Chapter 199

“Nice to meet you, Your Excellency Duke Pendragon.”

The ladies standing in front of Raven bowed deeply while gazing at Count Cedric. In the southern tradition, it was customary for the oldest or the representative of the banquet to introduce someone to a guest.

Count Cedric introduced the ladies one by one.

“This is Lord Aso’s second daughter, Basma. This is Noemi, the youngest daughter of Baron Nardo…”

To Count Cedric’s surprise, Raven put a soft smile on his face and nodded, making eye contact with all of them.

‘Hmm?’

Viscount Moraine appeared to be a little surprised at the sight. He knew Duke Pendragon to keep women far away, with the exception of Baroness Conrad. Countless beauties of noble families had courted him in Leus as well, but he had declined.

What was even more surprising was Irene’s attitude. Even though she hated instances of women flirting with her brother, she showed no particular dislike.

“Good to see you all. The beauties of El Pasa’s ladies are renowned in the mainland, but now that I see you all in person, the rumors are rather lacking.”

Duke Pendragon was quite well-built up close, and his smile was pure and dazzling enough to cause the southern ladies to blank out.

“Excuse me, Your Excellency, would you care for a dance…?”

“Me too.”

“No, I was first…”

Befitting their reputation, the southern ladies actively pushed forward, asking Raven to a dance without hesitation. The situation was quite similar to what Raven had experienced in the imperial castle in the past.

But unlike then, Raven stood up with a bright smile and led them on.

“I am not accustomed to the southern dances, so please guide me. I hope I won’t be embarrassing myself.”

“Oh my! You are so humble as well.”

“Hohoho!”

His friendly attitude was unexpected from a great noble sharing in royal blood. It caused the noble ladies of El Pasa to grin from ear to ear.

In addition, some of them purposefully glanced at Lindsay with triumphant smiles.

‘Huh?’

The ladies became confused at the sight. They had thought Baroness Conrad would be showing an expression of jealousy and loss after being defeated, but on the contrary, it was quite peaceful.

“Now, now. Everyone, why don’t you join in.”

After descending to the middle of the hall, Raven urged the young noblemen and the knights of El Pasa . Soon, dozens of young men and women began to dance. The southern style of dancing was a little embarrassing, as it required the partners to closely stick to each other’s thighs and hips.

As the implicit protagonist of today’s banquet, Raven’s outspoken attitude was enough to change the impressions of many nobles of El Pasa. They had been a little wary of him, but it seemed to have been futile.

“Hm, I had heard him to be a rather tight, cold person, but that does not necessarily seem to be true.”

“I agree as well. Judging from his dancing skills, he seems to have practiced quite a bit.”

“Yes, it seems he had El Pasa in mind from before. He is completely different from the other mainland nobles who showed up before. I remember that they always put on airs.”

“He seems to like women a fair bit. I can only think of it as a relief. Would you not agree that a relationship tied by blood is the most trustworthy?”

The nobles and the officials of El Pasa had a satisfied expression as they observed the young people dancing in circles around Duke Pendragon.

Some of them made sure to constantly send hints toward the ladies from their families. Now that the governor-general of El Pasa had greeted the young duke as a guest, they had nothing to lose by building up favor with him. In fact, their very participation in this banquet was tantamount to announcing their stance. They would stand on the side of Count Cedric and Duke Pendragon.

Now that the dice were thrown, it would be advantageous to build a close relationship with him in any way possible.

Just like the mainland, it was no blemish for a wealthy, high-ranking noble to have three or four concubines in the south.

“Um, Your Excellency has not taken in an official mistress yet, right?”

“That is correct.”

Raven nodded with a smile. As soon as it was her turn with him, one of the ladies had adhered herself uncomfortably close to Raven before asking him.

“I heard from the mainland merchants that either Princess Ingrid or one of the imperial princesses would become your mistress, is that true?”

“Well, I wonder? Nothing has been decided yet. And seeing you and the other ladies here is making me consider if I should just get married in the South instead.”

Raven put his face closer to her ear and whispered with a gentle breath.

“Oh my! Oh my!”

The lady’s breathing became a little rough, and her face turned red at Raven’s hot breath.

“But.”

“Yes…”

His words caused a flutter in the lady’s heart.

“Unfortunately, my love only burns for one person. Only she can cause my heart to blaze with passion. She makes me a better man.”

“Ah, so you mean…”

The lady raised her eyes slightly, then turned her face to where Raven’s burning eyes were gazing towards.

A lady was observing them with a bright, soft, blossoming smile.

“Are you referring to Baroness Conrad?”

The lady seemed a little sulky.

However, Raven paid it no mind. He nodded while continuously staring at Lindsay.

“Yes. When I look at her, when I am with her, I feel greater joy than when I defeat my enemies in battle. I love her just as much as I love the Pendragon Duchy. And… I am sure she shares my sentiment.”

“Ah…”

Listening to Raven’s whispers, the lady felt as if she had become Lindsay.

If only she could be loved by a man like this…

Jealousy and euphoria struck her at the same time, making her feel even hotter.

“So, I can only apologize to you.”

“No, Baroness Conrad is… really a fortunate lady.”

Her eyes were moistened as she looked up at Raven.

“Thank you. You will also be overjoyed with this kind of love one day.”

“Yes…”

Meanwhile, the partners switched once more.

