I Am a Villain, So What?-Chapter 117: Imperial Banquet

"So? Have you decided?"

"I haven’t made any decisions yet," I answered diplomatically, leaning back in my chair. "It seems like a lot of trouble. I prefer quiet study to public spectacles."

Celestia studied my face for a moment. Her piercing blue eyes seemed to be searching for something beneath my mask of indifference—ambition, perhaps? Or maybe fear?

Finding neither, she sighed, standing up gracefully as the instructor walked into the room.

"You should think about it carefully," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper so only I could hear.

"Why is that?"

She turned her back to me, flipping her golden hair over her shoulder.

"Because, Lucien. You are strong. But in the Empire, strength without reputation is just violence."

She glanced back at me, her expression serious and devoid of her usual noble haughtiness.

"If you want to survive in the upper circles... if you want to protect what you have... you need to show your fangs where everyone can see them."

With that ominous piece of advice, she walked back to the front row, leaving me sitting in the stunned silence of the middle aisle.

"Show my fangs, huh?"

I spun my pen between my fingers, staring at her back. She wasn’t wrong. In this world, being a hidden boss was safe, but being a recognized power was a deterrent.

Scrape.

The chair beside me moved.

"What was that about?"

Ariana sat down, placing her alchemy books on the desk. She looked at Celestia’s retreating figure, then at me, her violet eyes curious.

"Nothing important," I shrugged. "She was just asking if I was going to join the Dungeon Tournament."

Ariana’s eyes lit up slightly. "Oh? Are you?"

"Well, I am thinking of it," I admitted. "What do you say?"

Ariana didn’t hesitate.

"I think you should join," she said softly but firmly. "You have the strength, Lucien. The Dungeon Tournament is the place where the eyes of all the noble families will be focused. It would be a good stage to show off your strength—and to silence the people who still whisper about your past."

I nodded slowly. If even the shy Ariana thought it was a good idea, then the logic held up.

"Well, that’s settled then," I said, looking at her. "So, are you joining my team?"

Ariana flinched, waving her hands frantically.

"M-Me? No! I don’t like fighting. I’d just be a burden."

She looked down at her hands.

"Besides... my elder sister is joining. If I entered, I’d have to compete against her. I... I’m not ready for that."

’Ah. The Solmere family drama.’

I didn’t press her. If she wasn’t ready to face her sister, forcing her would only backfire.

"Fair enough," I said. "I’ll figure something else out."

****

[One Week Later]

The day of the Dungeon Tournament arrived.

The Aurelian Empire’s Grand Banquet Hall was the epitome of human luxury.

Adorned with gold, silver, and all manner of gems, the hall was blindingly opulent. But to a mage’s eye, it was also a fortress. The gems embedded in the pillars weren’t mere decorations; they were high-grade catalysts for a massive defensive ward.

Though unproven, the architect boasted it could withstand a Dragon’s Breath for a full day.

Thus, the Empire’s nobles invited to the Dungeon Tournament enjoyed the banquet carefree, sipping wine inside the safest room on the continent.

"It’s been a while since the last Dungeon Tournament. I’ve missed such fine competitive events," a Count laughed, swirling his glass.

"Haha, indeed. I hope the Imperial Family or the Four Great Ducal Families produce the winner again."

"Hehe, as you say. But don’t discount my house yet. I’ve brought a secret weapon to challenge them. It’s fitting that the heirs of the Four Great Ducal Families and the Imperial Family are all seventeen this year and competing directly. Quite meaningful, don’t you think?"

"Oh, you had the same idea? Hahaha, we shouldn’t talk too loud."

"Still, isn’t it nice to gather and bond like this?"

"Indeed! Hahaha!"

The extravagantly dressed nobles laughed and flattered each other, their voices dripping with honey. But their eyes were cold. Naturally, fierce political maneuvering was underway beneath the surface. Deals were being struck, alliances tested, and marriage proposals weighed.

However, some children still disliked such adult games.

In a corner near the buffet, the "Protagonist’s Party" stood together, looking out of place.

"Ugh, Alex isn’t coming," Elisha sighed, playing with a flame on her fingertip.

"Really?" Bord asked, tilting his head in surprise. He was a mountain of a boy, holding a plate piled high with meat. "It’s rare for Alex to skip an event like this. He’s quietly obsessed with strength. This is the perfect place to test himself."

