Humility is a noble art, and practicing it for my own good? I can do it as many times as necessary.
But when the honor of my house is thrown into the mix, well… the game changes entirely.
Even if I’m not blatantly showing off, they shouldn’t keep trying to cut me down. And even if it leads to further misunderstandings, I’m perfectly willing to shoulder that burden.
Then, in that moment, when an obnoxious noble near the First Prince made a snide remark… oh, let me tell you, my bl**d boiled harder than a kettle over a campfire.
“Prince Kael is certainly remarkable,” the noble sneered, “but the pillars holding him up are equally vital. Not everyone can replicate his wit, but maintaining a steady foundation is no small feat either.”
At formal gatherings like this, when a man cuts himself down, it can be called humility. But when he cuts someone else down—indirectly or not—it’s flat-out provocation.
And this… this little jab, it was supposed to slide under the radar as some clever quip. But make no mistake; the perpetrator knew exactly what they were doing.
‘This punk thinks I didn’t catch that subtle dig, huh?’
‘Does he really think I’m just some naive kid fresh out of diapers?’
Oh, I wanted to grab him by the collar. If there hadn’t been people around, he’d already be choking on my words.
Reasonably enough, I could guess his motive. He was a noble aligned with the pro-Empire faction, standing beside the First Prince. Meanwhile, my family, the Klawitzes, sided with the anti-Empire faction.
So, his little quip? It was a test, a standard move in political sparring. And because I happened to be bowing a bit that day, he interpreted it as an invitation to press his advantage.
But here’s the rub – I’m not a saint. In fact, touch on my family or house, and you’ll see a side of me that’s not exactly calm… or friendly.
‘This guy deserves it, big time. Absolutely.’
Of course, I wasn’t going to stoop to his level, playing some dirty game. Not only does it damage my dignity, but our family’s reputation as well.
But thinking hard, how could I strike back at this “everyone can do what Kael does” nonsense? And not just strike back, but hit them where it hurts?
“…Ah.”
And then, my eyes landed on the finger foods at the far end of the room. Among them sat a boiled egg. Suddenly, inspiration struck. A perfect plan formed in my mind.
Now, whether I invented it outright or if there were loopholes or falsehoods, what does it matter? These people here don’t know the truth and wouldn’t believe it anyway.
So…
“Sir, your points are completely valid.”
Walking to the center of the hall, I bowed deeply in what appeared to be an apologetic gesture.
“As the esteemed gent mentioned, my strategy—ah, frankly, using such a word embarrasses me. It was nothing more than a fleeting clever thought. Something that anyone could come up with upon reflection.”
Before Isabel could jump to my defense with something like, “Nonsense! It was genius!” I smoothly moved forward.
“It seems I have accidentally disrupted the mood with my presence. To apologize, might I offer a riddle?”
You heard that right—a riddle?
“Ladies and gentlemen.”
I casually raised the boiled egg I’d been holding.
“Can anyone here stand this egg upright on the table?”
The audience, predictably, turned their heads inquisitively. The question was absurd, of course—how on earth could you balance an egg, round and stubborn as it was?
A few overly confident individuals piped up and tried, but, as expected, failed miserably.
“Young people these days,” someone muttered, “always leaping before they look.”
Turning, I approached the noble who had earlier tried to undercut me.
“Do you, by any chance, know the answer?”
Silent tension hung in the air. The polite tone of my question rang with hidden menace.
The noble, unwilling to back down completely, shot his reply:
“Well, why doesn’t Prince Kael demonstrate the solution to his own puzzle?”
“Fair enough. Very well then, here is the answer.”
I stepped toward the table with the egg in hand, everyone watching in tense anticipation. The room’s atmosphere crackled with energy. A showdown between new bl**d and old.
“To stand an egg upright…”
—THUD—
“Do this.”
I tapped the bottom of the egg until it cracked slightly, creating a flat surface. Placing it down, the egg stood perfectly upright. Simple. End of story.
Around the room, murmurs of bafflement erupted. Of course that would work? Why hadn’t we thought of that?
“That’s it?”
“Yes. That’s all there is.”
“Prince Kael, this seems almost like a child’s prank—“
“It seems easy now, doesn’t it? Everyone thinks they could do it. Right. You’re correct. It’s simple. Anyone can.”
Then, moving away from the table, I continued:
“Think about it from afar. Once you know the solution, it all becomes obvious. The problem seems trivial, anyone can do it.”
A hushed silence fell over the room. Finally, the people here began to see the deeper implication in my simple trick and its following commentary.
“Everything looks easy once you know the answer, doesn’t it? If something still feels daunting after the answer is laid bare, maybe it’s not the problem’s fault but the person’s limits.”
Oh, so witty, weren’t you, saying “anybody can think of it”? Would you’ve said the same if you’d been in my position, hmm? Or are you just critiquing after the fact because you couldn’t even balance an egg?
With a bright smile, I peeled the egg and took a bite.
—
Back to Isabel. She was fighting an inner battle, torn between bursting into applause and maintaining her composure as the event’s host.
“Ah, what a delightfully clever riddle, Kael. The evening’s atmosphere has improved greatly!”
Has it? Who knows. But at least it felt satisfying.
d*mn pro-Empire pricks, acting like they’re the only ones with brains.
People, nudged by Isabel, started mingling again. Yet, all eyes subtly darted toward one corner – where Kael stood, flashing his ever-amiable grin.
“Isabel.”
Glancing over, she saw the Prince beckoning her. Normally, she would’ve ignored him with a curt “Nope, not coming!” But today, something about that egg thing had left her shaken, so she silently obeyed.
The two ended up on the balcony, quietly enjoying the evening air.
“You can’t be gone long, as the host.”
“Of course.”
The First Prince idly fiddled with a cigarette in his pocket but eventually stopped.
“That young man back there.”
“Prince Kael.”
“Yes, that Kael fellow. The eldest son of the Duke of the Bertier Empire, isn’t he?”
Isabel merely nodded, confirming.
“Never heard of such a character connected to the Klawitz family.”
“Neither did I. He just appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.”
The Prince shuddered recalling the earlier egg incident.
Was it his smooth talk and quick-witted banter? No, it was his hidden intent.
‘Just moments ago, there stood a young man playing humble. Then, with the flick of a switch, he turned into someone who could k*ll with a glance.’
The day’s misfortune was clear now. They underestimated him.
But they were wrong. This wasn’t just some fresh-faced youth; he was an intricate thinker far beyond their comprehension.
“What’s more, we need to tighten up our guest vetting. Can’t have people ruining events and leaving without delivering.”
“Already on it.”
The two shared a lingering thought: Kael’s earlier comments weren’t directed solely at one individual. It was a broader statement, a stark reminder that:
Knowing the answer and looking back changes everything compared to when you’re blindly fumbling in the dark. And they, they couldn’t achieve what he so deftly pulled off.
‘Well, I stirred the hornet’s nest this time.’
‘Better warn sister about this guy.’
—
After the egg show, the tide of greetings grew exponentially. Everyone got the memo loud and clear: Don’t underestimate this young man. Beneath that charming smile, there’s fire—and a streak of unpredictability.
Honestly, it’s exhausting dealing with all this attention. But when it comes to the honor of our house, it’s worth every ounce of effort. So why provoke someone who’s happily minding their own business?
‘I promised to stay under the radar, but looks like that’s not an option…’
If I’m honest, it feels a bit like playing the grandma in Hellboy, pulling demons left and right.
And just as expected, the very next day began with a flood of invitations.
And the saga continues…