“Your Excellency…”

Another lady with a voluminous chest, thin waist, and enchanting brown skin grasped Raven’s hand. With a seductive smile, she pushed her leg between Raven’s muscular thighs.

As soon as the captivating scent stimulated the sense of smell, Raven tightly wound her waist with one hand as if he had been waiting.

“Oh my!”

She widened her eyes like a frightened rabbit, but she pushed forward. It was evident that she rather liked his powerful action.

“Your Excellency, I…”

Just as before, she pushed herself close as if she were his lover, then introduced herself.

“It is the greatest honor for me that you would think of me as such. But my love…”

In a similar fashion, Raven danced with all dozens of young ladies, repeating the same lines he had recited at the beginning amidst the rather sticky atmosphere.

Soon after, the band’s passionate, energetic songs switched to a somewhat gentle and soft melody, and the young people saluted their partners before returning to their respective places.

Raven also attempted to return after releasing his last partner’s hand and giving a polite salute.

Then, something surprising happened.

“Your Excellency.”

“Could you introduce me to Baroness Conrad?”

“Me too.”

About a dozen ladies formed a circle around Raven and began to chatter.

“Ha…’

“Sure, why not?”

Even though Raven was deeply surprised, he did not betray his emotions. Rather, he mustered the brightest, softest smile he could before leading them.

“Lady Conrad! How do you get along so well with His Excellency?”

“I envy you. I wish I could experience such passionate love like you…”

The ladies engaged in a friendly conversation with Lindsay as if they had known each other for years.

“Huh? Your Excellency, what is going on?”

“Well then.”

Count Cedric and Viscount Moraine looked at Raven with flabbergasted expressions.

“Well, I am not so sure either…”

He feigned ignorance and shrugged, but inwardly, Raven had to desperately prevent his hands and feet from shriveling from the embarrassment.

‘It worked out well, but really… I really would rather do ANYTHING else…’

It was as such.

When he thought back to his own actions and words, Raven could feel goosebumps rising all over his body. He had only been carrying out ‘some people’s’ instructions.

Obviously, ‘some people’ referred to Vincent and Isla.

“The southern ladies are beyond the lord’s imagination.”

“Especially more so for El Pasa, seeing as it is a port city. The ladies there will not be as gentle and naïve as the mainland women. They will speak and act as they wish.”

“They will do anything to make the lord their own.”

“But that does not mean that they are shallow. Unlike the mainland women, they are passionate and active.”

“So when you face them, do as such.”

Acting out the two knights’ advice had resulted in such a production.

Do not reject any women that make their advances.

However, show them your burning love instead. Exaggerate as much as possible.

They get drunk on the heat.

The virtue of a man in the South is to show his love generously.

Vincent then proceeded to instruct Raven in the seductive ways of southern men, and Isla educated(?) Raven with the methods he had personally used when he was in the south.

‘Even so…’

He had voiced out such thoughts in retort, but it had been useless.

In the mainland, especially in the imperial castle, there was no need to utilize a relationship with women to form an influence, but it was different here in the South.

In the South, the best display of power and status for men was to have several women from prestigious families.

It applied even more for great nobles. All of them had several concubines.

They could strengthen their relationships with other nobles and officials in their sphere of influence by using such methods.

Some lords even had more than three wives and over ten concubines.

There were many nobles and officials who wanted to have a relationship with the Pendragon Duchy. After all, Duke Pendragon had wiped out the pirates of the inland sea and brought fresh winds to the South and El Pasa.

Most importantly, he was one of five dukes of the empire who succeeded the blood of the royal family. He was one of the most powerful and brave knights of the empire, and an overwhelming number of ladies admired him.

Therefore, the nobles had decided to send in ladies of marriageable age after deliberation. They would form a relationship with him.

‘I wonder if this worked.’

Raven felt a chill when he looked at the southern ladies. They were busily chatting around Lindsay, but still looked at him with hot gazes.

Somehow, he felt like a rabbit surrounded by dozens of foxes…

In the end, Raven slowly turned away from the hot eyes of southern female foxes.

‘Hmm?’

Raven’s eyes narrowed.

A man in his early 30s was walking from the far side of the banquet hall. He was dressed extremely colorfully, and four burly men were escorting his sides. They seemed to be guards.

Count Cedric spotted the man almost simultaneously, then spoke in a low voice.

“That man is Karl Mandy.”

“Hm.”

Raven observed Karl Mandy and his companions with a calm gaze. Suddenly, an inquisitive expression appeared.

There were two people following right behind Karl Mandy while greeting the nobles and the officials. One man and one woman.

It was not the woman who had caught his eye, even though she was an impressive southern beauty with healthy brown skin, and deep, large, black eyes.

‘Who is that? I know him from somewhere…’

Raven tilted his head as he observed the old man, whose eyes were clear and piercing. The old man had his arms crossed with the woman, and it was rather hard to guess his age.

Just in time, Karl Mandy stepped aside to greet someone, and Raven was able to get a clear picture of the old man beside the southern beauty.

‘Heuk!’

His eyes widened in shock.

The old man was wrapped in a white robe and carrying a black staff.

“Jean… Oberon…”

It was the name of the most famous, but clandestine sorcerer of the empire. Raven unknowingly muttered the name as he thought back to his previous life. Raven had encountered the sorcerer just once in his previous life.