Lord of Caldera - Chapter 267

Chapter 267: Chapter 267

The meeting between Sylas and the Crown Prince remained buried in darkness. It was only natural—nothing good would come from revealing such an incident.

The current Crown Prince and the Empire’s most renowned young hero secretly holding a private conversation?

“That would be enough to give the Emperor a fit.”

While the Crown Prince would face backlash, Sylas would also become the target of considerable suspicion. It was far better to keep their mouths shut and avoid any unnecessary trouble.

Finally, the day of the long-awaited celebratory banquet arrived.

“…This feels a bit excessive,” Sylas muttered as he looked at himself in the mirror.

It was no surprise that noble attire was extravagant, but this particular ensemble seemed especially over the top.

“If I wear this in broad daylight, I’ll sparkle like a madman.”

The outfit was embroidered with gold and silver threads, studded with small gemstones across the sleeves and chest, and crafted from fabric that shimmered and shifted colors depending on the angle.

Despite the ostentatious details, the attire exuded an almost mystical allure rather than vulgarity, even to Sylas, who didn’t particularly care for clothing.

“How much does something like this even cost?” he asked.

“Judging by its craftsmanship, I’d say it’s worth about the same as a castle,” Toby replied casually.

“…You’re joking, right?”

“I’m not,” Toby said, shrugging as Sylas stared at him in disbelief.

“Don’t forget, my hometown is in the South. Extravagance like this is quite common there.”

“Even so, a single outfit costing as much as a castle? That can’t be right,” Sylas said, incredulous.

“The fabric itself isn’t the expensive part. It’s the gemstones. That outfit looks like it’s covered in powdered gemstones.”

Toby wasn’t exaggerating. The brilliance of the fabric came from grinding precious gemstones into fine particles and adhering them seamlessly to the material.

“Ridiculous,” Sylas muttered, shaking his head. It was excessive, even for an imperial banquet.

“Well, it is the imperial banquet, after all. Nobles have reputations and wealth to flaunt,” Toby pointed out.

“There’s a limit to everything,” Sylas replied.

As they talked, the door next to them swung open. Ray emerged, having just finished changing into her gown.

“My lord, I am ready,” she said.

“….”

Sylas froze, momentarily speechless.

Ray’s crimson dress, adorned with obsidian embellishments, complemented her fiery hair, creating an aura of seductive elegance. Despite the lack of overt exposure, the outfit exuded an intense, decadent charm.

Seeing him silent, Ray tilted her head curiously.

“My lord? Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Ah, it’s nothing,” Sylas said hastily, turning his head to hide his reaction.

Toby, standing nearby, smirked mischievously as he glanced between them.

“Quite the sight, isn’t it? On the battlefield, you’re like a ghost, but in matters like these, you’re so—ow!”

“Enough with the nonsense,” Sylas said, flicking Toby’s forehead with lightning speed, silencing him.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door, followed by the voice of Count Bill.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes, we’re coming out now,” Sylas replied.

Opening the door, they saw Count Bill dressed in attire as extravagant as Sylas’s, though his expression made it clear he wasn’t fond of it.

“It suits you well,” Bill remarked. “I was a bit worried since there was no time for fitting.”

“You entrusted it to a master artisan. It would only be fitting for them to live up to their reputation,” Sylas replied.

“Fair enough,” Bill said with a faint smile before turning to Ray.

“Lady Ray.”

“Please call me Sir Ray,” she corrected.

“Not here. You know why,” the Count said firmly.

Ray fell silent. Imperial banquets strictly prohibited anyone who wasn’t explicitly invited, including guards or knights. This meant that even Sylas had to leave Max and Toby behind.

Ray’s presence at the banquet was not as Sylas’s knight but as the invited Countess of the borderlands.

“Lady Ray, your loyalty is well understood,” Bill continued. “But for today, you must not address Sylas as your lord. Sometimes, even pretense is necessary.”

“But…”

“No buts. As a countess, your title comes from the Emperor’s appointment. If you openly address Sylas as your lord here, what do you think will happen?”

The outcome was obvious. Not only would the Emperor be furious, but the repercussions could be severe.

“Unless you state it outright, others might suspect the truth but will choose to overlook it. That’s how politics works.”

“…Understood,” Ray finally relented, nodding reluctantly. She knew that stubbornness on her part would only cause trouble for Sylas.

The entry of Count Bill, Sylas, and Ray was far from grandiose. They quietly entered the banquet hall and took their places in a corner.

They weren’t alone in their subdued entrance. Nobles of considerable power and influence were doing the same.

“Hmm,” Sylas murmured.

“What’s on your mind?” Bill asked.

“This isn’t quite what I expected,” Sylas replied.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s too quiet,” Sylas explained.

He hadn’t expected a fanfare announcing titles and family names, but he thought there might be at least a bit of commotion. Instead, the nobles merely glanced at one another, whispering in hushed tones at most.

“I didn’t realize imperial banquets were this subdued,” Sylas remarked.

“They’re not. It’s only quiet because His Majesty hasn’t arrived yet,” Bill explained.

“…Are gatherings still prohibited?”

“Yes. Everything begins under His Majesty’s watchful eye.”

The sheer extent of the Emperor’s authority left Sylas speechless. The tradition forbidding gatherings before the Emperor’s arrival underscored the absolute power of the imperial throne.

“No, maybe it’s less about authority and more about tradition.”

The first Emperor might have instituted such customs to assert his dominance, and subsequent generations maintained them.

Thus, the authority of the imperial family, though gradually waning, had persisted over time.

“But that will soon come to an end.”

Knowing the future, Sylas saw the Empire’s authority as akin to an aging lion raising its head for one last roar. The roar might sound powerful enough to make everyone bow for now, as they still remembered the lion’s prime.