DBOFS 55

Chapter 55

As the three entered, even the music in the Great Hall momentarily ceased, plunging the space into silence.

“…My goodness.”

Then, like a wave crashing onto the shore, the murmur of voices returned.

“His Grace looks as vigorous as ever. I think I saw him ten years ago—he looks exactly the same!”

“Still striking, isn’t he? With all the stress his children must’ve given him, you’d expect him to be full of wrinkles.”

“I guess it’s true what they say: a handsome man in his prime only matures into a handsome old man…”

The first to draw attention was the man at the front—the former Duke Godwin.

True to his legacy as the Iron Duke, a name earned after his succession, the former duke stood strong and commanding as ever.

Next—

“Then, is that really…?”

“Harris Godwin—!”

A collective gasp of surprise and awe swept through the hall.

The only child of the depraved Norman Godwin and the noble Princess Eleas.

But despite his noble lineage, the boy had always been lacking, unfit—and ultimately lost his status as heir and was confined in isolation.

Now, the main guest everyone had craned their necks to see had finally arrived.

Stepping boldly out of the shadows on long legs and into the light—

“…He looks just like the Princess.”

Someone murmured in awe.

His hair, dark as night and layered like shadows. His fair skin, like chiseled alabaster, only highlighted his sharp, elegant features.

But more than anything, it was the eyes—his scarlet irises glowed like fresh blood. Beneath them, faint shadows and long lashes lent him a decadence so striking it stirred the hearts of all who looked.

“Truly…”

Portraits of Princess Eleas, known across the empire as a peerless beauty, were widely circulated. Nobles in the provinces considered even glimpsing her from afar during visits to the capital an honor.

She was like the moon in the sky—distant, untouchable.

No one dared dream of reaching her. No artist could ever truly capture her essence.

And she had chosen Norman Godwin—not the famed Lady Irene, the so-called little duchess—but him?!

Back then, no one had even spared Norman a glance, making the revelation all the more shocking.

The same astonishment and sense of defeat from that time now surged back, crashing like waves over the crowd.

And it wasn’t just his face that was exquisite.

He stood as tall and broad-shouldered as the famed former duke himself. His frame, packed with sleek muscle, moved with the grace of a prowling tiger.

Escorting beside him, a small girl—

“…!”

Only then did the crowd snap out of their daze.

That pale pink silhouette beside Harris Godwin—that was the infamous guide!

The one said to have seduced Count Artu’s daughter with a silver tongue and assaulted Viscount Retos so severely he was thrown into a wall…!

While nobles may have brushed off the first offense as typical, the second incident had them spitting out their tea.

“Just how savage do you have to be to do something like that?”

“More importantly—how is that even possible? She threw a man into a wall with her bare hands?!”

“What if she’s actually a psychic or something? A normal guide couldn’t pull that off.”

“Makes sense. Harris Godwin probably hired her as a bodyguard to do his dirty work.”

Those who had come to challenge Harris and steal his position felt subconsciously cowed by the lingering presence of the late Princess Eleas.

But they couldn’t openly attack the former duke—so naturally, their hostility turned toward Jade, the lowest-ranking one present and not even a proper professional.

“No, I heard she seduced him with her looks.”

“What if Harris Godwin being a psychic is a lie too?”

“Yeah—maybe she’s just a favored bed servant he dressed up with a fancy title.”

Their malicious curiosity gathered in one place—focused on the small figure shadowed behind the former duke.

And then, as Harris Godwin’s guide finally stepped out from that shadow—

“…”
“……”
“……….”

A different kind of silence fell over the hall. Then, a ripple of stunned murmurs.

“Wait… that face?!”

Ah. So the rumors already spread.

Pretending not to notice the atmosphere, I tightened my grip on Harris’s arm.

“What’s with their creepy stares?”

Sensing his voice start to turn sharp, I quickly whispered,

“Maybe they’re just blinded by my incredible beauty and fatal charm?”

“You’re dodging.”

As we bickered, the former Duke stepped up to the stage.

“It’s been a while since this old man hosted a party, but what a turnout.”

The chandelier lights cast a spotlight over him as if it were a podium.

“Thank you all for gracing this event. As you may have guessed, the reason I came out of my long seclusion is…”

Looks like he was skipping the pleasantries and getting right to the point.

Standing beside Harris, I pretended to listen intently and whispered again.

“Harris, you shouldn’t downplay my charms like that. Even if your looks are, objectively, galaxy-tier—”

“Tongue’s getting loose. You’re hiding something, aren’t you?”

