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51. A Foreigner and a Sacred Item
Most of the banquet guests did not realize that Davey was the one playing the piano. The music quietly came to an end.
Noble women or royalty usually learned to play some kind of musical instrument, such as the piano, harp, or violin. It was considered a basic skill. Illyna had definitely learned to play the piano too; she just didn’t learn it in depth, since she had never taken an interest in elegant pastimes.
“Wow…” Winley, who was standing beside Illyna, stared at Davey in awe from the very first note. She couldn’t take her eyes off him, staring unblinkingly alongside Illyna.
‘The music… It’s beautiful.’
The music was beautiful and mysterious. It made Illyna wonder if the piano had always sounded like this. The song was definitely new and unfamiliar, but everyone in the banquet hall seemed to be hypnotized by its melody.
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Illyna was unknowingly staring at Davey, who nodded to the rhythm and pressed the keys like he had become one with the piano. She was in awe. She couldn’t help but tap her fingers to the rhythm every time Davey’s hand moved.
Then, Illyna, while tapping on her wine glass, understood everything once the blue-haired girl appeared with the music. She didn’t know the magic spell that Davey was using, but she noticed a weak flow of mana surrounding the girl every time Davey pressed the keys at a fairly brisk tempo.
‘It’s as if the mana is reacting to the music.’
Illyna had never seen anything like this before. Music had the ability to delight the ears or comfort the mind, and it was very effective in boosting morale on the battlefield as well. However, that was just a psychological effect; she had never seen mana resonate with music to create an effect of some sort. This was something that musicians wouldn’t be able to believe even if they saw it with their own eyes, yet Davey was doing it so casually.
‘Genius.’
It probably wasn’t just a coincidence that Davey could show talent and effort in an unimaginable number of areas.
‘How much effort did he put in before he could become like this?’
Davey had once said that Illyna had more talent than him in a certain area; he himself knew that he wasn’t as talented as her, but he had worked extremely hard to get to where he was now. Even Illyna couldn’t fathom that.
The fluid mana surrounded the girl, who shone like the aurora, and it kept everyone’s attention on the girl. The scene was beautiful and magnificent. Most of the people in the hall stared at the girl in awe, forgetting the fact that Davey was doing something in the background.
Aeria El Lyndis was the Lyndis Empire’s youngest princess. She, who was the only half-beastfolk in the royal family, showed her distinct fox ears and beautiful amber-colored eyes without hiding them. The youngest princess who was said to have gone into hiding as the rumor of her hideous appearance had spread was no longer hideous; her beauty was actually comparable to the Five Beauties of the continent.
As the shining mana from Davey’s magic spell made Aeria look especially captivating, Illyna could guess how big of a deal this was from the young members’ astonished faces and the ladies of nobility who were staring in shock with their jaws dropped.
Aeria had thrown off her tacky and extremely conservative dress, her mask, and was now displaying her full charm. She was seemingly making up for all the time she had lost. Receiving all the attention, she slowly walked toward Deorte El Lyndis, the Lyndis Empire’s emperor who was watching her silently.
Deorte had a cold and stern expression that made it difficult to approach him easily. However, his expression softened once Princess Aeria had appeared. He praised, “You are beautiful.”
“Your Majesty…”
“You’ve gone through so much.”
Deorte’s voice was low but warm. Everyone was surprised by his uncharacteristic demeanor, since he was usually hot-tempered enough to be called the ‘Fire-Breathing Two-Headed Dragon’. With trembling shoulders, Aeria covered her mouth with her hands and lowered her head. Seeing her, Deorte silently pulled her into his arms and patted her on the back.
When the calm music gradually came to an end, Illyna approached Davey, who was silently watching the reunion of father and daughter. She watched him slowly get up from his piano seat.
“How was it?” Davey asked.
“…Amazing.”
“Let’s go.” Without hesitation, Davey walked past Illyna and left like there was nothing more to see.
“You’re just going to leave it like that? You know they’re going to come find you, right?”
“I meddled enough in their business. All I need is the Red Moon.”
Illyna couldn’t take her eyes off Davey as he chuckled and walked past her. She murmured, “I’m envious…”
No one could tell who or what Illyna was envious of; just for a moment, she showed emotions of envy that she wasn’t even aware of.
