After the carriage came to a halt, Silas stepped down gracefully with the help of his attendants.
One had to admit—noble traditions could really be a pain sometimes.
Even though steam-powered automobiles, far more convenient than horse-drawn carriages, had long since been invented, the nobles still clung to their carriages as symbols of culture and refinement—nothing more than a flashy show of status.
In their eyes, the flags atop the carriage and the crests hanging from its sides represented the family's honor and reputation—proof of their noble lineage.
But to Silas, this sort of thing was a complete waste of time.
Never mind how slow it was—even the most well-groomed horses had a certain smell about them, and leaving droppings along the way was just par for the course. Disgusting.
Compared to a steam car, it simply didn't hold a candle.
Unfortunately, as a young member of a noble faction without enough influence to challenge the status quo, Silas had no choice but to endure it for now.
Once he was led inside, a familiar voice called out to him.
"Silas! You're here too!"
He turned his head and saw a tall figure striding toward him.
Recognizing the man, Silas quickly responded with a warm greeting. "Uncle Gerwin! It's been a while!"
Gerwin had been a childhood friend of Silas's father. Their families had shared a deep bond for generations, dating back to their great-great-grandfathers, with frequent cooperation over the years.
With that kind of relationship, even a casual remark from Gerwin could get Silas chewed out for days at home.
Gerwin was a decent-looking man—quite distinguished in appearance—but his figure had started to show the signs of middle age. No tailored suit could quite hide that small belly of his.
As he walked up to Silas, he casually snatched a glass of wine from a passing servant and took a hearty swig before muttering in annoyance, "Heard you've been tinkering with all kinds of fancy new gadgets lately. Your family's been raking in money because of it. Your father's gotten so arrogant, he looks down on people through his nose now!"
All Silas could do in response was flash an awkward but polite smile. "You flatter me. It's really just pocket change—nothing worth mentioning."
Gerwin snorted dismissively but didn't push the issue. Instead, after glancing around, he asked curiously, "So your father didn't come?, You're here all by yourself?. That bastard still owes me twelve drinks from our last dice game!"
That made Silas even more embarrassed. His father's dice skills were notoriously awful.
Honestly, losing twelve drinks was nothing—he could've easily lost forty.
The worst part was that he was addicted, despite being terrible at it.
He was the kind of guy who always played just to lose.
Fortunately, he didn't gamble money—he only made friendly wagers with acquaintances. Otherwise, the entire Grey family fortune would've been long gone.
'So that's why he suddenly wanted to go fishing and pushed me to attend the banquet alone…'
Silas complained inwardly about his father's convenient excuse, but still managed to come up with a quick cover story. "He went to Green Tower City to negotiate a mining deal. That's why I'm here on my own."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Under Gerwin's skeptical gaze, Silas maintained a perfectly composed expression. "Yes. That's the truth."
"…Alright then."
After finishing off the rest of his wine, Gerwin leaned in and muttered, "So, about that thing I mentioned before—have you given it any more thought?"
Silas's face stiffened. He replied reluctantly, "I still think I'm too young. That kind of thing… I'm not in a rush."
Gerwin immediately shot him a look of deep disappointment.
"What are you afraid of?, You've got nothing to lose!
She's the daughter of a deputy mayor, and if you trace the family line back, there's even a royal blood connection. Her background is rock solid. Marry her, and you'll have nothing but benefits coming your way!"
Despite the persuasion, Silas shook his head firmly, his expression grim. "I just… I can't take on that kind of burden."
Some things were far more complicated than just weighing gains and losses.
Gerwin, unwilling to give up, pressed on. "She's just a two-hundred-pound woman! You can handle that!"
Silas shook his head even harder, practically in despair. "No! I really can't!"
That kind of overwhelming nightmare—he'd rather die on the spot than live with it.
Seeing how adamant Silas was, Gerwin finally sighed in disappointment. "Fine…"
---
Later that evening.
As the host of the banquet made their grand entrance, the atmosphere reached its peak.
Important figures began gathering around the center of attention, eagerly chatting away.
In the blink of an eye, the entire banquet split into several distinct social circles.
Gerwin looked at Silas curiously. "Why are you so well-behaved tonight? Not out there drinking with the pretty girls?"
Silas made up an excuse with a casual smile. "Had a bit too much yesterday. Still feeling dizzy. Besides, the best-looking ones are all hanging around Hank. No good targets left, so I figured I'd rest instead."
Gerwin chuckled and nodded knowingly. "Ahh, so that's why you're being so quiet tonight. Young men should learn to pace themselves—drink too much now and you'll pay for it when you're old~"
Silas just laughed it off politely.
His gaze, however, turned toward the man they'd just mentioned—Hank.
He was tall and poised, dressed in elegant, luxurious clothing, and his features were undeniably handsome.
At the moment, he was surrounded by a group of beautiful young women, charming them effortlessly with his wit.
If this had been the first timeline—before Silas was reborn—he might've felt nothing but envy, jealousy, and resentment.
After all, Hank was superior in every way—looks, physique, charisma, family background, education. Compared to him, Silas was just filler.
But after living through all the chaos and turmoil of his past life, Silas had long since let go of those petty feelings.
More importantly… although Hank seemed to be enjoying himself now, that wouldn't last much longer.
Among the women drawn to Hank, one of them—Silas knew for a fact—was dangerously obsessed, to the level of being a full-blown yandere.
That would've been bad enough, but the woman also had a rare congenital illness. Not long from now, her condition would flare up.
When she died, filled with resentment and unfulfilled longing, her obsession would turn her into a powerful vengeful spirit that would cling to Hank endlessly.
Due to the affection she still held, she wouldn't harm Hank directly—she'd even protect him—but those around him… that was a different story.
From that point on, Hank's life would be like walking with death itself—wherever he went, tragedy followed.
Parents, attendants, childhood friends, admirers, innocent bystanders… one by one, they would die horribly.
He became the common link between all the victims, and more than once, people suspected him of being a deranged serial killer.
The slander and attacks never stopped. If it weren't for the spirit's protection, he would've been torn to pieces by those seeking revenge.
By the time the truth came out, Hank had already failed to kill himself more than ten times and was suffering from severe depression, his face permanently etched with despair.
One could only say… his fate was truly a tragic one.
____
T/N:
Hello everyone! My Patreon is just $3 — a perfect opportunity to access 80+ advanced chapters and support the translation.
🔗 patreon.com/user?u=79514336
Or simply search Translator-Sama on Patreon