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A banquet held at Count Sogres’ Castle for a total of three days.

Nobles had been arriving at the Count’s castle one after another since the day before, and even now, nobles who had received invitations from across the empire were still arriving.

For them, this banquet isn’t just an invitation to a ‘party.’

It’s a golden opportunity to gain favor with Count Sogres, who achieved great feats in the war and became one of the strongest men on the continent.

“Oh my, Count Sogres, I can’t believe you’re here like this.”

“Haha, then should the castle owner greet the guests himself, who else would I order?”

“I’m so sorry if you do this.”

The seemingly benevolent Count Sogres naturally had this intention.

The war has ended, and shall we say it was a means to gradually strengthen control over the south and promote the power of the Sogres family?

Of course, the most important reason is to celebrate young Dain’s birthday as loudly as possible.

What kind of child is Dain?

On his first birthday, didn’t he react as if up to four items were vying to be chosen?

That’s why they held a banquet on the same scale as Arabel and Claire’s seventh birthday and invited nobles.

In the meantime, the most special guest among the guests to this banquet also arrived.

“Hahaha! Aken! How long has it been?”

“Duke, how have you been?”

“This lad, what kind of Duke is he? Do what you do…”

“There are many eyes watching. I’ll talk more comfortably later.”

It was Duke Thermion.

A man called a war hero alongside Aken Sogres.

He’s Duke Thermion, the largest family in the Altheon Empire, and a Hexa-level swordsman nicknamed ‘The Black Wave.’

Moreover, he’s the most powerful noble in the Altheon Empire, second only to the emperor in power, and his influence, needless to say, is vast.

Also, it’s a family owning Thermion Forge, known for crafting weapons only for a very small number of recognized individuals not only in the empire but throughout the continent.

And…

“Wow, you look handsome. Is this Dain, the youngest you were so proud of?”

“That’s right. Dain, greet him. This is Duke Thermion.”

This was a man whom Dain, whom he was facing now, could not have met.

“I am Dain Sogres. It’s an honor to meet you, Duke Thermion.”

“Haha, you speak well and clearly!”

Of course, Dain didn’t show it at all.

Even if I took your life in a past life, what matters is your current life. The battlefield was a natural environment to harbor feelings of revenge and rejection.

However, I couldn’t help but feel my blood boil.

Shall we say it’s the instinct of a warrior etched while rolling through the battlefield?

“So, are you learning to use the lance?”

“Yes.”

“What a shame. Your body is perfect for learning swordsmanship.”

“Are you still saying that to everyone you meet?”

“Haha, did I do that? Hm. Now that I see it, instead of a body to learn swordsmanship or lancing… You’ll have to worry about making many women cry later.”

“Isn’t it because they resemble me?”

“What! Seriously, she looks like the countess. Is this the time for you to appear?”

Perhaps it’s because it’s some sort of private meeting.

Duke Thermion continued an informal conversation with a friendly and generous smile.

“Ah, look. This is our youngest daughter, Leyla. Leyla, say hello.”

“Hi, Count Sogres!”

The girl who stepped forward with a lively greeting had dazzling beauty.

“Wow! This is the famous girl Leyla from the rumored capital. Delighted to meet you, Miss Leyla. Haha, as rumored, she’s truly beautiful.”

As Count Sogres said, her pink hair, distinctive features, and pure white skin were a beauty that showed why she was rumored about even in the south.

“Haha, nowadays, I really hate the word beauty. They say if you were born in the Thermion family, you should be judged by your sword.”

Count Sogres nodded, proud of his words.

“Indeed. You’ve trained her well.”

“She resembles her father so much that she can already hold and swing a sword better than her brothers. She’s very smart. She’s the same age as your son, seven years old. You two should greet each other.”

Leyla extended her hand to me.

“Nice to meet you! I’m Leyla Thermion.”

“Nice to meet you too. I’m Dain Sogres.”

Before the cute first greeting of their two sons and daughters, the two people smiled without even thinking about who was first.

“Well, your wife… How is she?”

“There’s still no improvement. I’m exploring every possible way, but…”

Duke Thermion spoke with a dark expression on his face while discussing his sick wife.

“She’ll definitely get better.”

“Okay, if I’m gone. I’ll hastily break the scroll and return to the capital.”

“Don’t worry.”

Count Sogres nodded, remembering how Duke Thermion, known to be a kind husband, had no choice but to come here and leave his sick wife behind.

“The banquet is about to begin. Let’s go in, Duke.”

“Oh, I’ve been blocking the main entrance for too long. Let’s go.”

In this way, Duke Thermion and his group followed Count Sogres’ welcoming party and moved to the main castle. Meanwhile, Leyla looked at Dain.

Could it be because he was the first boy of my age I met after enduring the long journey south? It didn’t seem like that was the only reason.

The banquet began shortly after.

“For the merciful Count Sogres!”

“May Count Sogres and Young Master Dain live a long and prosperous life!”

At the Sogres family banquet, there were no boundaries dividing nobles or fiefs.

