How to Survive as a Knight’s Son – Chapter 110

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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“Wow… It feels like everyone in the world is gathered here!”

Zant’s eyes widened as he followed me into the palace grounds.

The sheer number of people who had flocked from all corners of the kingdom for the mock battle, a spectacle that hadn’t been held in a long time, was a testament to its popularity. The palace gardens were so crowded there was barely room to move.

“Ugh, don’t act like such a country bumpkin. You’re embarrassing me.”

Fiore, after chiding Zant, subtly sidled up to me.

She glanced at Eleanor, whose hand was intertwined with mine, and whispered,

“What are you doing after the banquet…?”

“The mock battle is tomorrow. We need to practice.”

“Again…? Ah, no. It’s not that I don’t like practicing… but we’ve been training nonstop since we arrived in the capital. We haven’t even had a chance to see the city. Don’t you think we need to rest?”

“We’ll have plenty of time after the mock battle.”

Fiore pouted.

I squeezed her buttocks, careful not to be seen.

“I’ll visit you tonight.”

Fiore’s face brightened instantly. Then, as if realizing she had shown too much enthusiasm, she scoffed and turned away.

“Whatever.”

Her gait was strangely light as she walked away, her shapely buttocks swaying enticingly.

“You womanizer.”

Eleanor glared at me, her expression sullen.

“Well, it’s not like this is anything new.”

“How can you be so shameless? I know you have a reputation, but could you at least try to control yourself today? It’s not polite to your partner.”

“That’s a difficult request. I enjoy seeing you jealous.”

“There you go again with your nonsense! Why would I be jealous?”

“If you say so.”

I shrugged nonchalantly. Ignoring Eleanor, who was glaring at me and grinding her teeth, I signaled to Dreng.

“Have you taken care of the mercenaries?”

The mock battle banquet was exclusive to knights. The mercenaries, who couldn’t attend, had to be taken care of separately.

I had judged that Dreng, a former mercenary himself, was the perfect man for the job. And he had carried out his mission perfectly.

“They’re probably acting like kings of the red-light district by now.”

“I suppose that’s better than a stuffy banquet.”

Dreng bowed and retreated.

“Mademoiselle, may I have this dance?”

Muel, the last of my knights, was trying his luck with the noblewomen. The opportunist was once again seeking a chance to climb the social ladder.

However, his success rate was rather low. He wasn’t exactly a handsome man.

He had tried to use the good-looking Zant to his advantage, but it had backfired. The noblewomen were only interested in the handsome and innocent-looking Zant.

His intentions and the results were completely at odds.

‘Still, his effort is commendable. Who knows.’

Fortune, as they say, favors the bold. And there were surely people with unique tastes in the world, so it wasn’t impossible.

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I passed through the garden and entered the palace. The attire of the attendees changed dramatically, as if this were the main event.

The women were adorned with expensive silk dresses and jewels, while the men sported lace-trimmed coats and the latest fashion, silk stockings, to show off their legs.

They all looked like peacocks, their feathers spread wide in a display of courtship.

In comparison, Eleanor and I were rather plainly dressed. However, the face completes the fashion. The moment we entered the grand hall, all eyes were on us.

“Wow… what a beautiful couple.”

“They’re a couple, aren’t they? Look, they’re holding hands.”

“My, how shameless. Young people these days have no shame.”

“Countess, are you jealous?”

“Hmph, he’s just a country bumpkin from the south.”

“Oh my, you know him?”

“The King and Dressten have joined forces, haven’t they? The King’s knight from that story is that man. The woman… could it be, the princess?”

“The sister the King has been hiding? I heard she was sent away for her health…”

“Her health? He exiled her out of fear. There were so many… unpleasant incidents when the princess was at court. That’s why the rumors of her being a witch started. The fact that the court became so quiet after her exile only fueled those rumors.”

They whispered, their voices loud enough for everyone to hear. The murmurs spread like wildfire.

Eleanor squeezed my hand even tighter.

“Is this what banquets are usually like?”

I had expected our presence to be a topic of conversation.

The King and the Dressten family, sworn enemies, had joined forces, and at the center of it all was an unknown, lowborn knight.

Eleanor’s presence, after more than a decade of seclusion, would also have fueled their imagination.

The problem was that they were whispering so openly.

Bronce II was a powerful great lord, and his alliance with Dressten had made him even more influential.

Ordinary nobles should have been wary of him. But the situation was the opposite.

How should I interpret this?

“That’s Countess Zenos. She was once my brother’s staunchest ally.”

“Not anymore?”

“She’s his ex-wife’s mother. My foolish brother couldn’t keep his pants on and turned a powerful ally into a powerful enemy.”

Betrayal, as they say, was often several times more potent than trust.

Eleanor glared at me and continued,

“It’s not just a story. If you don’t understand the complex relationships between the families and act recklessly, you’ll find yourself in a tight spot.”

