Behind Viscount Raul Josef followed a well-built man.
His face was concealed by a mask, and his large robe covered his hair and physique entirely.
Tap… Tap…
Raul limped forward with one leg, slowly approaching Marquis Branford. He briefly looked up at the Marquis before bowing his head.
"It's been a while, Marquis Branford."
"What brings you here, Viscount Josef?"
The Marquis responded indifferently. Raul smirked and lifted his head.
"I heard you've taken in a young lion. I came to see for myself."
"The ducal house has no reason to concern itself with such matters."
"How could we not take an interest in such talent—a young man who has developed remarkable products at his age and earned the support of Lord Marquis?"
The Marquis furrowed his brow and clicked his tongue.
"Let's hope it remains just interest. Who's the one behind you wearing a mask?"
"My escort knight."
Toleo, the knight commander, approached the masked man and spoke sternly.
"Even if he is your escort knight, we can't allow an unknown individual into the banquet hall. Take off the mask, even for a moment."
The man stood silently, not reacting to Toleo's words.
"You insolent fool! Didn't you hear me? Take it off now!"
As Toleo shouted, Marquis Branford stopped him.
"That's enough. The Viscount wouldn't have brought someone intending to cause trouble here. Let it pass."
Since the host of the banquet allowed it, Toleo couldn't push further. He bit his lip and stepped back.
Marquis Branford turned away, indicating he had nothing more to say to Raul.
It was a clear sign that while he wouldn't expel him, he wouldn't welcome him either.
Though he wanted to throw him out immediately, he couldn't dismiss a noble visiting a banquet without just cause, even if they were a political adversary.
Raul glanced around, twisted one corner of his mouth, and muttered shamelessly.
"Hmm… Did I come to the wrong place? The atmosphere doesn't seem very welcoming."
He slowly made his way toward Ghislain.
Tap… Tap… Tap…
With every sound of the cane, nobles moved away awkwardly, as if avoiding something dirty.
'There's nothing good about getting involved with him. Don't even make eye contact.'
'They say he's a cold-blooded monster. Some even claim he's not human.'
Before long, the crowd naturally parted, creating a path between Raul and Ghislain.
Marquis Branford watched Raul's back and tilted his head.
'I thought he was in the south. How did he time his arrival so perfectly?'
The banquet had been announced less than a week ago.
Even if he had departed the moment he heard the news, it was impossible to arrive at this time.
'Which means he was already here.'
The fact that one of the ducal house's key figures had been in the capital without his knowledge was more alarming than Raul's mere presence at the banquet.
'These scoundrels…'
To blind even his eyes and ears—this meant the influence of the Duke Delphine had reached into the capital.
While Marquis Branford was lost in thought, Raul leisurely stood before Ghislain.
The young ladies surrounding Ghislain had long since fled in terror.
"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Viscount Raul Josef."
Ghislain nodded indifferently.
"I'm Baron Fenris."
"I've heard quite a few interesting things about you. You've made quite a name for yourself in the north."
Feigning ignorance despite orchestrating Desmond's provocation of Digald, Raul spoke as if he'd only heard rumors.
At his brazen attitude, Ghislain openly scoffed.
'Acting as if you don't know… Of course you'd know everything; you orchestrated it.'
Unfazed, Raul continued speaking.
"Shall we move to a more private location?"
"A private location?"
"I have some delicate matters to discuss."
Ghislain hesitated briefly before nodding. He was genuinely curious about what Raul had to say.
The two moved to a private room near the banquet hall.
Raul smiled at Ghislain.
He seemed to be trying to appear friendly, but his stern features made it look more like a sneer.
"There's no need to be so tense."
"Do I look tense?"
Ghislain, staring at Raul with an expressionless face, lifted the corners of his mouth slightly.
Confronted with Ghislain's eerily chilling smile, Raul frowned in confusion.
"Do you know me? Your expression almost looks… pleased to see me."
"I've heard quite a bit about you, Viscount."
In his past life, when destroying the ducal house had been his goal, Ghislain had thoroughly investigated Raul, their strategist.
Despite his physical disability, Raul was intelligent and ruthless enough to secure his position as one of the Duke's closest advisors.
'The attack on Perdium was probably his doing.'
Suppressing the killing intent rising within him, Ghislain exhaled slowly.
Raul dismissed the gesture and continued.
"I'll be direct. We're interested in the cosmetics you've developed."
"Cosmetics?"
"Indeed. We were developing something similar, but when word spread about a product with proven results, we came to confirm its authenticity. Who would have thought it was effective enough to cure diseases?"
