CHAPTER 011
An hour had passed like that.
Only two people remained upright at the table where six had initially sat with their backs straight.
Philip and Lewis.
'He's gulping down the alcohol, Your Highness!'
Drinking like this might be the only way to overcome the fear. The nobles who had been pushing themselves had all collapsed.
The complexions of the two remaining were markedly different.
Philip looked as if he had only been drinking water, while Lewis's face had turned reddish.
No matter how strong Lewis was with alcohol, he couldn't match Philip.
'This stuff is disgusting.'
Lewis grimaced as he drank some ice water, and Philip asked,
"Are you struggling?"
"Not at all."
Lewis muttered and smirked.
"Who gets drunk on this stuff?"
"Indeed, it's only been an hour since we started."
Philip nodded at the defiant remark. The other nobles sprawled around them were of no concern.
Philip addressed Lewis again.
"Now that you're the Tower Master and a marquis, how does it feel? Being a marquis must be quite the experience."
"Not really. With my abilities, I should at least hold such a position."
What's the big deal?
Philip burst into laughter at Lewis's indifferent response.
"Truly the Tower Master. But are you really okay? Your face seems redder than before."
"I don't need your concern. Worry about yourself."
In truth, Lewis had never drunk this much before. He felt hot and uncomfortable.
But he didn't want to show any weakness in front of Philip.
'He's so relaxed.'
Instead, he stopped drinking altogether.
If he drank any more, he might actually get drunk.
Though they weren't particularly close, it was a mystery why they had been sitting face-to-face for an hour.
"Surely there are other nobles who wish to speak with Your Highness. Is it alright for us to talk alone like this?"
"Everyone will understand. They’ll think the Crown Prince and the Tower Master are discussing something important."
Important, my foot.
Despite the initial intrigue, the conversation was utterly pointless.
There was no need to stay any longer.
Moreover, he felt something was off, so it seemed best to leave quickly.
He had started hearing a faint noise, which was particularly distracting.
'I came into contact with Selina before the ball, so it's not time for the noise to be heard yet.'
Perhaps he had drunk too much. Lewis furrowed his brows.
Deciding to leave, he nodded towards the unconscious nobles.
"Let's wrap this up. Everyone's passed out."
"Ah, I see."
Philip couldn't hold him back any longer, noting the nobles sprawled out as if they had fainted.
Finding no enjoyment, Lewis got up without hesitation.
The noise grew louder then.
'What is this?'
The previously tolerable noise began to rage wildly.
It was as rapid as his drunkenly beating heart.
'...This isn't good.'
A sense of crisis washed over him. It wasn't just noisy; he felt dizzy as well.
Suddenly, Selina came to mind.
The dizziness was one thing, but the maddening noise had to be dealt with.
'Where is she?'
However, as Lewis moved to find her, his consciousness abruptly cut off.
* * *
Lewis didn't seem to be falling for Charlotte. Should I help them?
Lost in thought while the ladies chatted, I shook my head.
No. Why should I interfere?
There's no guarantee it would work even if I did.
'My life isn't going as planned, is it?'
Why did I even read the original story...?
As someone suited to a simple life, I decided to leave the protagonists to their own devices.
Charlotte and Lewis's relationship would change eventually. Until then, I would have to keep holding Lewis's hand, which was annoying.
'Why do I have this talent!'
I laughed bitterly at the absurdity of my situation.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted in one corner of the banquet hall, and something whizzed past me.
What just happened?
"Over here! Quickly...!"
"It's dangerous! Everyone, get back!"
Michael?
A noble shouted, and Michael rushed in that direction.
Heat soon emanated from that spot.
'What is this?'
There was a massive fireball. No, it was more like a magical beast.
A monster with three heads, Cerberus. Michael had summoned it with his magic.
"This can't be happening."
...A Cerberus in the banquet hall?!
"Aaah!"
People screamed at the sight of the summoned beast.
But that wasn't the end. A giant wolf with golden fur appeared next.
'That's...'
