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Chapter 61
“What kind of outrageous situation is this!”
A woman, appearing to be the mother of a wounded child, was holding and checking on the child, while a man, seemingly the father, was furiously shouting.
Daphne let out a small sigh as she watched her daughter standing bravely in front of her and her husband, expressionless, ruffling Jaquet’s hair.
To explain this, one would have to go back a little while.
“The Duke and Duchess of Anaxis, please enter.”
There were only a few people seated at the banquet hall.
When the two entered, everyone stood up.
Once they reached the seats of honor, the standing nobles sat down again.
“Thank you for traveling so far. This gathering serves to share information about the ‘Gate’ that appeared in Anaxis and to announce that Anaxis has a new master. Now, Duchess,”
In the solemn atmosphere, Theophanes extended his hand toward Daphne.
Daphne placed her hand over his and greeted him politely.
It was a proper gesture, given that those present had long served him.
“Please, Daphne Anaxis. Just as I assist the Duke, I hope to offer much help as well.”
As soon as she finished speaking, applause filled the hall.
“Let’s start with the meal. We can share information afterward.”
Daphne worried the tense atmosphere might make the meal unbearable, but fortunately, it proceeded in a somewhat cheerful manner.
That, however, wasn’t the real problem.
Daphne couldn’t understand what Theophanes had just done.
The person who had been giving her subtle, strange feelings over the past few days suddenly initiated physical contact.
And she had never been the one to start it.
She could still feel his breath at her nape.
Daphne glanced at Theophanes while cutting her steak.
He, however, seemed perfectly at ease, speaking and cutting his own steak as if nothing had happened.
Daphne felt a strange irritation at the thought that he seemed to care only about her, yet managed to maintain decorum.
At that moment, someone suddenly took her plate and replaced it with another.
“Teo?”
“I cut it all into bite-sized pieces. Here, eat this.”
Theophanes spoke softly and took her plate, resuming cutting as if nothing had happened.
Daphne raised her head, only to find everyone else calmly eating as if nothing had occurred.
So this is the world of nobles.
Hesitant, Daphne began eating the steak he had cut for her.
“You seem well-matched,” said one noble, starting the conversation.
Once someone spoke, other nobles chimed in with their opinions, ranging from blessings to concerns.
Theophanes swirled his wine glass slowly, listening quietly.
He seemed intent on seeing just how far this would go.
“An heir, huh.”
The most discussed topic was clearly succession.
Normally, a branch family’s child would be appointed as heir, work for a time in Anaxis, and then step down in due course.
But now, the arrival of the Duchess disrupted that plan.
“The heir is already decided.”
“Excuse me?”
Theophanes’ declaration caused a stir that filled the hall.
Watching the expressions of the nobles shift from frustration to hope was, in a way, entertaining.
“Who is it?”
When a noble asked, Theophanes laughed, then abruptly stopped and answered,
“It is my daughter.”
At that moment, all eyes in the hall turned to Daphne.
“Shall I gouge my eyes out…”
A sharp voice came from beside her.
She turned to see Theophanes smiling brightly.
Apparently, the nobles had heard, and many froze, staring at their plates, but some seemed emboldened by his declaration.
“So this means Anaxis is blessed?”
“In a way, yes, though not due to my wife’s demeanor—she’s currently in her room.”
“Excuse me?”
The nobles’ expressions shifted strangely, perhaps thinking that the child had been born ahead of schedule.
Theophanes, who had been drinking wine like water, watched them with amusement.
Daphne thought to herself that his hobbies were probably not very refined.
[Daphne! Jaquet’s head is about to be plucked!]
Iverno’s voice sounded urgently nearby, causing Daphne to jump up from her seat.
“Ivi?”
Theophanes looked up as she muttered the divine beast’s name with a serious expression.
“Is something wrong, Duchess?”
“Jaquet must have come down. I heard Ivi’s voice nearby.”
At that moment, children’s voices came from the window that opened to the courtyard.
Hearing the commotion outside, Theophanes nearly choked on the wine when he saw his daughter for the first time.
Children often have things they want to hide from their parents, but where did she learn such brazen words?
“Looks like that way.”
“Huh?”
Theophanes also stood up.
He naturally took Daphne’s hand, guiding her while glancing at the nobles who were dumbfounded.
“Perhaps you should come along as well.”
Outside, they found the children entangled in a scuffle, with Iverno flying above.
[Jaquet, win! Knock them all down!]
Though the divine beast’s behavior seemed extreme, it wasn’t directly interfering.
The adults separated the children and brought them into the banquet hall.
And now.
The child with the most injuries had a furious father, yelling at the scene.
“What kind of outrageous situation is this!”
Daphne sighed as she watched her daughter standing bravely, and her husband calmly ruffling Jaquet’s hair.
The other child was crying bitterly.
Behind them, other children were crying or sniffling.
Among the children who had fought, only Jaquet remained uncrying.
Daphne, worried about the injuries Jaquet had sustained, looked at her with a sad expression.
“She is still young, but a legitimate heir of our family. What do you intend to do?”
Theophanes, observing the commotion quietly, finally spoke slowly:
“Count Villeden. Be silent.”
“But Your Grace!”
“Do you not hear me?”
Immediately, a hush fell over the hall.
