Battlefield on the tablecloth (4)

Thanks to the dinner party, Kleio learned that Promise’s functions improved as his narrative intervention also rose. He had even learned that the terrifying crown prince wasn’t all-powerful, and he was able to roughly grasp the public’s opinion of the upper class in the capital. Meanwhile, Behemoth and the twins were focused on defeating the royal meal. The well-trained attendant brought the dishes with a calm expression, even though a cat was eating human food and drinking alcohol.

‘I can’t taste the food properly because I’m focused on this or that.’

With Perception turned on, all the food tasted too salty. The soup was too hot; the caviar was overwhelmingly fishy, so he couldn’t even swallow a spoonful. The lobster with bisque and the flounder sautéed in butter he managed to choke down. Eventually, the dinner was concluded, and the meals were served.

‘What a waste. I want to eat again in a better environment.’

Melchior was at the center of the royal family, with the queen and Aslan to his right, and Arthur to his left. It wasn’t a very good layout. After Melchior finished his short year-end speech, he hung a mistletoe branch on a pole and lit the last candle of the nine-pronged candlestick, as was the ritual. Dressed in royal red robes, Melchior and Arthur looked more alike than ever before, with their golden hair. Although people in Albion were close to Westerners, the number of people with real golden hair was actually very few. Thus, only those two at the royal table even looked like siblings.

‘With those red robes, they are clearly brothers. In fact, the only odd duck is Aslan, but with this atmosphere…’

It was clear he thought that his position had been stolen away by a bastard brother…

‘The likelihood Aslan makes an unwise choice seems high. I’ll have to contact Fran for the new year.’

The queen was cold and expressionless, seldom eating, and after offering a toast for health, she left. Aslan, now alone, had a low-pressure air current forming around his horrifying expression as usual while Arthur pretended not to notice anything. Melchior, of course, proceeded with the dinner skillfully without raising a single eyebrow. He had been clearly doing it his entire life. At the right time, he made jokes, lifted his glass, or went along with old customs.

‘Those clothes are too flashy, but… it suits this prince. It’s like he was born wearing it.’

Although the cut and fabric of the dress worn by the other princes were similar, the crown prince’s was much more colorful. A long cloak with marten fur, layered gold strings on the shoulders and sleeves, and ornaments on the front of gold and precious stones had been added. It wasn’t an outfit that would suit Arthur, and, ultimately, he wouldn’t be the crown prince for a single moment.

Kleio finally turned off Perception. Even the queen had left so that he wouldn’t hear anything more. He wanted to taste the dessert properly.

.

.

.

…Had the crown prince not visited his corner, Kleio’s determination would’ve paid off.

‘This isn’t a wedding reception buffet; why are you wandering about? I’m listening to those high nobles, damn it.’

With the prince’s appearance, everyone, except the cat, had to stand up and show courtesy. Cel glanced sadly at her leftover wine as the cat licked the plate without a mind for the crown prince.

‘I guess the main dish was delicious enough to lick the plate clean. Yes, after all, it all looked so good…’

“It’s been a while, Sir Kleio. Lady Celeste and Lady Isiel, as well.”

“It’s good to see you, crown prince.”

“Please sit down. Are you all waiting for Arthur? What good friends.”

The attendants moved silently to bring the prince a chair and a small cup of an after-dinner drink in front of him.

‘This time too… It’s like a caring older brother taking care of his youngest brother’s companions. He’s consistent in how he acts.’

Whatever the distant future, Arthur was still only eighteen. Arthur stood as if he were guarding his brother’s chair, mouthing words at them.

“Hey! I’m not doing this on purpose, I was only trying to get out, but my brother suddenly followed!”

Isiel pretended she hadn’t seen anything, and Cel actively didn’t notice it. Arthur wanted to see his friends, but not to bring the crown prince along. His hair was scattered as he scratched at his head. Because of that spectacle, Kleio focused only on his dessert, in case he might accidentally laugh.

It was an easy distraction. The cake, scented with simmered apricots and liquor, had meringue and icing in the shape of the Door of Mnemosyne on-top of it. The skill of the royal pâtissier caused exclamations to erupt among the guests. Attendants slowly pulled along a trolley, serving each piece of the cake to the guests. The other trolleys were stacked high with exotic sweets as if to show off Albion’s trade with the continent of Meridis. There were sweets rich with rose scents and dates stuffed with pistachios. All of it was delicious. Kleio worked diligently over his dessert as he thought.

