The banquet hall of the Marigold estate was a veritable feast of light. The chandeliers beneath the skylight, already magnificent, had been adorned with jewels and magic for the party, illuminating the hall as they scattered golden dust.

Yuto stepped toward the center of the hall beside Rufus and Levian. Befitting the host of the party, Rufus wore a coat with elaborate gold-thread embroidery, a far more ostentatious choice than his usual attire. On Yuto’s other side stood Levian, likewise dressed out of her usual style in a striking red gown.

Their entrance alone drew the eyes of the room and prompted the orchestra to change its tune. Once every guest was looking their way, Rufus called out loudly.

“Now, everyone, take a look at this young man!”

Beaming, Rufus laid a hand on Yuto’s shoulder. As the guest of honor, Yuto had also traded his everyday clothes for formal attire—the sort he had worn until he was thoroughly sick of it before his regression.

“His name is Yuto!”

Rufus’s voice echoed off the walls of the banquet hall.

“He is not only our guest of honor tonight, but the true benefactor who saved my life and House Marigold!”

Yuto felt hundreds of eyes upon him, all appraising him. He did not particularly enjoy it, but he had no intention of disappointing the goodwill of the man who had arranged this occasion.

With practiced ease, he tucked his chin and gave a slight bow. It was a simple gesture, but those assessing him here were experts in social etiquette, sensitive to every detail. Yet they could find no fault in any of his movements, including his gait as he entered.

“I heard he was an adventurer from the slums. His etiquette is impeccable.”

“That is hardly the result of a few months of lessons. Is he truly from the slums?”

Murmurs rose throughout the room.

“That boy... uncovered Cayenne Marigold’s plot and saved the head of House Marigold?”

“And that is not all. You heard how Dark Star’s Black Mages were discovered plotting in the ruins of Belkain two months ago? Apparently, that boy and Lady Marigold were the ones who thwarted their scheme and defeated them.”

Some focused on Yuto’s achievements rather than his origins. They regarded him with astonishment.

“The boy is only fourteen. Lady Marigold is fifteen, is she not? And the two of them defeated Dark Star’s Black Mages?”

“Strictly speaking, there were not two. I hear there were three, including the boy’s Evomon partner.”

“Good heavens. That is still only three... How is that possible? House Marigold did not send knights to assist them?”

“There is no doubt about it. Just the three of them brought down Dark Star’s scheme.”

“Well, well... I wondered why the notoriously particular head of House Marigold was making such a fuss, throwing a party like this.”

A benefactor who had saved his life? Certainly, that deserved gratitude, but it was hardly something to trumpet at a party. The person who had tried to kill Rufus was none other than his eldest son, Cayenne Marigold. They had not understood what there was to celebrate about such a heinous betrayal. But seeing Yuto beside Rufus, the nobles understood the reason for this party.

'There is something extraordinary about that boy’s bearing. He has an innate refinement I would never expect from a mere adventurer from the slums.'

'And his abilities are scarcely believable for a fourteen-year-old. Rufus Marigold truly is a born merchant. One would expect him to be humiliated by his son’s betrayal, yet he is facing it head-on with this party, showing off the new connection he has gained.'

In short, this party was a showcase for Yuto. Rufus’s bait was plain to see, and the hyenas of high society bit eagerly.

Sensing the nobles’ gazes shift from simple appraisal to awe and probing curiosity, Yuto smiled wryly to himself. He, too, knew perfectly well that Rufus had not thrown this party solely for his sake.

Even so, Yuto stood to gain far more from it.

“Well, Yuto. Everyone seems positively itching to introduce themselves.”

Rufus smiled and gave Yuto a gentle push on the back. Levian smoothly slipped her arm through his and fell into step beside him.

“Don’t feel too pressured. Um... That includes what I’m doing. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

Levian whispered, apparently worried he might misunderstand.

“What do you mean?”

“Are you genuinely asking? I am... a daughter of House Marigold. This is the Marigold estate, and my father is hosting the party. So I have... a reason to accompany you and talk with you. And by doing this, I can show that you aren’t simply someone we sponsor, but an equal partner of House Marigold...”

“I know. I was only teasing.”

Levian shot him a look and lightly pinched the arm she was holding. It did not particularly hurt.

“In any case, there’s no need to be nervous. I’ll answer any difficult questions. All you need to do is smile pleasantly. Not too broadly, though. Understood?”

She covered her mouth with her fan and whispered.

“Most of their questions will be like poisoned sweets. There’s no need to lick them.”

“Don’t worry. I’m quite used to this sort of thing.”

Yuto nodded and walked in step with Levian. They had barely gone any distance before the nobles around them began to approach.

He maintained his smile, observing every rule of etiquette. Levian had offered to answer the difficult questions, but there was no need. Yuto answered every question himself without spoiling the mood.

'This man was stripped of his position for embezzling taxes in my previous life. That merchant company’s owner lost everything when his trading ship sank.'

