The banquet soon went into full swing.

Music floated through the hall as nobles moved from group to group, but the main crowd stayed gathered around Evangeline. One after another, they approached her with smiles, congratulations, and finely wrapped gifts. Maids moved efficiently at her side, collecting the presents and stacking them neatly to one corner of the hall.

Evangeline handled everyone perfectly—laughing at the right moments, offering polite thanks, and dropping just enough sharp comments to keep the mood lively.

On the other side of the hall, however, something else was happening.

Everyone who passed by Arthur gave him a look full of pity, as if they were seeing a homeless beggar that had somehow wandered into the palace.

A middle-aged noble gently pushed his plate toward Arthur.

"Eat all you like, son," he said kindly. "I’m sure it’s your first time seeing this much food."

Another woman nodded in encouragement.

"Go on, don’t be scared. No one will say anything to you."

A third added with a sympathetic smile, "Such a handsome face too... what a waste of a hard life."

Plates and small snacks were shoved into his hands as if he were a starved child they had collectively adopted.

Beside him, Aiden was barely holding it together.

He clutched his stomach, shoulders shaking.

"Oh my god, I can’t take it anymore," he wheezed, laughter spilling out.

A vein popped on Arthur’s forehead.

He grabbed a hot dog from one of the plates and shoved it into Aiden’s mouth.

"Aren’t the Nexaris family the real beggars?" Arthur said dryly. "Always begging Evangeline to support them and pay off their debts?"

Aiden choked, then yanked the hot dog out.

"What did you just say, you bastard?"

"What? You want to go?" Arthur replied, eyes narrowing.

Before Aiden could answer, a cold voice cut through the air.

"A beggar with that attitude... Of course she was lying."

Both of them turned.

A silver-haired young woman stood a few feet away, violet eyes cool and assessing. The nobles around her instinctively kept their distance.

It was Jasmine Cael Ashford.

Aiden straightened immediately and bowed his head.

"I greet the First Princess," he said respectfully.

Jasmine gave him a small nod, then turned her gaze to Arthur, clearly expecting the same.

Arthur simply looked back at her, quietly observing.

Jasmine’s voice dropped in temperature.

"Bow your head, beggar peasant."

"Sorry," Arthur said calmly. "I only do it when I want to. And right now, I’m not in the mood."

Jasmine’s lips curved faintly.

"You’re not a peasant, are you?"

"Who knows," Arthur replied. "As far as I’m concerned, I think I am a peasant."

Jasmine’s patience thinned.

"I am not here to waste my time," she said. "So let me make this offer once. Answer carefully... if the two of you want to live a good and peaceful life."

Arthur exchanged a glance with Aiden.

"I’m listening," he said.

"Whatever Evangeline is offering you, I will pay ten times more," Jasmine said. "Serve me instead of her. If you want more, name your price. Money, connections, women... whatever you want."

A confident smile appeared on her face as she finished.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Wow. It really is an enticing offer " he said.

"You can’t be serious, right?" Aiden hissed at him.

"I can be," Arthur replied lightly. "But right now, I’m not in the mood to."

Jasmine’s beautiful smile vanished, replaced by a cold, regal expression.

"Wrong answer," she said. "If I kill you here and now, Mr. Beggar... no one will utter a word. Do you know that?"

A wave of potent magic surged from her, thick and suffocating. Arthur could feel the power in it—disciplined, heavy, worthy of the First Princess.

He was impressed.

"Then try it," he said quietly.

Jasmine’s aura flared, pressing down like a storm about to break—

And then a single word sliced through it.

"Move."

The cold voice carried no anger, but the power behind it crushed Jasmine’s aura in an instant, snuffing it out like a candle.

A horrifying sense of danger slammed into her. Every instinct in her body screamed at her to step aside.

She turned quickly.

Jessica Evan Imperius stood behind her, expression dead cold, dark eyes fixed on Jasmine as if she were nothing more than an ant.

Jasmine’s body reacted before her pride could.

She instinctively stepped out of the way.

Arthur’s expression darkened as his gaze landed on Jessica.

[ Host, control yourself. ]

The system’s voice echoed in Arthur’s mind just as his aura began to stir.

Arthur exhaled slowly and forced it back down, his expression smoothing out.

Jessica’s eyes lingered on him. A small smile formed on her lips.

"Leave us alone for a bit," she said, looking at Aiden and Jasmine.

Both of them stiffened.

"Y-yes," Aiden replied, stepping back at once.