* * *
When facing Deorte El Lyndis, the Lyndis Empire’s emperor, one would act in one of two ways: they would either be unable to look him the eye because of his overpowering aura or be extremely cautious and careful not to mess up this once-in-a-lifetime chance.
“I have no objections with the results. I trusted you, and you kept your promise exceedingly well.”
Davey bowed with a chuckle.
“The Red Moon you requested was definitely an auction item, but it is too cheap a reward for something like that. I have no intention of just giving you that as the only reward.”
“That jewel is enough for me, but…”
The Red Moon was an extremely rare and beautiful jewel that noble women couldn’t get even if they wanted to. Considering that a thumb-sized Red Moon was as expensive as a mansion, the Red Moon Davey had received was already worth dozens of mansions.
‘But he called this cheap?’ Davey was amazed at the emperor’s generosity; there was a reason why the Lyndis Empire was called one of the most powerful countries on the continent.
“This is?” Deorte asked Davey.
“It is a prescription that I’ve prepared. Please make sure that she takes one every week for at least a month. The virus was widespread in her body, so there is a chance of relapse.”
“I will leave it with the royal palace’s doctor,” Deorte answered.
Davey asked calmly, “Can he be trusted?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“From what I can see, Her Highness is probably a thorn in the eye of this empire’s conservatives.”
Deorte smirked at how Davey was bringing up the disgrace of his own empire in front of him. He asked, “Are you saying that they would dare to target Aeria when I am watching them?”
“I would’ve already done it if I was part of the conservatives,” Davey said. “Your Majesty, you have yet to gather all the information about them, isn’t that so?”
Deorte grew cold, glaring at Davey. He looked ready to wield his sword at any time.
Still, Davey went on without any hesitation, “The best way to assassinate royalty is by poison. And since Her Highness hasn’t strengthened and established her position at the palace yet, this will be their best and last chance.”
Deorte, who momentarily stared at Davey like he was lost in thought, smirked, then began laughing. He seemed very entertained. “Ha… Haha… Hahahahaha!!! You are a young boy who knows nothing and yet you are this fearless.”
“Am I?”
“I like it! Alright, I will make sure to take care of that.”
To be honest, Davey wasn’t interested in the fight for power in the Lyndis Empire.
“I will give the Red Moon to you as a reward for curing Aeria. However!”
“…”
“You have not received my gratitude yet.” As he said so, Deorte removed a ring from his finger and handed it to Davey. “It’s a ring that signifies my authority. Take it.”
“Is the meaning of this ring what I think it is?”
“You are not wrong. You have shown Aeria light again; that alone is a great blessing to the child. Also! You have given me the chance to see my daughter’s face again.” Deorte got up from his seat, continuing, “What kind of person do you think I am?! The great Lyndis Empire does not neglect those who we are indebted to!”
Davey could feel the amount of love the emperor had for his daughter.
“Prince Davey.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Will you become a member of the Lyndis Empire’s royal palace?”
“I have to decline,” Davey answered without hesitation.
Deorte simply chuckled. “You aren’t easily scared, huh?”
“My life is not really in danger.”
“Alright. If that is what you want, I will not ask any further. However, receiving my token of gratitude is an entirely different matter! I promise to give you a fitting repayment even if you refuse.” Deorte went on to declare confidently, “As promised, from this day on, the great Lyndis Empire is the ally of Davey O’Rowane, the First Prince of the Rowane Kingdom! If what you intend to do is not a threat to the safety of the Lyndis Empire, I will grant you three requests for help!”
It was quite a great reward for just curing one member of royalty. Davey did think that Deorte’s love for his youngest daughter was great, but this was beyond that; this wasn’t a promise between countries, but between a country and an individual. Davey knew what that meant.
“Furthermore! Even after the exhaustion of the three requests, the Lyndis Empire will be the ally of Prince Davey, not the Rowane Kingdom.”
Davey found this rather unexpected, but he didn’t think it was a bad outcome; there was one thing that was on his mind anyways. He asked, “Then, I will request something right away.”
“I will allow it!” Deorte shouted confidently and seriously.
Davey slowly opened his mouth to speak.
‘I have to look at this in the long run. I have to consider a lot of things.’
This was the emperor of one of the three most powerful empires on the continent. Davey took a moment to organize his thoughts, then stated his request.