Blood-Stained Engagement Banquet (5K)

He walked towards the other person with unhurried steps, bowing respectfully.

"I'm so sorry to bother you. I never expected to see you here. It's been so long, respected Mr. Mahiro."

"Ah, it has indeed been a long time, Schneizel."

When Schneizel offered his condolences, Yotsuba Mahiro's tone remained very calm.

They didn't even address him as "Your Highness," which immediately created a tense atmosphere.

However, Schneizel didn't seem to care.

After exchanging only that one pleasantry, the two remained silent, simply gazing at each other in quiet contemplation.

As the saying goes, it's a battle of kings against kings, and generals against generals.

The king has met the king; what follows is a clash between his subordinates.

However, it was Suzaku Kururugi who couldn't hold back and launched the first attack. He strode over with a face full of hatred, but was immediately stopped by Niu, who was following Mahiro.

A large number of guards also arrived with them.

But the arrivals didn't even bother to glance at this bluffing display.

"Yotsuba Mahiro, you..."

Snap!

A crisp slap suddenly echoed through the empty, silent hall.

Suzaku Kururugi was about to say, "You murderer, how dare you show your face here?" but he was slapped hard across the face.

But the person who actually did it was the most unexpected.

"Mr. Kururugi, it's impolite to call a school teacher by their first name so casually... But it's understandable, perhaps you're so ungrateful you wouldn't even remember your cousin."

The one who took action was Kaguya Sumeragi, who stood in front of Mahiro as his representative.

At first, Suzaku Kururugi covered his face in confusion, but when he saw the girl in front of him, he lowered his hand.

He said with a serious expression:

"How could I forget, Kaguya Sumeragi?"

"Oh, it's so good that you remember, since now only the two of us are left out of the Kyoto Six Houses. But it's a real shame, it would be even better if only my family was left."

Kaguya Sumeragi and words were full of sarcasm and sarcasm.

However, such verbal provocation could not cause any harm to Suzaku Kururugi, who had long since lost all sense of shame.

He even gave a very serious explanation.

"I don't know who killed Kirihara and the others, but those people were supporters of terrorists, and they deserved it."

"Oh, is that so?"

Kaguya Sumeragi covered her mouth in surprise, then nodded in agreement with feigned seriousness, saying, "Mr. Kururugi does have some merit; after all, those old guys did do something questionable..."

But what about you, Mr. Kururugi?

The girl suddenly changed the subject, and a mischievous smile appeared on her delicate face.

"It's true that Kirihara and the others betrayed their masters for personal gain, but what about you, who betrayed your country and fawned over Britannia? Aren't you guilty of the same crime as them?"

"Moreover, Lord Zero and my husband saved your life. Now they're openly causing trouble in this situation and even trying to harm your former saviors. How should we deal with them?"

Kaguya Sumeragi seemed to be listing Suzaku Kururugi's sins one by one.

With each one she said, Suzaku Kururugi's expression grew increasingly grim, and eventually, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"One thing at a time... I am now Knights of the Rounds in Britannia."

"Hmm, that makes sense."

Kaguya Sumeragi put her hands on her hips and nodded slightly in agreement with a childlike expression.

However, this action made Suzaku Kururugi feel uneasy.

"However, my husband once taught me a proverb: 'Dog meat can never be served at a banquet.' Now, even a traitor who sold out his country can become Knights of the Rounds. It seems that Britannia has indeed declined quite a bit."

These words caused an uproar in the audience.

No one expected that this little girl named Kaguya Sumeragi would dare to publicly insult the Knights of the Rounds and Britannia in such a setting.

Isn't this implying that King Charles of Britannia is blind to talent?

Suzaku Kururugi was speechless after hearing her words, because he couldn't find any suitable words to retort.

It's worth noting that after he became Knights of the Rounds, he frequently faced difficulties from Britannia nobles, and practically no one gave him a friendly look.

Even though he accomplished countless feats in that year, those people still didn't give him a second glance.

They completely regarded Suzaku Kururugi as a dog.

However, seeing Suzaku Kururugi's embarrassed appearance, Kaguya Sumeragi felt very happy and, as if offering a blessing, asked again:

"What a pity. If only words could kill, I could tear you, you traitor, to pieces."

This 16-year-old girl uttered the most terrifying words in the calmest tone and with the most gentle attitude.

Chapter 311 The Bloodstained Engagement Banquet (5K)

"Guards, quickly, seize these people!"

A sharp, ghostly scream suddenly rang out, breaking the tense standoff between the two groups.

In an instant, a large number of guards swarmed forward, surrounding them completely, just as they were about to make their move.

Just as Alpha was preparing to make its move.

Another voice then rang out.

"Step aside in front of our distinguished guest!"

It was Li Xingke.

Li Xingke suddenly appeared from the entrance of the main hall, strode forward, and blocked the way for the crowd. He met the gazes of the Britannia, then coldly looked at the soldiers and said, "... In the name of Li Xingke, the commander of the Imperial Guards, I order you all to step back in front of our distinguished guest!"

The soldiers exchanged bewildered glances. Didn't Li Xingke recently submit to the eunuch faction?

Why are they suddenly opposing the eunuchs again this time?

"Li... Li Xingke!! How dare you rebel!"

From the moment Li Xingke appeared, the eunuchs knew that something terrible was about to happen.

