The Male Lead Is In Charge Of The Successor

A splendid chandelier bloomed long and filled the wide hall. The banquet hall filled with countless people seemed full, but participants continued to enter through the open door. The birthday banquet for the 60th Duke of Basquiella was the next level thing to an imperial feast. The significance of this banquet was enormous, as even the imperial family sent people.

“First time!”

In such a place, Eisel was present at Bahidman’s invitation. As if wearing a new dress after a long time was awkward, she looked at her condition with an uncomfortable expression on her face.

“What?”

“To be with a friend at a banquet! Whenever I opened my mouth, my dialect popped out, so I had to keep quiet so that I didn’t look like an aristocrat. As a result, when I was stuck in the corner of the other room, my parents came to me and said, “It’s over, so I have to go.” Then, all I had to do was follow along. But now that I can be with Eisel, I don’t know what a relief it is!”

“…….”

How many dialects does she know? Gert and Laboure, where Lancia’s parents came from, had different dialects. So Lancia speaks hybridly. And then there’s the standard language. Eisel giggled at Lancia’s ignorance of dialects.

“What? What are you laughing about?”

“No, nothing.”

Lancia shook her head at the sight of Eisel shaking her head, but then put on a bright face and clasped her hands together.

“But Eisel, you look so pretty today, you look like a fairy!”

“A fairy?”

“Yes! A fairy! I think the fairy who lives in the forest looks just like Eisel.”

“You look like a fairy too. You look more like a fairy than me.”

“No way! I have dull hair and dull eyes, and I talk like that…… hehe-“

The Ascians, who made up eight per cent of the Empire, were predominantly blonde. As such, Lancia’s blonde hair didn’t stand out. But to Eisel, who lived among black hair, Lancia’s hair was shiny and striking.

“No, you’re beautiful, too. You don’t look tacky at all.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. You sparkle more than everyone else. You’re like a fairy in the forest.”

Eisel smiled, and Lancia looked at her with sparkling eyes, impressed, then hugged her tightly. Lancia, with her extraordinary growth, was taller than Eisel. Eisel fit snugly into Lancia’s arms.

“I love you, Eisel!”

“Now wait a minute……..”

While Eisel swayed in Lancia’s arms, Count Ermund The Jackal, Lancia’s father, approached. Eisel pulled Lancia away from Jackal.

Disappointed, Eisel pulled away from Lancia and offered a polite greeting.

“Hello Count. I am Eisel, the eldest daughter of Aspencer.”

“Eisel, nice to meet you.”

Unlike Lancia, who spoke dialect, The Jackal spoke standard English. ……Where did she learn her dialect?

“I’m sorry to have to leave Lancia with you when we’ve just met. However, it’s my first time in the capital and there are so many people to meet that I can hardly pay attention to her.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to worry about it. I’m just happy to be around her.”

“That’s nice of you to say. Oh, by the way, I heard that Miss Eisel’s parents couldn’t make it.”

“Yes.. somehow..”

The entire Aspencers came thanks to Bahidman’s invitation. However, when Lily, who had not been feeling well, came down with a fever, Beoric had to stay behind as well.

So, with Lancia’s help, she attended the party.

Jackal understood the feelings of a parent sending a child alone into this vast ballroom. He smiled quietly and nodded, though he was sure the child and his parents were nervous.

“If you need anything, come to me. Consider me your chaperone at the banquet, I understand?”

“Thank you, Count.”

“Feel free to call me Ermund, then Lancia.”

The jackal lifted Lancia up and kissed her on the cheek before quietly retreating. Impressed by how gentlemanly the jackal was, Eisel stared at Lancia. Lancia, who smiled from ear to ear, tilted her head at Eisel’s eyes.

“Why?”

“Nothing…….”

Eisel rubbed her cheek and raised her grape juice glass.

“I thought you didn’t speak the count’s dialect.”

“What do you mean?”

Lancia blinked innocently, and Eisel laughed quietly.

“What’s taking place on?”

“I don’t know. He’s been acting like that since earlier, so I’m not sure.”