"He said he had urgent business," Elisha grumbled. "It sounded... like an excuse. Is he uncomfortable with the Imperial Family?"

"It’s natural that he doesn’t want to join," Mariella, the healer of the group, said softly. She looked around at the sneering nobles. "Look around. This place is swarming with high-ranking nobility. Just think how much scorn he would have received for being a ’commoner scholarship student.’"

She sighed.

"I think he used his brain. He avoided the humiliation."

The Dungeon Tournament was a talent-scouting event. Its main participants, aged 17 to 30, reflected this. Participation was open, but the Four Great Ducal Families bore duties even in nominal traditions.

Elisha (House of Ignis), Bord (House of Terra), and Mariella (House of Aqua) were no exception. They had to compete.

The three shared a thought, looking at the banquet hall’s main entrance.

’I imagined Alex walking through that door.’ ’It’s a shame. Having Alex would’ve been reassuring.’ ’If he were here, maybe this stuffy party would be bearable...’

Suddenly, the heavy oak doors swung open.

The Head Butler struck his staff against the floor, his voice booming through the hall.

"Marquis Valerius enters!" "Baroness Elrod enters!" "Countess Solmere enters!"

The announcements continued for ten minutes. Just as the banquet started feeling dull, the Head Butler signaled the orchestra playing classical music to stop.

Silence.

The atmosphere shifted instantly. The casual chatter died out.

"Everyone, show respect!"

In the silence, all the lesser nobles bowed deeply.

Only the members of the Four Great Ducal Families didn’t. Not just Elisha, Bordon, and Mariella, but the Ducal heads scattered throughout the hall held their heads high. They were the pillars of the Empire; they bowed only to the Emperor himself.

The Butler took a deep breath.

"His Highness, the First Prince, enters!"

A man stepped through the threshold, bathing in the magical light of the chandeliers.

He possessed golden hair that flowed like liquid silk and golden eyes that seemed to hold the weight of the sun—the undisputed symbols of the Aurelian Imperial Family.

First Prince Valerius Aurelian.

The man who would one day hold the world in his palm.

He was a prodigy who had topped the Imperial Academy’s entrance exams with a perfect score and currently held the rank of 2nd in the entire Academy, solely because he rarely participated in public duels.

Blessed with the purest lineage and overflowing talent. Truly, a chosen one.

"His Highness, Prince Valerius Aurelian, who will preside over this year’s Dungeon Tournament, is ascending the throne! All present, please give your full attention!"

As the Head Butler’s voice echoed into silence, the nobles raised their heads.

Valerius walked down the red carpet. His stride was measured, elegant, and devoid of hesitation. He wore a white military uniform adorned with gold epaulettes, a stark contrast to the colorful finery of the nobility.

He ascended the dais at the end of the banquet hall and turned to face the crowd. His golden eyes gleamed, exuding a charisma that was gentle yet suffocating in its weight.

"Loyal subjects and pillars of the Empire," Valerius began, his voice smooth as velvet.

"Today, I have the honor of hosting the Dungeon Tournament in place of His Majesty, the Emperor. It brings me great joy to see the future leaders of our nation gathered in one hall."

He smiled, a perfect, practiced expression that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"I hope we can all enjoy a safe and honorable tournament. Let us compete not with malice, but with the spirit of improvement, so that we do not disgrace the Empire’s radiant sun."

To his left and right stood a man and a woman—his Royal Guards—watching the crowd with hawk-like intensity.

"...Let us skip the stifling formalities," Valerius waved his hand gracefully. "Enjoy the banquet. Drink, converse, and prepare for the trials ahead. That is all."

As he took his seat on the central throne, the tension in the room evaporated.

The nobles began to gather in small groups again, the hum of conversation returning louder than before.

"Oh, as expected of His Highness. Isn’t he magnificent?" "He speaks with such grace. Truly the image of the Emperor in his youth." "With Prince Valerius leading us, the Empire’s future is secure."

Then, it happened.

BOOM.

The main doors didn’t just open. They were thrown wide with a force that rattled the hinges.

The Head Butler, usually so composed, stammered, his face draining of color.

"H-Her Highness... the Princess enters!"