“…Today, I wish to introduce the new heir of House Godwin!”

The spotlight shifted instantly to Harris.

Every gaze landed on him—but as always, Harris didn’t care.

“What are you hiding?”

“Forget that! Go out there and enjoy your applause!”

“That’s what’s important right now?”

“Of course it is! Go!”

“You little—”

“Harris! Are you not coming?”

Smiling pleasantly, the former Duke gritted his teeth and yanked Harris away from me.

Still, Harris didn’t resist. At least he respected his family enough to follow without protest.

Just wait, Jade.

It’s nothing serious. I’ll explain everything afterward.

Too late.

I swear, it’s really not a big deal!

We communicated in glances, gestures, and clenched expressions—until Harris was spun around by the former Duke.

“Everyone, I present to you—my grandson, Harris Godwin!”

Clap clap clap—before the opposition could speak, the former duke’s loyalists burst into thunderous applause.

“What a fine young man! Truly a wise decision!”

“As expected of the former Duke Godwin!”

“The Iron Duke, a living legend! His judgment is never wrong!”

I clapped so hard my hands stung, nodding vigorously.

Just try to say he’s wrong—I won’t accept any lame excuses.

Oh, there’s Alucas.

Though a commoner, he was a mercenary king. No wonder he was invited.

But he wasn’t clapping—just smiling ear to ear.

When our eyes met, his smile deepened, as if warning me that things wouldn’t go my way.

…And those guys aren’t clapping either.

Just as I feared, the nobles assumed to be part of the opposition refused to applaud.

Still, even they wouldn’t dare deny the former Duke to his face. Right?

“I cannot accept this!”

…Or maybe I’d been too optimistic.

“That man is the son of that disgraceful Norman Godwin! Have you already forgotten your grudge, Your Grace?!”

Fortunately, I had prepared for this.

Go, Yanis!

Baron Redian’s son, Yanis, caught my signal and stepped forward.

“Baron Mulben, how could His Grace ever forget?”

“Viscount Redian…”

“In fact, it was that very reason he kept a close eye on Harris. Do you think His Grace would allow Norman’s betrayal to rob his rightful grandson of his birthright?”

“Ugh…”

Baron Mulben was knocked out cold by Yanis’s verbal blow: That’s exactly what would piss Norman off the most.

“Well said, Viscount Redian!”

But another challenger was ready.

“That disgraceful Norman Godwin gave up on him long ago—how can we now—!”

“Silence!”

Our next speaker was the Knight Commander, Sir Parna.

“Viscount Mirsil, are you suggesting that Norman’s judgment was right and His Grace’s is wrong?”

“Hah! What would you know, Sir Parna? Do you not see the danger this choice brings to House Godwin?!”

“Danger?”

Sir Parna laughed coldly.

“Danger is ignoring your territory when an unknown dungeon appears and hundreds of thousands of citizens vanish—like you did, hiding in the capital.”

“Mind your tongue, Parna! We were merely—!”

“Merely what? Waiting for His Grace to send us, the Godwin Knights, to handle it in your stead?”

“W-We were hiring mercenaries! It was just that—”

“And when you lost contact with us, you thought it hopeless and gave up your land entirely?”

“I made the best choice for our house, Parna. And in the end—”

“In the end, the young lord himself entered that dungeon, slew the beast, and saved us all.”

“……!”

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Those uncertain if Harris truly was a psychic were shocked. Those who already knew were stunned that he had conquered the unknown dungeon.

“Therefore, I—Parna, and all of the Godwin Knights—offer our allegiance to the young lord.”

Thud. Parna knelt on one knee before Harris, bowing his head.

“Please, accept us.”

Behind him, every knight in attendance followed suit.

Perfect.

I gave a discreet thumbs-up.

Truthfully, Parna had wanted to swear fealty the moment they left the dungeon.

But I told him to wait—it would have more impact now.

A wise delay.

Thanks to that, the opposition’s momentum had clearly crumbled.

Harris had gained the former Duke’s endorsement, support from the second-strongest noble house, and control over the knightly forces.

“……”

Even the opposition had nothing left to say. Silence spread.

“In blood and in strength, none are more fit to be House Godwin’s heir than Harris.”

Until now, the former Duke had remained quiet, letting the underlings battle it out. But finally, he spoke to close the matter.

“Therefore—”

“Then allow me to ask.”

Suddenly, from within the opposing faction, a robed figure stepped forward.

“If someone more suited—by blood or by ability—to become the heir of House Godwin were to appear… what would you do?”