Faced with Harris's warm invitation, Alan pondered for a mont before nodding in agreent.
He had been undergoing arduous training in hell for the past few days and hadn't had the chance to take his sister out. This banquet was a great opportunity.
Moreover, this banquet was of high status.
The second prince, a renowned royal of the Plantagenet Kingdom, was personally hosting the event, bringing together a gathering of the kingdom's most outstanding youths—future students of Lioncrest Academy.
If he could make so connections here, it would be beneficial for his cultivation in the future.
With that in mind, Alan returned to his room, where Isabella had already woken up.
Upon hearing that they would be attending a banquet tonight, she smiled in anticipation.
Afterward, Alan took Isabella's hand and, along with Harris and Carter, made their way to a luxurious manor located on the outskirts of the imperial capital.
Half an hour later.
The brilliantly lit, ancient manor ahead instantly caught the attention of Alan and his companions.
The estate was vast, appearing like a radiant gemstone in the dim night, dispelling the darkness and cold.
At the entrance, elegantly dressed nobles were coming and going. Clad in tailored suits, they carried themselves with varying degrees of arrogance. With the assistance of their attendants, they stepped out of their steam-powered automobiles and entered the manor. As they passed by, one could catch whiffs of the light, lingering fragrance of their perfus.
"Harrishead, it has been a long ti since you last ca here. What a rare guest. The usual arrangent this ti?"
Not long after stepping into the manor, a charming woman in a fitted waistcoat approached Harris with a warm smile.
Harris smiled faintly. "I'm here for business tonight, so I'll pass."
The woman didn't press the matter. Instead, she discreetly glanced at Alan and Isabella, probing as she asked,
"Are these two your guests?"
Harris nodded. "They're my friends."
The woman narrowed her eyes and studied Alan and Isabella for a mont before making an inviting gesture.
"Please, co in. The prince has already arrived in the banquet hall."
Harris nodded and led Carter, Alan, and Isabella through the red-carpeted pathway in the middle of the lawn, entering the lavishly lit banquet hall.
Inside, the hall was already bustling with guests.
Most of them were around Alan's age. Whether in dress or deanor, they carried the characteristic elegance of nobility, and the auras they emanated were quite formidable.
Clearly, the main attendees of tonight's banquet were noble students preparing to take the entrance exam for Lioncrest Academy.
Many of them held glasses of red wine, moving about the hall—so engaged in lively conversations with acquaintances, while others exchanged na cards in hopes of networking with key figures in different social circles.
"These people are among the most well-known young elites in the imperial capital. Take a look around first—I need to go pay my respects to the second prince."
After stepping into the hall, Harris imdiately glanced toward the bustling center of the gathering and, offering Alan an apologetic smile, excused himself.
Alan nodded, preparing to take his sister along when he suddenly noticed a well-dressed young man standing haughtily nearby, his chin slightly raised. The youth stood in Alan's path, looking him up and down before speaking,
"I am Eugene, heir and future successor of House Blackwood. What is your na? Which family do you belong to?"
Alan had never heard of his na or his family, but judging by his deanor, he seed to be soone important. Alan smiled faintly and replied,
"My na is Alan. I am rely an ordinary citizen of the Plantagenet Kingdom."
Hearing this, Eugene's brows furrowed slightly before he turned away without another word, as if Alan had never existed.
Beside Alan, Carter huffed in anger at Eugene's retreating figure. Rolling up his sleeves, he was about to confront him.
"What a snob! Does he not know that Alan is my big brother?"
Alan stopped Carter with a shake of his head. "He didn't do anything wrong. Everyone here is making their identities known and seeking out those of similar status. There's no reason to be upset about it."
As he finished speaking, Alan noticed Eugene approaching soone of a slightly higher status than himself. The arrogance from earlier vanished in an instant, replaced by deep humility—he even bowed at a full ninety-degree angle as he respectfully handed over a na card.
However, the person seed to regard Eugene as beneath them and completely ignored him, walking past with a look of cold indifference, as if Eugene didn't even exist.
Straightening up, Eugene cursed under his breath.
"What kind of person is that? Just because they're a little closer to the second prince, they think they can look down on ?"
After venting his frustration, he adjusted his attire, composed himself, and continued moving through the banquet, introducing himself and attempting to strike up conversations to establish new connections.
Alan, Carter, and Isabella watched in stunned silence—not just at how quickly Eugene changed his attitude, but also at his sheer persistence.
Carter shook his head and, together with Alan and Isabella, took a brief tour of the banquet's layout.
The heart of the event was the open hall, filled with guests moving about. Around the edges, a buffet area had been set up, offering a variety of exquisite delicacies. The enticing aroma alone was enough to make them hungry.
However, before they could indulge, Harris returned, now accompanied by a young man dressed in opulent attire. Smiling, Harris introduced him.
"Your Highness, this is Alan, my friend. He is certain to earn a place as a student at Lioncrest Academy."
Alan glanced at the second prince. He exuded an air of nobility.
The second prince turned his gaze toward Alan, prompting Harris to continue his introduction.
"Alan, this is His Highness, the prince."
Alan looked at the second prince and, maintaining his composure, greeted him,
"Your Highness."
The second prince studied Alan for a mont before saying, "Harris speaks highly of you. You do have a strong foundation—better than most."
Alan remained calm, simply nodding in acknowledgnt.
He had long known that Harris and the second prince were on good terms. However, judging from the prince's indifferent attitude, it seed Harris hadn't shared everything about Alan with him.
The prince's apathy made Harris frown slightly.
After all, he had already inford the prince of Alan's great potential, hoping it would catch the prince's attention. Yet, it seed the prince was judging Alan based on appearance alone.
Before Harris could say anything, a commotion suddenly erupted in the hall, with guests exclaiming in astonishnt.
"Miss Audrey!"
"It's really Miss Audrey!"
All eyes turned toward the second-floor balcony.
Alan followed their gaze.
On the balcony stood a tall, elegant woman. She wore a rose-colored gown that exuded passion like fire, and her stunning features, lightly enhanced with makeup, made her beauty even more dazzling.
Simply by standing there, she captivated the entire hall, making everything else seem dim in comparison.
Even Alan, with his usual composure, found himself glancing at her a few extra tis. She seed to possess a natural charm that made people want to fall at her feet.
Seeing Audrey arrive, the second prince's lips curved into a faint smile, and he imdiately headed toward the balcony without a second thought.
Harris withdrew his gaze from Audrey and, looking at the prince's retreating figure, couldn't help but feel that his efforts to introduce Alan had been in vain.
"Alan, the prince has long admired Audrey. I hope you don't take offense," Harris quickly apologized, not wanting this to affect his friendship with Alan.
Alan knew Harris had good intentions, and rather than being offended, he actually felt relieved—he had no desire to get caught up in royal rivalries.
"That the prince doesn't think much of is only natural. But for a woman to captivate him so deeply, she must be quite extraordinary."
Alan asked curiously.
"Of course," Harris replied, a hint of reminiscence flashing across his face.
"Audrey cos from a highly influential family. If any of the princes were to gain her support, it would be a trendous advantage."
"Moreover, she is considered the most beautiful woman in the Plantagenet Kingdom. Many suitors admire her, yet she is extrely proud and holds herself above all others. She believes no man in the entire kingdom is worthy of her. She's a well-known figure among the circles of noblewon as well."
Hearing this, an image of Alice involuntarily surfaced in Alan's mind. Without hesitation, he asked,
"What about Duke Alice? Her beauty is no less than Audrey's, is it?"
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