Royal Banquet

After entering the resplendent royal banquet hall with Ophelia,

Luo Wei noticed that the hall was abuzz with activity. Guests were gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing merrily. It seemed they had arrived late.

However, since Ophelia was the Princess of the Fifth Rank, no one dared to comment on her tardiness. The attendants politely ushered the two of them inside.

As soon as Ophelia made her appearance, Luo Wei felt a wave of gazes shift toward them.

After all, Ophelia had been said to be "recuperating" outside for so long, rarely appearing in such settings. People were naturally curious about this mysterious and beautiful princess, who had recently regained the emperor's trust.

While Luo Wei and Ophelia were quietly chatting, a man with a kindly smile approached them.

Luo Wei glanced at him. The man was dressed in an officer's uniform, appeared to be in his early thirties, and bore some resemblance to Ophelia. However, like the Third Prince, he had striking golden hair. From these features, Luo Wei deduced that this must be the Second Prince, who was in charge of the city's defense forces.

"Fifth Sister," he greeted, his expression tinged with concern.

"I heard you encountered those cultists and were injured? Are you alright?"

Ophelia looked at him and smiled faintly, shaking her head. "The palace physicians are quite skilled. I've fully recovered now."

"That's good to hear," the Second Prince sighed in relief. "In the future, don't take such risks on your own. Otherwise, Father will worry."

Ophelia chuckled softly, her smile not reaching her eyes. "Second Brother, you overestimate my importance in his heart."

"Fifth Sister!" the Second Prince shot her a disapproving glance, quickly glancing around.

"Father isn't as heartless as you make him out to be. Please don't say such things again."

Ophelia seemed to recall something from the past, her smile still faint and distant.

"I hope so."

The atmosphere grew momentarily awkward. The Second Prince laughed awkwardly and then turned his attention to Luo Wei beside her.

His eyes held a hint of curiosity. "Fifth Sister, aren't you going to introduce this young gentleman to me?"

Luo Wei politely greeted the imperial prince, but just as he was about to introduce himself, Ophelia took his hand.

"This is Luo Wei Edelin," she said simply, without elaborating on his background or origins.

Despite the Second Prince's seemingly warm and approachable demeanor, Ophelia maintained a reserved and distant smile throughout, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.

The Second Prince didn't seem offended; he was well aware of his younger sister's temperament.

He studied Luo Wei with interest, his gaze eventually settling on their intertwined hands and the matching rings on their fingers.

The Second Prince's eyes deepened, and a thoughtful smile spread across his face.

"Fifth Sister, you're even more willful than I imagined. Does Father know about this?"

Ophelia feigned confusion. "Know about what?"

The Second Prince glanced at Luo Wei again, his implication clear: he was referring to the matter of their secret engagement.

He had been keeping a close eye on his younger sister, who had suddenly reemerged in the center of power. Ophelia was shrewd and had earned their father's approval with her actions.

But he never expected her to be so audacious in matters of marriage. He couldn't help but wonder how their father would react upon learning of this...

"Edelin, you say..." the Second Prince pondered for a moment but couldn't recall any prominent Edelin family in Saint Callen.

Perhaps he was just a commoner, the Second Prince thought, his estimation of Luo Wei dropping slightly.

Still, since this was a conversation with Ophelia, he couldn't be too blunt. He simply asked politely, "So, Mr. Luo Wei, where are you currently employed? You seem unfamiliar to me."

Luo Wei, facing this unexpected brother-in-law, shrugged nonchalantly.

"I'm currently a student at the Saint Callen Royal Academy of Magical Sciences."

"Ah, still a student..." the Second Prince chuckled, unsure how to respond.

As the three of them conversed, a hearty laugh suddenly rang out.

"Haha, Second Prince, Mr. Luo Wei is no ordinary student!"

The newcomer was none other than Fred, the head of the Special Affairs Department.

"Sir Fred," both the Second Prince and Ophelia nodded in greeting.

Luo Wei also turned to look at him and saw Fred grinning at him warmly.

It was unexpected to see Fred at this banquet. The emperor had organized this "small" gathering to celebrate his recent recovery and return to governance. However, given the recent catastrophic events in Saint Callen, even the royal family had to keep the festivities low-key. Thus, only a select few nobles, members of the royal family, and the emperor's close confidants were invited.

Despite Fred's relatively low noble rank, even the Second Prince held him in high regard. The Special Affairs Department, though not the most powerful institution, was indispensable to the city and the empire. After all, no one wanted to cross a team entirely composed of superhumans.

With Fred's arrival, the awkward atmosphere among the three finally eased.

Fred smiled at the two of them. "How are you both recovering?"

"Thank you for your concern. We're doing well," Ophelia replied with a smile.

"Sir Fred," the Second Prince interjected, recalling Fred's earlier remark, "you mentioned something about Mr. Luo Wei..."

"Ah, yes!" Fred clapped Luo Wei on the shoulder enthusiastically. "Your Highness, you wouldn't believe it, but Mr. Luo Wei played a crucial role in resolving the recent cultist case!"

"Oh? I wasn't aware of that," the Second Prince said, his curiosity piqued.

Fred continued, praising Luo Wei like a proud mentor. "If it weren't for him, my team would have suffered heavy losses. He's a rare talent, and I've tried to recruit him several times, but he always turns me down!"

The Second Prince looked at Luo Wei with newfound respect. "So Mr. Luo Wei possesses such remarkable abilities? Are you a superhuman?"

Luo Wei felt like Fred was showering him with excessive praise. He glanced at Fred, who wore the sly grin of a seasoned fox, and wondered if this was yet another attempt to recruit him.

He responded modestly, "Oh, I'm just an ordinary citizen who happened to help out..."

Besides, he still vividly remembered Fred's lightning-fast strike that had taken down Laure, the "Black Eel," during the final confrontation.

Luo Wei decided to return the compliment. "The credit for resolving this matter truly goes to Sir Fred. I only provided a small bit of assistance."

"You're being too modest!" Fred laughed heartily. "You must attend the city's commendation ceremony in a few days!"