The Banquet (3)

Julius's eyes fluttered open, the world around him a blur of muted colors and hushed voices. The sharp scent of medicinal herbs filled his nostrils, and the soft glow of healing magic illuminated the room. He was lying on a plush bed, the royal healer—a middle-aged woman with silver hair and a stern expression—hovering over him, her hands glowing with a faint golden light.

"You're awake," she said, her voice calm but tinged with concern. "You gave everyone quite a scare, Lord Vaelorian."

Julius groaned, feigning weakness as he pushed himself up onto his elbows. His head throbbed, and his body felt heavy, but he knew the pain was a small price to pay for the chaos he had just unleashed.

"What... happened?" he asked, his voice hoarse, playing the part of the confused victim perfectly.

The healer sighed, her hands still glowing as she continued to channel her magic into him. "You collapsed during the banquet. Your body was wracked with convulsions, and your mana... it's corrupted. I've never seen anything like it. It's as if a foreign energy has taken root within you."

Julius frowned, his mind racing as he processed her words. *Perfect.* The demonic poison had done its job. The corruption in his mana would serve as undeniable proof of the elves' treachery. He had planned this meticulously, and now the pieces were falling into place.

"Corrupted mana?" he repeated, his voice trembling slightly. "How is that possible?"

The healer hesitated, her expression darkening. "It's rare, but not unheard of. Certain poisons, especially those of demonic origin, can taint a person's mana. It's a slow, painful process, but with time, the corruption will dissipate. In your case, it should take about a month."

Julius nodded, his mind already calculating the next steps. A month was more than enough time to solidify his narrative and turn the kingdom against the elves. He glanced around the room, noting the concerned faces of the nobles gathered nearby. Among them was **Sophia Belmont**, her golden hair catching the light as she stepped forward, her expression a mix of worry and relief.

"Julius," she said softly, her voice trembling. "You scared us. What happened?"

Julius met her gaze, his blue eyes filled with a carefully crafted vulnerability. "I... I don't know. One moment, I was speaking with the King, and the next... everything went black."

Sophia's brow furrowed, and she reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "You're safe now. The healer says you'll recover, but your mana... it's been corrupted. Do you have any idea how this could have happened?"

Julius hesitated, his expression pained. "I... I don't know. But now that you mention it... I did feel a strange sensation earlier. A sharp pain, like something was... poisoning me from within."

The room fell silent, the nobles exchanging uneasy glances. Julius could see the gears turning in their minds, the seeds of suspicion taking root. He had planted the idea, and now it was time to nurture it.

---

This is it. The moment I've been waiting for. The poison was a calculated risk, but it's paying off beautifully. The corruption in my mana is undeniable proof of demonic interference, and who better to blame than the elves? They've always been the scapegoats of this world, feared and hated by the humans. All I need to do is fan the flames of their paranoia.

Sophia... she's the key. Her affection for me is obvious, and as the Princess of Lovina, her influence is invaluable. If I can manipulate her into believing the elves tried to kill me, she'll rally the kingdom against them. And once the elves are weakened, I'll step in as the savior, the one who exposed their treachery and protected the kingdom. It's the perfect plan.

But I must be careful. The Pontifex is no fool, and Merlin will see through any obvious lies. I need to tread carefully, weaving my web of deceit so subtly that even they won't realize they've been ensnared until it's too late.

---

Julius turned to Sophia, his expression softening. "Sophia... I don't want to accuse anyone without proof, but... I can't shake the feeling that this wasn't an accident. Someone wanted me dead."

Sophia's eyes widened, and she tightened her grip on his arm. "Who would do such a thing? You've done nothing but defend yourself and your family."

Julius hesitated, his gaze flickering to the nobles gathered around them. "I... I don't want to cause panic, but... the Windriders have made their hatred for me clear. And now, with my mana corrupted by demonic energy... it's hard not to wonder if they had a hand in this."

The room erupted in whispers, the nobles exchanging horrified glances. Sophia's expression hardened, her concern giving way to anger. "If they dared to harm you... I won't let them get away with this."

Julius placed a hand over hers, his touch gentle. "Sophia, please... don't act rashly. We need proof before we accuse anyone. I don't want to start a war over a misunderstanding."

Sophia nodded, but her eyes burned with determination. "You're right. But if the Windriders are behind this, they'll pay for what they've done."

Julius smiled faintly, his heart swelling with satisfaction. Perfect. She's already on my side. Now, to tighten the noose.

---

As the nobles dispersed, Julius leaned back against the pillows, his mind racing. The healer had left to prepare more remedies, and Sophia had been called away by her father, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

The first stage is complete. The nobles are suspicious, and Sophia is firmly on my side. Now, I need to escalate things. The Pontifex will be watching me closely, so I'll need to be subtle. Perhaps a staged attack, or a planted piece of evidence linking the Windriders to the poison. Either way, I need to keep the pressure on.

And then there's Elaine. She's the last surviving Windrider, and her presence here is a double-edged sword. If I can manipulate her into confessing—or at least appearing guilty—it will seal the elves' fate. But I'll need to be careful. She's clever, and she knows the truth. I'll have to break her before she can expose me.

Julius's lips curled into a faint smile as he closed his eyes, his mind already plotting the next move. The banquet was far from over, and the real game was just beginning.