Chapter 17 - The Banquet (2)

"... Dame Noel."

Stella, seated beside her, spoke as though she could feel a headache coming on.

"I was distinctly told he had no connections to aristocratic society."

"That's my understanding as well."

Noel sounded just as bewildered.

"When I heard you were married to our ever-solemn hero, I expected more of the same. But you're quite an easygoing young man. Come visit my estate sometime. I'll see that you're well entertained."

"I'll look forward to it, my lord. Ah, and perhaps the lieutenant general could join us—"

Before them stood Aiden, wearing a sociable smile as he conversed with several people at once. He chatted effortlessly with the wily nobles and even steered the conversation, looking thoroughly at home in this sort of gathering.

As though this were closer to his actual line of work.

Laughter never ceased around him. Even those who had initially regarded this unknown man with suspicion for employing an important foreign figure as his aide were letting down their guard and growing friendlier the longer they spoke with him.

Of course, she knew he was a con man, a profession that surely required a way with people. But honestly...

'... Wasn't that a lie?'

Noel scratched her cheek at the thought.

She had lost count of the times he had impressed her in combat. And his feats plainly required a level of mastery attainable only through terrifyingly intense training in supernatural powers and combat from childhood.

People like that usually struggled with occasions that required socializing. They simply couldn't have had the experience.

Just like Noel herself.

She had always struggled with gatherings like these. It was a talent she couldn't help envying.

'Aiden really is remarkable...'

She fidgeted with her toes for no particular reason as the thought crossed her mind.

'... It's a good thing I left it to the Central Intelligence Bureau.'

The trouble was, by this point, what he had originally done for a living was more of a mystery than ever.

She sighed inwardly, remembering the personal particulars she had entrusted to the bureau some time ago. Thank goodness she at least had that to go on. Otherwise, she wouldn't have had the faintest idea who he was.

"So, how is married life with the Lionhearted?"

"I consider her far too good for me. I owe her a great deal every day."

... Though she did rather wish he would stop saying things like that at every turn, as if grimly determined to keep his earlier promise not to let anyone put her down.

With a sigh, she drained her champagne in one gulp. She needed to dilute her sobriety a little if she was going to watch him go around saying such mortifying things.

"Would you care for another glass?"

"Ah, yes, ple—"

But the instant she turned toward the voice as she answered, a freezing sensation raced through her veins.

"Are you enjoying the banquet, Dame Noel?"

"..."

"Is this our first time meeting in person since the battle against the Magic Kingdom? You haven't changed a bit."

"..."

Failing to answer someone speaking to her so amiably was a social misstep Noel would ordinarily never make.

But when that someone was this man...

A courteous voice. A respectful manner. Elegance and propriety woven into his every movement.

He radiated an aura of nobility so lofty that one scarcely dared approach him. Yet to Noel, he was the last person in the world she wanted to see.

His very next words were proof enough.

"You've found quite a decent stand-in, haven't you? He'll do well enough to present as your bridegroom, even if it's only a sham."

So casually, his words drove into her like a dagger.

"Did my proposal make you that uncomfortable? I'm a little hurt."

At his teasing words, she barely managed to utter his title. Somehow, even fear had crept into her voice.

"... Your Highness."

The imperial prince.

Her prospective husband smiled.

▣

-System Message

[ 'Skill: Weaver of Fate' is functioning smoothly. ]

[ Rewards will be granted in accordance with the Bonds you establish with others. ]

[ 'Baron Lannister' regards you favorably. ]

[ 'Viscount Klinsmann' regards you favorably. ]

[ 'Lieutenant Colonel Shepherd' regards you... ]

'That's it, that's it, that's it...'

Aiden smiled inwardly at the system windows continually updating to one side. All he was doing was standing around making conversation, and the number of people who liked him kept growing. Like fish swimming straight into a trap he'd set.

This was why first impressions mattered so much. Now that he'd planted the idea that he was someone important, people were taking a liking to him of their own accord, even though he was merely keeping the conversation going.

