Although she added an explanation that being able to see magic was useless if one didn’t know how to use it properly, Cordelia omitted that part.

Beluce snorted derisively.

“What’s so great about being able to see some magic?”

“My master said it was incredibly amazing. Oh, I wonder if Beluce doesn’t understand what I’m saying since he doesn’t even know what magic is?”

His lips went up and down repeatedly. He probably wanted to say something harsh. Seeing that his hand didn’t rise easily like yesterday, it seems he received a stern warning from Leonard.

Beluce, who barely regained his composure, said,

“The master is naturally capricious. Even things or people he used well, once his heart cools, that’s the end. He just tells us to throw them away.”

“Is that so?”

“When that time comes, I’ll cut your limbs into pieces and scatter them in the fields, so look forward to it.”

He said mockingly with a sneer. Cordelia replied sweetly, clasping her hands together.

“In case Beluce gets discarded first, I’ll make sure to cut Beluce into pieces and scatter them in the fields. Oh, and I saw yesterday that you like feeding dogs too, so I’ll call them as well, don’t worry.”

Perhaps moved by Cordelia’s thoughtful response, a strange sound was heard as part of the door broke. She didn’t even turn her head in that direction.

“You can’t keep your mouth shut, can you?”

“Not at all. It’s all thanks to diligently learning under my master.”

He glared at Cordelia as if he wanted to kill her, then disappeared without a word.

“Oh my, wasn’t that Lord Ingrion just now?”

Emily, who came to serve, recognized Beluce’s back and widened her eyes.

“You must be really close. Him visiting so early in the morning.”

“Indeed. I didn’t expect him to come greet me this early in the morning either.”

Cordelia shrugged her shoulders, looking in the direction he disappeared.

“By the way, the Grand Madam has invited you to a formal dinner tomorrow.”

“A formal dinner? So suddenly?”

“Yes. I heard it’s being held to celebrate the master’s recovery.”

How bold, while Gerard is glaring with such blue eyes. No, the thought occurred to her that it might be intentionally done in front of Gerard.

“She said to make sure the master can attend as well.”

“Me?”

“Ah, yes.”

“I don’t think he’ll listen if I tell him.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“Never mind. It’s nothing.”

Cordelia shook her head. She had a fundamental doubt about whether Leonard would really go along with Helena’s tune.

So when she told Leonard about Helena’s formal dinner without any expectations, she was rather surprised to hear an affirmative response.

“You’re going? Why?”

“To clean up.”

“Clean up?”

“I told you, didn’t I? That I need to get rid of the filth. Can’t leave things this messy forever. Oh, and since it’s come to this, call that Gerard or whatever his name is too.”

“Even Gerard Abrams?”

“Yeah. Call all the guys who have a problem with me. It’s annoying to go find them one by one.”

Although Cordelia didn’t easily understand what Leonard was saying, she could tell he had some kind of plan.

Thus, Cordelia sent word through a maid to Helena that she would attend the formal dinner along with Craig.

* * *

It had been a while since there was such a formal dinner.

There hadn’t been anyone to hold such gatherings or opportunities, as it hadn’t been long since the previous Count, Darren Abrams, had died, and Craig had fallen from his horse soon after.

Cordelia arrived at the dining room first. It wasn’t long before others started to gather.

Helena, Lily, and Arnold came together. Lily tried to say something when she saw Cordelia sitting in her seat, but Helena stopped her, saying, “Be quiet.”

‘What’s going on?’

Before she had time to resolve her doubts, Baron Lancaster and Gerard Abrams took their seats in turn.

Now there was only one empty seat left.

Not long after, the door opened and the protagonist everyone had been waiting for entered.

“Everyone’s here, I see.”

Leonard scanned the people who had arrived first. Then an uninvited guest appeared.

“Oh my. Lord Ingrion.”

“Good evening.”

“…I don’t recall inviting you to dinner tonight.”

“That’s why I came on my own. No matter how long I waited, you didn’t invite me. It seems the Abrams prefer proactive guests.”

Beluce replied with a smooth smile. Helena’s expression crumpled strangely at the appearance of an unexpected guest.

At that moment, Arnold, who was standing next to her, whispered something in her ear. Helena then regained her composure and smiled lightly.

“…I’ve failed to properly host you. Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you, Grand Madam Abrams.”

A servant brought a chair and plate for Beluce to sit.

Soon after, the food was served, and everyone started eating quietly. Around the time the main dish was being eaten, Helena spoke first.

“The reason we’ve gathered like this today is to celebrate my son Craig’s recovery, but also to discuss an important matter.”

“An important matter?”

Baron Lancaster asked. Helena replied with a meaningful smile.

“I’ll announce that towards the end of the meal. More importantly, we have an esteemed guest in the castle, but we haven’t properly greeted him.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. Let me formally introduce myself. I’m Dean Lancaster. May I have the honor of knowing your name?”

