I, Reincarnate as the Leader of the Villainous Knight Order - Chapter 168: Aria, the Girl of the Magic Tower

Chapter 168: Aria, the Girl of the Magic Tower 

The banquet in the Kingdom of Eldracia was nothing like the evening parties we were familiar with. 

To put it in perspective, it was more like something out of One Thousand and One Nights—guests sat and enjoyed dancers’ performances and music. Lavish carpets were laid out with cushions for back support, and intricately crafted small round tables held an assortment of fruits and dishes. 

Even though we used the same kinds of magic tools, I hadn’t expected the culture to be this different. 

But then again, even on Earth, people use the same electrical appliances but have vastly different cultures. So I suppose it makes sense. 

The maids we brought along could just stand. But that wouldn’t really work for Clarisse. 

I wondered if she had ever sat anywhere other than a chair before. But surprisingly, she had a cheerful smile on her face. 

“Well, my tutor did teach me about this, but people in the Kingdom of Eldrasia really do sit on the floor, don’t they?” 

“Oh my, was it unbearable for a princess from a different culture?” 

A sharp remark came from one of the king’s concubines. 

However, Clarisse simply smiled sweetly in return. 

“Oh, not at all. My tutor would scold me if they caught me, but I loved sitting under the shade of a tree to read books. So I would often prepare tea and sweets and sit like this for hours.” 

Saying that, Clarisse gracefully spread out her dress and sat down on the carpet. 

Her fiancé, Felix, gazed at her. His cheeks were slightly flushed. 

They seemed to have a good impression of each other, which was reassuring. 

“Haha! Is that so? It looks like Princess Clarisse will adapt here quite quickly!” 

The King of Eldrasia let out a hearty laugh and waved his hand. He dismissed the concubine who had spoken out of turn. 

She looked utterly frustrated—hopefully, she wouldn’t take out her resentment on Clarisse later. 

“Wow, Princess Clarisse is pretty impressive. You can really tell she has royal bl00d.” 

Arnault whispered this so only our group could hear. 

“Be careful not to say anything unnecessary from here on. We’ll be seated separately, so even more so. Arnault, while I’m not around, you’re the one keeping an eye on things. So I’m counting on you.” 

“Got it.” 

Due to social standing, I was seated just below the royal pair and the diplomatic ministers. 

Although the members of the First Knight Order were nobility, most of them were merely the children of nobles and didn’t hold titles themselves. 

If their parents held multiple titles, they might inherit one someday. But since I was already a Count, most of the other members in this delegation ranked below me. 

“Commander Vandière and Vice Commander Kustine, please take these seats.” 

Vice Commander Kustine, like me, held the rank of Count. So we were seated together. 

The woman guiding us wore an outfit that exposed her midriff. Kustine looked flustered. He was unsure where to direct his gaze. 

I sat cross-legged. And seeing that, Kustine hesitantly followed suit. 

It seemed we were seated alternately, with people from the Kingdom of Eldrasia and the Kingdom of Rafios mixed together. It was likely to encourage interaction. 

A knight—though technically, Eldrasia didn’t have knights, only soldiers in the royal guard—sat between us and the other knights. 

Between us and the ministers sat a few of the officials we had seen during our reception and audience, as well as the master of the Magic Tower. 

I hadn’t memorized all the ministers’ faces, but the Magic Tower master was easy to recognize by his attire. 

The banquet began, and alcohol was served to us as well. 

However, since the First Knights were assigned as tonight’s guards, we had to abstain. 

“Oh? Lord Vandière, are you interested in magic tools?” 

“Yes, I have a few in my room. But there are features I’d like to see added to them. I’m curious if such advancements have already been made here.” 

“I, on the other hand, am interested in these additional features you have in mind. I’d love to hear more details sometime.” 

As voluptuous women poured drinks, the banquet hall became filled with intoxicated guests. 

Despite that, I and the Magic Tower master continued our conversation at our own pace. 

The Magic Tower master, Frederic, was currently forty-one years old. Before his predecessor passed, he had served as the vice master. 

However, Frederic’s expression suddenly darkened. 

Following his gaze, I saw a girl—about ten years old—sneaking behind a pillar at the edge of the hall. She wore a robe identical to Frederic’s, along with an awkward-looking, old, pointy hat. 

As I watched, her presence suddenly became faint—she was likely using concealment magic. 

A child that young, using concealment magic? 

That was impressive. 

Curious to see what she was up to, I observed as she stealthily reached through a gap between the ministers on the other side of the stage… 

And quietly swiped a piece of fruit.

“Lord Frederic, is she a member of the Magic Tower? The ministers over there haven’t noticed her at all. And for someone her age to master concealment magic… she’s a genius.” 

“You noticed her… Well, she was the disciple of the previous Magic Tower master. She has talent… *just* talent. But ever since the previous master passed away, there’s been no one to keep her in check. And she’s grown quite reckless. She’s the same age as Princess Clarisse—fourteen—yet the difference between them is staggering…” 

“Fourteen!? I thought she was around ten… Ah, my apologies.” 

I had been about to say something that felt oddly off. But my shock at the girl’s actual age completely pushed it from my mind. 

“That child lost control of her magic at six years old, and her family abandoned her. She was on the verge of freezing to death when the previous master recognized her potential and took her in. Her name is Aria… Both she and the previous master were what you’d call obsessive scholars. Neither of them had much interest in food. They paid no mind to nutrition, so… well, you see the result.” 

So that’s why she’s underdeveloped—malnutrition. 

Frederic seemed like a kind man. But something about him and the way he spoke about Aria felt off. 

I wanted Clarisse to live a happy life, and maybe it wouldn’t hurt to dig a little deeper into this country’s internal affairs. 

With that thought in mind, I smiled and finished my drink. 

◇ ◇ ◇ 

Finally, I was able to introduce the heroine of the Eldrasia Kingdom arc…! 

Thank you for your patience!