Chapter 28: A Grand Banquet and Hidden Agendas

The banquet hall in the central main building was truly something out of a film, a spectacle rarely seen in reality. Even though it was said to gather only the influential figures within the family, three colossal banquet tables were in use, with the middle one reserved for direct family members and personally invited guests.

Under the strict guidance of a meticulous butler, guests were shown to their seats. Each table was flawlessly set with classic cutlery, a picture of timeless elegance.

“Family dinners weren’t usually this grand,” Scott whispered to Ethan, a hint of unease in his voice.

Ethan, meanwhile, felt a continuous surge of awe, struggling to grasp the reality of his surroundings, as if he had stepped into a movie.

“This is truly magnificent. It feels like a clever blend of medieval and modern design.”

The chandeliers, while classical in appearance, boasted tiny lighting devices embedded within each crystal, enhancing their luminosity when combined with the central lighting. The illumination, adjustable in both color and brightness, seemed to shift according to the banquet’s theme and the dishes served.

The banquet tables themselves were crafted from elegant solid wood, yet the chairs offered the modern convenience of adjustable height, catering to each user. Furthermore, busy food trays were carried by mini-carrier bots, diligently trailing behind the servants.

“Welcome.”

The Count lightly embraced Enoch, while the Countess greeted Scott and Ethan.

“It’s been a long time, Scott. And it’s a pleasure to meet you, we haven’t been introduced, have we?”

Both the Cloud Count and Countess were dressed as if they had stepped right out of a masterpiece painting. While not adorned in voluminous gowns, their attire was so perfectly suited it felt picturesque.

It was easy to see why Enoch’s beauty was so singularly striking.

“Thank you for the invitation. I am Ethan Prescott, from the same village as Scott.”

Ethan’s polite yet confident reply brought a flicker of surprise to the otherwise formal expressions of the Count and Countess. As light wines and bite-sized scallop appetizers were served, and casual pleasantries exchanged, Ethan found himself staring at the empty seats across from him.

In truth, everyone present seemed aware of those two vacant places, yet no one dared to mention them.

“Has my elder brother not arrived?”

Finally, Enoch broke the silence.

“…He went to attend to His Highness. It seems he will only join us at the banquet.”

At the Countess’s reply, the murmuring seemed to vanish instantly, creating an illusion of sudden quiet. Enoch’s lips twisted into a subtle sneer.

“As far as I know, he has never once attended a family gathering of the Cloud County. What could have prompted this change?”

“Enoch. He wasn’t in a position to do so before, was he?”

“I’m truly curious as to what ‘before’ refers to.”

“…That’s enough.”

Just as Enoch’s taunts threatened to continue, the Count cut him off.

Taking advantage of everyone’s attention being diverted, Ethan discreetly took the foie gras Scott had pushed towards him with a look of disgust and subtly dropped it.

A pale, small hand reached out from under the table, swiftly snatching it away.

“I heard Scott had a beautiful friend, but I didn’t realize they were this stunning.”

Ethan, having successfully presented the premium liver dish to the shadowy presence, paused for a moment.

“…Thank you.”

He shot a quick glance at Scott, who grinned back at him.

“What else do I have to brag about? I just bragged about my friend.”

Suppressing a sigh that threatened to escape, Ethan placed his own portion of foie gras onto a piece of bread and began to chew. The soft bread and the rich, savory flavor of the foie gras blended perfectly, requiring no vigorous chewing.

Nevertheless, he deliberately, thoroughly chewed, imagining Scott’s face between his teeth.

“I heard your uncle runs a high-end grocery store. Does he also deal in foie gras? Scott still struggles with caviar, oysters, and foie gras.”

Ethan nodded without much thought. Indeed, Uncle Hans never skimped on ingredients for home cooking and loved to cook, so foie gras was not unfamiliar. However, the question carried an underlying, narrow-minded implication: ‘Could a rural village like yours truly have access to and properly prepare foie gras?’

“He enjoys everything. His was the sole supplier of ingredients to Marquis Moore’s villa for many years.”

“Oh-ho,” Enoch murmured, a small exclamation of admiration escaping him. Perhaps it was being seated in such a formal setting, dressed in banquet attire, but Ethan Prescott, with his blunt words, was subtly undermining the Countess’s unconscious sense of superiority.

He did so by asserting the precedence of the ‘Marquis Moore’ title over her ‘Countess’ status.

While the Countess understood her words to some extent, Scott, who took the ‘bone’ in Ethan’s statement at face value, flushed crimson, trying to defend his village as more than just a backwater.