Jasmine, remembering that terrifying feeling from earlier, also turned away. The two of them disappeared into the crowd faster than if someone had lit a fire under their feet.

And if they were being honest with themselves, their lives might very well depend on that distance.

Jessica turned back to Arthur.

"Follow me," she said.

"I’m not obligated to," Arthur replied. "I’m not your servant. Go order someone else."

Jessica blinked, a little surprised.

The little brother who had always followed her without question was, for the first time, talking back.

Then she chuckled softly.

"That’s more like it," she said. "That’s how a true Imperius should act."

Her eyes hardened slightly.

"If you won’t come with me," she went on, "I’ll just tell everyone here who you really are. And that little princess who defended you with tears a few minutes ago... will be exposed as a liar."

She tilted her head.

"Her standing will plummet even further."

A vein popped on Arthur’s forehead.

He clenched his jaw.

"Lead the way," he said in a low voice.

"You’re as cute as always," Jessica replied, clearly satisfied.

She turned and started walking, heels clicking against the marble, a few steps ahead of him.

Arthur followed, hands in his pockets.

From a distance, Jasmine and Aiden watched, stunned.

’Just who the hell is this guy?’ both of them thought at the same time.

—

Not far away, Eliana’s voice rang out.

"Evangeline."

The guests around Evangeline immediately stepped back, giving the queen a clear path and leaving Evangeline momentarily alone.

Evangeline glanced around, frowning slightly when she saw only Aiden nearby.

’Where did he run off to?’ she wondered.

Eliana reached her and smiled.

"You’ve really outdone yourself this time, Eve," she said.

"Thank you, Mother," Evangeline replied.

"I didn’t know you had formed such important connections in Arcania and nihon as well," Eliana added.

"Arcania and Nihon," Evangeline said. "The countries that possess as much wealth as some empires."

As if on cue, a woman with platinum-blond hair and warm brown eyes stepped forward. She looked to be in her late thirties, her beauty mature and polished. Her hair was swept into an elegant updo, and she wore a shimmering silver gown that flowed smoothly to the floor, the bodice fitted and the sleeves short, adorned with subtle diamond-like gems that caught the light. Her presence radiated quiet power.

It was Ravina Crown—the mother of Isabella and one of the heads of the Crown family, known to be as wealthy as a small empire on their own.

Beside her stood a brown-haired man in a perfectly tailored dark suit. He appeared to be in his forties, his features sharp, his posture relaxed yet confident. A simple tie, a gold watch, and an air of someone used to making decisions that affected entire markets.

Yuichi Takahashi.

They both greeted Eliana and Evangeline with polite bows.

"Your Majesty. Princess Evangeline," Ravina said.

"It is an honor to be here," Yuichi added.

Eliana’s smile deepened.

"They have personally come here to make deals with you," she told Evangeline. "And they refused to negotiate with anyone else."

Aiden’s jaw dropped.

The Crown family and Yuichi Takahashi were names known all over the world—symbols of ridiculous wealth and influence.

Evangeline’s eyes widened for a brief second, then narrowed as realization hit her.

’It must be him,’ she thought. ’Arthur.’

A sly smile formed on her lips.

She glanced toward Jasmine.

"Well," Evangeline said lightly, "it’s about time I start increasing my political influence too."

Jasmine’s fists clenched at her sides.

Evangeline stepped forward, taking the lead as the queen, Ravina, and Yuichi walked with her toward a private room for their discussion.

Aiden hurried after them, still dazed.

—

Meanwhile.

Arthur found himself in the royal palace’s garden.

He had followed Jessica through a side corridor and out into the night air. Lanterns and softly glowing lights illuminated carefully trimmed hedges, marble paths, and a fountain that sent gentle ripples through a small pond.

Waiting there already was a golden-haired lady.

Sylvia evan imperius.

Her long hair fell over her shoulders like liquid gold, her crimson gown from earlier flowing elegantly around her.

Jessica flicked her fingers.

A translucent barrier shimmered briefly around the entire garden, sealing them off from the rest of the palace. The noise of the banquet faded, replaced by quiet and the soft trickle of water.

"Now no one will disturb us," Jessica said.

On one side stood Jessica and Sylvia together.

On the other, Arthur stood alone, hands in his pockets, facing them.

He let out a silent sigh.

’I really wanted to avoid a situation like this,’ he thought. ’But these Imperius family idiots just won’t leave me alone. Of course, if it were my beloved brother Lucas, I’d have been happy to see him.’