The Possessor Mistook the Genre for 20 Years

116 – *Hoping This Moment Would Pass Quickly*

Spotting Franz’s group inside the banquet hall, Yuna quickened her steps. The time spent with the Emperor had been more taxing than she’d anticipated, making this reunion all the more welcome.

Yet, had her eagerness outpaced her control? Red hair and dress swirling, she stumbled, losing her balance.

It was the heels, rather high ones at that, the root of her problem. Having worn such shoes perhaps a handful of times in her life, they remained unfamiliar to her.

And then, as she was about to fall…

A hand appeared from nowhere and steadied her.

The hand’s owner was none other than Franz. In what might as well have been a blink, he’d teleported himself before her.

Franz helped her upright, asking, “Are you alright?”

“Y-yeah, I’m alright.”

Yuna, flustered by Franz’s sudden appearance, nodded.

In truth, even if Franz hadn’t intervened, she wouldn’t have fallen. With the body of a hero, she would have somehow regained her balance.

However, she decided against mentioning it. She remembered her younger sister, Yuria, once telling her that strong women weren’t popular.

*‘Though I’m not entirely sure why…’*

For now, Franz had looked after her, and perhaps that was enough.

Just as Yuna was inwardly pleased with this thought,

Justia, who had drawn near without her noticing, spoke.

“Yuna, are you quite alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Thanks for your concern. By the way, your outfit is different than usual today?”

“It’s a rather important occasion. Of course, I didn’t dress like this for some fool, somewhere.”

“Oh…? Don’t rightly know what it is, but it suits you well enough.”

That was the start of it, the four of them falling into conversation. From asking after each other, to their outfits for the day.

Franz listened from the side, thinking.

‘It’s a relief the atmosphere seems good.’

Truth be told, it had been rather tense before Yuna arrived.

Hera, with her hair pulled back, unaccustomed to the clothes, was clearly on edge, and Yustia and Arian were bickering non-stop.

He’d tried not to pay it mind, of course. They were sensible enough folk, for all that. He figured they wouldn’t cause any trouble.

But the human heart isn’t so easily calmed. He’d been worrying under the surface, naturally.

Never would’ve guessed that Yuna’s arrival would settle it all in one go, though.

It was then.

“Master Mage Tower?”

Franz was pulled from his thoughts by Arian’s voice, breaking through.

He turned his head to find all four women staring back at him.

Judging by the looks of things, they’d called him a few times, but he hadn’t heard.

“Did you call?”

“Yeah, we called you quite a few times but you weren’t answering. What were you pondering so deeply?”

“Nothing important, just idle thoughts. More importantly, why did you call me?”

“It seems like they’re about to start.”

Franz understood without difficulty what “start” meant.

The others’ gazes had already settled in one direction.

At the edge of their gazes, the Emperor, having finished his preparations, was about to make his appearance.

‘That was close.’

If they’d been just a bit slower, wouldn’t he have been the only one standing upright when everyone else bowed their heads?

It was bad enough being a Duke; being seen as challenging the Emperor’s authority was something to be avoided.

He wanted to live his twilight years bathed in warm sunlight, not on the cold floor of some prison.

Well, if he was imprisoned, he would find a way to escape, but it was better to not get into that situation in the first place.

While Franz worried about his happy retirement, the Emperor, having completed his preparations, stood before everyone.

All at once, everyone dropped to one knee and bowed their heads.

That included Franz and his companions, with the single exception of Hera. She simply bowed her head in greeting, a gesture of respect.

Franz, catching her actions from the corner of his eye, breathed a silent sigh of relief.

‘She got through that okay.’

Lately, Hera had been getting along with humans without too much trouble, but her origins were still as an elf, after all. There was the possibility that she still harbored dislike, even hatred, for humans.

He had feared she might do something to disrespect the Emperor, but it seemed it was all for naught.

The Emperor, receiving the greeting, also didn’t seem to have any intention of making an issue of it.

Then, the Emperor’s voice echoed throughout the banquet hall.

“All of you, raise your heads.”

Everyone in the hall lifted their heads in unison.

The Emperor that Franz saw was wearing a face quite unlike his usual one.

Normally, as a father with a daughter, he would worry, laugh freely, even be seen as approachable, like an exaggeratedly friendly neighbor.

But not now. Now, he wore the dignified countenance befitting the title of the Empire’s Sun. He felt like a leader of a pride, a lion leading his pack.

