Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Banquet (2)

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Someone was picking a fight with her at the Imperial Banquet.

So she killed them.

[⋯⋯.]

“⋯⋯”

[⋯⋯It’s not really that big of a deal, is it?]

“How is that not a big deal?”

How could a person’s brain work in such a way that their first murder becomes nothing significant?

To that rhetorical question filled with such sentiment, the Holy Sword added with a GRUMBLING tone.

[They deserved to die anyway. The fact that she was the owner of the Holy Sword before she met you justifies it.]

“⋯⋯That’s not the problem.”

The problem is the very fact that at such a young age, she killed someone just because she was angry.

A person’s character is the sum total of their accumulated experiences. The problem is that I provided the trigger that could corrupt her perception enough to remember this murder experience as ‘nothing significant’.

In that sense, isn’t the very fact that she got away with committing such an act without any consequences the problem?

Because it brought down even the emotional barrier that such things are wrong all at once.

Gray’s current reaction inside the Holy Sword proved exactly that.

I thought she had been somewhat reformed, but as expected, she’s someone with problems piled up like a mountain since childhood.

[So, what do you think?]

“What do I think? I have to stop it no matter what.”

Carlisle instinctively knew this was one of the triggers that could change Gray’s personality the most.

However,

“Well, since the goal is correction.”

He said with a sigh.

“I should also show her that there are other ways to solve this.”

For that method, he would probably need to prepare himself to stand out quite a bit. The key was to do his best to create an atmosphere so she wouldn’t get angry, and he needed to take on that role. Anyway, if someone picked a fight, he just needed to create a situation where she could handle it gracefully.

[System Message]

The Hero’s curiosity toward you has been amplified in a positive direction.

• The trait ‘Hero’s Companion’ activates.
• ‘Positive Trait’ has been added!

[ ★ Trust 0% → 5.1% ]

• Reward has been granted!
• Open the traits tab to check!

[ Additional functions of the Holy Sword can now be unlocked! ]  

[ Continue building relationships with the Hero and having a positive influence to unlock even more functions! ]

He looked through the window that had opened earlier as a trust level reward.

Well, in that sense,

The skill he needed to take was already decided. 

“Hero.”

[What?] 

“Aren’t you a bit too all-capable?” 

There was a skill that naturally brought out such an impression. 

[Skill Info]

◆ Noble Etiquette

Gray Chasefield, as a member of a prestigious noble family, was thoroughly educated in all the protocols of high society. If you put your mind to it, no noble would be able to find fault with your behavior and mannerisms. 

The fact that this exists as a skill shows just how thoroughly she learned such things. In one way, it’s frightening. Despite learning this etiquette thoroughly, she doesn’t care to follow it, which is why she causes such chaos everywhere⋯⋯ 

[⋯⋯] 

Since she was unable to refute it, he confirmed it.

◆

While this wasn’t her first time at an Imperial Banquet, the dark clouds hanging over Gray’s face showed no signs of clearing.

“Child, is there something bothering you?”

“Everything.”

“⋯⋯”

Of course, Gray wasn’t the type of child to hold back her words just because the other person was her father, but this merciless tone was hard to get used to, no matter how many times he heard it.

Though Lionel, who could laugh it off without being bothered by such words, was quite something himself.

“Still, you seem to be in a slightly better mood than before.”

“What?”

“Normally, you wouldn’t have even answered. Ever since that friend Carlisle started staying around you, you seem to have softened somehow.”

Though a beast that would tear people apart just from making eye contact had only softened to the level of a beast that would tear people apart if you got close, anyway.

It was true that Gray’s irritation had decreased compared to before.

“⋯⋯”

Gray kept her mouth tightly shut without saying anything.

What should she say?

She didn’t want to admit it, but,

“He is somewhat useful.”

Ever since that guy came along, the irritation that usually built up had definitely decreased significantly.

He’s a strange guy.

In all aspects of life, he would anticipate what she needed, what she liked, even though she never told him, and would provide it perfectly.

That’s why she brought him to the Imperial Banquet too.

While having such thoughts, Lionel’s eyes went wide as he stared at her.

“Wh-what did you just say?”

“⋯⋯”

“U-useful? You, talking about another person like that-“

“Father, you’re being loud.”

“⋯⋯”

Lionel, shot down in one blow, remained silent until they arrived at the venue.

“We’ve arrived, so let’s go.”

“⋯⋯”

Taking her father’s hand, she got out of the carriage.

Instantly, all eyes in the venue turned toward her at once.

“The youngest person to receive the Holy Sword-“

“That’s the famous-“

“⋯⋯”

The Hero’s superhuman hearing picks up every conversation in the venue as if it were happening right next to her.

The attention directed at her is now like air to her, but the problem is that what she hears mixed in isn’t just pure interest.

