NOVPUBBehind Raoul Josef, a robust man followed closely. His face was hidden behind a mask, and a wide robe covered both his hair and build, making his identity indiscernible.
Tap... tap...
Raoul limped toward Marquis Branford, pausing momentarily to look up at him before bowing slowly.
“It’s been a while, Marquis Branford.”
“What brings you here, Viscount Josef?” Marquis Branford replied indifferently. Raoul grinned as he straightened up.
“I heard you’ve taken in a young lion cub. I thought I’d come to see him myself.”
“The ducal house has no reason to be interested,” Branford responded, narrowing his eyes in annoyance.
“A talented young man who’s developed an exceptional product at such a young age and even earned your backing, Marquis? How could we not be interested?”
Branford clicked his tongue, his displeasure evident. “Let’s hope that’s where your interest ends. Who’s the masked one behind you?”
“He’s my personal guard,” Raoul answered.
At that moment, Tolleo, the captain of the knights, stepped forward, addressing Raoul’s companion.
“Even if he’s your personal guard, we can’t allow an unidentified person into the banquet hall. He’ll have to remove the mask, at least for a moment.”
Despite Tolleo’s words, the masked man stood still, showing no intention of complying.
“You! I said, remove it at once!” Tolleo bellowed, his voice echoing in the hall.
Marquis Branford raised his hand, motioning for Tolleo to stand down. “That’s enough. I doubt Viscount Josef would dare cause trouble by bringing someone here to stir up a scene. Let it go.”
Tolleo gritted his teeth but obeyed, stepping back reluctantly.
Marquis Branford’s cold demeanor made it clear that he wasn’t interested in further conversation. He turned away, signaling the end of their exchange. While he wouldn’t throw Raoul out, his lack of welcome was clear.
Raoul glanced around before smirking, speaking loudly enough for the nearby nobles to hear.
“Hm... I wonder if I’ve come to the wrong place. The atmosphere doesn’t seem too welcoming.”
He began walking toward Ghislain, each tap of his cane cutting through the uneasy silence of the hall.
Tap... tap... tap...
As Raoul approached, the nobles scattered, eager to avoid any association with him.
‘Better not get involved. Let’s avoid eye contact.’
‘I’ve heard he’s a cold-blooded monster. There are rumors he’s not even human.’
The crowd naturally parted, leaving a clear path between Raoul and Ghislain. Watching Raoul’s back, Marquis Branford tilted his head, confused.
‘Wasn’t he supposed to be in the south? How did he manage to arrive here in time?’
The banquet had been announced less than a week ago, and even if Raoul had left immediately, it seemed impossible for him to have arrived this quickly.
‘That means he was already here.’
The fact that Raoul, a key figure in the ducal household, had been in the capital without Branford knowing was alarming. Worse than Raoul’s sudden appearance was the realization that the Delphine family’s reach had extended even into the heart of the capital.
While Branford mulled over this troubling thought, Raoul came to a stop in front of Ghislain.
The noblewomen who had been surrounding Ghislain quickly retreated, their faces pale with fear.
“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Viscount Raoul Josef,” Raoul greeted with a smirk.
Ghislain gave a casual nod. “Baron Fenris.”
“I’ve heard interesting things about you. You’ve made quite a name for yourself in the north, haven’t you?”
Raoul’s words were laced with irony. He already knew everything that had happened, especially since he had been the one pulling the strings behind the attacks on the north.
Ghislain let out a small, derisive laugh. ‘He’s pretending like he’s curious? Of course, you’d know, since it was your scheme from the start.’
Raoul continued, seemingly unfazed. “Shall we move to a more private place to talk?”
“A private place?” Ghislain asked.
“There are things better discussed in confidence,” Raoul replied smoothly.
Intrigued by what Raoul might say, Ghislain nodded, and the two moved to a nearby private room within the banquet hall.
Once inside, Raoul smiled, a gesture that seemed more like a sneer due to his sharp features.
“No need to be so tense,” Raoul said.
“Tense? Do I look tense to you?” Ghislain replied, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Raoul narrowed his eyes, momentarily taken aback by Ghislain’s unsettling calmness. “Do you know me? You seem oddly pleased to meet me.”
