In an instant, the surrounding atmosphere dropped to freezing point, the tension between them sharp enough to cut the air.
Many guests had noticed the confrontation between Viktor and Jace Lesser.
Viktor had even used magic to warn Jace.
Jace Lesser's expression was terrible. Being humiliated in front of everyone made him feel extremely suffocated.
But that wasn't the main issue, what Jace truly wanted to know was what exactly the relationship between Viktor and the princess was, and why His Majesty trusted Viktor enough to let him stay by her side.
Gwen also saw what was happening. She lifted the hem of her gown to rush forward but was quickly pulled back by Kefra, who was standing nearby watching.
"Hey, hey, Gwen! What are you doing?"
"I'm going to stop those two."
"Don't go over there and make things worse."
Kefra successfully dragged Gwen back. Seeing her puffed-up, angry face, she knew Gwen must be furious inside.
Of course Gwen knew who that eldest son of House Lesser was.
When she saw him deliberately go and pick a fight with Viktor, and even cause such a big scene, she was already displeased.
Why should he? The Lesser family had made such a huge mistake, yet now he dared to come looking for trouble with Viktor.
What was even more outrageous was that everyone around them was just watching.
Gwen felt indignant, but with her sister stopping her, she had no choice but to stay put.
She turned around angrily, pouting, and stomped off to drink.
Erica, however, watched Gwen for a moment. Seeing her angry look, she became curious.
She tugged at Kefra's sleeve and whispered quietly, "Sister Kefra, Miss Gwen, she…"
After the battle with the demon, Kefra and Erica's relationship had grown much closer. Though there was quite an age gap between them, they were now practically bonded through life and death.
"She looks a little angry? Of course she does."
Kefra grinned mischievously and said to Gwen, "Seeing your fiancé being deliberately provoked, how could you not be mad?"
"Oh, so that's what it is!"
Erica suddenly understood, and she even breathed a sigh of relief.
'So that's all it was, her fiancé. Good thing they weren't lovers...'
"Eh???"
Erica blinked in confusion.
"Fiancé?"
"Mm-hmm. Fiancé."
Kefra nodded with a bright smile.
Seeing how certain Kefra looked, Erica covered her head in disbelief.
Then Kefra added casually, "Ah, not many people know about it, since the two of them are both very low-key. But the older generation, your father's age, they're mostly aware of it."
"What's wrong? You don't look very happy."
Kefra asked with concern, gently patting Erica's head.
"N-no, it's nothing."
Erica's mood suddenly grew complicated and oddly heavy, though she couldn't explain why.
She just felt a bit… irritated.
Kefra looked at her with a soft smile, sighing inwardly.
Though Erica had experienced the life-and-death battle with the demon, strictly speaking, she was still just a child.
Her thoughts were far too easy to read. Just one glance and Kefra could see the admiration, and perhaps something more, that Erica felt toward Viktor.
If that was the case, then before those feelings deepened and before their teacher–student relationship changed in nature, cutting off those thoughts early was clearly the best choice.
Besides, she truly did like her little sister's choice.
Though Viktor's personality was terrible, his strength was undeniable, and he knew how to make money.
Just thinking about how she had to spend eight thousand Geo for his help made her heart ache unpleasantly.
That man was simply a business genius.
Now she finally understood why so many people resented Viktor.
Still, Kefra was only joking in her heart.
Her brother-in-law was that capable, how could she possibly hand him over to someone else?
While she and Erica were chatting, things were getting even more heated on Viktor's side.
Jace was now extremely frustrated. His face was flushed red, his emotions barely restrained.
He started shouting at Viktor, "Telling me to get lost? Who do you think you are to tell me that?"
"He does have that right."
A calm voice rose from within the crowd. The Second Prince, wearing a faint smile, stepped through the guests and approached.
As soon as the people saw the Second Prince, they began to whisper among themselves.
"Why is His Highness the Second Prince here?"
"No idea. Don't tell me he's here to help Viktor?"
Speculation buzzed through the crowd, but the Second Prince's expression remained perfectly composed.
He glanced at his younger sister hiding behind Viktor, frowned slightly, and sighed. Then, turning to Jace Lesser, he said, "Cousin Jace, I understand your feelings, but that doesn't give you the right to come here just to cause trouble."
"Your attitude has frightened my little sister."
Jace Lesser looked toward the princess and saw Aureliann slightly bowing her head, not daring to meet his eyes. The sight instantly cleared some of the heat in his blood and snapped him back to his senses.
Even so, he said in dissatisfaction, "If Her Highness the Princess wants me to leave, of course I can go. But what right does Viktor have to tell me to get lost?"
The Lesser family had contributed greatly to the royal family, there was no way the Clavenna family, just because of one demon battle, could think they stood above them.
That was what Jace was thinking when the Second Prince narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone sharpening.
"Jace."
He no longer addressed him as "cousin," and his voice held a note of displeasure.
"Mr. Viktor is the magic instructor personally appointed by Father for my sister."
Swish!
Instantly, the entire hall erupted in commotion.
"What?! Viktor actually became Her Highness the Princess's private tutor!?"
