Chapter 47: The Banquet (3)

"Truly an entertaining story."

As Damian's story came to an end, the Count Copperhead said with a very satisfied look on his face.

"I'm sorry, but I need to go to the restroom for a moment."

The Count said with a slightly embarrassed expression. It seemed that after drinking so much, he had received a signal.

The Count quickly left the tent, giving Damian a chance to catch his breath.

'I'm tired.'

Damian was not used to entertaining others in this manner.

If it weren't for Abel, he would have stormed out of the place even if his host was a king.

'But is he doing well?'

Damian glanced at Abel.

"I really want to see the Hassen family's wheat fields."

"Y-Yes, if you wish. Then, I can, can, can invite you in the fall…"

"Of course, I would be delighted."

It seemed that Damian's efforts were not in vain, and their relationship had made considerable progress.

'Yes, he's doing well.'

Abel and Lady Olivia had quickly become close, and he had also won the favor of the biggest obstacle, Count Copperhead.

So far, everything was going smoothly.

"When I visit the Hassen family, I should greet Lord and Lady Hassen. What kind of gifts do they like?"

"You don't need to worry about that. Your visit alone will be a joy."

Damian watched the two with a contented look.

* * *

Sophia Russell couldn't take her eyes off Damian Hassen, who was sitting next to Count Copperhead.

'An auger made by Auguste? He didn't give me anything, and he's going to hand over such a precious thing?'

The auger made by Auguste was an incredible item, enough for the Count to sit next to him without hesitation.

But that wasn't the only reason Sophia Russell was annoyed.

'Wasn't there still some lingering affection for me?'

Sophia Russell was convinced that Damian Hassen still had feelings for her.

Now, that certainty was wavering.

'If he keeps this up, it looks like he's here to court Olivia.'

Sophia Russell glared at Olivia Copperhead with a jealous look.

'What's so pretty about her… She is pretty…'

Despite her jealousy, she couldn't deny that Olivia Copperhead was beautiful.

Not only was her face beautiful, but she also had the strong backing of the Copperhead family.

'But my body is better.'

Sophia Russell looked down at her own body.

Compared to her, who exuded a sensual presence, Olivia Copperhead was as plain as a stick.

As Sophia Russell trembled with jealousy, the Count said,

"I'm sorry, but I need to go to the restroom for a moment."

The Count got up and left the banquet hall.

Left alone, Damian Hassen quietly observed Abel Hassen and Olivia Copperhead.

'Why isn't he talking to Olivia Copperhead?'

There seemed to be a distance between them, which didn't fit the idea that he had come to propose to Lady Olivia.

"When I visit the Hassen family, I should greet Lord and Lady Hassen. What kind of gifts do they like?"

"You don't need to worry about that. Your visit alone will be a joy."

While Damian Hassen remained silent, Abel Hassen was getting closer to Lady Olivia.

'Could it be… He's not doing it for himself but to connect his sister with Lady Olivia?'

The more he observed, the more this seemed to be the case.

"Sigh… Is that it? I was worried for nothing."

Sophia Russell let out a sigh of relief. Then she suddenly thought,

'No, don't think such pointless thoughts. I have Jackson.'

Sophia Russell shook her head. At that moment, her eyes met Damian Hassen's.

Damian Hassen was looking directly at her.

'He found me among all these people…?'

Damian Hassen clearly still had lingering feelings for her.

Realizing this, her face flushed instantly.

Sophia Russell tried to avoid Damian Hassen's gaze and fanned herself.

* * *

While Damian was watching Abel and Olivia's conversation, he felt an unpleasant gaze from the crowd.

If Damian were an ordinary low-class knight, he wouldn't have noticed it.

But Damian's senses had long surpassed those of a low-class knight.

'Who is it?'

Damian turned his head to find the source of the gaze.

He saw Sophia Russell glaring at him among the nobles.

'What is she doing?'

Looking at Sophia Russell's face, he gradually felt annoyed.

Damian no longer had any feelings for Sophia Russell.

While he might have pursued her in the past, now he had no affection or hatred left for her.

But thinking about the insults to his family made him furious.

'I'll deal with it later.'

Right now, Abel's romantic endeavors were the priority.

Damian decided to wait for the right moment.

* * *

Jackson Cutter watched Damian Hassen sitting next to Count Copperhead with a dazed expression.

The gift he had offered was long forgotten.

The Count and the other guests were all praising Damian Hassen.

'Damian… Damian Hassen…!'

If it weren't for Damian Hassen, that seat would have been his.

He wouldn't have lost the Count's and the guests' attention.

'After being such a troublemaker… How dare he make me eat dirt like this? I will definitely… definitely repay this humiliation…!'

At that moment, Jackson Cutter made a vow.

He would give Damian Hassen a despair greater than what he had felt.

