Chapter 486 321: Conversation

"She was driven from her own residence to the place where her mother once lived, and she grew up with only her mother's Maid for company."

At this, Filo gave the Lord a teasing look. "Has the Lord taken a fancy to Princess Ashiru? If you'd like, I can have a word with His Majesty. He'd be absolutely delighted to marry the Princess to you."

"That's not it." Levi waved his hand dismissively. "I'm just curious how a Princess that naive managed to survive this long in the Royal Palace."

You could say the lavish lifestyle of the Royal Palace is just a facade. Beneath the surface, it's teeming with hidden dangers. The death of a Prince or Princess is hardly anything to be surprised about.

"Perhaps that's exactly why Her Highness Princess has managed to survive this long, despite her difficult life," Filo said pointedly. "Think of it this way: if a vicious dog shows up in the neighborhood, everyone will look for a way to get rid of the menace. But if it's just a little white rabbit… who's going to bother?"

...

Back at the banquet, another round of false pleasantries was unavoidable. Just as the feast was about to conclude, Levi was surprised to see Ashiru being escorted back by two Guards.

Once everyone was present, Harland tapped the stone table. His heavy fingers struck the marble, producing a crisp, clear sound.

"Everyone," Harland announced, "my three daughters have all reached a marriageable age, and I intend to select suitable husbands for them."

His words were met with an immediate, enthusiastic response from all the nobles. They raised their glasses toward two blonde girls at a distant stone table, a clear sign of their interest.

Unfortunately, their flirtations were wasted. The two Princesses were like peacocks in full display, chests puffed out, trying their utmost to show off for the Lord.

'A Dragon Knight, a new Duke, with looks that could outshine even the famously beautiful Elves... anyone who wasn't a fool knew what the right choice was.'

'And what if the Wilderness is some poor, remote backwater? They say the wealth this Lion Hunter Knight acquired on his southern campaign is enough to fill this entire hall. Wouldn't building a luxurious castle be a simple matter?'

'Besides, he has a Giant Dragon. If one were to grow tired of the Wilderness, they could simply fly back to Gonda at any time, avoiding the hardship of travel.'

Ashiru was like an ugly duckling among swans. Her timid, shrinking posture was a stark contrast to her two sisters beside her, who were so eagerly putting themselves on display.

Still, her gaze also naturally fell upon the Lion Hunter Knight, the center of everyone's attention.

To her surprise, he actually returned her gaze with a smile. In a flustered panic, she quickly puffed out her chest as well.

This led the other two Princesses to believe the Lord of High Cliff Castle was gesturing to them, and they redoubled their efforts to impress him.

It was no wonder they were so excited.

With three Princes in Debei, the throne was destined to be out of their reach. Therefore, choosing a powerful husband was of the utmost importance, as it would determine the level of power and influence they would wield for the rest of their lives.

Debei had a total of four Dukes. Two were women. Of the other two, one was an old man with one foot in the grave, and the other was the Queen's father. They were hardly worth considering.

And now, a new Duke had suddenly appeared. Not only that, he was a Dragon Knight who rode a Giant Dragon through the skies. His power and his vassals were formidable. His strength was so extraordinary and his influence so great that even their father, the King, had to treat him with the utmost courtesy. On top of all that, he was also incredibly young and handsome.

Without a doubt, there wasn't another husband as outstanding as him in all of Debei—no, in all of the Seven Kingdoms.

If one of them could marry him, a life of luxury and influence was practically guaranteed. That made any sign of his favor critically important.

"The matter of choosing husbands can be taken slowly," Harland said. "For now, let us drink together!" With that, he heartily raised his cup and downed it in one go.

...

The banquet soon concluded, with most in attendance satisfied. The two rival Princesses shot each other a hostile glare, then tossed their heads and departed in opposite directions.

Only Ashiru, caught in the middle, looked from one to the other. She then glanced at Levi, who hadn't noticed her at all, and departed dejectedly, clutching her dress.

After a short rest, His Majesty Harland began to meet with his Vassals one by one. Clearly, this had been the true purpose of the banquet all along.

The first to be seen was Duke Feiyin of the Eastern Territory, followed by Old Gray of the Western Territory. Both emerged shortly after, and each gave the Lord a slight, smiling nod as they passed. Then, it was his turn.

Following the King's Attendant, Levi wound his way through long, complex corridors. Finally, after turning through the ninth hallway, they stopped before a study.

"My Lord, His Majesty is waiting for you inside," the young Attendant, who bore a striking resemblance to Duke Feiyin, said respectfully.

"Care for a glass?"

Entering the study, Levi found Harland sitting at his desk, already sipping another glass of wine. 'It seems the rumors about His Majesty's love for wine are true.'

Levi didn't refuse and simply nodded.

"Then pour it yourself. Don't expect me to get up, unless I had a physique as nimble as yours." Sitting in his chair, the man was a veritable mountain of flesh, and he clearly had no issue with joking about his own size.

"Levi, have you any plans to marry?"

"You're at the perfect age for it. What about Princess Lina? She's known as a great beauty in Gonda. Or how about Princess Vera? Her dancing and her voice are enough to put a Mermaid to shame."

"Just say the word, and I'll give you my blessing on the spot."

"My apologies, Your Majesty, but I have no such interests at the moment." This move from the King of Debei—offering up his daughters—was something the Lord had already anticipated.