In stark contrast to the current coldness and sense of loss within the Frontier Count’s Manor, the Continental Hotel, located in the Lower City, was a scene of bustling activity.
In a corner of the hotel’s spacious, bright, and newly decorated restaurant, the Bernard family sat around one square table.
Several plates of dishes, full of color, aroma, and flavor, were laid out before them.
However, rather than a noble dinner, it looked more like a small-scale war over food.
“Hey! You brat, I saw that piece of meat first!”
Earl Albert du Bernard — a middle-aged man who looked more like a battle-hardened warrior than a pampered noble — was currently reaching out with his chopsticks without any regard for his image, attempting to snatch a glistening piece of Braised Pork back from his son Hugo’s bowl.
Hugo du Bernard reacted with lightning speed. With a flick of his wrist, he moved both the bowl and the meat aside, lifting his chin triumphantly.
“Old man, every man for himself when it comes to eating! It’s your own fault for being slow!”
“Exactly!” Sitting next to Hugo, his step-mother Louise immediately chimed in.
She had a pungent personality.
As she scooped a large portion of green vegetables for herself, she scolded her husband, “Albert, have some dignity. Scolding your son over a bite of food, really?”
Albert reluctantly retracted his chopsticks, pouting. “I’m just tasting it…”
He turned instead to pick up a bun known as Eastern Stuffed Bread and took a bite.
Soup instantly burst out, and he squinted his eyes in satisfaction, remarking indistinctly, “Yesterday, when I went to mooch a meal — er, attend a noble Salon — I heard them praising the food at this Continental Hotel to the heavens. I thought to myself, ‘How special could it be?’ But now that I’ve tried it, it truly lives up to its reputation!”
Hugo glanced at his father with a look usually reserved for a country bumpkin, waving a delicate card in his hand.
“Humph, if it weren’t for this VIP Card my good brother gave me, would we have been able to eat this meal so smoothly?”
“Our son is right.” Louise nodded, her gaze sweeping over the other guests in the restaurant who, despite wearing plain clothes, could not hide their noble temperaments.
“I’ve already spotted several familiar nobles hiding among those waiting in line. Don’t they usually despise the Lower City the most? Why are they willing to condescend and squeeze in with commoners for a meal?”
Albert followed her gaze and let out a sneer. “Ha, doesn’t this just make them look more approachable and have better manners? By comparison, doesn’t that give them a sense of superiority?”
He then mused, “I heard someone tried to hire the head chef away with a massive sum of money, but not a single one succeeded. I wonder who came up with these novel dishes for the Continental Hotel? I’m truly curious.”
“Who else? My buddy, of course!” Hugo’s mouth was stuffed full, his tone brimming with pride.
Hearing his son mention that “buddy” again, Albert couldn’t help but glare at him.
“You brat! I take you to meet those noble ladies, and you show zero interest. But you’re quite talented at making questionable friends! You actually believe him when he brags?”
Even though Louise was the step-mother, she stood firmly by her son’s side.
“Albert, knock it off! Aren’t you just plotting to ‘sell’ our precious son for a good price to climb the social ladder? Let me tell you, I had to sell my dowry jewelry to scrape together the money for today’s meal! You’d better hurry up and fire those servants you hired just for show, cancel the lease on that expensive apartment, and move us to the Lower City as soon as possible. That would be better than anything!”
Poked in his sore spot, Albert’s momentum instantly deflated, and his voice dropped. “We… we are an Earl’s family, after all. Moving to the Lower City… it’s a bit of a blow to our reputation…”
Louise mocked him without mercy. “Pah! What Earl! Ever since you opened the granaries to feed the people and let the commoners flee the famine freely, you broke the rules of the high nobility and offended everyone. After being in the Capital for so long, which true high noble has ever looked at you twice?”
“Those who still associate with you are only interested in the potential usefulness of our family’s Sun Emblem bloodline, aren’t they? I say, your own bloodline isn’t bad either. Why don’t you try being a breeding stallion yourself and see if you can trade that for some money? Stop always trying to use our son.”
Albert’s old face turned red, feeling a bit embarrassed. “This… can you blame me? I’m a man born for war. Now there are no wars to fight, and I don’t know how to run a business. I can only linger in the Capital, trying every possible way to squeeze into the noble circles. How am I supposed to understand their crooked ways?”
He turned his gaze toward his son, who was only focused on gorging himself, and felt another surge of anger.
“It’s all this kid’s fault! If he could just get on good terms with some high noble’s daughter or son, our family’s life would be a bit easier. But look at his behavior; the friends he makes are either profligates or street thugs!”
Hugo didn’t even bother to respond. He simply rolled his eyes and continued to focus on the food in his bowl.
