NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12
When I was young, I remember loving any kind of banquet.
It was flashy, lively, and most importantly, everyone present was smiling.
But then after I got suddenly reincarnated with a book hitting my forehead,
I realized a little too early how the world works.
No longer could I see a banquet as just a place to eat and drink.
It became a fierce search for alliances—are they enemies or allies? Will I be able to use them or will they use me?
The sharpness of words exchanged in an instant; perhaps an even fiercer battleground than the battlefield itself.
I must discern whether this smile I’m wearing is sincere or false.
For that reason, even the slightest slip is unacceptable in banquet settings.
Thus, many nobles only receive invitations from those with ‘friendly’ relations.
Right now, I’m acting completely opposite to that obvious behavior.
I can’t just focus on the host of the banquet.
I also need to assess who else is attending.
Running into someone awkward could lead to an incredibly uncomfortable situation.
Given that aspect, this banquet is one I should avoid.
“I’m still anxious about His Highness the Crown Prince attending.”
“It’s fine. There’s no way he’ll cause a scene at a neutral noble’s banquet.”
The Crown Prince is coming. The First Crown Prince. The center of the ruling faction, and the person I met just recently!
Even if we parted with smiles, the person he was with dealt me quite the blow.
We exist in a very awkward situation for each other.
“Dear brother, if you feel the atmosphere getting a bit weird…”
“Just say I need to sober up and escape to the balcony.”
“I’d prefer to call it a strategic retreat rather than escape.”
“Got it. Alexei. And there’s no need to worry too much.”
Surely, it’s not like the Crown Prince would bring that noble back with him!
The Marquis Robgon, one of the neutral faction, is hosting this banquet.
If he were to cause a scene there, it’s clear how the neutrals would react.
“Oh, dear brother, you don’t know how tough a banquet can be.”
“I’ve been to various banquets till now, you know?”
“Those were all from the ruling faction or the military, weren’t they?”
“Seriously. You really don’t need to worry about it.”
Let me reiterate. This is a gathering of neutral nobles, Alexei.
If you mess up here, even if you’re the Crown Prince, it will be a serious political burden!
Despite my inner thoughts, I boldly walked into the banquet hall.
And soon after, I started to doubt if our Alexei was actually the Regressor.
‘…Ah, damn. What kind of scene is this?’
The scene before me made me think about turning back and retracing my steps.
“Bel, why on earth are you here?”
“Am I not allowed to come? That’s odd.”
“I only learned on my way here. At this point, it feels like you more or less insisted on coming.”
“Yup. No way.”
To my left is the First Crown Prince. To my right, the Second Princess.
Direct heirs of the Imperial Family, representing the ruling and ruling factions, respectively.
They are definitely not figures who should be attending a neutral noble’s banquet.
At least I knew the Crown Prince would be coming, so I was somewhat less surprised.
But I never imagined the Princess would come too. I hadn’t heard a whisper about it.
What on earth is happening? Did they decide last minute for the Princess to come?
“Welcome, Prince Kael.”
“Marquis Robgon.”
First and foremost, let’s greet the host of today’s banquet.
“I’ve heard news. You contributed significantly to the army’s victory this time with your extraordinary strategy.”
“That’s correct.”
“What a splendid young man. Duke of Bertier Empire must be quite pleased.”
I don’t know the Marquis well enough to say we’re acquaintances.
But with his high title, at least a nod of recognition wouldn’t hurt.
So we exchanged a few brief remarks when—
“Ah, Prince Kael!”
“Prince Kael!”
The bickering Crown Prince and Princess approached me cheerfully the moment they spotted me.
In the midst of it, the Princess even half-ran, determined to get ahead.
‘Get out of the way! If you’re coming, come one at a time! It feels odd if you both come together!’
Unaware of my inner turmoil, the two siblings soon stood right beside me.
I quickly glanced at Marquis Robgon, sending a silent message for help.
Wouldn’t I end up crushed between two whales if this keeps up?
“Prince Kael.”
And once again, I understood the harshness of politics.
“I need to greet others as well, so I shall see you later.”
“…Marquis, Your Excellency?”
It seemed the Marquis decided he couldn’t handle two individuals and swiftly retreated.
So now I’m abandoned. Is it acceptable for the host to leave their guests like this?
“Prince Kael.”
After temporarily pushing the Princess aside, the Crown Prince spoke to me.
“I greet His Highness the First Crown Prince.”
“So you too have received an invitation from the Marquis. How fortuitous to meet here.”
“…It appears so.”
Both of us know it’s no coincidence, and even our Alexei is aware.
But knowing and admitting it aloud are two different things.
Understanding that, I matched the Crown Prince’s conversation appropriately.
“It’s fate that we meet again, so let’s have a word—”
“Wait a moment!”
At that moment, the Princess, who had come right beside us, suddenly grabbed the Crown Prince’s hand.
“I want to hear that story too.”