“Are you jealous? Even though you know I enjoy it?”

“I’m worried it will affect Anya.” Eleanor drew a firm line.

I shrugged.

“Don’t worry. I’m not foolish enough to be distracted by other flowers when I have the most beautiful one by my side.”

“Spoken like a true womanizer. Do you think I’ll be swayed by such flattery?”

“Then how about this?”

I pulled her closer by our intertwined hands and, before she could react, kissed her forehead.

“A-Are you crazy…!?”

Eleanor, finally pulling away from me, glared at me, her eyes darting around nervously.

The noblewomen who had been gossiping about her were now staring with wide eyes, their hands clasped in awe.

The romance between a highborn lady and a handsome, rugged knight was the epitome of the chivalric romances popular among noblewomen.

The scene from their imagination, now playing out before them, was enough to make them swoon.

I deliberately put my arm around her waist. Having released her hand, she had no choice but to press closer to me.

The noblewomen’s gasps grew louder.

“I’m just marking my territory. There seem to be a few… pests… eyeing what’s mine.”

My words about her being the most beautiful flower weren’t an exaggeration. And beauty always attracted the attention of men.

Ever since we entered the banquet hall, several men had been staring at Eleanor. They were just waiting for an opportunity to approach her.

I was warning them that Eleanor was mine.

“Excuse me. Why am I yours?”

“I’m just making others believe that. It would be troublesome if you received any dance requests.”

Dancing was an essential part of banquets. And it was customary for partners to dance the first and last dances together, then make way for others.

However, that was impossible for Eleanor, due to the side effects of her ability.

“Since I’ve made such a public display of affection, no one will question me for monopolizing you. At most, they’ll just curse me.”

“You could talk a fish out of water.”

Despite her grumbling, she didn’t seem particularly displeased.

In fact, she had been excited since this morning. It was her first banquet in a very, very long time.

She intertwined her fingers with mine again and led me forward.

Surprisingly, she knew many people and was well-versed in court politics and the various families’ interests.

“Didn’t you go into seclusion because of the side effects of your ability?”

“I wasn’t living with my ears plugged.”

Eleanor didn’t seem to want to discuss it further. Perhaps being forced into seclusion had made her more sensitive to outside news.

I changed the subject.

“However, it seems there are quite a few people who resent His Majesty.”

Besides Countess Zenos, whom Eleanor had mentioned, many others were looking at us with disdain. It seemed to be about eight out of ten people in the banquet hall.

And there was an invisible line between them and those who weren’t, a sense of distance.

“Which noble would like a powerful king?”

Despite her casual tone, I felt a sense of tension. It felt like I was facing a volcano on the verge of eruption.

I subtly listened to the surrounding conversations.

“Who would have thought the King and Dressten would join forces?”

“I know, right? The King’s power is growing too strong. This is not in our favor.”

“He’s an ambitious man. If he gains any more power, who knows what will happen…”

“He might even declare himself Emperor.”

My actions, connecting the King and Dressten to gain control of Count Bruah’s territory, were leading to an uncontrollable conclusion.

There were more nobles wary of the King than in my previous life. Considering that this was one of the factors that led to the outbreak of the Great War…

‘The possibility of a Great War is increasing.’ I needed to prepare more. But for now, I had to focus on the banquet. Just then, the musicians switched to a dance tune.

As if on cue, the noblewomen and their partners stepped onto the dance floor.

I didn’t remain idle.

“Princess, may I have this dance?”

“If you step on my foot again, I won’t let you off easy.”

Eleanor stomped her foot, as if to say she would step on mine in return.

“It’ll be different this time.”

“I highly doubt that.” Eleanor looked skeptical.

I was a terrible dancer, with no sense of rhythm. Despite two weeks of practice, I hadn’t even mastered a simple dance.

She whispered as we stepped onto the dance floor,

“I’ll forgive you once or twice.”

“There’s no need for that.”

I quickly put my arm around her waist and pulled her closer. She placed her hand on my shoulder, and we assumed the starting position.

“A man’s pride…” Her smile was clearly a smirk.

I ignored her and took a step. At that moment, the world began to slow down.

What felt like a fleeting moment to others was a long, drawn-out period for me, enough time to check Eleanor’s foot placement and observe the skilled dancers around us.

“H-How…?”

Eleanor, who had been both smirking and tensing, expecting me to step on her foot, looked at me with wide eyes.

I pulled her closer after her turn.

As our lower bodies pressed together, she flinched. Her face, flushed like a blooming flower, wasn’t just from the dance.

“Just enjoy the moment.”

Eleanor gently pushed my chest and spun away, her smirk replaced with a smile of genuine enjoyment.

While I couldn’t enjoy the rhythm and speed of the dance due to my slowed perception, I was content just seeing Eleanor truly enjoying herself.