Raul spoke with a tone that was a mix of admiration and irritation.
In his past life, the cosmetics released by Duke Delphine had been their product, so it was understandable he'd be frustrated.
"So, what do you want?"
"Frankly, it was surprising. That someone like you, from a barren estate, once known as a troublemaker, could create such a product."
"Well, I studied a bit. Public opinion isn't everything."
"True, that's a fair point."
Raul's gaze sharpened momentarily as he narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Ghislain.
'This is the one who ruined all our plans in the north.'
Preparations for Amelia's rebellion, isolating Perdium, and weakening the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower—everything had been progressing smoothly.
'Harold is meticulous and cautious. He would have accounted for almost all obstacles.'
Yet even Harold had failed repeatedly because of this man.
A fool once unworthy of attention had disrupted their grand plans.
Raul felt the same way.
'To think they'd start backing him so suddenly.'
Raul clicked his tongue internally.
The royalist faction had initially planned to support the Bribant territory.
Knowing this, Raul had worked to weaken the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower and gradually gain control over Bribant through its vassals.
Had his plans gone as intended, the royalist faction would have poured resources into a bottomless pit.
The strategy was flawless.
Until this man, Ghislain, appeared.
One day, Ghislain began to stand out as if he'd suddenly awakened.
Because of him, Desmond's forces were halved, and Amelia's rebellion had to be rushed.
When Raul heard Ghislain was selling cosmetics, he rushed to the capital to see him for himself.
He also intended to hold him accountable for past disruptions and deal with him appropriately.
But before he could act, Ghislain had joined the royalist faction.
'There's no way he knew everything and joined them. What luck he has.'
To minimize unnecessary damage, the ducal house planned to isolate the royalist faction and the royal family completely before making their move.
While the ducal house had the strength, it wasn't yet time for war.
Despite being the one who had completely derailed their plans, Raul couldn't touch him directly.
A strategist who had never experienced failure now found himself repeatedly thwarted by a single individual.
'If he were truly a fool, he wouldn't have been capable of such feats. There must have been a mistake in our information.'
It wasn't because they were ignorant—it was because they didn't know someone like this existed.
Had they known, their plans to absorb the north would have been different.
Now that Ghislain's presence was exposed, they wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
'Even though it'll take time to recover from the damage, in the end…'
What was done was done.
Still, it seemed wasteful to simply eliminate someone so talented.
"I never expected such a brilliant young man to be hiding in the north. Since we've met, I have a proposition for you."
"If it's about an exclusive cosmetics contract or sharing technology, I'm not interested."
"While I'm tempted by your cosmetics, my proposal is far more significant."
"What is it?"
"Join Duke Delphine."
At the sudden proposal, Ghislain covered his face with one hand and laughed.
Even now, his body itched with the desire to kill Raul on the spot.
Suppressing his killing intent was difficult enough, but hearing such nonsense made him laugh.
Raul frowned slightly at Ghislain's reaction but continued.
"Is the distance too great? We can offer you a fine estate in the south. For you and your father."
"My father as well?"
"I understand the hardships Count Perdium faces fighting barbarians in such a barren region. Why not relocate to a better estate where such struggles are unnecessary? If you and your father become vassals of the Duke, we'll provide ample support."
"You're speaking dangerously in a room full of powerful people."
Raul smirked confidently.
"So what? That's the nature of politics. Don't worry too much about pressure from other nobles. I'll handle it."
His confidence was extraordinary—a testament to his role as the Duke's strategist.
Offering to exchange their estate for better lands was a bold proposal only the Duke Delphine could make.
But for Ghislain, who knew the true value of the Forest of Demonic Beasts, it was laughable.
'What a refined way of saying you'll take everything and treat us like dogs.'
He had no intention of entrusting himself to such untrustworthy people, who were already secretly manipulating the kingdom.
"I'm sorry, but I must decline. The north is better than you think."
Though politely phrased, Ghislain's voice was firm.
Raul leaned back in his chair, staring coldly at Ghislain.
To think someone would dare reject his proposal.
Did he truly believe the royalist faction was stronger than the Duke Delphine?
"This is a private conversation, so let's be honest. The royalist faction cannot compare to our house."
"I know that."
"And yet, you reject my proposal?"
"Yes, I'm not interested."
"This is a one-time offer. Rejecting it will bring you nothing but regret."
"Why not join us instead, Viscount?"
Raul let out a dry laugh, stroking his chin a few times.
Is he ignorant, or just fearless?
'Foolish. Even when offered a chance, he chooses his death.'
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]