Chapter 45: The Banquet (1)

Evening time.

Sophia Russell attended the banquet with Jackson Cutter.

The Copperhead family had set up a large tent to serve as the banquet hall.

Although the temporary hall was not lavish, it was not lacking in anything.

On one side, a band was playing instruments, and the servants were busily transporting freshly made food.

"Jackson, ah~"

Sophia Russell offered a canapé that a servant had just brought.

Jackson Cutter took the food from Sophia Russell and ate it.

"Mmm, delicious. Sophia, it tastes even better when you feed me."

"Thinking that I would be pleased by such words is a big misunderstanding."

The two burst into laughter. The passing nobles made faces as if they were getting goosebumps.

"Haah..."

Jackson Cutter sighed deeply while eating the food Sophia Russell had offered.

Sophia Russell asked with a puzzled look.

"Jackson, why are you suddenly like this?"

"Sophia... look. Don't you feel anything?"

Jackson Cutter glanced at the nobles in the banquet hall. Sophia Russell tilted her head.

"No one recognizes me."

Jackson Cutter said weakly. Only then did Sophia Russell understand what her lover meant.

"Last time, the villagers were one thing, but since all the nobles are gathered here, I thought at least one person would recognize me..."

"Jackson, don't worry about it. They're busy greeting each other. Someone will recognize you soon."

Sophia Russell said, hugging Jackson Cutter.

"Is that so?"

Her words brightened Jackson Cutter's face slightly. Sophia Russell nodded.

'...If it were Damian Hassen, everyone would have recognized him, right?'

Suddenly, Sophia Russell thought of Damian Hassen.

As proven during the day, no one was unfamiliar with Damian Hassen's face.

His portrait had spread widely along with the rumors.

'If it were Damian Hassen... people would be swarming to talk to him.'

Sophia Russell imagined herself standing next to such a Damian Hassen.

Just thinking about it made her feel happy.

"Sophia? Why are you suddenly laughing?"

Jackson Cutter asked with a puzzled voice. Only then did Sophia Russell return to reality.

"Ah, it's nothing."

Just as Sophia was hurriedly answering, the murmurs from the entrance of the banquet hall grew louder.

"Is that person Damian Hassen?"

"Who is the young man next to him?"

"Their faces are strangely similar... Could he be his brother?"

At the mention of Damian Hassen's name, the two turned their heads toward the entrance.

Nobles were already gathering at the entrance.

"Oh, he's better-looking than I thought."

"That's what I was going to say. I heard he had a very fierce and irritable face. This is different from the rumors."

"Not only Damian Hassen, but his brother is also a handsome man."

Sophia Russell felt her heart race.

Damian Hassen, whom she had seen during the day, was so handsome that he had momentarily captivated her heart.

If he looked this good normally, how would he look properly dressed?

Curiosity and anticipation welled up simultaneously.

'No, I shouldn't. I have Jackson.'

Sophia shook her head. But her heart couldn't help but be drawn to the entrance.

'Wait... Could it be that Damian Hassen actually wants me to come?'

Sophia Russell, conflicted, began to rationalize in a strange direction.

'Right. He must have tried to provoke my jealousy by pretending not to know me. He must have dressed up for me, expecting me to see him.'

Sophia Russell nodded.

'Should I go see him out of respect for his effort?'

But she couldn't just go. Jackson Cutter was right next to her.

"Damn... Damian Hassen..."

Jackson Cutter glared at the entrance, grinding his teeth.

"Sophia, are you just going to stand by and do nothing?"

Jackson Cutter looked at Sophia Russell as if she were speaking nonsense.

"You told me that you would definitely knock Damian Hassen off his horse in the jousting match. Instead of just standing here, we should get closer and observe him."

Sophia Russell's words made Jackson Cutter's eyebrows twitch.

"Are you telling me to observe Damian Hassen now?"

"A lion doesn't relax even when catching a rabbit. To achieve a perfect victory against Damian Hassen, wouldn't your reputation rise even higher?"

Convinced, Jackson Cutter's eyes changed.

"...You're right. Instead of just standing here, I should go and observe Damian Hassen closely. For a perfect victory."

Sophia Russell cheered inwardly. Fortunately, things went as she had hoped.

The two headed toward the entrance.

"I'll clear the way."

Jackson Cutter pushed through the nobles, making a path. Thanks to this, Sophia Russell could easily reach the front.

The moment she saw Damian Hassen, she was speechless.

His neatly combed hair and the black tuxedo that hugged his body.

Sophia Russell's face turned red instantly.

'...Is Damian Hassen really this handsome?'

Thinking about it, Damian Hassen was a man who belonged to the category of handsome men.

It was just that his messy behavior and irregular lifestyle had overshadowed his good looks.

But now, Damian Hassen was different from before.

His well-trained knight's physique enhanced his appearance even more.

'...Damian.'

Sophia Russell said with a moved expression.

'He must have put in so much effort to show me this.'