“How did you do that? Were you tricking me all this time? Pretending to step on my foot?”

“That’s a misunderstanding. I’m just good under pressure.”

“I don’t think so… Tell me the truth, and I’ll forgive you.”

I shrugged, and Eleanor lightly stepped on my foot. She looked at me with wide, innocent eyes, as if to apologize, but her lips were twitching.

“Is that a challenge?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’ll regret it.”

Just then, the music changed to a slow, sensual tune.

I immediately wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her closer, our breaths mingling, our bodies pressed together.

“I-It’s too close…!” She glanced around nervously, her face flushed, her eyes trembling.

“And yet you’re not pushing me away.”

“Well… it wouldn’t look good, would it?” She averted her gaze as I looked down at her.

I chuckled and moved to the music. The slow, simple rhythm allowed me to enjoy the dance as well.

Eleanor, her head resting on my chest, followed my lead and whispered,

“Thank you…” I glanced down at her, and she averted her gaze again and whispered,

“After I learned about the side effects of my ability, I thought I’d never be able to attend a banquet again. I never even dreamed of dancing with a partner. It was like I was trapped behind iron bars that couldn’t be broken by power or money. That’s why… this moment feels like a dream.”

“I’ll receive my reward in bed.”

Eleanor’s brow furrowed. She sighed and grumbled,

“Is that really all you think about?”

“Any man would react the same way if he were holding a woman as beautiful as you.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

“I’d like to hear an answer.”

Eleanor averted her gaze and mumbled something. I couldn’t hear her, but it was enough of an answer.

I would have to postpone my promise to Fiore.

“Alright.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Sometimes, you don’t have to.” Eleanor didn’t deny it.

As soon as the song ended, she fanned her face and fled to a corner of the banquet hall, her hand still intertwined with mine.

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An uninvited guest appeared as we were drinking the prepared beverages.

“Lady Eleanor, I expected to be your first dance partner, as your fiancé.” It was a middle-aged man with sharp, predatory eyes and a large frame. I had never seen him before, but he felt strangely familiar.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Duke Aaron Eldrich de Dressten.” Eleanor said, glancing at me. She was a wise woman.

By using his full name, she was warning him to be careful with his words, and at the same time, informing me of his identity.

As if that wasn’t enough, she quickly added,

“And to bring up a broken engagement, especially when you have a child… It’s not only rude to me, but also to your wife.”

“My feelings haven’t changed, my lady.”

“Nor have mine. Our engagement was simply a transaction between our families, with no regard for my feelings.” That was her excuse for me.

I playfully squeezed her hand, as if to say it was alright.

I had expected some pests to be drawn to the flower’s scent and act recklessly.

Men were often brave in front of women.

However, the eldest son of Count Dressten was an unexpected development. He was my future brother-in-law.

“Even so, we have a history. Won’t you grant me a dance?”

“I’m afraid I can’t. I don’t know the next song, and I’m tired after two consecutive dances.”

While she was being polite, it was a clear rejection.

“Then may I look forward to the next one?” Aaron continued to pester her, as if he hadn’t understood.

It was a series of rude interruptions.

I suspected he had another motive.

While he was speaking to Eleanor, he kept glancing at me. It seemed his true target was me, not Eleanor.

“It will be an opportunity to further solidify the alliance between the royal family and Dressten.”

And yet, he continued to pester her in front of me, despite my public display of affection. For some reason, my future brother-in-law was provoking me.

One thing was certain. It wasn’t Count Dressten’s intention. He needed all the help he could get to claim the throne of the Northern Continent.

Eleanor subtly tugged on my hand, as if asking me to step in, like a prince.

But why should I play into his hands when his intentions were so obvious?

I whispered to Eleanor, so that my future brother-in-law couldn’t hear,

“Why was the engagement broken?”

Eleanor glared at me, as if to say, “What does that matter?” But after a moment of silence, she whispered in my ear,

“It was because of my ability.” She added that it was more precisely because of the rumors of her being a witch.

So he was asking her to dance, knowing about the side effects of her ability? Now that I was certain his target was me, I nodded and straightened up.

My future brother-in-law’s expression hardened as he saw us whispering.

He was the one who had been rude. Hypocrite.

I extended my intertwined hand to my future brother-in-law.

“I’ll yield the next dance to you.”

Eleanor glared at me in disbelief, her face flushing crimson, as if she were about to explode. Just as she was about to speak,

“Uh, um… that’s.”

My future brother-in-law’s flustered voice came out first. It seemed Eleanor had finally realized that he had approached her with another motive.

“Since Duke Aaron insists, I’ll make an exception.” Eleanor released my hand and extended hers to my future brother-in-law.

He instinctively took a step back, then averted his gaze to a corner of the banquet hall.

Bronce II, who had entered the banquet hall at some point, was clicking his tongue.

How should I interpret this?

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