Episode 49
Chapter 19: The Banquet (4)
Ugeo’s boisterous laughter suddenly froze, his expression hardening like stone.
One second, two seconds, three, four, five.
Jin waited, hoping Ugeo would recover from his mistake within that time, but instead, a flicker of displeasure twisted Ugeo’s face.
“This isn’t something to just brush off,” Jin said softly. “Even seasoned veterans like Jonsina Peral, who are well into their fifties, showed me respect. And yet here you are, not even thirty, speaking to me like that.”
Ugeo’s earlobes flushed red at the gentle remark. Many eyes were on them now. The mix of humiliation and anger quickened the blood in his veins.
“Hey, kid, are you seriously going to shame me just because I spoke casually? No matter how much you claim to be from Runkandel, in the world of warriors, I’m your senior by far. I was just being kind to a promising junior, but your attitude—!”
Ugeo’s voice dripped with disbelief.
Jin decided this fool needed a clear explanation.
“Listen carefully, Ugeo of the Tuko family. What you just did wasn’t just an insult to me, but to everyone here who showed me respect until now. If you care about seniority, you should have been even more careful.”
“What?”
“The first and second generation of Kenga, Sir Jonsina Peral of the Dragon King Knights—they’re all seniors to you, aren’t they? If your eyes and ears worked properly, you’d have seen how they treated me.”
Zula and Kenga nodded in agreement, while Jonsina’s eyes gleamed with interest at the unfolding scene.
The onlookers sighed softly or whispered among themselves.
“If you act like that, what does that make them? Admit your mistake and apologize. Since I’ve already spoken to you, I’ll let this slide.”
Just as Ugeo was about to retort indignantly—
“Oh—!”
The crowd erupted in cheers and whistles.
“Served you right, Ugeo!”
“Hahaha, I told you before, you need to learn some caution. Looks like this young prince of Runkandel just gave you a valuable lesson.”
“Thanks to the youngest prince, you just saved your own skin. I bet you’ve gotten into trouble before because of that mouth of yours. Heh, you’d better listen to the prince’s advice.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to challenge the prince to a duel out of embarrassment? I refuse to believe you’re that petty.”
The crowd, mostly Ugeo’s senior comrades, patted his shoulder to lighten the mood.
Ugeo, a simple-minded man, soon wore a lighter expression and said,
“Hmm, if the seniors say so… I suppose I did make a mistake. To Sir Jonsina and the others, please forgive this junior’s error. And Prince Jin, I’d be grateful if you would do the same.”
“Of course, Sir Ugeo.”
What could have escalated into a dangerous confrontation ended warmly.
Ugeo laughed awkwardly and then disappeared toward his family’s side.
After the crowd dispersed, Luna, who had been watching from a corner of the banquet hall, quietly approached Jin’s side.
“Luna noona.”
“Haha, the youngest really has a knack for making enemies. Sometimes it wouldn’t hurt to act a little cuter, like a normal kid.”
Clink. Their glasses touched lightly.
“If there weren’t so many watching, I would have let it slide more gently. But since I’m practically the representative of Runkandel right now, I had to be a bit difficult.”
“That’s true. But what if Ugeo had actually challenged you to a duel? He’s still stronger than you—probably around six stars.”
“I didn’t think that was likely. If he had, the Tuko family’s head and elders, who were nervously watching from that table, would have rushed over and pulled him away.”
Luna glanced toward the Tuko family’s table, where their head was clearly scolding Ugeo.
“…Wow. So you even factored in those people?”
“Yes. And the Tuko head was already frowning the moment Ugeo spoke to me so informally. He knew exactly that his kin had made a mistake.”
“Impressive. Where did you learn such political savvy from? Some noble intrigue lessons?”
“If someone taught me that, I wouldn’t mind keeping them around. At the Sword Garden, the only thing I get better at every day is swordsmanship.”
“That’s enough, isn’t it? What else do you need?”
“Oh my, someone like you probably doesn’t need anything else. But for a despised youngest sibling like me, there’s a long list of things I need to survive.”
“Is that so…?”
