HTACS 84

Chapter 84

A discussion hosted by Eve von Lohengrin.

Let’s just call it a tea party. Anyway, this tea party is closer to departmental consultations than the salons where only the capital’s noble ladies gather. Considering Zefflin’s political symbolism, the student council president is like the Lohengrin Empire’s ‘Emperor,’ and the rest are like ministers.

So it goes without saying that it’s a huge concern which side the current student council president is on, what path she walks, and how she organizes her executive team. When you factor in special budget allocations, task forces for special operations, and working-level teams for campaign promises, the budget allocated to Eve’s projects is enormous.

That’s why the chicks who gather just to hear one word about Eve’s recent interests and what she’s focused on form a sea of people—and my seemingly useless family-register mate is actually an incredibly talented person.

However, according to the lore on imperial family events, it’s not uncommon for an imperial family member to attend in place of the Emperor.

So even if I attend this tea party in place of Eve von Lohengrin, the formality doesn’t really drop.

Anyway, I decided to attend.

“Presenting His Highness Prince Wolfram von Lohengrin, as the proxy for Student Council President Eve von Lohengrin.”

Wow, introducing me as a real prince.

I thought Zefflin had no ranks except for Eve von Lohengrin?

Well, anyway, my name was called, so I entered the room, and I could feel the gazes pouring onto me.

Have you ever felt a gaze?

I mean the concept of feeling that many people are looking at you.

Honestly, it’s weird.

Gazes don’t have mass, so you shouldn’t be able to feel being looked at.

But right now, I feel it.

Countless gazes directed at me.

Some tremble in fear. Some are too busy glaring at me. Some avoid eye contact, and some watch with interest.

Before I entered, everyone was gossiping and watching for opportunities—but now all their gazes are on me, and even though it makes no sense, I felt the mass of that shower of gazes.

Honestly, I’m terrified.

Come to think of it, this is a dinner party where the nobles of 2nd year and above—those who were plundered by Wolfram von Lohengrin—are gathered.

Have I just walked into my own death? Just as my legs were about to give out—

**【Imperial Bloodline activated.】**

**【You cannot show a shabby appearance in any situation.】**

**【Countering the intimidation of all those around you.**】

I snapped back to my senses in an instant.

Ha, this is no joke—as expected of a 1-tier skill.

My mind cleared immediately.

“Why is Wolfram-sama here?”

“Hmm.”

“I thought you had returned to the imperial palace.”

“……”

Ah, openly putting me down.

I’d actually like to go back too, you know?

Really…

**【The user is in a situation where their bloodline is being disrespected.】**

**【Forced auto-counter against surrounding mongrels activated.】**

**【According to the Imperial Bloodline’s achievements, raising the banner even amid persecution.】**

**【The most noble bloodline commands all surrounding mongrels!】**

**【By bloodline judgment, forced intimidation effect applied to those with lower than 1-tier bloodline!】**

?

What is this?

My mouth opens without my intention.

Huh?

“**【Disrespectful. Ignorant. Unprincipled. Insolent.**】”

“…P-pardon?”

“**【Have you forgotten that the one before you is Wolfram von Lohengrin? The most noble bloodline—the most legitimate among them!】**”

“Ah, aah… U-ugh. Ugh.”

“**【Have you truly forgotten that this Zefflin is merely a model garden?】**”

“Ah, I-I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

“**【The crime of slighting the imperial family’s direct line is high treason. Does your family have the confidence to bear that crime?】**”

“…Ah, ugh. Ughhh…”

“**【Answer.**】”

“I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry…”

**【Auto-counter duration ended.】**

**【Intimidation status effect applied to all surrounding targets!】**

……Ah.

Everyone’s eyes rolled back.

Insane.

“…H-hic.”

“Sp-save me. I-I didn’t do anything.”

“Y-Your Highness Wolfram. I-I’m sorry. Ah, no, I said nothing, nothing at all.”

What am I supposed to do with this atmosphere?

Everyone is trembling.

So a 1-tier skill automatically counters when the bloodline is disrespected—wow, I’m learning this for the first time!

Well of course—in the original, Eve von Lohengrin was never disrespected, and Wolfram just got stabbed and died, so how would I know?

When I turn my gaze, they tremble. No—there’s one person who isn’t trembling, and is instead looking at me with even brighter eyes.

