"Good afternoon, Lady Durchville!" I greeted softly, bowing to her. From what I remembered, Durchville was the surname of a Duke's family, meaning her rank was higher than mine. Lady Durchville returned my smile briefly before turning her attention to Rovan.

"Rovan, didn't you say you wouldn't be attending the party tonight?" she remarked, nudging his shoulder. Rovan shrugged and moved to stand beside me, extending his hand to escort me. I accepted his hand, glancing at Lady Durchville.

'Hm?'

"I changed my mind," Rovan replied curtly.

"Ah, I see."

"Grace!" Another person approached us.

Sebastian De Alba

Affinity: 0%

Mood: -

Status: Noble of Aragon (De Alba House)

Relationship: -

'De Alba? Wait, isn't that the Queen's surname? Could it be…'

"Prince Sebastian." Rovan bowed respectfully, I mirrored his gesture, my mind racing to piece together the identity of the man with the striking golden hair.

"Oh, so Lord Rovan and Lady Estelle are here as well. Congratulations on your debut today, my lady." The man looked at me with his crimson eyes, I thanked him with a courteous smile, sensing the distinct aura of authority he exuded.

"Sebastian, have you finished your business?" Gracellyn extended her hand toward Sebastian. Like an obedient puppy, Sebastian took her hand and kissed it.

I was now certain that Sebastian De Alba was the son of Archduke and Archduchess De Alba, relatives of the Queen of Aragon. He was the eldest son of the De Alba family, and although there was no further information about him in the game, he should be on the list of heirs to the throne of Aragon, as the king himself had no direct relatives.

I glanced at Rovan, who maintained a neutral expression and remained silent.

"We'll take our leave now, Lord Rovan, Lady Estelle. Uncle wants to meet us before the party begins," he said, taking Gracellyn's hand.

"Very well, see you at the party," Rovan replied expressionlessly, while I nodded and smiled.

'It seems Rovan doesn't have a good relationship with those two, and maybe I don't either?'

"Estelle, let's head to the parlour."

Entering the castle and merely seeing its exterior are two entirely different experiences. I vividly remember the immense effort, dedication, and time I invested in constructing the main palace of the Kingdom of Aragon, a grand and majestic structure. White Castle was a special castle I built for hosting royal events. Occasionally, some nobles, with the King's permission, were allowed to hold their events in this castle.

We were placed in a drawing room where several servants came in to serve tea and snacks. I chatted with Rovan about the things to keep in mind during the debutante ball. He advised me to stay focused so that when I was called, I wouldn't forget to step forward, greet the King and Queen, and receive their blessing.

"You will go before Lady Grace because she is from a Duke's family," Rovan explained while sipping the jasmine tea provided by the servants.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

I bowed my head and took a deep breath, 1...2...3.

'The last time I was in the spotlight was during a national seminar, presenting for my company. This pressure is on an entirely different level—appearing before dozens of nobles and the King of this country!'

I kept repeating to myself that this was just a game and they were characters I created in the game, not real kings and queens. Besides, no one knew when I would wake up from this long dream.

"Lord Erlando, Lady Loraine. The party is about to begin," a servant informed us from outside the room. Rovan adjusted his collar and was ready to stand up and guide me to the hall. Every step I took was accompanied by a deep breath in and out. For some reason, Rovan's presence made me feel a bit calmer, and he repeatedly rubbed my cold, trembling hand to reassure me.

Faintly, I heard the harmonious tunes of violins and cellos. The melodious sound of the piano grew clearer as I got closer to the door leading to the hall.

'Wait. I know this song.'

A guard opened the door, and another guard inside the hall announced our names.

"Lord Rovan Erlando and Lady Estelle Loraine entering the hall!"

The once lively chatter of the hall fell silent, leaving only the elegant music to accompany our entrance. The gazes of young nobles fixated on us. Instead of feeling intimidated, I fought to suppress a grin.

'This music! This is the Enchanted Realms login theme! BUAHAHAHAHAHA!'

All eyes turned to the young man and woman descending into the main hall. The man's silver hair glistened under the chandelier's light, enhancing his radiance. The woman on his arm, with her focused gaze on the steps and her cool expression, captivated the young nobles attending the party.

Upon reaching the hall, Estelle walked alone toward the King and Queen of Aragon.

"Congratulations on your debut into society, Lady Estelle Loraine," the King greeted. His fiery red eyes looked at Estelle with a gaze full of affection. Besides Estelle, who was puzzled by this treatment, everyone at the party viewed the scene with emotional reverence.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Estelle replied softly, then took a step back.

After the debutantes' welcome ceremony concluded, music filled the hall again, and couples began to dance with their escorts. Estelle, too, danced gracefully with her childhood friend, Rovan.

'Thanks to Estelle's muscle memory for diligently learning etiquette and dance. I can adapt and dance well tonight,' she thought with relief.

Ting ting ting

The clinking of a glass, struck by King Dixon de Aragon, echoed through the room. Everyone ceased their activities, including the orchestra, leaving the hall in silence.

"Good evening, everyone. I welcome you to tonight's debutante ball." The voice of the man, well into his fifties, resonated throughout the hall. Beside him stood a middle-aged woman with thin, shining golden hair, matching the grand crown on her head. Her crimson eyes sparkled with arrogance, yet her smile and expression exuded wisdom.

'So that's Queen Aragon, Izabella de Alba. She looks so much like Sebastian,' Estelle mused.

Next to the Queen stood a beautiful girl with cotton candy-pink hair, her gentle expression captivating Estelle. Beside the King was a man with glistening red hair reflecting the light like rubies—a signature trait of the Royal Family of Aragon. Fiery red eyes and shining ruby-red hair.

Suddenly, the prince's gaze met Estelle's directly, surprising and embarrassing her. The striking beauty was undoubtedly a hereditary trait in the Aragon family. Estelle returned the gaze with a smile, then looked down to hide her blushing cheeks.

"On this joyous evening for all of us, I have an important announcement for Aragon. Prince Sebastian will officially be engaged to the beautiful lady from the Durchville family, Gracellyn Durchville."

The guests cheered and applauded, filling the hall that had been quiet moments before. The couple raised their hands, waving at the guests.

"No wonder their interaction was like that earlier," Estelle murmured, recalling how Sebastian treated Gracellyn.

'Hm? Why is the King's gaze directed at me…? Or is it just my imagination?' Estelle looked around, puzzled. There was no one beside her except Rovan. Unsure how to respond, she stood still, glancing around nervously.

"The Crown Prince, Prince Elias de Aragon, enters the hall!" The guard's shout cut through the applause. Everyone stopped and stood still, bowing, awaiting the Crown Prince's entrance.