The Reincarnated Martial God Brings Down the Heavens

Chapter 152 – The Ball (3)

A choice.

At a crossroad with only two paths, Erina chose me instead of Marquis Laksir.

“……”

Everyone gaped in stunned silence at the unbelievable sight.

“Isn’t she the daughter of a mere baron?”

“She openly insulted the Marquis like that? How does she plan to handle the consequences?”

“No matter how much of a prince he is in his homeland, he’s nothing more than a baron here……”

“Even if she claims to be planning ahead for the future, isn’t the status of a prince nothing more than an empty title?”

The first reactions came from those voicing concern. Next, the especially sharp-witted nobles spoke up.

“She must have no sense. A single dance could have changed her life.”

“What can you do? Even diamonds are just shiny stones to savages who can’t recognize their value.”

Jealous voices chimed in as well.

“Is Princess Winley not even jealous? At this rate, she’s going to lose her fiancé.”

“They came in together, didn’t they? Who knows? There’s no rule saying you can only have one partner or wife.”

“That child sure is greedy.”

However, Winley herself had turned pale, her face drained of color. Was it because she really thought she might lose her fiancé?

Of course not.

‘Marquis Laksir…… Do you seriously want to witness a slaughter here?’

She wasn’t the only one.

“What in the world is the marquis thinking!?”

“I don’t know. Someone stop him already. This is driving me crazy.”

“Just give me another eye patch. I didn’t see anything.”

Kirian, Harun, and Jan spoke in turn. They were the only ones who knew the true identity of ‘Eri, the daughter of Baron Karot’.

‘This is trouble.’

I let out a sigh as well.

I didn’t know why Marquis Laksir was acting like this, but one thing was clear. He had no intention of backing down.

‘At this point, I have to take what I glimpsed in his eyes at face value.’

For a fleeting moment, the emotion Marquis Laksir displayed was not pure love.

It was a twisted blend of affection and desire similar to the possessiveness a swordsman feels upon discovering a magnificent blade.

‘So you were no different from other power-hungry men, Marquis Laksir.’

You come across men like him every so often. Men who saw beautiful women as mere ornaments to patch up their wounded egos.

In that sense, elves had long been the ultimate adornments.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

It wasn’t uncommon.

The higher you climbed the social ladder, the more you would encounter such people.

‘What made you such a twisted person?’

Despite being someone with widespread support and called the core figure of the military,

‘Or is it because of that very perception that you act this way?’

A life lived not for oneself, but to be displayed to others.

Look, even a woman this beautiful has fallen for me. Look at how successful my life is. See how far I’ve risen.

The people obsessed with appearances always harbored a serious void.

‘What is that void, exactly?’

Now, I had to find out.

* * *

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* * *

Meanwhile, Marquis Laksir pressed on, continuing the conversation via thoughts.

-You said you hadn’t forgotten our promise, did you not?

-I haven’t.

-Then why are you holding that child’s hand instead of mine?

-That promise doesn’t say I have to choose one over another, does it?

-That’s……

-You asked me to kill someone for you. That promise didn’t include any clause about not joining hands with another.

-……No, you’ll have to make a choice. That child won’t sit idly by if you go through with it.

-What do you mean?

Just as Marquis Laksir was about to respond, the commotion began.

“F-F-F-Fol……!”

“Tch, calm down. Don’t panic; I’m just here to pay a quiet visit.”

Suddenly, the atmosphere grew chaotic. The source of the disturbance soon became clear.

“Announcing the arrival of Marquis Foltaine!”

“……!”

At that moment, time seemed to freeze.

It was an entrance that captured everyone’s attention, an arrival no one expected or wanted to see.

A face that should never have appeared here. The expressions of the nobles were unified in their shock, their gazes locked on the enemy general who had appeared in the heart of their camp.

“My word……”

Some nobles covered their mouths, whispering in disbelief.

Was there ever a precedent for someone from the opposing faction attending such a private event?

Of course, it wasn’t entirely unheard of. Personal connections sometimes justified such exceptions.

Of course, those were special cases.

What’s more, Marquis Laksir and Marquis Foltaine weren’t known for an amicable relationship.

“That sly fox, I’ve always despised him. What kind of gentleman behaves like that?”

Striding in boldly, Marquis Foltaine muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear.

“Sly? Surely, a merchant like yourself is far slyer than a soldier like me, no?”

Marquis Laksir shot back without missing a beat.

He knew that if he lost the first fight, he would be dragged along to Marquis Foltaine’s pace.

“……”

The air within the room turned heavy almost instantly. Again, this was a party for nobles that were members of the royal faction.

“I must say, Marquis Foltaine, I never imagined you’d grace my ball with your presence.”

His tone seemed to be asking why he’d shown up uninvited.

“Hmph. Do you think I came to enjoy some frivolous party?”

“A frivolous party, you say…… What an uncultured perspective.”

“Shouldn’t soldiers like you spend your time studying battle strategies instead of hosting trivial gatherings?”

