Chapter 168: EPISODE 157 – THE DUKE’S INVITATION (1)

EPISODE 157 – THE DUKE’S INVITATION (1)

“Is it an invitation from Duke Spencer?”

Smiles spread across the faces of Count Bayer and Gaël as they checked the invitation.

The two did not know yet that Jude and Cordelia had become friends with Princess Darianne.

But even if they did, they would still react the same.

They would be thankful for the invitation.

No, they felt that it was natural for that invitation to come.

They were relieved and felt proud.

The two looked at Jude with faces full of happiness.

‘What’s going on?’

Jude knew all kinds of things from Legend of Heroes, but he knew little about Duke Spencer’s invitation.

Because none of the playable characters who could visit the royal capital at this time had any contact with Duke Spencer.

‘If we went with the flow of the original, Jude was still suffering from his illness at home.’

Cordelia had gone missing and was wandering in the north.

In Lucas’ case, he did visit the royal capital at this time, but he didn’t have any point of contact with Duke Spencer.

‘First of all, Duke Spencer was sick and suffering from his condition.’

It was impossible for him to invite guests when he was ill.

Moreover, Lucas was a young man from the north who was a complete stranger to Duke Spencer.

He wasn’t an important visitor that could meet the bedridden duke.

‘But the situation has changed.’

Princess Darianne who should’ve gone home empty-handed was able to get the Seven-Colored Herb with the help of Jude and Cordelia.

Thus, Duke Spencer was freed from his chronic illness and recovered his strength.

‘So I thought he’d invite us.’

For Duke Spencer, Jude and Cordelia were his benefactors who healed his chronic illness and at the same time, they were friends of Princess Darianne whom he cherished and was the apple of his eye.

‘I was expecting he’d invite us to a tea party.’

But it wasn’t a tea party invitation that arrived.

It was to an event with a cheesier and grander name than that.

‘The Banquet of Swords.’

That was the reason why Count Bayer and Gaël were very happy.

“Those good old days. I once participated in Duke Spencer’s Banquet of Swords.”

“I agree, father. I also remember participating in that.”

The father and son said as they recalled it, and Adelia suddenly raised her nose and bragged about it.

“Hmph, that’s natural. It’s to be expected of Lord Gaël and father-in-law.”

Edward clicked his tongue at Adelia proudly talking as if she was involved in that, while Cordelia tilted her head and Jude unconsciously nodded.

‘Similar.’

They really are sisters.

Adelia was almost acting the same as Cordelia.

‘What’s similar?’

‘I mean, you’re like that.’

‘Tsk, I’m not like that, okay?’

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Cordelia pouted, and Jude didn’t say anything after that.

‘Aren’t you like that every time you boast about me?’

Jude thought to himself as he avoided her gaze before he quietly smiled and looked at Gaël and Count Bayer again.

“Father, what is the Banquet of Swords?”

In fact, he had roughly guessed it, but it was still a guess.

There was no need for him to continue guessing it when an answer could be given to him now.

At Jude’s question, Count Bayer replied with a smile.

“Haha, as its name suggests, the Banquet of Swords refers to a banquet where swords gather. To be exact, it’s a banquet where young and promising swordsmen gather.”

Count Bayer slowly spoke and gently tapped the sword on his waist, as if he became conscious of the fact that he was a swordsman again.

“Jude, as you know, the Spencer family are known for their long history and tradition with swords.”

“Yes, it’s a family that has a longer history than the kingdom.”

The Spencer family was one of the meritorious families that greatly contributed to the founding of the Sälen Kingdom, and the Duke Spencer of that time was also the sworn brother of the founder king, Lion D. Sälen.

‘In fact, their family was in charge of the military in the early days of the kingdom.’

While Duke Wotan from one of the other meritorious families provided troops, Duke Spencer provided powerful and outstanding swordsmen to become the vanguard and lead the troops.

As a result, the founder king, Lion D. Sälen, was able to win several battles, and he praised the Duke of Spencer for his distinguished service and awarded him a special honorary title.

‘Sword Teacher.’

He who guided all the swordsmen in the kingdom.

