Chapter 96: 95

“……Pardon?”

“Did you not understand? Then I will say it again. If you want me to forgive you, apologize to Sir Nasir right now.”

Renato demanded in a soft yet powerful voice. In an instant, the surroundings became noisy. Among the people listening to their conversation, there was a small sound that was either an exclamation or a sigh.

“Even though…… it was my fault, isn’t this an unreasonable demand?”

Marquis Ishbart protested with a forced smile. Bowing his head to no one else but Khalid’s aide? His pride didn’t allow it.

“Unreasonable demand? Why? I think I just asked for something natural. Ah, maybe it is the kingdom’s etiquette that a person of a higher title does not apologize to a lower-ranking person, even if they were being discourteous?”

“That……”

Marquis Ishbart was momentarily speechless and blankly opened his mouth. When Renato talked about etiquette, he couldn’t think of anything to refute.

“Why can’t you answer? Tell me if I was mistaken. In our Empire, it is perfectly natural for the person in the wrong to apologize, regardless of their title.”

Renato put pressure on Marquis Ishbart without giving him a chance to think. Hearing the harsh rebuke, the Marquis’ face flushed red. It was the first time in his life that he had been insulted like this.

If it were anyone else, he would have already been shouting at them, but the other person was the Empire’s Prince and a national guest. Moreover, Renato was also someone that he had to somehow curry favor with for the sake of his family.

“Marquis Ishbart.”

Clack. When the Marquis didn’t say anything, Renato walked closer to him with echoing footsteps. Everyone held their breath and focused on Renato’s next action.

It’s okay, I can do it.

Feeling countless gazes pouring on him and tingling his skin, Renato gently bit the inside of his mouth. Before coming to the kingdom, he had thought about how he should behave to help Khalid. He also got Arche’s advice on this.

‘Even if you only quietly smile, everyone will have good thoughts about you, Your Imperial Highness. So please just smile on the first day.’

Reflecting on Arche’s advice, Renato built up a gentle and friendly appearance during the celebration banquet. Since this was his first appearance as Khalid’s fiancé, he wanted to make a good first impression on everyone if possible.

However, the nobles’ attitude toward Khalid changed his mind. Behaving courteously and kindly toward those kinds of people wouldn’t suddenly make them treat Khalid well.

Above all, Marquis Ishbart was Khalid’s political enemy. He didn’t need to be polite to anyone who could harm Khalid at any time.

So Renato decided to be a little more aggressive. If he had made such a fuss but helplessly backed away now, not only Renato himself but Khalid would also be ridiculed. In that case, it would be better to imprint in people’s minds that he was not someone easy to deal with, even if it left a bad impression.

“Sir Nasir here has only faithfully fulfilled his highness’ command to help me comfortably rest. Then why does he have to be called ‘the grand prince’s dog’ by you?”

Renato stood in front of Marquis Ishbart with a cold expression and intimately placed his hand on Nasir’s shoulder. Then, he repeated the most insulting words that the Marquis had said.

“That, that……”

Marquis Ishbart’s face, which just flushed red because of Renato’s sharp comment, gradually became pale this time. The nickname ‘the grand prince’s dog’ was coined by the noble faction to ridicule the knights loyal to Khalid, an illegitimate child. It became a habit as he frequently used it in private, so he made a slip of the tongue when angered by Nasir, who was blocking his way with a nonchalant smile.

“I drank a bit too much today, and I was excited, so I made a, a serious slip of the tongue. I apologize, Your Imperial Highness. I sincerely apologize……”

The pale Marquis Ishbart started to speak incoherent words. Just like his pale face, his head became as white as a blank sheet of paper. Was the 1st Prince this kind of person? I don’t think he is? The Marquis looked at Renato with confused eyes.

According to Marquis Ishbart’s own investigation, Renato had an extremely tender-hearted and timid personality. However, the person in front of his eyes was not reserved and vulnerable, but harsh and sharp like a hedgehog with raised spikes.

“Is it not a mistake just because you are drunk? Marquis, you have now insulted not only Sir Nasir but also his highness the grand prince. And an insult to him is also an insult to me.”

