As Michael chatted happily with Jin, Fafnir examined the jester card confusedly. It looked like an ordinary card that was used to play games, which had a figure of a jester on it.

'I should use appraisal on it later. It might be dangerous.'

Fafnir wanted to trust Michael, but he couldn't really recognize the man in front of him anymore.

So many people died because of blind trust. Fafnir wouldn't do such a thing without being certain that Michael meant no harm, especially when they were opponents.

The possibility that Michael wanted to cheat and execute Fafnir in advance was there.

"By the way, will you turn into that little form? I really missed it." Michael asked with a smile, wrapping an arm around Fafnir's shoulders.

Rolling his eyes, Fafnir's body and hair turned inky-black before he shrank into a small form, swallowing his silver armor into his little body. Then, he sat on top of the table to reach the food.

"Wait, you can just do that?" Jin rubbed his eyes, wondering if he drank too much.

Ignoring Emeralda's shocked gaze, Fafnir continued eating indifferently.

"Now can I pat your head?"

Hearing Michael's request, Fafnir simply raised his middle finger.

'Only two people are allowed to do that!'

There was no way Fafnir would allow that clown to pat his head. Dante could naturally do that if he wanted, and Elizabeth was the exception.

Also… Fafnir really wanted to return that middle finger.

Michael didn't seem to mind Fafnir's behaviour as he only kept smiling.

BAM!

All of a sudden, the last attendees entered the banquet.

They were Anas, Lady Emilia, and Duchess Morgana. The moment they entered, an invisible weight pressed on all attendees, then every noble and staff member stood before them before kneeling before the duchess.

"Your Grace."

"We greet Duchess Morgana."

"Thank you for freeing your time to attend this banquet!"

The competitors immediately followed them and either bowed respectfully or kneeled too.

"Hmm?"

Everything… except Fafnir and Michael.

'Shit… she's looking at me.' Taking advantage of his small form, Fafnir tried to hide himself behind Michael, but the Duchess's eyes noticed him.

"Why aren't you showing your respect?" Anas asked, eyeing them sharply.

"No offence, but I kneel only before my king. Sorry if that looks like disrespect." Michael answered honestly, though he didn't mention that his king was Zaragoza.

"I kneel only to one person." Fafnir wrote in the air, wishing that they'd accept his excuse.

'I'd kneel only before my master!'

Fafnir would rather kill himself than kneel before anyone else. At this moment, he was already ready to die by the hands of the duchess anytime.

"I see."

But unlike what he expected, the duchess simply nodded and continued walking until she reached the largest table alongside Emilia and Anas.

A very few of the nobles, only the strongest ones, were allowed to sit at the same table as the Duchess. They immediately started talking about different topics with wide smiles on their faces.

"Are you both crazy?!" Emeralda sat back on her seat and whispered in a yelling tone: "You would have died if she felt disrespected. If not by her, then by the other nobles!"

Michael shrugged: "Thankfully, I'm not crazy enough to disrespect her. Can't you see that from her reaction? Fafnir and I handled it well."

Fafnir gave a thumbs up in approval.

"I… You are right, I guess." Emeralda lowered her head and scratched her head. They survived that somehow, so she didn't have a reason to be mad.

Michael chuckled and thought about a way to tease her, but then, a familiar woman sat behind him, causing him to swallow his words.

Fafnir ignored Emeralda and extended his hand to grab a steak, but just then, another hand seized it before him. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

'Hey— huh?'

Seeing the identity of that person, Fafnir narrowed his eyes sharply.

"..."

On the other side of the table, Jin's face was as pale as a corpse, his eyes almost popping out of his sockets as he stared at the woman eating the steak.

"L-L-L-Lady Emilia! Am I hallucinating?" Jin stood up and bowed, his face reddening like blood as he glanced at the wine bottle.

'Maybe I should stop drinking too much.'

Emeralda followed him immediately and bowed too. The woman who suddenly decided to sit with them was the Duchess's daughter!

"Shut up and continue whatever you were doing." Emilia leaned back against her chair with the steak in her mouth: "My mother ordered me to sit here with these two, so try to ignore that I'm here. I'm literally forced to do that and I don't want to be here."

"Yes, my lady!" Jin sat again before his brain finally processed her words: "...These two?"

Michael frowned and looked around, then pointed at himself and asked innocently: "Me?"

Emilia nodded: "You and the silver… or should I call him black knight now?"

"Wait, why would she ask you to sit with…" Jin stopped mid-sentence as the realization struck him like a hammer.

Why would the Duchess's daughter sit with two male competitors?

Because she was already considering them for marriage!

'No!' Holding his head with both hands, Jin screamed inwardly: 'Why not me?! No, there is hope. I'll perform better in the next stage. I'll drink more alcohol!'

Emeralda patted Jin's back as he grabbed a wine bottle and drank in sadness.

Fafnir and Michael exchanged glances awkwardly. What were they supposed to do now?

'She doesn't seem to be willing to talk now, and I can't even get the steak back!' Fafnir glanced at the steak. Emilia was devouring the poor steak like a beast, holding it with her bare hands unlike any normal noble.

After finishing the steak, she licked her fingers one by one before looking at Fafnir and Michael: "I'll be honest and clear. Unfortunately, one of you might become my husband. Please tell me about yourself, especially your flaws, so I can tell my mother that neither of you is suitable."

"..."

Fafnir and Michael exchanged glances again. Neither of them was really interested in marriage, but they didn't like how Emilia was way too honest in that matter.

'She didn't even try to sugarcoat it!'

After thinking for a moment, Michael raised his hand: "Can I start?"

"Yes." Emilia nodded, resting her head on her hand.

"Ahem." Michael cleared his throat and said: "There was a woman whom I truly loved. She died a few months ago."

"..."

Emilia's expression froze for a second before she asked: "Why are you telling me this?"

Michael smiled wryly: "Just adding a small possibility to what could happen in the future."