Chapter 381: Planning to Make a Move on Audrey?

Chapter 381: Planning to Make a Move on Audrey?

The banquet was held in a garden within the palace. Hastur followed Earl Hall, greeting the nobles who had come to attend. Earl Hall introduced Hastur to each of them, explaining their backgrounds. 

This gave Hastur a deeper understanding of the upper echelons of the Ruen Kingdom.

Some nobles, around the same age as Earl Hall, casually inquired about Hastur's marital status during their conversations. A few even offered their daughters to Hastur on the spot.

Throughout this, Earl Hall maintained a stern expression, lost in thought.

Hastur could only politely decline their enthusiastic offers, citing his young age and desire to establish his career before settling down.

"When your father was your age, he was already famous," said Georgina Augustus, who approached from a distance, her eyes fixed on Hastur.

Hastur had met Georgina Augustus once before and knew she had a somewhat ambiguous relationship with his father.

"One should learn from the predecessors to avoid making mistakes," Hastur calmly replied.

"You're nothing like him. That makes you more interesting to me," Georgina Augustus said, lightly flicking her hair behind her ear and moving closer with her wine glass, her red lips exuding an enticing fragrance.

Hastur subtly moved a step closer to Earl Hall, raising his glass with a smile. "It's my honor."

"You don't seem very good at sweet-talking or socializing. Your father was much better at that," Georgina Augustus remarked, glancing meaningfully at Earl Hall. "Everyone desires unclaimed treasures."

"I don't like to interfere in young people's affairs. These are their own issues. As elders, we just need to watch them grow and occasionally offer a little help," Earl Hall emphasized the word *elders*.

"I don't think I'm old yet," Georgina Augustus laughed and then left to chat with other nobles.

"In social interactions, the most important thing is to keep your eyes open to avoid being deceived by appearances," Earl Hall said pointedly.

Afterward, Earl Hall also went to catch up with familiar nobles.

Hastur silently enjoyed the banquet's delicacies. Looking at the luxurious life filled with drunken revelry, he felt less inclined towards the path of the Black Emperor.

The further one walked down this path, the more they couldn't escape these social engagements.

Instead of wasting time on uninteresting matters, it would be better to choose an extraordinary path that allowed for travel and exploration.

Speaking of which, he had been in the mysterious world for so long but had never left the Ruen Kingdom. This time, he could consider visiting other countries.

The Intis Republic seemed like a good choice.

Bernadette also seemed interested in returning home. The only concern was the presence of the Star Master and the Mother Tree of Desire's followers there.

If he went to the Intis Republic, it might increase the risk of exposing his true identity.

Hastur pondered his next steps while savoring the food.

It wasn't until Covington II appeared that he put down his utensils and joined the gathering crowd.

The former Grand Prince, now Covington II, was surrounded by nobles, the center of attention.

Just by changing his title, he had already adopted some of George III's rigidity and seriousness.

He rarely smiled and only nodded slightly at the nobles' flattery, showing little joy or pleasure.

*Tsk, this level isn't enough.*

The outward rigidity and seriousness, the lack of a smile, seemed to add to his authority but were actually a forced display, making him afraid to show his true emotions.

If George III attended such a banquet, he would surely have a cheerful smile, naturally greeting every noble.

He didn't need to control his emotions deliberately. Those who wanted to flatter him while maintaining their dignity and avoiding embarrassment were the ones who needed to put on a facade.

As a king, he was the center, and the surrounding world was an extension of his will.

Hastur silently critiqued Covington II. Despite helping to end George III's reign, he couldn't deny that George III had been a good king.

"The new king isn't much older than you and likes to promote young people. This is your chance," Earl Hall whispered to Hastur.

Hastur nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, Earl Hall. I will try to make a good impression on the new king."

Earl Hall said no more, only looking at Covington II surrounded by people.

The ambitious new king aimed to expand his territory and surpass George III. Currently, the campaign against the Feysac Empire was a golden opportunity.

