Winfred did not expect the group to come here. As far as he remembered, the Emerdine region was quite far from the Academy and the imperial capital, not to mention from the northern region. This made him wonder if there was a specific reason for them to be here.
Then he remembered that perhaps this event was one of those behind-the-scenes events that were not explained or shown in the game.
Winfred was confused whether he should be grateful or not, because thanks to their arrival, his unique ability was activated and filled his body with a considerable amount of Mana.
"Major cliché..."
It's no surprise that this event is a major cliché, because in every story about reincarnation or transmigration, the protagonist always accidentally meets one or more of the main characters and key figures in the story.
On the other hand, the rest of the Emerdine family was also surprised by the arrival of the group, but they seemed to be used to it and immediately welcomed them as they ascended the platform.
Meanwhile, the Emerdine family's personal servants standing below the platform, such as Nina, Helina, Karl, Zune and the others were surprised and bowed toward the elite group of guests.
Fortunately, Winfred was able to control his emotions well, but several times he squirmed and had a little difficulty controlling his facial expressions due to the large amount of Mana entering his body. This worried Olivyn, but Winfred simply said that he was a little tired and exhausted.
The other invited guests immediately bowed as the elite entourage passed by them one by one. Winfred called them the elite entourage because it consisted of the Duke of North, his wife, and their two children, also there are the Crown Prince, First Princess, and Second Prince. Of course, each of them also had bodyguards on their right and left sides.
Thankfully, the elite entourage only briefly congratulated Emerdine's family, and Winfred only had to smile and bow when facing them.
Shortly thereafter, the elite entourage joined the party and mingled with the other invited guests. At that moment, the invited guests immediately gathered around them, but not all of them.
Victor could only sigh, then tell the other family members to join the guests. Leni and Ardyn seemed to have their own business to attend to, as they immediately approached several guests, followed by their servants.
Berthy forced Gerdan to follow her into one of the crowds surrounding the Crown Prince and First Princess, the red-haired boy having no choice but to obey his mother.
Victor and Sebastian headed towards the Duke of North and his family, who were surrounded by guests, though not as many as the crowd surrounding the Crown Prince and his sister.
Olivyn and Helina accompanied Winfred and asked him something.
"Do you want something, my son?"
"Hmm...No, Mother..."
Winfred looked around and based on his observations, everyone in the ballroom was moving differently. Some were crowding around the elite entourage, some were still talking to their acquaintances, and some were still enjoying the party.
"Okay, then. I'll greet the Second Prince first. It would be rude if we, as the hosts, didn't be hospitable and welcome our guests."
"Then I'll come with you, Mother!"
"Very well, then. Please behave yourself, okay?"
It seems that Olivyn wants to speak to the Second Prince as a representative of the Emerdine family.
Winfred wonders whether he should get involved with one of the major characters in the game, because he is afraid that the storyline will change drastically with their meeting, but he dismisses that thought and feels that it is too far-fetched. He will just accompany his mother to greet the guests, nothing more.
Olivyn and her three companions approached the Second Prince. The invited guests, noticing the arrival of a member of the Emerdine family, immediately sensed the situation and excused themselves from the Second Prince.
The Second Prince smiled at Olivyn and the three people accompanying her. He had short black hair, black eyes, and wore a simple tuxedo covered with a thick black fur coat. If he was not mistaken, the man in front of him was the same age as him, 10 years old.
"He really likes black color..."
Seeing that the situation was no longer as crowded as before, Olivyn greeted them.
"I extend my greetings to the heir to the imperial throne. My name is Olivyn Emerdine, and this is my son, Winfred. Then these two are Helina and Nina."
"Ah! Yes. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Ethan Noggen, the second son of His Majesty Edward. And these two beside me are Rezo and Seva."
The two people on the right and left returned the courtesy by bowing toward Olivyn and Winfred.
Rezo was a Beastman, standing 2 meters tall, more specifically a Bearkin. This large man wore a butler's uniform with a short tailcoat, had short pale brown hair, dark orange eyes, and a small scar on the left side of his cheek. Beastmen are similar to humans, but the only differences are their tails and ears.
Seva is a human female who, according to Winfred's observation, is in her early 40s. She has pale pink hair tied in a bun and dark gray eyes. She is shorter than Rezo and wears a maid's uniform covered with a thick fur coat.
"Thank you for coming to my husband's party. I hope you enjoy the party."
"Of course, Lady Olivyn. Although it is a bit far from the capital, I think it is important for someone from the Royal Family to attend this event."
"I hope you didn't encounter any difficulties along the way? Considering that this winter is colder than usual."
"Thank you for your concern. However, I was fine throughout the journey. There were no bandits, and the public roads were well maintained. Lord Victor truly upholds his duties well as an imperial nobleman."
"Thank you for your compliment, Your Highness."
Olivyn and Ethan continued their conversation. Occasionally, Winfred exchanged glances with Ethan, but fortunately, the prince did not engage him in conversation.
"It's kinda unnerving... Seeing three optional bosses on one of the routes close enough like this..."
Throughout the conversation, Winfred noticed Ethan smiling and chuckling. But he knew it was all an act, because he knew the true nature of this boy who was the same age as him.
Ethan suddenly changed the subject and invited him to talk.
"Oh right. Winfred, we're the same age, aren't we?"
"Huh? That's right, Your Highness."
"Ahaha! If I get the chance, I want us to become close friends once we get into the Academy."
"I'll do my best, Your Highness..."
Winfred just chuckled at Ethan's invitation. For now, he didn't know whether he would enroll at the Academy. He was still confused about his role in this new life, so he chose to let time answer that question.
