Chapter 185

Chapter 185. Victory Banquet and Soren

Just ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍then, a soldier’s clear voice pierced through the tent canvas and came from outside.

“Viscount ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Eli! Marquess Claire invites you to attend the victory banquet!”

Eli ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍returned from his heavy thoughts about Bernard. He drew in a deep breath, then turned to Buck with a slightly lighter expression.

“Dinner ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is ready. Come, Buck. Let us fill our stomachs first.”

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍two walked out of the large tent together and headed toward the center of the camp, where the lights were brightest and the voices loudest.

Before ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍they had even drawn close, the wave of heated noise had already rushed toward them.

From a distance, they could see several roaring bonfires lit across the open ground, with many officers and soldiers seated around them.

They laughed and talked loudly, slapped one another on the shoulders, or boasted about their brave exploits during the day.

When Eli’s figure appeared at the edge of the firelight, someone noticed him first. Then more and more eyes turned toward him.

The noise paused faintly at first, then erupted into even warmer cheers and greetings.

“Oh! It is Viscount Eli Pendragon!”

“Haha! Lord Eli is here! Truly worthy of his reputation as a hero!”

With a measured smile on his face, Eli nodded in greeting to the officers and soldiers looking toward him, but he did not stop for long to exchange pleasantries.

His gaze swept across the crowd, and he saw Wolfgang and the Wolf-kin warriors under his command occupying a small area of their own.

Piles of meat were stacked before them, and they were eating quietly and quickly.

Eli signaled to Buck, letting him join the banquet freely.

As for Eli himself, he followed an attendant who had long since been waiting nearby and walked toward the main tent surrounded by the many tents and people at the center.

The tent flap was lifted. The space inside was far more spacious than it looked from outside, and the furnishings were also comparatively refined.

Five people were seated around a long table covered with clean linen.

Aside from the familiar Viscount Armand, Sir Soren, and Marquess Claire, there were also two middle-aged men with extraordinary bearing, dressed in clothing bearing the crests of their respective families.

Judging by appearances, they should be important vassal commanders under Marquess Claire.

The cheers outside had naturally alerted the people within the tent, and their gazes had already turned toward the entrance in unison.

The moment Eli stepped inside, he was met with enthusiastic praise.

“Viscount Eli, come sit!” Marquess Claire said in a booming voice, a delighted smile on his face.

He pointed to an empty seat beside him, then introduced Eli to the two middle-aged men.

“Bam, Mark. This is the man I have mentioned to you many times—the outstanding figure of our Western Frontier’s younger generation, Viscount Eli Pendragon!”

Eli hurriedly waved his hand modestly.

“My lords, please do not flatter me too much. I truly came here to eat this time. On the way here, I nearly became full just from hearing everyone’s praise.”

These self-effacing yet somewhat playful words immediately drew hearty laughter from everyone inside the tent, and the atmosphere instantly became even more harmonious.

Eli smoothly walked over to the empty seat and happened to sit beside Sir Soren.

The two exchanged a smile and nodded to each other, which counted as a greeting.

A servant silently placed a set of exquisite silver tableware before Eli.

Everyone sat again, and naturally, the topic turned to Eli’s thrilling blocking battle that afternoon.

The men present were all experienced commanders, and they were extremely interested in it.

Eli did not conceal much either. He roughly described the course of the battle.

This included how he had used formations for defense, how he had seized the opportunity to counterattack after Hammer was wounded, and how he had finally forced the prisoners to surrender.

When they heard Eli mention the key role Wolfgang and his Wolf-kin warriors had played in the battle,

especially how Wolfgang had severely wounded the enemy commander in a single blow, Marquess Claire could not help raising his brows in surprise.

“Wolf-kin... That must be the warrior with the powerful aura outside, yes? I never expected him to be a Gold-Tier powerhouse!”

His tone carried undisguised admiration.

Baron Bam, who was seated below Marquess Claire, picked up the thread.

“Lord Frey, it seems Viscount Eli’s charisma is truly extraordinary.

“As far as I know, demi-human tribes with such powerful combat talent have become increasingly rare. Most only gather in small numbers in certain remote, bitterly cold regions of the Northern Frontier.”

Marquess Claire nodded in understanding, and the interest in his gaze toward Eli deepened.

Viscount Armand, meanwhile, said with a gratified smile, “It seems what you said before was no false claim, Eli. The strength of the soldiers under your command is truly formidable.

“To defeat the Federation army head-on with fewer troops than the enemy—

“that is a merit earned through your own courage, decisiveness, and the hard fighting of the officers and soldiers under you! I will report your achievements to Lord Lucius truthfully!”

Eli smiled and nodded, expressing his thanks for Viscount Armand’s affirmation.

Then he turned to ask about the situation on the other side. “Lord Armand, how did things go on your side?”

Hearing this, Armand immediately burst into loud laughter, his tone filled with the exhilaration of victory.

“With Marquess Claire leading an elite cavalry surprise attack, the battle naturally went extremely smoothly!

“That Federation remnant force that tried to coordinate from inside and outside has been completely annihilated. Not one managed to escape!”