After chatting with the nobles for a while, Covington II's gaze fell on Earl Hall. "Earl Hall, is Miss Audrey not attending tonight?"

Earl Hall's expression turned serious as he replied, "She felt unwell this afternoon and couldn't attend the banquet. She regrets missing it."

"??"

A string of question marks appeared in Hastur's mind. Wasn't tonight's banquet supposed to discuss state affairs? Even noble ladies weren't invited, so why specifically invite Audrey?

Covington II smiled. "Since Miss Audrey is unwell, let me send a palace doctor to check on her. They are quite skilled."

"Thank you for your kindness," Earl Hall bowed slightly.

Covington II's gaze shifted from Earl Hall to Hastur, smiling. "Earl Campbell, my younger brother, who will soon be appointed to Southwell County, will need your care."

"It's my duty and honor," Hastur replied naturally, pondering the second prince's intentions from the previous night.

So he was the one chosen to take over Southwell County.

It seemed the Ruen royal family knew about Drink Augustus's death.

Thus, they reclaimed Southwell County, previously granted to his descendants, and handed it to Prince Leonard.

"Earl Campbell, we should stay close in the future," Leonard Augustus, standing beside Covington II, said with a broad smile.

...

After leaving the banquet, Hastur noticed Earl Hall seemed troubled. When they were about to board their respective carriages, Hastur asked what was bothering him.

Earl Hall remained silent until he boarded his carriage. After a while, he lifted the curtain and beckoned Hastur to join him.

Earl Hall's carriage was spacious, modest in appearance but luxuriously decorated inside.

Hastur sat opposite Earl Hall, waiting quietly for him to speak.

"The new king married years ago, but Prince Leonard still has no marital prospects," Earl Hall said heavily.

"He wants to marry into your family?"

"Hmm," Earl Hall nodded. "I won't force Audrey to do anything she dislikes or interfere too much in her marriage."

Hastur understood Earl Hall's concern. Audrey was the jewel of Backlund, and the Ruen royal family had always wanted her to marry into the royal family.

Unfortunately, none of the royal heirs had impressed Audrey, nor had she grown close to any prince.

When George III was around, it wasn't urgent. But now, with the new king in power, he needed to win over influential nobles, and marriage was a useful tool.

This method had always been popular and trusted in high society.

Covington II's inquiry tonight was a sign of this.

For Earl Hall, it was indeed a troublesome matter.

A direct refusal could easily cause resentment. While Covington II was still consolidating power, he wouldn't act rashly, but in the future, Earl Hall might be sidelined from the political center.

However, this wasn't a big deal for Audrey.

She only needed to delay for a few more years. Once she became a demigod or angel, revealing her true identity, Covington II and the Ruen royal family wouldn't dare entertain such thoughts.

"What's your solution?" Earl Hall asked Hastur, his gaze intense and serious.

"I think the best approach is to delay and let Miss Audrey decide when she's older," Hastur suggested honestly.

"Hmph, do I need you to tell me that?"

Earl Hall's face darkened, and he told Hastur to leave, not wanting his mood worsened.

"..."

Hastur watched Earl Hall's carriage depart. He knew what advice Earl Hall wanted, but it would be disrespectful to Audrey.

Moreover, Covington II wasn't enough to make him and Audrey compromise.

The Ruen royal family might seem powerful, but Audrey, under the Fool's protection, had a status comparable to a god's favored one.

And there was Susie , who had inherited the legacy of a Mind Dragon, with a promising future.

Who knows, Audrey might one day stand on Susie 's mind dragon form and make a grand exit from Backlund, causing a royal uproar.

As for himself, after George III's fall, the Ruen royal family's power was significantly weakened, possibly even less than the Yellow-robed Monks.

So, this wasn't a matter worth worrying about.

"Perhaps I should have been more tactful to ease Earl Hall's mind."

Hastur stopped overthinking and left in his carriage.