"I can't believe I'm relying on a guy to find confidence in this aspect," Tiran covered her face.

"Thanks for reminding me that I'm a guy," Aya lifted her head off the desk and said sullenly.

"Your Highness, I actually think Aya has a point. Leaving aside whether or not Aya will be beaten to death, it's highly suspicious for an unknown man to suddenly appear by your side. It's going to be hard to brush off this matter. Besides, some people are not easily discouraged," Mimi seemed to have realized something and suddenly looked up at Tiran very seriously.

Hey, this maid's eyes are sparkling.

"So... what should I do then?" Tiran hesitated, as she had not considered this question.

"Your Highness, you need a foolproof method to get rid of all troubles once and for all." Mimi patted her chest, and her maid's dress chest jiggled.

...

Two days quickly passed, and when night fell, the evening banquet began.

The main banquet hall in the royal palace is only open for large-scale celebrations such as national day, New Year, or the Harvest Festival. As this evening banquet was not at that level, it was set up in a medium-sized banquet hall inside the palace.

Although it was considered medium-sized, it was quite spacious. The banquet hall had a two-level structure, with stairs extending from both sides of the second floor connected to a dance floor on the first floor. At this moment, the banquet hall was already filled with elegant guests. Apart from the young people who wanted to show their charm in front of the White Knight, many elders from prominent families also accompanied them.

The parties attending banquets held in the royal palace were mostly influential aristocrats in the capital city. For them, making friends in this place would not be a bad thing.

On the sides of the long tables, servants in waiter uniforms swiftly and smoothly passed through the crowd, holding plates and occasionally stopping to offer champagne-filled goblets to guests in need. They were courteous and well-trained, without appearing overly obsequious.

Nobles with good relationships formed small groups as they chatted about recent rumors and scandals in the capital city, and the same went for the young people—although most of the topics they discussed were related to the protagonist of tonight's event.

Meanwhile, outside the main entrance of the banquet hall, Tiran slowly climbed the steps while holding her companion's hand.

"Why did it turn out like this..." the girl held by the princess sighed in distress.

"It's your honor to accompany this princess to the banquet. Can't you be happy?" Tiran whispered.

"Of course... if it weren't for that." Aya shivered, not because of the cold, but because the irises of Mimi, the maid walking behind her, had changed from the normal blue color to fiery crimson.

Why, why did it turn out like this! It was clearly my suggestion, and I should have been the one accompanying Her Highness to the banquet. That stupid dragon, no, that sneaky cat! I want to kill it, kill it...

Justin, the steward walking beside the maid, also noticed her threatening aura. He subtly moved away from Mimi, feeling a slight embarrassment.

Aya felt uncomfortable under the maid's resentful gaze and was filled with grievances.

"Forget about that. What do you think of my dress for tonight?" Tiran blinked as if she hadn't heard Aya's words.

"The dress... looks nice and suits you well," Aya complimented. Because it was a formal banquet, Tiran was wearing a long, white, off-the-shoulder gown, resembling a blooming lily, which matched her title of the "White Knight."

But... how should I put it, Your Highness, looks a bit pitiful. Wearing this kind of formal gown, especially the off-the-shoulder one, makes you seem quite plain. Of course, if Aya were to say such words, she would definitely be met with a furious punch from Tiran.

In just a few sentences, the four of them had arrived at the entrance of the banquet hall.

The guards stationed at the entrance immediately stood at attention and saluted upon seeing Tiran, then opened the doors to the banquet hall.

"Her Royal Highness, the second princess of the kingdom, Tiran Ellis Yoon, has arrived!" the master of ceremonies at the door announced loudly, instantly garnering the attention of the entire room.

Almost all the young people in attendance tonight had come for the princess, and the elders who also glanced over did so out of respect for the royal family. Of course, they also had ulterior motives—their own young ones receiving attention from the princess could lead to their families forming a connection with the royal family, thereby increasing their status and power.

"Hail to Sir White Knight!"

Someone raised a glass to Tiran, and soon a wave of cheers followed.

Usually, the title "Knight" should not be followed by the honorific "Sir," but at this moment, calling out this honorific expression conveyed people's respect for Tiran.

As the protagonist appeared, the banquet officially began.

"Ladies and gentlemen."

A deep male voice rang out from the second floor of the elevated stage. Although the volume was not high, it immediately quieted the entire room.

His Majesty the King had somehow already stood on the platform, leaning on the railing with one hand, completely concealing his playful facial expression he had when joking with Tiran, and smiling down at the guests paying homage to Tiran on the dance floor.

