Chapter 206: Banquet

Giliath demands your power stones! Let's get over 500!

*

'Just how did it come to this...?', I couldn't help but inwardly cry. I mean, how could I not be in disbelief right now? And while thinking that, it seemed this little distraught in my eyes was picked up by the person who could currently be seen sitting across from me at a rather large banquet table.

"Is the meal not to your liking, Your Highness?", A deep voice said, reaching my ears. That little stupor caused me to look where this voice came from, who was directly seated across from me. I saw an aged man currently swirling some wine around while holding a wine glass in his hand, before slowly taking a sip of some red wine.

The person who was sitting across from me was likely the culprit behind the event that's currently happening...After all, I could now be seen at what appears to be a dinner banquet. After Claire escorted us, we had a formal round of greetings, only to be escorted to the dining hall inside Valflame Palace. 

"If it is not to your liking, I could have the maids roll out some other dishes we have prepared for tonight.", A third voice reached my ears, which sounded a lot more imposing than the man across from me.

Well, it was within reason. My gaze was drawn toward the left to which saw a man seated at the head of the table, donned in a ceremonial outfit that only those higher up in the military wore. Erebonia was a military nation at its roots, and this man stood at the very top.

This man to my left was none other than the reigning emperor of Erebonia, who now had a good decade under his ruling since he first signed into it. I have not seen this man since my first visit to Valflame Palace, but he seemed to have aged quite a bit despite only having ten years gone by.

Having to rule such a large definitely comes with its own pressure, one that will eventually fall into my hands down the line, if I do ascend to Liberl's throne. I am acting as its crown prince right now, but Grandmother could end up changing her mind to pass that role down to Klaudia.

Emperor Eugent III, the acting Emperor of the proud nation of Erebonia.

"Daddy's right. Is the food no good, Big Brother?", A fifth voice said, which drew my gaze again to the right this time. I saw a long golden blonde haired girl who seemed to have much interest in her eyes as she gazed my way in anticipation. But her feet was swinging happily beneath her chair, feeling happy. Likely due to the fact I was now presently beside her. She was Princess Alfin, and I guess out of all the seats present, she decided to sit by me when the other folks started to enter.

Well, she did that of her own accord, considering we haven't seen each other for the last couple years. As a result of just my presence being here in the palace, the moment Princess Alfin arrived with her group, her favorability meter shot up by a good chunk, which resulted in her present good mood. I mean, we haven't seen each other since I showed Princess Alfin around Grancel City, and that was before my departure toward North Ambria. It's nice to see she's doing well.

Especially with that group of friends with her...

Still, I saw the anticipation in Princess Alfin's eyes as she looked my way. Seeing her behave like this, a grin crept on my lips as I let out a laugh, only to proceed to reach out my hand and ruffle her hair a bit.

"Haha, oh the food isn't an issue. Everything here is delicious. I do apologize if I made you worry.", I said, ruffling Princess Alfin's hair a bit. Seeing me do that, Princess Alfin closed her eyes as she enjoyed a headpat from me. But the moment I did this, I felt a piercing glare strike me as if they were glaring daggers, but I didn't feel any danger or fear from it. It was more as if they were looking right through me. And at the same time, another voice giggled while I felt these piercing eyes.

"Oh my, I didn't think the relationship between you two would go as far as Her Highness allowing you to pat her on the head. This is quite a revelation.", A girl's voice said with a teasing tone as it reached my ears.

"Musse...", Another voice said, only to let out a sigh. I recognized this other voice quite well have we had already gotten acquainted with each other during my visit in Ymir when we went to visit the hotsprings and check in on Rean. This voice belonged to Elise, Rean's sister. Right now she was attending school in St. Astraia, so she as beside Rean as she used to be. 

But the earlier voice of who said that was someone who I haven't met yet, but we are now acquainted with each other after having gone through our formal greetings earlier in the receptionist hall. It appeared our group wasn't the only one to arrive at Valflame Palace Palace.

Thanks to a certain prince I've been in contact with over the last couple years, It seemed he went out of the way to summon Princess Alfin and her group of friends to the banquet tonight. As a result, it allowed me to meet another person from the Trailsverse of whom I have not yet met since I was born. Though I am not sure if I should laugh or cry at the matter, considering who it is.

Mildine de Cayenne, the current daughter of the late Duke Cayenne. It does appear her close friends are calling her Musse, but back in the receptionist hall, she introduced herself to me as Mildine. It was quite a formal greeting too, so I couldn't help but reciprocate her greeting, on top of greeting Elise. 

As for the matter regarding Mildine, it was unfortunate, but it seemed her parents did not heed my warning that I delivered back during the Emperor's signing that took place here ten years ago. They likely though it was the foolish words of a little child, considering they were very powerful nobles who acted differently compared to other people I have spoken with in the past. Since they didn't heed my words seriously, the two still ended up perishing at sea in that accident, only to leave Musse behind.

And now, this was my first time meeting Musse face to face. She did develop quite a crush on Rean later on the games, and I'm hoping that it will stay that way. One could argue that Musse's playful attitude was a lot worse than Angelica's persistence in liking girls. Or who knows, since we have met how, perhaps I can slowly change Musse's playful thoughts like how Angelica was able to throw away something that defined her, only to allow her to enter a relationship with me?

Who knows, there is still some time before the games start taking place, and I could definitely try to engage in talks with Musse. Moreover, she is one of the smartest people in the games, on par with Renne and Tio. She likely even outclasses them, so it would definitely do good to have Musse on the ally side, and not an enemy.

Those thoughts aside for now though, it seemed these three weren't alone. It was definitely a shocker to see someone, who I haven't personally come across since her resolve to journey with her Teacher started. But along with her, she was together with another girl, both having appeared to enroll in St. Astraia. This was something I hadn't anticipated at all, but the option was definitely there for them.

The first girl was Sherryl, but after Princess Alfin's group welcomed ours in the receptionist hall, it appeared Sherryl was playing aloof, pretending not to ignore me. I figure I could at least set some private time later to go see Sherryl, but seeing that her circumstances are still in place, she did not do any outburst, only to pretend in not knowing me. For now, if Sherryl desires later, I will go see her after the banquet, which will be followed by a dance, according to His Majesty.

The girl who was with Sherryl was surprisingly Renne. I didn't think the two would come across each other like this, let alone now going to St. Astraia together along with Princess Alfin's group. Renne did not say what she would do after I had informed her that I would do my little disappearance act to come to Erebonia like this, she only stated that she would go with the flow. Still, seeing her mingle with others like this, it was a nice sight to see. 

And aside from seeing Prince Olivert in person again, he was quite happy to talk with me. We did converse for a while before this banquet started, but apart from Prince Olivert, there was probably the most surprising factor of this banquet.

After all, apart from our brief reunion back in Crossbell City to help with the cult extermination event, the man who now sat across from me who had a smile on his face as he drank his wine was none other than one of the most powerful figures in Erebonia, Chancellor Giliath Osborne.

The man who just happens to be my father, whom I have not seen since our villa got burnt to cinders by the Red Constellation.