9. Step onto the Battlefield, Young Man!
“This can make someone dislike me too?”
Mu’en scratched his head in confusion, feeling somewhat bewildered.
He had expressed his most sincere goodwill, with impeccable body language to match. There couldn’t possibly be anything offensive about it.
Yet Ariel, the protagonist, didn’t seem receptive to his approach.
“Sigh, it seems the conflict between the protagonist and me truly can’t be resolved.”
After muttering to himself, Mu’en put this minor unpleasantness behind him.
Because regardless of how deep the conflict between him and Ariel might be, after tonight, their fates would become two parallel lines that would never intersect.
“From now on, you go be your savior, and I’ll be my working man. We both have bright futures ahead!”
After waving his fist at Ariel’s retreating figure, Mu’en returned his attention to the matter at hand.
There were still many guests waiting for him to receive.
…
“Princess Celisia…”
“Protagonist Ariel…”
“And the future Holy Maiden of the Life Church, Lia…”
“Seems like these are the people I need to pay attention to today.”
The lamps were just being lit.
After standing at the entrance of the banquet hall for a full two hours, Mu’en finally watched the last distinguished guest on his list enter the hall, completing his reception duty.
“Whew, I’m exhausted.”
Mu’en rubbed his sore back wearily. If not for the original owner’s modest foundation in cultivation, he might have collapsed under the weight of this formal attire, which weighed a full twenty kilograms.
“Well done.”
The Duke, whose beard was as luxurious as a lion’s mane and who happened to be Mu’en’s adoptive father, appeared beside him at some point with a plate of pastries, which he offered to Mu’en.
“Hungry? Have some.”
“I am a bit hungry.”
Mu’en grabbed a pastry and stuffed it into his mouth. Only at moments like this could he disregard noble etiquette.
“How did it go?”
“Not bad.”
“Did you remember all those noble lords?”
“How could I possibly?”
Mu’en smiled bitterly and said:
“There were so many noble lords. I already used all my energy just distinguishing who was who.”
“Haha, no rush. Take your time.”
Duke Campbell said contentedly:
“You’ve already done much better than I expected.”
“Ha, thank you,” Mu’en responded with a smile.
“It’s what I should do.”
“But you won’t have to work this hard from now on.”
Duke Campbell patted Mu’en’s shoulder. “Rest a bit before going in.”
With that, this still-vigorous imperial lion straightened his back and, like an old general marching onto the battlefield, slowly walked into the banquet hall.
Mu’en watched his imposing figure and couldn’t help but sigh:
“A good father indeed.”
In fact, as the guest of honor at this coming-of-age ceremony, Mu’en wasn’t required to receive guests.
But the fact that he did so was specifically arranged by Duke Campbell.
As the Duke’s son, given Mu’en’s status, he would certainly be “besieged” by those hyena-like nobles at the upcoming banquet, intent on snatching some meat from his hands, or even cutting a piece directly from his body.
Since the coming-of-age ceremony was meant to showcase Mu’en to everyone, he could only face these “attacks” head-on.
One can imagine how difficult that would be.
So Duke Campbell arranged for him to receive guests here. Only after “greeting” those hyenas in advance would they have no reason to bypass the lion and target him, the still not fully grown “young lion.”
Although it was called a coming-of-age ceremony, in Duke Campbell’s eyes, Mu’en was still far from grown-up.
“Too bad I’ll disappoint your expectations tonight.”
The original novel didn’t describe Duke Campbell’s eventual fate.
But judging by his doting on Mu’en, when the future Mu’en Campbell turned into that disgraceful figure, while he could do nothing about it, the Duke would certainly be devastated.
“But things will be different this time.”
“I will live well.”
“Even as an ordinary person.”
The last pastry went down.
The satisfaction that came with a full stomach revitalized Mu’en’s spirits.
Even the twenty-kilogram formal attire didn’t feel so cumbersome anymore.
“Now then, it’s time for my battle.”
…
Night was falling.
Glasses clinked ceaselessly in the banquet hall, creating a lively atmosphere.
Celisia, however, was leaning alone against the balcony, appreciating the night scenery of the Duke’s manor garden.
In reality, in this era without electric lights, even the most beautiful scenery was pitch black at night, with nothing much to see.
But Celisia still gazed at the night view without any sign of boredom.
It seemed that in her eyes, the pure emptiness of the night view was far more pleasing than the noisy banquet behind her.
“To leave such a noble princess unaccompanied—it seems I’ve been quite discourteous as a host.”
Celisia raised her cold eyes, only to meet with that gentle smile.
Mu’en Campbell, still elegant and polite, stood at a distance that was neither offensive nor overly distant. He placed his hand over his chest and extended a graceful invitation to Celisia:
“May I have the honor of asking this beautiful princess for a dance?”
“You’re inviting me to dance?”
“Of course.”
Mu’en smiled gently. “Was my invitation not clear enough?”
“…”
A hint of confusion flashed across Celisia’s face.
But after a moment of silence, she still gently placed her small hand, wrapped in white silk gloves, into Mu’en’s palm.
“Since tonight is your coming-of-age ceremony, I naturally have no reason to refuse.”
“…Thank you.”
For some reason, Mu’en’s expression suddenly stiffened a bit, but he quickly returned to normal and led Celisia to the center of the banquet hall, the focus of all eyes.
The music began, gentle and soothing.
Mu’en held Celisia’s small hand, lightly supporting her slender waist, moving in step with the music, like two butterflies dancing together.
“Your dancing is quite good.”
“Thank you for the compliment, though it’s barely passable.”
Mu’en smiled modestly, like a top master’s understated humility.
But in reality…
He simply lacked confidence.
Mu’en himself hadn’t expected that the original owner, that ignorant and foolish young master, had actually learned ballroom dancing quite well.
He had been anxious when Celisia agreed, worried for nothing.
What slightly confused Mu’en was that according to the original plot, Celisia should have rejected Mu’en’s invitation to dance, yet now she had accepted?
“You’ve changed indeed, Mu’en Campbell.”
Celisia suddenly said.
Mu’en’s heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that the secret of him being a transmigrator, which even Duke and Duchess Campbell hadn’t discovered, had been found out by Celisia?
“Does Your Highness find my behavior unbecoming of a noble?”
“No, the change I’m referring to isn’t that kind of change.”
“Then what is it…?”
“It’s your way of inviting people.”