38 Chapter 8: the banquet (6)

"I will make you my fiance. Come to my house tomorrow. I will introduce you to my father"

The young well-dressed nobleman with golden dyed hair and a sharp expression vulgarly declared with a booming voice, as if he was stating an undeniable fact, although he was acting like this, everyone (especially Markus) can clearly notice the young noble's nervous shaking and trembling voice.

""I see. It's the awakening of young love, huh…how annoying""

((Isn't there like a million better ways to propose to a girl than this? And come on dude...at least buy her a drink first! She doesn't even know you))

Markus was already done with the young man's antics and wanted to get out of this situation as fast as possible.

((I understood from the information I've gathered so far that this boy was just a cheeky kid, but for some reason, I just want to twist the boy's arm behind his back))

Markus was very irritated and hungry for blood right now, but as always he nullified it as to not cause an incident like what the maids had warned him about.

((This boy is dangerous, I am sure that the marquis would judge as such too, if the engagement becomes an established fact, it will drastically affect the young lady's life, and I still need her to fulfill her role as one of the game's protagonists so I can't allow that to happen. Well, I'm almost certain that the chief maid and the chief butler would faint if they heard about this, but more importantly if I don't do anything, that over-doting father…excuse me, His Excellency the marquis would flip out on me, if the worst case were to occur, the whole responsibility can be dumped on me, and I would just have to disappear))

Calming himself down Markus began to take a closer inspection at the current scenario and considered his options.

((Should I step in and resolve it or...no, lady Sophia needs to learn how to deal with these scenarios by herself if she hopes to survive in this noble society and considering the person she will become in the future, this should be nothing...I'll just stand and wait for her orders like a diligent knight))

Although Markus had a strong desire to deal with the young lovestruck youngster as fast as possible...(how dare he approach his lady in such a way)...but he decided that he should put Sophia's desires first rather than his own.

"Markus"

Suddenly, Sophia called for him.

""Yes, lady Sophia?""

Markus answered her call, Sophia looked even more irritated than Markus as she rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh.

"Please relay this message to lord Rozier for me if you would:"ahem-I'm honored that you've decided to pick me, but unfortunatelyI have no intentions of getting engaged yet and frankly speaking, I am not interested in tactless men that don't even have the mental capacity to read the mood or pick the right time to propose, so please if you would be so kind as to never talk to me again? That would be much appreciated. Thank you and have a nice day""

Sophia gave that order in an intentional clear and loud enough for everyone to hear voice, so to make sure that her message comes across as coherently and clear-cut as possible.

Hearing this everyone was completely silent as if all of the sound in the room had been deleted from reality, the expression on the faces of everyone present were the same, a collective shock with their mouths gaping.

However the one who took the hardest hit was undoubtedly Luke who froze up like a statue, skin completely pale and eyes were white out.

((...))

Markus didn't know what to think.

((Wow...and they say I'm the cold one, is this really the same unrealistically virtuous Sophia from the game?...you are absolutely savage milady))

Even Markus who's utterly emotionless felt that one.

But nonetheless, as his lady ordered Markus stepped in between Sophia and the still frozen young duke. And then, as if to rub salt in Luke's fresh wound, Markus said with a respectful tone:

"The young lady said: "ahem-I'm honored that you've decided to pick me, but unfortunatelyI have no intentions of getting engaged yet and frankly speaking, I am not interested in tactless men that don't even have the mental capacity to read the mood or pick the right time to propose, so please if you would be so kind as to never talk to me again? That would be much appreciated. Thank you and have a nice day"""

((Pfft...Ahahahahahahahahaha!!!! The look on his face right now, my god it is hilarious! The young lady really did him dirty there, she didn't even say that to me and I still felt the burn))

But truthfully deep down, Markus couldn't stop laughing at Luke's pain, making fun of Luke's priceless expression right now in his head.

With this, Markus had gained a new respect for Sophia.

"D-do-DON'T SCREW WITH ME!!!"

The young man, who just recovered from his shock, converted his surprise into rage and tried to grab Sophia. (Author: Welp...*"Astronomia" starts playing*)

But one does not simply attack a lady in front of her knight.

((Oh HELL NAW!!))

"O-OUCHHH!?"

Markus twisted the boy's arm behind his back, holding him in a submission hold, just like what he has been dying to do since the very beginning.

((You're so fvcking dead...))

Without a doubt if no one was going to stop Markus right now, the young noble of house Rozier will likely go home today in a body bag.

"W-What are you doing!? Don't think you can escape after doing this to me! Ouch!"

Luke screamed out in pain and humiliation, what he receive in return was the feeling of Markus twisting his arm even harder

""I don't give a fvck, now you listen here you little sh*t! I am the young lady's escort, so I'm told to eliminate any danger that approaches her. You know what that means right?""

Using his most dreadful and low toned voice, Markus whispered so that only Luke could hear while leaking out a bit of his killing intent.

"What!?"

Luke who was so aggressive and energetic earlier, was completely petrified after hearing Markus's true demon-like voice. Compared to other type of persuasion, stimulation through fear is the most effective kind of coercion, when faced with incomprehensible forces of nature the efforts of man are useless and that is enough to threaten even the most experienced and collected men out there, and there are few forces of nature more daunting than the rage of a calm man.

