Ten days later, the banquet at the Royal Wizarding Academy of Golovin officially began.

The annual spring reception has long since become an important tradition—not only to entertain the nobles and guilds of the imperial capital who had close ties with the Academy, but also to the important day when many apprentices are about to finish their studies and become wizards.

Because of this, in the "pragmatic" Royal Wizarding Academy, this is not only a grand reception, but also a place where many apprentices try to "sell" themselves.

They would show their highest achievement in public in the banquet hall, or the result of an experiment... In order to attract the attention of the nobles present, or the attention of a guild.

At the beginning of the lanterns, the crystal chandelier makes the whole banquet hall feel like daytime, but outside the window is the moonless night in early spring, which is beautiful;

The richly dressed aristocrats gathered around the wine table in twos and threes to chat, or gathered around an apprentice, looking at the "little wizards" who were chatting with interest...... All kinds of novel inventions and experiments complement each other, making the hall lively.

The noisy conversation, the loud laughter, the collision of dance steps, the staggering...... The result is a dazzling sonata.

All this made Charlotte Turin who stepped here look in a trance... It was as if he was not in the capital of the Empire, but at a midsummer banquet in the Red Blood Castle.

But then she thought of the purpose of today's banquet, and she immediately returned to her original solemn and serious expression, but her nervous eyes were still looking at it privately, clutching the invitation sent from the Heavenly Dome Palace.

The Countess, who had been specially dressed, changed into a long blue dress in the Byrne style, with her jet-black hair tied up above her head, and a delicate ruby brooch hanging from it.

When she entered the door, she noticed a lot of eyes around her, tentative, curious, and appreciative...... All of them are the sons and daughters of the imperial capital, which are far from the ranger knights of Byrne!

And, of course, His Royal Highness Brandon de Salion... Thinking of the guy's smirking appearance when the two sides first met, it was really hard for Charlotte to have any good feelings about this guy.

Maybe maybe she was too anxious? She frowned slightly, and her palms holding the invitation were sweating slightly... Whether or not they can form an alliance with His Royal Highness, who has recently gained power, is the key to whether the Turin family can regain the title!

Although she was only a newcomer, she could clearly feel the powerful power of the heir to the throne, Conod, in the country - the other party was the future heir of the Sakran Empire, and the descendant of the woman with the same name as herself was definitely not willing to help Byrne restore the country.

For them, only a weak, dismembered and united Duchy of Byrne can obediently submit to them and dedicate everything to the De Salion family!

Give him another chance and see what he will say, just for the sake of the family and the Duchy of Byrne...... As if trying to convince herself, Charlotte kept whispering to herself in her heart.

Just as the Countess, who was in an anxious mood, was about to look for the figure of His Royal Highness the Prince, her eyes suddenly stopped on a beautiful ornament.

It was a very small hand crossbow, and the straps on both sides proved that it could be attached directly to the forearm... Charlotte reacted almost immediately, such a flat and small shape would not even be easily noticeable if it was put on the sleeves.

"Countess Charlotte, you have a real eye!"

Immediately turning his head, the countess saw the wizard Gray Saar, who had given her the invitation, looking at her kindly.

"It's rude, I'm just ......"

"It doesn't have to be so, such a delicate hand crossbow is one of the best among the exhibits today. Gray Sal waved his hand implicitly: "What's more, it's still from the handiwork of an alien wizard." ”

"Alien wizards?"

"That's right, our apprentices at the Royal Wizarding Academy don't have such an ingenious skill to make a crossbow the size of a dinner knife box. The middle-aged wizard smiled faintly and bowed slightly:

"Not only that, but this crossbow is not an ordinary crossbow arrow, but a sharp blade about five inches in length, forged from steelmaking with excellent hardness, and can be used as a short knife dagger when needed... For a lady of noble status like you, this is a suitable self-defense weapon. ”

"Thank you very much, I'm interested. ”

Charlotte smiled politely, the other party explained and recommended so enthusiastically, and he was not a stranger, it would be very rude if he excused himself.

And it's really convenient to have such a weapon, in case His Royal Highness, who looks like a particularly bastard, plans to force himself... You can also use this thing to threaten him.

In a corner of the banquet hall, the "bastard prince" with a smirk on his face suddenly sneezed inexplicably......

"That's great, because I'm about to introduce you to this alien wizard. Gray Sal suddenly showed a meaningful expression:

"And... It is said that you have also had a relationship. ”

One side of the relationship... Which Byrne alchemist do I know?

When the man appeared in her sight, Charlotte's surprised gaze changed abruptly, from curiosity to astonishment, until finally her face was like frost:

"Long time no see, Lord Loren Turin. ”

The black-haired wizard chuckled helplessly and shrugged his shoulders:

"Long time no see, Miss Charlotte Turin. ”

Sandwiched in the middle, Gray Sal had already turned away very wisely and quietly before any of them could speak.

The surroundings are still a lively scene of staggered and laughter, but the atmosphere between the two people has dropped to the freezing point... The look in the other party made the black-haired wizard feel that even if she immediately pulled out a knife and stabbed herself to death, it would not be strange.

No, it's really weird... Where did I offend her?

The puzzled Loren put his hands behind his back, with a formulaic smile on his face, very "politely" and quietly waiting for the other party to speak first.

Maybe it was the atmosphere around him that "saved" his life, and Charlotte, who was patient, said coldly: "By the way, I haven't congratulated you on officially becoming a wizard advisor to His Highness Brandon de Salion." ”

"It's a little bit of a trivial matter. Loren shook his head with an unconcerned expression:

"It's a surprise that you're willing to accept the invitation... After experiencing what happened last time, we didn't think you would come. ”

"Yes, but for Byrne's sake, for the sake of the Turin family... I can do anything. ”

Charlotte's expression was extremely serious, but she couldn't help but snort coldly: "It's completely different from some people!"

This one... Probably not talking about me, right?

The dark-haired wizard, who was becoming more and more inexplicable, muttered in his heart, remembering the information he had received from Brandon's mouth, vaguely as if he had sensed something, but he was not sure......

"Forget it, where is Brandon de Salion?" Charlotte suddenly said coldly, "I specially asked your cronies to wait, it should be more than just for such a toy, right?"

"I can talk to him, but I have to... It's privately. When she said this solemnly, her expression seemed to have made up a huge determination: "You shouldn't want this kind of thing to be exposed too soon." ”

"Although this is the Royal Wizarding Academy, who knows if there is a wizard who has long been bought by 'that person'?"

is worthy of being a countess, although she is angry, she can still maintain such a sanity, and she understands things... couldn't help but whisper a compliment to the other party in his heart, and Loren couldn't help but glance at her.

If you don't look at that cold face, it's still pretty beautiful!

"On the second floor of the banquet hall, turn left to the first room... His Highness Brandon de Salion is waiting for you there. Loren, whose face did not change, said casually, and handed her the crossbow:

"This thing is given to you, even if it is a gift last time. ”

Taking the crossbow in her hand, Charlotte, who snorted coldly, turned around and walked into the crowd of banquets;

Is it because of me, or did she dump the pot of His Royal Highness on my head as well?

Shaking his head helplessly, the black-haired wizard who made sure that no one around was staring at him quietly cleaned up slightly, and then walked in the direction where the countess had left.

Unaware, he didn't notice a person hiding in the crowd, his eyes as clear and transparent as sapphire......