If Damian Hassen had heard this, he would have sworn.

* * *

The moment Damian Hassen entered the banquet hall, he felt only one emotion.

'Troublesome.'

The nobles in the hall were gathering around Damian Hassen.

Their faces radiated a burning desire to talk to him.

But not a single noble approached him.

Damian Hassen was intentionally emitting an intimidating aura.

This prevented the nobles from approaching rashly.

"Brother, look. It's a dessert made from Ucle berries! I heard they are hard to find because they are difficult to cultivate in the Apple Kingdom."

Unlike Damian, Abel was enjoying the food at the banquet.

Damian smiled wryly as he watched Abel.

"You're also a handsome man."

"Even more handsome than Sir Damian Hassen, if we only consider looks."

"But I still like Sir Damian. Look at those biceps!"

Abel was also a subject of interest, especially among the female nobles.

Damian increased his aura a bit more, worried that the female nobles might approach.

At that moment,

The soldiers guarding the entrance stabbed the ground with their spears.

The rough sound drew everyone's attention.

"His Excellency, the Duke of Copperhead, is entering!"

The soldiers shouted. The band's music stopped.

The soldiers pulled the cloth covering the entrance to the sides. An elderly man entered through the gap.

The man had a thin mustache like a goat's, thin eyebrows, and sunken eyes.

It was the Duke of Copperhead.

Next to the Duke of Copperhead, a young woman was walking.

Everyone in the hall was captivated by the woman's beauty. They looked as if they were under a spell.

She was Olivia Copperhead, the eldest daughter.

The Duke of Copperhead and Lady Olivia walked across the center of the hall.

Without any command, people scattered to make a path.

The Duke of Copperhead sat in the seat of honor at the center of the hall. Lady Olivia sat next to him.

"Seems like I've ruined the mood. Now, don't mind me and enjoy the banquet."

With those words, the band started playing again. The conversations of the nobles resumed.

"Your Excellency, it is an honor to meet you. I am Frenz of the Nation Baron family."

Suddenly, one of the nobles stepped forward, kneeling before the Duke of Copperhead.

"The Nation Baron family! I know. Isn't it famous for its delicious apples?"

"Thank you for recognizing us."

The noble bowed even lower.

"I have prepared a gift to celebrate Lady Olivia's birthday. I would consider it an honor if you would accept it."

Frenz Nation offered a small box decorated with jewels.

"It's a cosmetic made by the Mitsu School of Alchemists. I heard it's made using elemental powder."

At Frenz Nation's explanation, the female nobles began to murmur.

"The Mitsu School is the most famous school for making cosmetics, right?"

"Didn't he say elemental powder? It's a product that can give your skin a healthy glow just by applying it?"

"I heard that a fingernail-sized amount is worth a piece of gold... How expensive must this cosmetic be?"

It was a product that any woman would covet.

However, Olivia Copperhead showed no particular interest.

The Duke of Copperhead was also indifferent.

With the Copperhead family's wealth, they could easily obtain such items.

"Thank you for your efforts. I appreciate it."

Frenz Nation returned, dejected by the Duke's reaction.

As soon as he returned, another noble stepped forward.

"I greet Your Excellency! I am Charlie of the Zion Viscount family! I wish to present this necklace to Lady Olivia!"

Charlie Zion lifted a glass tube.

Inside the tube was a necklace adorned with colorful gems.

The faces of those who saw the gems' light were filled with surprise.

"Isn't that a rainbow stone?"

"It's a rare gem that can only be obtained by capturing a hundred golems from rocky areas."

The rainbow stone didn't have any special effects.

But it was extremely rare and beautiful, making it the most popular gemstone at the moment.

"Bringing such a precious item."

It was an expensive gift that even the Duke of Copperhead found satisfactory.

"Olivia, what do you think? Isn't it beautiful?"

However, Olivia Copperhead showed no particular reaction this time either.

She just looked at the necklace with an indifferent gaze.

"Make sure to accept the gift properly."

"Yes! Thank you!"

Charlie Zion bowed and returned.

Many more nobles presented gifts afterward.

But Olivia Copperhead showed no interest in any of them.

'This woman is picky.'

Damian thought as he opened a subspace and took out a bow.

"Hey, catch it."

He threw the bow to Abel. Abel looked at Damian in surprise.

"Why are you surprised? Since we brought a gift, we should give one too, right?"

"Sir, are you really going to give me this bow?"

"Hey, this is from a marquis. It's incredibly valuable."

Abel looked uncertain.

That was because the bow Damian had taken out was quite unimpressive.

The bow looked like it was roughly carved with a dagger and was dark and dull.

Compared to the gifts other nobles were presenting, it was extremely modest.

"Ah, did I not explain this bow to you?"

"I only said it was from the marquis."

"Is that so? Then let's go out. You'll understand once we're outside."

Damian walked toward the Duke. Abel had no choice but to follow his brother.