'Good thing I dressed the part beforehand...!'

He was probably reaping the benefits of Imperial Bloodline and bringing Katya as his aide. It wasn't as though Aiden himself was anyone special. He'd only ever lived an ordinary life.

Adapting his patter to the topic at hand and reading people's moods and feelings to say just the right thing were his own skills, of course. But it was the skill and his choice of companion that had set the stage for him to use them.

Still, one thing caught his attention: the rewards were taking a subtly different form from what he'd received so far.

-System Message

[ These targets have low scenario significance. Very few skills are available to copy. ]

[ Weaver of Fate will be converted into 'Points.' Once enough points have accumulated, the 'Point Shop' will open! ]

... A Point Shop.

He didn't know what this feature did, but he was certain it couldn't be bad.

His reasoning?

'I thought I'd talked to quite a lot of people...'

He'd spoken to at least several dozen people, yet this shop still hadn't opened. He couldn't be sure, but it must have some incredible things in stock.

'Still, isn't it about time I ran into them?'

Neither of his targets had appeared yet. It was about time one of the two showed up.

Fortunately, he didn't seem to need to dwell on that thought. A familiar face was approaching from the side.

"Ah, Sir Aiden."

"Chieftain?"

The Dragon Hunter, Dunadan U`zal. Aiden had heard he was still staying in the Empire for the exchange; apparently, he was attending the banquet as well.

What caught Aiden's attention, however, was the petite woman walking beside Dunadan, keeping pace with him in determined little steps.

"And this is...?"

Despite the question, he already had a fair idea who she was. She was one of the reasons he'd come to this banquet.

"My eldest daughter. Rania A`shan."

At that, the woman lifted her head to look at Aiden. This Rania made a distinctly novel impression on him.

She was beautiful. Yes, beautiful, but...

Thick pink hair. An eyepatch covering one eye. The Tribal Alliance's traditional clothing draped loosely over her. Tattoos running along her collarbone and up her neck. An expression that said the whole world was a nuisance, and a cigarette held cynically between her lips.

And on top of that...

"Hey."

A greeting without a trace of formality, accompanied by a mere flick of her fingers.

"..."

She did not look like a priest in service to a god. Not remotely.

But Aiden wasn't particularly concerned with such things.

"Urgan's priests use honorifics for no one but Urgan himself. In fact, doing otherwise would be a breach of propriety. I hope you'll understand."

"Of course. It's quite all right."

Dunadan's apologetic explanation was something already established in the game. Besides, given Urgan's priestess's standing within the Tribal Alliance, it was hardly strange for her to speak informally to Aiden.

Every deity had a representative to act on their will, and within the Tribal Alliance, that role belonged to the priestess. With a direct phone line to the god she served, she ranked extremely high among supernatural beings, both in combat strength and symbolic significance.

Even the Alliance's high chieftain couldn't treat her lightly. Perhaps she was even more valuable than Chieftain Dunadan standing beside her.

"A pleasure to meet you, Rania."

He offered the greeting, but she gave no answer.

Instead, Rania simply stared at him in silence.

And kept staring.

And staring.

Until even Dunadan, who had introduced her, grew flustered.

At last...

-System Message

▶ Making contact with 'Wheel of Transmigration,' Rania A`shan.

▶ This is a story-critical target. The scenario will change somewhat depending on how you influence this target!

▶ Bond with the target increases to Level 1!

▶ Linking with the skill 'Weaver of Fate'!

... There it was.

Aiden had known that she, of all people, would take an interest in him the moment she saw him. Given Rania's particular qualities, it was only natural.

'... I've taken on the protagonist's burden, not just anyone's.'

Savior’s Vow, which he had recently shouldered, was a prohibition that Urgan's priestess could hardly help finding intriguing.

"You know, you're pretty interesting."

As Rania spoke, the iris of her uncovered eye split. Dozens, hundreds, thousands of colors filled it in an instant. Whirling violently in spirals like a kaleidoscope, those colors remained fixed on Aiden as though peering inside him.

