CH 9

The carriage, which had been speeding along, entered the main street of Lutz.

Jeff Klauswitz slowly opened his eyes and looked out his carriage window. A procession of luxurious carriages bearing the coat of arms of prestigious aristocratic families was filling the avenue leading to the imperial palace. The downtown area, where darkness had begun to fall, was becoming more and more congested with crowds gathering to see the magnificent view.

While admiring the feast of lights that lit up the city at night, his gaze stopped on the crest of a carriage running side by side. Golden rose. It was Herhardt.

Jeff Klauswitz sneaked a sideways glance through the carriage window.The owner of the duke’s family, who was said to be the highest aristocrat in the empire, was a young man barely the age of his son. As if he felt the staring gaze, the Duke slowly turned his head.

Their eyes met without a chance to avoid it, but the young duke showed no agitation. He politely tilted the tip of his chin in greeting, and then he calmly withdrew his gaze.

“Today, I can finally be introduced to Duke Herhardt.”

Jeff looked expectantly at his son in the seat across from him. Franz, who had been concentrating only on reading his open book, finally raised his head.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Your fiancee. Since she is the daughter of a family within Herhardt’s social circle, she will be able to build a bridge between you and the Duke.”

“But Father. Lady Klein and Duke Herhardt have no personal relationship, and…”

“Of course.”

Theodora Klauswitz, who was observing the air currents between the father and son, quickly cut off her son.

“If it is difficult for her to come forward in person, Count Klein might be able to arrange a meeting with him. Isn’t that right, Franz?”

With her eyes full of authority, Theodora challenged her son with a question close to a command. The hesitant Franz eventually nodded his head in resignation.

“How long have you been going to the same school? I can’t believe you’ve never tried to mix words properly before.”

A deep sigh escaped from Jeff’s  lips as he examined the philosophical book on Franz’s lap.

Of course, Franz was unmistakably a genius.

He was smart enough to stand out in a private school where children of prestigious families gathered, and his artistic sense was also outstanding. The son who graduated as an honor student and was accepted into the top university in the empire was definitely the pride of the family.

But outside of academics, well.

Jeff was very displeased with Franz, who pursued vain notions such as art and philosophy. The same went for his girlish temperament, which seldom blends into the world of men. It was not a very satisfying achievement compared to the money and effort it took to get him into the school.

“We can’t all be friends just because we’re alumni, father. What’s more, the Duke of Herhardt. Matthias von Herhardt wouldn’t be close to my mother either. The school year was different from mine.”

Franz, furious, retorted. He looked quite wounded with pride.

“The lady of the Dissen family will also attend this ball, right?”

Theodora, who was watching the scene, quickly changed the subject. Fortunately, the name she mentioned worked beyond expectations.

“She’s a well-spoken, poor aristocrat, but she’s in a bad situation. It’s obvious what the standard of such person will be.”

“Don’t think too negatively. It’s time for Bastian to get married as well. In any case, there is nothing wrong with him getting a wife who is of imperial blood.”

Theodora gave advice with a benevolent smile on her face. It was as if she was genuinely concerned about her stepson’s future.

“Indeed. You have a point,” smirked Jeff Klauswitz, whose face was so charming and lovely that his middle age belied his face.

Theodora looked at her husband with enchanted eyes, as if she were dreaming.

Jeff Klauswitz was her world. It had been that way ever since the spring of her eighteenth year, when she fell deeply in love.

Nothing was more important than the man. Neither the difference in their status, nor the opposition of her family, nor even the fact that he was already married* could hinder that passionate love. Theodora, even if she sold her soul to the devil, she wanted to have that man, and she finally did. (*Jeff was married to Bastian’s mother at the time)

“I must be sure to congratulate Bastian when I see him. How happy he must be to finally be invited to the imperial palace, and to have a wife bestowed upon him by His Majesty the Emperor.”

Anticipation began to float in Theodora’s eyes as she gazed at the imperial palace, which had suddenly become closer.

It was thanks to the efforts of Theodora’s family, Viscount Oswald, that Klauswitz was accepted as a member of society. However, the qualification was limited to the children of the Klauswitz and his  second wife. It was the last pride of the aristocratic society, and it was also Theodora’s wish that she could not accept even the children of Jeff’s lowly ex-wife. This allowed Franz to more easily confirm his succession.

But he (Bastian) finally rose to the occasion.

The day she first learned of the fact that Bastian had received an invitation to the Imperial Ball, she was so anxious and nervous that she could not sleep. But fortunately the pain didn’t last long. It was thanks to the news that the daughter of the Duke of Dissen would also attend the ball. Considering what kind of disgrace Bastian would face, this incident felt like an opportunity.

