"So is she actually going to show up?" Alice, Count Duncan's daughter, said with crossed arms.

"It's her debut, of course she will. What are you saying, Alice?"

"No, Alice is right, Elina. There's no telling if that mad dog will actually appear," the only daughter of the Neuhaus Marquisate added with a certain amount of arrogance, "ignoring all rules of convention would suit her perfectly. In fact, even the thought of hosting a debut for someone like her is like casting pearls before swine."

"Easy for you to say, Sheila," Alice chimed in once more, "they actually let her have the honor of hosting the tea party at the Hunting Festival."

"But I heard it was the Grand Duchess who hosted it?" Elina's eyebrows furrowed as she considered what she had heard, but as the daughter of a mere baron, information wouldn't reach her that quickly.

"Yes, but everyone knows that she will play a big role in the actual event. Because she's a new member of society and all that." Alice had had her debut just a couple months back as well, so how come her family didn't gain that right? It wasn't fair in her eyes. "Eventhough it's my family owns the land on which the festival will be held."

Smacking her lips, even Sheila had to roll her eyes at her friend's attitude. "That's just a formality, because the Grand Duke contributed a lot to the war against the monsters in the mountains. I think the Count was pleased as well."

Of course, Alice knew that much. But her pride didn't let her show it. Instead, she stiffened and didn't say anything more about the topic, when suddenly the relatively lively ballroom fell silent.

They hadn't announced anyone new for several minutes. Of course, it wasn't that late yet, but most of the important people had already gathered and were waiting for the imperial family to come out.

With a voice that could make glasses vibrate, the attendant at the door called out the names of the guests who were about to enter. First the Grand Duke and his wife Beatrice. After them came Alan, the heir to the Grand Duchy.

Colin walked in with his hand over his face as if to cover a cough, but he didn't have to cough. Instead, he tried to hide the flush on his face as everyone in the room stared at the young, soon-to-be High Priest in the room, who would also one day take over the Nerena Marquisate.

As soon as they were out of the way, the man announced another family member. One who wasn't yet eligible to attend events by direct invitation, but was expected to attend as a family member on occasions like this - Arabella. And when she stepped in, dressed in a white gown, like a fair, blond angel, they stood there in surprise for a moment.

They had heard a great deal about the second young lady of the House of Varnhagen, but most of them had never seen her with their own eyes, obviously due to her age.

"What a dignified little lady," said an older woman.

"She seems to be blooming splendidly," replied another.

Yes, this was what they would normally hear. The opposite of the other lady they sometimes heard stories about here. Those stories weren't as charming.

"But I heard that the eldest daughter has shown some remarkable growth herself lately, right?"

At these words, some people looked at the person speaking. A handsome young man with black hair and kind of dark, dull gray eyes, no older than twenty. He also held a bouquet of flowers in his hands.

They didn't know him, and rightly expected him to be a guest from another nation who had arrived early for the Hunting Festival and was thus invited to the Victory Banquet.

Since he wasn't from their Empire, he wouldn't know, they thought. 'In the end, she doesn't even attend her own debut?' Indeed, they hadn't announced her arrival yet, even after Arabella had already flown from one person to the next in the hall, like a butterfly in a field of flowers.

Her elegant dress made her look mature enough for people to engage with her, despite her age. 'But I don't know what they are talking about at all?' She hadn't been to many social events, so she could only rely on what her teachers had taught her about conversation topics. 'I didn't listen that well.'

"Your dress is truly magnificent," said a young noble, "may I inquire where you obtained such an outstanding piece?"

"I'm flattered," Arabella replied, putting her hand to her chest, "you see, I'm a little embarrassed. It's nothing special." Of course she was lying.

"It can't be, Lady Arabelly!"

"Right, I want to know too!"

"If you ask me like that, I can't refuse," she finally said, playing coy, "Silver Cain made this exclusively for me. He even called me his muse." She had heard through the grapevine that was what he had called her sister.

