The nobles’ faces were filled with confusion.
The nobles who followed behind Alon also wore bewildered expressions.
The nobles who had anticipated the growth of Kalpha to be obstructed by the king were also shocked and astonished.
However, they were not the only ones showing such expressions.
Alon, who had just heard such words from Cretinia Siyan, was also puzzled by the situation unfolding before him.
For a noble, a title carried immense significance.
It was similar to a social ranking, and a marquisate would grant Alon far more power than his current countship.
From the landholdings to the number of private soldiers he could raise, it would affect many aspects of his life.
There would also be no awkwardness in leading a faction within noble society.
Although Alon, as a count, had already become the leader of Kalpha, it was an anomaly.
According to the rules of noble society, it was impossible for a mere count to occupy such a high position.
It could be considered an unusual structure.
But if Cretinia Siyan were to raise his title to marquis, such an unusual structure in Kalpha would immediately be resolved.
In other words, Cretinia Siyan was not restraining Kalpha, but rather helping them.
‘What… is this?’
Alon couldn’t help but look up at her with a blank expression,  but Siyan casually rested her chin on her hand and spoke.
“I’ve heard the stories. That you have eradicated all the pests devouring Asteria. This is your reward.”
Her calm voice echoed through the air.
While her words made sense, the doubt still remained.
After all, there was no reason for her to reward him based on such logic.
‘It feels like she’s just using this as an excuse to promote me to marquis.’
Alon glanced at the queen.
Was she confident that she could crush Kalpha whenever she wanted, even if they grew larger?
A reasonable assumption flashed in his mind.
Even though he stared directly at her face, trying to read her thoughts, there was nothing but a cold, emotionless expression on her face.
“Why, do you dislike it?”
Alon snapped back to his senses when he heard Siyan’s voice.
“No, Your Majesty.”
He bowed his head as he responded.
In response, Siyan, who had never once shown a smile until now, stood up from the throne with a faint grin.
With light steps, she walked up to Alon.
Then, as she bent down, locking eyes with Alon who had looked up at her, she pressed the side of his right lip with her index finger and pulled it to the side.
Alon’s expression was now strange, with one corner of his mouth raised due to her finger.
It was a strange sight to anyone, but she simply smiled and said,
“Smile. You look much better that way.”
After saying that, she withdrew the finger that had been pressing Alon’s cheek.
Looking very satisfied, she gazed at the bewildered Alon with her characteristic golden eyes glinting.
The Queen, who had been watching with an amused expression, finally spoke.
“I shall take my leave now, so enjoy the banquet, all of you.”
As soon as those words were spoken, as if she no longer had any business at the ball, she turned around.
The massive door opened and closed, and silence filled the ballroom.
Alon, who was blankly staring at the spot where she had exited, thought to himself.
‘…What just happened?’
He was left even more confused.
After the Queen had left, the ballroom, which had been engulfed in silence, slowly began to regain its liveliness.
However, the atmosphere had shifted completely.
The difference now was that the nobles who had been smiling just moments before were now the complete opposite.
The nobles of the royalist and aristocratic factions, who had been expecting Kalpha to be effectively checked today, wore expressions as if the world had ended.
In contrast, the nobles who had followed Alon into the ballroom were all beaming, congratulating themselves for choosing the right side.
The man who had essentially become the star of the ballroom, Alon, found himself surrounded.
“Congratulations, Count!”
“Oh no, not Count anymore! Soon to be Marquis!”
“Oh, right! My mistake~”
Whether or not Alon responded, the nobles around him continued to flatter him eagerly.
“Indeed, Count Palatio—no, Marquis Palatio is truly remarkable.”
“Exactly. When did he manage to win over the Queen?”
Receiving the admiring, albeit mistaken and burdensome, gazes from Duke Altia and Count Zenonia, Alon thought to himself.
‘When… did that happen? I don’t even know.’
With a bewildered expression, Alon turned his gaze to the door through which Siyan had left.
‘What is going on…?’
He began to recall everything he knew about the 8th monarch of Asteria, Cretinia Siyan.
No matter how many times he thought about it, Cretinia Siyan wasn’t someone who would act like that.
She wasn’t particularly interested in governing, but she was someone who would cut down anyone she deemed a threat to her royal authority without hesitation. And what was with that smile?
Alon thought back to the smile she had shown earlier.
