chapter 16 - Banquet

2 weeks have passed and It’s now the day of the banquet. I'm standing in my room looking at myself in the mirror, the suit the madam made is truly exquisite, a simple design with crescent moons as the cufflinks. A straight black suit for my brother's birthday seems strange looking at myself and seeing a 5 year old child but I do look good, just give me 15 years and I’ll be a true lady killer.

Perhaps seeing my creepy smile Rafael decides to give a low cough, “Young master the guests are beginning to arrive we should hurry to greet them, afterall the duke himself will be coming.”

Hearing that puts me on edge the duke is truly a man that is put on a pedestal around here, I feel that we revere him more then the actual king but I guess that's fair when the king doesn’t even know our family. Putting on a brisk walk I quickly make my way to the entrance, meeting up with my family. It seems some minor nobles have already made themselves home judging from the noise coming from the hall and they’re just waiting for the duke himself to start the party.

The doors open slowly as another guest makes their way into the hall, a man no older than 40 steps through the door and I can clearly see that he is powerful as every step and movement is made with no waste, accompanying him is a small army of guards of which 5 were let inside the hall as his main attendants. He seems to be by himself with no guest which comes as a surprise because if this is who I think it is he should be married with children who would not be expected to come to events like these.

“Duke Grimhilt it’s an honour to have you in our home”

My father welcomes the duke before performing a bow, upon which we all follow in our respect. The duke doesn’t seem at all fazed by this display as no emotion shows on his face. Boris Grimhilt is the current head of the Grimhilt family standing at a monsterous build he is at least half a foot taller than my father putting him at around 6’8-6’9, he wore a dark silver overcoat hiding the steel like suit underneath, his hair was matching his suit with a dark silver more metallic feel to it, his whole demeanour was oppressive and rough his face chiselled like it was made out of metal, his eyes we’re different being a bright blue in contrast to the metallic clothes he wore. On his face was a small scar that marked his right cheek almost looking like a bullet wound which I found quite uncanny, but more confusing considering a duke like him could easily pay a high priest to remove the scar.

“At ease earl, today is a joyous occasion to celebrate the coming of age our your successor and the start of his service in my army”

With a gruff voice the duke brushes of fathers flattery and cements the positions between them, looking to my brother I can already see a shadow over his face. Giving Noah a nudge and a reassuring smile seems to change his mood but father seems to be suffering as well.

“Well my lord come in and get settled at your table the party will officially start soon” steeling himself father steps forward and leads the duke over to his table with mother leaving us kids behind in the entrance hall.

“Sigh what a truly frightening presence” turning to my siblings I see that while Alice is faring better than Noah she's still overwhelmed by the aura he gave off. “ Come on you two we’ll all be serving under him one day it’s best to leave a good impression first”

After my words Noah finally loosens up “you're right Little brother I don’t want to leave a bad impression on the man who will be controlling my fate for the next four year now”

“You're not wrong little general but how come you're not affected by his presence”

Alice has always been a curious one and I don’t really have an answer after all what is his presence compared to the sovereigns of reality that I met 5 years ago. It's not really comparable. “ I don’t know sister but maybe he's not really interested in testing a 5 year old”

“hahaha what am I thinking why would the duke try to pressure a 5 year old after all you’ve only just unlocked your QI core, I bet he doesn’t even know that yet after all father hasn’t announced it yet.”

With my sister's curiosity quenched we can finally relax and enter the party.

The hall was truly grand white and gold decorations were placed around the hall with the red curtains standing out against the white marble, the floor was full with people. The duke had his own table and one by one people would approach to make small talk with the giant.

Father was at the head of the hall and my siblings quickly made their way over to him, I decided to stick to the edge of the room to just observe, the barons stuck to the barons and the viscounts stuck together as well, the only time people broke class was when greeting somebody above them it wasn’t the other way round. The heads of house and the partners were generally separate and the spouses gathered at one side to gossip and the blood nobles gathered in their little groups.

I can see no marquess decided to show up instead the counts under them took this opportunity to get close to the duke, It’s strange for the duke to personally show up for this event and Father only sent an invitation out as a formality as the coming of age for a counts family isn’t that special but he came nonetheless, thinking over this I begin to think of an earlier conversation with father.

“ Father, why is the Duke coming for brothers coming of age?”