“Madam, even if our village is small, it has restaurants more renowned than those in Morapolio City. As for foie gras or oysters, I simply don’t care for the texture…”

“…I see. Tastes are personal, after all.”

The Countess’s eyes, even as she replied to Scott, were fixed on Ethan. The Count and the other guests at the table were also visibly observing Ethan, prompting Enoch to break the ensuing silence.

“I feel like I’m going to get indigestion, even without my brother here.”

“Ahem, my apologies, Mr. Ethan. This is a dish the Cloud County chef ambitiously prepared; we can’t have you getting indigestion after just the appetizers. How about everyone just comments on the delicious meal? Our chef is eagerly anticipating your feedback.”

At the Count’s lengthy plea to set aside unnecessary curiosity and simply enjoy the meal, the gazes fixed on Ethan and Scott finally receded. However, the subtle undercurrent of curiosity was not entirely concealed, prompting Ethan to give Scott’s thigh a sharp pinch.

“Ugh.”

Scott stifled a grunt of pain, giving Ethan a slightly apologetic look.

“I’m sorry.”

At Scott’s whispered apology, Ethan coolly murmured, skillfully separating cod flesh with a flat, almost bladeless fish knife.

“If you know, then please stop talking about me to create topics of conversation for yourself.”

“But Enoch said he wanted to know everything about me, even if it concerned my best friend!”

Enoch. Ethan briefly glanced at Enoch and his relatives, who were earnestly discussing the absurd topic of sturgeon populations and capture rates, and bit his lip. He didn’t think Enoch knew anything specific, but the persistent probing for information about him led to a realization: Enoch must have already done some background checks on him.

“You sold my story to Lord Enoch.”

“…Ethan, that’s a bit of an overstatement.”

Ethan set aside his half-eaten fish dish and took a spoonful of sorbet, served to cleanse the palate, before uttering the words he had been preparing.

“I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“…Ethan!”

The stew that arrived after the wine change tasted surprisingly good, perhaps because he had finally said what he had been holding back. Scott continued to apologize and plead, whispering for him to stay a little longer, but Ethan, with a liberated expression, ate his meat, drank his wine, and even joined in the light conversation of others.

Because of this, Ethan pretended not to notice the gazes of interest subtly directed at him.

Somehow, he had expected this.

Enoch, who had been observing, let out a soft, mirthless laugh. Ethan’s effortless responses in a setting far more daunting than Scott’s first meeting with the Count and Countess must have presented a stark contrast to Scott, who had trembled and stammered his words.

Scott’s reaction was, in fact, closer to a normal response, so it wasn’t as if the Count and Countess held a prejudice against him. Yet, Ethan’s fluid demeanor, even as he looked around with wonder, fueled their curiosity, drawing in the attention of the other relatives as well.

As the meal concluded and they moved to the banquet hall, Enoch whispered to Scott and Ethan.

“It would be best if both of you stayed close to me, even after the retirement announcement.”

“Scott is your Guide, Lord Enoch, but why me?”

“You don’t particularly want to be introduced to anyone, do you?”

“I don’t wish to be introduced to anyone, but I can anticipate that people will flock to Scott and Lord Enoch after the retirement announcement. I presume you don’t want me to be punished by standing there as well. I already feel like I’ll get indigestion from the meal we just had.”

“Ethan, what if you run into Lord Huey?”

“Scott, do you honestly think Lord Huey would show such interest in me, merely a friend of his brother’s Guide, when he’s declared his intent to contend with his own brother? If I stay by Lord Enoch’s side, I might actually attract more attention. So, please count me out.”

To Ethan, who was clearly on guard and intent on doing as he pleased, Enoch offered a friendly smile.

“Hmm, well, if that’s how it is, I suppose there’s nothing for it. Just don’t forget the warnings about my elder brother. Ah, there’s one more thing. This time, you’ll need to be wary of his Guide as well.”

“…Lord Huey’s Guide?”

Enoch let out a slightly irritable laugh, running a hand through his hair.

“Devon Green. The second prince of the Aitoolia Empire and my brother’s Guide.”

“…A prince, Your Highness, is Lord Huey Cloud’s Guide?”

A rare ability Esper eldest son, backed by the imperial family. Was Enoch truly about to engage in a battle he couldn’t win? Why did he want the headship of the Cloud family so desperately? Enoch Cloud already had a distinguished career of his own.

Just as Ethan’s mind filled with questions he had never considered before, Enoch’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper.

“He is the Empire’s only, and most powerful, multi-Guide. He already has three Espers.”

“…!!!”

Thump. Ethan’s heart plummeted.