Chapter 302: Birthday Party
Chapter 302: Birthday Party
"Everyone, thank you for attending my daughter's birthday. She's already thirty, but what the hell. She wanted to have a birthday party, so here we are. Hopefully, she can get a spouse from this party."
"Dad!"
Old man Henry made an opening speech for her daughter birthday. She's thirty and wanted to hold a birthday party? That's nice.
I want to go to birthday party every day. Any party that has a lot of foods. Whoever is celebrating, I don't care.
Right now, Both Celestine and I were pretending to be a servant in this party. So, we can't just eat whatever food is served. Instead, we are serving the food. But of course, I still grabbed some while no one is watching.
Just as old man instructed, I killed some servants and guards who are actually cult members, and substitute them. Old man told the others that we both, and several other people, are temporary workers. Turns out, the old man has several trusted people on his side already. Long before he knows anything about the cult. As expected for someone who stays as a king for a long time.
How old is he now? I think he's in his eighties. But his body is that of a man in his fifties. Seems like he watches his own health carefully.
"Ahaha! Well, it doesn't matter if she finds any candidate here or not. She's free to pick any man she likes. Julia, you are already thirty. You can't keep acting spoiled forever." Old man said to her party. The girl who is celebrating her birthday, Julia.
"I'll do whatever I want!" Julia shouted.
"Okay, okay. Then, enjoy the party. I'll go grab a servant or two to chat with me." Old man said lightly.
Seems like the king's antics are pretty well-known to everyone here. Although some people looked like they hated how the king prefer to talk to a servant, they didn't say anything.
"Oh, right! Before I forget, I have something to tell you. It's unfortunate, but my son, Keith, is unable to attend the party. Well, enjoy yourself!" Old man said as he walked toward our direction. Seems like the servants he's going to talk to is us.
"So, how is it?" Old man asked me.
"It's scary that about half of the people attending here have explosive devices in their mouth. Celestine?" I asked Celestine if she knows anyone here.
"There's no high-ranking cult member here who doesn't have explosive devices in their mouth. At least from what I know. And there are some people here whose face I know. They are from my faction." Celestine said.
"… it's still weird how those people only know you from your body, and doesn't know who you are from your face. You are not disguising your face at all, and there's not much difference than your usual appearances other than your body." I said.
"And I recognized who she is from her face despite not meeting her for years! I'm an expert in this regard." Old man Henry said.
"And I'm terrible at remembering people. Well, as long as those people are not important, there's no need to remember them." I said.
Because Celestine and I are chatting with the king, the other servants are doing our jobs.
"Old man, just how often did you talk with servants? Although there are some people glaring at us hatefully, it seems like most people here are used to it." I asked.
"Every time there's a party. I have been talking with other noble on my daily life and for my duty. Why would I talk to them again? They will just start bootlicking. As for the servants, I can ask them how their life in the capital. They can give me suggestion if there's something that I can improve. As for other nobles, they just want something to improve the content of their wallet. I thought that Keith was better than the others, but it seems like I was wrong. I need to find someone else to be my heir. Among my children here, do you see anyone else who seems to be from the cult members?" Old man asked.
Then he told me the characteristic of his children who attended this party. He didn't point his finger to not make anyone suspicious of him why he's pointing at his child while talking to a servant.
As for Celestine and I, we just slightly bowed our head to not make it seems as if we are disrespectful. And since we're in the corner, it's easy for me to put Air Barrier to not let any voices leak out to other people.
I looked at the people that old man told me. And I see that some of them have explosive devices inside their mouth.
"Old man, just how many children do you have?"
"Lots."
Yeah, when I thought that's it, turns out there's more. I won't ask anymore.
After all his children are checked, this time I told him of the nobles who are members of the cult. Just how many people in this kingdom that has already been influenced by the cult?
"Sigh… turns out, I'm walking on a thin line. I'm already old, but I haven't found anyone to be my successor. I'll think things through from my children who are not cult members."
"That's suck. Well, what will you do to them?" I asked the king.
"Leave it to me. Good thing I have several people I could trust with my life long before we know of the cult's existence. I'll discuss it with them. Luckily, none of them are cult members. At least those who are here." Old man Henry said.
"Then, what should I do now?"
"Hmm… how about you just go out there and kill the cult members who are not a noble? Thanks to this birthday party, all the nobles in the capital are here. I don't think there's anyone outside the castle that will give us trouble if they died. Then you can return later after the party. I might need something from you to help me with all those cult members." Old man said.
"Okay. I'll leave now. Celestine, what about you?" I asked Celestine, but it was the old man who replied.
"It will be suspicious if both the servants I talked to suddenly disappeared. She will stay with me here."
"I guess you're right. Then, I'm off. But is it fine if I just leave? I'm supposed to be working here."
"Don't worry. Undo your magic."
Old man told me to undo my Air Barrier. Seems like he will say something to make me leave.
"Antonio! You can go home now! Give your family my regards!"
…that's it? And that's normal thing for him to say? I guess I'm Antonio now.
The others also looked at us, and then turned their heads right away. This is totally normal here? Just what kind of weird existence is this old man? And why is everyone used to it?
"I will your majesty. Thank you for your kindness." I left the party while the other nobles not caring about me at all.
As for other servants, some of them are looking at me enviously. Seems like they have experienced talking with the king alone and want to leave as soon as possible.
After I leave the castle, I quickly find a place where no one can see, and went on a hunt.
Although it's night, it's weird how there are still many people in the capital. It's difficult to find a cult member who is roaming alone in an empty area.
It will take a few days until I can clean up everyone. Though luckily, I don't think that any of them are expert level mages. Since I'm running in the air, and none of them noticed me when I'm in their range. Unless they are good actors. But I doubt it.
I just finished those who I can kill tonight, and returned to the castle after the party is over.
The party is over, and all the guests are already home. Only the king himself stayed behind, Celestine who is still disguising herself as a servant, and the girl who is celebrating her birthday who is drunk at the moment.
I peeked on them and wait until she's gone.
"Daddy! Why is the man I want to marry doesn't want to marry me!?"
I see a daughter is crying and want to be spoiled by her father. Is she like this when she's drunk, or she isn't drunk at all?
The king was just smiling at her.
"I'm already thirty! Why won't you marry me?" This time the drunk princess is asking Celestine.
"Please don't worry. I know someone who is already thirty-eight, but she hasn't married yet. Being unmarried in your thirties doesn't make you worth less." Celestine said while still pretending to be a man.
Thirty-eight? She's talking about herself? And that princess is proposing to Celestine?
"Anyway, what about the person who is eavesdropping over there!? Are you planning to marry me?"
I was surprised since Julia… she's pointing her finger to my direction. And there's no one else other than me who is eavesdropping.
The king is confused, while Celestine is surprised.
Since I have been found out, there's no reason for me to hide myself anymore.
"Well, I'm back, old man. As for your highness Princess Julia, I would have never thought that you are an expert level mage."
Hearing what I said, old man Henry is the one who is shocked the most.
The previously drunk princess, is no longer seem drunk anymore.
I take what I said back. I thought that there's no way an expert level mage is a good actor. But there's one in front of me. And since the king is surprised as well, it seems like he only finds out about it today.
Hmm… should I call Albert to see if she can be trusted? Let's do that. He has no need for sleep. I'm the one who decide if Albert is allowed to sleep or not.