Chapter 16 - The Banquet

Aiden had never known that Bond types could change in Weaver of Fate, but something else shocked him even more.

- Additional skills are now available to copy!

That was the line to focus on. He had examined Katya’s skill list several times before, but looking at it again after that announcement, he could hardly believe his eyes.

‘... Well, would you look at that.’

The thought escaped him unbidden as he scrolled down the list. He had only taken a look to see what these supposedly additional skills were.

‘... Every class is here?’

In the game, each major character developed along different routes, taking different paths accordingly. In other words, despite their current, staggering combat prowess, Noel and Katya were still only at their starting points. As the main scenario progressed, their chosen fields determined their respective “specializations.”

Noel, for instance, could specialize in swordsmanship or physical enhancement, or learn magic as well and specialize as a spellsword.

Yet the skills now added to the list covered every one of those specializations.

‘Normally, once you pick a specialization, you can’t learn the others...’

Even Aiden’s Weaver of Fate could only copy skills the target actually possessed. Yet changing their Bond alone seemed to have expanded his pool of available skills enormously.

It was almost as though he could copy these people’s entire futures—

“Your Highness, as I was saying.”

“I’m not going back.”

“...”

“More importantly, give me the aide position.”

Before he could pursue that thought, a curt voice sounded right in front of him. As if her astonishing declaration that she would not return to the Holy Kingdom weren’t enough, Katya followed it with a demand that had Noel ready to clutch her neck.

Having learned that the position of “aide,” who would accompany him to every official function, was vacant, Katya had become utterly relentless. The result was a rather awkward standoff—if it could even be called that. Really, Noel was desperately trying to reason with Katya, who let everything go in one ear and out the other.

“The very idea of a royal behaving this way in another country is absurd, Your Highness. In terms of precedent, culture, administration—”

“Aide.”

“As I keep telling you, this would not merely put the Empire in a difficult position. It would also place Her Holiness the Pontiff back in the Holy Kingdom—”

“Aide.”

“...”

“Aide.”

“... Restrain yourself.”

That last remark came from Aiden, who had noticed Noel’s hand creeping toward her scabbard. There was enough genuine intent in the movement to make him think she really might cut Katya down, since the woman couldn’t die anyway...

‘... Still, this is better than them fighting to the death a little while ago.’

Compared with the atmosphere then, this was almost endearing. Thank goodness Noel was so good-natured. She could deal with someone who had pulled that insane stunt without holding much of a grudge.

“The whole situation is a little strange to begin with, you know?”

Whether or not she noticed Noel’s mood, Katya laced her hands behind her head and spoke languidly.

“You two are about to start attending all sorts of official functions as a married couple. How were you planning to manage that schedule without an aide?”

“...”

She had a point. Come to think of it, hadn’t Noel promised to find him an aide, only to put it off because she wanted someone exceptional?

“It’s strange. Servants are one of the best ways to show your standing. At your rank, not having one will actually earn you dirty looks.”

“Is it really that serious?”

“... It’s common knowledge in high society. Lionhearted, just how are you treating your husband?”

Good heavens. Hearing this woman casually invoke common knowledge was bizarre enough. Seeing Noel clear her throat in embarrassment at the rebuke was stranger still.

“Until we begin attending official functions, I can help with his protection and other minor matters. I simply haven’t found anyone who meets my standards yet.”

“Well, whatever the circumstances, people aren’t going to look kindly on you deliberately going without one.”

Katya tapped her cheek and continued.

“As I said, sending him off to those events all alone and unaccompanied hurts both your reputations. Surely you know that?”

Apparently unable to dispute that, Noel pursed her lips and fell silent.

“... Then I simply need to avoid taking Aiden to those events whenever possible.”

“What do you think people will say if you won’t even bring your husband-to-be into society? Rumors about your marriage will run wild.”

“That is for me to deal with. Neither Aiden nor I want him drawn into anything serious unnecessarily.”

... Hold on.

Aiden stared at Noel in near disbelief as she stubbornly continued.

“I don’t want to put that much of a burden on you.”

It struck him again just how inflexible this woman could be. Sometimes he wondered how she managed. Yet at his words, her eyes rounded as though she had heard something utterly unexpected.

