Chapter 22: Nobles Banquet (4)

The long-awaited day has come. The banquet of nobles held by the royal family. It has been confirmed that the organizer of the banquet is the Crown Prince based on rumors that he will succeed the throne next year.

Arthur and Duke Rudolf were now wearing their formal suits with the help of the royal maid. They both look very similar. Moreover, Arthur looks like a younger version of Duke Rudolf.

"Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable, son?" Duke Rudolf asked while still following the designer's directions from the boutique to place the beads.

Arthur didn't answer, he just shook his head. That man could see his reflection in the mirror wearing a formal gray suit. The suit disguised his very thin body.

'This man is also handsome.'

After Duke Rudolf finished with his clothes, he turned to Arthur. Arthur looked very handsome in his eyes.

"I have something to give you." Duke Rudolf said as he ordered one of the maids from his household—not a royal maid—to come closer to them.

The maid handed over a small jewelry box. That box did not look luxurious, unlike how Duke Rudolf usually looked.

He opened the box. "This is a ring with protection magic. It can only protect you in a single surprise attack. Whether it's circle 5 magic or the aura of an entry-level Sword Master."

Arthur grabbed the box and put the ring on his finger. That man seemed to like the simple ring.

'Pretty good too.'

Arthur took a long look at the ring. Then Milly, who had been tidying up her coat, whispered, "This time don't sell it to help people in the slums again, Young Duke-nim."

'What the hell, Arthur. So, this isn't the first time he's received a gift like this and he's selling it to benefit the people in the slums? No wonder I never see jewelry like this in the room.'

He watched the other maids who had finished helping him. Duke Rudolf went ahead to welcome Madam Radia who had arrived.

Madam Radia looked at the well-groomed Arthur. "It seems that Rudolf's descendant still looks like King Gladias. You are very handsome, Young Duke."

There was still half an hour away from the main event of the afternoon banquet. However, both of them were already willing to come there.

***

'Where's Sandy?'

After entering the Main Hall in the Marithus Royal Castle, Arthur had been looking at the people present there. The day before yesterday, Arthur was told by Roby that Sandy had come to the capital.

Arthur was indeed not separated from Duke Rudolf. His father was addressed several times by the upper nobility like the descendants of the Grand Duke of old. They were all old.

Duke Rudolf had noticed Arthur's behavior. So, he whispered, "What are you looking for, son?"

Arthur could not have told his father that he was looking for his brother. Sandy had not informed his family of his arrival. So, it was clear that his brother's arrival was hidden and only rumored among the knights.

That man found another reason. "I'm looking for Count Rubel, Dad. He should also come as a noble, right?"

Duke Rudolf nodded. That old man replied, "You may greet the few nobles here that you remember. If there are some you still don't remember, you may leave and come back here."

Arthur agreed to his father's advice. He left the group of old men and went to another corner.

The Main Hall was as large as five times the hallway in Rudolf Castle. Because there were many nobles coming, more than a hundred.

Arthur pulled over to go to another room, while he was in the palace and looking for Sandy's whereabouts. He hadn't had time to walk around the palace because he was busy with the preparations at the banquet. Even Duke Rudolf took the place of Count Rubel to teach him a bit of forgotten noble etiquette.

During the walk, several ladies stole glances at him. Arthur did not have a fiancé yet as his father did not insist on finding a partner among the nobles. It was up to Arthur himself.

He walked all the way to the back garden of the palace where only workers lived. The back garden was usually used for the activities of the royal family members and guests were rarely there.

Sneaking around, Arthur looked at some of the statues and fountains in the garden. The moment felt like the moment when Irene Gestrine wanted to know about Duke Rudolf as a child.

Arthur noticed that one of the royal families was there. They were not the immediate family, but relatives. There was Madam Radia with an old man there.

Arthur went behind a tree, to listen to what they were talking about.

"He must take a position to compete with the Crown Prince. His brother has helped us a lot." Madam Radia's voice was there.