“But it would not be very honorable for such a woman to be a member of our family.”

Franz objected with a frown. He looked as if he had just stepped on dirt.

“Don’t worry, Franz, no one will consider Bastian’s bride a member of our family. Wouldn’t it be better if it was Illis?”

Theodora looked at her husband with a carefree smile.

Bastian had not spent any time under the roof of the Klauswitz family since they left Ardennes the year he turned twelve. His maternal family, the Illis family, took care of him, and Bastian also considered them family. He was as grateful as if he was given the world.

“Your mother is right, Franz, you just have to think about your future.”

Jeff Klauswitz happily nodded his head in agreement.

Theodora smiled, her face displaying incomparably great affection and pride. Like the day she cleared Jeff’s shackles that of an ex-wife. Just like the day she gave birth to her son of noble blood. Just like the very day that made Klauswitz a member of this world.

When the carriage arrived at its destination, their conversation stopped at that point.

The night of the Imperial Palace was dawning with an intimidating, spectacular light.

***

“Captain Klauswitz has arrived!”

As the powerful shouts of the servants resounded, the eyes of the guests were all focused on the entrance of the banquet hall. Franz also turned his head to look there.

He was excitedly bouncing his feet.

It was the first time in his life that he was invited to a banquet in the imperial palace. He had the honor of stepping into a world that he had never dared to dream of, so he couldn’t control his happiness. That was why Bastian’s humiliation, which only appeared right before the start of the ball, was even greater.

He (Bastian) was always bragging about everything.

He (Bastian) would be a shallow beast who would be treated to a lump of fish in return for hunting people.

Clearing his disturbed breathing, Franz escorted his fiancée to the front of the crowd of onlookers. It was a position where he could see Bastian, who was about to enter.

As soon as they stopped, Bastian appeared. Franz’s hopes of proving the difference between him and his half-brother were shattered the moment he took his first step.

Bastian proceeded without hesitation down the path that stretched out before him. It was an appearance so arrogant that it could be seen as the position of the Crown Prince.

But what surprised Franz more than that was the glamorous faces of greeting Bastian. From high-ranking aristocrats to celebrities in the political and financial world. It was a connection that was unlikely to be within the social circle of a mere navy captain.

“Is he also acquainted with Duke Herhardt?”

The young lady of Klein, who was watching the scene, innocently admired it.

Franz held his breath with his lips tightly closed. Matthias von Herhardt, who had approached Bastian, was about to shake hands first. It was a situation that was completely incomprehensible, but it seemed clear that the two had already known each other and were close enough to have a social conversation.

Nervous, Franz raised his cold hand and adjusted his glasses. In the meantime, Bastian turned around after finishing his conversation with Duke Herhardt.

“Hello, Franz.”

When their eyes met, Bastian calmly approached Franz and greeted him.

“It’s nice to see you again, Lady Kline.”

Taking interest in Franz, who was unable to speak easily, Bastian turned to his fiancée by his side.

“Hello. I’m pleased to meet the captain at the imperial palace.”

Fortunately, Count Klein’s daughter, who was more intelligent than her fiancé, dispelled the awkward atmosphere with a sociable greeting. It was towards the end of their conversation that Franz barely spoke the first words.

“How do you feel about finally entering the imperial palace?”

Clearing his throat, Franz smiled casually. He looked thinner than before, when the succession classes were quite difficult.

“I’m so moved that I want to make it a lifetime honor. Just like you are.”

Bastian, who slowly inspected the grand banquet hall of the imperial palace, tilted his head and smiled. As if this was a sufficient answer, Franz’s face turned red.

“Well. That wouldn’t be too bad.”

Even at the moment of belated bravado, Franz could not hide his nervousness. It was then that a cry was heard announcing the arrival of the last guest. It was the name he had been waiting for.

Franz hurriedly turned toward the entrance of the banquet hall. And after a while, a young lady with a gray-haired old lady in front entered. She was the bride in question who would ruin Bastian’s first imperial ball.

Franz looked at his brother’s bride with excitement. It was about the time Lady Odette reached the center of the hall that he had a feeling that something was wrong.

This was not possible.

Franz’s face blurred for a moment as he denied the reality that rendered him speechless. The snide remarks that had flowed out of his mouth without his knowledge seeped into the crowd’s amazement.

Just as his (Franz’s) increasingly loud heartbeat muffled all the noise in the world, Bastian began to move.

A piece of rotten meat thrown by the emperor towards that damn beautiful woman.