Chapter 194: Bastard of Linan (1/2)

The Bastard of Linan had to attend an evening gathering of youth where he met the noblemen of the capital. In his disguise, Arthur made idle chats with the people just to assert his existence.

The hustle was a chore for Arthur, who wasn't used to interacting with strangers for so long. However, Master Ronin said that he needed to give himself a background.

Despite the ridicule and discrimination, no one asked about the origins of a bastard son. This would bring the affairs of nobles to the surface and these were ugly.

In the gathering, Arthur saw Caleb surrounded by his entourage of noble youth. Jerano wasn't solely for nobles, but it was a common aim for this. This made the commoners who enrolled there to be oppressed by their noble peers.

Arthur kept his distance away. For the first time in a while, he was a nameless person again. After their initial interest, the nobles left him be. After all, he was the bastard of a nameless nobleman from the rural areas of the Union. Furthermore, he wasn't even from Yalen, but one of its vessel states.

'To be insignificant is a relief.' Arthur began to enjoy the sweets served there. As he stood there, someone walked to him.

”Who are you? I never saw you here.” A fat young man with squared features walked up to him. Arthur sighed inwardly as he bowed.

”Alexie Linan, a bastard from the rural state of Vernia.” Arthur has already practiced his lines.

”Oh, a bastard?” The square-faced-and-square-nosed man glanced at him. ”I'm Oliver Belford. Make sure to remember it well.”

”Well of course,” Arthur nodded. ”How can I not know the name of the handsome men of the capital?”

”Oho, it seems my reputation has spread to the neighboring kingdoms.” Oliver stroked his chin, which was as flat as a ruler. ”It's good that you know the names of those above you.”

Arthur could only shake his head, inwardly at least, at how confident this guy was. Even if Arthur flattered him, there was no way someone could think of themselves as handsome with this guy's cardboard head.

Nonetheless, he liked people like that, who were unbothered by their appearance. A conceited fool was better than a jealous person with an inferiority complex.

”It's a pleasure to meet you,” Arthur said with a smile. Oliver kept blathering about all sorts of things and his influence in the capital as Arthur ate his sweets.

The funny thing was that Oliver would cough when other nobles were nearby and stop his boasting. Anyone with a brain can see that this man was bragging, but Arthur didn't mind.

”Her highness is here,”

Someone whispered and Arthur turned to see Nera wearing a one-piece dress that embraced her body. It was the first time that he met someone he knew from his past identity.

The crowd split as they greeted the princess, who was accompanied by one of her younger cousins. Arthur saw Oliver adjust his bow tie that red before adjusting his white collar.

”Follow me, Alexie,” Oliver said to him. ”I'll introduce you to my childhood friend.” Arthur looked at him with confusion as the fat meatball made its way across the hall.

With a sigh, Arthur left his sweets and began following the nobleman. He had a mission of introducing himself to this community, so it was for the best that he did more effort than eating sweets.

Oliver was as fat as two Arthurs, so it was difficult to see beyond him. He was also rather tall, despite Arthur's height being around 180cm after his breakthrough. Even though he wasn't that tall, he also wasn't short. Yet, he couldn't see beyond the jiggling flesh of Oliver.

When the humanoid tank stopped, at last, Arthur moved to its side to take a better look. He saw a group of people looking at Oliver and him with disgust.

”What is it that you want, Belford?” Barked one of the youths who had a tall and lean body. Several other youths were surrounding a beautiful blonde girl.

'Nera,' Arthur sighed inwardly as his face remained expressionless. After some thought, he pulled a panicked face since it would be suspicious if he remained calm.

”Butt out, Reinhold.” Oliver sneered in disdain. ”I'm here to greet my childhood friend.” Arthur noticed that when Oliver said that, Nera carried a troubled expression and her mouth twitched.

”It's good to say you as lively as always, Oliver.” Nera greeted with a smile. ”I see you have new friends.” She politely turned to Arthur. Her gaze lingered as if she was trying to remember who he was.

”Ah, yes. He's my dear friend from the Vernia kingdom, Alexie Linan.” Oliver wore a smug expression as he introduced Arthur intimately. ”Alexie, you must know of the princess our Union.”

”H-how can I not?” Arthur feigned stuttering in panic as he did a lousy bow. ”Greetings, your highness!”

”Greetings to you, Sir Alexie.” Nera smiled in greeting. Arthur felt her ability being activated with his perception and used his insignia, albeit barely.