-There are Orcs here, too.
‘Where? Woah…’
When he turned toward the area where Perserque, who sat on his shoulder, gestured toward, Davey saw a human and an Orc in a nice suit clinking glasses and engaging in conversation.
Naturally, Orcs had darker skin than humans and were much bigger in size. Due to the difference in race, they had an amazing amount of muscle mass like dwarves. In terms of physical appearance, they had distinctly dark green skin, were taller than normal humans–about 2 to 2.1 meters tall, had tough, muscular bodies, and had incisors sticking out from their bottom lips.
“Orcs and humans are sworn enemies who fight each other to the death in other worlds.”
Funnily enough, Orcs and humans of this continent had quite a good relationship. Orcs who were called the ‘Race of Warriors’ emphasized honor and prestige, and they usually formed tribes. They did not like to get involved in political matters, so they usually came into human kingdoms by working as mercenaries. It was also rare for Orcs to come to banquets such as this, because they did not like this either.
Davey guessed that the Orc dressed in a suit was a high-ranking one, maybe a tribe leader or great elder. Then, Davey looked for other races among the attendees, but it seemed like the only new faces he could find were the Orcs. Elves had officially been declared to have disappeared three hundred years ago, and dwarves did not leave their villages. There was also no way that beastfolks would be here, since they were quite abhorred in the Lyndis Empire.
While looking around in fascination, Davey saw someone approach Winley, who stood away from the men and was taking a deep breath.
“Ha, I heard that lowly beings bond together, but now you guys are really out of your mind.”
Winley turned toward the hostile voice, then said, “Carlus.”
“Who do you think you are to come here, bitch?”
“What?”
Beside Carlus, who was already picking a fight, was a young girl in a red dress. She stood next to him with a haughty expression.
“Both you and Davey must be insane. Do you think you have the right to be at a banquet this prestigious?”
“Don’t kid yourself. The only reason you’re able to attend is because you threw a tantrum, isn’t it?” Winley commented. Of course, she wasn’t stupidly nice to just take it.
Carlus’ eyebrow twitched at Winley’s criticism. Then, he snapped, “I don’t know how you got here, but you don’t know your place, bitch. I suggest that you scurry back to the kingdom when I’m asking nicel…”
Davey’s actions were quicker than his words.
The idiotic Carlus was out of his mind, publicly insulting his younger sibling and forgetting the fact that numerous kingdoms and countries were gathered here. Before, it seemed that he knew how to hold himself back in public, but he was now doing whatever he wanted after Davey had given him a spot that shone like the sun on his head.
In secret, Davey roused the qi in his middle finger as he held it in a flicking position.
‘A crazy hound…’
[Silent Energy]
[Blast Away]
Whoosh!
“Keugh?!”
‘Needs a beating.’
“Kyahh?! Prince Carlus!”
When Carlus was suddenly hit by something and ended up rolling on the floor, the noble girl widened her eyes in shock. At the same time, everyone’s attention was drawn to him. It was inevitable that they were staring, since he was screaming and rolling on the floor in the middle of a quiet, calm banquet.
However, no one realized that Carlus had been blasted away by Davey, who had taken action subtly. It was a hidden attack. Furthermore, since the noble girl was the only one near Carlus, people could only think that he was putting on a show by himself.
“Acting like this in another kingdom?”
“Keugh… What is this…” Gasping, Carlus had felt the empty air just hit him out of nowhere.
“Davey… You lowly being…” Carlus, who was frowning and moaning in pain on the floor, looked up at Davey in hatred and disgust. It was as if he was superior to Davey.
Davey wondered what he should say to this idiot, who still couldn’t understand the current situation even after embarrassingly collapsing onto the floor. Of course, sometimes, actions spoke more than words.
Davey silently pointed at the top of his head and then pointed at Carlus. Taking note of his gesture, everyone watching the situation started to shift their gaze to look at the top of Carlus’ head.
“Giggle…”
“Ahem!”
Everyone could be heard trying to hold in their laughter. Some even cleared their throats bitterly.
Only then did Carlus, who was staring into space while sitting on the floor, realize that something was wrong. Feeling the cool breeze on his head, he realized that the wig that was supposed to hide the bright sun on top of his head had fallen off. It only took moments for people to see the chandelier’s bright light reflecting off his smooth scalp.
‘Hm, alright. Let there be a sun on his head.’
“Hup?!”
Carlus turned pale in an instant. He reflexively covered his head with his hands. His pale face began turning purple from sheer anger. He wanted to say something, but everyone had already seen his shiny head.
‘There’s a sun hidden on the head of a young teenage boy!’
Not knowing what to do, Carlus clenched his jaw, quickly put his wig back on, and ran out of the banquet with a red face.
“It seems like the balding curse was a pretty good idea.”
-The curse you put on him will be a long-lasting trauma.
The bright, smooth sun on top of Carlus’ head was not going to disappear until Davey revoked the curse, but Davey had no intentions of breaking the curse until the day he died.
‘Now that it has come to this, maybe I should cast the same curse on Benedict or Queen Lynesse.’