‘Before Melchior saw Fran on the field trip, the reason he used his charm was that his other unique skill wouldn’t work.’

Kleio remained calm as he added a third item to today’s awakening.

‘Because of my Authority, the power it has, it has strict conditions and restrictions. Arthur and Fran’s don’t have such conditions as they’re weaker… If so, wouldn’t Melchior’s unique skill have some too?’

Unlike his charm that could hold multiple people, it seemed that his Structural View could only be applied one-on-one with another person.

‘Like Dr. Xavier, it might not be possible to hold onto any one person or open all heads as desired. When applied to not only me but to Fran, unique skills collide with each other.’

For example, right now, if he looked into Isiel’s head, he could grasp all the information he wanted about Arthur, but the crown prince couldn’t see it at all. Amid those thoughts, Kleio continued to eat. Because he couldn’t eat the main courses, the dessert went down quickly. He even ate the ice cream and brandy wafers at the back of the cake. As Kleio eagerly emptied his plate, Melchior spoke with a fond voice.

“The royal chef Antoine is a pâtissier by trade, so he always focuses on desserts. You seem to enjoy his desserts appropriately, so it was worth sending an invitation.”

“The cake was like a work of art. Thank you for allowing me the honor of attending such an event.”

“I wasn’t trying to hear such words, so let’s enjoy it until the end.”

“I’m so happy you always take care of my heart.”

Arthur intervened nicely between Melchior and Kleio.

“But if you remain here, no one will remember what the dessert tasted like.”

“Haha, you talk like that today.”

“People are anxiously looking at our backs. If we’re not careful, they’ll bore holes in these precious robes.”

“In that case, I will have to leave my seat so that you can greet the new year with all your friends.”

As the atmosphere began to rise, Cel started to bail them out.

“It’s an undeserved honor for us if we can celebrate the new year with the crown prince. Of course, since mistletoe is hanging on the windows, you’re ready to fight for a kiss from the other ladies and me, right?”

“Rather, I will be the one blamed by those in the capital, so I will try to stand up before midnight. Then, I hope you meet a new light.”

“I hope you will also receive a new light.”

“Also, Lord Kleio, take more care of your health.”

“I will keep it in mind.”

Kleio gently wiped his forehead, wondering if it would really end like that. However, Melchior had one more thing to say.

“Be sure to practice a pleasant response. Won’t you be able to listen to my request?”

“…Ah?”

“It must’ve been difficult to prepare for the final exams, as the brilliant lord forgot his work at the king’s library. I don’t think what I wished for was inconsequential.”

Melchior’s voice resounded clearly amidst the conversations and music of the drunken guests. The king’s library, and the price the prince wanted. In fact, they weren’t a big deal, but the words seemed to imply a secret agreement or conspiracy with Melchior’s tone.

‘He just wants to go into the dungeon once, but he makes it sound very ominous.’

In an instant, the table’s atmosphere froze, and Kleio felt the serenity of resignation come over him. It was no accident Melchior had appeared.

‘It’s not like he’s banned from going in.’

The Door of Mnemosyne was under the management of the Capital Defense Force, who were directly affiliated with the royal family. There was no reason to stop the crown prince if he wished to enter the remembered world. Whether or not Pierce Klagen personally advocated Melchior, since the king was in a coma, the highest power in the country was the crown prince. If the crown prince asked a knight to guide him, the only response was obedience.

‘Though other people will think differently.’

Melchior had intent in every action. The attention of all the dinner tables was now on this corner table, but his words of concern about Kleio’s health would now spread like wildfire. Now, tomorrow, everyone would see Kleio as officially one of Melchior’s forces.

‘I can feel Aslan’s ether from all the way over here. Ah, it hurts.’

Among the visitors, those with etheric sensitivity stiffened. It was bad manners for a knight to boost their ether outside of combat.

‘But who can point that out to the second prince?’

To make matters worse, familiar golden letters appeared before him.

[―Users’ narrative involvement has increased.

Cumulative rate: 33.2%]

The degree of narrative intervention had now exceeded 30%. Looking at the clear letters, he realized that Aslan had passed the point of being able to return to normal.

‘Now it’s just a matter of whether we reach the destination or crash. Oh, I know the heart of the pilot who crosses the stormy sea.’

Aslan wasn’t the only issue. Arthur’s deep blue eyes were burning with fire. Kleio wanted to press an escape button, but there was no such thing. He only looked far away as Promise continued to sparkle.

[―User’s narrative involvement has increased.

Cumulative rate: 34.5%]