Chapter Twenty-One: 'Nobles'

Since when did this kingdom have a duke?

Most of those who heard the announcement were not only surprised but also curious.

A duke has the highest position in the kingdom, just below the royalties. It's such an important figure that these nobles thought it was weird that it was their first time hearing that name.

Of course, they knew the kingdom at least had a duke. But the name and where their duchy is is unknown. More like, they were taught but they tossed it at the back of their mind.

The dukes of Zein never lived under the spotlight. Neither is their mission to defend the northwest of the kingdom well known to the people. Their unpopularity made everyone forget their names and was only remembered through the history books.

Kai walked down the stairs with an unchanging expression. He knows that his presence is something not to be expected by these nobles. He took a moment to scan through the crowd before he set his eyes on the royals above. There is the princess and the king. But the second prince is missing like earlier.

That's fine. Actually, that's much better.

When Princess Edith saw Kai, she smiled gently at him despite their distance from each other. As an act of courtesy, Kai did as well and bowed his head.

The nobles were struck speechless.

How could they not be aware of this handsome man with a high position in this kingdom! To think that the princess also knows him and they seem to get along based on their short interaction, Kai was even more desired by the nobles with greed for power.

Some love gossip, however.

"The princess and the unknown duke…?"

"Do you think…"

Kai didn't need to hear more of those voices. He was trembling in disgust inside.

'Sure, this body may look young and all but Kai Zein is actually twenty-eight alright? Princess Edith is as young as my sister, what kind of nonsense are these people making up?'

Moreover, they really could make up things just from small and wordless exchanges between two people! How scandalous.

Kai shook his head with a sigh before making his way up to the royals. He ignored the murmurs of the nobles who did nothing but gossip about him.

He bowed before the emperor and did his greetings. He did the same to the princess after.

"I have attended as I had promised earlier, your majesty." All eyes were on his back but Kai acted as if they were nothing. "This banquet looks magnificent. It seems that it was prepared very well and thoroughly." Princess Edith chuckled and replied happily, "Brother was the one who hosted this banquet this year. Everything is going great because of him."

The king looked behind Kai's figure and chuckled as well. "It's your first appearance but you have gained quite a lot of attention already. Duke Zein is truly someone with the looks that people can't take their eyes away from." Kai smiled politely and shook his head. "It's only because I am a new face in this society. If I were to mention someone with a beautiful look, it would be the princess."

Kai smiled at Edith and continued, "Princess Edith looks beautiful tonight."

'She's about the same age as my sister… Sigh, I hope that she's doing well.'

His sister who introduced him to this novel…

Edith returned the smile calmly but she didn't say anything more. The king observed Kai for a little while longer before he mentioned, "Duke, Edith, go and come down. Interacting with me will only bore you out. The princess must greet the guests and the 'new' duke must formally introduce himself. Don't you both think so?"

The king had a lulled expression as he narrowed his eyes and eyed the two.

As far as Kai could tell, there was no malicious intent from the king. It seems that his words didn't have any ill intent behind them. Following the king's order, Kai headed to where the other nobles are, together with the princess after stating his temporary farewell to the king.

"Duke Kai really does look good tonight." The princess suddenly said.

Edith was smiling calmly. Kai looked at her and replied, "My words from earlier are genuine and sincere. The princess looks very beautiful and elegant tonight."

Although Kai's words were true and didn't have any jokes in them, Edith laughed quietly.

"The Duke really likes to flatter." She turned and raised her head. The blue eyes that resembled the blue sky are staring deeply into Kai's own.

He really can't help it.

Those eyes, they resembled Helix's.

"Yes, it is flattery. But as I had said, my words are genuine."

The music playing in the background deafened the noises from the other people. Only they could hear each other. Kai smiled and continued to walk, Edit followed.

"By the way, will the crown prince come tonight?" Kai left the conversation behind and started yet another topic in order to escape from the awkwardness. Edith's smile widened further and her eyes softened. "Of course. My brother will. He was the one who arranged the whole banquet, he will be coming here later on with our teacher." Kai hummed.

Well, in the novel, this is where the two main characters meet anyway. He and Kai will have to interact later and that doesn't seem like it's escapable.

However, Kai no longer intends to get tangled with the main character. It just doesn't sound so bad to befriend the second-strongest person in this world. Kai's already living with the strongest man in this world, why not the second strongest too?

Cough! Cough!

Both Edith and Kai turned around after hearing the obviously faked coughings. There is this middle-aged nobleman with an obvious cunning and villainous face staring at Kai with so much intensity. The princess didn't even need a second to think of who this person is and she smiled kindly and said, "Count Dolon. It's nice meeting you here."

