VIP Chapter 89: Trying to Poach Talent?
[Mission 90: Princess Treya successfully passes the Crowning Festival and gains the Demon’s approval.]
[Reward: Treya’s exclusive swordsmanship – Demon’s Black Blade]
Closing the book, Will looked out the carriage window at the scenery he had seen countless times within the royal palace.
When he first entered the palace, he used to look around and find everything novel. Now, he had calmed down. The trees in the royal palace were trimmed too neatly, making them even seem boring.
“I’m so looking forward to it. Everyone is saying there will be Treya’s sword dance performance today.”
Iaar had naturally come along as well.
The Crowning Festival’s proceedings began with greetings and exchanges. After the birthday celebrant appeared, they would perform a sword dance demonstrating the Entak Sword Style before the worshipped Demon’s Spirit Vessel.
Finally, they would offer their congratulations to the birthday celebrant, followed by a regular banquet.
Therefore, personal servants for each family would be indispensable.
Normally, an occasion with a certain sacrificial nature like the Crowning Festival would only be attended by members of the royal family or nobles highly connected to the royals.
In his previous life, Young Master Will, who had proposed the breakup of the engagement, would likely not have been qualified to attend this event.
But…
Here, because the engagement was “postponed” rather than directly “canceled,” he, as the nominal fiancé, had obtained an invitation to this Crowning Festival.
It seemed that “fate” was not a “solid iron plate” but had some flexible areas.
By squeezing these areas, one could also see some changes.
At least, that was how Will currently assessed the situation.
“Then Treya’s performance must be good enough. Otherwise, how can it show that I, her teacher, taught well?”
“You were just scolded by Teacher Liya at school this week, yet you’re already calling yourself a teacher. Young Master, that’s not good.”
“That was only because the magic’s name was too difficult to remember, so I missed a perfect score on the midterm exam by writing one wrong letter.”
Will could feel the pain of being a “super honor student.”
Even for a single mistaken letter that prevented him from getting a perfect score, he was severely criticized by the teacher.
“However, this carriage seems to be turning towards a place we’ve never been before… Is it heading to the higher ground further up? Or…”
“How does Young Master know so much… Did… did you memorize the map of the royal palace?!”
“Not exactly. Before, when we went to find Treya, the carriage would usually stop around here. But this time, it’s continuing onward.”
Will pointed.
The carriage was winding its way up the mountain road built on the mountainside. Previously, it would stop around the first layer.
But now, the carriage was almost nearing the mountaintop.
It seemed that the Demon’s Spirit Vessel was something the Entak Family deemed worthy of being enshrined at the highest point of their castle.
Taking about a third longer than usual, Iaar and Will arrived at the “Hall” where the Crowning Festival was being held.
Iaar helped Will disembark from the carriage.
“Young Master… This is so grand. Is Princess Treya really holding her birthday party here?”
“Yes, perhaps this is how royal banquets are.”
The hall was located almost at the very top of the castle. Standing outside, one could feel the cool mountain breeze gently blowing.
The hall was built very tall, and looking up, one could see sunlight filtering through the carved colored glass. The design of this top-floor hall was very similar to the churches in Will’s previous life.
Its floor area was also vast, estimated to be three to four times the size of the venue where Will had attended his first royal banquet.
In the center, there was a slightly raised stage – this was where Treya would perform.
It faced a platform approximately three stories high within the hall, where the “Demon’s Spirit Vessel” was placed.
The Spirit Vessel was housed in a glass cabinet, cushioned by a layer of deep red fabric, giving it an air of extreme luxury.
Although it was not visible from afar, its general appearance resembled a teapot, but it seemed quite old and had a yellowish hue.
Oh, right.
It could not yet be called the “Demon’s Spirit Vessel.”
Will had read the original work and knew that this object contained a demon, and that the Entak’s power originated from demons.
But…
According to the Entak Royal Family, who did not believe in gods at all.
This was the Spirit Vessel bestowed by the gods, containing the slowly overflowing wisdom for governing a nation, and it was the foundation upon which the Entak could rule the empire!
Therefore…
It had an official (to deceive the public) name—
God-Bestowed Spirit Vessel!
The true goddess worshipped in this empire discovering her name placed upon a demon’s teapot might manifest on the spot.
Hmm… However, the goddess in the original work, who only existed in the setting, never appeared, so it was hard to say if she was also fictional, like this Spirit Vessel.
“Young Master, I just saw Father.”
Iaar suddenly stopped him.
“Ah? He’s coming too? Where?”
This was something Will had not expected. He thought his busy father wouldn’t come.
Iaar pulled him aside and pointed to a table further inside.
In front of the central stage was a rectangular table, resembling a judge’s seating. A row of distinguished guests were seated there – poor Treya, having to perform her sword dance for everyone on her birthday.
Caver’s brown hair and slightly thin back were quite conspicuous.
He had really come; Iaar, the silly girl, hadn’t misidentified him.
It seemed the Hysterm Family had indeed taken a step closer to the Entak royalty through this marriage.
However, compared to him…
“Yes, I see him. And… Emperor Edward is also here.”
Edward Entak.
The current king of Entak.
For the past three years, with the rise in productivity from the dungeons, he had continued to engage in extreme exploitation and centralization of power.
He had annexed many surrounding vassal states and fiefs, and the lower classes were already groaning in hardship.
But perhaps due to having too many concubines, he looked overly decadent, with dark circles under his eyes and appearing extremely frail.
“Is he? Then… then what should we do?”
“Let’s keep our distance. After all, I’m not the protagonist today.”
The thought of facing the king and all the etiquette gave Will a headache. He should leave such troublesome matters to his own father!
“Oh? The Young Master of the Hysterm Family, who stole the spotlight last time, isn’t the protagonist this time?”
An unpleasant voice came from behind.
Eugenie.
She must have used a lot of hairspray on her big, red curly hair to make it look so neat.
She was still wearing a dark-colored dress, but it was slightly different from her previous one. This one looked more mature, possibly due to the added intricate lace patterns.
“Please don’t say that, Princess Eugenie. Look at me, an uneducated prodigal son, what ambition do I have to be a protagonist?”
“Is that so?”
Eugenie, on the other hand, seemed very at ease, reaching out and taking a glass of wine from a nearby table.
She was an adult now, so she could drink freely.
“I actually think it’s fortunate for the Hysterm Family to have you. Mr. Will, there aren’t many intelligent people like you.”
Will hadn’t expected Eugenie, this former minor villain who had once used him, to now approach him and flatter him.
“Well… thank you for the compliment?”
He was actually quite intimidated by these back-and-forth, turn-based social games.
He didn’t particularly like interacting with nobles, as their words were too “ambiguous” and required layers of interpretation. Moreover, any slip-up in his reply could reveal that he was thinking less than them.
However…
What was Eugenie’s purpose in appearing now?
And she was deliberately approaching him.
“Since you’re an intelligent person, I’ll get straight to the point. Hasn’t the Hysterm Family considered any other avenues?”
Will sensed something was wrong.
Was she…
Trying to poach talent?!