Luna tilted her head with innocent curiosity, genuinely puzzled. Born a predator, she’d never had to read the room in her life, so Jin’s behavior was fascinating to her.
Jin clicked his tongue inwardly at his sister.
Meanwhile, Luna thought,
“This kid has talent equal to or greater than mine, and he’s sharp too. No wonder he almost got assassinated at the Storm Castle… I wonder which sibling recognized his potential so early?”
People watching the two siblings chatting so comfortably began to doubt if Luna was really the legendary ‘White Mirror’ they’d heard about.
At fifteen, she hadn’t attended any noble parties since her five-star achievement banquet, where she’d dragged anyone who approached her into the duel arena and half-killed them.
People assumed she hated banquets because she was aloof like a mythical creature, but in truth, Luna loved them—especially when she could hide her identity and dance at small street tavern parties.
“Anyway, I came because it’s a celebration for you, but this place really isn’t my style. I’m off to find somewhere more fun.”
“Already leaving?”
“Yeah. You’re still too short to dance with me. When you grow up, I’ll take you somewhere nice.”
The siblings smiled at each other.
“I’ll look forward to it, noona.”
“Oh, and before I go, I want to leave a message for everyone, just like you.”
Luna stood and gave Jin a long hug from behind.
‘Uh, why all of a sudden? Creepy.’
It really gave him goosebumps.
‘If I do this, everyone will realize how much I care for you. Then they’ll be too scared to make mistakes around you. See you later.’
As she predicted, the guests could barely hide their shock. Even the other siblings found the White Mirror’s open affection for the youngest surprising.
Among the men secretly smitten with her, two types emerged: those who resolved to win Jin’s favor to get a chance to meet her, and—
“Ugh… I’m so jealous! Damn it! Vishkel, I want a hug from Luna too! Ugh, lucky bastard!”
One of her biggest fans, Bubar Gaston, wailed in envy.
“Ah! Vishkel, tonight I must write a poem for Luna. Ha, no matter how perfect my disguise, I can’t make myself as beautiful as her…”
Vishkel Ibliano, listening nearby, felt his head pounding.
He was attending the banquet as the heir apparent of the Ibliano family, aiming to gather intelligence on Runkandel for Kinzello.
Originally, he planned to come alone, but Bubar begged like a madman to be his attendant, so he reluctantly brought him along.
The trouble he’d gone through was exhausting.
The Runkandel banquet didn’t allow ‘attendants’ normally, so Vishkel had to plead for hours, even offering his disabled sister’s presence as a reason.
And all this just to see Luna.
Vishkel clenched his trembling fist inside his coat.
“Ah, Vishkel, tonight I’ll write poems for Luna and sing them all night long!”
“Shut up, Bubar Gaston.”
“Brother, don’t be so harsh. This might be important to Bubar. Besides, thanks to him, I got to see the Runkandel’s exclusive party.”
Sitting in the wheelchair pushed by Bubar was Vishkel’s only sister, Margiela Ibliano.
Jin had noticed the conspicuous group with the wheelchair earlier but didn’t know their identities. Vishkel’s role as Kinzello’s deputy was information he hadn’t obtained even in his previous life, and Bubar was disguised.
Jin soon turned his attention elsewhere as people began approaching him again, leaving no time to dwell on them.
“Being the host is exhausting. But seriously, where the hell are those Zipple kids…?”
Jin kept scanning the room for the boys and girls from the Zipple family who had arrived toward the end. Naturally, they were his top priority to watch.
Yet, the Zipple children seemed to be hiding tight in some corner of the banquet hall, nowhere to be seen.
“Hmph, this is annoying, but maybe I should just get up and look for them myself.”
Just as Jin was about to rise, there was a soft thud.
Someone had set a glass of liquor down on his table.
“May this girl have the honor of offering a drink to the sacred Rune Candle?”
The words were polite, but the tone carried a hint of challenge. The voice belonged to a girl with a subtly defiant edge.
Jin looked up and met her gaze, letting out a quiet chuckle to himself.
“Ah, you are…”
“I’m Siris Endorma of the Bow Palace. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Siris gave a delicate, sly smile.