“What? But...”

“We can just attend those things together. Wasn’t the whole point of marrying me to spare you trouble on occasions like that?”

“... Well, yes, but...”

“Then make use of me. I ought to do my share, shouldn’t I?”

Their arrangement might have begun as something close to an abduction, but he could feel how sincerely she tried to help him every time. Whether it was money or creature comforts, she always seemed to do her very best for him, well beyond their contractual terms.

Giving something back could hardly be that difficult. Besides, she had told him she had “hired” him because leaving the official position of husband vacant would create all sorts of problems.

“... Um.”

At his words, however, Noel hesitated, her lips shifting uncertainly. She seemed to spend a long time searching for a response.

“Thank...you.”

“...”

She reacted as though kindness directed at her was itself unfamiliar, leaving Aiden speechless. This wasn’t even kindness; it was only what he ought to do. That even this made her uncomfortable was unbelievable.

‘What on earth made her turn out like this?’

How could someone with her abilities and position have such low self-esteem? It was a wonder. He sighed inwardly and continued.

“Then, if you don’t like the princess serving as my aide, couldn’t we just assign someone as a servant for now and go?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“That is out of the question.”

Both women dismissed the suggestion as unworthy of consideration.

“An aide is someone who remains in close proximity to you almost constantly. There is no such thing as vetting them too thoroughly. There is a reason I haven’t hired anyone yet.”

“You do know the easiest professions for assassinating dignitaries are cooks, tailors, and secretaries or aides?”

“...”

This might be the first time he had seen the two agree on anything. Their simultaneous dismissal gave him some idea of just how dangerous it was.

“... So I can’t just pick anyone at random to be my aide.”

“That’s why I’m offering. What’s there to think about?”

At Katya’s words, Noel shot her another sharp look.

“Aren’t you taking this rather lightly?”

“The regular imperial palace banquet is coming up soon, anyway. You might skip other events, but you have to attend that one, don’t you?”

“Even so, Your Highness becoming Aiden’s aide is an entirely separate matter—”

“... Actually.”

Aiden cut Noel off midsentence. He stroked his chin, deep in thought, as though running calculations in his head.

“That might not be nearly as bad an idea as it sounds.”

“...”

Noel stared at him as though he had struck her across the back of the head.

“What on earth do you—”

“If her being royalty is the problem, we can just lie.”

“Pardon?”

“All that matters is not getting caught, isn’t it? There are ways around that. At the very least, couldn’t we cover her face?”

“Oh, now you’re talking.”

In stark contrast to Katya’s cheerful grin, Noel pressed a hand to her forehead and struggled to speak.

“... Aiden, your attitude seems rather different from before.”

“No, it’s just that we need to leave a ‘good impression’ on people.”

“... Pardon?”

“It’s our first event together. Shouldn’t we do it properly?”

“...”

Noel stared at Aiden, wide-eyed. She clearly hadn’t expected to hear those words from him, of all people. Here was a man who had done everything in his power to avoid trouble, actively welcoming someone who was trouble incarnate.

But Aiden couldn’t afford to ignore what had just been said. Other official events were one thing, but the occasion Katya had mentioned was another matter.

‘The regular imperial palace banquet...’

The game merely noted that such an event existed and moved on, but digging into the details made it considerably more important. It regularly attracted not only members of the imperial family and powerful nobles, but influential figures from other countries as well.

In short, people central to the main scenario were very likely to turn up there.

Which meant...

-Skill Info

◈ Weaver of Fate

Only you know the truth of this world. Earn new rewards by building Bonds with important characters in the main story!

...he would soon have an excellent opportunity to use this.

Now that he needed to take an active role in the main scenario, gathering useful abilities as quickly as possible mattered even more than before. He already knew whom to target first, too.

‘The priestess. And the imperial prince.’

Urgan’s priestess, who should have arrived from the Tribal Alliance. And the Empire’s legitimate heir to the throne. ... Who was also the suitor pestering Dame Noel. The reason Aiden had ended up here.

Both were major figures with an enormous influence on the main scenario.

“... Aiden.”

Noel spoke again, looking as though her head was throbbing.

