Baron Beck's implication was crystal clear to the Duke.
Although the Princess's birthday was still seven days away, today a grand banquet had suddenly been called, gathering most of the capital's nobility.
Something felt off, very off indeed.
In theory, there was nothing strange about it. After all, this banquet was being held for Aurelianne. And who was she? The Princess, daughter of Emperor Aubrey Sol!
The Emperor could hold it whenever he wished. Even if the Princess's actual birthday was seven days away, holding celebrations from today until the seventh day wouldn't be an issue for His Majesty!
But as an experienced mage, Beck couldn't simply accept such a simple explanation.
Since he couldn't figure it out himself, he decided to ask the Duke directly.
Duke Levi smiled and waved his hand:
"Listen, Beck, don't be hasty."
"If you really want to know, just wait a moment."
The Duke hadn't revealed anything, yet somehow seemed to have said everything. At least, this made Beck understand that this banquet wasn't as simple as just celebrating the Princess's birthday.
Soon after, the candles throughout the ballroom began to flicker, casting dancing shadows.
A silver figure entered the grand hall.
It was Gwen.
She arrived wearing a blue ceremonial dress layered over armor, like a blue flower adorned with silver. Her gallant bearing revealed both determination and a knight's pride.
Beside her was Aurelianne.
The Princess wore a light blue gown covered with a layer of pure white gauze, with ribbons twined around both shoulders.
Aurelianne's bright eyes swept across the assembled nobles as she smiled softly.
She walked in gracefully, arm-in-arm with Gwen.
The nobles fell silent at this sight.
The scene appeared almost dreamlike in its beauty.
A knight escorting her princess to a ball - it seemed like something out of a fairy tale.
Yet here it was, happening before their very eyes.
Though both had silver hair, subtle differences could be discerned between their locks.
Aurelianne's long hair was like clouds with stars scattered throughout, gleaming brightly in the candlelight - mysterious and elegant.
Her vivid and beautiful features exuded nobility.
In contrast, Gwen's snow-white silver hair appeared appropriately more subdued.
The composure and calmness she carried made her seem like an unmoving statue.
This matched her current expression - cold as ice, seemingly devoid of emotion.
Like a perfect knight of justice who only followed royal commands.
When the crowd clearly saw Gwen's face, their breathing stopped for several seconds. The wine glasses in their hands grew still, as if time itself had frozen.
This was Gwen Delin, head of the border Delin knight family, commanding millions of knights in the Northern Territories.
Moreover, she was Viktor's fiancée.
And the Princess Aurelianne's teacher.
The intricate nature of these relationships made countless nobles catch their breath.
When Aurelianne and Gwen appeared together, they clearly sensed something was amiss.
The power behind Princess Aurelianne seemed... perhaps a bit too formidable.
In any circumstance, if any of the Emperor's children gained such powerful backing, they would likely be considered the undisputed heir to the throne.
Yet this phenomenon was occurring with a princess who had seemed unrelated to the succession.
This left many noble officials deeply puzzled.
But at this moment, they couldn't utter a single word.
Because Gwen's ice-cold presence made the assembled nobles feel a piercing chill.
It was as if a cold blade had cut through the air, spreading coolness to every corner.
The scene was extraordinarily quiet.
Seeing this, the nobles even slowed their breathing.
Like the moon surrounded by stars, Aurelianne walked to the front of the nobles with Gwen at her side.
All eyes were fixed upon them, filled with tension.
At the bottom of the stairs, Gwen released Aurelianne's hand, stood to one side, and bowed respectfully.
Aurelianne, carrying herself with noble pride, climbed each step with grace and dignity.
Until she reached the top of the stairs, leading to the golden platform of the ballroom.
Emperor Aubrey had appeared there at some point, standing quietly.
His gaze fell upon Aurelianne, showing traces of satisfaction.
Aurelianne crossed the final step, holding her blue gown, and stood before Aubrey, giving him a deep curtsy.
Aubrey nodded at her with a kind smile.
The Princess moved behind Aubrey, turning to face the nobles in the hall.
All eyes were fixed on Aubrey as they strained to hear what the Emperor would say:
Soon, the Emperor's measured voice resonated throughout the grand ballroom.
"This banquet today is held for my daughter, Aurelianne Sol."
As his words fell, two rows of ceremonial cannons outside the ballroom suddenly fired into the sky.
With two loud bangs, massive and brilliant fireworks exploded in the air as festive music began to play.
The dancing notes seemed created by magic, beginning to slide through the air of the ballroom like playful, jumping sprites, bouncing endlessly.
Many nobles cheered, setting down their wine glasses to burst into thunderous applause.
However, some attentive individuals noticed the Emperor's precise wording.
His Majesty had never said this was a birthday banquet for the Princess.
It was simply a banquet held for the Princess.
Just a banquet.
These nobles who had their suspicions began to wonder about the true purpose of this gathering, sensing perhaps deeper implications.
Watching the cheering crowd, Aubrey lowered his hand, gesturing for the nobles to quiet down.
"However, there is one more matter."
"I wish to take this opportunity to announce, before everyone present."
Here it comes!
This was the moment many had been waiting for.
After all, far more people than usual had gathered here for Aurelianne's birthday.
Basically every minister and notable figure in the vast capital had assembled here.
With so many gathered at once, it was hard not to speculate about the hidden meaning behind the banquet.
