When Rocky and Alice arrived at the Red Maple Mansion, the freshmen's dinner was about to begin. This was one of the annual grand banquets held at the Messiah Saint Academy, usually hosted by the student union. The participants were mainly freshmen who had enrolled that year, but not all students received an invitation. Only those prestigious descendants of influential families and outstanding students from humble backgrounds were honored with an invitation. The former were the future protagonists in the power scene, while the latter were the elites they desired to recruit.

This was the truth behind the freshman dinner. It was ostensibly a warm welcome from the upperclassmen to the freshmen, but in reality, it was a selection process. The privileged wanted to show the exceptional students from humble backgrounds a different world - a world of magnificence and supremacy. As long as the humble students were willing to pledge their loyalty, this world would be their future. The power struggles in Nomenge were no longer confined to government institutions or religious sanctuaries. Competition existed for those who sought power, especially in a pre-selection ground like the Messiah Saint Academy, where the noble class had already been chosen during their student days.

Because of this, it was particularly strange that Rocky Dolaville Oxias was invited. The Oxias family was once a renowned family, but now, apart from Rocky, everyone was either dead or imprisoned. Even if someone could see his talent, it would be irrational to employ a notorious defector who could even be abandoned by his own family.

However, Rocky didn't care about this. Since someone wanted him to come, he would definitely come.

The Red Maple Mansion was a building located not far from the Moon Palace. The Messiah Saint Academy had an interesting and luxurious unwritten rule. Each term, the student union president would not live in the mansion left by the previous administration, but instead, they would personally finance the construction of a new mansion. The previous mansion would then be gifted to the academy. As a result, the Messiah Saint Academy would add a new student union mansion every few years, until all available land was occupied and the old mansions were demolished and rebuilt. This was a good thing for the academy, as it saved a lot of money on construction expenses, but it also disconnected the position of student union president from the humble students.

As its name suggests, the Red Maple Mansion had an overall appearance of crimson red, due to its outer walls being made of red quartzite excavated from the northern regions of the empire. This material itself was not too expensive, but the cost of transporting hundreds of tons of building materials from thousands of miles away in the north to the capital in the southeast was undeniably extravagant. Only when approaching the mansion could one see the intricate relief carvings on the red walls, depicting ancient myths and poems with masterful skill.

Rocky had memorized the student handbook, so he knew that the current student union president of this term was named Creié Caligula Celine. He had chosen to pursue religious and political studies, which were the subjects most nobles would choose. He was also interested in elemental studies, which could be seen from the decorations at the freshman dinner. The decorations included a significant amount of alchemy and magic properties. For example, the surrounding woods of the Red Maple Mansion were now emitting a mesmerizing glow as the darkness fell, as the trees became sources of light. There were also specially crafted magical flames twinkling in the bushes.

The front door of the Red Maple Mansion was wide open, with a red carpet laid down along the steps. Servants dressed in black and white stood with smiles on both sides of the carpet. Rocky and Alice passed through them without being asked for their invitation letter, as the host of the banquet rigorously required the servants at the entrance to remember the appearance of each invited guest.

Rocky ascended the steps, not particularly curious about all the extravagance. He had once lived a life like this.

On both sides of the main entrance were two symmetrical towering stone statues of robed wizards, their hands raised high in a casting motion, their faces hidden beneath the shadow of hoods. Rocky walked under the statues and into the mansion.

People were coming and going in the corridors. The students were all dressed in carefully selected attire. The young men had elegant hairstyles, and their slim-fitting black evening suits made them look dignified and handsome as they walked gracefully, holding their princesses' gowns. Waiters carried silver trays, weaving through the crowd, their delicate high-footed glasses reflecting soft lights.

Rocky had also put on his suit, but Alice didn't have one, so she was wearing the academy's uniform.

Nevertheless, she was so stunningly beautiful that people couldn't help but look at her, even though they knew it was very rude for an attendant to wear a uniform to attend the dinner.Rocky walked into the inner hall along with the crowd, and the space here was much larger than he had imagined. It seemed that the person who designed the Red Maple Hall was well versed in the art of architecture. Sculptures of lions, phoenixes, and dragons were fixed on top of marble columns. Two rows of columns extended to the end of the inner hall, with silver cast doors behind the columns leading to other rooms of this student union mansion. In between the columns, a uniquely dark wooden dining table was set, with white porcelain plates and silver cutlery neatly arranged on both sides.

