Chapter 103
"Hey, come here for a second, Luka... us Custoria."
Enrico approached me as he spoke. It seemed like he still found my new identity awkward.
"Excuse me for a moment."
I excused myself to Giselle and Ilay, then followed Enrico outside the banquet hall. The hallway was lined with a long brown carpet.
Enrico, as if he had a death wish, suddenly grabbed me by the collar and shoved me against the wall. If I hadn't felt even the slightest bit of guilt toward him, his arm would have been broken.
"You, you bastard! You said you’d bring me and Giselle together!"
"I never said I'd make it happen. I said I'd help."
Back at the Accretia Academy, I had used Enrico. Even though I knew he wouldn’t end up with Giselle, I had still urged him to confess.
And of course, Giselle had rejected him. That heartbreak had left a deep wound in Enrico. I had done him wrong.
But so what?
Compared to the world I lived in, a teenage heartbreak was nothing more than a trivial matter. I lived in a world of killing and being killed. I had no intention of indulging a kid whining as if he had lost everything just because a girl turned him down.
"Ilay is your friend! You— you set up Giselle and Ilay, didn't you?"
Enrico shouted so furiously that his spit flew at me. I wiped the saliva off my cheek with my fingers and shoved him away.
"They fell for each other on their own. What do you expect me to do about it? Besides, Ilay’s better-looking and comes from a better family than you."
"W-what did you just say?"
Enrico's eyes widened in shock.
Just then, a servant carrying a tray of drinks passed by in the hallway. I snatched two glasses and handed one to Enrico.
Enrico, still flustered, took the glass without thinking. I slung an arm around his shoulders, pretending to be friendly.
"Just have a drink and think it over, you idiot."
"W-what? Idiot?"
"Giselle has a nasty personality. On top of that, she’s got a strong will. She’s not exactly a sweet, gentle girl."
"I-I found that part of her... attractive."
"That's just because you don’t have any experience with women. You’ve never actually dated anyone, have you?"
Not that I had either. But this was a moment to act cocky.
"I'm devoted to only one— Ugh!"
I smacked Enrico’s dumb mouth with my palm. He flinched all the way to his shoulders, looking completely bewildered.
"Cut the crap. Devoted to one? What, are you planning to stay single forever if Giselle won’t have you? Never date anyone else?"
"Th-that’s not what I meant, but..."
"I owe you one, so I'll introduce you to a woman. I know a girl who likes guys like you."
Enrico seemed interested. He didn't reject the offer outright.
"Really?"
"Of course."
...If I contacted Martina Diva, she would pick a girl that suited Enrico's taste from La Vie en Rose and send her to him. La Vie en Rose would benefit from establishing more connections with nobles anyway.
Enrico, as if he'd never been angry in the first place, fell into deep thought.
"Do you, uh, by any chance have a younger sister? Not Giselle, I mean a biological sister."
"What?"
I frowned.
"I once saw a maid serving Giselle who looked a lot like you..."
Ah, he must be talking about Keisa. A girl who no longer existed in this world. She would never appear again.
Unpleasant memories resurfaced in my mind. My voice had already turned cold.
"I don’t."
"O-oh, okay. I thought you were going to introduce me to her or something… Ugh! Why do you keep hitting me, you bastard?"
I flicked my fingers against Enrico’s nose. The tip of his nose turned red, as if he were drunk.
"At least now I know your taste in women is consistent."
Enrico seemed to like strong-willed women. Considering his personality, it did seem like that type would suit him best.
"I’ll accept the introduction out of respect for your effort and friendship, but I haven’t given up on Giselle yet. You do know engagements don’t always lead to marriage, right?"
This was the first time I'd ever realized there was supposed to be "friendship" between me and Enrico.
"Yeah, got it. Just give me your terminal’s unique ID before you go. You’ll hear from me soon."
In any case, I had successfully pacified Enrico. His steps were light as he headed back into the banquet hall.
I didn’t follow him in right away. Instead, I took a moment to collect myself.
"Haha…"
A self-deprecating laugh slipped out. I stared down at the untouched glass of liquor in my hand.
