Evan D. Sherden at the Party (6)
The organizer of the party, Matthew L. Leonine, finally arrived at the party hall which had already been transformed into a sea of tears due to Evan and Arisha.
"Sir Matthew is now entering!" Slightly faded blonde hair, purple eyes, and an overall handsome man who was much less subdued than his younger sister Anastasia. Shine, who was attending to Evan, spoke quietly as they watched the man enter.
"He's strong."
"Actually, his combat ability is considerable."
However, strictly speaking, he was not a regular, and he wouldn't ever have the chance to enter the dungeon, so he was weaker than Evan at this point. Probably? He really missed the in-game status system that could be used to grasp the opponent's info.
"Aren't you like Leo, who can grasp the level of power your opponent has at a glance?"
"Can anyone do that? Besides, Grandpa Leo can't recognize it in detail."
"Hey, if his sensing ability was perfect, he would've been frightened by you."
Evan had learned martial arts to move and fight, but it had also made it possible to recognize his opponent's power, although the specifics were beyond him.
"But is that important? The successor of a noble family doesn't necessarily need to be strong…"
"No, it's important because they are Leonine. I told you, right? This duchy claimed this territory by force."
"Ah…"
Evan's explanation followed, and Shine nodded. Right now, Sorde L. Leonine was also a general who led the army on the battlefield, and his successor was expected to take over that role. Leonine's identity was as a duke and a lord of war. The power of the successor was more important than ever in the Sherden family.
"That's why it becomes important to teach Princess Anastasia how to practice her druidic magic."
"That's the case…"
"Evan, he's heading this way."
What? He was the party's organizer, but he didn't even say hello to the guests from the podium and instead was coming here right away. Evan turned to gaze up to see Matthew L. Leonine walking straight toward him. No matter how much Evan played the role of a love-sick noble, it wouldn't work against the duke's successor. Evan stood up to greet him. Matthew stepped over and reached out for a handshake.
"Evan D. Sherden, nice to meet you. I heard you were young, but you're pretty tall."
"Matthew L. Leonine, nice to meet you."
Although Evan was tall for his age, Matthew was about ten centimetres taller than him. Evan was forced to look up and thought even Raihan would need to look up at him.
"Thank you very much for responding to the invitation. I heard that this is the first party you've participated in."
"Leonine is one of the great names in the Silk Line. It's an honour to be here."
Matthew slightly frowned at the polite response. The reason was that the name Leonine symbolized valour but, at the same time, was the name of one who could never become king.
"Well…yes, who is this beside you?"
"This is Arisha of the Pellati family who rules the dungeon city of Mana Road."
"I am Arisha von Pellati."
Matthew quietly applauded at Arisha's grace and sophistication.
"Now, I see. You two go very well together. I hope you enjoy this party."
"I already am enjoying it plenty. Thank you for your consideration."
"Yes. Then, I will see you later as we have something important to discuss."
He lightly tapped Evan's hand and then left with a wink. Evan merely looked down at his hand.
"This is it."
"What?"
"When he touched it, I could feel that he was weak. Perhaps much weaker than me."
"Uh…"
"Our master is a little different…!"
Evan could now quite calmly judge his opponent. However, his abilities were so great that it couldn't be helped that it sounded like he was looking down on them.
"Well, that is the young master."
"No, he's too weak."
Evan laughed as he watched Matthew leave. It wasn't bad news that he was weaker. Even in the game, it was said that the successor of the Leonine family lacked compared to the previous Duke. Perhaps that was why he wanted to challenge the kingship to surpass his father.
'If you lack in power, your brain should be good, but compared to your ambitions…those both are too short.'
Even now, didn't he just openly approach Evan, a man from the dungeon city, thinking that he could rely on his forces?
"What a real fool."
"Yes."
The power of the dungeon city was independent of the country, and its blade would never face humans. That was the absolute principle, and if it were broken, it would leave a great scar on the country to allow the demons to run wild
'It'll be better if he can be stopped. What's left then is Anastasia.'
Evan raised the champagne glass Belois had provided him and toasted the future before taking a sip. His expression shifted to a frown immediately after.
"This is non-alcohol. I don't feel it."
"We're underage, master. Alcohol is still…"
He was hoping that he would be able to drink alcohol outside of the adult's watchful eyes! Discouraged, Evan looked at Belois with troubled eyes.