“Under the sun, you who spare no effort for the Empire. Because of you, the pillars of the Empire, the people can smile….”

The Emperor’s speech had begun.

He could have had someone else read it for him, but the fact that he read it himself hinted at his character. He probably wrote the speech himself too.

He didn’t know what other emperors were like, but at least he didn’t seem like a bad emperor.

Of course, that was a purely objective assessment.

‘To me, he’s just a nuisance.’

He’d done so much work that he might as well be called the Emperor’s personal errand boy. And some of it was still ongoing, like that big job of rounding up all the cult leaders.

He was rewarded accordingly, so he couldn’t really complain…

Franz let the Emperor’s speech wash over him, his mind wandering. It was like listening to the principal’s endless homily; he couldn’t bring himself to concentrate.

Anyway, it was probably just a string of platitudes, wasn’t it? You’re the future of the Empire, or the Empire exists because of you.

Then, at some point…

“Even at this moment, there are those who cast shadows over the bright future of our Empire. And not long ago, that shadow dared to block out the Empire’s sun.”

Franz felt a prickling unease at the Emperor’s words. It felt like something was about to begin.

And that premonition proved accurate.

“However, the Archmage cleared that shadow. Moved by his action, which protected the future of the Empire, I will bestow my name upon him, here and now.”

After all, every title originated from the Emperor and returned to him. He was offering to share one.

To put it simply, he was saying, “Here’s a title, now serve me for life.”

That thought made it sound a bit horrifying.

“Esteban, you are hereby permitted to use the title of Duke, Esteban. Furthermore, the territory of Ishtar will be renamed the territory of Esteban, and I grant you the authority to rule it.”

With that, the Emperor’s words ceased.

His intention was clear. To await Franz’s answer.

Though Franz himself, the one being addressed, was in a state of flustered bewilderment.

‘What on earth am I supposed to say…?’

Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine a moment where he’d be answering the Emperor directly.

If he were to be honest, it was like skipping through the dialogue of an NPC, only to suddenly be presented with a choice.

And not just any choice, but one that would greatly impact the ending, so he couldn’t just pick willy-nilly, and, to top it off, a time limit was ticking down, leaving no time to leisurely consider.

Franz, having tasted hell in that fleeting moment, wrung his mind dry to come up with a conclusion.

“…I will dedicate everything to the Empire.”

Words he absolutely loathed to utter.

It was practically akin to signing a lifetime contract.

Later, if the Emperor were to ask, ‘Did you swear a false oath to me?’, he’d be left speechless.

But in that very moment, no more fitting answer sprang to mind.

Luckily, his answer seemed to have pleased the Emperor.

“Good. Now, everyone, don’t hesitate to enjoy the banquet. These preparations were for all of you.”

And with that, the Emperor’s address concluded.

Everyone in the banquet hall, after exchanging furtive glances, slowly rose to their feet.

Franz, too, rose like the rest of them. At the end, he thought it had been a truly dizzying moment.

Franz, at this time, did not know.

What the birth of a new Duke meant to the nobility, and that the real trouble had not even begun yet.

“Duke Esteban? Master of the Magic Tower? What should we call you? Ah, perhaps the Magician of Reversal would be more fitting?”

“Hah, weren’t you just recognized as a Saint this time? Can’t be forgetting that.”

“Duke, Mage Tower Lord, the mage who subjugated the Demon King, and Saint. Truly, there’s nothing you lack.”

The banquet began in earnest, and just when he thought he could finally catch his breath, what a mess – nobles from every corner rushed in, desperate to greet him.

“I’m still more comfortable as the Mage Tower Lord. Becoming a Saint was truly good fortune. I still feel so inadequate.”

Franz, his mind reeling, kept his answers as amiable as he could manage.

After all, he couldn’t afford to make enemies on the very first day he received his title.

Yet, the conversations weren’t just simple greetings.

“Speaking of which, I heard the Mage Tower Lord isn’t yet married. If it pleases you, would you consider meeting our daughter…?”

“Ah, is that so? Then, how about our eldest daughter….”

“What are you saying? My second daughter is much prettier. Please, consider…”

Franz gave a sheepish smile.

‘Ah, I think I’m going insane.’

He just wished this moment would pass quickly.

But there were four pairs of eyes fixed on him, and unfortunately for him, they were far from pleasant.