Not only the nobles who visited from other territories to celebrate his birthday, but also Count’s family members enjoyed this banquet, eating and drinking alongside the people from the territory.

“Hey, the person sitting there is the famous Duke Thermion of the Altheon Empire!”

“How majestic you are. I need to go serve him a drink!”

“How can his daughter look like a doll? From what I heard, she’s the same age as our youngest master, right?”

“You’re also from Baron Sonnian! I think you also came to Miss Claire’s tenth birthday!”

The Sogres family is one of the most prestigious families in the Altheon Empire.

So the number of visiting nobles was also enormous.

“Here it is! Let’s try the beer made in our district! I made it especially for you!”

“Try some minced lamb! If you dip it in our special sauce, it’s amazing.”

“Oh, Baron Sonnian, who came last time, is here again? Would you like to try our special stew this time?”

Father Aken Sogres, mother Lily Sogres, and other nobles who had come to celebrate the birthday of their youngest son, Dain Sogres, naturally socialized, ate, drank, and enjoyed themselves.

“Oh, oh! Countess. You have really quick hands. It was ten glasses and took less than three seconds.”

“Hoho. Is that so?”

Count Sogres and Duke Thermion, who had become friends during the war, also engaged in friendly conversation.

“Alright, how is it raising a son? Isn’t it a bit different from your daughters?”

“Oh, I wonder if I did something because he grew up so well, let alone because he was talented. I think it’s because he learned by watching his older sisters.”

“Haha. I see. He’s been showing talent since he was 1 year old. Does this mean he’s grown up already?”

“I’d like to act foolish and say so, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

“By the way, your daughters couldn’t attend the academy because of the incident.”

He was hinting at the engagement of his eldest son, Owen Thermion, with Arabel Sogres.

“It must be very disappointing.”

“Well, that’s correct. What can you do? Haha.”

“Anyway, where did the birthday person go? He’s a smart kid, so I wanted to exchange a few words with him.”

However, it was not possible to see where Dain Sogres, the main character of this birthday, had actually gone.

The same goes for Leyla Thermion, the youngest daughter of Duke Thermion.

As if it were obvious, Aken took a sip of the drink that Duke Thermion had served him and then replied.

“He’s still seven years old, so wouldn’t he be playing outside?”

***

I hadn’t quite gotten used to banquets yet.

I don’t know if it’s because I remember my past life or because I’m still young, but what I’m sure of is that it’s a far cry from my memories of war.

So, I found a suitable opportunity and escaped.

Of course, I told my mother in advance.

“The main event is in two hours… It should be relaxing.”

I murmured as I walked through the garden.

There’s still plenty of time until the birthday gift-giving ceremony, which can be considered the highlight of the banquet.

“It would’ve been nice if my sisters had come.”

Naturally, my sisters who entered the academy before me sent a letter saying they couldn’t attend my birthday this year because midterm exams were just around the corner.

It’s regrettable, but what can you do?

It’s quite far from the capital where the academy is located down south, and it won’t be easy for the two of them to make it here.

I was walking through the garden near the banquet hall, pondering this and that.

Wow, wow!

The sound of a weapon cutting through the air could be heard.

Strange.

The training ground must be quite far away. Are the guards training?

That’s not it either.

It was my father who ordered everyone to participate in the banquet, leaving only the minimum security personnel, saying that everyone should participate in such a big event without exception.

Even the staff rotate in shifts and maintain a minimum number.

Soon I could find the source of the sound.

“Ha!”

A little boy was practicing his swordsmanship in a rather large space near the garden fountain.

The reason it wasn’t described as swinging was that the boy was full of seriousness and his stance with the sword was also quite well-established.

“Why not…?”

It seems there are also some serious concerns. I silently observed the figure near the fountain.

The stabbing and slashing movements are quite impressive.

And somehow, the situation feels familiar to me.

“Ah.”

I realized immediately.

This girl is Leyla Thermion, brought by Duke Thermion, one of the nobles who visited our family to attend the previous banquet.

But now, the sword Leyla Thermion held emitted the scent of the duke’s swordsmanship.

I am well acquainted with that sword technique.

Meanwhile, Leyla, who had been diligently working with her hair tightly tied in the wind, suddenly sighed.

“Why not? If I create a magical core like my father’s… Is this type of movement possible?”

Leyla probably doesn’t like her swordsmanship. It’s difficult to tell this to a child, but I think the same.

Things that were going well tend to get disrupted.

I seemed to understand the reason.

Wow, wow!

It was a time when I really appreciated sword handling.

“Who’s there!”

When I deliberately signaled my presence, she startled and aimed her sword at me.

I responded by raising both hands to confirm that I had no offense or ill intentions.

“I didn’t mean to interfere with your training.”

“You’ve interfered from the moment you appeared.”

The boy looked at me and tilted his head.

“But you… It’s amazing?”

“Huh?”

“Because you look more handsome at night.”

I was left speechless by the unexpected response.