Although Li Xingke had indeed submitted to them before, he had never relinquished his military power and remained in a semi-detached state.

Even though they had used their wealth and power to turn some soldiers against them, they still couldn't completely kill Li Xingke unless they got the Britannia dignitaries to intervene.

Thinking of this, the eunuchs' eyes involuntarily fell on Odysseus, who was in the main seat, and Schneizel, who was confronting the Shadow. As if they had been given a reassurance, they breathed a slight sigh of relief.

But before they could speak, a detached voice drifted into their ears.

"The High Eunuchs, is that it? You eunuchs have quite the airs of authority, huh? Is this how you treat distinguished guests from the EU? Do you think that just because you've become Britannia's dogs, I can't touch you?"

As he spoke, Mahiro's eyes flickered slightly, and his eyes slowly narrowed into slits as he swept them over the crowd.

Everyone whose gaze swept over them shuddered, as if they were being targeted by some kind of apex predator.

Monica, in particular, involuntarily took a step back, as if afraid of being burned by his gaze.

Only Schneizel remained standing motionless, but his hands were clenched tightly.

The eunuch faction of the High Eunuchs is complex and intertwined. Although the Shadow Garden obtained Penglai Island from the High Eunuchs, not everyone there had the intention to befriend the EU.

Yotsuba Mahiro's words made the eunuchs present look as if they had eaten excrement.

Britannia dogs?

That's true, but it doesn't mean such things should be discussed openly!

Just as he was about to erupt, Schneizel suddenly stepped forward, a gentle smile on his face, still exuding elegance, and spoke in a friendly manner:

"Master Mahiro, today is my elder brother's wedding. Please don't be angry. How about we play a game of chess to ease the tension?"

Schneizel's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

To be addressed as "teacher" by His Schneizel?

So there can only be one person: that royal tutor who was elusive and rarely seen ten years ago?!

In an instant, everyone's gaze towards them changed, becoming one of utter shock. Remembering the Shadow Garden's reputation as terrorists a year prior, they were even more astonished.

"Alright, let's play then. It's been a long time since your teacher has played chess with you."

Mahiro an eyebrow, then quickly suppressed his dangerous aura, smiled faintly, and gladly accepted Schneizel's invitation.

The game they chose was not chess as in the original story, but rather Go, the game of the Chinese Federation.

The player in the game has changed from Lelouch to him.

Could it be because he has undergone a subtle change?

After pondering for Mahiro, he took a black chess piece from the chess basket and placed it directly in the center of the chessboard.

Tengen!

Upon seeing his first move, the others' expressions turned somewhat grim.

Although none of the people present were Go masters, most of them, being nobles, had some understanding of Go.

As the saying goes, "gold in the corner, silver on the edge, grass on the belly," occupying a corner position where fewer points will surround you is the wise choice, but to place the center point as the first move is clearly disrespectful!

They completely disregarded Prince Schneizel!

Schneizel, on the other hand, was neither annoyed nor angry. He simply smiled faintly and casually placed a white piece in the corner.

And so, one piece after another was placed between them, the crisp sound of chess pieces hitting the board echoing throughout the spacious banquet hall.

Looking at the situation on the chessboard, those around him gradually broke out in a cold sweat.

Even though the opponent placed the center point at the beginning, which could be considered a loss of advantage, the current situation is still evenly matched...

No, it should be said that the man opposite him was still handling the game with ease, even occasionally taking a sip of tea, looking comfortable and relaxed, no less elegant than His Highness Schneizel.

At this moment, they acknowledged Yotsuba Mahiro's identity; possessing such skills on the chessboard, he was fully qualified to serve as the royal tutor.

But why did they fall out with the Britannia royal family?

The crowd's gazes lingered on Yotsuba Mahiro and Schneizel, occasionally glancing at the girls waiting nearby.

Just as they were puzzled, Mahiro suddenly spoke up:

"Not bad, Schneizel. Your chess skills have improved a lot over the years."

Schneizel listened to the praise, but couldn't help but let out a wry smile.

"No, you, Teacher Mahiro, are still more capable."

Schneizel wasn't flattering him; he genuinely believed it. If anyone in the vast royal family could be so convinced, besides his father Charles, it would only be this unfathomable teacher before him.

Moreover, only he himself knew that he was being completely led by the nose by his opponent, like a predator toying with its prey.

However, Mahiro didn't react much to this; instead, he just smiled.

"Alright, just accept my praise. Besides, this kind of dry chess game isn't very interesting. How about we add a bet?"

Upon hearing this, Schneizel finally looked up from the chessboard, raised his head, and asked with a dark and unfathomable gaze, "What kind of bet does the teacher want?"

"Hmm, how about this? I happen to have some skill in negotiating marriages. If I win this game, you and your people can leave, and the engagement will be null and void; if I lose, you will cede all the land in the EU to Britannia and will not interfere in the marriage between Odysseus and Jiang Lihua. What do you say?"

Upon hearing this, the entire audience gasped.

Did they hear that right?

Give up all of the EU's land?

Although the EU's land area is not large and it ranks only third in the world, it is still one of the world's three major powers. Are they just going to give it up like that?

Is it merely to annul the marriage between Britannia and the Emperor of the Chinese Federation?

Jiang Lihua, sitting in the main seat, could naturally hear their conversation, and her crimson eyes quickly filled with tears once again.

She never imagined that her teacher would go to such lengths for her...