So...
I quickly sorted things out.
The nobles at the banquet were divided into two factions: those who favored Duke Klein and Lorenz, and those who favored Belial and Sen.
This meant that the siblings' quarrel had come to the surface.
Originally, Belial had the ambition to surpass his brother and seize the throne, and in the original Winter's Heart, he actually became emperor. That's why Sen became Serena.
However, in the original story, until he killed Kyle and ascended to the throne, Belial and Lorenz didn't fight much. Instead, they worked together to eliminate Kyle Blake.
Has Belial's fate changed just as Sen has changed?
Belial, who, despite knowing his mother's animosity, still helped Sen regain her name, and this subtle war of nerves, along with Belial's neutral stance towards Kyle... It was clear.
Belial and Lorenz were currently in a confrontation. Instead of merely dominating his weak and cowardly brother, he was actively trying to eliminate Lorenz. He had even set aside Kyle's existence, whom he originally considered a thorn in his side.
Belial had only one reason to do that.
"Lorenz is behind the raid."
The attack that should have been directed at Kyle was instead aimed at Belial. Belial was attacked as a result, and they must have tracked down the mastermind.
Belial realized that Lorenz, or Lorenz's faction, had ordered this.
…This is truly a dysfunctional family. Is he going to kill his brother to become emperor?
"Anyway, Prince Belial doesn't seem as composed as he once was. Back when Jane was alive, he was frustrated because he couldn't easily dispose of His Highness Kyle. And now, he's even forcing the Baron's family name onto a commoner..."
"I'll make her a princess."
Belial had just returned, looking down at her with a cold gaze. The atmosphere of the tea party froze in an instant.
"It's a shame. I would have liked to have seen you cry and be kicked out while I was away, but you came back faster than I thought."
"... Your, Your Highness Belial."
"I don't know. That's how you used to be. If you didn't like something, you always had to lash out with your tongue to satisfy your instincts."
"But you're not wrong."
"That's right. And it is wrong that you insulted the one who would become the Empress."
I quickly looked around.
The reason she was able to speak so confidently, even though her actions crossed a line, was that a significant number of nobles had shifted their allegiance to Lorenz.
After all, he was the First Prince, and barring any major incidents, he would become Emperor. Of course, he wasn't particularly capable, but he was also favored by the Empress because he was the eldest son.
Moreover, everyone must have noticed.
People disliked Belial's engagement, and they knew that Lorenz was pushing Belial aside. Except for a few nobles Belial had recruited, most probably held similar thoughts.
At that moment, I remembered the system window that had been silent the whole time.
It was indeed a quest after a long time.
[The enemy's enemy is your friend!]
[Reward: Northern Ally]
I jumped up.
As if to give me a hint, the system began to read the original story, Winter's Heart.
[Belial spilled tea on the head of the woman who insulted his fiancée, ruining the noblewoman's hair and dress. Even the Duke of Klein was furious when he heard about it.]
[However, no one could speak ill of Belial, because the Duke of Klein's family remained silent despite their anger, for the sake of Belial's reputation.]
The text in the second system window began to blur. It was because his fate had changed, and I had changed it.
Belial was now at odds with Lorenz. Then, unlike the original, the Duke of Klein's family wouldn't care about Belial's reputation.
If Belial were to spill tea on that woman as the original story depicted, Duke Klein would publicly condemn Belial.
It must be prevented.
If I could stop it, and even slightly improve Belial's relations, at least he wouldn't interfere with the North's affairs!
"Wait!"
I shook Kyle's hand away and rushed like a bolt of lightning to block Belial.
As I walked around the table, Belial, with a furious expression on his face, squeezed the nearby teapot and threw it...
"Shu!"
Kyle jumped up from his seat.
Hot steam rose from my head, cheeks, and shoulders after being drenched in the tea.
Hot. It was a less cold tea.
"Stop, Your Highness Belial."
"It's you again."
Belial's green eyes burned with rage.
"My fiancée was insulted. It's not your business."
"For Your Highness."
Belial's right arm was raised in an awkward position. When I looked closely, I saw that he was shaking uncomfortably.