"Can't I have just a cup, Lua? Just one."
"…It can't be helped, then I'll bring you a drink." Belois couldn't endure even for a second and left to grab him one. Honestly, it was too easy.
"No, you can't. You can't give in so easily to the young master."
"Oh."
However, Shine blocked his operation right before its imminent success. No matter how much Evan looked at Shine, his honour as a butler would not falter.
"Alcohol is something to drink as an adult."
"I'm going to start a liquor business sooner or later, then I can drink secretly."
"Well, please give up."
These guys had never had alcohol before, so they didn't understand his feelings. How much he had longed for it since he regained the memories of his previous life! Having a cup of soju with some snacks after a hard day…of course, there were plenty of deaths in the game that had to do with Evan getting drunk, so he had to be careful of that. Fortunately, he had already prepared countermeasures.
"Yes, actually, alcohol can be detoxified using the poison tolerance I've trained! What's even more surprising is that with some practice, it can be turned on and off…"
"I still won't give you any."
"I hate you."
"I'm sorry, master… Shine is stupid, but this time, he is right."
Eventually, his hope was shattered by Belois. Arisha grabbed his sleeve at that point.
"Evan, she's here."
"Thank you, Arisha…I've made up my mind."
Matthew had just been about to begin his speech when everyone's attention turned to the newcomer.
"Well?"
"Hey, who is that beautiful girl? Wait…maybe?"
"Princess Anastasia is here!"
"Princess?!"
"I heard she can't go outside!" She was wearing a dazzling party dress. The girl looked as if she might be blown away by the wind, trembling as if she were afraid of the people's gaze."
"Anastasia…?"
"Sorry, I'm late…brother…"
Anastasia tried to respond calmly to Matthew, who was shocked. Knowing she had never attended any such event, he couldn't understand what she was thinking. Why now?
"Anastasia, you… no, it's already done. Thank you for coming. Enjoy the party."
"Yes, brother."
Matthew decided not to pay attention to her and decided that she, who had been stuck in her room until now, wouldn't be hurt by getting out. Perhaps that was the biggest mistake of his life.
"You're here, Anastasia?"
"Hello."
"Hello, sir Evan. Lady Arisha, too…nice to meet you."
"…?!"
After greeting Matthew, Anastasia turned to Evan's table so naturally, and Evan and Arisha gave her a seat as if they had been waiting. Until now, no one else had been allowed to join that table.
'Why, Anastasia?! How…?'
Matthew was so confused he quietly puffed on the spot. The attendant behind him coughed loudly and returned him to his senses. Yes, now was the time for a speech!
"I am Matthew L. Leonine. On behalf of Sorde L. Leonine, we welcome all guests to our home. This party has the hope that the young aristocrats who will lead Silk Line in the future can gather together and build a friendship…"
He tried to suppress his confusion and read the script he had been preparing. It was inevitable, however, that his gaze wandered over to the table Evan sat at.
'Damn, when did you meet? Where? Evan D. Sherden, what are you thinking?'
The speech ended without the great response that had been originally planned. Evan's group had caught the attention of the others once more now that they were meeting with the princess.
"Princess Anastasia…"
"Did she have a connection with the Sherden family? No way is the duke trying to welcome the second son as a son-in-law…"
"No, he has a fiancée, right?"
"She hasn't been confirmed to be his fiancée yet."
All of the party-goers were keenly interested in them. Although Evan hadn't been aiming for this, it was quite an achievement.
"Sir Evan, is this…okay?"
Anastasia herself, who was seated at the table, cautiously spoke up in a weak voice. Evan gave her a thumbs-up.
"It was great, Princess Anastasia."
"The gazes are getting unpleasant."
Of course, this had been a planned scenario where they poured cold water onto Matthew's ambition to rally the young nobles! But it wasn't over yet. Wasn't it just that Anastasia was doing something wrong at her brother's party? Not only Matthew, but the duke might try to punish her. To prevent that, they had to give this encounter a little reality.
"Then, let's talk business a little while we're here, Princess."
Evan deliberately spoke a little louder. Anastasia glanced over to Shine as if trying to gain a little more courage, then nodded with a small sigh.
"That is what I was hoping for, sir…no, CEO."
Evan, the CEO of the Brothers Corporation, was planning to do business with Princess Anastasia from now on.
At the end of his project, the succession of the Duke of Leonine would be at stake