each other, subtly mixing them together. It was the Crown Prince’s specialty. Yet the Crown Prince was equally thorough in how he treated himself.
Before these five tables, at a position elevated two steps higher, the Crown Prince’s table had been prepared.

‘The second and third princes’ seats are one tier below.’

And below that tier sat the tables of the second and third princes. It was strange that they hadn’t come to a gathering where most of the kingdom’s noble heirs assembled, even if the Crown Prince was hosting. The Crown Prince had invited them, but made a clear distinction in status.

‘Needlessly fussing over trivial details.’

Indeed, the Crown Prince—people in such lofty positions were simply not my type.

“As expected, our table is closest to the entrance.”

I didn’t bother responding to Eric’s bitter tone. The Palace of Joy had designated the eastern gate as the entrance today, and the seats for Northeast Region nobles were positioned closest to it.

The Northeast Region had a voice of its own, but there were no great houses commanding enough authority. I raised my hand and patted Eric’s shoulder.

“Being close to the entrance isn’t so bad. Besides, we have no reason to bow our heads at our own table, do we?”

Other regions had to defer to or curry favor with leaders like Marquis Sten.

The three others stopped walking. When they halted, I stopped as well. Eric turned to look at me, and after a long moment, he opened his mouth.

“Young Master Kale.”

Even in the banquet hall, he didn’t lower his tone.

“I’m delighted that my sincerity has borne fruit.”

Sincerity? What sincerity? I looked at Eric with an expression of complete bewilderment, but he strode forward with renewed confidence toward his table near the entrance. Eric didn’t know that I had barely glanced at his letter before tossing it carelessly into a corner.
Eric didn’t know that Kale had carelessly tossed the letter into a corner of the room without even reading it.

“Why are you acting that way?”

At Kale Heniatus’s question, Amir gave a subtle expression of admiration and shook his head. Gilbert had a similar reaction, and Kale gave a slight shrug before heading toward the table.

But a voice rang out, stopping him in his tracks.

“Presenting His Highness Prince Benion Sten of the Sten Marquis House!”

But to me, Neo Tolls and Benion were of no consequence.
But to Kale, neither Neo nor Benion mattered.

“Kale!”

Eric quickened his pace and called out to Kale, who was heading to his seat, but Kale merely waved his hand dismissively and sat down.

“Yes.”
“Ah, Prince Kale has arrived.”
“Prince Kale, welcome.”

Kale responded to their courteous greetings with a flat, perfunctory tone.

“Yes, pleased to meet you.”

A sudden silence fell over the table, but Kale discreetly slipped his hand beneath the banquet table’s tablecloth, away from the others’ sight.

‘As expected.’

I felt the Black Dragon’s trembling body, rendered invisible by its transparency ability.

-I’m fine. I told you I’m fine.

I heard the Black Dragon’s voice echoing in my mind and gently patted its quivering form. The trembling was a mixture of rage and fear—all of it intertwined. This was why the abuse suffered in childhood was so terrifying. The body’s memory conflicted with the rational judgment of the mind, leaving the Black Dragon unable to respond properly.
The Black Dragon couldn’t respond properly, as what his body remembered conflicted with the judgment his rational mind had made.

It’s fine. I’m a great Dragon.

Kale told the Black Dragon that Benion Sten would also come here, and obtained a promise that he would not kill Benion today. And he made one more promise.

Later. I’ll kill that bastard and myself later.

Listening to the Black Dragon’s voice filled with fury, I calmed it down. Fortunately, it didn’t seem to be stirring up mana fluctuations in its excitement.
Hearing the Black Dragon’s voice filled with anger, Kale Heniatus calmed the Black Dragon. Fortunately, it didn’t seem to be getting excited enough to cause mana fluctuations.

After all, the Dragon was more rational than expected. Kale withdrew his hand from beneath the tablecloth, having been patting the Dragon while imagining the hellscape that would soon unfold for those from the Sten Marquis House in connection with Benion.

The Dragon didn’t seem like it would go mad and rampage. If that happened, this palace would simply fly away, and Kale Heniatus would bid farewell to the world. He looked around, relieved by the fact that he had prevented it.