With those words, all hell broke loose. More than she could handle, people suddenly started coming at her from all sides, asking for favors. For example: If she couldn't get them an appointment because she had such a deep connection with the designer.

Since she had never spoken to the man before, this was going to be complicated, she already knew that.

However, there was someone who would save her at the last minute, as the man at the door cleared his throat and prepared to announce once more before the imperial family arrived for the official start of the evening.

Taking a deep breath, Rowena watched the sky beyond the palace. "It's getting late, my lady," she was kindly reminded by the man with the deep green eyes next to her.

If his eyes were less pretty, I would be more annoyed," she thought and gave him an apologetic smile, "Right, we have to go in - before we end up being more than fashionably late."

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"I don't think there's any kind of lateness that would be fashionable, Lady Rowena," he replied, holding out his arm for her to hook under.

The moment they had arrived, all the things she had wanted and all the things she had thought she would do came crashing down. She wasn't ready to face these people. Would she ever be?

She knew she had to start somewhere. And she had been in this world for weeks, even months. Of course, there were people who might have a better understanding of her personality now - or whatever they thought they had with her now instead of the original Rowena.

That didn't mean she had a future without hurdles. She might never have that in the first place. All she could aim for was a life as smooth as possible, and that could only be achieved by starting on the right foot.

The big doors opened and she felt as if this had happened many times lately and yet it never got old. She still felt as if her heart beat way too fast and her breath would hitch several times, making her fear a hiccup would set in.

"Rowena Dynari van Varnhagen and Sir Lucan have arrived," he bellowed.

Suddenly she blinked, trying not to look at her partner with too much confusion on her face. "Sir Lucan?"

"I am an acolyte, but I have also achieved the status of a magic knight before. I was knighted, just not by the Church of Aurora."

"True... but that would undermine your status."

"Will that put your reputation in jeopardy?" He hadn't thought of that, so his voice was audibly worried. "I will reveal my identity if you wish."

"No, that's..." she had to think for a moment, "that's not necessary."

In fact, it might have been better that way, so people wouldn't be so hell-bent on the idea that she was going to marry into the Lodden Imperial Family.

Only now did Rowena notice the looks she was getting. Scorn, suspicion, curiosity, envy, and even some interest and admiration could be felt in them. It seemed quiet enough, if there had been a pin she might have heard it drop.

There was no grand orchestra now, for they would only play when the Emperor arrived and gave the signal. All the chatter had nearly stopped.

Rowena wasn't sure what to do, so she stepped further into the crowd and saw her stepmother standing close by, smiling warmly at her while still exuding her dignified aura.

Beatrice was a beauty, as always, fitting in perfectly among the noblewomen around her, dominating every space she filled.

'That's one handy social skill, I gotta say. I need to learn that.' But Rowena realized that she would have to talk to a lot of people, and she wasn't quite ready for that.

Just as the ban was slowly being broken, while still no one dared to approach her, something tickled the lavender-haired woman's ears from behind.

"How unrefined," hissed a voice she had heared before, not far from her.

"Sheila, you can't say that! She might have heard you," Elina said softly. Of course, Rowena would still pick up on it.

"Who cares? She's so awkward, she can barely look people in the face anyway, so who is she going to tattle on me to?"

"Still, it's a little..."

"Isn't it?" Alice interjected, "That look means she must have inherited most of 'that woman's' blood, right? We all know that."

"That woman's? What are they playing at?' Only now did it occur to her that they had meant her grandmother, Isidora.

A woman of obscure origin, which was a taboo subject to discuss, since the Marquis of Nerena had brought her from a small neighboring kingdom. Supposedly, she came from Edengard, but the novel didn't treat it as such a simple matter, though it was only mentioned in passing.

"Please," Elina tried to appeal to them again, "the young masters are here as well."

Even Sheila had to admit that she was going a bit too far at such an event. "Pff, fine."

