NOVEL NEXT chapter 12 - Didn't Know! - 12
The banquet continued. Lavish music flowed through the hall, and people danced or chatted pleasantly.
I stood by My Lady’s side, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings. Kyle Laurencia and the Crown Prince occasionally appeared within view, but they made no further approach toward us.
…It felt like the calm before the storm.
As time passed and the banquet reached its peak, the Emperor ascended the platform in the center of the hall. All music ceased, and every gaze turned toward him.
“My loyal subjects, and proud nobles of the Empire.”
The Emperor’s dignified voice echoed throughout the hall.
“I am pleased to share this moment with you today, as we celebrate the founding of our great Empire. Over the past centuries, our Empire has endured countless trials and achieved great prosperity. This was made possible thanks to the dedication and effort of every one of you gathered here.”
The Emperor paused for a moment and looked around the hall. His gaze briefly settled on Duke Pitus.
“Above all, I extend my deepest gratitude to the House of Seriratus, the Empire’s strongest shield and pillar. Duke Pitus, your loyalty and courage are a model for the Empire.”
At the Emperor’s praise, Duke Pitus lowered his head slightly in acknowledgment.
Once again, all eyes in the hall turned toward us. It was a moment of glory—yet I could not shake the feeling of unease.
The higher you stand, the harsher the wind blows. The Emperor’s public praise would no doubt raise House Seriratus’s prestige—but it would just as surely provoke envy and suspicion from our enemies.
As the Emperor concluded his speech, the moment for a toast arrived. Attendants hurried about with silver trays holding glasses of champagne. The Emperor raised his own glass high.
“To the eternal prosperity of the Empire, and to the health and happiness of all gathered here—cheers!”
“Cheers!”
Everyone in the banquet hall raised their glasses in unison, the crystal clink echoing through the air.
Pitus lifted his glass toward the Emperor with a smile. My Lady and I also raised our glasses. The festive mood had reached its peak.
I brought the glass to my lips—
Then suddenly noticed something odd.
The hand of the attendant who brought Pitus his glass moved strangely. At the moment he passed it, it seemed—just barely—that his thumb grazed the drink inside.
‘…No. It couldn’t be.’
A chill crept down my spine. But it was already too late. With a shout of the toast, Pitus drank the entire contents of his glass in one gulp.
“Khmm…”
He lowered the glass and let out a light cough. At first, it seemed like nothing.
But his coughing grew rougher, and his face began to turn pale.
“Father?”
My Lady called out to the Duke with a worried expression. He tried to wave her off as if to say he was fine—but his hand trembled faintly in the air.
“Kh–ghk…!”
Suddenly, the Duke clutched his chest with a pained groan. His body swayed, and the glass slipped from his hand, shattering loudly against the floor.
“Master!”
“Your Grace!”
Chief Butler Maclaine rushed over in shock. I, too, ran to the Duke with My Lady.
The banquet hall was instantly thrown into chaos. The music stopped. Screams and panicked murmurs filled the space.
“F–Father! Father, what’s happening!”
My Lady clung to the Duke, sobbing. Blood—dark and crimson—was already dribbling from the corners of his mouth. His eyes lost focus, and his breaths grew thin and uneven.
“Fetch a physician! Now!”
Maclaine roared. Imperial guards and attendants swarmed the area, forming a circle around the Duke. Even the Emperor descended from the platform, watching in horror.
The unfamiliar attendant who had given the Duke his glass—had already vanished into the crowd.
Missed him.
My heart went cold. All signs pointed to poison. A calculated and bold assassination attempt—timed to strike at the moment of the toast.
We had been wrong about everything. The worst we had anticipated was political confrontation, perhaps a withdrawal of Imperial support.
But this—an assassination?
My mind went blank. But the moment Duke Pitus’s fading gaze met mine, I dropped to my knees.
My master’s final order.
“Give me your command.”
“Virdem… my daughter…”
The Duke summoned the last of his strength to grasp my hand. His eyes were already clouding over—but even now, he could not let go of his worry for his daughter.
“Do not worry, Master. I will, without fail…”
Before I could even finish my promise, the strength left his hand. His head slumped to the side.
“…My Lord?”
Maclaine called out in a trembling voice. No reply. The Imperial physician rushed over to examine him, only to shake his head shortly after.
“…He has passed.”
The words rang through the hall like a death knell. The world felt as if it had stopped.
“N–No… Daddy! Wake up, Daddy!!!”
Firnea’s scream was like a knife through the heart.