There must be something to announce that would require so many to attend.
And now, with the Emperor speaking such words, it seemed to confirm countless people's suspicions.
What could it be?
The nobles waited with bated breath, completely focused.
But suddenly, a surge of magical power descended.
Space began to ripple within the ballroom, as if twisting into several rifts, with countless phantoms spilling forth.
Soon, those blurry shadows began to overlap, and the digitally chaotic appearance gradually settled to reveal the figures of the arrivals.
Fire and shattered rocks appeared simultaneously in the air, quickly spinning and merging together.
Between the flames, several strands of blue monotone magical power gradually descended from the sky, their patterns slowly converging.
It was Heim Horn, Ryan Kent,
And Rachel Azure.
All three wore the Broken Three-Headed Badge on their chests, the symbol of Mage Council members.
Under the candlelight, those three badges showed strange starlight, suddenly flashing something.
Everyone's attention was drawn to them.
They looked on in shock, exclamations of surprise rising.
"That... that's!"
"It's three Council Members from the Mage Council!"
Whoosh!
The moment these words fell, the whole venue erupted in commotion!
Council Members represented the twelve most elite mages of the Mage Council.
They were almost all at the peak of Fourth Circle magic.
Such beings would be treated as honored guests in any country they appeared in.
Soon, countless people recognized who these three were.
[The Phantom of Thousand Faces]
Heim Horn.
[The Unyielding Blue Flame Furnace]
Ryan Kent
And one of the Council Members more familiar to the Empire's people.
[The Natural Observing Eye]
Rachel Azure
Three Council Members appearing simultaneously in the banquet hall, before countless Imperial citizens and Emperor Aubrey himself.
In an instant, many seemed to suddenly understand.
The three Council Members bowed slightly to Emperor Aubrey.
"We represent the Mage Council in offering our sincere blessings to Princess Aurelianne of the Karensia Empire."
The moment these words fell, several magic arrays suddenly lit up behind Heim Horn.
Carrying a kind of fantastic starlight, the sky gradually darkened.
People couldn't help but look up at the ceiling.
At this moment, the ceiling seemed to be covered by some presence, appearing chaotic and difficult to discern.
Soon, it gradually transformed into a dazzling starry sky, visible through the cover of clouds.
Streams of starlight rotated, bringing down starlight, brilliantly transparent.
Like pieces of delicate white gauze, they gently sprinkled the light brought by each star onto Aurelianne.
[Fourth Circle Magic: Star Blessing]
When this was complete, the starlight gradually dispersed, and Aurelianne looked at herself curiously and puzzledly.
On her body, it seemed a mark of stars had been inscribed.
Soon, Heim Horn's voice rang out again.
"This is my gift to you, Your Highness."
"For seven days, the blessing of the stars will accompany you always."
At this moment, countless nobles were left speechless.
What could be called the ultimate treatment? This was it!
No one had ever imagined that an Imperial Princess's birthday would draw three Council Members to offer their blessings.
This was treatment no other girl had ever received!
Many young noble ladies showed extreme envy, but this treatment was something they could never obtain in their entire lives.
Because everyone present understood very clearly.
They didn't have a father who was Emperor like Aubrey.
Nor did they have a teacher who was a Council Member like Viktor.
At this time, Aubrey also smiled with satisfaction.
He looked straight ahead and spoke:
"From this day forward, I officially announce."
"The heir to the throne will, in the future, be my daughter—"
"Aurelianne Sol."
BOOM!
A bombshell dropped, directly shocking the entire banquet hall.
At this moment, countless nobles' minds went blank, unable even to think or comprehend.
What the hell was this situation!?
Aurelianne was going to ascend to the throne!?
She was only fifteen... no, even after her birthday, she would only be sixteen!
But that wasn't the point - what was the point!?
The next Emperor of the Karensia Empire would be inherited by a Princess!?
If it weren't for the fact that nobody present could defeat Aubrey, these nobles would have wanted to dig into his brain to see what he was thinking!
Aubrey's single statement left countless people completely dumbfounded.
This would mean that those who supported the First Prince and Second Prince...
Now, they would all become clowns.
Some people hurriedly jumped out, regardless of the current scene, and hastily began to dissuade:
"We implore Your Majesty to reconsider!"
"The matter of Imperial succession is no small thing, how can it be decided so simply..."
Before he could finish, suddenly, he felt moisture hitting his face.
Rain?
He looked up to see water drops falling continuously from the starry sky above.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
The drops gradually turned into torrential rain, as if about to completely submerge the entire banquet hall.
However, this rain seemed almost illusory.
When it hit the ground, it quickly dispersed into steam.
Suddenly, wild winds began to rise.
Before countless watching eyes, the steam gradually rose.
Finally, it formed into a human figure wearing a suit.
A black crow stood on his shoulder, pulling its hoarse voice into a loud cry.
Drawing everyone's thoughts and gazes completely to it.
Viktor appeared out of nowhere amidst the rain and steam.
In his hand, he held that black staff with its golden bird head.
"My apologies for arriving a bit late."
"I'm quite curious about the previous topic."
Viktor turned to look at the person who had spoken earlier.
A phantom image of scales suddenly rose from the staff in his hand, swaying constantly.
His deep obsidian eyes seemed able to pierce through one's soul as he stared at that noble.
It was as if space itself began to ripple.
"Tell me, just now."
"What were we discussing?"
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