Home/I Saved the Villain and Fell Asleep/ch 56

Chapter 56

"Irein."

Father called Irein, wrapping an arm around Mother's shoulder.

"The Founding Festival is an annual event, and just because the Imperial Family hosts the ball doesn't mean there's much difference."

No, what are you saying, Dad! There is a difference—it's the Imperial Family!

"But this ball will be meaningful for our house. It's like a declaration that the Algenprina ducal house is ending its seclusion."

"Why do you have to beat around the bush so much just to say 'behave yourself,' Father?"

Sier, unable to hold back, spoke up.

"Surely you're not worried I'll cause trouble at a ball His Majesty is attending?"

Irein narrowed his eyes and smiled. At that artificial smile, Sier and I pressed close together and shuddered.

"Even if I do cause trouble, I won't get caught, Father."

Dad shook his head as if there was no stopping him, then moved forward.

Finally, the ball was beginning. Come to think of it, I don't know a single noble child from another house. Since I'm attending anyway, I'd be happy if I could make just one friend.

"Madam, have you heard? They say the entire Algenprina family is attending the ball today."

"I've been hearing nothing else for days."

"How many years has it been since the Duchess showed her face in society? I can't even remember."

As the ball began, groups of noblewomen gathered, covering their mouths with fans and chattering endlessly about the Algenprina ducal house.

The Algenprina ducal house—one of the empire's meritorious families. They had been pro-imperial for generations and maintained a close relationship with the current emperor, so ambitious nobles wanted to curry favor with the Duke.

But after the tragedy at the Czerban Grand Ducal house, only the Duke himself made brief appearances in public; the rest of the family hadn't set foot in society, leaving no opportunity for anyone to get close.

So today was the chance. A chance to get a foothold, even a small one.

"I hear the eldest son is still unmarried—they say he's an investigator for the Magic Tower."

"But I've heard his personality is a bit..."

"The second son also has no fiancée. Lately, the second son has been attending official functions in his place... Do you think they'll pass the succession to him?"

Noblewomen desperate to marry off their eligible daughters to the Algenprina house eagerly gathered whatever information they could on the eldest and second sons.

"The Algenprina princess is sixteen this year, isn't she?"

"I've never seen her face."

"All that's known is that she has pink hair and green eyes—what a shame."

Even nobles from the provinces couldn't stop gossiping about the Algenprina house.

There wasn't a noble in the empire who didn't know the name "Algenprina." Not only because they were a meritorious family, but also because of the unique magic passed down through generations of the Algenprina ducal house.

"What is the Duke's unique magic that makes everyone speak so highly of it?"

The nobles' gazes turned to the speaker—a young baron who had just arrived from a region far from the capital.

"You haven't heard of the Duke's unique magic? You must be a noble from some backwater."

Laughter rang out from all directions, and the man's face flushed red.

"Now, now, don't be so harsh. It's possible not to know."

An elderly man leaning on a cane stepped forward and restrained the surrounding nobles. He took a step toward the shabby-looking speaker.

"The Duke's magic is quite beautiful, you see."

"Beautiful?"

"And terrifying to the bone."

At the old man's words, the laughter abruptly stopped. The baron was flustered. Since everyone said it was a famous unique magic, he'd expected something flashy or magnificent—like the lightning magic passed down through the Imperial Family.

"The silver magic circle that spreads from beneath the Duke's feet is like pearl dust embroidered into the ground—dazzlingly enchanting. Heh heh."

So it's just a flashy magic circle? The baron couldn't hide his disappointment.

"The moment you face that silver light, you cannot escape."

"Does it restrain people?"

"Have you ever imagined a situation where you couldn't use magic?"

At the old man's sudden question, the baron tilted his head. Have I ever imagined not being able to use magic?

Of course not. All citizens of the Latarta Empire are born able to use magic—even if it's just a tiny, insignificant bit.

"No, I haven't."

"That's what the Duke's magic does. The moment he casts it, everyone within his grasp becomes unable to use magic. What do you think you'd feel in that moment?"

The old man continued as if he'd experienced it himself. The nobles listening swallowed dryly.

