Evan D. Sherden makes his Gorgeous Debut (2)
"Business? Did you say Evan D. Sherden is running a business? Is the dungeon city conducting business with the duke?"
"No, they won't. Didn't you know? There are rumours that the second son of the Sherden family is the real owner of the Brotherhood Pharmacy."
"No, but why with Princess Anastasia? Did they have some connection?"
Just from Evan's short declaration, they had gathered all the attention of the party. It was exactly what he had been aiming for.
"The value of your name is great…"
"Thanks to the great people who helped me."
Evan deeply apologized to Maybell, the co-representative of the Brotherhood Corporation, who was currently working only at the dungeon city. She would be doing more work in new places from now on.
"Look over there, Evan."
"Oh, you dance well."
Evan turned his head at Arisha's whisper and laughed. The ball hadn't started yet. The business talk that had started at their table was interesting, causing Matthew to flinch away, but it wasn't over yet.
"Brother…he will be angry."
Anastasia sounded down as she said so. However, the dice had already been thrown, and there was no way back. Now they had to move forward.
"You have to be brazen like you were today. Oh, but be careful of poison. Druids also have the power to purify, so it should be okay, though."
"Poison…"
"I'll have to come up with some safety precautions. Lua?"
"Yes, master."
Anastasia had respect in her eyes as she watched Evan casually talk with the rest of the group. Matthew must be looking at them now, but he felt so overwhelmed that he was having trouble just saying the lines he had prepared in advance.
"I want to change too."
"If you resolve your heart, you're already halfway successful."
Arisha was the one to respond to Anastasia's sincerity. Her expression was still cold, but beyond it, Arisha was reminiscing in nostalgia as she looked at the princess. She recalled the moment she had her chance to change when she met Evan.
"But, I can't give you Evan."
"That's okay. He's a very nice person, but not my taste…"
"….Somehow, that feels bad too."
"?!"
Arisha's expression grew colder, making Anastasia even more confused. It must've been a trap question. However, while Anastasia began to sweat and wonder how she should respond, Matthew took action. After greeting only the important guests, he approached their table.
"Is it okay for me to join? I think there is something I need to hear. Hahaha."
"Ah, Sir Matthew."
Alright, it was the finale he had been waiting for. Evan spat out the lines he had prepared.
"Sorry."
"What…?"
"I apologize for the rudeness to you as the party's organizer, Sir Matthew, but I am talking about business with Princess Anastasia. If you forgive the rudeness, I will see you after the talks are over."
Of course, it wasn't a problem solved by asking for an apology. Some people may let it pass lightly, but for Matthew, it was practically a declaration of war. Moreover, this was a party venue where countless nobles had gathered. Now that he dared to tell Matthew not to interrupt, he could lose face among them.
"What, not the duke, but with the princess? Did she have that much authority? Is she in charge?"
"No, you mean Sir Evan wasn't invited by Sir Matthew?"
"What the hell is going on? This is getting pretty interesting."
The voices of the nobles coming in from all sides weren't quiet. Matthew's face flashed as the nobles' interest grew. He had been trying to show off his power and aspirations, but now he was being teased by Evan's simple words! The youngest son of the Sherden family, who had earned ridiculous wealth at a young age and become the dungeon knight commander. He had already begun to gather his forces and might become one of the more important variables in the country in the future…however, he was still a thirteen-year-old kid right now. He thought using him would be simple, but now the situation had been reversed. What had to happen to Matthew and his ambition, now that he was behind his younger sister?
Evan grinned and sent a light to Matthew.
When was this planned out? From a long time ago, perhaps even before he entered the party hall…or, was it when Evan D. Sherden had arrived at the estate?
'Evan D. Sherden…!
Matthew ground his teeth loudly. No one had expected that anyone, even from the dungeon city, would dare humiliate Matthew this way.
"Sir Evan…I think you misunderstand something. I am the successor of this estate. If you wish to make a deal, wouldn't you have to talk to me?"
"Misunderstanding?"
Evan tilted his head with a lopsided smile. At first glance, it seemed to ridicule, but rather it was a smile to hide his fear. It wasn't the fear of Matthew himself, but the fear of death flags that might arise from insulting the duke's successor. But, despite his anxiety, he didn't stop. There was no way to back down now.
'The princess confronted her fears and stood up.'