This count only glanced at the princess for a moment before he looked at Kai again and replied with an uncaring tone everyone could notice.

"Yes, nice to see you this evening as well. The princess looks beautiful tonight. As expected."

His words, tone, and attitude were extremely rude and he is mocking the princess' dignity by doing this. But why is it that the princess just smiled as if it was nothing?

Kai's eyes looked at this disrespectful count with a cold gaze. When the count saw the uninviting gaze of Kai's, he flinched and became wary suddenly. He thought for a second before he hesitantly reached out his hand towards Kai with a nervous tone, "My name is Reil Dolon, the count of-"

"Count Dolon."

Kai's voice was emotionless, void of any warmth that he seemed to have when Count Dolon was staring from afar earlier. He instantly retracted his hand and looked at the Duke with fear.

At this point, people's eyes were all on them. Who was the shameless and fearless person who provoked the unknown duke? Though, this is also an opportunity for these nobles to know this man who suddenly appeared tonight, claiming that he is a duke.

All while they are thinking, Kai's voice reached their ears yet again.

"Don't you think you were pretty disrespectful to the both of us, Count Dolon?"

He only wanted to test this duke, if he is useful or not. The princess also never says a thing whenever someone acts rude or disrespectful to her. But now that he was finally talked down, he finally realized his wrongs, and his eyes filled with fear.

"I-I…-"

He was not even allowed to say anything with his stuttering voice as Kai cut him off short. "I believe that it was very clear that we were discussing. However, you suddenly came behind us and interrupted us. I believe I didn't invite you to our conversation."

The banquet hall was immersed in silence, with only the magic item that produced music filling the hall.

"A mere count disrespected the princess and interjected in a conversation of a duke… Ah,"

After a short pause, Kai was no longer looking at the count. He was now staring at the crowd of nobles who had their eyes on him…

"If a count is like this, please do not tell me that every noble here also does not respect those of higher rank?"

'Where did I even get those words…?' Beneath his firm and cold voice, Kai was sighing and wondering how he even came up with these words and conclusions.

The place was suddenly filled with murmurs and Kai was surrounded by everyone's eyes. 'I cannot not stand out, it seems…'

But all of a sudden,

While Kai was immersed in his own thoughts, the large door where he had entered earlier opened once again. The voice of the servant who announced his entrance earlier once again raised his voice and announced the incoming people.

"The crown prince, Cain Rukadius, and the Royal Minister, Seth, are entering!"

Everyone in the banquet turned to the door and bowed their heads in the presence of the crown prince. The music stopped and the two walked down the stairs.

Kai's eyes widened as he stared at the one in front. From his face to his hair, Kai thought that it was Helix for a moment. But this person's expression was even colder than Helix and his eyes were blue just like Edith's. The black hair is short, unlike Helix.

Though the faces are quite similar, it's understandable as they have the same blood. This is the second prince, Helix's younger brother.

Kai's eyes narrowed slowly as he sighed inwardly. "Prince Cain, huh…"

While Kai had a negative response, Edith smiled even brighter as she uttered quietly, "Brother, Lord Seth…!" With Edith's words, Kai remembered the protagonist. He moved his gaze from the prince to the man behind Cain. As soon as he saw him, Kai instantly held his breath and his lips twitched.

Long white-silvery hair, flowing like a beautiful river in winter. Pale white skin, as if his body didn't contain a tiny bit of blood, but his lips were slightly rosy. His eyes were narrowed, but the pair of golden eyes were bright and stood out. Just like how Kai remembered from the novel, Seth wore all-white clothing. It's a robe but it somehow didn't feel out of place in this place where people wore dresses and suits.

Despite the prince's appearance, Seth captured the attention of everyone more. He truly is someone with an appearance that people can't ignore.

Well, he was the protagonist of the novel Kai liked.

Kai observed the man's appearance before looking away. In his heart, he mumbled something in a teeny voice.

'Helix is prettier…'

But Kai's eyes sure have been blessed. To be able to see the two most beautiful people in this world. He chuckled slightly and smiled while Edith went to greet her brother and teacher. Kai stood still in place while the two newcomers came over.

He looked in Count's direction but he ran away already. Kai sighed, "Truly disrespectful."

When Kai was about to walk away and find something to amuse himself, he whiffed a familiar smell and mana. His eyes widened and turned around immediately.

He didn't know how he instantly located where the smell and mana were coming from but when he met the golden eyes that similarly stared at him, Kai's mind blanked out.

In this spacious room, the two of them were staring at each other.

At the same time, the music started yet again. Everyone went back to what they were doing after the brief formalities. Edith and Cain are still talking about who knows what. But only Kai and Seth are in complete silence.