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The murmuring voices grew quieter. Everyone, forgetting their gossip, was now focused on observing Lady Elpinard and her partners. Since her debutante ball, Lady Elpinard had captivated people with her stunning beauty, and today she looked even more radiant.

Her silver hair, sparkling under the lights, was a rare and precious color that could hardly be found anywhere in the Empire. To accentuate her beautiful hair, her dress was a deep blue, like the ocean. The dress itself wasn’t flashy at all, but its delicate and elegant lines made it clear that it was crafted with great care by a skilled artisan. It’s difficult to bring out a sense of luxury without relying on extravagant decorations, yet her dress exuded elegance without a single glittering jewel.

‘That fabric must have cost a fortune.’

Such a clear and beautiful blue fabric was uncommon. It was undoubtedly a top-tier material, likely reserved for the Imperial family. But even more impressive than the magnificent dress were the handsome men accompanying her.

Eugene, the Kreutz Duke’s son, stood on her right, while Leonid, the heir to Marquis Kol, stood on her left. Behind her was Axel, the second son of the Duke of Elpinard, known as the hero who defeated the Mad Dragon and the master of the Mage Tower. Despite entering the banquet hall with the escort of such distinguished gentlemen, Lady Elpinard remained composed, as if she were accustomed to such treatment.

The people who had been chattering about Reshia Elpinard moments before now found themselves speechless, their mouths clamped shut. Confronted with the presence of the person they had been gossiping about, they were struck by a peculiar aura that prevented them from speaking carelessly. The individuals who each commanded attention on their own now appeared even more powerful when gathered together.

Yet, even amidst this, some people couldn’t resist whispering.

“Coming with three partners? How inappropriate is that?”

“Well, you can’t hide where she comes from.”

“Even if the younger ones don’t know better, why would the Elpinard Duke’s son join in…?”

One of the grumblers suddenly fell silent, shuddering as they felt a cold presence behind them. Those who had been mustering false bravado slowly turned their heads, only to find the Duke of Elpinard standing right behind them with a chilling expression.

“Eek!”

‘W-When did he get here?!’

He had arrived before anyone even noticed, which was why they had felt free to speak so openly. They had only been so bold because they thought the subject of their harsh words wouldn’t hear them. Now, those who had been running their mouths, thinking it was safe, turned pale and stumbled backward.

“Ah!”

“Oh no!”

The group, retreating in panic, tripped over one another and collapsed onto the floor in a tangled heap. The Duke of Elpinard looked down at the floundering group sprawled on the ground and clicked his tongue.

“How very refined our guests are.”

His tone wasn’t overtly harsh, but it carried a cold indifference, as if to say that people like them weren’t even worth his attention. The chill in his voice seemed to freeze the atmosphere around them.

After losing his wife, the Duke of Elpinard had become reclusive, and everyone had forgotten just how intimidating he could be.

“If you don’t feel like staying, there’s no need to force yourselves. You all seem far too refined for our humble Elpinard estate. It seems I completely misjudged the guest list.”

Although his tone was fairly polite, the underlying message was clear: he was telling them to leave immediately. And it wasn’t just a suggestion to leave now; it carried the implicit threat that he hoped never to see them again.

“W-We didn’t mean it like that…”

The problem wasn’t just about today’s party. If they were thrown out and fell out of favor with the Duke of Elpinard, no other noble would dare invite them to any future events. It would mean social isolation from the aristocracy!

Surely, being shunned just for engaging in a bit of gossip was too harsh, wasn’t it? But the Duke of Elpinard clearly thought differently.

“It seems these guests wish to leave now. Escort them out.”

The Duke called for his attendants to show the guests out.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The servants, who had been serving food and champagne with polite smiles, now followed the Duke’s orders just as courteously. They pulled the guests, who were still sitting on the floor, to their feet and practically dragged them out of the banquet hall. Though they didn’t put up much of a fight, perhaps understanding that making a scene would only result in greater humiliation, their faces turned various shades of red.

The Duke of Elpinard watched until they were completely out of the hall, then slowly surveyed the room. Though no one had openly gossiped in front of him, many of those present had been whispering about Lady Elpinard. His gaze conveyed that he was aware of everything they had said, and everyone around him began to tremble.

The Duke of Elpinard had returned to the social scene! It was a quiet yet unmistakable declaration of his power.

“Father!”

At that moment, a clear voice pierced the tense standoff between the Duke and the guests. It was Lady Reshia, the Elpinard daughter.

* * *

“Huh?”

I tilted my head in confusion as I watched the group that had collapsed to the floor being escorted out by the attendants. Seeing the Duke standing at the center of it all only deepened my curiosity.

“Did something happen?”

If it had just been one person who had fallen, it might have been chalked up to a personal issue, but seeing so many people suddenly drop to the floor made it seem like something else was at play. Could there have been something wrong with the food or the champagne?

As the host of the party, I felt a wave of anxiety. Although the Duke and Axel had taken the lead in organizing the event, I had also been involved in selecting the decorations and the menu. If something had gone wrong with the parts I chose, it would be a disaster.

Feeling uneasy, I released Eugene and Leonid’s hands and walked straight toward the Duke.

Even after I had changed into the lower-heeled shoes, Eugene and Leonid, clearly not trusting me to stay steady, held onto my hands tightly, following me in alarm as I approached the Duke.

“Father!”  

I stood before the Duke and cautiously tugged at his sleeve.  

“I saw some guests collapse. Could there have been an issue with the food or champagne?”  

I asked, my voice filled with concern. The Duke of Elpinard, with his usual expressionless face, shook his head slightly.

“Impossible. Everyone was enjoying themselves just fine.”

“But…”  

As I slowly looked around, I noticed that no one was touching the prepared food or drinks. They all stood rigidly, awkwardly watching the Duke and me.

“It doesn’t look like anyone is enjoying themselves…”

When I pointed out the obvious, the Duke shot a sharp glare at the guests. Immediately, those who had been frozen in place began moving frantically, rushing to grab food and drinks as if trying to prove they were having a good time.

“Here! Bring me some champagne!”

“I-I’ll have the canapés…”

Seeing this, the Duke shrugged his shoulders.  

“See? They’re all enjoying themselves.”

“Then what about the people who were just escorted out by the servants?”  

“They must have suddenly felt unwell.”

“All of them, at the same time?”  

Though I hadn’t counted precisely, there were nearly ten people who had left. It was odd for so many to experience an issue simultaneously.

‘Could someone have cast a curse?’  

The thought crossed my mind that perhaps followers of the Mad Dragon had infiltrated the party and caused this incident. I began to cautiously survey the room, linking my arm with the Duke’s in a protective gesture. While only the late emperor and the Duke of Kreutz were certain of who the followers were, it was possible there were more hidden among the nobility.

As I kept a wary eye on the surroundings, the Duke cleared his throat softly. When I turned to meet his gaze again, I noticed his lips twitching as if suppressing a smile. Puzzled, I blinked at him, and he subtly gestured toward a nobleman standing nearby.

The nobleman, startled by the gesture, looked around nervously before reluctantly approaching us with a face as pale as if he had just seen a ghost.

“Y-You called for me, Your Grace?”

The Duke nodded slightly in acknowledgment of the man’s greeting, then placed a hand on my shoulder and spoke confidently.

“This is my daughter.”

“Pardon…? I… I beg your pardon?”

“My daughter,” he repeated firmly.

The nobleman, his eyes darting around in confusion, hesitated before awkwardly smiling and stammering out a response.

“Of… of course. The Lady is truly beautiful, thoughtful, and… and…”

“Lovable.”

“Yes! Lovable… She is… indeed lovable?”