Chapter 157: The Dukes Invitation (1) (1/2)

“Is it an invitation from Duke Spencer?”

Smiles spread across the faces of Count Bayer and Gaël as they checked the invitation.

The two did not know yet that Jude and Cordelia had become friends with Princess Darianne.

But even if they did, they would still react the same.

They would be thankful for the invitation.

No, they felt that it was natural for that invitation to come.

They were relieved and felt proud.

The two looked at Jude with faces full of happiness.

‘What’s going on?’

Jude knew all kinds of things from Legend of Heroes, but he knew little about Duke Spencer’s invitation.

Because none of the playable characters who could visit the royal capital at this time had any contact with Duke Spencer.

‘If we went with the flow of the original, Jude was still suffering from his illness at home.’

Cordelia had gone missing and was wandering in the north.

In Lucas’ case, he did visit the royal capital at this time, but he didn’t have any point of contact with Duke Spencer.

‘First of all, Duke Spencer was sick and suffering from his condition.’

It was impossible for him to invite guests when he was ill.

Moreover, Lucas was a young man from the north who was a complete stranger to Duke Spencer.

He wasn’t an important visitor that could meet the bedridden duke.

‘But the situation has changed.’

Princess Darianne who should’ve gone home empty-handed was able to get the Seven-Colored Herb with the help of Jude and Cordelia.

Thus, Duke Spencer was freed from his chronic illness and recovered his strength.

‘So I thought he’d invite us.’

For Duke Spencer, Jude and Cordelia were his benefactors who healed his chronic illness and at the same time, they were friends of Princess Darianne whom he cherished and was the apple of his eye.

‘I was expecting he’d invite us to a tea party.’

But it wasn’t a tea party invitation that arrived.

It was to an event with a cheesier and grander name than that.

‘The Banquet of Swords.’

That was the reason why Count Bayer and Gaël were very happy.

“Those good old days. I once participated in Duke Spencer’s Banquet of Swords.”

“I agree, father. I also remember participating in that.”

The father and son said as they recalled it, and Adelia suddenly raised her nose and bragged about it.

“Hmph, that’s natural. It’s to be expected of Lord Gaël and father-in-law.”

Edward clicked his tongue at Adelia proudly talking as if she was involved in that, while Cordelia tilted her head and Jude unconsciously nodded.

‘Similar.’

They really are sisters.

Adelia was almost acting the same as Cordelia.

‘What’s similar?’

‘I mean, you’re like that.’

‘Tsk, I’m not like that, okay?’

Cordelia pouted, and Jude didn’t say anything after that.

‘Aren’t you like that every time you boast about me?’

Jude thought to himself as he avoided her gaze before he quietly smiled and looked at Gaël and Count Bayer again.

“Father, what is the Banquet of Swords?”

In fact, he had roughly guessed it, but it was still a guess.

There was no need for him to continue guessing it when an answer could be given to him now.

At Jude’s question, Count Bayer replied with a smile.

“Haha, as its name suggests, the Banquet of Swords refers to a banquet where swords gather. To be exact, it’s a banquet where young and promising swordsmen gather.”

Count Bayer slowly spoke and gently tapped the sword on his waist, as if he became conscious of the fact that he was a swordsman again.

“Jude, as you know, the Spencer family are known for their long history and tradition with swords.”

“Yes, it’s a family that has a longer history than the kingdom.”

The Spencer family was one of the meritorious families that greatly contributed to the founding of the Sälen Kingdom, and the Duke Spencer of that time was also the sworn brother of the founder king, Lion D. Sälen.

‘In fact, their family was in charge of the military in the early days of the kingdom.’

While Duke Wotan from one of the other meritorious families provided troops, Duke Spencer provided powerful and outstanding swordsmen to become the vanguard and lead the troops.

As a result, the founder king, Lion D. Sälen, was able to win several battles, and he praised the Duke of Spencer for his distinguished service and awarded him a special honorary title.

‘Sword Teacher.’

He who guided all the swordsmen in the kingdom.

At the time of the kingdom’s foundation, Duke Spencer was a man befitting of the name ‘Sword Teacher.’

He was undeniably the best swordsman in the kingdom.

But that wasn’t the case for the next generations.

They had a lot of excellent swordsmen, but no one appeared to be capable enough of being called the best in the kingdom.

‘But even so, they were still a family renowned for their excellent swordsmen.’

The best swordsmen in the kingdom no longer came from the duke’s direct descendants.

The Spencer family was no longer a family that produced the best swordsmen in the kingdom.

But the ‘Spencer Sword School’ was different.

The Spencer Sword School produced at least one great swordmaster per generation.

‘Sword School.’

A group where people could teach or learn swordsmanship.

This was the result of the pride and responsibility of that time’s Duke Spencer in their honorary title as the ‘Sword Teacher.’

“A long time has definitely passed. The honorary title of the past, Sword Teacher, has almost disappeared now. But as a Sword Teacher, the current Duke Spencer has not given up his responsibility to improve the military… or to be exact, the skills of the swordsmen in the Sälen Kingdom.”

To the Bayer family, Lucas Hræsvelgr was a stranger.

They were complete strangers, not related by blood nor swordsmanship style.

But not for Duke Spencer.

To him, Lucas was a swordsman of the Sälen Kingdom.

“The Banquet of Swords refers to an event that gathers young swordsmen with promising talent from all over the country. It’s an event to tell these prospects, who have lived like frogs in the well, that there is a wide world beyond them.”

Count Bayer said in a slightly self-deprecating voice, but Count Chase snorted and said.

“I don’t think a noble who went to the Banquet of Swords and crushed all the other prospects should be saying that. Ah, there’s no way that you’re just bragging about yourself, right?”

At the criticism that Count Chase said because he was a long-time friend, Count Bayer replied as he felt pleased and embarrassed.

“This friend of mine exaggerated it a little, so don’t listen to him.”

“Hmph, it’s not an exaggeration.”

Count Bayer was actually the strongest swordsman in the Sälen Kingdom now if one limited it to those of a similar age as him.

There were ten great swordmasters, but their difference in ages widely varied.