From what he knew, there wasn’t a single illustration or story from Psychedelia where Siyan was depicted smiling.
Her character was typically cold and indifferent.
‘…Something’s not right.’
As Alon began to realize that something was amiss, tilting his head in confusion,
In one corner of the ballroom, Marquis Filboid, who had been surrounded by other nobles, was staring at him.
‘Count Palatio…?’
Marquis Filboid gritted his teeth unconsciously.
Half a year ago, he had been forced to kneel before Alon, and though he wasn’t treated as severely as Duke Limgrave, he had been summoned to the Holy Kingdom and imprisoned in a strange cell for about a month, enduring something close to torture.
As a result, he had been eagerly anticipating today’s events.
He had been sure that Alon would pay the price for foolishly expanding his faction.
But contrary to his expectations, the Queen had instead granted him a marquisate, as if acknowledging his faction.
‘How… is this possible…?’
Gritting his teeth as he watched Alon, Marquis Filboid let out a deep sigh.
At this point, there was nothing he could do now that events had unfolded this way.
But that didn’t mean he would sit idly by after already suffering a form of retaliation.
‘If it’s come to this… I’ll have to meet them.’
With a resolute expression, Marquis Filboid turned around and started walking somewhere.
Five days later.
As Alon, after having tasted every snack at the week-long ball, was beginning to think about leaving for the colony,
Marquis Filboid had already left on the first day and was heading toward Pakason, one of the territories of the Kingdom of Ashtalon, close to the Kingdom of Asteria.
Normally, he would have been cautious about being seen, but now he didn’t care.
Ever since he had been dragged to the Holy Kingdom, he had lost most of his political power and was no longer the leader of any faction.
In other words, he had become a toothless tiger, and no nobles cared about him anymore.
Thus, he was able to reach his destination without worrying about anyone’s gaze.
Upon arriving in Pakason, he headed straight for the entrance to the underground slums near the territory.
Letting out a sigh, he looked at the ominous underground entrance in front of him. Then, tightening his lips, he took a step toward the entrance.
Marquis Filboid had learned that the “Agent,” a person who would kill «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» anyone, noble or royal, for the right price, was located here.
With that in mind, he descended into the underground.
He frowned at the sight of the gambling den filled with noisy people and thick smoke but continued walking.
The person he was looking for would be deeper inside.
As he made his way further into the den, he whispered the passphrase to a man blocking his way, then opened a firmly closed door without hesitation.
Inside the room, Marquis Filboid saw a young girl.
No, to be more precise—
A girl with radiant blonde hair and an innocent expression.
Marquis Filboid grimaced slightly at the sight, but he didn’t flinch or run away.
He had already been informed about the grotesque nature of the agent before coming here.
‘I heard that the agent is a vicious beastman who enjoys toying with corpses, but this is more revolting than I expected.’
Quickly relaxing his frown, Marquis Filboid reminded himself that he needed to hire this agent.
The voice of the agent broke his thoughts.
It was filled with pure curiosity and innocence, which brought the marquis back to his senses, and he couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of surprise.
Even though there was a corpse right there, the agent’s appearance was very different from what the marquis had imagined.
But only for a moment, as he soon opened his mouth to speak.
“I’m here to make a request.”
“Yes, I’m here to request the assassination of Count Palatio.”
Recalling the recommendation that the agent disliked long conversations, Marquis Filboid got straight to the point.
A chill ran down his spine.
Marquis Filboid realized without a doubt that the being before him was indeed the agent.
As soon as he mentioned his request, the agent’s once innocent smile twisted into something more sinister.
Her lips curled as if amused.
“You’re here to request the assassination of Count Palatio?”
Her eyes turned chillingly cold.
So cold, in fact, that it made the marquis hold his breath in terror as he faced her piercing golden eyes.
The intensity of her gaze made his legs tremble, and he swallowed dryly without realizing it.
“That’s right…?”
As soon as he affirmed, the blonde-haired beastman, now lightly swaying her hair, nodded several times.
“Ah, I see. So that’s what you want? But, what should we do?”
“W-what do you mean—?”
“The person who could take your request… is already right here.”
She shrugged lightly.
Confused by her words, Marquis Filboid followed her gloved finger downward and saw that it was pointing to the headless corpse on the floor.
Only then did he realize that something had gone terribly wrong, and he let out a soft gasp.

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