At Helena’s words, Dean turned towards Beluce as if he had been waiting for this.

“My name is Beluce Ingrion.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you. You won the jousting tournament last year, didn’t you? I heard His Majesty praised you highly, saying there was no knight to match you.”

“His Majesty tends to exaggerate his praises at times.”

Surprisingly, Beluce continued the conversation like a normal person. Cordelia, who knew his true nature, inwardly snorted.

“By the way, may I ask how you came to be at Abrams Castle? I’m curious as to who it was that connected you with Lord Ingrion.”

“Well.”

Beluce, still pretending to be polite, put down his spoon and knife and said,

“It’s thanks to Lady Cordelia here.”

“Ah.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Cordelia at once. At the sudden mention of her name, Cordelia raised her head abruptly, forgetting to chew her food.

“I have a long-standing connection with Vasquez. After all, Vasquez is the ‘cleanest sword’ in Ersche. We originally had an acquaintance.”

“Well, I see.”

Beluce spoke his lies glibly without even batting an eye.

Helena nodded reluctantly without suspicion. It wasn’t strange that Ingrion had a connection with Vasquez, one of the sacred eight families.

“And fortunately, I came here and met the lord to whom I will dedicate my life.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about Count Abrams here. I’ve sworn my sword to him.”

A knight’s oath is a story old enough to appear only in ancient literature, but it holds that much power. At Beluce’s declaration, everyone’s eyes widened immensely. Among them, the person whose eyes wavered the most was none other than Helena.

“I think Lord Ingrion is misunderstanding something.”

“What?”

“That child is not yet a count.”

Helena raised her right hand to point at Leonard. Leonard didn’t even turn his head towards Helena. Rather, Gerard, who had been eating quietly, opened his mouth.

“That’s right. He hasn’t officially inherited the title of count yet, has he?”

“Gerard’s words have a point. Such an important matter should be made clear.”

Even Arnold chimed in, taking Gerard’s side. The atmosphere was flowing strangely. Cordelia put down her fork and looked around.

When Leonard first woke up, they described Gerard as a devil and fretted about losing the count’s title to him, but suddenly their attitude had changed.

It wasn’t clear when they decided to side with Gerard. However, it wasn’t too surprising that Helena, who had realized that Leonard’s attitude towards her wasn’t favorable, had shifted her stance towards Gerard.

“Not a count? As far as I know, the rightful heir to the Abrams title is Cra-, I mean, Lord Craig.”

Beluce added politely.

“That’s when his head was intact. How can we put forth an idiot as a count, right?”

Gerard spoke triumphantly as if seeking everyone’s agreement. Of course, only Helena and Arnold agreed with those words. Lancaster remained silent.

Gerard arrogantly said to Leonard,

“There’s no one here who recognizes you as a count. No matter how much you claim to be the rightful heir, the Grand Madam and Viscount Arnold Dylan will go to the council and testify. They’ll say your head isn’t right.”

“Are you done talking?”

“What?”

“I’m asking if there’s anyone else who can’t recognize me as count? I understand you three well enough. The opinion of someone who’s married and left doesn’t matter, so… hmm. One person left.”

The one person left was Baron Lancaster. He seemed a bit burdened by the situation where all eyes were focused on him, and couldn’t open his mouth easily.

“I…”

“Speak. You can’t recognize me as count either?”

“Baron Lancaster. Remember what I promised you.”

Helena said, glaring at him sharply. Baron Lancaster, Dean, pondered for a while and then revealed his thoughts.

“I believe Lord Craig is the rightful heir.”

He picked the right side.

Cordelia admired Baron Lancaster’s instinct for a moment, then picked up the fork she had put down and continued eating. Anyway, it was obvious how the situation would unfold.

“Hmm. Is that so? So you’re not on that side, you mean.”

“Baron! How can you change your words now?”

“Leave him be. There’s no reason to keep a fool who can’t even read the situation on our side. Come in!”

Gerard shouted loudly towards the outside of the dining room with a triumphant voice. Then about a dozen armed knights entered with their swords drawn. Now it was clear why he was so confident.

“Haha. If you don’t want to die, sign this. If you do it willingly, I’ll at least spare your life and have you exiled.”

He marveled at his own mercy as he took out a prepared document from his breast and threw it in front of Leonard. The contents were obvious without even looking.

Leonard stretched, leaning his body backward. Then, with a face that couldn’t be more bored, he said to Beluce,

“Don’t overdo it.”

“Why?”

“It’s a hassle to clean up.”

“Yes.”

It was a strange conversation with many things omitted, obvious to anyone. The only person who fully understood this was Cordelia.

She diligently ate the remaining food even in this atmosphere. It was so out of place that even the servant standing behind looked at her very strangely.