“I have faith in your abilities, and I am happy that you’re thinking of me. But aristocratic society is a battlefield in more ways than one. They will seize on the slightest fault. Would you reconsider?”

“What sort of faults do you mean?”

“Etiquette, customs...even the slightest hint or gesture can give them grounds to belittle you. It’s practically a tradition. Anyone who has never been to such a place before is unlikely to enjoy the experience.”

“...”

Aiden tilted his head slightly at the way she practically spat the words. It was rare for her to express such an immediately negative opinion of anything. How should he put this?

“Forgive me if this is rude, but have you had a bad experience?”

“... I cannot say I have any pleasant memories.”

Her stiff reply drew a wry smile from him.

Given her personality, he could readily imagine her having nothing to do with backroom schemes, delicate interpersonal maneuvering, politics, and the like. And if that was the case...

“Then let me give you something to hold your head high about.”

“... Pardon?”

“I’ll make sure no one can look down on you.”

It was his turn to help her for once.

‘I need to stay on good terms with her anyway...’

... He didn’t want to think of people as skill vending machines, but his relationship with her would nonetheless be a crucial pillar of his survival. From that perspective, helping her was hardly a bad investment.

And on that note—etiquette? Customs? Reading the room?

A contest of brute force was one thing, but anywhere those things served as weapons was practically his home turf. How had he earned his living in the first place?

‘Besides...’

He knew an ability that would give those talents wings.

-Skill Info

◈ Weaver of Fate

.

.

.

『 Lionel XIII 』

- Bond: Level 1

- You may copy 1 skill.

The skill-copy opportunity he had earned from the Emperor earlier. It was time to use it.

[ Copying ‘Special Skill: Imperial Bloodline.’ ]

▣

In the perpetually restless world of high society, stories about all manner of people circulated like tangled threads. That was doubly true at an event as grand as an imperial banquet, drawing guests from across the Empire.

Some noble young lady had rejected someone; some great lord was having an affair...

Such gatherings were hubs of gossip, scattering rumors in every direction. Tonight, however, one particular topic had set the banquet abuzz.

“I hear His Highness the imperial prince is attending tonight?”

“How fortunate we are to see that noble face once more!”

High society admired many types of men, but none could be called as perfect in every respect as the imperial prince. Status, ability, looks—he had them all. He was still very young, and his position within the imperial family was exceptionally secure.

It was hardly surprising that his mere attendance caused a stir. Simply mentioning his name brought bright smiles and cheerful murmurs among the young noblewomen.

“Oh, there is one other interesting development.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“I hear the ‘Lionhearted’ is attending with her spouse tonight.”

“... Oh, is she?”

A distinctly different mood settled over the table.

“The Lionhearted...an extraordinary knight.”

“Indeed.”

Despite their words, their faces bore smirks and faint displeasure.

She was an extraordinary person. To have achieved such standing at her age through her own strength was impressive by any measure.

But...

“... So there really is a bridegroom. I heard she was married, but I assumed it was an unfounded rumor.”

“I wondered who could possibly like such a violent woman. Fortunately, there seem to be men with unusual tastes.”

The young noblewomen, with little interest in complex political affairs, held scant respect for the Lionhearted, the knight who represented their nation. Her exploits in a war that had dragged the entire continent through the mud meant little to them.

Despite her considerable standing, she had firmly established a reputation in society as “arrogant,” thanks to her stuffy, inflexible manner and refusal to truly open up to anyone. Noel would have said she was merely staying neutral to avoid being drawn into any faction, but they had no interest in her reasons.

And above all...

“Shall we see just how wonderful this husband of hers is? Who does she think she is, turning down His Highness’s proposals so many—”

The young lady who had inadvertently voiced her true feelings fell silent under the glares of those around her. Everyone present knew that saying such things outright would attract far too much attention.

Still, no one actually disagreed. They all seemed to share the sentiment. How dare she repeatedly reject a prince so far beyond their own reach? The thought rankled.

“Dame Noel Astria Seamus of Capital Command!”

Speak of the devil. The woman herself had arrived.

The young ladies covered their mouths with their fans and cast haughty looks toward the entrance. The first person to catch their eye was the Lionhearted, striding into the hall with an expressionless face.