"Long live His Majesty, the God of War!"

This time, no one even started it, and everyone almost simultaneously erupted into cheers. Although Tiran was the youngest Grand Knight in the kingdom and the genius most likely to become a legendary hero, even with his record of single-handedly slaying siege-class behemoths, his position in the hearts of the kingdom's subjects still did not compare to that of King Guranshu, the God of War.

After all, he was the one who truly saved Milaneya from the turmoil eighteen years ago, the genuine God of War.

The cheers lasted for a long time, and it was only when Guranshu had to press his hands down to silence them that the wave finally subsided.

Then, he cleared his throat and took a deep breath.

"First of all, I warmly welcome all of you to tonight's banquet. I believe you all know the purpose of hosting this banquet. To be honest, if this happened a few years ago, if someone dared to mention marrying my daughter in front of me, I might have drawn my sword and dueled them."

Benevolent laughter echoed in the audience.

The speech continued on stage, but Tiran and Aya had already struck up a conversation.

"Tch, just yesterday, he said, 'Whoever dares to marry my daughter, I will blow up his head.' That was the honest truth. This old man sure changes his face quickly," Tiran's expression was awkward.

"Well... you're not so bad in that regard..." Aya stood by Tiran's side and spoke with a wavering tone. "By the way, are you really planning to do this? In front of so many people..."

"It's because there are so many people that it will be effective! As long as I succeed, I won't have to endure these damn blind dates anymore!" Tiran said fiercely.

"...Most of the attendees tonight are the kingdom's young talents. If any one of them can capture the White Knight's heart, I, as a father, would be relieved. So, I won't say too much. I'll now pass the stage to you young people. Whether you can seize the opportunity to dance the first dance with Sir White Knight or not, please enjoy tonight's occasion."

Guranshu quickly ended his speech, winked at Tiran, and turned away.

"What does he mean by the 'first dance'?" Aya was dazed for a moment, subconsciously wanting to ask Tiran, but she realized that Tiran had already been surrounded by a group of noble young men and women, and there was no way for her to break through.

Hmm... Should I go rescue her? Aya remembered that Tiran seemed to dislike crowded places and banquet settings, but now she was completely embraced, which was pleasing. Oh no, it was heartbreaking.

Anyway, according to Tiran's plan, it wasn't the right time yet. Emmmm... forget it, it's not a bad idea to let Princess Tiran exercise her ability to handle pressure. In other words, for the time being, I can enjoy the royal banquet's delicacies.

Just as Aya was thinking of making her move, someone suddenly patted her shoulder.

"Ah!" Startled by the unexpected touch, Aya turned her head with a mix of surprise and anger, only to see a familiar face. "Eh? Jin Can Can... Ah, cough... um, that, Knight Commander Gofeth?"

Gofeth had a bright smile on his face. "Miss Aya's reaction is really adorable."

Sorry, but I can't feel happy when a guy says I'm cute.

"Why are you here?" Aya regained her composure, tidied her hair in front of her forehead, and asked.

"As the Knight Commander of the Kingdom's Cross, I was invited."

"Then shouldn't you be looking for Princess Tiran... Why are you here chatting with me?" Aya pointed towards Tiran, who was surrounded by others.

"Princess Tiran?" Gofeth touched his nose and smiled bitterly. "I have long been captivated by Miss Aya. Besides, it's quite difficult to marry a princess without a prominent family background. Although I am the Knight Commander of the Kingdom's Cross, I am merely a commoner. I have only come this far because of my talent and His Majesty's recognition. How can I expect such things? I originally came here today just to watch the excitement, but I didn't expect to meet Miss Aya."

"Ahaha, yeah, it's quite a coincidence." Aya awkwardly chuckled, trying to change the subject. "By the way, do you know what the King meant by the 'first dance'?"

"The first dance?" Gefite pondered for a moment. "It's a tradition in this kind of banquet. At the end of the feast, there will be a ball, and if Princess Tiran is fond of someone, she will invite him to dance the first dance. If the lucky person qualifies to dance the first dance with Princess Tiran, he has a good chance of becoming her future husband."

"Really..." Aya clicked her tongue, finding humans quite complicated.

"Judging by Miss Aya's expression, I assume you're not fond of these kinds of banquets either?" Gefite noticed Aya's look.

"Yeah, kind of. Because there aren't many people I know to chat with," Aya absentmindedly replied, twirling a strand of her hair with her fingers.

"Well then, would you like to join me on the terrace to admire the night view?" Golden-haired Knight Captain slightly bowed, extending his hand to Aya.

"...Huh?"