“This is.......”

Fides rolled his eyes.

He could feel the countless gazes of the nobles fixed on him.

“I believe I... reported this.......”

One of the Emperor’s brows twitched.

A few days ago, he had casually permitted the marquis to bring in food—but he had simply forgotten to report it.

Cold sweat trickled down his neck, but there was no retreat.

He could be scolded later—but he could not afford to lose face before the nobles.

“I’m certain... I informed you, as far as I remember.”

The Emperor’s frown deepened.

How long did that silence last?

“......That day, when I was being briefed on the northern situation? Yes. It seems I forgot myself.”

The Emperor replied with a faint sigh.

Fides forced the trembling corner of his lips upward.

“Yes! That very day!”

The Emperor stared at him for a moment, as if holding back his words.

Then he soon turned to Weybrill.

Casting a displeased glance toward Agavert’s table, he said:

“Thanks to the marquis’s care, the banquet has become all the more splendid.”

Walker answered calmly:

“Your praise is far too generous! May Your Majesty’s glory illuminate the heavens for a thousand years!”

“May His Majesty’s glory shine!”

The nobles bowed over one another.

The Emperor raised his hand slightly.

“There is no need for ceremony.”

Without even sparing Tie or the squad a glance, he moved toward the seat prepared for him.

“Today, you are the ones at the center. I would not have cups stilled because of me. Eat and drink freely.”

Words of loyalty and flattery poured in from all sides.

Once the Emperor and Fides were seated, the noise rose again.

“Shall we sit as well?”

At that voice, Tie turned her head too.

Standing beside her was Walker Weybrill, wearing a gentle smile.

“The world of adults is exhausting and complicated, isn’t it?”

She whispered so only Tie could hear.

Tie nodded quietly.

Walker Weybrill.

Though this was their first meeting, Tie knew the elderly woman before her very well.

‘The consul’s mother! Raul and Enzo’s grandmother!’

Marquise Weybrill had helped Tie more than once.

When she needed money, she supported her. And when Tie believed her Papa’s name was Kim Yeonsu, she even helped investigate the Holy Knight Order.

And moreover, the Weybrill family was one of those who knew Tie’s secret.

Taking a seat, Tie lowered her voice as well and carefully whispered:

“Marquise, in the past, Tie has been very indebted to you.”

“It is we who are indebted! You saved my grandchildren, and even gave them shelter!”

Walker continued:

“By the way, where are my grandchildren?”

Tie beamed.

“They came, but they’re outside right now!”

“Outside?”

“Mm! There are many acquaintances here, so they’re greeting people!”

Walker nodded.

“A tiresome tradition. Ceremonies, like food, are only good in moderation.”

Traditions? Ceremonies?

Tie tilted her head, not fully understanding.

“Tie.”

She turned at the voice—and saw her plate already piled high with delicious food.

“Eat quickly.”

“It’s the meat you like.”

Tesetan and Basto kept placing food onto her plate, whispering quietly.

Walker smiled with satisfaction.

“Just watching this is already pleasing, young master Luminel.”

Tesetan froze.

Walker drained her glass in a single swallow and continued:

“Your appearance, your speech—flawless in every way. My grandchildren have grown, yet they still cannot become so composed.”

The corner of Tesetan’s lips lifted slightly.

He cleared his throat softly and replied:

“There’s some truth to that.”

“Ha ha ha!”

Walker laughed and leaned slightly toward him.

“When you head to the Central Continent, keep an eye on my grandchildren. They’re still not grown—each of them has something lacking.”

“You speak as though you don’t know that the twins are one of Agavert’s main forces.”

“Really? Those troublemakers are a main force?”

Walker slowly swirled the remaining wine in her glass.

“Well then, perhaps I truly should worry less.......”

“Do not worry. I will not forget the favor you showed today.”

“Ha ha ha! You haven’t changed—you always give and take so clearly. By the way......”

Walker’s expression turned «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» serious.

“How are your relations with His Excellency, the Supreme Commander?”

This time, her gaze shifted to Tie.

“You met him, didn’t you? You disappeared, then returned as a mercenary. And recently, you carried out a mission together. And...”

She already knew that the father of this young squad leader was Tesetan.

She did not know the details, but it was clear that time magic was involved—and that meant the situation was far from simple.

‘The important thing is whether the Supreme Commander himself knows.’

Walker’s eyes slid sharply over Tesetan.

The youngest son of the Luminel family had long resembled an ancient, mighty tree.

It was said no one could break his stubbornness.

‘He came not with his family, but with mercenaries... so the rift with his house still stands?’

Walker had already tightened her grip on her glass when—

“Duke, it has been a long time!”