“Soldiers need clear rewards and punishments. In harsh conditions where they risk their lives with nothing but patriotism, we must grant them moments to unwind.”

It was this kind of rhetoric that earned Marquis Laksir the nickname of ‘gentleman soldier’ among his peers.

But for Marquis Foltaine, it was anything but endearing.

“Look at you. Waving carrots in front of the colts to make them run is some noble act.”

“……!”

The royal faction nobles’ faces twisted in outrage.

“……You still haven’t answered my question. Why are you here?”

Before the royal faction nobles could erupt in anger, Marquis Laksir stepped in to regain control of the situation.

This time, he didn’t hide his displeasure.

“Fine. I have no intention of lingering here. I’m taking my child and leaving. Feel free to continue waving your carrots.”

“Did you just say, ‘child’? Your child isn’t here, Marquis Foltaine. I’d be crazy to extend an invitation to any child of yours.”

“But do you mean, he’s not? He’s standing right here.”

Everyone’s gazes followed the direction of Marquis Foltaine’s finger. It was directed at a child, who was standing there blankly.

“……Surely you’re not implying that Prince Andrew…… Or rather, Baron Ancelot is your child?”

“I am.”

“……”

Marquis Laksir, momentarily stunned, shook his head.

“I’ve heard you hold the Baron in high regard, but this is…… Quite unexpected.”

“Heheheh, prepare yourself. You dared to threaten my child, and I won’t take it lying down.”

Marquis Foltaine’s tone grew openly threatening. Of course, the royal faction nobles didn’t stand still, either.

“Your words are excessive, Marquis!”

“What have we done to the Baron to deserve such accusations?”

“We won’t tolerate further disrespect!”

Marquis Foltaine swept his gaze across the room and smiled again.

“Let’s see if you can keep spewing nonsense if I drag your children to the wolves’ den.”

“……!”

The tension was now at the breaking point.

But then.

“A-Announcing the arrival of Duke Serin!”

“……!”

Once again, the brewing conflict was interrupted by an external party. A wave of astonishment swept over the room, far surpassing the earlier shock.

“D-Did they just say Duke Serin?”

Everybody directed their gaze towards the entrance. None of the many military-affiliated nobles in attendance could take this name lightly.

After all, both of them lived and died by the sword. Moreover, Duke Serin was someone who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

Step, step, step.

The sound of his footsteps echoed as he approached Marquis Laksir. In casual wear unsuited for parties, no less.

It was clear that he wasn’t here for his enjoyment.

“It has been a while, Marquis.”

“……This feels unreal, Duke. Should I pop champagne to commemorate this extraordinary day?”

Marquis Laksir’s expression seemed to ask, ‘And why are you here?’

Meanwhile, Duke Serin smiled faintly.

“We’re all of one mind, are we not?”

His gaze fixed squarely on Marquis Foltaine.

“Are you…… Implying you’ve also come for your child?”

“Child, you say……”

Duke Serin’s smile deepened as he alternated glances between Ancelot and Marquis Foltaine.

“To me, he’s more like an extension of myself.”

“……!”

At the word ‘extension,’ Marquis Laksir’s eyes widened.

For a figure like Duke Serin—known for his self-preservation—to declare such attachment was unprecedented.

“……”

At this point, Marquis Laksir’s gaze also turned towards a certain figure. Of course, rumors tend to be different from reality, but……

‘Why are all these people converging around that boy?’

Just then, another voice interrupted his thoughts.

“You understand now, don’t you? We see your ‘business operations’ as fraudulent.”

“……You two are the ones obstructing my efforts, aren’t you?”

Before anyone could respond, another figure quietly entered through the doorway.

Only Ancelot noticed—watching as the head butler collapsed in shock.

“Not two, but three.”

“……!”

The room collectively gasped.

“A-Announcing the arrival of Duke Herman…… Hic!”

The head butler couldn’t finish before hiccuping.

Leaving him behind, Duke Herman swiftly closed the distance between him and the rest of the group.

“Duke Herman……”

“I despise people like you. What kind of nonsense is this, dragging a child into your schemes?”

At that provocative remark, Marquis Laksir ground his teeth.

“……It seems we share a sentiment. I’m not particularly fond of people like you, Duke Herman.”

“……!”

Ancelot, listening intently, widened his eyes gradually. He had sensed the subtle emotion in that voice.

‘If I could feel it, the person it’s directed at must have sensed it too, right?’

Surprisingly, however, Duke Herman seemed entirely unaffected.

“As expected, we really can’t get along.”

“I agree.”

Immediately, Marquis Laksir turned to look at Ancelot.

“……Baron, do you see it now? This is why the royal and noble faction can’t work together. We’re incompatible. The moment we meet, it’s like we’re itching to tear each other apart.”

“……”

Ancelot said nothing, silently shifting his gaze between the two. Marquis Laksir tried to hide it, but he can’t fool my eyes.

For a fleeting moment, an emotion flickered in his pupils.

‘Marquis Laksir…… Could it be that the person he wants to kill is Duke Herman?’

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