Davey had the thought, but soon shook his head.
Everyone looked bewildered and confused by the unexpected situation, looking on as Carlus ran away. Soon, as if they finally understood, the entire banquet returned to normal. It seemed that this unfortunate happening of a prince from a small kingdom was not that interesting. It was a little baffling, but the people here were experts in managing their appearance; since all Carlus had to boast about was his rank as the Rowane Kingdom’s representative prince, perhaps this was only expected.
“Did you do that, Big Brother?” Winley asked Davey in bewilderment as Davey approached her.
“I thought that he wouldn’t watch his words if I just let him go on.”
“Hm…”
“Davey held back quite well for himself, did he not?” Like she was watching the whole situation, Illyna chuckled and walked toward Davey with Yulis.
“You and that prince, Carlus, have a terrible relationship, right? Are you just leaving him be?”
“No way. A cornered rat will cause a big scene.”
Realizing what Davey was saying, Illyna muttered with a sigh, “Why did he start a fight with this psycho…”
“Lady Winley, may I ask for a dance if that’s alright with you?” Even in the midst of all this, Yulis did not lose his soft smile. He reached his hand out toward Winley and bowed his head slightly.
The people who were watching the two, the main stars of this banquet, looked quite shocked by Yulis suddenly asking Winley for a dance. It seemed like they were shocked once again at how unexpectedly beautiful she was.
As Winley stared at Davey, not knowing what to do, he just smiled and nodded. Davey was thinking that she had feelings for Yulis, and that Yulis had come at the perfect time.
“Then… Shall we?”
Winley looked a little suspicious of how Davey was allowing her to dance, but soon brightly smiled and held Yulis’ hand.
“You look quite uncomfortable, Prince Davey.”
“I am not too fond of such events, Princess.”
Talking pleasantly and upkeeping appearances, Illyna erased her frosty expression and chuckled. “The first day is just a taster. If you really don’t want to overdo yourself, it might be a good idea to go back to your lodging. The auction you want to attend is tomorrow.”
Davey really wanted to take Illyna’s suggestion, but he also wanted to stay and watch for a little while longer. Looking at Winley dancing with Yulis while holding his hand, Davey finally said, “I’ll stay a little longer.”
“Then, let me rest for a little bit…” Illyna sighed, unable to hide her exhaustion. She tipped her wine glass toward Davey and said, “Cheers, Prince Davey?”
“Please put away your insincere acting because it’s making me sick.”
“Dick.”
Cling! A clear sound resonated across the hall as their glasses met.
“What about that silver-haired and young golem lady?”
Illyna was probably talking about Rinne, who probably looked younger than her late teens because of her small physique.
“I left her outside because she wanted to look around.”
Davey did leave Rinne on standby just in case, but it was likely that she was looking around out of curiosity. It would be troublesome if she was discovered, but she was able to conceal herself quite well.
“Anyway, I don’t see the star of this banquet,” Illyna commented.
“Are you interested in her?” Davey asked.
People were surprised that Davey and Illyna were talking, but no one approached them; perhaps it was because of her distinct aura.
“Princess Aeria El Lyndis. She is the Lyndis Empire’s youngest princess, and I heard that she just became an adult this year.”
“You’ve never met her?”
“I think I’ve seen her when I was younger, but it seems like she was at the Holy Empire for a few years. As you know, these kinds of banquets are extremely rare for people of the Holy Empire,” Illyna explained as Davey said nothing in reply.
Creak! Thud!
That was when…
‘Speak of the devil.’
“Princess Aeria El Lyndis is entering.” When an old servant’s voice could be heard, the door opened to reveal the star of this banquet.
As Davey had heard, this banquet was to celebrate the princess’ coming-of-age and to announce her return from the Holy Empire. She was part beastfolk, so she couldn’t avoid a little mistreatment since the people of the Lyndis Empire still thought of beastfolks as lowly beings. However, the emperor was trying to eliminate such discrimination and abuse by bringing her to the forefront.
“That girl…” Davey stopped what he was doing and squinted at the girl who just appeared.
“Do you know each other?” Illyna asked like she could no longer be surprised by anything.
Davey shook his head. It was true that they didn’t know each other. They had only passed each other during the brief encounter at the forest. The girl was wearing white gloves, a simple yet classic dress that came up to her neck, and a white mask that covered her entire face. If it wasn’t for her bright blue hair and unique beastfolk ears, Davey most likely wouldn’t have recognized her.
“Anyway… I heard that she can’t expose her bare skin because she is ill… I guess it’s true.”
Davey nodded at Illyna’s comment.
-Davey. It’s that disease.
‘Baron Gorneo was talking about that girl. I know that it has been a while, so did she not get treated?
The medicine should’ve worked unless the virus had transformed because she was unique. However, it seemed like that wasn’t the case.
Everyone was drawn to the girl, who was slightly cowering but forcing herself to walk confidently. Those who had only heard of her seemed curious, since she was the youngest and most treasured daughter of the Lyndis Empire’s emperor. And since she had never been seen in public, Davey could see all the nobility gather toward her in seconds.