"...! The Old Town project, does Big Brother Friedrich have any interest in it?"

"If you can't handle it alone, I can help you with it."

"Then, thank you."

...!

The older generation was discussing business matters, and the younger people found it boring. However, sitting outside with the elders was even more tiresome, so they casually started chatting.

"Albus, why don't you call your sister-in-law down? I was overseas when they got married and didn’t get to see what the beauty looks like, the one who managed to tame Marc D'Auremont."

"Isn’t it just two eyes, a nose, and a mouth? What’s so special to see?" Albus D'Auremont smirked, clearly not interested in Rivers Vivienne.

He was the youngest grandson of the D'Auremont family, and as a child, his fair skin earned him the nickname "Albus." - Lorian Albus D'Auremont

"It's different though. She’s the first to marry in the group. She even managed to make Marc, the notorious playboy, change his ways, and break his engagement with the Forster family. This girl must have something special, don’t you think?" Elias von Adlerburg was extremely curious.

Elias started the conversation, and the others followed, eager to discuss.

"Speaking of which, that Forster girl is quite pitiful, isn’t she? She loved Marc, only to have a little celebrity get in her way.

With Arden Forster's background, anyone who married her would be fortunate, but sadly, Marc didn’t like her." The Forster family’s only daughter, and also the granddaughter of the Montclair family, her status was enough to overshadow all the other noble ladies in the circle.

"The bookworm beauty from the Forster family? Forget it, too simple. No one would even think about marrying her." The thought of having someone from the Forster and Montclair families endure humiliation was beyond the pale.

"Shh, don’t say anything more. Adrian and the Montclair brothers are here."

Everyone looked up just in time to see a group entering the banquet hall, led by Adrian Forster, with the Montclair brothers, Fortis and Flux, following behind.

The others weren’t unfamiliar, but the girl next to Adrian was a bit of a surprise.

She wore a white gown and had exceptionally beautiful eyes, like clear, tranquil mountains—pure and untainted, spotless and ethereal.

Her beauty was undeniable, but what made her impossible to ignore was the extraordinary aura she exuded, as if she were not of this world, untouched by the mundane, with little regard for anything around her.

Was this the bookworm, Arden Forster? No one could quite believe it.

They hadn’t interacted with her much before, not even exchanging a few words, and their impression of her was limited to the rumors they had heard—

"Arden Forster likes reading, she holds books all day long."

"Arden Forster reads everywhere, even during breaks."

...!

Such rumors had left the impression that she was simply a bookish introvert.

But now, seeing her in person, they realized how far removed these rumors were from reality.

"This is Justus von Adlerburg, this is Elias von Adlerburg, Albus D'Auremont, Laxus D'Auremont..."

Adrian Forster introduced everyone to Arden, mentioning each name.

The men couldn't help but straighten up, eager to leave a good impression on the beauty.

But Adrian didn’t give them the chance, making the introductions brief, only naming them without any further details. Albus D'Auremont didn’t even get his real name introduced.

Finally, Adrian leaned closer to Arden and quietly added,

"You don’t need to get too familiar with these guys. Just know them a bit; they’re not good enough. If I find someone worthy, I’ll introduce them to you."

His words, though whispered, were overheard by everyone else.

Not worth getting familiar with? Not good enough? Dude, did you just openly dismiss us?

The key point was that Arden nodded along, obviously accepting his words as truth.

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Adrian was pleased, while the others were left speechless.

However, their long-standing relationships couldn’t be undone by a few careless words. Instead, they understood Adrian’s implied message: the Forster family would help Arden find the right man. If someone was only interested in playing around, they shouldn’t waste her time.

In this circle, there were unspoken rules—if you were serious, you could approach, but if not, you should stay away, regardless of gender.

Clearly, Arden was the "proper girl" type who wouldn’t engage in casual affairs, so anyone who tried to flirt with her without intentions of marriage would be deemed utterly disrespectful.

With that thought in mind, the group began making their plans.

Albus D'Auremont, who wasn’t as caught up in these social intricacies, was more curious about Arden and started a conversation with her: "You don’t seem like the person the rumors say you are."

"Huh? What did they say about me?"

Arden was curious to know what people thought of her, as she had been so focused on her own studies for years that she paid little attention to the outside world.

And since she had been used to solitary cultivation in the past, it was only natural she wasn’t fully adapted to socializing in this world.