All eyes turned toward the entrance of the hall.

Valentis entered, accompanied by three other impeccably dressed sons of the Luminel family.

Tie’s face lit up.

“Gra—!”

But she immediately shut her mouth.

Here, she could not call Valentis “Grandfather,” as she had come as the King of the Dead.

A shadow of disappointment flickered across her face.

‘Maybe... I shouldn’t greet him first?’

Tie roughly understood the situation.

The Emperor greatly favored her grandfather and uncles.

They were nobles—honorable people, defenders of the empire.

And mercenaries?

‘The Emperor doesn’t like mercenaries. That means he doesn’t like Tie either.’

More precisely—the Emperor acted as though mercenaries did not exist.

The squad members had said he did not even approve of his favored nobles associating with them.

Tie lowered her spoon.

At that moment, her grandfather, leaving behind the stream of greetings, was heading toward the Emperor.

“Little one. Don’t worry.”

Bale leaned down and whispered softly into her ear.

But Tie could not hide the sadness on her face.

Suddenly, she remembered what had happened before entering the hall.

How people had whispered while looking at her.

And how Papa had intervened then.

“Selling your life on the battlefield is better than waving empty words.”

“W-we didn’t mean it like that... if that offended you, we apologize.”

In the end, even noble ladies had flushed red and hurried away.

As soon as they entered the hall, Bale had complained to his father:

“Why escalate things like that?! Now they’re looking at us even worse!”

“Better they feel fear and discomfort.”

“What?”

“Better than looking down on us.”

When he said that, Papa’s face had been dark.

And at the same time—complicated.

‘Tie understands.’

If he were alone, it wouldn’t matter. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He wasn’t someone who cared about others’ gazes.

If he were, he wouldn’t have been able to raise Tie alone in Jongno.

‘But Tie is here.......’

He could not tolerate anyone speaking badly of her.

Since the ceremony began, he had seemed afraid she might be hurt.

Tie looked at him.

‘I want to tell him.’

That she was okay.

That she had already grown and no longer got hurt by harsh words.

Just then—

“Your Excellency! I heard of your achievements in the old palace!”

“And the expedition to the Central Continent sounds no easy matter. Perhaps we could dine together before your departure...?”

Noise rose again from all sides.

She turned her head—her grandfather had already moved away from the Emperor.

A crowd of nobles had gathered around him.

All of them were eager to exchange even a word with Valentis.

But he did not stop for any of them.

As always, with a stone face, he walked through the crowd and—

“King of the Dead.”

Suddenly stopped right in front of Tie, whose mouth was full of food.

“Mmf, mm......?”

Tie’s eyes widened.

“I would have liked to speak during the meal, but unfortunately our seats are too far apart.”

“.......”

“I hear the second part of the opening will be held in the garden. I would be glad to meet you more closely there.”

With a brief nod to Tesetan, Valentis turned away.

People parted, murmuring.

‘Grandfather spoke to me first?’

Tie only blinked in shock.

And at the same time—

a strange atmosphere began to spread among the nobles.

“Hm... now that I look closely......”

“The youngest son has joined them, so they must be close with the Luminel family.”

Mercenaries.

Those who sell their lives for a few silver coins, stained with blood instead of honor.

The kind one should not grow close to—if only because of the Emperor.

But at this ceremony, things were different.

People whispered quietly.

“Marquise Weybrill... when I requested a meeting regarding investments, she didn’t even respond.”

“She doesn’t have a fixed seat, so she can sit anywhere.”

“And... I heard the squad leader is acquainted with a master weaponsmith. That Berugon who supplies the Order.”

“Really? Their base is in Rosvobel Townhouse. It once belonged to the princess herself.”

“They say their finances rival those of influential houses.”

“And if the marquise is allowed to bring in food, does that mean she’s on good terms with the Emperor? Unexpected.”

The whispers did not cease.

Tie, frozen, swallowed the food in her cheek.

And then—

several nobles exchanged glances and approached.

“It has been a while, young master Luminel. And Marquise Weybrill.”

They first greeted Tesetan and Walker, and then—

“Ahem... I am David, eldest son of House Larson.”

“I am the younger Marquis Soleio.”

“I hear you’ve made quite a name outside the capital. Perhaps we could become better acquainted?”

They held out a glass toward Tie.

Tie stared at it with wide eyes.

The youngest among them patted her shoulder.

Tesetan’s expression turned cold, but the noble did not notice at all.

“I heard you enjoy a drink? As it happens, I’ve tried everything here. And as an expert—I recommend this.”

“.......”

“Black Dew of Crowngar. Fifty-two degrees! Real poison—not for just anyone. But I think it’ll suit you, ha ha!”