At the time of the kingdom’s foundation, Duke Spencer was a man befitting of the name ‘Sword Teacher.’

He was undeniably the best swordsman in the kingdom.

But that wasn’t the case for the next generations.

They had a lot of excellent swordsmen, but no one appeared to be capable enough of being called the best in the kingdom.

‘But even so, they were still a family renowned for their excellent swordsmen.’

The best swordsmen in the kingdom no longer came from the duke’s direct descendants.

The Spencer family was no longer a family that produced the best swordsmen in the kingdom.

But the ‘Spencer Sword School’ was different.

The Spencer Sword School produced at least one great swordmaster per generation.

‘Sword School.’

A group where people could teach or learn swordsmanship.

This was the result of the pride and responsibility of that time’s Duke Spencer in their honorary title as the ‘Sword Teacher.’

“A long time has definitely passed. The honorary title of the past, Sword Teacher, has almost disappeared now. But as a Sword Teacher, the current Duke Spencer has not given up his responsibility to improve the military… or to be exact, the skills of the swordsmen in the Sälen Kingdom.”

To the Bayer family, Lucas Hræsvelgr was a stranger.

They were complete strangers, not related by blood nor swordsmanship style.

But not for Duke Spencer.

To him, Lucas was a swordsman of the Sälen Kingdom.

“The Banquet of Swords refers to an event that gathers young swordsmen with promising talent from all over the country. It’s an event to tell these prospects, who have lived like frogs in the well, that there is a wide world beyond them.”

Count Bayer said in a slightly self-deprecating voice, but Count Chase snorted and said.

“I don’t think a noble who went to the Banquet of Swords and crushed all the other prospects should be saying that. Ah, there’s no way that you’re just bragging about yourself, right?”

At the criticism that Count Chase said because he was a long-time friend, Count Bayer replied as he felt pleased and embarrassed.

“This friend of mine exaggerated it a little, so don’t listen to him.”

“Hmph, it’s not an exaggeration.”

Count Bayer was actually the strongest swordsman in the Sälen Kingdom now if one limited it to those of a similar age as him.

There were ten great swordmasters, but their difference in ages widely varied.

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‘If I recall correctly, Count Hræsvelgr is almost ten years younger than father.’

Because of his age, Count Bayer could no longer attend the banquet as a prospect even if he wanted to.

“In any case, it’s certainly an honor to be in the Banquet of Swords. It’s an event where you can even be proud of the fact that you were invited.”

Before Count Chase could tease him again, Count Bayer quickly finished speaking and turned to Gaël.

Gaël nodded at his father’s look that seemed to ask him to explain further.

“Just as father has said, being invited to the Banquet of Swords means that you are already a promising swordsman in the Sälen Kingdom who’s recognized by the Duke of Spencer, the Sword Teacher.”

Gaël gave a clear explanation, but his cheeks were somehow slightly red, and Jude knew the reason why.

“As expected of my Lord Gaël who had once been invited to the Banquet of Swords.”

When Adelia hugged Gaël’s arm and spoke, Gaël’s face turned even more red, and joy spread on Count Bayer’s face.

“And now, Jude has been invited as well.”

Because the letter was an invitation of Duke Spencer to Jude and his fiancée, Cordelia, to attend the Banquet of Swords.

“It’s really nice. Really nice.”

Count Bayer smiled in satisfaction as his eyes began to turn slightly red.

Jude had always been weak from birth and could barely go outside, let alone go to the royal capital, so Count Bayer was always worried about him.

But now, Jude was not only very healthy but was also invited to the Banquet of Swords.

He was deeply moved by that.

“Hmph, it’s only natural that Duke Spencer has eyes too.”

As Count Chase snorted and spoke, a series of small and cute snorts followed.

“Hmph, that’s right. He can’t be proud of being a Sword Teacher if he doesn’t recognize the swordsmen of the Bayer family.”

“Hmph, Duke Spencer understands it.”

“Why do I feel a strange sense of alienation every time they do this?”

Adelia hugged Gaël’s arm and snorted, Cordelia bragged as she stood next to Jude, and even Edward who was standing alone in a corner spoke.

At the remarks of Count Chase and his three children, Count Bayer and his sons could only smile.

