The Matter of How Only a Political Rival Duke, Not My Own Family, Recognized My Worth After I Was Disowned ~When I Turned a Remote Frontier Territory Into the World’s Greatest City, the Noble Lady Assigned to Supervise Me Became the Best Fiancée~ - Episode 14: Dinner Banquet in Enemy Territory

Episode 14: Dinner Banquet in Enemy Territory

A poisoned invitation from my older brother Alphonse.

That night. As I was preparing to go out, Isabella rushed into my room with a pale face.

“Are you seriously planning to go!? That’s a trap! Who knows what kind of humiliation they’ll subject you to…!”

“I know. That’s exactly why I’m going.”

I answered while adjusting the collar of the finely tailored formal wear the Valenstein family had prepared for me.

“I’m going too! I can’t let you go alone—”

“That won’t do.”

I clearly cut off her words.

“This is a personal matter. And it’s one within the Silford family. If you, a member of House Valenstein, are present, my brother will just hide his true nature. That would defeat the purpose.”

I smiled reassuringly at her furrowed brows.

“It’s all right. I’ll make sure to have insurance.”

“…Insurance?”

“Yes. If I haven’t returned to this mansion by midnight—then, Lady Isabella, I’ll be counting on you and His Grace the Duke.”

Those were words of utmost trust. They were spoken while assuming the worst-case scenario.

Realizing my resolve, Isabella quietly nodded.

“…Please, return safely.”

◇

With only Duncan as my escort, I headed for the Silford Ducal House’s main estate.

It wasn’t like that day when I was disowned and driven out through the back gate. This time, I rode in a carriage bearing the Valenstein family crest and proudly entered through the front gates.

The servants I passed looked at me with eyes full of surprise and confusion. Quite a spectacle, no doubt— the disowned third son returning home under the banner of a political rival.

The grand dining hall I was led to was already bustling with guests. Most of them were nobles belonging to the Silford faction. Their gazes toward me were full of scrutiny—or hostility.

It was a typical Alphonse-style trap: isolate me in front of everyone and crush me mentally.

At the center of that circle was my eldest brother, Alphonse von Silford. He held his glass with elegant poise. He was wearing his perfect smile.

“Well, Noah. I’m glad to see you in good health. Life in the frontier seems to have toughened you up quite a bit.”

Upon noticing me, he approached with a gentle tone.

“First, let’s toast to your return.”

We toasted. We exchanged harmless pleasantries.

Then Alphonse gave a deliberate sigh and spoke with feigned sorrow.

“…The matter with Bertrand was truly unfortunate. As his elder brother, I couldn’t even stop his mistakes. I’m ashamed. You must have suffered because of it.”

Pretending as if he knew nothing—such blatant hypocrisy.

And then, making sure the surrounding nobles could hear, he shifted to the real subject.

“But I’ve also heard good news. I’m told you’ve discovered a massive iron vein in Grindel. That’s an impressive achievement—one that brings pride to the Silford family.”

The atmosphere in the hall subtly changed.

With his benevolent mask still on, Alphonse continued.

“However, such a grand undertaking might be too much for a newly appointed baron to handle alone. So—under the Silford name—allow us to offer full support for the development. We’ll provide the funding and the manpower. You needn’t worry about a thing.”

There it was.

The nobles around us began exclaiming in mock admiration:

“How generous!” “As expected of Lord Alphonse!”

This was no proposal—it was a public threat. He was ordering me to hand over all rights to the iron vein to the Silford main house.

Everyone watched breathlessly. They were wondering whether I would yield to this overwhelming pressure or lash out emotionally and doom myself.

I stayed silent for a moment… then smiled politely and opened my mouth.

“I’m grateful for your concern, Brother.”

“Ah, so you understand.”

“However—”

I cut him off.

“As much as I appreciate your generous offer… I must respectfully decline.”

The hall fell completely silent.

Alphonse’s smile didn’t fade. But I could sense the anger simmering beneath it.

“…And why would that be?”

To tear off that perfect mask of his, I delivered the final blow.

“Because the development of that iron vein has already been promised under a partnership—with the best possible ally.”

“Oh? And whose stray dog would that be?”

“—The Valenstein Ducal House.”

The moment I said that name, all sound vanished from the hall.

For the first time, Alphonse von Silford’s flawlessly elegant smile twitched—distorted into something ugly.