“... A uniform again?”

“How dreary. We’ve always known she has no taste in clothes, but she could at least pretend to make an effort.”

She wouldn’t even observe the basic dress code. Arrogant indeed. Sharing that assessment, the young ladies shifted their gazes to her side.

And there was the bridegroom, entering cozily arm in arm with the Lionhearted.

“...”

“...”

“...”

The young ladies who had been disparaging the Lionhearted so contemptuously all fell silent.

For a moment, they were probably all thinking much the same thing.

... No wonder she had high standards.

If marrying a man like that had been an option all along, his outward appearance alone would justify that assessment.

He wasn’t a chiseled beauty, nor a wealthy magnate draped head to toe in obvious luxury. Such things would hardly elicit this response; society was full of men like that.

On the contrary, the man beside the Lionhearted would ordinarily have fallen well short of their company. He was more likely to have been mocked as some bumpkin who had wandered into the wrong place.

And yet...

He possessed the same aura as the imperial prince they had just been discussing. The same dignity one sensed only in members of the imperial family.

At a glance, everything about his bearing declared that he was no ordinary man.

“H-he makes a reasonably good first impression.”

“A-ahem.”

When someone cleared her throat and offered that remark, the others reluctantly huffed their agreement. But their appraisal was far from over.

An outward air of dignity alone did not make a husband distinguished. Without real ability or pedigree, he was merely an attractive facade.

As each entertained that thought, a guard stopped the arriving party at the entrance.

“May I ask the identity of the person beside you...?”

The Lionhearted’s escort was Dame Stella, well known as her aide. But no one knew the person beside them, encased in full plate armor with a visor concealing their face. That must have been the reason for the guard’s intervention.

“Aide.”

At that single word from the Lionhearted’s spouse, the armored figure produced proof of identity that no one could dispute.

Colorless flames. Small, but unmistakably a supernatural power.

Only two kinds of people wielded divinity: royals, and the paladins bound to them by vows. Surely this could not be royalty, which meant the figure standing there was a paladin.

The moment that conclusion settled, the hall grew markedly quieter. It was not merely the young ladies at the nearby table; everyone who had been watching closely must have been shocked.

“... D-divinity...”

“He has a paladin from the Holy Kingdom as his aide...?”

Paladins were personnel of the utmost importance, assigned to guard the Holy Kingdom’s royalty. They were its most powerful fighting force.

Having one as an “aide” clearly proved that this man received treatment at least comparable to a member of the Holy Kingdom’s royal family. It was an extraordinary luxury that even most great nobles could not enjoy.

“...”

“...”

Someone swallowed audibly. That display alone had probably made one thing unmistakably clear to everyone.

The man standing there might well be the most important person in the entire hall.

▣

-Skill Info

◆ Unique Ability: Imperial Bloodline

Born of noble blood, members of the imperial family possess an innate charisma that captivates crowds. When seen by many people, your ‘Charm’ increases dramatically.

You also automatically resist certain forms of mental interference. While this effect is active, certain ‘actions’ occur automatically.

... Just as he’d thought. Copying this had been the right choice.

Aiden looked at the window before him.

-System Message

[ Most people at this location are paying attention to you. ]

[ Many feel favorably toward you. ]

[ Conditions are ideal for using ‘Weaver of Fate’! ]

... That was more like it.

Aiden whistled inwardly at the messages. Going to all this trouble with his preparations had definitely been worth it. Using Katya to leave a strong impression seemed to have worked, too.

‘All that’s left...’

Was to squeeze as many skills as possible out of the important figures in this hall.

As he walked ahead with that thought, a whistle sounded behind him.

FWEE!

Katya’s chuckling echoed inside her full plate armor.

“He said he’d give you something to hold your head high about, and look at him. He’s completely in his element.”

The words were whispered toward Noel. Perhaps some resentment over their recent fight lingered, because her voice positively brimmed with the desire to tease.

“...”

Beside her, Noel silently pulled her hat low. Clearly, she had no intention of letting anyone see her expression. The heat rising in her ears made it easy enough to guess.

“Word will spread that you’ve landed quite the husband. No one in society will ever look down on you again, Lionhearted.”

“... Be quiet.”