"Can I be honest?"

"Pardon?"

"I'll just be honest."

"..."

As her freewheeling manner left him silent, Rania lit her cigarette and continued.

Honestly, Aiden had intended to take whatever she said in stride. He already had a reaction in mind that he expected from her, after all.

"Something pretty horrible has latched onto you."

... Though that coming out of nowhere was rather unexpected.

Rania tapped a finger beside her eye, which still shone with its intricate colors.

"... I mean the source of your supernatural powers. Even my Divine Eye can't see it. There are only two reasons why an eye borrowed from a deity wouldn't be able to see the source of a supernatural power."

"... Pardon?"

"First, someone who, like me, has a means of communicating directly with a deity. Naturally, I can't detect it if they harbor a similar power. The two cancel each other out. That would be the better case."

As Aiden blinked blankly, Rania took a deep drag on her cigarette and continued.

"You don't serve a god, do you?"

"..."

"You're not a priest, are you?"

"No... I'm not."

"Then it's the second one."

Smiling, Rania patted him on the shoulder. It almost looked encouraging.

"Hang in there."

"Excuse me, what is this all of a sudden...?"

"It's not widely known, but it does exist. Something that can be more dangerous than the gods in the heavens who grant supernatural powers."

She dropped those words without warning.

"That thing has marked you as its own. The power you're using comes from it."

"... Pardon?"

"And now, thanks to the burden you've taken upon yourself, you can't escape it anymore. Poor thing."

Rania lightly stroked his cheek, as though she pitied him. As though offering her sympathy.

"..."

What on earth was this woman talking about? The question came to him unbidden, but there was one thing he could sense.

'... I don't think she's just talking about using supernatural powers.'

It felt more fundamental than that. She seemed to be talking about the source of what made Aiden different: his ability to copy other people's skills at will and wield multiple supernatural powers without restrictions or limitations.

As though saying it came from the influence of something other than a god.

"So, hang in there."

Rania grinned and repeated herself.

"You've got a rough time ahead of you."

"..."

"Let's meet again later, if you're still alive. I'll do what I can to help then."

While Aiden stood listening in a daze, Rania waved and ambled off in the opposite direction. As though that was all she had to say.

"... My daughter is rather unusual."

Dunadan, who had quietly watched the exchange from beside them, gave a wry smile.

"Those who commune with deities tend to behave in unusual ways. Their very way of seeing the world inevitably becomes different from ours."

"... So it would seem."

At Aiden's dazed murmur, Dunadan chuckled and nodded agreeably.

'Well, I got a skill out of it, so I suppose that's good enough for now.'

She'd said some rather ominous things. Still, at any rate, he'd won her favor and could now copy one skill from her.

'A priest of Urgan...'

She possessed a skill he would need very soon. Had things gone poorly, he would have had to work himself to the bone to raise her affection. He should consider himself fortunate that it had gone so easily.

"By the way, where have you left your companions? You keep wandering about alone."

"I sent my aide outside for a little while."

"... Why?"

... Because she'd probably cause trouble if he left her to her own devices.

With so many people approaching him, a few odd ones had inevitably been among them. Given Katya's temperament, it would hardly have been surprising if she used her divinity to knock someone's jaw sideways when they annoyed her.

Better to keep her away for a while than let her cause a major incident.

"I have my reasons."

"... Well, I'm sure you do. What about Dame Noel?"

A slight turn of the head revealed her with someone.

"Ah, she seems to be with the imperial prince. No need to feel guilty about leaving her alone, then."

"That's an odd way of putting it."

"The imperial prince is a treasure of the Empire, isn't he? A brief conversation with him can hardly do the Lionhearted any harm."

"True enough."

Aiden agreed with a chuckle.

Remembering the prince in the game, he certainly was someone worthy of respect. He was the very embodiment of a virtuous sage. Even during Act 1 of the main scenario, Rift in the Capital, he had thought nothing of sacrificing his own life for his people.

