The assembly, well, Count Mock's lone declaration, continued quickly.
Cale quietly sat there listening to the things he discussed last night being reported just as he had said them.
'Nothing's changed.'
The White Star seemed to have approved of Count Mock's suggestion as is.
Cale looked at someone at that moment.
Smile.
Chief Priest Gersey was smiling gently toward him.
'What the...?'
Cale instantly felt annoyed but just smiled back.
He heard Count Mock's firm but excited voice at that moment.
"And with that, we will end our meeting!"
Count Mock was smiling as he addressed the noble awaiters.
"Any esteemed noble awaiters who wish to participate in the Black Castle destruction plan please come to my office in the castle."
The noble awaiters peeked at each other with nervous gazes.
'My chance is here!'
'He said gaining merit here could mean becoming a Baron at the bare minimum, and a Count if everything goes well!'
'...I will participate in this Black Castle destruction plan no matter what.'
However, only 48 noble awaiters could take part in the Black Castle destruction plan. It was exactly half of the 96 of them.
The noble awaiters were all looking at Count Mock.
He had full control over which 48 of them he selected.
'This is great.'
Count Mock who saw their gazes expertly held back his laughter that wanted to burst out.
On the other hand, there was one person who could undo her frozen expression.
'...Everybody but me!'
The black knight. It was Count Hubesha.
She realized that she was the only one at the table who did not know about Count Mock's Black Castle destruction plan.
'What the hell happened in one night?'
Her sharp gaze headed toward Count Mock.
As fellow Counts, they had the most contentious relationship.
'That old grouch did this behind my back!'
She stared at Count Mock without hiding her anger until she flinched and looked elsewhere.
She was looking at Naru-Cale who was getting up from his seat and starting to walk out of the assembly hall.
'...Something is weird.'
Count Mock was the slyest person she knew.
She was certain that Count Mock was the one who dragged Naru and the Vampires into this plan.
However, her intuition as a swordswoman...
Her senses as a person who fought in the vanguard...
'...Why do I keep wanting to look at Naru?'
They were warning her.
They were saying that something was weird about this boy.
As Count Hubesha started to focus her gaze a little more on Naru...
"Naru."
Cale flinched as a gentle voice called out to him as he tried to exit the grand assembly hall.
'...Damn it.'
Pat.
Someone gently placed their hand on his shoulder.
Cale slightly turned his head and looked up at the person who called him.
"...Your majesty."
"You can call me uncle again now that the assembly is over."
The White Star was smiling warmly.