“The young lady of the Sierra family.”

“Yes. Your Highness. Regina Sierra greets you. I trust you are well.”

“Hmm. I’ve been well.”

“Hehe. The display of imperial authority just now—it reminded me of last year’s majesty, and my heart trembled.”

“Hmm.”

“However, the others have also sufficiently learned the imperial family’s authority once more. I beg with my life that you withdraw that authority.”

“I will do so.”

“As expected, you are different from last year. Then I ask that you forgive all sins and treat them as if they never happened.”

With that, Regina chuckled, and the electrifying atmosphere loosened ever so slightly.

Hmm. She suddenly says this kind of thing in this situation?

Ah, I see.

Well, I suppose I can play along this once.

She did help ease the atmosphere, after all.

“Understood. I will treat everything as if it never happened.”

“Surely. Now, everyone must have heard that, right? His Highness Wolfram von Lohengrin simply could not tolerate anyone defaming the imperial family. He holds no personal grudges, so let us all begin our conversation comfortably.”

With that, the tea party began—but Regina Sierra sat right beside me and whispered very quietly.

“Thank you for heeding my request. I am grateful for Your Highness’s generous heart.”

“Don’t mention it. Pushing too hard here would have been inconvenient for me as well. It’s fortunate you stepped in.”

“Your words alone are thanks enough.”

“So. Do you intend to sell me a favor?”

“How could I dare to do that to Your Highness?”

“No, I don’t consider it a favor. What I’m talking about is the young lady of the Citrus family—the one you covered for, the one who mocked me. You must have wanted to put her quite in your debt, didn’t you?”

At those words, Regina Sierra’s eyes widened.

It’s obvious, really.

Despite appearances, Regina Sierra is extremely calculating. She must have thought that by stepping in as a mediator and stopping me, there would be someone who’d feel grateful.

“…As expected, I can’t win against Your Highness. My defeat—”

“Don’t you dare utter the word defeat. Young lady of the Sierra family.”

“P-pardon?”

“I told you not to.”

“Ah… Yes. Understood.”

If you admit defeat here, then following the competition and the midterms, you’ll have lost to me three times.

And then your route opens.

I have no intention—now or in the future—of opening your route and joining you in that worn-out mental world of yours!

—

After that, the tea party proceeded more smoothly than expected.

To be precise, I just folded my arms and listened while the nobles conversed among themselves.

Surprisingly, solid discussions were exchanged, and occasionally interesting topics came up.

“Come to think of it, has Miss Trista not attended today as well?”

“Yes. She rarely attends these things.”

“That’s a shame. I had hoped Miss Trista would grace this occasion.”

It seems Ayla doesn’t attend these gatherings often.

And the girl who brought it up glanced at me.

Who was that? Not a combat type, not a support type either…

Ah, aah—she was a character for in-school reputation building.

She likes gossip, loves romance stories, and I think she was in the Zefflin newspaper club.

If you put her in your party and do things that raise your in-school reputation, the effects are better. I think her name was…

“Do you have something to say to me? Eldest daughter of the Tabloid family?”

“P-pardon? You know me?”

“Of course. Zefflin Newspaper Club. One pillar of the opinion faction. Second-year Magic Department member. Next club head. Daily Tabloid.”

“Ho-how do you know that far… Where did you hear that I’m the next club head… Ah.”

Ah, that was decided starting from Act 3, wasn’t it?

Becoming the next newspaper club head was fairly advanced information, wasn’t it?

Sorry. I don’t need to know that far, and besides, you’re the one at fault here.

“Trying to test my reaction by casually mentioning my fiancée—have you forgotten that imperial marriage is a grave matter and should not be spoken of lightly?”

“I-I’m sorry…”

“Don’t let it happen again. Be careful.”

“Y-yes…”

As expected.

If I’d talked about Ayla here, tomorrow’s Zefflin newspaper would have run something like “The prince who appeared alone at the tea party without his fiancée—feeling the weight of his love!” or some such article.

She’s a journalist-or-trash kind of person—her name is even Daily Tabloid.

Anyway, watching the veterans and rookie candidates of each faction chatting in small groups, I nodded with interest.

Perhaps because it’s a noble tea party, there are quite a few high-tier characters here.

Interesting. Some are characters I frequently put in my party in the original, while others were tricky to use.