“Why are you butting in, Bel? This is about me and Prince Kael—”
“I wouldn’t know what rude thing you might commit against Prince Kael.”
“That’s not something I did…”
“If you were going to voice complaints, you should have managed the guests well at the banquet you hosted.”
“…”
Wow. For the Empire’s Crown Prince to cut off that entire train of conversation like that?
The fact she’s a princess isn’t the only reason she could pull that off. It’s because they are siblings.
I heard there’s a one-year age difference… Wow. It’s impressive they don’t fight that often.
“Fine.”
In the end, it was the guilty Crown Prince who stepped back.
“However, let’s agree not to interrupt my conversation with Prince Kael.”
“If you say something that doesn’t make sense, I might have to intervene.”
“Let’s wait until the conversation is over to voice thoughts. I can’t yield any further.”
Got it. Princess, in my view, that’s already a considerable concession.
The Princess finally signaled agreement. It seems even she thinks this is pushing it.
After that, the three of us followed the Marquis’s lead to one of the parlors in the mansion.
‘…This does seem a bit off.’
As I trailed behind the Crown Prince and Princess, it felt like we were plotting something.
Wondering if the current Crown Princess is about to be ousted by two of her siblings trying to seize power…
“Let’s sit.”
The Crown Prince offered me a seat, but I didn’t sit down immediately.
Instead, I pulled out a chair beside me for the Princess.
Upon seeing this, she seemed a bit surprised before smiling and thanking me.
It wasn’t a “ladies first” thing. I was merely hinting.
I had an amusing experience last time, leaving some awkwardness towards the ruling faction.
I showed this courtesy to the Princess from the opposing faction.
“…Ahem.”
The Crown Prince seemed to catch on to this intention and cleared his throat.
He must have realized that any foolish words could seriously mess things up.
“First, I wish to apologize regarding the matter that occurred previously.”
“Apology? That’s utterly misplaced, Your Highness.”
“No, as Bel said, it’s my responsibility for not managing my subordinates properly.”
I was facing the First Crown Prince of the Empire while I’m the eldest son of a Duke serving the Empire.
There would be no need for such an unnecessary apology given the class distinction, yet he insists on doing so.
It made me slightly uncomfortable. What would he possibly say to lay the groundwork like this?
“Prince Kael.”
The atmosphere around the Crown Prince shifted. Now he was getting to the main point.
“I assume you are aware of how the Empire’s political landscape is shifting?”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
Just as there are moderate and hardline factions in Nobogord,
The Empire’s political spectrum is largely divided into three factions.
The ruling faction actively advocates using military might as a definite means that only the Empire can wield.
The moderate faction pressures others to explore alternatives to military force, denoting its extensive harm.
And the neutral faction, striking a balance to ensure neither side goes awry.
The Princess sitting beside me is from the ruling faction. Our family also aligns with that side, if you look closely.
The host of this reception, Marquis Robgon, leans towards the neutral faction.
And across from me, the First Crown Prince asking these questions belongs to the moderate faction.
“I’ll be direct. Prince Kael. Let us join forces.”
“Hey!”
The Princess’s shout startled me, making me turn to her in surprise.
Although they are siblings, on one side is a Crown Prince and the other a Crown Princess.
Before them, I am a servant of the Imperial Family. I shouldn’t expose their shortcomings here.
“Ah, of course. This doesn’t mean I’m suggesting you team up with me to reshape the succession line.”
But the Crown Prince stuck to his words despite the Princess’s reaction.
What a remarkable pair of siblings they both are, in many ways.
“I love our sister. She will surely become an exceptional ruler.”
“So you’re asking me to align with you, then?”
“How long do you think it’s feasible to hold the continent with blood and steel?”
As the Princess was about to growl again, the Crown Prince continued speaking.
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not against the military or denying its necessity. On the contrary, I’m always grateful to them. I’d boldly dismiss anyone who slanders the Imperial Army, even if they share my ideology.”
Just from his words, one would think he should be in the ruling faction.
The Princess must have thought the same, muttering under her breath.
“We merely wish for the Empire to move towards a better direction. There’s no way we could maintain dominance over the continent forever through military might.”
“The Empire has grown and come this far through that force, Your Highness.”
“Yes, that’s correct. Precisely why we need to choose a different path now.”
The Crown Prince’s words continued.
The Empire has shed blood on all sides—blood from their own and their enemies alike.
Because of this, the tension in the air became very stiff at the slightest disagreement.
Whenever a conflict arises with one nation, surrounding nations immediately follow suit.
“The Empire has shown a willingness to combat them all when such incidents occur. But, Prince Kael, through diplomatic persuasion and pressure, we might be able to drop some of them—perhaps even half—out of the conflict. They would likely target nations weaker than us, after all.”
“…”
“If managed well, it wouldn’t be a matter of big nations and small nations, but rather, a big nation, a small nation, and the situation with the bystanders.”