The lunch banquet inside the Flamort Kingdom's main dining room proceeded in an exceedingly calm and solemn manner. The soft clinking of silver forks and knives gently touching porcelain plates was the only sound filling the empty air.
On the surface, the banquet appeared like a perfect painting of immaculate harmony and high-class noble etiquette.
However, beneath their elegant demeanor, an intense curiosity raged within the minds of the royal family members regarding the identity of the handsome youth wearing the Astoria Academy uniform, as well as the reason that prompted their father to suddenly invite him to lunch.
On one side of the table, a pair of eyes secretly stole glances at Arvin from behind long, curled lashes. That person was Nataliane, the Second Princess of the Flamort Kingdom.
Who is this man? Nataliane wondered inwardly. Her hands moved slowly, cutting the meat on her plate, but her main focus was entirely fixed on Arvin's face. A sense of attraction slowly crept into her heart as she observed the youth. Looking closely, he is truly very handsome. Is he a descendant of a high-ranking noble from the Astoria Kingdom?
The curiosity and attraction she felt while continuing to eat the food in front of her grew increasingly intense. However, the princess's chewing motion suddenly came to a complete halt.
Nataliane's eyes widened slightly when the blue-haired youth exposed the backs of both his hands. There, engraved with absolute clarity, was a mark born from the absolute law of the universe in this world: the white Life-and-Death Contract Symbol.
What?! Why does he have that white contract symbol on both of his hands? Nataliane thought in shock, her eyes radiating immense disbelief. Her mind was in turmoil. Based on the number of symbols engraved on his right and left hands, doesn't that mean this man already has more than one life partner he is married to?
In his seat, Arvin knew that he was currently being glanced at and observed intensely by one of the royal princesses. Yet, he chose to ignore the stare and continued to enjoy the luxurious dishes provided by the royal family, as if nothing had ever happened.
However, not all members of the royal family chose to observe Arvin stealthily like Nataliane.
In another seat, Cylenciel, the Fourth Prince and Kylen's twin brother, instead stared openly and directly at the blue-haired youth sitting right next to his twin.
Who is he? How could he come here with my twin brother? thought the Fourth Prince, burning with curiosity about the blue-haired youth's identity.
Then, the prince's sharp gaze shifted and fixated on the Life-and-Death Contract symbols engraved clearly on the backs of Arvin's hands.
White contract symbols? Isn't he already married? Cylenciel mused inwardly while continuing to stare at the universal law symbols representing the Life-and-Death vow contract. Looking at the number of contract symbols on both of his hands, he must have more than one wife. It seems this man comes from a high-class noble family over in the Astoria Kingdom.
Under the Fourth Prince's blatant stare, Arvin actually felt quite composed, chuckling softly in his heart.
Judging from their similar faces, is he Kylen's twin brother? Arvin thought to himself while continuously chewing his food. While Kylen always uses his stubborn attitude as a shield to hide his nervousness, this prince is the exact opposite. He openly stares at me without caring about noble dining etiquette just to satisfy his curiosity.
On another side of the round table, Ashlandio, the First Prince, appeared to be enjoying his meal with highly elegant noble etiquette. However, his physical calmness was merely a shell. His mind did not absorb the delicious taste of the food he was chewing at all. Instead, his thoughts kept drifting, entirely focused on the blue-haired youth who had just arrived with his youngest brother.
Who exactly is this person from the Astoria Kingdom? Ashlandio wondered probingly. Is this man's arrival the main trigger why our father asked all of us to have lunch together so suddenly?
The First Prince continued to ponder the potential threat of political influence the blue-haired youth might bring, all while casually eating his meal.
Whatever! Whoever he is, the most important thing is that he has no intention of interfering in our internal political affairs here, let alone daring to try and meddle with the line of succession to the throne in this kingdom.
While the others were busy with their analysis and caution, an entirely different intrigue was unfolding in the mind of Helena, the First Princess of the Flamort Kingdom.
In another seat, Helena secretly kept stealing glances at Arvin. The First Princess's focus was purely directed at the youth's physical attractiveness. Arvin's handsome face and his demeanor, so calm, dominant, and mysterious, truly left her spellbound.
He is so handsome! the Princess praised inwardly. Did he come here purely to answer a special summons from our father? Does a man this perfect already have a lover?
Accidentally, Helena caught sight of the backs of the blue-haired youth's right and left hands as he was cutting his dessert. And at that exact moment, she realized the presence of those absolute white marks from the universe.
The princess finally learned the fact that this academy student from Astoria, who was joining them for lunch, was already married.
However, for the First Princess, that fact was not a big problem.
What?! He already has more than one wife?! Helena mused, her gaze not reflecting the slightest bit of disappointment, but rather blazing even more with curiosity and ambition. I don't care which number wife I have to be. I am truly attracted to this man!
The same went for Queen Fentiloa, who sat beside the King. Even though on the outside she looked extremely calm, elegant, and as if she were only focused on enjoying the luxurious dishes on the table, an immense curiosity was also raging within her mind.
Who is this young man with such a calm aura, and what is his purpose in coming all the way here? thought the Queen, her eyes observing Arvin with a very detailed assessment. But... judging from the way he sits and enjoys his food, it seems he is the son of a high-class noble who was raised under very strict upbringing.
Even though her mind was filled with various deductions, the Queen still chose to restrain herself and follow her husband's lead. She opted to wait until this shared lunch was completely over to get a definitive answer to all her burning curiosities.