Overwhelming Firepower

Lucen’s talk with Elion and Elena lasted longer than he expected. The afternoon sky was now gone, replaced with a beautiful starry sky.

It was during this time that Lucen noticed the Vermont Family alongside Marquess Halbrecht waiting just outside the balcony. He could already guess what they wanted to say.

’I might get something out of this.’ Lucen thought to himself. With a final polite farewell to the two royals, he stepped back into the ballroom.

The very second Lucen stepped back into the ballroom, the Vermont Family came to him. Seeing this, Harlik and Mark came close and stood behind Lucen with Thornehart and Thornefang banners in their hands.

Even Robert came near as he felt like something might happen. Vardon, who was talking with the other Dukes and Sir Thalos standing behind him, simply looked at a corner of the ballroom.

The rest of the ballroom turned their heads. Some nobles, unaware of the theater incident the day before, simply watched with idle curiosity. But others, Lysette among them, and those who had witnessed the scene firsthand, felt the pressure in the air sharpen. Something was about to happen.

”Sir Lucen. I was hoping to have a word.”

Count Vermont’s voice was even, but it carried that polished weight nobles reserved for polite confrontations. A few nobles nearby angled themselves subtly toward the group, the lazy flick of a fan slowing mid-air.

”Yes, what do you want to talk about, Count Vermont?”

”It is about what happened the day before. I do not wish for there to be any misunderstanding between us.”

”Is that so... Then how can we resolve this misunderstanding?” Lucen asked with a slight curl of his lips.

”Good evening, Young Thornehart, I’m Marquess Eron Halbrecht, Count Vermont’s Father-in-law. I, too, wish to help resolve this misunderstanding. We would not wish such a trivial matter to fester between our houses. To that end, I would like to extend, publicly, an apology for the... Impetuous conduct of my grandson.”

When the other nobles heard what the Marquess said, they became truly interested in what happened between Lucen and Reginald.

”You do understand it was not only I he had treated badly that day.”

”Yes, we have already given that person the compensation he deserves.” The Marquess answered.

”Is that so? I hope that part of that compensation was that your grandson apologized to him.”

Despite the Marquess showing no visible signs on the outside, on the inside, he was frowning. It was one thing to give compensation in the form of coins to the theater staff, but to make his grandson apologize to a commoner was another thing. Still, he could not just dismiss what the young Thornehart said.

It was the truth that his grandson was in the wrong. The Marquess paused for a few seconds, his facial expression never changing, but the internal conflict he was having was great.

The pause stretched, not in length but in weight. The Marquess’s lips remained curved in polite neutrality, yet the faint tap-tap of his cane betrayed a private calculation. In the end, he sighed.

”Very well... I will make sure that my grandson apologizes.”

Reginald felt a little betrayed that his grandfather, who always did what he wanted, agreed so easily for him to apologize. He glared at Lucen, but seeing his reaction, Count Vermont blocked his view and whispered. ”Whatever it is you’re thinking, stop it.”

Lucen did not notice what Reginald did and continued his conversation with the Marquess.

”That’s good to hear. Then how will you compensate me?” The conversation finally reached its true purpose.

The other nobles watched with full curiosity as to what the Marquess was going to give to compensate for his grandson’s rudeness to the heir of the Iron Duke.

”Can you tell me what it is you want, young Thornehart?”

The Marquess directly asked, which came as a surprise to many. Usually, when a noble talks about compensation, they would try to haggle and only give the bottom of what can be given, but with what the Marquess said, he basically told Lucen he could have anything he wants as long as the Marquess can give it.

’I heard that Marquess Halbrecht doted on his three grandchildren, but I did not expect it to be this much.’ Lysette, who was listening at the side, was so astonished she nearly dropped the fan in her hand.

Even Lucen was not expecting the conversation to move so fast. He was expecting things to play out like one of those period dramas he watched on some occasions. Still, even though it was weird, Lucen did not hesitate and spoke.