He could see Eric’s group and Benion’s group approaching in this direction. Then again, Benion’s group was at the adjacent northwest table.

Thud. Thud. The Black Dragon rubbed its head against Kale Heniatus’s leg.

“Mm.”

I paused for a moment at that gesture. In that instant, Eric’s eyes widened as he sent me a signal.

‘Stay quiet! Don’t move!’

I quietly ignored his signal. And I deliberated. How could I pretend not to know Benion? But my deliberation proved pointless when Benion greeted me first.

“Young Master Kale, it has been a while.”

Benion Sten. His face had become remarkably irritable in the time since we last met. Yet his still-gentle smile bore the appearance of a model affectionate nobleman. Neo Tolls fidgeted nervously behind Benion.

I offered a bright smile and spoke.

“Yes, Young Master Benion. This is our first meeting since we saw each other at the Tolls Viscount Family Territory last time.”

Benion’s gentle smile deepened, and Neo’s face turned pale.
The Sten Marquis House—one of the four great families leading the kingdom’s political sphere. The heir of that marquis house had visited the Northeast Region. Moreover, the territory of the Tolls Viscount Family, which most openly proclaimed itself his subordinate.

The expressions of the Northeast youths soured, and the eyes of the other noble heirs present here changed as well. The Northeast—a land without a leading great noble.

“Indeed. I had gone to visit my friend Young Master Neo and was on my way back.”

Benion Sten paid no mind to the gazes directed at him. Stepping foot on a mere scrap of land like the Northeast was hardly a concern. Benion regarded me with an appraising gaze while speaking with warmth.

“We did meet then. We had promised to share a drink in the Capital.”
“Indeed.”

The conversation between us appeared utterly ordinary. Yet it did not reach the hearts of those observing as anything ordinary.
I smiled faintly as I observed Neo Tolls glancing at me repeatedly. Neo froze for a moment at that gaze, and I opened my mouth.

“Ah, that’s right. The day after I met Young Master Benion, a knight from the Tolls Viscount Family came to find me.”

I spoke to Neo with a considerably concerned and worried expression.

“I heard your villa was completely ransacked. Are you managing all right?”

Neo’s shoulders trembled, and I could see Benion’s lips quiver slightly.

“Young Master Benion, have you heard the news? I understand he was a close friend of yours. You’ve heard, haven’t you?”

Benion answered after a long pause. His tone was utterly natural, yet I could sense the fury simmering beneath his words.

“…Yes, it was quite sad news indeed.”
“Yes. I was having my morning drink when I heard the news, and I was so shocked. Goodness, everything! Not a single thing! Completely stripped bare, they say. You’ve lost something quite precious, haven’t you?”

The most irritating people in the world are those with loose tongues, those without tact, and those with no malicious intent.
I was currently embodying all three. How delightful.

I spoke warmly to Neo.

“Young Master Neo, take heart. Surely such absurd things happen to everyone at least once in their lifetime, don’t they?”
“Ah, well, yes. That’s true.”

Neo answered vaguely, unable to even read Benion’s expression for fear of showing his distress, while I offered kind advice with a gentle smile.

“When such unfortunate things happen, one must drink and forget it all. Young Master Neo, let us drink heartily together today. Would you also care for a drink, Young Master Benion?”

Benion regarded me quietly. Since losing the Black Dragon, he had fallen greatly out of favor with the Marquis. Based on the knights’ testimonies and evidence, Benion currently suspected the organization that had given him the Black Dragon, but he could not dismiss his suspicions of my group, who had stayed nearby for a day at that time.
In truth, there were no rational grounds to suspect me. So he had merely approached me to verify something.

“After spending a day together, even having morning drinks, all the unpleasant memories will fade away.”

But he now realized that he needed no further verification from Kale Heniatus, who was merely spouting useless nonsense.

“Young Master Kale, thank you, but let’s do it another time.”
“Ah, what a shame. Then it shall be so.”

Benion passed by me. In that moment, he heard my voice speaking to Neo.

“The knight came looking absolutely pale. Young Master Neo, you should have prepared for such things in advance. How could you lose all your precious belongings at once? Take heart. We won’t be able to find what was stolen, but what can we do about it? We must simply live on.”