Albert grew irritated watching him. Seizing an opportunity, he swiftly snatched a piece of meat from the edge of Hugo’s bowl.
“Eat, eat, eat, all you know is eating! Look at Allen de Laval. He was a famous playboy in the Capital, and now he’s turned over a new leaf! I heard his father, Viscount Bernard, is about to become the Minister of Finance! Look at someone else’s child, and then look at you!”
“What are you doing!” Louise immediately protected her cub, snatching the meat back and putting it into her son’s bowl.
She said crossly, “I’m treating my son to this meal. If you don’t want to eat, then stay out of the way!”
Albert shook his head and sighed helplessly.
“Oh, just keep spoiling him. You know Miss Livia from the Frontier Count’s family, right? If he had been willing to go and meet her back then, maybe our family could have clung to the Frontier Count’s coattails.”
However, mentioning the Frontier Count reminded him of the rumors, and he added with some schadenfreude, “But about that duel… sigh, I bet the Frontier Count is green with regret now. His prized son-in-law has flown away.”
“Mom, ignore this guy,” Hugo said indistinctly. “He has no idea that the ‘someone else’s child’ he’s talking about is my good brother, Allen de Laval.”
“What did you call me? I’m your father!” Albert stood up in a huff, acting as if he were going to teach his son a lesson. Suddenly, he froze, his eyes widening.
“Wait! Your brother is Allen de Laval? When did you meet him?”
Hugo acted nonchalant. “During those few days you said I was out fooling around and not coming home at night.”
Albert looked incredulous. “For real?”
Hugo pointed his thumb toward the window with an air of dominance. “Don’t believe me? After we eat, I’ll take you to his place.”
“Oh! My wonderful son! You truly are your father’s pride!” Albert’s face shifted instantly into a blooming smile, and he rubbed his hands together excitedly.
“When shall we go visit the Laval House? We should prepare some decent gifts, right?”
“Depends on my mood,” Hugo said slowly.
Seeing his son acting so arrogant, Albert’s mouth twitched.
“Hey! You think your wings are strong enough now, kid? After we eat, come to the backyard with me. I need to check if your swordsmanship has improved lately!”
Hearing about a fight, Hugo felt no internal turmoil; he even wanted to laugh.
His old man hadn’t fought many proper battles in his life, while he, Hugo, had actually fought against cultists and the Heretical God’s Creations with real blades!
He was playing in the high-tier leagues. Fighting a rookie like his father didn’t interest him at all.
However, perhaps because he felt there was hope in connecting with the Laval House, Albert was in a great mood. He waved over a waiter and boldly ordered two more expensive dishes.
Although the prices at the Continental Hotel were nothing to true nobles, for the current Bernard family, who were short on cash and living off the sale of jewelry, it was a rare luxury.
Albert was unwilling to exploit his subjects, holding onto a somewhat outdated sense of chivalry, preferring to live a life of poverty.
The Bernard family inherited the Sun Emblem. He always felt that a person should be as open and honest as the sun, warming others. What was the point of being a vampire-like noble?
Just then, Hugo, who was buried in his food, suddenly paused. A subtle sensation crossed his mind.
His Battle Instinct was giving him a warning, much like when he first met Allen at the Thieves’ Guild headquarters and instantly sensed that the other party was extraordinary.
He looked up, his sharp gaze sweeping across the restaurant, and quickly locked onto a target — a person whose features were obscured by a cloak.
But judging by the faint silhouette and the gait, it seemed to be a woman.
Hugo put down his chopsticks and said to his parents, “Dad, Mom, I have something to take care of. I’ll be right back.”
Albert hummed. “Be quick about it. Don’t blame me if there’s no food left for you!”
Hugo grinned. “Heh, my good brother is a shareholder here. I can eat here whenever I want. A poor guy like you can’t even imagine it, right?”
“I think you’re itching for a beating! If you don’t take me to the Laval House this afternoon, see how I handle you!”
“Sure, just don’t cry when I knock you down.”
The father and son habitually traded threats. Hugo stood up and walked toward the figure.
As the distance closed, Hugo could see pale golden hair beneath the cloak and a delicate side profile that carried a hint of confusion.
He recognized her almost instantly.
‘Livia von Stern?’
Wasn’t this Allen’s fiancée? Why was she here alone? And… dressed like this?
The current Livia was completely different from the heroic Knight Princess seen at the Triumphal Procession.
She stood near the noisy restaurant entrance, appearing somewhat out of place. Her eyes betrayed confusion and a slight, undetectable sense of being lost.
This expression actually reminded Hugo of his own family’s reaction when they first entered the hotel — seeing everything as a novelty.
It seemed she likely knew what the “Forgotten Madonna” used to look like and might even have been aware that this used to be a stronghold for the Thieves’ Guild.