Colin, who had heard a fraction of what she had said, perked up and started marching in their direction. "How dare they...!"

A hand to his chest stopped him from going any further. "Let's not make a scene."

"But they need to be punished, don't you think?"

"I don't think she would want that," Alan said after considering his words. 'She must have heard them.'

Not all contracted people would have senses as good as the Saintess allegedly had, or even as good as his father's, but the mere fact that they could control Mana made them capable of overhearing such a conversation. Rowena had been closer to these noble girls, and she was a Paladin.

'If she doesn't react, I can't make that decision for her.' It hurt him, too, of course, but that was what people thought, and Sheila Hestia Neuhaus wasn't on good terms with his sister.

"Oh, you must be the lady making her debut today," a loud voice suddenly interrupted all of Alan's thoughts, much like Rowena's, "congratulations, my lady. I would be honored if you would grant me the chance for a dance."

Surprised, Rowena barely managed to hold out her hand for him to take in greeting. Lucan looked at the man, who had tanned skin similar to Sir Yaakov's, but with a slight yellowish tint. A man from afar, it seemed.

"Where are my manners?" He dramatically put a hand to his forehead, signaling that he had made a mistake, "I know your name, Lady van Varnhagen, while you don't know mine."

"That is indeed true, my dear brother," a beautiful lady of the same complexion appeared beside the man still holding Rowena's hand in his, which the Lodden Prince eyed skeptically.

But of course he had an idea who was standing before him. "You must be His Royal Highness, the Prince of Ashanti. I have only heard stories of your adventures."

With a gleam in his eye, the prince finally let go of Rowena to point to his younger sister. "Indeed, my name is Azad Arora, and this lovely girl next to me is my sister, Princess Nisha."

It was surprising. They had actually invited Pagans from the Eastern Continent. According to the book, they believed in the God of Ashanti, Vahima.

'I never heard of that one in my old world.'

'It might have not existed in your world.'

'Right... Like Jesus didn't exist either?'

'No, I mean he wasn't a part of the history that people in your world made up.'

'Harsh much?'

'It isn't harsh. Humans have a tendency to make up something to believe in.'

His words somehow reminded her of the shrine and statue she had seen in his mind realm.

'True. A lot of people here know that Aurora was a Numbered as well, yet they keep pretending that she's a God.'

'It bears hope.' Hope, along with a fragile sense of safety and peace.

'But you said that Cain and Abel existed. They are also part of religion.' In fact, they existed as a story in this religion, just as they had in Celia's world, but it obviously had nothing to do with the God above them in the hierarchy.

'A part of your religion.' He was silent for a moment before answering. 'They were people who existed a long time ago.'

She was distracted as they exchanged words without her until the prince's sister put a hand on Rowena's shoulder. "You don't seem very comfortable. Is there anything we can do to help?"

"Oh," Rowena said, having no idea what was even happening around her, "no, I'm alright. It's all a new experience."

The princess smiled understandingly, looked around and nodded. "We will return later, after the Emperor has made his speech and it's a bit... quieter."

Only now did Rowena realize what she probably thought had happened. Everyone was looking at her, and this time not because of the "Crazy Lady".

No, the people looked at them strangely, wondering why these two royals had come all the way to Arlen. Not because they felt any strong animosity towards them or their kingdom - they hardly knew anything about them - but simply because Arlen was very friendly with the Holy Empire. Establishing ties with the Lodden Empire might already prove to be a burden on the way, but the Church hated those they considered pagans.

Rowena, on the other hand, knew exactly why they were here. Her eyes shifted subtly to the foreign Crown Prince's entourage. There he was, looking like any other guard, standing close to the walls of the ballroom, next to his colleague.

'So that's where you are, Jormungandr.' From here on out, this is where the novel truly began.

At that moment of revelation, a curtain opened and the members of the Imperial Family of Arlen, joined by the honorable visitors from the Church of Aurora, stepped onto the balcony high above the crowd.