With each person he greeted, memories of his past surfaced. He could accurately recall not only events that lay in the still-unrealized future, but also his memories of this very period.

That advantage in information, his past experience, and the presence created by his Charm stat made the nobles speaking to him forget that he was supposedly just a boy from the slums. At some point, he ceased to be the one fielding questions and began conversing with the nobles as an equal, guiding the discussion himself.

These were thoroughly calculated conversations, an endlessly repetitive and tedious pretense. Yet that very tedium was the peace that kept Yuto calm at this party.

'Good heavens... '

Levian had expected to be busy speaking on Yuto’s behalf. Instead, she had barely managed to say a word.

She watched in disbelief as he subtly adjusted even his smile and the pitch of his voice for each person. He was deftly, amiably leading conversations with nobles he was meeting for the first time as though he had known them for years.

While Yuto made his debut in the glittering heart of high society, an entirely different atmosphere prevailed near the dessert table in a corner of the hall.

“What utterly pointless emotional labor. Look at that false smile. How ludicrous that these fools swagger about calling themselves merchants when they cannot even tell the genuine article from a fake.”

Elun’s snow-white fingers picked up a blueberry tart. Wearing a dress Levian had chosen for her personally, she looked nobler than any aristocratic girl in the hall, but she had no intention of venturing anywhere near its center.

Of course, even if she would not approach them, plenty of noble boys wished to approach her. But the chilly air she exuded kept them from daring to come closer. They merely lingered awkwardly at a distance, stealing glances at her.

“Don’t say that. There’s nothing wrong with their eyes. Yuto’s acting is just perfect.”

Dressed in a tailored tuxedo, Flokiro elegantly lifted a forkful of cake. He wanted nothing more than to devour it greedily, but he, too, was well versed in party etiquette. Though not Yuto’s equal, he was confident in his ability to put on an act at such gatherings. And so he ate his cake with restraint.

“Beast, you are working hard as well. I shall frankly admit I am impressed. I did not know you could act that well.”

“What do you take me for? Do you have any idea how many parties I attended with Yuto in the old days?”

Over the past two months, Flokiro and Elun had grown considerably closer. Flokiro gently swayed his tail at an elegant angle and ate without getting so much as a fleck of cream around his mouth.

“Elun, look at that. Chocolate is pouring out like a fountain. Ohhh... If this weren’t a party, I’d put my mouth right against it...”

“Hmph... A decoration that is merely pleasing to the eye. Eating well-made chocolate would give the brain far more pleasure than eating something like that.”

“That chocolate fountain isn’t for eating chocolate by itself. It’s for dipping things in. Look!”

A noble child was dipping a strawberry on a fork into the fountain. At the sight, Elun’s eyes wavered violently.

“What a remarkable invention. Why have Yuto and Levian never shown me such a thing before?”

“Once the party’s over, let’s ask for a chocolate fountain just for us. If you ask, neither Yuto nor Levian will be able to refuse...”

Flokiro whispered softly, and Elun nodded with an expressionless face.

The pair made a curious combination, like a cold, stern princess and her greedy adviser. Amid nobles in splendid evening attire dispensing empty pleasantries, the girl and the Evomon had created a peaceful sanctuary devoted solely to sweet treats.

Suddenly, the heavy doors of the banquet hall swung wide. The unexpected interruption brought the orchestra to an abrupt halt, and the nobles’ boisterous, affected laughter faded.

Silence spread like a wave from the open doors. Yuto broke off his conversation and turned toward them.

There stood a noble purity of white unlike the splendor fashioned from luxuries—something no other noble in the hall could imitate.

“Th-the prince of Ristal?”

Someone’s astonished murmur broke the silence. Rufus’s face immediately went pale. He, too, recognized the boy and girl standing there.

Their visit had not been arranged beforehand. Indeed, he had never even established a connection with them.

“The heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Ristal! His Highness Prince Shiro Ristal and his younger sister, Her Highness Princess Shirin Ristal!”

A knight in silver armor standing behind the boy and girl in pure-white uniforms made the announcement in a booming voice. Every noble drew a sharp breath.

The nobles near the entrance moved aside as one. Along the path that opened between them, Ristal’s prince and princess—the twins Shiro and Shirin—slowly stepped forward.

Shiro surveyed the room with a benevolent smile. Wherever his gaze fell, haughty nobles bowed their heads as though by prior agreement. It was less submission to power than an instinctive awe born of an unapproachable difference in stature. The young prince already radiated such distinction.

Rufus Marigold hurried over to the prince and princess and sank to one knee.

“P-Prince Shiro Ristal. Princess Shirin Ristal. I-it is an honor to meet you. I am Rufus Marigold, head of House Marigold.”

Rufus could not begin to understand their visit. House Marigold had no dealings whatsoever with the Kingdom of Ristal. That was why he had sent no invitation there.

So why on earth had Ristal’s prince and princess come to the party in person, without even a word of warning?