It was Lewis's summoned beast.
Come to think of it, there was a similar episode in the original story.
Lewis, not in his right mind after heavy drinking, had summoned the wolf.
As the golden wolf elegantly leaped and landed in the center of the hall, chaos ensued.
"Ahhh!"
"Lewis, stop!"
Michael's Cerberus immediately pursued the wolf.
People were fleeing in all directions, leaving the two summoned beasts and their masters in the center of the hall.
"Why did they suddenly summon their beasts?"
Bella frowned, annoyed by the disruption.
"What is happening?" Charlotte asked me.
The Croft family never explained such situations to me. But I knew from the original story what was going on.
'Oh no...'
Judging by Lewis's flushed face, it was clear.
He wasn't in his right mind.
'But why did he summon his beast!'
"Who made him drink so much...?"
In the original story, Philip, who loved drinking, had been drinking with Lewis when this happened.
Could it be...?
Looking around, I saw Philip emerging from where Lewis had appeared.
"Call for reinforcement from knights and wizards immediately!"
Philip looked genuinely shocked.
"How did this happen..."
His bewildered expression confirmed it. It was Philip again.
Why did this have to happen today?
Wizards in attendance drew their staffs, and soon knights arrived to support.
"Everyone, stay back!"
The wolf leaped again, this time changing its position.
'No, not there!'
The worst possible situation unfolded.
Lewis's wolf moved toward the exit.
To leave, people would have to pass the golden wolf.
'Summoned beasts are influenced by their masters, right?'
As long as Lewis didn't regain his senses, the wolf would attack indiscriminately.
The knights could only try to corral the nobles and keep the wolf at bay.
A disaster at the banquet...
"What on earth is happening!"
The Croft Duke, who had been upstairs, came down.
She and Bella both held their staffs.
"Lewis, get a grip!"
No matter how much they shouted, Lewis didn't respond.
'They’re going to fight...!'
The wolf and Cerberus, snarling at each other, began to move in earnest.
The golden wolf lunged first.
Though the summoned beasts were semi-transparent, they had definite forms.
With sharp teeth and claws, they attacked each other fiercely.
The beasts let out horrifying cries as they were injured.
This is terrifying! I couldn't help but take a step back.
Huge summoned beasts rampaging in the hall!
The other nobles were just as scared.
"My goodness."
"Oh no..."
Seeing nobles collapse from fear wasn't uncommon.
Bella, the Croft Duke, and the other wizards tried to subdue the wolf, but it wasn't easy.
The strongest wizard in the empire wouldn't be easy to handle.
If forcibly unsummoned, it could be disastrous.
Of course, I was worried about Michael.
Summoned beasts don't completely disappear, but if they were forcibly shattered, it would severely impact the summoner.
What happened in the original story during this scene?
Come on, remember!
I racked my brains and finally recalled some unhelpful information.
In the original story, Michael couldn't defeat the wolf and collapsed.
Cerberus looked scarier, but...
Well, that wolf isn't ordinary. It was summoned by the Tower Master.
Lewis eventually unsummoned Cerberus and fell asleep from the exhaustion.
Michael vomited blood and collapsed from the shock.
After that, Lewis swore off drinking... but the point was Michael getting hurt!
"This is getting serious..."
Charlotte whispered anxiously.
She must have been looking forward to her first imperial banquet, but this...
"It's so noisy..."
Though no one had said anything, Lewis was grimacing and holding his forehead.
Noisy? That struck a chord.
Wasn't Lewis known for being perpetually irritated by noise, even when it wasn't noisy?
[The Tower Master has a drinking problem. Who knew he had such a human side!]
In the original story, it was brushed off as 'crazy drinking habits.'
Even Charlotte, the observer, saw it as a spontaneous outburst from over-drinking. Even the Croft family didn't think much of it.
But I had a thought.
What if he's hearing noise now?
Already not in his right mind, what if his magic was acting up because of it?
Checking seemed like a good idea.
If I could stop Lewis before Michael collapsed, it would be worth it.
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