"No wonder he's traveling with His Majesty! He's already tied himself directly to the royal family!"
Not far away, Gwen, who had been drinking alone, spat out her wine in shock.
"What? Viktor? The princess's private tutor!?"
Kefra, too, froze when she heard the news. The smile on her face slowly stiffened.
This was no small matter.
Even among teachers, there were ranks.
If he were just a lecturer at the academy, no one would be so shocked.
But Viktor was the teacher personally appointed by the Emperor to educate the princess.
Strictly speaking, this already made it a formal master–disciple relationship.
As the princess's teacher, Viktor could, in a sense, influence her future.
Naturally, the guests now had a new question, such an important position, given to Viktor, was he really suitable?
He was beyond suitable.
Not only was Viktor a senior professor of the Royal Magic Academy, officially under the Empire's jurisdiction, he was also the youngest fourth-tier Grand Magus in history, proof of his genius.
Before Viktor, no one had ever believed a mage could reach the fourth tier before the age of thirty.
Viktor's achievements had shattered record after record in the Empire.
If he wasn't qualified, then no one was.
"This was originally something Father planned to announce publicly tomorrow," the Second Prince said lightly. "But since I've mentioned it now, it might help everyone adjust their expectations."
"So, whatever Mr. Viktor says, represents my sister's will. Jace, do you understand?"
The Second Prince's explanation was delivered with a calm smile.
Jace Lesser's face darkened instantly. He clenched his teeth, glaring at Viktor in resentment.
With a furious snort, he turned on his heel and stormed off.
As he left, the tension in the air finally eased.
The nobles began whispering rapidly among themselves, the entire banquet's mood had shifted.
Everyone now realized Viktor had become the princess's teacher.
Viktor's rank had risen again. The Clavenna family was now at the height of their power.
The Second Prince had appeared personally to defuse the situation and openly declare Viktor's relationship with the princess.
Everyone here was a noble, no one was foolish.
First, Viktor had traveled with the Emperor himself.
Now, one of the royal heirs had come out to show him favor.
At that moment, everyone felt a sense of suffocating pressure.
Liya had just come out of the restroom. Adjusting her gown, she froze as she saw the strange atmosphere in the ballroom.
'What's going on? Why is the Second Prince standing beside Viktor?'
She hadn't seen what happened earlier, so confusion filled her heart.
'Could it be that the Second Prince was already trying to recruit Viktor?'
The Second Prince smiled at Viktor and said, "My apologies for this situation, Viscount Viktor... pardon me, Count Viktor, I should say."
"I must apologize for my cousin Jace's reckless behavior."
He gave a slight bow. After offering his apology, he didn't wait for Viktor's response, he simply turned and left swiftly.
As if he had come for no other reason than to help Viktor out of a tight spot and give him a boost in front of the crowd.
He didn't linger to say another word.
After the Second Prince's departure, the guests gradually dispersed, returning to their own conversations.
But many of the younger nobles now looked at Viktor with complex expressions.
They wanted to go over and greet him, but remembering how he'd treated Jace earlier, no one dared to provoke him.
Instead, Liya became the new target of social attention.
"Miss Liya."
Hearing the voice, Liya turned and saw a few nobles approaching her.
She smiled politely out of habit.
"I'm Hansel. These two are Mr. Tick and Lady Annie."
Liya responded graciously, shaking hands with each of them in turn.
She handled the social situation with practiced ease, though inwardly she was sighing.
As she chatted, her gaze drifted toward Viktor.
He sat quietly in the corner, expressionless, and no one dared approach him. She couldn't help feeling envious.
'How nice,' she thought, 'to just wear that poker face and be left alone.'
'Sigh.'
With a quiet exhale, Liya quickly adjusted her mood, forced a bright smile, and continued chatting with the nobles around her.
———
Kefra, leaning beside Erica, clicked her tongue in amazement.
"Who'd have thought? Viktor actually hooked up with the royal family."
"The princess's teacher, huh? I heard the princess is quite talented too, I wonder if that's true."
As she spoke, Kefra glanced to the other side of the hall, where Gwen's cheeks were flushed red, clearly drunk.
With a helpless sigh, she walked over and snatched the wineglass from Gwen's hand.
"All right, all right, Gwen, that's enough."
"If you get drunk, no one's going to take care of you."
Only Erica was left standing there, staring blankly at Viktor in the corner.
Beside him was the princess, who clearly didn't dislike him, in fact, she was smiling as they spoke.
And Viktor? Still that same unreadable poker face, unchanged as ever.
Something seemed to spark in Erica's mind. She took a breath, gathered her courage, and walked toward him.
The Duke, standing nearby, noticed her movement. He sighed softly, shook his head, and turned back to chat with the nobles beside him.
"Mr. Viktor, thank you very much..."
"Um… Professor."
Just as the princess and Viktor were chatting, a slightly awkward voice interrupted them.
Both turned toward the sound.
Erica stood there, fists clenched before her chest, her face slightly flushed pink.
It was as if she had made some firm decision. Bowing her head slightly, she said boldly, "I want to become stronger too!"
"I want to become your disciple as well!"