“Through the Grand Duke’s family influence, lobbying the Orthodox Church-“

“Surely with that pretty face, she seduced-“

“There are rumors she wagged her tail at the Prince-“

“Her military achievements were fabricated-“

“⋯⋯”

Right.

This is why she doesn’t like Imperial Banquets.

Because she’s inevitably exposed to the malice of people whose faces she doesn’t even know.

Gray’s expression darkened.

Low-class people harboring inferiority complexes toward her was also quite familiar to her.

But.

Why is this making her so angry?

Unlike before, it’s hard to just ignore it properly.

‘⋯⋯Ah, I see.’

After pondering for a while, she reached a conclusion.

-Don’t you have the right to be happy?

Because there was someone who said that to her.

Because someone presented the possibility that she could enjoy a different path rather than a life that draws attention wherever she goes.

Because there was someone who said she also has the right to live normally, rather than receive special treatment.

She learned that such reactions are not natural.

⋯⋯That’s why she’s getting angry. As she was chewing over such sentiments, another sentence struck her ears.

“It seems she has no attendant again this time.”

Who you bring as an attendant to a banquet is one of the important indicators among nobles.

There’s a tendency to judge whose assistance you receive as an important measure of the master’s caliber.

Therefore, the more eye-catching and glamorous the attendant, the better.

In that regard, there was Vespa, her most loyal servant, but she couldn’t present her as an attendant.

She’s sincere and flawless, but she’s just a servant after all. There’s nothing particularly eye-catching about her.

“Well, she’s a notorious troublemaker even in high society. High-class attendants probably wouldn’t even think of going near her.”

And that wasn’t entirely wrong either.

Usually, the sophisticated attendants who would ‘make their master shine’ couldn’t even dare to handle Gray’s temperament.

Gray herself is someone who doesn’t properly care about such facts.

Let them talk if they want to. Anyway, there’s no one with the courage to say such things to her face, the Hero.

However.

“The Grand Duke must be having a hard time, too. Having to look after such a vulgar daughter every time they attend a banquet.”

“Doesn’t she even think that she might be a burden to her own family? It’s damaging to their reputation.”

“⋯⋯”

She glanced at her father.

The fact that he’s suffering damage because of her is something she doesn’t particularly like.

“It’s alright, child.”

“⋯⋯”

The Grand Duke always brushed it off with such words.

But combined with the current situation that’s making her strangely angry, she doesn’t feel at ease.

The people whispering around her are making her much angrier than usual.

‘⋯⋯Should I just massacre them all.’

Should she go grab those whispering bastards by the hair and smash their heads against the wall?

If she makes an example of one person, won’t they all shut their mouths⋯⋯

“-Wait. Who is that person?”

As she was having such thoughts, that sentence intruded into her consciousness.

She could immediately tell who they were pointing at.

“⋯⋯What?”

She muttered such words in a daze.

Because Carlisle, perfectly dressed in formal wear, was kneeling in front of her with his hand extended.

It was the perfect gesture of an attendant escorting a lady.

“⋯⋯”

“⋯⋯”

He’s a person emanating such a sophisticated atmosphere that the young ladies who had been whispering about her instantly fell silent.

He’s not a sculpturally handsome man or a tycoon draped in obviously luxury goods from head to toe. To begin with, such things would hardly produce this kind of reaction. Such people are abundant in high society.

Rather,

The person standing next to Gray would be closer to someone who would be mocked for being some country bumpkin appearing in such a place, just based on appearance.

However, in every one of his actions and gestures, there’s a ‘refinement’ that can only be felt from members of the Imperial family.

He emanates an atmosphere that clearly shows this man is not someone who belongs among ordinary people⋯⋯

“Miss, shall we go?”

“⋯⋯”

What is this guy?

Did he have this kind of talent too?

Where did he learn all this social etiquette?

Gray blinked quietly.

“Just how many things are you hiding from me?”

“I told you, didn’t I? You’d be at a loss if you dismissed me.”

“⋯⋯Hmph.”

She snorted and grabbed Carlisle’s hand as he escorted her.

How should she put it?

In truth, what this guy was doing almost seemed like a joke to her, but thanks to him, the whispering about her completely disappeared, which was satisfying.

⋯⋯If she had been alone, she would never have seen such a scene.

“Good job.”

Such a small murmur lingered at the tip of her lips.

“What did you say, Miss?”

“I said don’t smile so disgustingly. Before I kick you.”

“⋯⋯.”

◆

[System Message]

▶ The trait ‘Hero’s Companion’ activates. 

▶ Part of the ‘Rehabilitation List’ has been updated!

[ ★ Misanthropy 95% → 90% ]

▶ Reward has been granted! ▶ Open the traits tab to check!

[System Message]

▶ You have met the conditions for an ‘Important Event.’ ▶ The Hero’s first ‘Perception Change’ is approaching. 

▶ How you handle this event will greatly change the relationship between the Hero and you!

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