Chapter 497: Epiphany or Ridiculous
The Function went late into the night now. Many of the Nobles were only barely keeping a hold on their sobriety by a constant use of their Mana to purge their system of intoxication.
Caius gave up on trying to get away from Duncan. The Prince was persistent and it just didn’t seem worth it to even bother. Besides, while the Noblewomen staying away from him made flirting few and far between, he was able to observe the Hall better, somewhat isolated from everyone else.
There were two who never left Caius’s side though, despite Duncan Acheron’s insistent presence; They were Elenor and Lyanna. When Caius wondered who someone was, it was those two he asked and they always knew.
Duncan supplied answers as well and as much as Caius tried to tune him out, he had to admit the Prince had some useful information. For one, he knew so much of the dealings many of the Nobles in the Hall were trying to get going by currying favor with the Acherons— most especially with the Imperial Family itself.
"Should you be telling me this stuff?" Caius couldn’t help but ask as he was swarmed with so much information.
Duncan paused like he just realized he might have gone too far and then he shrugged.
"Probably not," he laughed, "But what’s the worst that can happen? It’s not like you’re a secret villain planning to use all this to your advantage, right?"
That was so on the nose that Caius wondered if Duncan was reading out a bad script. He exchanged a look with Lyanna and they both shared a smile.
While there was a bunch of stuff Duncan had said that was of no use to him—mostly political favors and whatever—there were a lot that could be of use to ’Ophiuchus’ and their Mercenary operations. Black market deals that could be undercut before they came to fruition.
Of course, it’s possible that all Duncan knew was actually outdated information but it didn’t hurt to keep them in mind to hand off to Arlette later on.
But there was something in particular Caius was interested in knowing.
"Leonce Duval," he said to Duncan, "What’s his deal with the Imperial Family?"
Duncan was thoughtful now. For the first time, he seemed to really consider the consequences of his loose lips. Probably because this involved him a bit more directly.
That pause was the greatest sign that there was something to learn here.
"What is it?" Caius pressed, "Come on. Out with it."
"Well, I don’t know much—" Duncan started.
"Oh, I doubt that," Lyanna said in a low voice and with a smirk.
"— But, I’ve heard Leonce is really serious about this Task Force business. He’s been making constant visits to the Imperial Palace, trying to get permits," Duncan said in a hushed whisper.
"The Imperial Palace," Elenor Lavigne couldn’t help but cut in,
"No one goes there for permits unless—"
"Unless it’s serious, yes," Duncan finished for her.
"So what are the permits for?" Caius asked.
"No idea," Duncan said with a shrug.
"You’re an Acheron— Representing the Imperial Family. How can you not know?" Caius asked him.
"Clearly because I’m don’t actually hold any real station," Duncan said with a downturned expression,
"I’m here to legitimize Leonce’s cause and really, if he got those permits already, I probably wouldn’t even be needed. There’s a reason they sent me here and not someone closer to the Imperial Family. It’s because I’m not really here for anything important."
Silence followed Duncan’s words. Caius, Lyanna, and Elenor were already aware of everything Duncan just said. In fact, there was hardly any noble in the Hall who didn’t know he wasn’t actually important for anything really.
It’s just, it’s a funny thing to realize a person is aware of how unnecessary they are in the grand scheme of things.
It reminded Caius of his previous life. Where reading novels was his only solace in the hustle and bustle of a world that chugged on whether he lived or died. In an existence where he felt he didn’t matter.
But then, he wondered, did he even matter here? In this world? Sure, if the Editors caught him, they could destroy the world by tossing the story out of their Archives and that did sort of make him important. But, they could also just go ahead with their original plan and what they had originally forced Samantha to do: to kill Caius Von Helsing.
And then, what?
Interestingly, the answer to that question was in [To Kill A Demon Lord...]; The world simply went on. Even after Caius sacrificed himself, everyone simply moved on with their happy endings.
But, such is life.
Sure, in the original canon, Caius made an impact on the world. He was well known and became a legend but the world continued without him.
So it begs the question; Is anyone truly indispensable, or do we all just not matter in the grand scheme of things?
’Holy Fuck,’ Caius thought, ’Why am I having an existential crisis because of the words of an unimportant and annoying dumbass?’
"You didn’t seem to care how unimportant you were a while ago," Caius said, his annoyance at getting sent on that tangent of thoughts slipped into his tone,
"You looked like you enjoyed every minute of your unnecessary authority."
"You’re damn right I enjoyed it," Duncan said with a smirk and there was a fire in his eye now,
"Do you know the odds of me getting chosen among the Branch Acheron Families. It’s one in many thousands. I won the lottery to experience real power for the first time in my life. Likely the only time too.
You said it yourself; I’m likely never becoming a Grand Duke. This was my one chance to feel true adoration... To have so many eyes turned to me in respect. To have my words obeyed. To actually matter beyond carrying around a last name that bores me down with pressure more than anything.
So yeah, you’re godsdamned right I enjoyed every minute of it."
’Fuck me,’ Caius thought with a frustrated groan, ’He did it again!’
Duncan’s words had sparked yet another epiphany;
Maybe not everyone would get to enjoy power as he did, but if you are fortunate enough to get some moment where you feel at least a smidge of content, enjoy it. Revel in it like there might not be another.
Because, really, there might not be.
As bleakly as Caius believed his old life had been, he did have those moments. They get lost in the shuffle of bad moments but they did matter. And if for nothing, they had kept him going till he gained the boon he was still enjoying right now.
"Pfft— Sorry, but I can’t agree," Lyanna said then, unable to stop her laugh before it left her pretty lips,
"I mean, I can understand enjoying a moment, but then what? If the ’next moment’ never arrives, what will keep you going?"
Her words made Caius realize he was alone in his epiphany and neither Lyanna nor Elenor—who nodded along in agreement—saw any wisdom in Duncan’s words. While Elenor had a bit more decorum and would not disrespect the Imperial authority Duncan was still representing, she found him pathetic. Reveling in and enjoying something you know won’t last and have resigned yourself to never trying to make it last was just ridiculous to her.
Duncan’s face had an abashed expression on his face then. He swelled and for a second, he looked like he was going to explode, maybe call the Imperial Guards with him to action, and abuse that authority he still currently held.
But then, he deflated and hung his head. Letting out a sigh in acquiescence. For the life of him, he couldn’t think up a retort and could only resign himself to the truth in Lyanna’s words.