The old man said, "It's hard, the Crown Prince is the mastermind of everything. There is no way that the war will continue, we are being attacked. That area is the responsibility of that person's household because the Crown Prince does not want his position to be threatened."

Arthur didn't hear their conversation very well. Not long after he eavesdropped, that two people left as if they knew someone was listening to them.

Arthur emerged and looked around. He didn't know who they were talking about, but he seemed to know who could be the object of their conversation.

"Are they talking about me?" Arthur muttered to himself.

His family used to be in charge of the war. Then again, he was also the one who would get the position of a duke in the future.

"I have to go back."

***

Arthur's return coincided with the entrance of the royal family into the banquet. The guides were standing at the entrance of the Main Hall, shouting out the names of the royal family members.

"His Royal Majesty, King Taylor Gladius!"

"Her Royal Majesty, Queen Cosette Gladius!"

"His Highness, Crown Prince Xavier Gladius!"

Arthur returned to Duke Rudolf's side quickly. The nobles all focused their attention on their royal leader.

They all bowed gracefully. All men bowed with their front hands in front of their chests, while the women raised the fabric of their dresses slightly with both hands.

Arthur stole a glance ahead. No wonder Madam Radia made such a comment about Arthur's appearance. The royal family is indeed very similar to him.

King Taylor Gladias' white hair looked beautiful despite his age. Queen Cosette had black hair with a slight bluish tint. They looked like a contrast. However, their violet eyes look beautiful.

Their son, Xavier Gladias followed behind. He was dressed in white royal attire with red and gold accessories. Xavier Gladias looked handsome. He looked just like his father.

King Taylor said, "Thank you for welcoming us. You can finish your greetings."

Hearing that, the nobles who had shown their greetings got up immediately. The banquet music was already playing at that moment.

"You may have already seen my only son, the talented Xavier Gladias. This time, he will make an important announcement for all of us." King Taylor preceded the opening.

There was no protocol. Only King Taylor was organizing the noon's banquet.

"My son, have an event for our closeness in the future. I hope that the nobles of our Marithus Kingdom remain united and continue to support our country's sovereignty. Therefore, I would like to invite Crown Prince Xavier Gladias to take over the conversation."

After saying that, there was a huge round of applause. King Taylor and Queen Cosette took their seats at the back. They let their son take over the evening's banquet.

Crown Prince Xavier, directed the musicians to change the music. He spoke, "I apologize for changing the music, because I feel that the music was a bit unsuitable."

"So, as some of the nobles know. I've asked you to create a new event for the nobles. The event must be appropriate and will be funded by the kingdom. Many have proposed festivals, but that is already too much in our society." Crown Prince Xavier had authority in his speech.

Arthur could not take his eyes off the man. Was it possible that he was hypnotized just because of the other person's bearing?

"Then, there was someone who suggested me. An entertainment event that is only performed by some nobles in the place of ordinary people who have above average wealth. That event is opera theater. After conducting a survey, it turns out that there are a lot of nobles who have an interest in theater. However, there is no one who dares to take business from those commoners." Crown Prince Xavier was stalling for time.

The man's tongue was getting slicker. "There are still many who think that opera theater is an old art and cannot be immortalized like paintings or music. Therefore, at that person's suggestion, I as the Crown Prince will hold a special event every year that is a theater opera entertainment. Thank you for that idea. I would like to thank Count Rubel who personally gave us the proposal."

Hearing Count Rubel's name mentioned, the nobles there looked at him. Count Rubel was already there in a neat dark green suit. That man was enjoying the attention that was being paid to him.

'That bastard, he enjoys being famous.'

Arthur commented to himself when he saw the comfortable expression on Count Rubel's face. The red-haired man even had a smirk that could be seen from afar. However, it was not only Count Rubel who was the talk of the night.

"Then, thanks also to Arthur Rudolf, as the successor to the position of Head of Household Rudolf who is now present. Also his father, Duke Rudolf himself. They are neutral people who respect the royal family's decisions."

'Huh?'