26. First Banquet (3)

[Grand Duke's heir: Davian Raden Montaire.]

I stared at the screen before looking at the boy whose midnight black hair waved with the breeze and his violet eyes stared at me with slight wary.

This guy was the third candidate for the King's position? But didn't the Grand Duke's family give up their claim on the throne?

"Can I check his stats?" I asked the system.

"Yes."

[Activating Mana Eyes.]

[Name: Davian Raden Montaire.

Age: 13.

Specie: Human.

Magic: None.

Class: Swordsman (Elementary)]

There was no presence of mana but what made me intrigued was the presence of something else. The violet mist embraced his figure like the air around him.

"An aura user." I thought.

It was the first time that I had seen an aura user, some people couldn't use magic but still had mana within them but this guy was different.

"Um... what's wrong?" He asked and I realised that I had been staring at him.

"You... look upset." I spoke up noticing his tensed body language.

Davian looked away and I turned my eyes too.

"I'm fine." He mumbled and I smiled as I recalled my own habit of saying that when I was struggling to keep everything together.

He stared up at the sky watching the stars or maybe lost in his thoughts while I noticed something which made me frown, this guy probably came alone to the banquet.

I never heard the announcement of the Grand Duke or Grand Duchess's arrival. Was he upset because he had to come here alone?

Or were his parents already dead or something?

[Defender of Divine Glory asks you to not draw conclusions based on the conjecture.]

"There you go again." I sighed.

"A-Are you upset too?" Davian asked and I looked at him.

"No, just a little tired."

He looked at me for a moment and then asked, "I-I didn't see you at any social event before, is this your first time?"

"Yes, I couldn't go before because of my weak constitution but now that I'm recovering well, I can accompany my family." I smiled making him nod once before he turned away.

"Are you here alone?" I asked watching as his small fingers clenched over the railing.

"I'm sorry if I-"

"It's fine."

It wouldn't hurt to make friends with him. He seemed like a good kid.

"I'm Reina Aurelius. If it doesn't trouble you then..." I said as I reached out to him making him look at me.

"Can we be friends?"

He stared at me for a long moment before he stared at my hand.

"... Is it all right with you?" He asked and I tilted my head to one side.

"What do you mean?"

"I... I don't have any magic and I'm not even strong so... why would you ask to be my friend?"

Did he think I was approaching him because of some ulterior motives?

Well, I had my motives but I could see that he had the potential of becoming someone useful in the future. But apart from that I needed friends too.

"So what?" I asked making him look at me with a quizzical look.

"People don't always stay the same. You say you are weak now but in future, you could become the strongest person."

"And... what if I don't?"

I smiled as I stepped closer to him making him go stiff, I used Frost magic and created a small flower and handed it to him.

"Wow..." He breathed as he held the flower in his hands gently.

His eyes glowed as he watched the frost flower, "Imagine that's you."

"What?"

I used my Frost magic again and changed the shape of the flower into a small dagger making his eyes go wide.

"And with a little self-confidence and hard work, you can become like this."

He stared at me with confusion still in his eyes and I couldn't help but reach out.

"It's fine if a person is weak." I said.

"One always has a choice to grow stronger, it only depends on whether you make that choice or just keep thinking that you will always be weak." I repeated the words that my Chief had told me in my past life.

The young boy stared at me for a moment before I stepped back.

"If you don't want to be friends then it's fine."

Just as he opened his mouth to say something, we heard the sounds of shouts and I rushed inside with Davian in tow.

We reached back inside the hall to find the Prince Eric on the ground with his hair and clothes drenched in juice while the other kids were surrounding him covering their mouths laughing.

The one figure that stood near the First Prince was Prince Carlos who was laughing triumphantly, Davian rushed past me and crouched near Prince Eric.

"One loser for another." Carlos bellowed followed by the others and I was tempted to show him his place but I felt someone holding my wrist.

"Reina, where were you?" Rune asked and I looked at him.

"Let's go."

He pulled me in the other direction, I turned once to glance at Davian and Eric before their forms were blocked by the bystanders.

"I can't believe the Prince could be so cruel." Rune spoke making me look at his back as he was dragging me away.

"What happened?"

"I don't know myself but it seems like Prince Carlos dumped all the juice from the containers on Prince Eric because he didn't like his gift."

"If it were me I wouldn't even gift him shit." I mumbled making Rune look at me.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

"Listen carefully, Reina. Don't ever go near the Princes, any of them." Rune warned and I nodded.

"All right."

We retired to our assigned rooms in the adjacent palace as the banquet was going to last for two more days. Tonight's opening party was a combined affair for the kids and adults, tomorrow's would be an evening adult party with alcohol and dance and the last day would be the dinner.

If I had to do something then tonight and tomorrow's night were the best times.

I wore the blue pendant that Silas had given me and calmed my breathing as I transferred some of my mana into the pendant making it glow once before it went back to normal.

I walked over to the mirror and smiled as I couldn't see my reflection. 

"Magic can do wonders." I smirked before I walked towards the door.

There weren't any CCTV cameras in this era but to move without any problem I still had to make sure that I wasn't spotted and the best way was to be invisible.

I activated my Mana Eyes and looked around, there were quite a lot of knights and guards outside and also a few maids who were on night duty. I only had a few hours to locate the tower where the concubine was.

I activated my Mana Sense and let my mana flow out as I walked out of the palace where the guests were staying.

I almost thought it was useless to do this without any information when I sensed something which made me turn in that direction. It was the presence of strong mana, but the body was considerably small. I followed it until I saw another person approaching them from behind.

Sensing danger I rushed ahead and saw the familiar blonde-haired kid who had no idea that an assassin was sneaking up behind him.

I dashed ahead and swung my foot kicking the back of the assassin's knees and catching him off guard as he fell, I swiftly swung my elbow slamming it into his neck and knocking him out without much sound.

I looked up at the Prince who was still walking away without any idea of what happened behind him.

"Where is he going all alone at this time?" I frowned and with one final glance at the assassin, I walked behind the Prince.

It was the First Prince Eric and he was walking towards the small forested area, I looked around hoping that there wouldn't be any more assassins.

I wondered where he was going and my question was soon answered as I saw him entering a small black tower that seemed to be in the middle of the small wooded area.

I walked inside behind him and climbed the stairs watching as he went up. He stopped as he reached the top where there was only a single wooden door. He reached out and pulled the key from the hanger on the side and opened the door.

I quietly snuck inside as he entered the room.

He walked over and lit up the gas lamp using his fire magic and the dark room came into view along with the person occupying it.

"Mother?" Prince Eric called to the woman who was lying on the bed.

She stirred a little before she opened her eyes and I frowned slightly as I saw her condition. It didn't even seem like a person was lying on the sheets, she resembled a wax doll, so skinny and weathered that it was a miracle to see her alive.

"Eric..." Her voice was weak and hoarse.

"How are you, my son?" She asked and the boy held her bony hand in his.

"I'm... fine." He spoke.

"Did you cry?" She asked as her fingers brushed over his face and he shook his head.

"No."

"I'm... so sorry, my boy." She spoke, "Because of me you have to suffer so much."

He shook his head again as his scarlet eyes glistened with tears, "It's not your fault, Mother." 

I stood in the background watching the two cry and I couldn't help but feel an uneasy feeling. This woman was going to die soon, she was barely hanging to life as is. 

If she died then the Prince would break down even more, he was already in a miserable state where no one was supporting him so, it was easy to get rid of him.

It was obvious that the Queen wanted to make Carlos the King but if he became the King then he wouldn't be a good ruler.

In that case, I guess I had two choices.

Prince Eric or Davian Montaire.