An Extra's Rise in an Eroge-Chapter 194: Royal Banquet

Regulus gave Arthur a long, scrutinizing look before leaning back in his chair. "For now, we’ll accept that explanation. But that sword needs to be thoroughly examined first."

Arthur inwardly scoffed. Yeah, good luck with that.

"About that… I think you’ll have to reconsider," Arthur said, his tone casual but firm.

Iliyana frowned. "What do you mean? Even if the sword has lost its corruption, it’s still a dangerous artifact. I can’t allow my son to wield something with that kind of history."

"She’s right, Arthur," Regulus added, his expression grave. "That weapon is not just some forgotten relic—it’s a demonic blade that once wreaked havoc. We can’t take any chances."

Arthur let out a small chuckle and raised the sword slightly. "Oh, I’m not reluctant to part with it. Quite the opposite, actually."

Helena arched a brow. "What do you mean?"

Instead of answering, Arthur simply turned towards the open window and, with a flick of his wrist, tossed the Abyssal Fang outside.

There was a moment of stunned silence.

"Arthur, what the hell are you—" Lucious started, but before he could finish, the sword suddenly reappeared, hovering right in front of Arthur’s face as if nothing had happened.

A tense pause filled the chamber.

Regulus’ sharp eyes glinted with interest. "You have our attention."

Arthur smirked. "Yeah, so… turns out this thing is bound to me. As you just saw, even if I throw it away, it just comes right back."

Iliyana’s eyes narrowed. "That’s even more reason for us to find a way to remove it!"

Lucious crossed his arms. "Arthur, that sword belongs to the royal treasury. We’ll have to figure out a way to unbind it from you. There’s no way you can just claim it as your own."

Before Arthur could respond, Regulus raised a hand, silencing Lucious. "Actually… I believe I have more say in where a royal relic should go." His lips curled into a rare smirk as he looked at Arthur. "And since my grandson has taken a liking to it, let him have it. Consider it a gift."

Arthur grinned. "Now that’s what I’m talking about!"

Lucious exhaled sharply but didn’t push the matter further, though Iliyana still looked concerned. Meanwhile, Helena chuckled softly, shaking her head. "That’s not exactly a gift you give to a child, dear."

Regulus smirked, his gaze sharp. "A child who thwarted the plans of a demonic organization."

Arthur grinned. "Don’t worry, Grandma. I can handle myself."

Helena sighed but smiled warmly. "I believe you, little one, but as elders, it’s our job to worry."

Before Arthur could respond, a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," Regulus called.

The door opened, revealing a tall, handsome middle-aged man with strikingly similar facial features to both the emperor and Iliyana. His sharp jawline and commanding presence made it obvious—he was of royal blood.

"The preparations are complete, Father. All the guests have arrived," the man reported with a respectful nod.

Regulus’ expression brightened slightly. "Excellent." He then turned to Arthur. "Arthur, meet your uncle, Magnus. The last time you saw him, you were still in your mother’s arms."

Magnus approached with a wide grin. "And the little guy who used to spend all day crying and filling his diapers has turned into a fine young man." He gave Arthur a hearty pat on the back.

Arthur groaned. "Well, you didn’t have to mention that."

Iliyana smirked. "Oh? Someone’s embarrassed?"

She stepped forward and hugged Magnus lightly. "It’s been a while. How have you been, brother?"

"Busy, as always. And you?" Magnus asked, returning the gesture.

"Fantastic," Iliyana replied with a smile.

"You can catch up later," Regulus interrupted, already making his way toward the door. "We need to get moving—the guests are waiting."

Arthur frowned. "Guests? Where are we going?"

Magnus clapped a hand on his shoulder. "To the banquet."

"Banquet? For what?" Arthur asked, growing more confused.

Magnus simply smirked. "You’ll find out soon enough."

Everyone exited the chamber, walking down the grand corridors toward the royal court.

Midway, the emperor and empress took a separate path—protocol dictated that while Iliyana was born a princess, her marriage into the Ludwig ducal household meant she could not enter the banquet alongside the royal family. They took a separate path to the royal court.

As they approached the grand entrance to the festive palace, rows of royal knights stood in formation, their gleaming armor reflecting the torchlight. The moment Regulus Hestia came into view, the knights raised their swords in perfect synchronization, their voices booming across the hall.

"ALL HAIL THE EMPEROR!"

"ALL HAIL THE EMPEROR!"

Regulus halted, his sharp gaze sweeping over his knights. A heavy silence hung in the air until he gave a slow, approving nod. Immediately, the knights lowered their swords with precise discipline, returning to their original stance.

Following closely behind Regulus were his consorts. The Empress, Helena Hestia, walked with measured grace, flanked by her son, Crown Prince Magnus Hestia, and his children, Eleanor and Edward. On the other side, the emperor’s second wife, Callista Hestia, stood beside her son, the second prince, Darius Hestia.