"What are you doing!"

A man called out.

(That person is…)

Markus was surprised by the escort behind Lord Luke, but not surprised enough to let Luke go.

((I have seen him before. The second captain of the empire's Knights Order, Arthur. He was promoted to the captain of the 2nd unit in his mid-twenties, and I heard he was from a well-to-do noble family))

His reddish brown hair was sleekly combed down to one side, and gray eyes sat on his finely chiseled face.

Arthur, the second captain of the empire's Knights Order, ran towards them, but his speed was slow compared to Markus. Since the use of mana was restricted in this place, it may be that his natural body skills are lacking.

((That's not good… especially for one in the position of the emperor's Knight))

Markus thought, continuing to torture Luke while waiting for Arthur to arrive.

"Arthur! Kill this guy!"

Seeing a chance of being saved from Markus, Luke barked an order to his escort.

((Try it and you'll be next to join this fvcker, b*tch))

Markus turned some of his hostility towards the approaching knight causing even him to slip in his tracks.

"I don't have a weapon at hand right now...you! Identify yourself!"

The knight said trying to control the situation.

""Markus Silver, knight of house Rosewood and lady Sophia's escort""

With a half hearted tone, Markus answered.

"Escort!? Do you know who that person is? Release him immediately!"

((Only if he apologizes to my lady first...))

As Arthur approached, Markus blocked him by moving the boy between them as a shield. A mana-disabled, metal armor wearing knight's movement is too slow. So, it was easy to get around him.

Rather, it almost seemed like he would lose in strength as well without the use of skills. Unless he can use magic.

"Arthur!"

Luke shouted.

"Y-Yes! Stop moving!"

Arthur is trying his best to separate Markus from his lord.

He couldn't stop Markus. As Markus kept circling around Arthur, by using the Luke as shield,

"…Markus, stop already"

Sophia ordered.

""Yes, my lady""

Always the loyal knight that he is, Markus complied.

By the command of the young lady, Markus let go of the boy's hand. Dizzy from all the circling around, the boy tripped on his own feet, and collapsed on Arthur.

"Don't think you can get away with this…"

Luke directed a hateful glare towards Markus.

((Someone who nearly pissed his pants earlier shouldn't be so pretentious))

Markus mocked him in his head in return.

"Luke-sama"

The young lady got off her chair, and came in front of the boy. The attention of the hall was gathered on the young lady, her lips curled into a bewitching smile.

"We will all become a full-fledged noble today. It seems a bit too hasty to attract a Lady's attention, don't you think?"

((Oh no...))

Seeing this, Markus had a bad omen.

What Sophia's statement is saying could be misinterpreted as"you still have a chance if you behave you know?"

Then, Sophia approached closer and wiped Luke's mouth with a handkerchief, because he was slightly drooling.

"Come now, please take your seat, the Holy Prince will be here soon"

((Oh crap...))

Markus's bad omen was right.

Luke absentmindedly stared at the young lady as she elegantly returned to her seat. Though, Lady Mira was also absentmindedly staring at the young lady since the start.

((Aah, now she has gone and done it. She shot an arrow even deeper into his heart))

Markus face palmed himself.

((…You turned a budding love into a serious love, my lady!))

Seeing that all that charade earlier has basically become meaningless, Markus wanted to moan in frustration.

"…Markus, you will get an earful later"

Walking past him, Sophia whispered, but Markus pretended like he didn't hear it.

((It's not my fault! You started it))

"…imperial Prince Charles-sama arrives! …?!!"

As the turmoil settled down, Markus heard the last bit of the announcement.

((Did his voice crack at the end?))

Furthermore, when Markus was thinking that the whole venue had gone silent, a cheer, almost like a scream, rose.

""?""

Markus tried to look at the entrance, but many children of nobles were standing up.

((What is it? We all knew that the prince would come, right?))

The boy who came in had light blue hair cut short, and his eyes were gentle, contrary to his stylish hairstyle. His big, beautiful, aquamarine eyes made me think, "If this boy dressed up as a woman, he could even make men go crazy for him."

He was wearing a robe with light blue sash. Is that the royal family's outfit or something? Also, a golden circlet was floating on his head.

((Wearing that is proof of royalty, I suppose?))

Markus wasn't sure if it's just his imagination, but a big man with a large build, wearing the same clothes as Prince Charles, followed behind him.

"I-Is t-that…"

Lady Sophia jumped up from her seat. Luke and Lady Mira, who were staring absentmindedly until now, were fixed on the entrance, with an astonished look.

He had the same hairstyle and clothes as Prince Charles, but unlike Prince Charles who had a feminine body, his whole body was solid, to say the least. He was so sturdy and big, looking almost like a moving gorilla stone statue. He had blue eyes with a lot of eyelashes and thick eyebrows that seemed to have a strong will. And the beard was connected to his sideburns. He was the exact opposite of Prince Charles.

If the garment wasn't the same, I couldn't even have imagined that he was royalty.

"That person is…"

the young lady said, with an astonished look.

"His Majesty the emperor"

A bombshell had just been dropped on Markus.

""Pardon?!""

It seems that the tumultuous banquet is only just starting.