‘Indeed, cuteness flows in the Chase family’s blood.’

How can all of them be so cute?

‘Ah, except for Edward.’

Count Bayer himself felt a sense of alienation towards the man who was alone in the corner and feeling alienated.

“Anyway, Jude, you can go there. Those invited to the Banquet of Swords are all prospects of the kingdom, so you can broaden your horizons there.”

“Hmph, would that happen though?”

Count Chase interrupted Count Bayer, but no one was offended by it.

Because everyone knew what Count Chase meant.

‘Because my Jude will not broaden his horizons, but will be the one to broaden the horizons of the prospects.’

Jude was unusually strong now.

And everyone, including Count Chase, had already witnessed Jude’s strength more than once.

‘And, and, and!’

Cordelia couldn’t stop the corners of her mouth from rising as she snorted again in excitement.

She knew of one thing that everyone in the place did not know.

‘He also underwent metamorphosis.’

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In addition to opening the fifth door, he also learned the Supreme Sun Divine Art.

Strong people like Count Bayer and Count Chase would have naturally noticed, just from facing him, that Jude was stronger than before he had left for the royal capital.

But no matter how strong they were, they would not be able to find out at once on what changes happened to Jude as a result of his metamorphosis.

‘But father-in-law seems to have felt something more.’

After a month or so, Jude had grown to nearly 10 cm tall, so even strangers would be able to easily tell that Jude had become stronger.

However, Count Bayer seemed to have noticed some of the changes that happened in Jude’s body besides his increase in strength.

The cycle of Qi that was reestablished due to metamorphosis.

And the other things that occurred to Jude.

The changes that seriously increased his efficiency.

“Hehehe, hehehehehe.”

Cordelia was very pleased and snickered, and everyone began to smile again.

Because the Cordelia who was brimming with pride for her fiancé was very cute and adorable.

‘I need to set the date quickly.’

‘Shouldn’t we wait for the coming-of-age ceremony?’

‘No, they should just get married sooner.’

‘How cute.’

As everyone were having different thoughts, Jude opened his mouth.

“Then father, will you be going to the palace with father-in-law?”

“I think so. The Banquet of Swords is a gathering of young prospects. Me and Count Chase…will be able to meet His Excellency, Duke Spencer, when we have the opportunity.”

“Hmph, we don’t need to meet him.”

Count Bayer and Count Chase who belonged to the 12 northern families were close to the aristocrats, but since they were nobles from the north, they didn’t exactly feel a sense of belonging with the aristocrats centered on Duke Spencer.

The same was true of the aristocrats in the royal capital.

“I, Count Chase, and Edward will be going today to the accommodations the royal family has provided. Gaël…you’ll stay here with Adelia, right?”

“Yes, father. That’s my plan.”

As Gaël answered with a faint smile, Adelia blushed and slightly lowered her gaze.

Edward frowned like a real older brother as he saw the appearance of his younger sister acting shy, while Cordelia also narrowed her eyes like a real younger sister.

‘W-what are you planning to do with only the two of you?’

Technically, Becky was present too, so they weren’t completely alone, but still…

Cordelia seriously sent a criticizing gaze at her sister, but Adelia didn’t care.

As she had emphasized many times already, Adelia was an adult unlike Cordelia who was still a minor.

‘We’ll do this and do that too, and…kyaaa~’

Adelia’s thoughts were revealed in her face, and Edward and Cordelia frowned even more.

But Count Bayer and Count Chase looked very happy.

“Anyway… Cordelia and I will visit Duke Spencer then.”

“Yes, you’ll probably stay for two days if it’s short, or three days if it takes a long time. Come to our accommodations when your business is done.”

“Yes, father.”

Jude immediately tapped the shoulder of Cordelia who was still frowning, and Cordelia looked up at him.

‘Why?’

‘You know.’

Jude smiled and slightly moved his arm to Cordelia who tilted her head, and Cordelia reflexively grabbed his arm.

She was very used to Jude escorting her now.

And around four hours later.

When they had packed up and arrived at Duke Spencer’s estate, Jude and Cordelia were welcomed by very happy faces.

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