I casually wiped my cheek with my sleeve after the hot water passed by, and then pulled his arm down.
"You must still be uncomfortable, so don't overdo it."
Belial's eyes grew even colder.
"You seem to know me well."
It seems he hid his injury. After all, it's foolish to show weakness in this family where you don't know who might turn.
But I knew it was an injury he sustained during the raid. As Kyle's fate shifted to Belial, the wounds Kyle should have suffered were also transferred to Belial.
"Well, I don't know. Anyway, if you try to splash tea on a lady, you'll only get a bad reputation."
I don't know how casually I used to live, but not now. If he touches those connected to the Duke of Klein, they will use all their power to discredit Belial.
Not yet.
Belial or Lorenz must not be sidelined or eliminated until I find out which of the two is Kyle's true enemy.
"This banquet is enough."
Sen stood up to settle the situation. The nobles, who had been uncomfortable as if sitting on a cushion of thorns, bowed their heads to the two of them without hesitation and left.
It was around this time that the woman standing behind me ran away without saying a word of thanks.
I helped her as much as I could...
If she had been polite enough to thank others, she wouldn't have tried to insult Sen in front of everyone else. I shouldn't expect anything.
I sighed heavily and turned away. The clothes, wet with hot tea, were uncomfortable as they clung to me, and I felt a tingling sensation near my shoulders as if I had suffered a minor burn.
I was about to get back to Kyle when someone pulled my arm from behind.
"Hey."
"...."
It was Belial.
He yanked my arm and asked.
"Did you say it was for me?"
"Then you want to cover up someone who doesn't even know who I am? You may have forgotten, but I'm close with Sen."
"So let go quickly. I need to go back and change my clothes, and then I'll thank you."
"You interrupt as if you knew I was going to pour tea."
Okay, okay. He found out. Why?
"It was the same when the chandelier fell. It's like someone who knew it would... fall."
The hand that held my arm tightened. No, why are men in this world so strong? Let go, let go.
"We need to talk."
Belial squeezed my shoulder with his other arm.
"Follow me for a while. I will give you new clothes as an apology."
By 'temporary alliance' in quests, you mean Belial, right?
Then there's nothing wrong with talking to him. If he investigated the people behind the raid, he would have some knowledge of the recent activities of Lorenz and the Duke of Klein. It's necessary to know for the well-being of the North.
Thinking so, I slowly nodded.
"Shu!"
Kyle came closer and squeezed my other hand.
"If you leave it, it will burn. Let's go."
Belial did not back down. Instead, he pulled my other arm even closer. I heard a soft, cold voice above my swaying head.
"I will take responsibility for the disrespect shown to the Grand Duke's companion."
"No, that's fine. I am responsible for my companion."
"Don't hesitate. I apologize."
"If you're truly sorry, let go of that arm, Prince."
Let go of both of us. You damn princes. Are you going to tear a person in half?
[—(*>_<*)—] As soon as possible. The skin that touched the wet clothes began to sting even more.
"I'm sorry, but..."
At that moment, I saw it. Belial's green eyes looked just like Kyle's. When I saw the desperate gaze that only cornered beasts might have, I felt a strange pang. If Kyle's fate has shifted to Belial, does that mean that he will also slowly move toward death in his isolated reality?
"... Your Highness," I said, turning to look up at Kyle. I was shaken by his desperate gaze, but I soon finished what I was going to say in a firm voice.
"I will talk to His Highness Belial for a while."
"Shu."
"It only takes a moment. Just a minute."
In the first place, not everyone could be saved. But if it wasn't now, the time would never come to confront Belial.
"For Your Highness," I said, looking at Kyle, who narrowed his brows in disapproval.
"Didn't you say it was for His Highness Belial?" Kyle responded.
"That's it, for now," Kyle mumbled silently, then shut his mouth. He seemed to have stopped trying to say something. A sad expression flashed across his face for a moment, but he didn't stop me any longer.
The power drained from Kyle's hand.
"Come back."
"...."
"Change your clothes as soon as you go," he said worriedly.
I smiled reassuringly.
"Yes, Your Highness."