Steel Eyed Faker

Chapter 11: Save the Twisted Part 4

Beta read by Shigiya and Paragon of Awesomeness

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-The Capital-

(Flashback)

(Two years ago)

In the Empire, it was customary for a promotion to the rank of General to be a major event. Though in some ways this event reminded Emiya of Najenda and Esdeath's graduation. An event where promising cadets who had endured rigorous years of training and studying under the Imperial Academy’s demanding curriculum marked the beginning of their promising careers as officers of the Imperial Army. But unlike the more cheerful and relaxed celebration of a few years ago, this event held a far more formal theme. 

Not to mention he was forced to attend this celebration and couldn't use the excuse of not being a student like last time. 

The promotion celebration took the form of a grand banquet attended by many hundredsof guests, many of whom he recognized as influential figures in the Empire: ministers, generals, cabinet members, councilors, and even distant branch members of the royal family. Other nobles were in attendance as well, including dukes, marquises, earls, and several barons. 

Then again, it made sense why all of them would gather here, many trudging across thousands of miles crossing harsh climates just to attend a party for a handful of hours, given who was the one who organized it in the first place.

All of their children, who had also graduated from the academy, now used this opportunity to celebrate and establish connections with others in the nobility and the higher-ups in the military, not the least of which included the guests of honor themselves.

The festivities took place in a grand mansion, an opulent estate capable of comfortably hosting hundreds of people with room to spare. In the midst of the grand hall filled with guests, Emiya stood bored, holding a cup of wine in his hand. He took a sip and noted with mild surprise that the flavor was actually quite nice. 

"At least the food is decent," he muttered to himself, having been forced into a black suit. He quietly grabbed a small platter of cheese cubes and began idly snacking on them while observing the crowd around him. 

He hadn’t wanted to attend this event, but his adopted sister had strong-armed him into coming, practically dragging him here against his will.

"Congratulations, General Najenda!" 

Speaking of the devil, Najenda was surrounded by a throng of admirers, all vying for her attention. At the forefront was a young rich boy with green hair, who was fervently congratulating her with a goofy smile and a slight blush, with that dumb grin of his widening whenever she said so much as a word to him.

"He couldn’t be more obvious," Emiya muttered, distantly recalling that the boy was the son of an influential and highly wealthy merchant figure who’d joined the military in just the past year and risen through the ranks surprisingly quickly, especially for a rich kid — Lubbock was his name. He was already a first lieutenant, and had apparently joined his sister’s regiment immediately upon graduating. 

Having seen him following Najenda around like a lovesick puppy on multiple occasions, his intentions were embarrassingly clear. “I refuse to believe she hasn't noticed it by now; intentionally ignoring him won't suddenly make it stop but instead get him to try that much harder. Or maybe she's also interested in him? Hmm, unlikely. She and Esdeath have never seemed to care about relationships.” 

"Congratulations! As expected from the daughter of General Nagumo, it’s only a matter of time before you stand beside him in glory," one of the other admirers gushed.