Chapter 159: Banquet of Swords (2) (1/2)
It’s finally here!
Terms used in this chapter:
You can fold if you’re scared – A phrase that is used to mock someone. It comes from the Korean gambling movie, Tazza: The High Rollers. Fold is a poker term used when one gives up their cards at hand, but in Korea, ‘fold’ can be called ‘die’ too, so the phrase can be read as ‘You can f*king die if you’re scared.’
There were about a dozen people sitting on several large tables, and most of them looked in curiosity at the three as Jude and Cordelia approached with Lucas at the lead.
“Let me introduce everyone to Mr. Jude Bayer from the family of Count Bayer who came from the north like me. The one next to him is his fiancée, Lady Cordelia Chase from the family of Count Chase.”
“I am Jude Bayer.”
“I am Cordelia Chase.”
When Jude and Cordelia courteously introduced themselves, Lucas continued.
“Both of them are very skilled. Lady Cordelia is an excellent wizard from the Chase family known for their wizards, and Mr. Jude Bayer is…”
That was it.
Lucas stopped as he recalled that he had never seen Jude use a sword.
Is Jude a swordsman?
Isn’t he a fist fighter?
As the confused Lucas stopped talking, the young men and women gathered at the tea party looked at Lucas and Jude in puzzlement, and Jude softly smiled and lightly patted the Eastern Warrior’s Sword on his waist as he said in a low voice.
“I am a swordsman. My master, Landius, is also a swordsman.”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
Landius was also a swordsman, but he was never seen carrying a sword.
It seemed like the disciple was walking a similar path like his master.
“Ahem, ahem. Let me introduce him again. This is Mr. Jude Bayer, an excellent swordsman and son of the Sword General, Count Bayer.”
Lucas’ introduction caused the young men and women to let out voices of awe and admiration.
Because no swordsman in the Sälen Kingdom who walked the path of the sword would not know the name of Count Bayer.
“By the way… the ones in the rumors… is it them?”
When the young woman, who looked to be in her mid-teens and was sitting close to Lucas, shyly asked, various expressions appeared on everyone’s faces.
Rumor.
The ones in those rumors.
They were the main stars of the rumor that started from the north and spread to the royal capital, to the point that even the princess had heard of it.
There was a young woman whose eyes were shining with curiosity.
There was another young woman who stared at them in admiration.
There was a young man who was doing his best to hold back his laughter, and there was also a young woman who looked at them in ridicule.
Their expressions truly varied.
“Hahaha… That…”
Yes, that’s true. Those rumors are true.
As Lucas laughed awkwardly since he couldn’t just let out his thoughts, Cordelia’s face turned red while Jude kept his usual shameless expression and stepped forward, hiding Cordelia from everyone’s sight.
“Ahem, ahem, I am aware that there are some rumors about us. But… some parts of it has been distorted.”
“Which part? Is it true that you two love each other so much that you eloped… N-no, I-I mean, a honeymoon trip?”
Asked the brown-haired young woman who was sitting next to Lucas and looked to be the youngest among everyone present in the tea party.
Jude responded as smoothly as always to the question of the young woman, whose eyes were shining like Princess Darianne and even looking at them a little enviously.
“That part is true.”
“Oh my gosh.”
A wide smile spread over the young woman’s face, and everyone made various expressions again.
A black-haired young woman strangely flinched but kept her mouth shut.
The blonde man beside her had a determined look as if he somehow made a resolution to himself.
And a curly-haired young man slightly moved his body in his want to see Cordelia hiding behind Jude in more detail.
Jude received their gazes with an expression that seemed to say that he had nothing to be ashamed of, and Cordelia tugged on Jude’s clothes at that moment.
It was a signal that he should stop talking nonsense and sort out the situation quickly.
“There are several unrevealed things, such as why we had to go on a trip. I apologize if I cannot talk about it here because it is related to the security of the north.”
“Mr. Jude Bayer is correct. The two of them have made great contributions in the north.”
“Oh, that rumor?”
“Wasn’t it just a rumor?”
Lucas followed up after Jude, and whispering sounds among the guests were soon heard.
