Louis strolled out of the banquet hall. The cold wind struck his face, sweeping away the smell of wine and the greasy heaviness of roast meat.
He let out a soft breath, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
The banquet had been even more boring than he had expected.
Zachary Diaz had proven to be nothing special, either.
He had thought he could control these frontier nobles, that a few pretty words and small favors would make them willingly fight his battles.
But what had actually happened? The looks in those nobles' eyes had already begun to change.
At first, they had indeed crowded around Zachary, fawning over him like a pack of obedient lapdogs.
But Louis's words had planted the seeds of doubt.
Was Zachary really doing this for everyone? Or was he only doing it for himself?
Once that question surfaced, it was hard to ignore.
"Hahaha, boss, you were incredible back there!"
Joern hurried after him, his face brimming with excitement. "You didn't see Zachary's face. He was practically green! I bet he wanted to bite you to death right there!"
"Oh?" Louis raised an eyebrow. "Too bad he doesn't have the guts."
"Of course!" Joern nodded repeatedly, grinning with delight at Zachary's misfortune. "You're a young master of one of the Eight Great Families of the Empire, after all. Even if he is too, that doesn't make him anything special."
As he spoke, he imitated Zachary holding his wineglass, lifting his chin with an affected air of nobility. "Oh, Lord Calvin, unity is terribly important!"
Then he immediately put on a disgusted expression and waved a hand. "Pah! What a pretentious act. It makes me sick!"
Louis couldn't help laughing.
Joern certainly knew how to embellish things.
Remembering Zachary's livid face lifted Louis's spirits a