Everyone’s eyes were on him. Despite their fans and glasses covering their faces, their gaze was fixed on the dreary corner of the room. A small boy sat slumped in a chair in the corner, his face unreadable against the ornate chandeliers that illuminated the ballroom.

Those who recognised Raven, Gerald’s son, gasped. House Basquiella’s strictness was well known, even among the nobility. It had been exacerbated by the presence of Duke Bahidman. What’s more, Raven, the Duke’s grandson, was rumored to be a freak.

A knight from a literary family.

And here was Raven, a child from House Basquiella who hadn’t even been accepted into the Academy.

“What could be the problem?”

“Gerald Confucius scolded me.”

This would be Basquiella’s sore finger wherever she walked.

“Damn…….”

Raven’s lips moved slowly as he sat back in his chair. His head hung low, staring at the ground. With all the curses in his mouth, Raven twirled his fingers and glanced up nervously.

This was Raven, who, since losing his treasured sword, had been locked in his room and forced to study for over ten hours every day.

He ate at his desk, and even slept without Gerald’s permission.

‘All…….’

Raven’s days were hellish as he studied and built his walls, but he couldn’t rebel against Gerald. What’s more, every time he failed to satisfy Gerald, it was a day to punish. His treasures were thrown away and destroyed by his father.

‘It’s all because of that girl. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have…….’

Gerald’s frustration was misdirected. Ever since Eisel arrived, she’d been scolded and compared to her, and Raven couldn’t help but hate her. As Raven gritted her teeth and vowed to revenge when they met again, eyes watched her from afar.

“Tsk tsk.”

It was Eisel, blending into the crowd and glaring at Raven.

What is she doing there?

The members of the Basquiella family were milling about, greeting and socializing, but the small duke was sullenly stuck in a corner. They say that a seat makes a man, but he’s not doing anything with it.

Eisel shook her head and sipped the milk in her hand.

“Eisel, look!”

Just then, Lancia who had brought a square cookie from somewhere, reached out with a twinkle in her eye. When Eisel asked,

“What is this?”

Lancia giggled and broke it in half. Cheese oozed out of the center and dripped down.

“It’s got cheese in it! Have you ever seen anything like it?

“Well, yes, I have. Have you heard of cheese sticks? You should have seen it.”

 Eisel stopped talking and looked at Lancia, who gobbled up the cheese cookie.

“Ah! Speaking of that, someone told me earlier that the prince was here today.”

“The prince?”

“Yes. Everyone was excited to see him outside the palace for the first time. Are you curious about him?”

“Um, no.”

“Why? You don’t like him?”

‘I don’t like him, I don’t know his face, and I don’t have anything to do with him. If I had power, I wouldn’t have met the prince.’

“Lancia, do you dream of marrying an heir to the royal court?”

“Of course!”

“Why?”

“Because it’s cool!”

“Why do you think it’s cool? He could be a fat, sinister prince.”

“Oh, no, that can’t be right, because all fairy tale princes were cool. So it must be cool.”

How cheerful. Or is this the average eight-year-old? Eisel wiped a cookie off her cheek and glared at Lancia as she sang the prince’s praises.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No, I’m just curious. When you’re my age, you’ll realize there’s no prince on a white horse…….”

“My age.” Eisel, we are the same age.”

Lancia blinked and tilted her head. Aizel gave her a gentle glare, asking, “What do you know?” and patted her on the head.

Lancia scratched her head, wondering why Eisel was doing this. However, she realized how pleasant it felt to have Eisel stroke her hair.

“I love children’s simplicity.

Eisel let out a small sigh and looked away, wondering when she could go home anyway. It was a boring banquet where she didn’t see or know anyone but Bahid, who invited her.

Just as she felt strongly about returning home and getting some rest, she noticed that Raven, who had been sitting in the corner earlier had disappeared.

Eisel’s brow narrowed slightly as she realized there was no point in making eye contact.

“What are you looking at, Eisel?”

“Huh? Nothing.”

Shaking her head gently, Eisel pushed Raven out of her mind. Never mind. Eisel smirked and took the cheese cookie Lancia held out to her, biting it.