"Now if you'll excuse me. I'm a little weary and want to rest."
"Oh my, pardon me, Your Highness. If you wish, our house also provides a vacant room on the second floor for a short rest."
"I'll take your offer, then. Good night!"
The Second Prince left and thanked them, followed by his two servants. After the prince left, Olivyn spoke to her son about the party.
"Good job, Winfred, for talking with His Highness Ethan. Do you want to rest too? I'll still be talking with other guests."
"Oh! I want to try the food and drinks at this party, Mother!"
"All right. Nina, please accompany my son, okay?"
"Understood, Lady Olivyn."
Olivyn and Helina went to greet other guests. Winfred immediately went to various tables in the hall that provided food and drinks.
It seemed that Head Chef Arren was serious about the quality and quantity of the banquet for the guests.
He tasted various kinds of food such as meat dishes, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Since he was born into this world, Winfred had always loved meat dishes the most.
The drinks were also not disappointing. Winfred took one of the glasses brought by one of the butlers and drank it. The fresh, sweet, yet slightly sour taste like lemon quenched his thirst.
While enjoying the drink, two female guests not far from him were chatting.
"Hey, did you see Lord Victor? Oh my! He's so handsome!"
"That's right! Sir Ardyn and Sir Gerdan are just as handsome! Ahh... I can't wait to nominate myself as a prospective bride for those two!"
Winfred nodded in agreement with the two women's words. Ardyn had a mysterious aura but was still cool and charismatic, while Gerdan had a wild side but still looked charming. It was no surprise that his two older brothers would have many potential spouses in the future.
"Now that you mention it, Lord Victor's third son is just average, isn't he?"
"Huh! You're right! His face is plain and unremarkable! And you know the rumors about him, right?"
"Ahh... yes. Rumor says he's a gray child..."
"Eh... that's too bad. He's not as good as his two older brothers."
This was the first time Winfred had been mocked for his appearance. He looked at his reflection in the glass of water he was holding. He admitted that he was ordinary compared to his father and two older brothers, with his brown hair, droopy eyes, and freckles on his face.
Nina heard this and her heart burned with anger. How dare they speak ill of the Emerdine family in their own home. Nina intended to warn the two guests, but then she saw someone approaching the two rude women.
"Oops! My condolences, ladies. I think I'm too drunk..."
"Huh? Who dares-"
"You…you are…"
"Phew, did you guys say something about the Emerdine family earlier? Hm...what would happen if the head family heard that..."
Evan bumped into the two women slightly, causing the glass held by one of them to spill a little. One of the women seemed to recognize Evan and immediately fell silent. The woman who recognized Evan immediately took her friend away from that spot.
Winfred saw Evan tactfully dismiss the two women. It seemed that Evan was quite well known, even to other noble families. Nina bowed to Evan as he approached Winfred. He raised his eyebrows and smirked at the 10 years old boy.
"Look at yourself. Instead of socializing with other guests, you're eating here. Look around you, kids your age are interacting with the guests."
"Why aren't you yourself interacting with the other guests, Master Evan? Hehehe."
"This kid. I've been greeting the guests and about to greet the new guests, but I saw you lazing around so I came here!"
"Hehehe..."
Winfred just smiled slightly at Evan's rant. After meeting and talking with the old man several times, Winfred realized that Evan wasn't actually being malicious or anything like that, it was just his style of speaking and tone of voice.
In his previous job, he often encountered people who spoke in a harsh tone like Evan, such as his former seniors and managers.
Nina was a little surprised to hear her master talking back to the Head Mage of the Emerdine family. But seeing that their conversation sounded like they were joking, Nina just smiled and let it go.
"Ah-ah! This conversation is making me tired and bored. I want to take a break and get some fresh air..."
Winfred feigned his complaints to Evan. The old Mage just sighed and shook his head. Then he turned around and beckoned the little boy to join him.
"Follow me, kid. I know a nice place where there aren't many people. I also need a break from the hustle and bustle of this party."
"Really!? Okay! Come on, Nina!"
"Yes, Young Master."
The three of them walked out of the party hall through a side door and walked down a small path.
Along the way, Winfred observed his surroundings, alternating between using Sensor and Ping. It was rare for him to be able to roam freely in the central wing.
Nina finally broke the silence along the way.
"Forgive me, Young Master. I should have stopped those two women when they were talking about you."
"Hm? Oh, about that. It's okay, Nina. That's also part of the risk of being a noble, right, Master Evan?"
"Hmph..."
The three of them continued their journey slowly but surely. Soon after, Evan revealed his answer to Winfred's question.
"Nobles are the most despicable and loathsome kind of people…"
Winfred was stunned by the old man's answer. He didn't reply and just kept walking. The three of them walked quite far from the party hall, through tall bushes. He remembered that if they walked any longer, they would reach the garden he usually visited.
However, his guess was wrong because Evan immediately turned left onto a small path between the tall plants. Thanks to Ping, he knew they would reach their destination, but he also discovered something else.
In front of him was a medium-sized brown gazebo with a fairly high roof. This might be the place, but there were two people sitting in the gazebo.
"That girl..."
Snow-white hair that reached her back, crystal clear aqua eyes, a thick white fur jacket with gray stripes...those were the characteristics of the girl Winfred saw sitting in the gazebo.
He knew that girl very well. Anyone who had played Reaneus Saga 3 would recognize her. She is the daughter of the Duke of North and one of the heroines in the game... Vivien Frosthale. Now, Winfred waited for Evan's decision to either stay on the gazebo or move somewhere else.
And sure enough, what he saw when he looked at Evan's face was an annoyed expression.