Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 402 (Part 2):

The next afternoon, the Emperor’s procession arrived from the Empire—the day before the final match.

Imperial knights in gleaming armor surrounded the Emperor’s carriage, their sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.

Since the assassination attempt on the Crown Prince, security for the imperial family had tightened further.

With both the Crown Prince and the Emperor gathered here, no mishap could be allowed. Tension hung thick in the air around the tournament grounds.

Asuka called out to one of the imperial knights inspecting the venue.

“Hey, long time no see! How’ve you been?”

The knight scowled at the greeting. It was Gannon, who had once served alongside him in the Imperial Knights.

Although he knew the other was royalty, Gannon, having endured all sorts of tyranny from Asuka, couldn’t suppress his animosity.

“You look well, sir.”

Dressed smartly, Asuka now looked quite like royalty.

“I’ve always been handsome. You, on the other hand, haven’t improved at all.”

Gannon struck back at the grinning Asuka.

“I heard you participated in the tournament.”

His words ended there, but his smug expression made it clear: ‘The one who eliminated you made it to the finals, didn’t he.’

Asuka’s eyes narrowed. He rubbed his nose and sneered.

“So I did. Though you probably wouldn’t even make it past the preliminaries.”

He delighted in watching Gannon’s face harden.

“Word is you Imperial Knights are all high and mighty. How about working on your expressions? Can you really be so emotional? Anyway, where’s Ralph?”

Asuka glanced around. He had spotted both Gannon and Ralph earlier when the Emperor’s procession entered.

“You seem fond of Ralph.”

Gannon replied, grinding his teeth.

“He’s a commoner, so I was worried you guys might bully him. Just concerned.”

Since he was royalty now, shouldn’t he look out for commoners facing discrimination? Especially since the Imperial Knights were practically his backyard.

“Who was the one pretending to be a commoner and begging to be bullied?”

After the identity of the man who had briefly joined and then left the Imperial Knights was revealed, rumors abounded. Among those rumors were tales of Asuka’s past deeds.

The mad dog of Greta Academy’s swordsmanship department. A commoner, but with skills brilliant enough to be the top student, untouchable by anyone. To think he was actually royalty.

It was a rumor worth circulating widely.

“Stop talking nonsense and just tell me where he is, why don’t you?”

Asuka’s eyes glinted dangerously. Gannon reluctantly answered.

“He is at the location where the banquet is being prepared. He will be standing guard there during the meal.”

“Huh? Banquet?”

Asuka blinked as if hearing it for the first time. Gannon, sensing something, lifted the corners of his mouth.

“Yes, the banquet attended by His Majesty the Emperor, the imperial family, and the members of the Grand Ducal House of Renosa. I understand Grand Duke Farnese is also attending, but it seems you were not invited.”

Asuka’s face twisted. He wasn’t any better at controlling his expressions.

Although Asuka was scheduled to sit with Grand Duke Farnese during the final match tomorrow, he had heard nothing about today’s banquet.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t even met the Emperor yet.

Grand Duke Farnese had probably excluded Asuka fearing he might cause trouble.

Wasn’t it a crucial occasion with the entire Renosa Grand Ducal family? It was too much to expect Asuka, who had barely completed his etiquette training, to behave appropriately there.

Grand Duke Farnese was realistic and never took unnecessary risks.

“Well, it hasn’t been long since you returned to your rightful place, so perhaps you’re not yet ready to attend such important national events.”

The tone dripped with ridicule, implying that he was royalty in name only, unable to fulfill his duties properly.

Asuka had never tolerated insolence in his life. And he knew no one would blame him for punching Gannon here.

But there was a more important issue.

‘Wait, isn’t Charlotte attending that too?’

He didn’t feel any sense of alienation, but that was the most concerning issue for Asuka.

Asuka had been keeping an eye on the relationship between her and the Crown Prince.

Fortunately, the Crown Prince had been extremely busy, and Charlotte too had been fully focused on the martial arts tournament, so no particular atmosphere had developed between them.

However, Asuka hadn’t made any progress with Charlotte either.

He couldn’t care less about missing some stuffy event, but the guest list bothered him. The Crown Prince would be there, wouldn’t he?

Moreover, Charlotte and her parents too. That gathering could potentially become the place where the political marriage between the Crown Prince and Charlotte was formally discussed.

Grand Duke Farnese was definitely not on his side. To him, the Emperor’s will took precedence over Asuka’s.

‘This can’t be happening.’

Imagination ran wild in his head. His face flushing red and pale, Asuka immediately turned on his heel and ran off.

Left behind where Asuka had departed, seemingly ready to cause trouble, Gannon alone wore a flustered expression, realizing his mistake.

Oh dear, had he inadvertently revealed something he shouldn’t have?

“Oh no, what should I do.”

However, he soon rationalized it in his favor.

He had only answered because Asuka asked. He was not at fault. Lying to royalty was an act of lèse-majesté, after all.

But Gannon, left alone, couldn’t help but tremble with anxiety.

Otaku_Tensei

I'm currently Translating the following novel: Helmut: The Forsaken Child. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

•