Bad Born Blood - Chapter 70



Only Noblemtl

070

The celebratory banquet was grand from the very beginning. The imperial banquet hall, located in the center of the upper district of the capital city of Akbaran, was rented. Of course, not everyone can rent the imperial banquet hall.

It was a choice that showed the dignity of the current captain of the guard, Heilas, and the reputation that the Custoria family had built up.

I moved according to the family’s instructions as if I was being swept away by the waves. As I was the main character, I had to pay attention to my attire and there were many things I had to know in advance.

“Luka, have you memorized the names of all the officials and officers coming this time?”

Giselle said. I nodded.

“No problem.”

Throughout the banquet preparations, Giselle took care of me as if she were my assistant.

Imperial clothing was generally practical, but banquet clothing was cumbersome to wear. There was an order to wearing clothes.

“And put the brooch on the left side. No, I’ll do it.”

Giselle came closer and carefully adjusted my attire. I looked down at her and our eyes met.

We looked at each other for a moment.

I kept my expressionless face. Giselle’s face also showed no emotion. She moved her hands again.

Giselle moved her red lips as if to lighten the mood.

“… … Jupe must be really nervous right now. He knows you’re outstanding, but he never imagined that he’d receive the 4th Class Cross Sword Medal while still a cadet. Same goes for me.”

“I was lucky.”

“Oh my, I didn’t know you were such a humble person.”

It’s not humility. It’s the truth. If it weren’t for Kinuan, I would be dead.

Giselle continued speaking after seeing my indifferent reaction.

“Jupe will mobilize all his connections and influence for this banquet. He will try his best not to be overwhelmed by your performance. It will be quite a sight.”

That’s right. I also met Jupe several times while preparing for the banquet. Jupe couldn’t hide his anxiety in his words and actions, and it showed through.

Unfortunately, Jupe was ordinary. He was not lacking, but he was not outstanding compared to others.

‘Even in a blessed environment, Jupe failed to achieve results.’

If you are a noble of the empire, you cannot be ordinary like everyone else. You must have something special and outstanding. This is especially true if you have a great father.

Nobles also have to prove their abilities. The hurdles are a bit lower, and there are more opportunities.

“Hmm, this is great. Now you really look like a noble young master.”

Giselle said, taking three steps away.

“Are you saying that I didn’t usually look like that? In the lower areas, everyone called me ‘Master.’”

“Those who are stuck in the middle are always treated as mediocre. They don’t belong anywhere completely.”

That was a strangely poignant statement. I shrugged.

“I would appreciate your advice.”

“That’s not advice. It’s facts.”

Giselle said coldly. I remembered when I first met her. She wasn’t a very friendly person to begin with. I’m the same way.

Squeak.

The door to the waiting room opened. Just then, Haylas came in.

Giselle made a conscious effort to leave. She passed by Haylas and left. Haylas and I were the only ones left in the waiting room.

“Giselle is a smart girl. It would have been nice if she had had the qualities to be a soldier.”

Heilas said as he sat down. He was a man like a tree. He was firm and unwavering. He was not lacking as the leader of an organization and a family.

“And Giselle has ambitions. She seems to want to become the head of the household.”

“Haha, that’s hard. I’m not a soldier. Family traditions are much stronger than you think. The older the family, the stronger they are. Even the clever Nikolaos had a headache because of those traditions.”

I hate those old rules, traditions, conventions.

“Still, Giselle is better than Jupe. Jupe is a soldier who hasn’t received a single medal of honor for his age.”

“Haha, you don’t know what’s in store for people. Today is a day to celebrate your major. There’s no need to stand around like that. That’s one of your strengths.”

I looked at the wall clock. The banquet would begin soon.

“There’s one thing I’d like to ask you.”

“As much as you want.”

“Jupe and I will clash in the future. Regardless of my will, Jupe sees me as a rival. If this continues, I may ruin Jupe. If you want to make your own son the head of the family, then tell me now. Give in to Jupe and make concessions.”

Nikolaos is dead. Now I must know Heilas’s true intentions. If Heilas wants me to play the role of stimulating Jupe’s growth, then I will end it there.

“… … A head of a household refers to someone who leads and protects a bloodline and a household. If you have the determination to do so, I don’t care who it is. In my view, neither you nor Jupe are sufficient. You are not someone who would die for the Custoria family. Don’t talk about the head of a household with a careless mind.”

Heilas stood up calmly and patted my shoulder. He left the waiting room with a smile on his face.

thud.

The door is closed.

I chewed on Heila’s words.

Heilas is right. I am not qualified to be the head of the household. I define myself as an outsider to the family. The person who is supposed to be the center of the household thinks of himself as an outsider? That is nonsense.

On the other hand, Heilas has never treated me differently from his other children. Rather, he has recognized my abilities more than anyone else and kept me close to him.

… … I feel like I’ve become a mean person for no reason.

* * *

The banquet has begun.

The servants walked around the banquet hall carrying plates of food. They were well-trained and did not interfere with the movement of the attendees. Even if someone was drunk and staggered, they would not bump into them.

“Nice to meet you, Lucius Custoria.”

A nobleman of good family looked at me. He was the thirteenth nobleman.

I was being tested to the limit of my patience. There was still a long line of people I had to introduce and greet.

“It is an honor to meet you. Your reputation, General… … .”

I don’t know what I’m saying either. I was spitting out words I didn’t mean. The mechanical lines I had input into my head were flowing out of my throat and mouth.