Of course, that was one thing. The man's presence was undeniably an opportunity.

He was Aiden's main target at this banquet, after all. This was the perfect chance to squeeze a skill out of him.

"Still, I think I'll go interrupt. She is my wife, after all."

"Mm. Good luck."

After exchanging that nonsense with Dunadan, Aiden rose casually from his seat.

Then, as Noel's expression began to come clearly into view, an odd feeling crept over him.

'Huh?'

Something was wrong with the way she was acting.

Her hands were clenched so tightly that she'd all but cut off their circulation. Her face was deathly pale, and her shoulders were drawn so taut that they trembled faintly.

There was no mistaking what it meant.

Right now, this woman was afraid of the imperial prince—a man who should unquestionably have been good.

As Aiden realized this, the prince's words reached him. The man hadn't yet noticed his presence.

"Or is that too much to ask of a 'butcher'?"

The strangeness only deepened. His tone was still kind, his manner courteous, but Aiden could read it clearly.

An emotion that was slick and sticky, as dark as the mire of a mud field.

This man was displaying unmistakable malice toward Noel.

"—"

As that realization briefly made Aiden go rigid, the prince sensed his presence and turned toward him.

A smile instantly appeared on his face, as though his very personality had changed.

Every trace of the malice he'd shown Noel a moment before had vanished from his expression.

This was the imperial prince Aiden knew.

A good man. A man of flawless character.

"Ah, Dame Noel's bridegroom."

The prince spoke warmly.

"I'm glad you've joined us. There was something I wanted to discuss with you."

... Something was definitely not right.

▣

Curiously, the prince had requested a private conversation with Aiden. Outside the banquet hall was a terrace designed for two people to talk alone, and he had suggested they go there.

Sitting there, away from the noisy hall, Aiden almost felt cut off from the world.

And even here, one man seemed to occupy a world entirely his own. Seated across from him with his eyes quietly closed, the prince radiated an overwhelming presence without doing a thing.

'So this is what it's like.'

This must have been much like what other people saw when they looked at Aiden with [Imperial Bloodline] active.

"..."

Of course, that aside, there had already been several instances where Aiden's knowledge of the original story had proved different from reality.

The biggest was the absence of the protagonist. Nothing else came close. But if asked to name the second biggest, he would unhesitatingly choose the man before him.

'... Was he always like this?'

He studied the man sitting silently across from him. The qualities Aiden remembered were all still there: goodness, unblemished purity, warmth, gentleness.

But even if he didn't want to, he couldn't help feeling that those things had somehow become distorted.

Filling the gaps between those impressions was a chilling rationality.

Rather than the virtuous sage of the original story, he now seemed closer to an iron-fisted ruler who would do anything for his people.

"You are Mr. Aiden Kellermain, correct?"

As Aiden mulled that over, the prince's gentle voice broke the silence.

"... Yes."

Aiden answered after a brief hesitation.

Perhaps he was reading too much into it. But of everyone who had met him so far, this man alone had not addressed him as "Sir."

As though he already knew Aiden was no knight or anything of the sort.

"It certainly is curious."

The prince continued.

"Most people struggle even to meet the eyes of an imperial family member. Apart from exceptions such as His Majesty the Emperor, who deliberately suppresses that bloodline, it is exceedingly rare for someone to remain unaffected in our presence."

"..."

"Especially an 'ordinary' person like you. You are every bit as interesting as the rumors suggest."

... Apparently, Aiden hadn't been reading too much into it at all. This man clearly knew a thing or two about him.

"May I ask what it is you want?"

He had agreed when the prince drew him out of the banquet hall onto the terrace for a private conversation, but he didn't like where the discussion was heading. It felt as though his chest were tightening.

"What I want... Yes. There is something."

"I'm listening, Your Highness."

In response, the prince spoke without so much as blinking.

"Break off your engagement to the Lionhearted."

The words came so casually.

"In return, Aiden, I will grant you anything you desire."

And all with a smile.