"Who the hell am I to be giving advice…"
Thinking about it, the whole thing was ridiculous.
I tossed the glass into a trash bin and straightened my disheveled clothes. Tonight was important for Ilay. I had to back him up.
Creak.
I stepped back into the banquet hall.
Ilay and Giselle were standing close, chatting. But I could tell that neither of them was actually smiling. A strange discomfort lingered between them.
"Ah, did you and Enrico finish your talk?"
Ilay greeted me with a bright expression. It seemed like he had been feeling awkward being alone with Giselle.
"Get it together. It's obvious you two are uncomfortable."
"I can't help it. Giselle is…"
I didn't listen to the rest of Ilay’s sentence and instead turned my gaze toward the crowd beyond him. Among them, a boy with striking violet hair stood out.
My eyes locked onto the boy. I barely managed to suppress the tension that coursed through my body.
"Luka? Do you know him?"
Ilay followed my gaze and also fixed his eyes on the violet-haired boy.
"I met him during a mission."
I answered briefly. It wasn’t a lie. I had, in fact, been assigned to protect him.
‘Ivan Accretia!’
I wanted to shout. A cold chill ran down my spine. My head filled with questions.
‘Why are you here?’
…Ivan Accretia was attending this banquet. But no one in the hall seemed to recognize that he was royalty. And he wasn’t just any royal. He was the true crown prince, the next emperor already designated for succession.
He had likely disguised himself as a minor noble to blend into the gathering.
Ivan met my eyes and flashed a smile. I had no idea what he was thinking. A deep unease pounded against my chest.
At that moment, Ilay’s cousin approached us with a smug expression. What an absolute mess! Seriously!
"Congratulations on your engagement, Ilay! My dear cousin! Forming such a close tie with House Custoria—this is a grand occasion for the Carthica family!"
Garcia Carthica—one of the rivals Ilay had told me about.
Garcia was an officer in the Armored Brigade. The brigade operated mass-produced Myrmidon armored prosthetics, and its officers were considered elite even within the Imperial Army. He had already served over twenty years and was a leading candidate for brigade commander. That alone made him a solid contender for the head of a military family. On top of that, one of his children had even passed the selection exam and entered the Imperial Guard as a cadet.
"It is a great honor to meet the daughter of the Commander of the Imperial Guard in such a setting. Lady Giselle Custoria."
Garcia greeted her heartily. His manner was open and confident, the type of personality that easily earned favor—especially among soldiers.
But despite his presence, my eyes kept drifting toward Ivan Accretia.
I needed to figure out why he was here.
"So, you must be Lukaus Custoria! The first in the Imperial Guard—no, in the entire history of the Imperial Army—to receive a 4th-Class Cross Blade Medal of Military Merit at your age! Ilay is truly lucky to have such an incredible friend, I'm envious! I would love to hear your heroic tales…"
If I let this conversation drag on, it would waste too much time.
Ivan Accretia was slipping through the crowd, as if signaling me to follow him.
I had a gut feeling that I couldn’t afford to lose sight of him now.
"Excuse me for a moment. Something urgent just came up."
I spoke decisively. Giselle and Ilay flinched, while Garcia’s face twisted in displeasure, his previous smile vanishing instantly.
"How rude. Answering goodwill with discourtesy… I suppose one's birth is something that can’t be helped—"
Garcia never got to finish his insult.
Ilay cut in with a cold smile.
"I’ll apologize on behalf of my guest for any rudeness. But I won’t allow insults directed at my friend."
"And what gives you the right to decide that, Ilay?"
It seemed like I had sparked a conflict between Garcia and Ilay. On the surface, that’s how it looked.
'No, my rudeness is just an excuse.'
These two would have clashed for some reason sooner or later. This banquet was just a stage for power struggles and influence.
"If you have something to do, you should go, Luka."
Ilay stepped forward and blocked Garcia's path. Without a word, I gave him a small nod and walked past.
I pursued Ivan. He moved through the crowd like a fish slipping through water, weaving in and out so fluidly that at times, he seemed to vanish entirely.
'Is he playing games with me? Annoying bastard.'
