Chapter 554 - Return of the King (1/2)
CHAPTER 554
RETURN OF THE KING
Everyone here is nuts! – that's the single, overarching conclusion that Jonttar had come to in the few minutes that he had observing those around him. While Alison tried to soothe Aaria against Lucky, the other three were hardly better; the young Duke opened a book right there, on the table, and started reading as though nothing else interested him, the Earl was actually napping right now, and the Grand Duke – someone who, at times, has even more power than the Emperor himself, was drinking and chatting with him like they were the best friends.
”—you look somewhat pale,” Eggor said. ”Are you okay?”
”—ah, no, yeah, I'm fine,” Jonttar stuttered. ”It's, uh, just my natural complexion…”
”Oh, 's that so? What's your name anyway?”
”… Jonttar, Grand Duke.”
”… who?”
”… you?”
”Oh, right!” Eggor exclaimed, as though having just remembered it. ”Right, I remember Hannah telling me she gave me some important title. Hur hur, Grand Duke, huh? Doesn't sound all that bad, does it?”
”… n-no…”
”Ha ha ha, relax, relax,” the big fist gently slapped his back as the odd Duke shoved a glass of wine in front of him. ”Drink. It's lonely drinking alone.”
”… y-yes…” Jonttar took the glass and slowly began chipping away at it, crying inwardly. He had already realized that none of the Empire's royalty paid much attention to their standing – if they were even aware they had it in the first place. At the end of the day, no matter what Jonttar did, if they didn't change their behavior in public, the public itself won't change their attitude toward them.
”Grandpa!!” a young girl cried out as she shuffled away from her seat and ran into Eggor's lap. ”Aunty is bullying me!”
”A-ah, is that so?” Eggor chuckled bitterly, glancing at the smirking Lucky. ”What did she do?”
”She's only a Duchess – you're a Grand Duke, you can punish her, right?!” YOU'RE THE PRINCESS!! THE ONLY PRINCESS OF THE EMPIRE!! Jonttar wanted to scream out but barely held himself.
”—could… could you give her a break, L'? Please?” Eggor sighed helplessly.
”Meh, fine,” Lucky shrugged, leaning back into her chair and copying Ivon, deciding to take a nap. ”Don't wake me up, no matter what.”
”… fine.” Alison sighed helplessly herself, glancing apologetically at Aaria who was currently pouting.
”… you're already fourteen, Aaria,” Eggor said, stroking the girl's hair gently. ”Did you know your mom is thinking of picking someone for you to marry tonight?”
”… bah, as if dad would ever let that happen.” Aaria said.
”Why do you think she's doing it while your dad isn't here?”
”—w-wait… you can't be serious?!”
”She thinks it's time.” Cae glanced dubiously at his old man, smiling bitterly; he was just as shrewd as the rest of them. Nobody who will be seated on this table tonight is a nice person, save for perhaps Alison.
”I—I…”
”Do you want your grandpa to talk with her?”
”Could you? Please?!” Aaria's downtrodden expression quickly lit up, her eyes shining.
”Of course, of course,” Eggor nodded, smiling lightly. ”So why don't you return to your seat and keep quiet, eh? Let me handle it.”
”Yes, grandpa!” He's dangerous!! He's too dangerous!! Jonttar broke out in cold sweat as he watched the old man manipulate a young girl so easily and effortlessly.
”Tsk, she's still just a pup,” Eggor sighed, noticing Jonttar's gaze, smiling. ”Now, her dad, that bastard… haii, after him, each kid becomes a vacation, I swear.”
”… I… I keep hearing a lot about the Emperor,” Jonttar said, taking a sip of the wine. ”What's he really like, though?”
”Nuts.”
”E-eh?”
”He's nuts,” Eggor shrugged. ”Greedy, arrogant, self-absorbed, manipulative, ungrateful bastard. If I were you, I'd keep as far away from him as possible.”
”A-aren't… aren't you his father?”
”Yup. So I know the best.”
”…”
Jonttar turned to silence once more, slumping back into his chair – well, someone else's chair. He was praying that, whoever was to sit here, comes quickly, lest he loses all the remaining marbles inside his mind. He'd also realized the simple truth – it's not that none of the people here were inept, or simply didn't know any better… it's just that none of them cared. Chances are, if anyone tried to usurp them, whoever did so wouldn't even know why they were clearing sewers a few days later. In a way, it was a brilliant strategy – nobody took them seriously, underestimating them severely.
”Attention!!” the voice echoed out once more, and once more after that, several times in a row, as various titled began arriving one by one, filling the tables. However, to Jonttar's surprise, nobody came to occupy his place, which piqued his curiosity somewhat as he turned toward Eggor.
”E-excuse me, Grand Duke?”
”Hm? Oh, just call me Eggor.”
”… E-Eggor, then.”
”Hm. What is it?”
”Whose seat is this? The one I'm sitting on?” he asked.
”Oh, that's Hannah's.”
”… Hannah's?” Jonttar tilted his head in confusion but for a second before suddenly feeling his soul freeze over. ”Y-y-you mean… the E-Empress Hannah?”
”Yup.” Eggor nodded nonchalantly. Does nobody REALLY give no shit about anything here?!! How come nobody even bothered glancing at me with ill intent?! I'm sitting on your Empress' chair guys!! For the love of all that is holy!!
”Attention!” the voice echoed out once more as the chattering audience quieted in an instant. ”Her Majesty, Empress Hannah Qa'yi is entering!” as the announcement faded, all those who stood quickly shot down to their knees and lowered their heads. Through the arched gateway, a single figure walked through gracefully, dressed in an ornamental dress of crimson and gold, a bejeweled crown resting beautifully at her head. Even those seated at the table, excluding exactly one figure – Eggor – got up and bowed.