Their expressions were solemn, their postures rigid—an unmistakable air of authority surrounded them.

Arthur, standing slightly behind with his family, furrowed his brows. "Why do they look like completely different people all of a sudden?" he muttered.

Lucious smirked slightly without turning his head. "This is official court business. In front of nobles, the royal family doesn’t show weakness or act casually. It’s all about maintaining power and presence."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "So basically, a bunch of people pretending to be serious?"

Elona chuckled softly. "That’s one way to put it."

Magnus, standing beside him, smirked slightly. "This is official court business, Arthur. Everyone has to keep up appearances in front of the nobles. The royal family doesn’t show weakness or frivolity during ceremonies."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "So basically, a bunch of people pretending to be serious?"

Magnus let out a quiet chuckle. "More or less."

Lucious shot them a side glance but remained silent, keeping his posture formal. Iliyana, on the other hand, just sighed. "You’ll get used to it, Arthur. Politics and appearances matter in the royal court."

Arthur’s gaze shifted toward the front, where Regulus stood with the commanding presence befitting an emperor. Helena, beside him, carried herself with effortless grace and authority, while Callista maintained a poised yet distant demeanor. The air around them was heavy with nobility and power.

Their quiet conversation came to an abrupt halt as the grand doors of the festive palace swung open, allowing a steady stream of distinguished guests to enter.

Nobles from every region of the Hestia Empire arrived in elaborate attire, their presence a testament to their wealth and influence. Delegates from foreign nations followed, their expressions carefully neutral as they observed their surroundings. The imperial guards stood tall, ensuring security—not that anyone would dare cause trouble, especially with all four Supreme Stars in attendance.

Among the crowd were some of the most powerful figures in the empire: the Master of the Mercenary Guild, high-ranking professors from the Arcane Academy, and commanders of the royal army. Each of them wielded immense power and influence, their very presence a statement of the empire’s strength.

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As the guests entered, they were met with deep bows from the royal servants, while the imperial guards stood unmoving, their disciplined forms exuding silent authority.

Arthur’s eyes flickered toward the carefully arranged seating. Special places had been reserved for the Mage Tower Master, the dukes, and the foreign delegates—each one given due recognition in the empire’s grand hierarchy. Meanwhile, the rest of the noble elite gathered in the sprawling palace hall, which itself served as a magnificent hosting ground.

It was a breathtaking sight. Even the coronation of some lesser nations wouldn’t compare to the sheer scale and grandeur of this event. Thousands of influential figures had assembled under one roof, a clear display of the Hestia Empire’s prestige and dominance.

The royal guards, standing at full attention, seemed to bask in the weight of the moment. Their expressions were firm, their backs straight with unwavering pride. They weren’t just ordinary soldiers—they shared in the empire’s glory and carried its honor on their shoulders.

There wasn’t a single nation on the continent that could rival the Hestia Empire, and today’s banquet was a testament to that fact. The sheer scale of the gathering, the power concentrated in one place—this was what made the empire untouchable.

As Arthur took in the grand sight before him, a deep voice called out from behind.

"This must be your first royal banquet."

Turning, Arthur saw Magnus approaching with a stunning woman by his side.

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"Yes, Uncle," Arthur replied, still glancing around in awe.

Sure, he had attended a few high-end parties back on Earth, but this? This was on a completely different level.

The woman beside Magnus smiled, her piercing emerald eyes assessing him with curiosity. "So, this is the little genius the entire empire is talking about."

"Indeed," Magnus said, placing a hand on Arthur’s shoulder before gesturing toward her. "Arthur, this is my wife and your aunt, Victoria."

Arthur smirked. "Uncle, I have to say, you got really lucky." Then, turning to Victoria, he gave a slight bow. "What should I call you? Because I don’t think I can bring myself to call a woman as beautiful as you ’Aunt’. You look far too young for that."

Victoria chuckled, a playful glint in her eyes. "Oh my, what a smooth talker."

"Someone’s been picking up lines at the academy," Elona chimed in, approaching the group.

Arthur grinned. "I make an effort to learn new things. Besides, I’m just speaking the truth." He winked at Victoria, earning another soft laugh from her.

Elona shook her head, amused. "I see you haven’t changed."

"Well, now that you’re all here," Arthur said, shifting the topic, "will someone finally tell me what this banquet is about? There are so many high-ranking figures here—it can’t just be a casual gathering."

Magnus smirked. "If you insist." He gestured toward the grand hall. "This banquet is to reward the heroes who stepped forward during the terror attack on the museum. Those who risked their lives to minimize casualties and prevent further destruction."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "So, I’m one of the guests of honor?"

Magnus nodded. "Exactly. And all those who participated in the battle, your friends will be arriving too."

Arthur exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, this should be interesting…"