I didn't like Ivan. In fact, I disliked him.
Not that I would ever say that out loud.
No matter what, Ivan Accretia was a royal—the designated heir to the throne.
"You made my brother a cripple, and now you walk around like you're untouchable, Ilay!"
"I didn’t issue the duel, and it was a lawful match with witnesses present."
Behind me, Ilay and Garcia were still arguing. The attention of the banquet hall had shifted entirely to them.
No one was looking at me or Ivan.
Well, maybe Giselle was watching my back.
Ivan was now standing in a secluded corner of the banquet hall. His pupils shifted, turning into vertical slits like a beast’s, glowing gold.
"You must really enjoy making things difficult for me," I growled.
"My existence alone seems to trouble you," he replied smoothly. "I only came because I wanted to see you."
Nonsense. I hadn’t seen many members of the royal family, but… their words and actions always had a purpose. They never engaged in idle chatter or paid visits for mere socializing.
"If you have business with me, please state it now. I am ready to follow."
"Haha, you don’t believe a single word I say. That’s a little disappointing…"
His smile was clear, without a single shadow. His laughter was light and pure. But the boy standing before me could kill every noble in this room with a mere gesture. He had that power and authority.
Ivan parted his lips slightly before continuing.
"…And you already know the mission assigned to you. You wouldn’t say you don’t, would you?"
All my anxieties and fears had become reality.
'The Imperial Family intends to purge Hemillas and the Custoria family.'
Even without a direct order, Kinuan and I could interpret the will of the Imperial Family. When the time came, we would act according to that will from our respective positions.
That was why the Akies Domini, those who had mastered Akies Victima, served as the Emperor’s overseers.
"I am aware."
I conveyed my reluctance indirectly. Ivan knew what kind of person I was. There was no need to pretend I was a loyal puppet by lying.
"Luka, I am not my father. My father is my father, and I am me. This current plan is my father’s will."
I narrowed my eyes. Was Ivan telling the truth, or was he lying? Even my instincts couldn’t decide.
…However, if Ivan was being truthful, then there was the faintest glimmer of hope to save the Custoria family. His plan might not include their purge.
Even if his words were a trap, I had no choice but to walk into it.
"If you were aiming for my weakness, I suppose you’ve succeeded."
By belonging to the Custoria family, I had gained power and status—but in exchange, I had also gained a weakness.
The Irregular from the orphanage, Luka, had nothing to lose. But Lukaus Custoria did. I wanted to protect the Custoria family.
"From now on, trust no one but me."
"I will keep that in mind."
I gave a slight nod. But that didn’t mean I planned to trust Ivan either.
"Oh, and did you bring your weapons?"
Ivan asked as he gazed toward the banquet hall.
Weapons.
He had just spoken an unsettling word.
"I brought a dagger and a pistol."
"It’d be wise to be ready for battle. I’ll be going now."
With those cryptic words, Ivan left the banquet hall. But I knew better than to dismiss what he said as nonsense.
Slowly, I awakened my combat senses. Heat surged through my body as the strain on my nervous system increased.
Beep.
My terminal rang. I frowned.
Hemillas?
It was an urgent message from Commander of the Imperial Guard, Hemillas. Whether I wanted it or not, the message projected onto my retinal display.
- Word has leaked that you and Iskan killed the nobles. According to intelligence, an assault is imminent. Be prepared.
Even a disgraced family member was still family, it seemed. There were plenty who sought revenge. That was why Hemillas had tried to suppress information about Iskan and me.
But in the end, the intel had leaked.
Vrrrrr—!
A deafening roar drowned out the music and voices in the banquet hall.
Beyond the hall’s glass windows, an armed helicopter appeared.
Its searchlights swept across the banquet hall, scanning the interior. Then, the beams locked onto me.
The people in the hall still didn’t fully grasp what was happening. Some even waved cheerfully, mistaking it for part of an event.
Whirrrr.
The machine gun mounted on the helicopter’s underside shifted. The barrel turned toward me.
"You've got to be kidding me."
I lunged to the side, scraping against the floor.
Gunfire erupted, sharp and searing.