When they are about to enter the banquet hall, they can see a large group of people already gathered, waiting for the hosts, then a maid who sees them enter steps forward to announce their arrival.
The maid who bears the emblem of the Skylion house says loudly, injecting energy into her voice so that everyone can hear: "Esteemed ladies and gentlemen, the 120th heir of the glorious Skylion house has finally arrived, protectors of the temple of the Supreme God of Beasts, rightful rulers of the Sky Lion Mountains, descendants of the glorious hero who unified the continent and current ruler of the newly ascended county… Countess Cecilia Skylion!"
Cecilia enters, walking in an elegant and courteous manner with a smile on her face as she greets everyone.
That same maid announces Johan's arrival: "It is also my pleasure to announce that His Lordship, husband of the Countess and appointed knight, mayor of Skylion Town, Johan Lindberg, has arrived."
Johan also enters somewhat embarrassed, but even so he maintains his manners and behavior while greeting everyone.
Finally, she looks at Isabella and, taking a short pause, speaks in a very polite manner, trying to regain the people's attention: "Ladies and gentlemen… with you, the young heir of the Skylion house, the first person in centuries to pass the trial of the temple of the Supreme God of Beasts, the genius who also managed to be the first to awaken the dormant bloodline in generations… the young lady, Isabella Skylion!"
Isabella, for her part, does become nervous and anxious, she even trembles a little, although she is normally very extroverted, she does not like being the center of attention at parties or events very much.
Seeing her, Feicui Long squeezes her hand more firmly, with that her heart calms down a little and the two of them enter together, perhaps it is the first time so many people see them together outside the town.
…
The guests fall silent while Isabella greets them in a much calmer and more courteous manner.
While this is happening, a group of people seated at an elegantly decorated table in a corner are watching them.
One of the people watching, especially an elegant, very well dressed man, says while taking a glass of wine: "The Skylion family was very lucky this time, who would have thought they would get rid of their curse and that their daughter would awaken her bloodline?"
A woman on the other side of the table replies: "That is not all, managing to expand their territory to more than double is another great achievement, especially considering the protection of the lord of the forest, to me that is the most important thing."
Between the two of them, a young lady raises her cup of tea and says: "I do not care about any of that… what I want to know, and the reason why I came personally is… what is the reason behind those changes?, how can an insignificant barony rise like this overnight?"
The two people look at the girl with respect and remain silent, they know that she is right…
The young lady looks at Isabella, trying to see through her… almost as if she could.
But then something strange happens, the tall, imposing and very handsome young man who accompanies her steps in between, covering her by embracing her and then helps her sit down… but in such a way that he blocks her view with his own.
The young lady frowns, it is almost as if she could have felt her gaze, curious she asks the two people: "Who is that young man?, why do I have no information about him?"
The woman who was observing him is the one who answers, saying: "He is… the fiancé of the young lady of the Skylion house, his name is Feicui Long, he was the person to whom I granted the rank of barony a week ago, it was a somewhat tense negotiation, one could say."
The girl, even more interested, says: "Oh, you certainly did not tell me that, did you try to find out more about him?"
The woman nods and answers: "I tried… but I could not find anything, my credentials are not high enough, I used all my contacts, but all information about his origins is blocked, one of my contacts even warned me that it is better to desist from searching into his origins, otherwise the consequences would be greater than I could foresee."
The young lady then says: "That… is at the very least interesting, I would like to meet him now."
…
While all that is happening, Feicui Long has felt something strange, almost as if someone had activated a technique or a skill, he quickly takes Isabella and covers her with his body in an instinctive manner.
Then he helps her sit down and positions himself in the direction from which he felt that strange sensation came.
When he is calmer, he starts to look at the guests, there are people of all kinds, many members of the Skylion family, but also some nobles, wealthy merchants, he could even see the representative of the branch of the guilds union of mortal races.
But the table that caught his attention was one in the upper corner of the hall, it was set apart, but there he could recognize the representative of the royal family, she was calmly talking with other people.
So he simply stops paying attention to it, but when he turns his face he sees at another table two familiar faces… they are Lothar Tannenwald and Wilmar Rotenberg, the two members of the Tannenwald and Rotenberg houses who are now his subordinates, along with them two other important people are present… interesting, he says to himself.
