Chapter 44: The Banquet of Masks

Rain continued to fall over Ashfall.

Soft.

Steady.

The droplets rolled down the stained-glass windows of Governor Cedric Ashford's mansion as servants hurried through the halls carrying silver trays, expensive wine, and steaming platters of food.

Tonight...

The governor had called for a banquet.

Officially...

It was to welcome an imperial prince.

Unofficially...

It was to see what kind of man Kael Aurelius had become.

A Noble's Banquet

The dining hall was magnificent.

Crystal chandeliers floated in the air through wind magic.

Paintings of former governors lined the walls.

Long oak tables stretched across the room.

More than eighty guests had arrived.

Lords.

Ladies.

Branch-family nobles.

Merchant guild leaders.

Knight captains.

Even representatives from nearby territories.

Everyone wanted to see the forgotten prince.

As Kael entered the hall...

Conversations immediately stopped.

Some nobles stood.

Others only nodded.

Several didn't acknowledge him at all.

Kael noticed every reaction.

The system quietly appeared.

"Social Analysis Activated"

Scanning...

Detected:

• 18 Friendly Individuals

• 41 Neutral Individuals

• 16 Hostile Individuals

• 7 Hidden Intentions

Recommendation:

Observe before acting.

Kael smiled inwardly.

"Seven hidden intentions already..."

"Politics really is another battlefield."

Lord Cedric raised his wine glass.

"Everyone..."

"Allow me to welcome His Highness, Prince Kael Asterion."

Polite applause echoed through the hall.

Not enthusiastic.

Not disrespectful.

Measured.

Kael noticed one thing immediately.

Many nobles weren't watching him.

They were watching...

Grom.

The old goblin stood quietly behind Kael with the Black Dragons.

Whispers spread across the hall.

"So the rumors were true..."

"He really brought one."

"Disgusting."

"Bold."

"Foolish."

Opinions varied.

The Branch Families

As dinner began...

Kael intentionally avoided the high table.

Instead...

He walked toward a smaller table near the back of the hall.

Several young nobles immediately stood in surprise.

One young woman quickly bowed.

"Y-Your Highness."

Kael smiled.

"May I join you?"

The group looked at one another in disbelief.

Normally...

Princes never sat with them.

One young man quickly pulled out a chair.

"It would be an honor."

Kael sat.

"So..."

"What house are all of you from?"

The young man answered first.

"Julian Ravenmoor."

"Branch Family of House Ravenmoor."

Another spoke.

"Selene Ashford."

"My grandfather was Lord Cedric's younger brother."

"I'll never inherit anything."

The third smiled bitterly.

"Thomas Aurelius."

Kael looked surprised.

"You're an Aurelius?"

Thomas nodded.

"Very distant."

"My family descends from the Emperor's great-uncle."

"We carry the name..."

"...but none of the influence."

Kael immediately understood.

This was exactly what Darius had warned him about.

The Empire didn't simply divide people into nobles and commoners.

Even among nobles...

There were classes.

The Main Bloodline.

And everyone else.

Julian quietly laughed.

"My father says..."

"We exist to make the Main Branch look bigger."

The others laughed.

Not because it was funny.

Because it was true.

Kael leaned back.

"What if that changed?"

Silence.

Thomas blinked.

"What?"

Kael looked around the table.

"If someone proves they're capable..."

"Shouldn't they have the opportunity to rise?"

Selene answered first.

"That's not how the Empire works."

"Maybe..."

Kael said calmly.

"...that's the problem."

Across the room...

Several nobles had been watching the entire conversation.

One elderly count frowned.

"Why is he speaking with them?"

Another scoffed.

"Branch families."

"They'll never matter."

A merchant quietly whispered,

"I think the prince disagrees."

An Insult

As dessert was served...

A loud voice echoed through the hall.

"Your Highness."

Everyone turned.

A young noble stood confidently.

Expensive clothing.

Arrogant smile.

Gold embroidery marked him as a member of the Main Bloodline.

"Baron Victor Aurelius."

A direct descendant of one of the Emperor's cousins.

He bowed only slightly.

Not enough.

"I've heard remarkable stories about your goblin."

The room immediately became quiet.

Grom remained expressionless.

Victor smiled.

"Would you mind answering a question?"

Kael nodded.

"Go ahead."

Victor slowly walked closer.

"Tell me..."

"If that goblin is so loyal..."

"Why isn't he wearing a collar?"

The banquet froze.

Some nobles laughed.

Others looked uncomfortable.

Even Cedric frowned.

Grom quietly lowered his eyes.

He had heard that sentence countless times throughout his life.

Kael calmly stood.

He didn't raise his voice.

He didn't look angry.

Instead...

He looked disappointed.

"Baron Victor."

"May I ask you something?"

Victor smirked.

"Of course."

"If someone placed a collar around your neck..."

"Would it make you more loyal..."

"...or would it make you hate them?"

Victor's smile disappeared.

Kael continued.

"Loyalty earned through fear..."

"It isn't loyalty."

"It's obedience."

He looked around the hall.

"I don't need slaves."

"I need people who choose to stand beside me."

Silence spread across the room.

Then...

An elderly merchant slowly began clapping.

One clap.

Then another.

Soon...

Several guild representatives joined him.

Some knights followed.

Not everyone.

But enough.

Victor's face turned red.

He quickly returned to his seat without another word.

Across the hall...

Lord Cedric smiled to himself.

"Interesting..."

"He didn't humiliate the boy."

"He taught the room."

A Private Conversation

Later that night...

After most guests had retired...

Cedric invited Kael onto the mansion's balcony.

Rain had finally stopped.

The city lights reflected across the river below.

For several minutes...

Neither man spoke.

Finally...

Cedric broke the silence.

"You remind me of someone."

Kael looked at him.

"My father?"

Cedric laughed softly.

"No."

"Your mother."

Kael's expression changed.

He hadn't expected that answer.

Cedric leaned against the stone railing.

"When she first came to the Imperial Palace..."

"Everyone underestimated her."

"They called her an outsider."

"They mocked her customs."

"They laughed at her ideas."

He smiled.

"They stopped laughing after three years."

Kael stared silently into the city below.

"What was she like?"

Cedric sighed.

"Brilliant."

"Kind."

"Stubborn."

"The only woman I've ever seen argue with the Emperor..."

"...and win."

Kael couldn't help but smile.

"That sounds like her."

Cedric's expression became serious.

"Your mother loved you."

Kael looked at him sharply.

"Then why did she leave?"

Cedric was quiet for a long moment.

Finally...

"I don't know."

"But..."

"I know this."

"The woman I knew..."

"...would never abandon her son without a reason."

Kael remained silent.

For the first time since beginning his journey...

A crack appeared in the resentment he had carried for ten years.

Not forgiveness.

Not yet.

But doubt it.

The System

As Kael returned to his room...

A familiar blue screen appeared.

"Character Development"

Emotion Detected:

Resentment → Questioning

New Personal Quest Unlocked:

The Truth of the Queen

Discover why your mother truly left the Empire.

Rewards:

???

Failure:

Truth remains forever hidden.

Kael stared at the screen.

He then looked toward the moon outside his window.

"...Mother."

"What really happened?"

Outside...

Hidden on the rooftop of a nearby building...

The woman with the silver wolf emblem quietly closed her notebook.

She smiled faintly.

"Now..."

"He's asking the right questions."

She disappeared into the darkness before dawn.