Chapter 135 - Episode 132: After the Banquet
The night deepened, and upon returning to the Koenitz Viscount's villa after the banquet, Noein chatted about the evening's social interactions with his wife and parents-in-law while enjoying one last light drink.
"Haha, the look on Julian-dono's face while I was praising His Excellency Kivileft's eldest son... he looked so, so happy, pffft!"
"Don't laugh so hard that you accidentally spray wine... guffaw."
While responding to Noein, who spoke while unable to hold back his laughter, Arnold himself let out a small snort.
"My, my. For you, who rarely laughs, to snort like that... just what happened?"
"I would like to hear as well."
Since his wife and daughter asked upon seeing Arnold's rare expression, Noein recounted a scene from the banquet on his behalf.
"Oh my, that is... ufu, fufu haha!"
"But it might be inevitable that he didn't notice, ufu fufu!"
Imagining the comical sight of Julian becoming ecstatic in tandem with Noein praising himself, even Eleonore and Clara could no longer endure it and laughed.
Beside Noein, even the usually expressionless Matilda turned her face away for a moment to hide her expression. It was likely a laugh of recollection.
"But dear, is it really alright to... provoke His Excellency Kivileft like that? Might you earn his hatred and be attacked or something?"
"Ah, that part is fine, Clara. Because, you see, during the discussions about presenting the Crossbow and the potatoes to His Majesty..."
"Oh, now that you mention it, that was the case."
Noein also understood that there was a concern of retaliation if he made a fool of Maximilian without taking any countermeasures.
That was precisely why he had devised a plan beforehand before teasing him at the banquet. That plan would likely take effect within a few days.
...
"Haa... today was fun."
Returning to the guest room where he was staying, Noein said this as he dove onto the bed.
"Father's face while watching the delusional Julian... pffft. Even remembering it now, it was a, a masterpiece, hehehe."
Several hours had already passed since the banquet, but Noein was still laughing. Since something so pleasant had occurred, he wouldn't lack material for reminiscent laughter for a while.
"Ufufu, you are a person who laughs often, but this might be the first time I've seen you look this happy."
Watching Noein, Clara gave a wry smile. She already knew that her husband had a twisted side. From the current Clara's perspective, this side of Noein was also adorable.
"Well, I've managed to achieve one of my long-awaited revenges in a concrete form, so for me, it's a milestone in my life."
Noein's revenge of "living happily" would continue for a lifetime, but showing Maximilian face-to-face that he himself was happy this time held great meaning. It was a refreshing feeling, as if a haze of hatred had been cleared away.
"...It served him right, didn't it, Matilda?"
"Yes, Noein-sama. Count Kivileft's distorted face was a masterpiece. It was a far cry from how he always acted so haughtily at the Count's estate."
As Noein turned his face toward Matilda while still lying down, she smiled as she answered.
"Oh my, even Matilda-san... I'm glad for you both."
Her beloved husband and his one-and-only best friend were rejoicing with a shared feeling. That sight was the most joyful thing possible for Clara. Even if the background was something as dangerous as "revenge against a hated father."
...
"Damn it! That brat! Did he forget the debt of me feeding him until he reached adulthood!?"
Upon returning to the Kivileft Count's royal capital villa and dismissing the servants to be alone in the drawing room with his wife and legitimate son, Maximilian shouted this as he slammed both fists onto the table.
While Noein had not easily broadcasted the fact that he was Maximilian's illegitimate child, conversely, Maximilian had taken advantage of the fact that he could not act strongly against Noein to make a fool of him as he pleased.
Even remembering it now, that illegitimate child was so hateful that his insides boiled.
"Agh! I wish I hadn't thought for even a moment that he was a decent fellow! Noein, you who carry the blood of lowly commoners! You cowardly, insidious piece of trash!"
"Shut up! In terms of making me lose face, you are equally guilty! You stupid son!"
"Hieee!"
Julian, who had been shouting in imitation of his father, let out a pathetic scream as his father threw a nearby vase at him.
Since Maximilian had used a minimum amount of reason to throw it so it wouldn't hit his son directly, the vase flew toward an empty wall and shattered into pieces.
"Why can't you use your head even a little bit when you behave! Do you have any idea how pathetic I felt, with a legitimate son who rejoices while being mocked by an illegitimate child right before my eyes!?"
"F-Father, please forgive me! Forgive meeee!"
Maximilian had approached his foolish legitimate son and raised his fist, but seeing the son crouching in half-tears begging for forgiveness, he quietly lowered his fist and let out a deep sigh.
No matter how foolish, Julian was a precious son born to his legal wife. For Maximilian, he was the only legitimate son he had intended to create.
Though he thought how wonderful it would have been if the intelligence of the illegitimate child and the legitimate son were reversed, this fool was his legitimate son. He couldn't bring himself to hit him while he was crying and trembling.
"Absolutely pathetic! To come home after being played with by the child of that filthy sow!"
"Don't say that, Dietlinde!"
"What do you mean 'don't say that,' acting so haughty!"
The one raging as much as Maximilian was his wife, Dietlinde Kivileft. Dietlinde, who had married in from a certain Count's house in the northeast, was two years older than Maximilian and possessed an incredibly strong will.
"Is this the state of things just because I stepped away for a bit!? Just how many years have you been the head of the House of Count Kivileft!"
Even if he wanted to argue, since it was a fact that he had exposed a pathetic side of himself as she said, Maximilian had no words to talk back.
Nine years ago, the one who first said to keep Noein under house arrest in the annex if he wasn't to be eliminated was Dietlinde. Knowing that her husband and son had been made fools of by the child of a concubine, whose very existence was unpleasant to remember, there was no way she wouldn't be irritated.
"I-It's my fault... Mother, I'm sorryyy..."
"Oh Julian, there's no need for you to cry and apologize, you must have been so frustrated, you poor thing..."
When Julian began to sob again upon seeing his mother shouting in anger, Dietlinde spoke in a sweet voice.
Due to Dietlinde's physical circumstances, Julian was the only child between her and Maximilian. That was why she had doted on her only son. However, that was also one of the reasons Julian grew up to be a fool.
"Dear, I will not permit you to step back while this child is mocked and our family name is dragged through the mud. Make him thoroughly regret his rash provocation!"
"I know without you telling me! I will make that fellow regret tonight! To the point where he comes crying and apologizing!"
He shouldn't think that we would remain silent after being unilaterally mocked, Maximilian thought, recalling Noein's face.
No matter how much success Noein had achieved as a lord and noble, it could not compare to the power of the House of Count Kivileft.
Even without harming Noein directly, there were means to retaliate. For example, hindering Noein's territory management, harming his subordinates or citizens... or harming the female slave Noein always brought along as if she were precious.
Maximilian let his imagination run wild, wondering how he would make him suffer.