This is at the very least interesting, he says to himself, then Mariane says: "Wow, it seems that many have already begun to move their pieces."
Isabella, confused by that, asks: "What do you mean?"
Feicui Long is the one who answers: "It is obvious that many forces have already realized that the power in this area is going to start changing, so they want to develop a potential relationship with the Skylion house, dear."
…
After Cecilia gives a short speech and they dine, Feicui Long and Isabella are called by Cecilia, who introduces them to several groups of people, it is not a great exchange, more than an introduction, for most of them came to do business with the Skylion family…
But even so, some approach to greet Feicui Long and Isabella, either out of curiosity or a desire to establish a connection with them, both treat them with respect and courtesy, but without fully accepting them.
Until the girl who was seated in that corner approaches them saying: "It is a pleasure to meet you, I am Ingrid."
The girl quickly takes Isabella's hands and says: "I have been waiting for the opportunity to speak with you, I find what you have achieved incredible, you know?, I have heard for a long time about your family's curse and the great potential of its bloodline… also about its sad history in which they spent the last three millennia without an awakening…"
Isabella is startled and says: "Is that so?, a-and I really do not think it is that great… after all…"
But in the end she stops herself from revealing more, she is not stupid enough to reveal important secrets concerning herself or her beloved.
Ingrid realizes that Isabella is not going to reveal anything, even so she does not insist, she quickly looks at Feicui Long and says: "You are certainly very fortunate to be with such a talented and beautiful woman, do you not think?, although well, you are also very handsome, so I would say you are a perfect match, so why do you not tell me what you do for a living?, Baron Feicui Long."
Feicui Long narrows his eyes and looks into the girl's eyes, she is a young, beautiful girl with pale white hair and blood red eyes, an uncommon appearance, but those eyes… it is evident, she has some kind of ability in them.
Feicui Long then answers, saying: "I am glad that you know my name, Miss Ingrid, as for my profession, it is not much, I am just a simple alchemist, that is how I make a living."
Ingrid, intrigued, says: "Oh?, a simple alchemist?, do not be so humble, Baron, becoming an alchemist is already in itself a great achievement, I do not know much about it, but from what I have heard it is an arduous and difficult process."
Feicui Long then finally notices the emblem on her brooch… it is the emblem of the Habsburgo family, he has seen it on the representative of the imperial family.
Ingrid notices that and says: "Intrigued, young Lord Feicui Long?, perhaps we will have another opportunity to see each other, I am very interested in what the two of you can do."
Just as she came, she leaves, quickly and swiftly, without even saying goodbye, Isabella, confused, speaks, saying: "What the hell was that?"
Feicui Long looks at her and says: "Honestly I cannot say, but she probably came to probe the situation to see if she could find out the origin of your family's change, her eyes apparently have a special ability, I do not know which one without using the third eye, so for now it is better to ignore her, dear."
…
Soon the party comes to an end, everyone is leaving, Feicui Long can see someone he had not paid attention to, a young, elegant man with a mysterious aura speaking…
But that is not what makes his gaze fix on that man, but something else… something darker, he does not know what it is, but his mere presence causes him discomfort, irritation and great hostility, it is almost like a natural aversion between the two.
Fortunately that individual does not manage to see him, but Feicui Long engraves his image in his mind, he feels that that person has nothing good about him…
Tomorrow he would ask Cecilia about that individual.
…
Meanwhile, in a carriage, Ingrid is riding together with the representative and the man, she is somewhat irritated, saying: "I did not expect him to be so perceptive… that guy, Feicui Long is very, very interesting, he detected the magical Eyes of Truth just by looking at them, I thought it was only my imagination."
The representative of the imperial house says: "What?, he was able to detect the princess's magical Eyes of Truth?, how is that possible?, he is only in the elemental realm and the princess is already in the astral king realm."
The elegant man says: "The young lady's eyes are incredible, Ayla, but it is not as if there were no measures to detect or block them, it is possible that he also has some type of evaluation technique or ability."
Ingrid crosses her arms and nods her head, saying: "Albert is right, but that is not what is important, what is important is that I want you to watch them for me, Ayla, I am interested in knowing more about the two of them."
Ayla quickly responds to the order: "Yes, Princess."
Ingrid looks out the window, resting her head on her hand, and says: "I feel that those two could be more entertaining than one would think…"