That reckless fool. Benion suppressed his anger, responding with a smile to the covert glances of noble youths who were probing him based on rumors of his travels through the Northeast Region.

‘Where have the dragon bastard and the cripple gone?’

Benion walked forward without looking back. I, having caught only a glimpse of his departing figure, turned away from the pale Neo without the slightest hesitation. Of course, I left behind a warm parting word.

“Do your best.”

He would probably get torn apart by Benion Sten.

“Prince Kale Heniatus.”

Kale had much to say yet found nothing to say, and with that peculiar expression, he watched Eric Wheelsman approach before settling back into his seat.

-Next time, it’s my turn.

Kale gave a casual nod to the Black Dragon’s voice and surveyed the table. The young nobles from the Northeast Region were watching him. They had probably never seen Kale act so normally before. Thus, to meet their expectations, he picked up the wine bottle before him.

In an instant, all eyes scattered.
The power of a reckless fool.

However, those at other tables regarded Kale with curiosity. Savoring their gazes with ease, Kale handed the wine bottle to Eric Wheelsman.

“I’ll drink it later.”
“…All right.”

After a long while, Kale turned his gaze away from Eric Wheelsman, who had answered without formal speech, and looked toward the clock positioned above the hall’s entrance. The banquet would begin soon. The nobles were already seated in their places.
The reason was clear.

Beginning with Benion Sten, the remaining great noble heirs started to enter.

“Prince Antonio Geyler of the Geyler Duchy Family is entering!”

Prince Antonio Geyler of the Geyler Duchy Family, Princess Karin Orsena of the Orsena Duchy Family, Sten, and another Marquis House—the Aylan Marquis Family.

Only after they entered the banquet hall one by one, each bringing their own attendants, did the doors close. Yet even with their arrival, few engaged in conversation or rose from their seats.

Kale leaned back comfortably against his chair and watched the banquet hall doors. The clock’s second hand crept steadily toward five o’clock sharp.

Tick, tick. Finally, five o’clock arrived.

Creeeeak—
The massive doors opened, and the star of this gathering entered with supporting players in tow.
The attendant was about to announce with greater force than ever before. But the figure who appeared first raised a hand, stopping him.

The Crown Prince and First Prince of the Roan Kingdom. Albert Crossman.
He savored the attention directed at him, leisurely making his way to his seat on the dais without any formal introduction. All the nobles rose to greet him. The Crown Prince Albert, accompanied by the Second and Third Princes, took his place at the highest seat in the hall.

Thud. The entrance doors closed in response. Everyone had arrived.
Crown Prince Albert looked down upon the Second and Third Princes as well as everyone else and spoke.

“Delighted to see you all. Thank you for accepting the invitation.”

A place where introductions were unnecessary. Albert looked down at them from the highest position. I gazed up at him indifferently before glancing at the clock.

‘It’s time.’

The figure who would make this banquet hall buzz with excitement—perhaps becoming the Capital nobility’s greatest topic of conversation for some time—had yet to arrive.
The Crown Prince’s voice reached my ears.

“I am so delighted that these precious talents who will illuminate this kingdom, these future great figures, have all come together like this.”

The Crown Prince was beginning to warm up his flattery. That was when it happened.

“Hmm?”

The Crown Prince turned his gaze toward the entrance. The closed doors were being pushed open slightly. Through the narrow gap, a commotion could be heard.
The corners of my mouth rose slightly, unnoticed by the others. At that moment, an attendant hurried in through a side door in the corner, not the main entrance, and approached the Crown Prince.

‘They’ve arrived.’

I sensed it instinctively.
In that instant, the Crown Prince’s expression shifted at the attendant’s words, and he raised his hand toward the knight who had partially appeared at the entrance.

Creeeeak—
The massive entrance doors opened once more.
Since the attendant spoke after the Crown Prince’s entrance, he could not announce the name of the latecomer. But there was no need.

‘Perfect timing.’

A wheelchair appeared in the banquet hall.
Taylor Sten, the abandoned eldest son. He appeared in the banquet hall alongside the Mad Priestess Kaige. In that instant, the gazes of Taylor and Kaige flowed past me in a way no one else could perceive. That alone was sufficient for the three of us.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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