She clung to her father’s lifeless body, sobbing uncontrollably. The surrounding nobles buzzed in horror and disbelief. And—on the Emperor’s face—a fury twisted his expression.
What was meant to be a grand celebration of the Empire’s founding had become a historic tragedy—marked by the sudden death of Duke Pitus, pillar of the Empire and head of House Seriratus.
I stared down at the Duke’s cold hand.
And I listened to Firnea’s harrowing cries. My thoughts were a tangled mess—but something hot surged up from deep within.
Vengeance.
Whoever dared do this—they would be found.
And they—would pay.
But now… there was something more urgent.
“…My Lady.”
I forced my voice out, calling to My Lady.
She was still clinging to the Duke’s corpse, weeping uncontrollably. I gently but firmly took her by the shoulders and raised her up.
“My Lady, you must come to your senses.”
“No… Father… Daddy…”
Her eyes were vacant. She was clearly in shock, barely conscious of reality.
“I understand. But now is not the time to mourn. This place is dangerous. You must return to the estate at once.”
The banquet hall was pure chaos. The culprit might still be inside. Or worse—another threat could follow. The most urgent matter now was Firnea’s safety.
Maclaine seemed to agree, and quickly gave commands to the guards.
“The Seriratus house escort will immediately surround and protect the Young Lady to the carriage! Imperial guards, clear the way!”
The knights of House Seriratus moved in perfect coordination, surrounding Firnea at once. I practically carried her out of the hall.
The stares we drew—pity, curiosity, and perhaps even scorn—rained down on us, but I had «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» no time to pay them any mind.
“Lady Firnea… and Chief Butler Maclaine. Please return safely. The Imperial House will conduct a thorough investigation and ensure the culprit is found.”
His words were comforting, but I could read the flicker of calculation and disturbance in his gaze.
He was already gauging how Duke Pitus’s death would disrupt the power dynamics of the Empire.
Was he our ally?
…Or the one behind this?
It was too early to know.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
I offered only a short reply, then helped Firnea into the carriage without delay.
Maclaine followed shortly. His face was pale, but his eyes burned with a steel resolve.
“Depart for the estate—immediately! At full speed!”
The carriage, protected by escort vehicles bearing the Seriratus emblem, raced through the capital under the night sky.
Inside the carriage, silence fell.
Firnea leaned against my shoulder, her eyes shut and body completely still. I couldn’t tell if she had fainted or was simply so numbed by the shock that she could no longer feel anything.
Maclaine sat with his lips tightly sealed, staring out the window. No doubt his mind was racing, preparing for the storm to come.
I quietly held Firnea’s hand.
It was cold—ice cold.
The Duke’s final words echoed in my ears.
…Whatever trials may come, I would protect this young master without fail.
By the time we reached the estate, dawn was beginning to break.
The estate was already in a state of emergency. Security had been heightened, and the key members of the household were arriving one after another, awaiting Maclaine’s orders.
Maclaine entrusted Firnea to the care of the physician and immediately convened a meeting.
I waited outside Firnea’s room. From beyond the door came the low sounds of the physician’s examination—and, occasionally, the maids’ soft sobs.
After a while, the physician emerged, looking exhausted.
“The Young Lady… has lost her senses from the trauma. Thankfully, there are no physical injuries, but she needs absolute rest. No visitors for the time being would be best.”
“…Understood. Thank you.”
Once the physician left, I stared at the firmly shut door.
A different kind of silence now filled the space—heavy, painful.
How much fear and sorrow must My Lady be enduring alone right now?
I wanted to go in and comfort her—but I had to follow the physician’s orders.
As I paced quietly through the corridor, Maclaine approached. His face showed clear fatigue from a sleepless night and the shock, but his eyes remained sharp and clear.
“Virdem.”
“Chief Butler.”
“After the meeting, we’ve decided to carry out the funeral as quickly as possible. I’ll temporarily assume control of the household until the Young Lady regains her strength.”
“Understood.”
“And… the investigation into the poisoning will begin at once. Regardless of the Imperial inquiry, we will mobilize all of our family’s intelligence and resources!”
Maclaine gripped my shoulder and looked me straight in the eyes.
“There’s something I must entrust to you. No, I beg of you.”
“Please, anything.”
“Take care of the Young Lady. Only you can be by her side right now. Protect her. Help her stand again. That is your most important mission.”
It was both a command—and the desperate plea of an old loyal servant who had devoted his life to House Seriratus.
Naturally, there was only one answer.
“Please, entrust her to me.”