Marquess Claire’s face could not hide his pride either.

“In that case, counting those we destroyed, together with the enemies you killed and captured on your side, Eli, Storm City has truly suffered a heavy blow this time!

“Hahaha! When our armies encircle and attack that firm city, it should become much easier.”

Everyone inside the tent naturally voiced their agreement, and the atmosphere was lively.

“In that case, next we only need to rest here and wait for Marquess Mellon and the various main forces to arrive and rendezvous,” Viscount Armand said, planning their next move. Then he looked toward Soren. “Sir Soren, has any new message come from Lord Mellon?”

Soren shook his head. “Not yet. But judging roughly by the travel schedule, Father’s force should be arriving soon as well.”

Baron Mark, who was seated on the other side of Marquess Claire, joined in.

“The main infantry force led by Marquess Marcus should also arrive soon after clearing the towns and cities along the way.

“Once our three armies join together, it will be time to recover Storm City!

“And when the time comes, we will also happen to hold a grand wedding for our young Viscount Eli! Hahaha!”

He was clearly an open and hearty man by nature, and his good-natured teasing once again made everyone in the tent laugh.

A perfectly measured helpless smile appeared on Eli’s face. He picked up the wine cup before him and gestured in Baron Mark’s direction.

“Baron Mark, drink.” He seemed to be trying to use wine to stop this talkative baron’s mouth.

Seeing Eli take the initiative to raise a cup to him, Baron Mark actually looked somewhat flattered. He hurriedly lifted his own cup and answered loudly,

“Come! Viscount Eli, I drink to you!”

The two silver cups met in midair with a crisp clink.

“My lords, to today’s victory and to the glory of the Western Frontier, let us drink together!” Viscount Armand raised his cup at the perfect moment and proposed a toast.

“To victory!”

“To the Western Frontier!”

Everyone’s laughter mingled with the clinking of cups, and the atmosphere inside the tent reached its height.

After several rounds of wine, a clear flush appeared on Marquess Claire’s originally fair face.

Somewhat tipsy, he suddenly slapped the table hard and looked toward Soren, who was seated beside Eli, with bright eyes.

“Soren! Be honest with me, boy. What exactly is going on between you and my Vina? She is my youngest and most beloved daughter!”

Eli, who had been quietly eating, immediately pricked up his ears without changing his expression. This was rare noble gossip.

Soren, who had been suddenly called out, jumped in fright. He hurriedly set down his tableware, his face faintly red, and explained somewhat stammeringly.

“Er... Lord Frey... Miss Vina, she... she is merely rather interested in some knowledge of herbology and plants.

“We... we only exchange thoughts from time to time... And there is quite a difference in our ages as well...

“In short... we really are only... ordinary friends.”

The more he spoke, the quieter his voice became. Clearly, he did not have much confidence.

Viscount Armand, seated on Soren’s other side, had a complex and unreadable look flash through his eyes.

Judging from Sir Soren’s reaction, there was absolutely something there.

He had not expected that gentle-tempered Soren could actually attract the beloved daughter of Marquess Claire, who was known for her fierce temperament and discerning eye.

If those two truly reached a good conclusion, then Soren’s position as the heir of the Winterbourne Family would become even more secure, unshakable by anyone.

For a vassal like him who supported Soren, that was naturally excellent news.

Seeing Soren’s embarrassed appearance, Baron Mark could not help laughing. He tried to smooth things over, but his tone carried the teasing air of someone who had been through it himself.

“All right, all right, friends. Mm, Sir Soren, those words of yours remind this old fellow of my own youth...”

Beside him, Baron Bam seemed to sense that Mark was about to say something inappropriate, so he quickly tugged carefully at Mark’s sleeve and reminded him in a low voice,

“You old bastard, take it easy. Do not start spouting nonsense just because you drank too much!”

Baron Mark waved him off with a grin, clearly tipsy, and continued.

“We are only friends—that was exactly what I solemnly swore to the fellows around me back then.

“Until later... until my poor late wife’s adorable belly... grew so large that no one could hide it anymore, hahahahaha...”

Before he could finish, Marquess Claire’s expression had already darkened at a visible speed, his face growing blacker and blacker.

Seeing that the situation was turning bad, Baron Bam’s heart screamed bitterly.

He could not care about anything else. He suddenly reached out and clamped a hand over Baron Mark’s still-laughing mouth, forcefully blocking whatever even more shocking words might have come next.

As he exerted force, he smiled awkwardly at the displeased Marquess Claire and explained,

“Lord Frey, please do not take offense! This old fellow has definitely had too much to drink!

“He is full of nonsense! I will take him out to sober up right now! Right now!”

As he spoke, he practically half-dragged and half-carried Baron Mark, who was still struggling and mumbling, out of the tent by force.

The remaining people inside the tent looked at one another, then burst into laughter they could no longer hold back.

Even Marquess Claire, whose face had been dark, looked at Mark being dragged away and finally shook his head helplessly. The corner of his mouth pulled into a curve that was half amusement, half exasperation.

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