It wasn't just Anastasia that had gained courage. Evan was impressed by how she wanted to move forward, so now it was his turn.
It's already been calculated so it will be fine. The benefits will be great.'
There would be countless death flags that would come to him in the future. Although his actions may put him in danger, he believed he could move in a better direction in the end. Until then, Shine and everyone else would protect him!
"I do not misunderstand anything, Sir Matthew."
"Well?!"
Evan opened his mouth, using the cosmic energy to press down on Matthew gently.
"I'm just running a business, looking for someone who could benefit me to offer them a deal. And, sadly, Sir Matthew is not my target. Is there any misunderstanding here?"
"What did I do wrong to you?"
"That's a little odd. I don't choose to do business with someone just because they are a supervisor. Moreover, I've no intent to deal with you. I'm not interested."
"Snark."
Arisha laughed. It was, of course, intended. Her ridicule was overwhelmingly effective in making Matthew look more pathetic. Some people who were watching laughed inadvertently in response to her and had to cover their mouths urgently.
"Sir Evan. What you're talking about…ugh."
"Yes, I know."
When Matthew's voice was about to become fierce, the spirit of the heavens suppressed him more intensely. Indeed, the heavens which clearly distinguished between friend and foe were pouring down only on him. Evan's words sank heavily into the party.
"Like Sir Matthew, who sent an invitation to a nobleman from the dungeon city, I also have a good grasp of what my actions mean."
The result of intoning the name of the dungeon city would never be light. Evan's purple eyes seemed to pierce right through Matthew. He wanted to dig out his cheeky eyes with a sword, but Matthew was in a situation where he was unable to move his body properly.
"Do you understand, Sir Matthew?"
"Huh, uh…"
"Oh my, sorry."
It was until the time that the pressure was so high that Matthew's knees staggered that Evan realized his situation.
"Oh! Oh, oh!"
As Matthew quickly stepped back, those who watched knew what had happened. The two were fighting, and Matthew was being pushed back against a thirteen-year-old kid!
"Sir!"
"Master!"
"What rudeness is this, Sir Evan?!"
The escort knights hurried to Matthew and protectively wrapped around him. Things had been pushed so far by Evan that they were staring as if to kill him.
"Sir Evan, your will…I know it well."
Matthew stood up and clenched his jaw, glaring at Evan and Anastasia.
"I will never forget what happened today, Sir Evan…and Anastasia."
"I'm glad that's the case."
Evan grinned and sent a light counterattack toward Matthew.
"If you don't have a good memory, that would be a problem."
"Puff."
"…" This time laughter welled up in a few places. As the escort knights glanced over in all directions, everyone turned away and pretended to be unaware.
"What, huh?"
"Open the door." Then, some noise sounded out at the entrance of the hall. Evan, who wanted to exit neatly at this point, frowned.
"What, I feel a lot of pretences…well?"
"The duke enters, show, please show the proper courtesy!"
"Father?!" The duke? He had heard the inspection was to take a few days, but he was coming back already. As Evan tilted his head, a huge battle horse sprinted into the party hall. A second after, a middle-aged man jumped off the battle horse and looked around.
"This…"
Fiery purple eyes and dark grey hair that fluttered like an animal's mane. He was a warrior that emitted an incredibly strong presence. He looked around and had a wrinkle on his brow.
"You've been having a party? Didn't I tell you to be prepared because there may be flooding?"
Flooding meant that the monsters in an area might suddenly increase and invade the human realm, similar to the dungeon backflow. Leonine's territory was an area with so many monsters that flooding wasn't an uncommon occurrence.
"I ordered the knights and prepared them thoroughly, Father. However, this is to celebrate my coming-of-age ceremony, young nobles…"
"I know that! I'm saying the timing wasn't good!"
The duke, Sorde L. Leonine, shouted in a voice that sounded like it could break iron.
"It's a monster flood, the great flood that happens once every ten years. All those who can lift a sword, listen! Those who can't, hide like rats!"
"A monster flood?!"
"I have only brought one escort!"
In an instant, shock and fear spread throughout the venue. Even Matthew, who had been glaring at Evan, forgot what had just happened as his face darkened.
"…. Master, was this a planned event?" Meanwhile, Shine approached Evan and asked quietly. If he could say it was all planned, it would've looked so evil and cool.
"Is there anyone with that much foresight?"