The invitees took their seats in order. Rocky noticed that the glasses next to the tableware had different names engraved on them, indicating the arranged positions for the guests, much like the strict hierarchical order of future power classes.

Alice tactfully walked to the corner of the inner hall, where there was also a table covered with white cloth and chairs with names carved on them - the place for servants to dine... Alice didn't care about all this. Her only purpose in coming here was the delicious roast chicken and duck on the table, as well as the sauced pig's elbow.

Rocky walked around the room, but he didn't see his name on any of the glasses. It wasn't until everyone had taken their seats, and except for the waiters, he was the only one standing in the inner hall. Even the servants' table was full, and Alice had her own seat.

Some gazes cast from afar with mockery and ridicule, watching him silently searching for a non-existent seat.

So... he was invited just to make a fool of himself, to make the once noble bloodline of Oxias understand that there was no longer a seat reserved for him in Nomenge.

Even the servants distanced themselves from him. Rocky stood alone in place, with his back straight, like a samurai forced to a dead end, and like an injured fighting dog, stubbornly staring at everything that had hurt him.

The initiator of the banquet, the student union president Kreier, was not present. The empty seat at the head of the long dining table was accompanied by a brown-haired youth. At this moment, he stood up, holding a wine glass in his hand: "Dear freshmen, first of all, thank you all for coming as scheduled. I am the vice president of the student union, Cyrus Caligula Celine. Unfortunately, my brother Kreier has important matters to attend to and cannot host the dinner, so on behalf of him and the student union, I welcome you to Merseya Holy Academy."

People applauded warmly. The Celine family was one of the newly rising clans in Nomenge and had firmly held the financial power for nearly a hundred years. Nearly ten ministers of finance had emerged from this family, each of whom had been the student union president or vice president of Merseya Holy Academy.

Cyrus paused for a moment, waiting for the applause to gradually subside, then prepared to speak extemporaneously before the meal.

"Wait a minute." Someone interrupted him. People looked towards the source of the voice and saw Michian sitting in a position near the head. The injuries she had sustained in her duel with Rocky had not healed, and her left forearm was still wrapped in white silk. At this moment, her delicate eyebrows furrowed, and her beautiful purple eyes stared at Cyrus with a questioning gaze.

"What's the matter, Princess Michian?" Cyrus asked her gently. She was the daughter of the Pope and held the title of princess, just like the Emperor's daughter. In theory, she was one of the most respected people at this table.

Michian lightly pointed at Rocky, who was standing at the entrance of the inner hall: "You forgot to arrange a chair for Rocky Dolaville Oxias. He's still standing there."

The students attending the banquet fell silent. Of course, the student union couldn't really have forgotten to set a chair. Everyone selectively ignored Rocky's existence because a traitor like him had no qualifications to sit and dine with the future elites of the empire.

Cyrus's smile froze slightly. Although the relationship between the Celine family and the Aldanoya family was not good, he didn't expect Michian to challenge him publicly... Was it to give the Celine family a blow? Or was it because of that traitor?

For the first time, his gaze shifted to Rocky. This blue-haired, blue-eyed young man still stood there straight, his expression indifferent, like a sharp sword stuck in a bed of flowers, out of sync with the originally harmonious atmosphere.

"Princess Michian is right, we made a mistake." Cyrus snapped his fingers, then pointed towards the corner: "Let's add a chair for Mr. Rocky over there."

He intended to arrange Rocky to the servants' table, thus maintaining the dignity of the Celine family and also taking into account the face of the Aldanoya family.However, Michian seemed determined to stand against him. She suddenly moved her chair to the side, saying, "That side is all occupied. It wouldn't be convenient to ask everyone to rearrange. Luckily, I have a free seat here."

Before Cyrus could respond, one of the Aldanoia family's attendants immediately brought a chair and placed it next to Michian. At the same time, she glanced at Rocky and said, "Mr. Rocky, please take your seat quickly. The banquet is about to begin."

Cyrus watched as Rocky sat down next to Michian, and his smile involuntarily faded. There was a moment when he almost lost his composure, but he managed to hold back. It was not yet time to confront the Aldanoia family. He needed to maintain the image of the Seline clan, or else his brother would surely blame him.

However, Cyrus was no longer in the mood to make any speeches. He waved his hand to signal the start of the banquet, and the attendants brought out intricately patterned dishes, serving them in turns. They also brought utensils for Rocky.

Rocky didn't move and quietly said, "Thank you."

Michian, on the other hand, didn't even spare him a glance. Her face was filled with pride, and she ate her meal slowly and gracefully.