He looks down at me taking a break from our usual sparing, “ hmm I don’t really know son, I can guess but, We’re not really a usual case for a count family. Usually a count will be at least A rank as that's the only way to make sure a city this size stays safe otherwise, well you know the current bandit problem” showing a dispirited face father lets down his guard and I decide that this will probably be my only chance to land a hit, aiming for his upper thigh I perform a quick thrust. He quickly steps back and deflects my sword and brings the flat of it to my face sending me to the floor.

“hahaha little general thinks he can get me in an off chance, I might not be as strong as a regular count but I am still a knight.” With a face full of smiles I’ve been beaten by my father but it doesn’t feel that bad.

Observing the party I stuck to myself and conversed with Rafael at the side of the hall, time flew by and it was nearing the end of the party the plants from other houses have long since left and all that remains are the actual friends of the moon family, strangely the duke was still here but he was probably here for a different purpose in the first place and the ceremony was just an excuse.

The event itself was quite boring and I had decided to make my way outside to enjoy the fresh air free from the stuffy atmosphere inside. “Rafael How much longer must this go on?”

“Young master you have to get used to this, you can’t be this tired when you weren't even the star of the show”

Listening to Rafael's words I think of Noah, he’s done really well tonight I didn’t think he had it in him to keep such a straight face for so long it seems mothers private lessons have worked wonders. Whenever I saw him he was always talking to one of the guests in the hall.

“Exhausting”

Looking back to Rafael I see no change in expression, quickly looking back to the not so grand garden and the dark sky I feel relaxed. After all, my party won’t be that busy. I'm not the next head, as long as I provide achievements to the family I can live relatively free.

Suddenly I feel a shiver run down my spine and all my hairs stand on edge, quickly turning around. I only see Rafael standing there with a look of surprise on his face, following his eyes I turn to see the night sky has been blocked out and a giant is now standing in front of me.

Piercing blue eyes stare into my soul, Duke Grimhilt is towering above me, not saying a word he turns around to gaze over the garden and gestures for me to join him at the Railing.

“Young Joseph is it”

“Yes my Lord”

“Do you know why I’m here today?”

“Not for my brothers coming of age?”

“Don’t play stupid with me child I know you’re better than that” Annoyance leaking through his voice

It seems I should just speak my mind, “ I think you’re here to check up on the territory, some things are better off seen in person”

Meeting his eyes I see a flash of silver in them, “hmm well you’re not wrong, things like this are better in person, I needed to see if your Father was capable enough to run this city and not the other way round. I’ve had a talk with him and he doesn’t have long before he fails the task I gave him. But all this could have been done through a messenger, Why do you think I’m here right now talking to you?”

Looking directly into his eyes I feel naked, like he sees all my secrets, the true age of my soul and the current level of Qi that I’m at. Looking to the floor to try and hide I know he probably knows everything already but I can’t do anything.

“Yes you aren't stupid. You’re lucky, to awaken so young is a gift. A gift that will be wasted in a small city like this. But I’m not one to break up a family so I’ve given your father a set of goals for you to reach. As long as you reach these goals you can stay here and live with your family but the second you fail, lets just say you have an early enrollment. But in the end it’s your choice you can leave tonight with me and I will personally see that you become an A rank in the next 20 years”

I look over to the banquet hall and see my Blood in there, they aren't really my family and by joining the duke in this our control over the city would be guaranteed and he would probably send over his army to deal with our bandit problem, what's even stopping me I would grow much faster over there. I don’t even belong here, there would be much better separated and alone. Looking up I see the banner of the Moon household and look down to see my suit with the crescent cufflinks.

Taking a deep breath I steady myself before speaking, “ I’m sorry my lord but I can’t leave them too early now can I” . Looking back at the duke I see that he is now smiling ever so subtly and after a quick glance to my attendant he goes to leave.

“ Keep up your training then and you will get to stay with them. I'll even take off the Army duty if you do well. Till the next little general.”

Watching the mountain of a man leave I’m once again left outside with Rafael who is less of an attendant and more of a shadow for me. Thinking over my decision I know I made the right choice even if I just have to train twice as hard I won’t let anybody take me away from them, after all I’ve already taken their child away from them once I can’t let it happen again. But I am caught up on one thing: why did he call me little general.