“I’ve heard a few things about you, yes,” Ghislain replied.
In his previous life, Ghislain had spent considerable time researching Raoul, as he had been one of Duke Delphine’s closest advisors. Despite his physical disability, Raoul was known for his ruthless cunning, making him a key player in the ducal household.
‘This bastard is probably responsible for the attack on Feridium.’
Suppressing the surge of hatred rising within him, Ghislain exhaled slowly, maintaining his composure.
Raoul didn’t seem to notice, continuing casually, “I’ll get straight to the point. We’re interested in the cosmetics you’ve developed.”
“The cosmetics?” Ghislain asked, feigning ignorance.
“Yes. We were working on something similar, but when we heard rumors of your product’s effectiveness, I came to the capital to see for myself. I didn’t expect it to be powerful enough to cure illnesses as well.”
Raoul’s tone was a mix of admiration and annoyance. In their previous life, the Delphine family had launched a product almost identical to Ghislain’s, and they had planned to do the same in this life. But Ghislain had beaten them to the punch.
“So, what now?” Ghislain asked, unfazed.
Raoul continued, “Honestly, I was surprised. That someone once known as a wastrel could develop something like this in such a desolate region... It’s remarkable.”
“I’ve been studying. Not everything you hear from the public is accurate.”
“True enough,” Raoul agreed, though his eyes had grown sharp.
‘This is the man who ruined all our plans in the north.’
The rebellion of Amelia, the isolation of Feridium, the weakening of the Crimson Tower—all had been carefully orchestrated by Raoul. But this one man had singlehandedly disrupted everything.
Raoul had expected Ghislain to be a mere troublemaker, an insignificant pawn, but the reality was far more dangerous.
Raoul couldn’t understand how such a man, previously dismissed as useless, had suddenly become so effective. But one thing was clear: Ghislain was no ordinary noble.
“I have a proposal,” Raoul said suddenly.
“If you’re going to ask for exclusive rights to my cosmetics or a technology partnership, I’m not interested.”
Raoul chuckled. “While your cosmetics are tempting, that’s not the proposal I have in mind.”
“Then what is it?” Ghislain asked, his curiosity piqued.
“Join the Delphine family.”
Ghislain stifled a laugh, covering his mouth with his hand. The very idea was absurd. He had to force himself to hold back the urge to kill Raoul where he stood.
Raoul, noticing Ghislain’s reaction, furrowed his brow slightly but continued. “If the distance bothers you, we can offer you a fine estate in the south. We can extend the same offer to your father.”
“My father too?” Ghislain asked, raising an eyebrow. 𝚗o𝚟pub.𝚌𝚘𝚖
“I know the Count of Feridium has struggled, fighting off barbarians in that barren land. What if we offered him a better estate, where he could live in peace? If both you and your father swore loyalty to the Delphine family, we’d provide all the support you need.”
Ghislain’s smile faded, and his voice turned cold. “It seems rather dangerous to speak like this in a place full of powerful enemies.”
Raoul’s grin widened, confident in his position. “Politics is always a risky game, Baron. But you needn’t worry. Leave the pressure from other nobles to me. I’ll take care of it.”
The audacity of Raoul’s offer was staggering. To promise such riches and land showed the sheer power of the Delphine family.
But to Ghislain, it was nothing more than a calculated way to strip him of his freedom and turn him into their puppet.
‘He’s trying to sugarcoat what amounts to servitude,’ Ghislain thought. The idea of surrendering to the Delphine family was laughable, especially when he knew their true nature.
“There’s no need to apologize, but I’ll have to decline. I quite like the north.”
Though his words were polite, Ghislain’s tone was firm.
Raoul leaned back in his chair, his expression cooling. “Are you sure about this?”
“Very sure. I have no interest in your offer.”
“This is your only chance. If you don’t take it, you’ll regret it,” Raoul warned, his voice low and threatening.
Ghislain smirked. “What about you, Viscount? Why don’t you join our side?”
Raoul let out a dry laugh, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
‘What a fool,’ Raoul thought. ‘He’s choosing death.’
The chance to spare Ghislain had passed. Now, he would make sure this fool paid dearly for rejecting the Delphine family.