“……”

“I didn’t expect to hear something this unpleasant on my engagement day. If you had just apologized right away, this matter would have passed without angering anyone, but…… now that it has come to this, I will formally send a complaint to the Ishbart family tomorrow.”

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“Could, could you please give me a moment? Your Imperial Highness, I will explain everything. So……”

“Explain? Not excuse? All right. If you have something to say, say it. I would also like to hear what is important enough to disturb my rest and insult his highness who is my fiancé, as well as his subordinate.”

“I……”

Marquis Ishbart slurred his words in bewilderment. He didn’t know how to get out of this dead end. He rolled his eyes, looking for someone to help him. But no one stepped up for the Marquis. The nobles belonging to the same faction also stealthily averted their gazes.

Damn it.

Driven into a corner, Marquis Ishbart uttered swear words to himself. Toward the Marquis who was hesitating without doing anything, Renato delivered his final blow.

“Why can’t you say anything? Should I guess what your purpose was? Maybe it has something to do with the Ishbart merchant guild? Your purpose must be to make a deal with Esteban territory. Am I right?”

When Renato hit the nail on the head, Marquis Ishbart’s shoulders flinched. Some people that were watching also let out fake coughs. Just like the Marquis, they were attending the banquet with the intention of getting something from Renato.

“I don’t want to talk to you again, so I’ll give you a clear answer right now. As long as I am Esteban territory’s owner, I will never do business with the Ishbart merchant guild.”

“……!”

Hearing the shocking declaration, Marquis Ishbart opened his eyes wide in astonishment. Renato began to speak again before the man could say anything.

“I don’t want to make connections with people who disrespect my fiancé.”

Renato confidently straightened his posture and arrogantly raised his chin. He had never been in a strong position since his birth, but this time was an exception.

It was the Khan Kingdom’s nobles who needed grains from the Perus Plain and wanted to take advantage of the ice-free port. Whether deals were made or not, Renato had nothing to regret. Recalling that fact, Renato said in a more powerful and determined voice than ever before.

“So if there is anything you want from me, I hope that you can show basic manners and express sincerity. I will only do business with people who know how to respect my fiancé.”

In an instant, the banquet hall’s atmosphere became cold. Renato’s last words were not only a proclamation to Marquis Ishbart, but also to everyone gathering here. After finishing his words, Renato turned around as if to say he no longer had any business here.

“Your Imperial Highness, please, please listen to me for a moment! Your Imperial Highness!”

Marquis Ishbart, who was blankly standing there, belatedly came to his senses and urgently called Renato. However, Nasir and Luna blocked him at the same time. Obstructed by the two, the Marquis desperately called for Renato, but he never looked back.

“I apologize for showing an unsightly scene on a good day like this, Your Majesty.”

Ignoring the Marquis’ voice calling him, Renato stepped closer to Maryam and Khalid who were watching the commotion. And he politely bowed his head.

“No, it’s something that I should be sorry about. To think I have hurt the Prince’s feelings by bringing such an uneducated person into the banquet hall…… I’m really ashamed.”

Hearing Renato’s apology, Maryam benevolently smiled. Marquis Ishbart was also like a thorn in her eyes. Maryam’s eyes lit up as she felt refreshed for the first time in a long time.

“I will apologize on behalf of Marquis Ishbart for the disrespect. I will also begin the procedure for disciplinary actions tomorrow.”

Some would criticize Renato’s actions today as arrogant and irrational, but Maryam had nothing to lose now that she had an opportunity to attack the noble faction. Now that this happened, she needed to support that Renato’s actions were justified.

“I will also warn the nobles not to unnecessarily bother you. Will this be enough to ease your mind, Prince?”

“Thank you for your generous heart and kind consideration.”

Renato thanked Maryam with a soft smile when she openly sided with him. Then, he made eye contact with Khalid standing next to Maryam, and froze.

Khalid was looking at Renato with a very strange expression. The gap between his eyebrows slightly frowned, and his eyes seemed to show anger or surprise for some reason.

What?

Renato gulped when seeing the unreadable expression on the man’s face. Maybe he doesn’t like that I made a fuss? When he felt anxious and carefully observed the man’s countenance, Khalid slowly opened his mouth.

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