The radical changes here had clearly left her baffled.
Although Hugo was usually hot-headed, his mind worked quickly.
From Livia’s ranger outfit, which was designed for mobility, and the rapier at her waist, he quickly made a judgment.
She wasn’t here to eat; she looked more like she was on a “mission.”
‘Is she here to kill someone?’ Hugo wondered.
Unfortunately, she was one step too late. The Thieves’ Guild had long since been wiped out by Allen.
Looking at it this way, maybe this eldest miss was also a comrade-in-arms with a sense of justice!
The youth, still in the throes of his teenage hero phase, immediately felt a sense of camaraderie.
He stepped forward proactively and greeted her in what he considered a very cool tone.
“Miss Livia, here to eat? Sorry, but you have to line up and make an appointment to eat here now.”
Hearing his voice, Livia turned her head. Seeing Hugo, a flash of surprise crossed her face.
That expression was identical to the sense of helplessness Allen had shown when he first saw him, a “why is it you” look.
‘You two really do share a resemblance, like a married couple!’ Hugo thought.
He wasn’t surprised at all that Livia recognized him; he simply assumed he was too dazzling for her not to know who he was.
“…And you are?” Livia seemed to want to play dumb, which was also a bit like Allen.
“You clearly know who I am, so why pretend?” Hugo said with a smile.
As soon as he spoke, the look in Livia’s eyes changed instantly.
The confusion from before vanished, replaced by a sharp and cold alertness.
A dangerous aura even began to emanate from her.
This part wasn’t like Allen; she was more like Miss Marianne.
Hugo wasn’t carrying any weapons today, and he didn’t dare use his Crest Power in the hotel.
He quickly raised his hands to show he was harmless.
“Haha, just a joke! Didn’t you see me standing next to Allen at the Triumphal Procession? Did you really forget?”
Livia seemed to search her memory before asking doubtfully, “At that time… you were indeed by Allen de Laval’s side? How… do you know him?”
“Heh, we hit it off immediately. We’re good brothers!” Hugo asked in return, “But what about you, Miss Livia? If you aren’t here for the food, what are you doing? Perhaps… looking for a ‘commission’?”
Livia sensed something, though her tone remained as cold as ever. “So, you know why the ‘Forgotten Madonna’ turned into this?”
Hugo shrugged and started playing dumb. “Oh? What are you talking about? What’s the ‘Forgotten Madonna’? I don’t really understand.”
As a member of the Dawn’s Children, he still had a basic sense of secrecy, even though his boisterous personality was a massive vulnerability in itself.
Livia silently swept her gaze across the hotel once more before suddenly asking, “Did he purge the Thieves’ Guild?”
“…Eh?”
Hugo subconsciously showed a surprised expression, which confirmed Livia’s suspicion.
She didn’t hesitate for even a second. She immediately turned around and her figure quickly vanished into the crowd at the restaurant entrance.
Hugo stood there scratching his head, looking bewildered. “What exactly was she here for?”
—
On the other side of the restaurant, two noble youths also noticed this scene.
“Hey, Damian, isn’t that Sister Livia?” one boy nudged his companion with his elbow.
The boy called Damian squinted. “It really is her! What is she doing in a place like this? And she’s talking to a strange man?”
“Didn’t they say she’s going to duel that young master from the Laval House? Was that man her fiancé?”
“Who knows…”
These two boys were the younger sons of Frontier Count Friedrich, Damian and Marcel.
They had snuck out with a group of their rowdy friends to experience life in the Lower City and just happened to be eating at the Continental Hotel.
Their companions also looked over. Someone remarked, “Damian, Marcel, your sister is really beautiful.”
“Yeah, I wish I had a sister like that.”
Damian curled his lip. “Please! If you suddenly had an unfamiliar sister in your house, you’d know what it feels like!”
Marcel agreed. “Exactly! She’s still… sigh, anyway, my mom really dislikes her. Ever since she arrived, the atmosphere at home has been weird. Sometimes I think if she just left, things at home might be more peaceful.”
Although the boys were young, they were from noble families and had some understanding of the awkward position of an illegitimate child. Hearing this, they all expressed their understanding.
However, their curiosity about Livia ended there, and they soon returned to excitedly discussing the various new things they had encountered in the Lower City.
Only Damian and Marcel felt a strange sensation in their hearts.
It was the first time they had seen that sister — who was always silent, low-profile, and even somewhat submissive at home — looking so heroic and even a bit mysterious out in the world.
‘It actually looks… pretty cool?’
The two youths had no idea that their wish for their “sister to leave” had already become a reality.
Whether this reality would bring liberation or something else was something only their father, who was currently staring blankly in an empty room, would know.