Some can even go all the way to Act 12 depending on how you raise them.

“As expected, Zefflin is a treasure trove of talent.”

“Oh my, does Your Highness see it that way as well?”

“Hmm. The young lady of the Sierra family.”

“Please call me Regina Sierra.”

“I refuse.”

“You’re always so cold. That also pleases me.”

Wow.

If a beautiful elf with flowing blonde hair smiled and talked to you like that, you’d feel at least a little happy—but if it’s Regina Sierra, it’s genuinely terrifying.

“Step back. I only wish to enjoy the conversations of talented people.”

“Oh my, I’m envious. Who knows, an invitation to Your Highness’s faction might arrive someday?”

“I have no such intention. And I don’t have a faction yet.”

“…Hehe. You speak humbly again. But I’m envious. I’m just called the young lady of the Sierra family—who will actually get that kind of opportunity… Truly, I’m so envious. Hehe. I might even feel a tiny bit… a little bit of jealousy without meaning to.”

Why did you suddenly switch on? Don’t do that—you’re genuinely scary.

“It’s nothing. I’m simply happy just watching talented people converse.”

“Your Highness called it a treasure trove of talent. Then, do you know who these people here are?”

“Of course.”

“Oh my, then would you try identifying ten people here? Hehe.”

“I refuse a match with a clear winner.”

“No, it’s just a small game.”

“…Are you proposing a game with me?”

“Yes. If I lose, I will obey one command from Your Highness. If I win, you will consider one request of mine.”

Hmm.

I don’t know what kind of request it might be, but ten people should be easy.

“That young lady is the second daughter of the Icewind family—Hilia Icewind. A Magic Department talent who has mastered Ice and Wind magic up to 6-tier respectively.”

“Oh my.”

And I also named the others.

Since they were all people I’d only seen in the setting book, it was fun recalling each one’s lore as I named them.

After naming nine, for the last one—just to tease her a little—I looked beside me.

“And lastly, Regina Sierra. The Great Magic Merchant. Eldest daughter of the Sierra family.”

“…Do you see me as talented?”

“Hmm. To be honest, yes. A genius with Mana 21, an incomparable talent.”

“…Ugh. Thank you…”

Regina Sierra covered her face with both hands and bowed her head deeply.

To be honest, she is a great talent.

Mana 21 is no joke. Even Ayla has 19. The Fairy Queen has 20.

But even with that 21—no matter how many 21s gather—they can never surpass a single 22.

A monster called the reincarnation of the Magic God. The despair of never being able to surpass Eve von Lohengrin.

“Yet your talent remains at the mountain, never reaching the heavens—and because of that, do you seek death?”

I must have named too many characters just now—the words slipped out without me meaning to.

“…………Pardon?”

“No, it’s nothing. Forget it.”

The tea party was only a small amusement during lunchtime, and it inevitably came to an end.

“U-um, Your Highness? What did you just say about me…”

“I told you to forget it.”

“Ah, ah… B-but.”

“Forget it. That’s an order. It was a game with those conditions, wasn’t it?”

“Ah… Ugh. Understood. I must keep the conditions.”

“Good.”

As the tea party ended and I rose from my seat, something occurred to me.

Come to think of it, she’s also a heroine in the original.

And when her heart truly breaks, she goes all the way.

Her bad ending is when she loses the will to live, kills her own spirit, and lives like a vegetable—with Kelterus taking care of her for life.

Hmm…

Well, I suppose there’s some nostalgia there—one piece of advice wouldn’t hurt.

“Regina Sierra.”

Ah, I forgot to say “young lady of the Sierra family.”

Well, anyway, let’s just deliver the message and go.

“…Y-yes?”

“Always wear an accessory related to blessings—something that wards off curses.”

“…Wh-why would you say that?”

“If you don’t want to fall apart, do as I say.”

And so the tea party ended.

Anyway, though I attended in Eve’s place, I got to see some talents and learned a bit about the secrets of this Imperial Bloodline skill. It was a fairly beneficial tea party.

“Hmm. Eve should respect me a little more for handling her work while she was passed out. That girl needs to learn how to respect her older brother.”

And then—

Eve woke up and scolded me for “What on earth did you do while I was out!!! The factions are all in an uproar!!”

I’m innocent.