“You know this, so I feel like I’m not dead yet. But even so, I’m just an old man who’s lost his way. You’re the young blood of the empire… … .”

Even though they knew that my words were not sincere, the nobles who met me showed exaggerated emotions. Their theatrical appearance was so pretentious that it was disgusting.

My head hurts when I try to force a smile.

This is not my style. I would rather gather the men who want to kill me into a group and give them guns and knives.

Bam.

Heilas put her hand on my shoulder and whispered softly.

“… … Today, you are the face of Custoria.”

I have to get through this night.

‘This banquet is not for me.’

It’s for the Custoria family. If I truly want to become a member of the family, I have to do things I don’t like.

Heilas also stood by my side for over an hour, introducing me to the high-ranking nobles.

‘Heilas is also a soldier and warrior by nature.’

I once saw Heilas in battle. He was so happy to break the chains of bondage. He also misses the battlefield.

‘In order to fulfill his responsibilities and roles as captain of the guard and head of the household, Haylas has done things that were not in his nature for decades.’

I followed Heila’s lead to a beautiful terrace.

Just walking nearby, the cheerful laughter of men and women spread out. On the terrace, nobles were standing, enjoying themselves in the night breeze. I could tell without having to look up the information separately. They had a woman beside them, not their wife.

“Oh, the captain of the guard has arrived.”

The man in blue showed no sign of being intimidated even in front of Heilas.

Woohoo.

The man in blue had a self-luminous mineral in his hand.

‘Holy Stone.’

All we knew was that it was a resource with enormous military and economic potential.

“Chief Jin, this is my son, Lucas.”

Heilas introduced me politely. I recalled the name and position of the man in blue. He was one of the key figures at this banquet.

‘Director of the 4th Research Institute under the Imperial Family, Jin Ga-u.’

The Imperial Research Institute conducts various researches according to the Emperor’s orders. The machine capital captured by Illei is probably somewhere in the Imperial Research Institute.

“You’re the star of this banquet. Oh, but rather than that, look at this.”

Jin Ga-woo’s reaction was different from that of other nobles. He didn’t try to curry favor with me. He just blurted out a word as if he wasn’t interested.

Some people might find Jin Ga-woo’s words and actions offensive, but for me, who was tired of other people’s attention, it was more welcome. Such free-spirited and honest behavior was much more comfortable.

Heilas only smiled faintly at Jin-ga-woo, who treated him like an inferior.

In fact, Jin Ga-woo’s words and actions were not strange. He was a big shot who had been the director of the research center before Heilas was born.

‘A quirky person who, despite being one of the most influential figures in the empire, does not have children and devotes himself only to research.’

That was the public opinion.

OMG.

Jin Ga-woo spread his arms and showed off the Holy Stone. He threw the Holy Stone into the air and caught it repeatedly.

I don’t even know why that ore is called Holy Stone. I think Elai would know.

“Isn’t that amazing? Something the size of a palm can generate enough energy to move a spaceship.”

“It is dangerous to keep a gemstone that is not shielded from energy nearby.”

Heilas kept her distance and remained on guard.

“It’s okay. I’ve applied a thin layer of the newly developed shielding film. Unlike before, it’s in liquid form, so it’s easy to process and can be used in a variety of ways. Well, it’s still in the testing phase, so some energy will leak out, but if you make brief contact, there won’t be any problems.”

The nobles around Jin Gau, who had heard Jin Gau’s explanation, slowly backed away with a thoughtful expression. Jin Gau chuckled and stood up from his seat.

“It’s not a wise idea to bring the lab’s prototypes outside. They’re state secrets. If there’s a spy from Corana Bellato in this banquet hall… … .”

“Oh, you’re so old-fashioned for your age. Heilas, if we can extract energy from the ore reliably, everything will change. Everything. And I guarantee that this research will be conducted jointly by the three nations. Do you know why?”

“I don’t know.”

Heilas also showed his annoyance. It seemed like he was fed up with Jin-ga-woo playing around as he pleased.

“Because I want to see the results before I die!”

“… … Looking at your correction, I think you will live for another hundred years.”

“No, I won’t live another half century. I know my body well. My head is starting to fail. It’s not what it used to be.”

“Every time I wake up in the morning, I feel like I’m not the same as before.”

Jin Ga-woo laughed so hard that his shoulders shook.

“I agree, but that’s not what I meant. I’m being ‘contaminated’. Oh, my girlfriend’s here. Anyway, it was nice to meet you, Heilas, and Lucisis?”

“This is Lucas.”

I replied. I also became interested in the word pollution, but I didn’t hear the rest of the story. It was because Jin Ga-woo’s lover approached us from behind.

“I’m back, honey. The self-cleaning toilets here are amazing. Your legs are so soft right now, honey, you’re going to love it… .”

A seductive voice tickled from behind me. I turned my head in surprise.

… … The voice sounded very familiar. It made sense.

A woman in a dress was standing there, holding a glass of wine lightly. She smiled like a fox, then opened her eyes slightly wide as she looked at me.

Both she and I were embarrassed.

Because we didn’t know we would meet each other here.

‘Martina Diva of La Vie en Rose.’

She was Jin Ga-woo’s lover.

“Don’t ever do something so pitiful again. I like it a little smelly rather than fluffy.”

Jin-Gau pushed past us and approached Martina. He hugged her waist and put his hands deep inside her dress.