"In that moment, the Duke no longer looked like a fellow mage."

"The despair of possibly never being able to use magic again clouds your vision. I couldn't even think of turning and running away."

Another noble nearby added his own experience.

"The Duke is both the empire's guardian and its judge. That's why everyone is so interested in that family. You should at least know this much."

The old man chuckled and walked away, leaning on his cane. The silence was soon replaced by chatter again. The baron, left alone, gripped his champagne glass tightly.

He didn't want to meet him. Absolutely not. It's terrifying...!

"All that fuss over a snake with its fangs pulled. Honestly."

It was too loud to be a mutter. As fans snapped open, the nobles discreetly glanced at the speaker. The man stroking his mustache was none other than Marquis Shimota.

"Indeed, Your Excellency. It's been seven years since the ducal house withdrew from society."

"It may still stand, but its influence... well."

The Marquis's wife, standing beside him, curled the corner of her red lips. The other ladies around her chimed in unison.

Several houses had taken advantage of the Algenprina ducal house's long absence to fill the void—among them was the Marquis Shimota's house.

The Duchess hadn't appeared in society for seven years. What could she possibly do now?

The Duke still frequented the palace, but the rest of the family had done nothing noteworthy. Yet the mere name "Algenprina" caused such a stir.

It was predictable. The Duchess, who would be alienated by her long seclusion; the eldest son, notorious for his violence; the second son, with his unimpressive unique magic; and the princess, who had never once appeared in society. And on top of that, they'd even taken in an extra mouth to feed?

It would take a long time for the Algenprina name to regain its former glory. But the Marquis Shimota had no intention of waiting.

"Perhaps the reason the Duchess stayed in seclusion, and the children were kept from society, is because something is wrong with them?"

"Oh my, you don't think there's actually something wrong, do you?"

"Those are strong words!"

Someone tried to silence the gossiping ladies, but only snorts of laughter were heard.

Among the nobles gathered in the ballroom, some clicked their tongues and stayed put, while others, intrigued, turned toward the Marchioness. The contest of which faction to align with was about to begin.

"They're quite full of themselves."

"It's only natural. The Shimota house has amassed enormous wealth in recent years."

A grey-haired young man, leaning against the wall and observing the hall, replied nonchalantly.

"More and more people are gravitating toward the Marquis. Young master, shouldn't we at least make our presence known?"

"What? Hahaha!"

The grey-haired young man laughed heartily, as if he'd heard a joke. The man who'd spoken scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"A snake with its fangs pulled, he said. He's completely wrong. The Algenprina ducal house isn't some insignificant snake."

"But isn't it true that they've scaled back their business and lost influence?"

"Just because a dragon sleeps for a while doesn't make it any less of a dragon."

"A dragon... you say?"

The man's eyes widened as he stared at the young master. A dragon—for this man, who was stingy with praise, to call someone a dragon?

"A dragon that was resting has simply stretched its limbs. All this commotion—don't you see? There may be a storm coming."

"Is it true that the second son is the heir?"

"That seems to be true. The eldest son certainly isn't suited for it."

"I saw him once from a distance. His messy pink hair stood out, so I remembered him."

At the mention of the eldest son, the young master fell silent. He recalled an unpleasant memory.

"...Be careful of the eldest son."

"Pardon?"

"The first young master of the Algenprina house—Algenprina Irein."

"Be careful? Because he's an investigator for the Magic Tower? I haven't done anything wrong!"

"That's exactly why."

"Huh?"

"He's the kind of person you need to be careful of even when you've done nothing wrong. Look—around the Marquis, there's no one of a certain age and gender."

At the young master's words, the man looked around. Sure enough, young nobles of his generation weren't standing near the Marquis Shimota. In fact, they were avoiding him.

"You're right. That's strange. You'd think they'd want to get in with the Marquis."

"There's a lesson etched into their bones."

"Huh?"

"Algenprina Irein is genuinely insane. He can't tolerate insults to the Algenprina name. The young nobles who've witnessed how he punishes his targets don't want to get involved in such gossip. ...And neither do I."

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