"They say you’re a bookworm, wooden beauty, uninteresting, dry..." Albus D'Auremont listed off the rumors, not realizing that he was speaking in front of her,

"You really read books every day? I’ve never seen you around before."

"Don’t believe the rumors," Arden answered honestly,

"Besides reading, I also use the computer and phone."

The group around them couldn’t help but chuckle, exchanging amused looks.

"Is there really a difference?"

Albus D'Auremont, now more intrigued, pressed further: "So, if the rumors aren’t true, does that mean the story about you liking my brother is false too?"

"Mmmmmmm."

"Then why did you only let him get close before?" Not just Caelus, but everyone else wanted to know.

Who didn’t know that for years, Marc was the only one who made Arden look at him differently?

Arden hesitated for a moment, considering her words carefully:

"Actually, apart from reading, I also like to study other things, like faces."

Everyone perked up, curious.

"What’s special about Marc’s face?"

"Everyone has a different fortune, represented by different colors. Purple means nobility and good fortune; the closer it is to purple, the better. White means normal; gray and black indicate bad luck.

But I’ve never seen the color green. When I looked at Marc, I saw a green cloud over his head, so I found it odd."

A green... cloud?

The group held back their laughter at first, but eventually couldn’t stop themselves from bursting out in laughter.

But despite their laughter, no one truly believed Arden. After all, Marc was married to Rivers Vivienne now, and with her background, it seemed impossible for him to be unfaithful. It was likely just Arden’s frustration from their broken engagement speaking through her.

"Arden, do you really not know what the green cloud means?" Albus D'Auremont, unable to hold it in anymore, laughed out loud.

"I know what you’re implying, but that’s not what I mean. Marc really has green on his fortune, like a field of grass..." Arden nodded calmly.

"Ha ha ha..."

The group couldn’t hold back another round of laughter. Imagining Marc’s fate like a grassy plain, they briefly pondered the idea—was she cursing him? But in this social circle, where women were to be respected, was it possible that Arden truly intended to make such a subtle jab at Marc?

Even Adrian and the Montclair brothers were amused, sensing that Arden might be getting back at Marc for their broken engagement.

"Ha ha ha..."

A green cloud over Marc’s head? Was this some sort of metaphor? Was Arden predicting his downfall? Though they knew it was highly unlikely, they couldn’t help but feel a bit curious.

No one took her words seriously, but Arden wasn’t bothered. After all, she wasn’t here to deal with Marc; she was here to prevent any more relationships from forming between the men and Rivers Vivienne.

"You have a pure heart, so you must have a talent for martial arts. I have a secret martial arts manual—would you like to learn?" Smiling at Albus D'Auremont, she said.

The group: "..."

What the heck? Had she been reading too many kung fu novels?

But Arden wasn’t joking. She actually had a technique she wanted to pass on to Albus D'Auremont.

Based on the original story, the men who got involved with Rivers Vivienne were all easily swayed by her after her rebirth, as if possessed. Arden intended to teach them how to remain calm and resist such temptations.

This might seem easy, but it was difficult. The world’s spiritual energy was weak, and after practicing for twenty years, Arden had only reached the lowest level of cultivation.

However, the method she intended to pass on wasn’t for cultivation, but for martial arts techniques that she had modified with her experience.

At the highest level, one could reach a state of energy manipulation, but no matter how hard they tried, the men could never achieve that level.

However, regular practice would make them healthier, and the breathing techniques would improve their vitality.

Based on Arden's observations, Albus D'Auremont seemed to have the purest heart, with no hidden intentions, making him the perfect candidate.

Albus D'Auremont thought she was joking and went along with it. "Alright, I don’t know what’s so special about this technique."

Arden didn’t want to just explain it; she snapped her fingers, and a visible stream of energy appeared. The tea cup in front of Albus D'Auremont immediately lost a corner, sliced as cleanly as if cut by a laser.

Albus D'Auremont’s eyes widened in shock, and everyone else was left stunned.

This wasn’t something an ordinary person could do! The evidence was right in front of them. No one dared to question it.

When they recovered from their shock, all eyes were on Arden with newfound respect.

"Master, do you have any disciples? What do you think of my talent?"

Arden smiled. "Since you’ve called me master, I can’t refuse."

And so, the atmosphere of the banquet suddenly shifted as everyone excitedly shouted in unison—

"Master!"