Read Novel Full Chapter 684: Boasting
Chapter 684: Boasting
The Second Prince’s presence was not overwhelming like a warrior’s aura or a mage’s pressure.
It was refined, the natural authority of someone accustomed to standing above others.
"Esteemed guests," he began, voice steady and warm, carrying effortlessly across the grand hall. "We thank you all for attending tonight’s banquet."
A wave of polite applause rippled through the room.
The prince nodded lightly, allowing it to fade before continuing.
"Tonight is not just a celebration," he said. "It is a reminder of our unity, our strength, and our shared future."
Michael blinked.
Seria straightened subtly, as if expecting this part.
The prince continued with smooth confidence.
"Our Lionheart Kingdom, though younger than some surrounding us, has carved its name into history with unwavering resolve."
"Our warriors stand unmatched."
"Our scholars are sought after by courts across the lands."
More nobles murmured approvingly.
Michael listened politely.
Then the prince raised his chin with quiet pride.
"Under the Black Serpent Empire, our kingdom is counted among the three strongest vassal kingdoms. Our voice carries weight even within the imperial court."
A few people even clapped boldly at that.
Michael stared.
What is the purpose of all these flowery words?
He sipped his wine.
The speech sounded nice.
But he could not see what any of this had to do with a banquet.
Beside him, Arianne listened with a calm, perfectly neutral expression.
Seria looked mildly impressed.
Michael squinted at the stage, then leaned down slightly.
"Lady Seria," he asked quietly, "what exactly is the point of all this?"
Seria blinked, as if snapped out of her admiration.
"Point?" she whispered back. "Of the speech?"
"Yes."
She coughed lightly into her glass to hide her reaction.
Arianne’s ear twitched in amusement.
Seria leaned a little closer, her voice kept low.
"This is simply how royal banquets work, Sir Mic. The prince must reaffirm the kingdom’s strength and unity. It reassures the nobles. It reinforces the image of stability, that we stand strong."
Michael stared at her blankly.
"So this is political boasting?"
"That is a blunt way to say it," Seria admitted, "but essentially, yes."
Michael nodded slowly.
"I see."
Inside, he did not see.
At all.
If the kingdom is strong, it is strong.
If it is weak, it is weak.
How does saying nice words make anything stronger?
He took another sip of wine, allowing Seria’s explanation to settle.
On the platform, the Second Prince continued his speech, now praising the contributions of the nobles, the courage of the young generation, the prosperity of the duchies, and the loyalty of the kingdom’s subjects.
Michael eyed Arianne.
She met his gaze, lips curving just slightly, as if she understood exactly what he was thinking.
Michael raised one brow.
She looked away with a tiny cough.
Seria, meanwhile, nodded at each grand statement from the stage with a soft, respectful expression, until she caught Michael glancing her way.
She froze mid-nod and quickly pretended to sip her wine instead.
Michael looked once more toward Seria.
"So the kingdom’s strength is improved by speeches?"
Seria choked a little on her drink.
Arianne covered her mouth with her hand, eyes widening in suppressed laughter.
Seria managed a dignified inhale and whispered,
"Sir Mic, please do not say such things out loud."
Michael nodded calmly.
"I will not."
Seria placed a hand over her forehead.
Arianne exhaled softly, smiling now, her earlier tension fading, even if only a little.
And the banquet truly began to move forward.
The applause died down again as the Second Prince lifted his hand once more.
His expression shifted slightly, the easy confidence softening into something more solemn.
"Of course," he said, "tonight is not only for reunion and relaxation."
The hall quieted further.
"There is also an important matter to address. One that I believe many of you are already aware of."
A faint hum of anticipation moved through the crowd.
Michael’s eyes narrowed a fraction.
The prince paused just long enough to let the tension build, then continued.
"I speak," he said, "of the ancient ruin discovered by the old king, my royal father, during his journeys across our lands."
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Whispers stirred.
Even the nobles who had been pretending indifference moments ago now looked fully attentive.
The Second Prince let the murmurs swell, then raised his voice again.
"It is said to belong to a legendary figure," he went on. "One whose name exists only in fragments, yet whose strength, even by imperial standards, was extraordinary."
He smiled faintly.
"In the entire Black Serpent Empire, individuals of such level could be counted on one hand."
A quiet weight settled over the hall.
Even those who had not taken the rumors seriously before now listened without blinking.
"The discovery of this ruin," the Second Prince said, "was a great fortune for our Lionheart Kingdom."
He let the words hang there, his tone neither boastful nor humble, simply stating it as fact.
"However," he continued, "due to certain circumstances, we were unable to secure it exclusively for ourselves."
Everyone’s thoughts moved quickly.
Naturally, something that belonged to an empire-level figure would not be quietly left to a single mid-tier kingdom.
"Even so," the prince said, his voice firming, "through the royal family’s efforts, negotiations and concessions, we have secured the right to send some of our kingdom’s brightest youths into the ruin."
Murmurs rose again.
Michael heard a few phrases float around him.
He ignored them.
The Second Prince raised a hand again, and the whispers settled.
"Those arrangements, I believe, most of you already know. The academies have selected their representatives. Certain duchies and pillars of the kingdom have already confirmed their candidates."
A few nobles smiled with restrained pride.
Others hid their frustration well.
Michael remained expressionless.
"However," the prince said, his lips curving faintly, "we are all aware that the Lionheart Kingdom is not made up only of academy elites and direct heirs."
His gaze swept the hall.
"There are many outstanding talents who stand outside those convenient categories."
The mood shifted again.
More people straightened unconsciously.