* * *

Like his student, Jacques Noire was also watching Damian Hassen.

'…To bring an auger made by Auguste.'

Jacques Noire had never intended to offer the vitality concentrate.

He needed as much of it as possible for his great ambition.

He offered the concentrate to the Count to win his favor and help Jackson Cutter.

But Damian's offering was so impressive that it stole all the Count's attention.

'This is troublesome. Very troublesome.'

Jacques Noire had joined the jousting tournament to lay the groundwork for his great ambition.

His ambition was to reach the Master level.

Master.

A realm called the true superhuman.

Achieving it would ensure his name in history.

To reach this level, he needed the knowledge left by Masters and a lot of vitality concentrate.

And to obtain these, he needed a lot of money.

Jacques Noire had committed all sorts of illegal acts to gather this money.

After a major incident, he was forced to flee from the Mandarin Kingdom.

Jacques Noire came to the Apple Kingdom, far from the Mandarin Kingdom, to start anew.

Settling in the Apple Kingdom, he tried to gather the funds in a more moderate way compared to his time in the Mandarin Kingdom.

He had no intention of working for another family.

The meager salary he would earn that way wouldn't allow him to get what he wanted.

So, Jacques Noire chose to marry into a wealthy family.

Taking Jackson Cutter as a student was part of this plan.

With his average looks and adequate talent, Jackson Cutter was a desirable son-in-law for noble families.

Jackson Cutter's relationship with Sophia Russell was also planned by Jacques Noire.

Thanks to this, Jacques Noire received full support from the Russell family.

But even though the Russell family was wealthy, it was still a small family, not enough to satisfy him.

To achieve his ambition, he needed to take over a larger family.

So, he chose the Copperhead family.

His goal was to make Jackson Cutter win the jousting tournament and marry into the Copperhead family.

'But with Damian Hassen, it will be difficult.'

To Jacques Noire, Damian Hassen was superior to Jackson Cutter in every way.

Not only in skill, but also in reputation, looks, and wealth.

'But I can't just give up on the Copperhead family.'

The Copperhead family was a very attractive target for Jacques Noire.

If he could take it over, he would be one step closer to his ambition.

'I need to be more proactive.'

It was a troublesome task, but better than losing the Copperhead family.

'At least it won't be a loss.'

If he could take over the Copperhead family and also obtain the fortuitous items Damian Hassen possessed, it would be a profitable deal.

'Damian Hassen, you should be prepared.'

Jacques Noire's eyes glinted menacingly.

* * *

The banquet finally ended late in the evening.

"Let's end the gathering here. Everyone, go back and prepare for the jousting tournament tomorrow."

The nobles left the banquet hall and headed to their lodgings.

Damian and Abel also moved to their lodgings. As soon as they arrived at the tent, Abel threw himself onto the bed.

"Phew…"

Abel let out a deep sigh, finally feeling relieved.

"Were you that nervous?"

"Of course. It was in front of Lady Olivia."

Abel lifted his head and said.

"So, how was it meeting her?"

"She was really beautiful… and lively… and pleasant."

Abel said, blushing. It seemed he had fallen even deeper for Lady Olivia during their conversation.

"Think about what you'll talk about tomorrow."

"What? What do you mean?"

"Are you not planning to meet Lady Olivia tomorrow?"

"I want to, but… it's the jousting tournament day… and many people will be around Lady Olivia… I don't know if I'll have time to talk to her…"

"Hey, you boring guy. If there's no opportunity, you have to create one."

Damian said with a disapproving tone.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure to create an opportunity for you."

Damian said confidently. Abel looked puzzled.

"You'll see tomorrow."

Abel sat quietly and watched Damian. Damian clicked his tongue.

"Are you upset because I didn't tell you? Do you have to ask…?"

"Brother, thank you."

Damian was taken aback by the sudden words.

"For getting me the gift… and creating this opportunity… I don't know how to repay you."

"Don't be so formal all of a sudden."

"It's just… I feel sorry. I said many bad things about you."

Among the family, Abel Hassen had disliked Damian the most.

Even after seeing the changes after the regression, he would criticize Damian Hassen whenever something went wrong.

In fact, it wasn't Abel's fault. It was all because of Damian Hassen.

Because he was incompetent and disappointing, he repeatedly let his brother down. The accumulated disappointment eventually led to Abel expressing his dissatisfaction.

"…Don't worry about it."

More importantly, the gravity of the wrongs was much heavier on Damian's side.

In his previous life, Damian had killed Abel with his own hands.

The sensation of cutting Abel's neck was still vivid.

"It's natural for a brother to care for his sibling. So, just focus on proposing to Lady Olivia."

"Yes, I will!"

Abel said loudly. Damian smiled faintly.

Seeing Abel's happy face made him feel as if he was being forgiven for his past mistakes.