”I am in the midst of writing a play,” Lucen said, his tone calm but clear enough for the nearest onlookers to hear. ”Perhaps your house could sponsor its debut, a sign to all present, that we turn past slights into shared ventures.”

His voice carried just enough that those on the fringes of the gathering began to murmur. A cultural patronage was no mere coin exchange. It was a public endorsement. To fund his play was to put not only the Vermont name, but even Marquess Halbrecht behind the Young Thornehart’s reputation.

The Marquess’s gaze sharpened, and he started tapping at the cane in his hand. After several seconds of silence, his lips curved into the faintest of smiles. ”If that is all you require, then so it shall be.”

With that, he need not waste a single coin in his expenses for the play he wanted to make.

”Of course, I would also need a public apology from your grandson as well. Since he hasn’t done so.”

***

Elandra Vermont did not speak or introduce herself to Lucen and silently watched as her father talked to the young Thornehart. She had heard the rumors and heard his husband describe the young man, but all of those paled in comparison with the real thing.

The person in front of her, talking to her Father like an equal, was something she thought was beyond a prodigy his age should be like.

’Are the other children of the four dukes the same as him? How were they able to raise such children? Is it truly because of bloodline, or did I make a mistake in how I raised my son?’

While Elandra was thinking about that, she heard that Lucen wanted them to sponsor his play, and his father agreed. She thought that this incident could finally be buried, but then Lucen continued and asked her son to apologize.

She and everyone expected this to happen. Of course, it would have been better if it hadn’t happened, but it was still within what they had discussed. It was so simple, Reginald would face Lucen and apologize; that was it, and they could move on after sponsoring Lucen’s play.

That was the plan, that was what was supposed to happen, but her son did something no one, not even her, could have imagined.

***

The Marquess sighed inwardly when he heard Lucen’s request for a public apology. He was hoping that by agreeing quickly to his request for sponsorship, Lucen wouldn’t ask for this. It was already expected, but he was hoping a little that there would be no need for this.

’Still, it has to be done.’

”Very well, it is indeed proper for my grandchild to apologize for his misdeeds. Reginald, go and apologize to the young Thornehart.”

Reginald, with his back straight, his hands clenched, and his eyes practically glaring at Lucen, did not look like he was about to apologize. The Marquess, who noticed this, was about to say something to stop Reginald, but Reginald spoke first.

”Why should I apologize for I have done nothing wrong?”

The very moment Reginald uttered those words, many nobles gasped. Some of them even dropped the drinks in their hands in shock. Even Count Vermont, his wife, and the Marquess did not expect Reginald to say something so idiotic.

Lucen, on the other hand, was only surprised for a second but quickly adapted to the situation.

’Yup, this guy is a walking cliché. Based on my years of reading light novels and watching shows with similar plots. He’s either going to tell the others that I was the one in the wrong, or he’ll just challenge me to a duel or something.’

”I was not wrong. The commoner should not have spoken to me the way he did. Lucen Thornehart is simply using his authority as the heir of a Duke to suppress me. It is he in the wrong, not I!”

The nobles who did not know what had happened yesterday in the play were unsure of what kind of event had transpired and were still trying to figure out who was right or wrong. Of course, those who knew the entire story found the things Reginald said to be ridiculous.

”To uphold my honor and dignity, I will not apologize!”

”Reginald!” The Marquess did not raise his voice, but it was stern and deep. ”Enough of this nonsense, and apologize to the young Thornehart.”

”I will not do so, Grandfather. Since my family cannot protect my honor as a noble, I will protect myself. I, Reginald Vermont, the heir of Count Kyle Vermont, challenge Lucen Thornehart to a duel!”

Upon the declaration, most were aghast and bewildered. On the other hand, Lucen, who was challenged, had a different reaction in his mind.

’This guy really is something else! He did both at the same time: tell others I was in the wrong and then challenge me to a duel.’ Lucen was laughing in his mind, very amused at how much of a cliché Reginald was.