They were those who had heard the story of Count Hræsvelgr and the Jackdaws marching into the wild lands.
“Ahem, ahem, let me finish my introductions. Mr. Bayer, Lady Cordelia, this is Lady Cana Glyce who is from the north like us.”
“I am Cana Glyce. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The brown-haired young woman slightly blushed as she politely greeted Jude and Cordelia.
“These two are Lady Rachel Bloom and Lord Marcus Chen from the north too.”
They were the black-haired young woman and the blonde-haired young man sitting at the same table as Cana.
“I am Rachel Bloom.”
“I am Marcus Chen.”
Rachel quietly greeted while Marcus introduced himself with a somewhat excited face.
“And…”
It was when Lucas was going to introduce the curly-haired young man with a frivolous expression.
“The northern bumpkins are excited.”
The words were said in a low voice, but all of them heard it because the place was quiet in the first place.
Lucas and the other prospects from the north turned to the direction where they heard the voice come from, and the owner of the voice and those sitting around that person received their gazes without any signs of embarrassment.
“What, did I say something wrong? The northern part is the countryside, so those who live in the north are country bumpkins.”
A young man with gorgeous blonde hair who looked to be over 20 years old said with a shrug, and the group who sat around him giggled and burst into laughter.
“That’s right, the north is the countryside.”
“Don’t be offended by his words. He just felt sorry for you guys.”
“Look at them talking loudly and getting excited to see each other.”
“There’s a rumor going around that…people from the north are unscrupulous and brazen.”
Every word they said was full of ridicule.
Eventually, Lucas couldn’t take it anymore and said as he glared.
“Lord Lucian. You’re going too far.”
“No, what… But what I said is all true though? Isn’t that right?”
The gorgeous blonde man, Lucian, looked around and asked, and the prospects from the royal capital, who seemed to be part of his clique, nodded and agreed.
But it was then. A black-haired girl with an alluring appearance who was sitting next to Lucian said with a smile.
“Lord Lucian, don’t be so mean. They’re still children.”
“Hmm, I see. I guess that’s why she could leave a letter like that. It seems I went too far.”
A letter like that.
The black-haired girl glanced at Cordelia and smiled, and Cordelia understood it right away.
She had brought up those words now to make fun of Cordelia from the very beginning.
‘F*ck?’
When Cordelia managed to stop the swear word from coming out of her mouth, Jude narrowed his eyes and studied Lucian and his clique.
‘Lucian Dior.’
The eldest son of Count Dior.
A young man from a powerful family in the royal capital, and favored by Duke Wotan, one of the prominent figures among the aristocrats who was in the same rank as Duke Spencer.
In the game, there was not much information about him because he only appeared for a short time, but Jude quickly understood the situation.
‘He’s trying to pick a fight.’
The kind who lorded over others.
He was like an alley boss who used this opportunity to lay down the law to the prospects from the north.
‘There’s no mastermind behind him.’
It wasn’t some political plot but just an immature man’s mischief.
Jude knew those kind of people who were like Lucian.
Those who grew up under their parent’s prestige could easily become such an audacious bastard especially when they were born with little talent.
Everything in the world would look insignificant to them.
“Lady Lorraine.”
When Lucas raised his voice again, the black-haired woman, Lorraine, said with wide open eyes.
“Oh my, are you mad at me now? Me?”
When Lorraine asked again as her face instantly turned tearful, the innocent Lucas was flustered and left speechless, and Lucian’s clique burst into laughter again.
“Isn’t he really mean? Right, Lord Lucian?”
“Yes, Lucas is quite mean. I can’t believe he raised his voice to my pretty Lorraine. That’s not something a man should do.”
As Lucian hugged Lorraine’s waist, she leaned against Lucian and spoke very naturally.
“But do forgive him. He’s still young.”
“Well, I guess I should. There’s something called a senior’s generosity.”
“How nice of you, Lord Lucian.”
Lorraine said in a whisper, and Lucian jerked his chin to Lucas as if he really forgave Lucas.
“I’ll forgive you for being mad at Lorraine, so why don’t you sit down?”
“Ha.”