In an instant, the atmosphere around them dropped to freezing point, as if swords were drawn and arrows nocked.

Many guests witnessed the confrontation between Viktor Kravina and Jace Reiser.

Viktor even used magic to warn Jace.

Jace Reiser's face darkened, feeling humiliated by this public rebuke.

But that wasn't the point. Jace desperately wanted to know what relationship Viktor had with the Princess, and why His Majesty would so trustingly allow the Princess to be with Viktor.

Gwen Delin also saw this scene and was about to rush over, lifting her floor-length dress, but was quickly held back by the onlooking Kevla Delin.

"Hey, hey, little Gwen! Where do you think you're going?"

"To stop those two."

"Don't go over there and make things worse."

She successfully pulled Gwen back, and seeing Gwen's puffed-up face, she knew Gwen must be seething inside.

Of course, Gwen knew about the Reiser family's eldest son.

When she saw him deliberately approach Viktor and cause such a commotion, Gwen was already displeased.

Why? The Reiser family had made such a big mistake, and now he was still trying to pick a fight with Viktor.

What's worse, the people around them were just standing by and watching.

Gwen felt indignant, but could only stop under her sister's restraint.

She turned away in a huff and stomped off to drink.

Erica du Cloye, on the other hand, glanced at Gwen several times, curious about her angry demeanor.

She tugged at Kevla's sleeve and whispered quietly:

"Sister Kevla, Lady Gwen..."

After their battle with the demon, Kevla and Erica's relationship had quickly warmed up. Despite their significant age difference, they had become comrades who had been through life and death together.

"She looks a bit angry? That's only natural," Kevla said with a mischievous grin.

"Seeing her fiancé being deliberately provoked, how could she not be angry?"

"Oh, so that's it!"

Erica had a sudden realization and breathed a sigh of relief.

What was all this about? So he was her fiancé, thankfully not her boyfriend...

"Eh???"

Erica blinked.

"Fiancé?"

"Mm-hmm, fiancé."

Kevla nodded with a grin.

Seeing Kevla's confident confirmation, Erica covered her head.

Then she heard Kevla continue:

"Ah, not many people know about this. After all, they're both quite low-key. But most people of your father's generation are aware of it."

"What's wrong? You don't look too happy."

Kevla asked with concern, gently patting Erica's head.

"No... nothing."

Erica's mood suddenly became subtly depressed, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why.

She just felt a bit irritated.

Kevla looked at her with a smile, inwardly sighing.

Although Erica had been through life-and-death situations,

Strictly speaking, she was still a child.

Her thoughts were too easy to read. Kevla could tell with just one look that she admired Viktor.

There might even be something more mixed in.

If that was the case, it would be best to nip these feelings in the bud before they could develop, before their teacher-student relationship could change.

Cutting off Erica's thoughts decisively was undoubtedly the best choice.

Besides, she truly approved of her own sister.

Although Viktor's character was quite poor, his abilities were real, and he knew how to make money.

Just thinking about how he had charged her 8,000 gios for saving her made her inexplicably unhappy.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

This man was simply a business genius.

She could understand why so many people were hostile towards Viktor.

But Kevla was just joking to herself.

With such a capable brother-in-law, how could she let anyone else have him?

While she was chatting idly with Erica, things were heating up again around Viktor.

Jace was now very upset.

His face was flushed, and his emotions were running high.

He began to question Viktor:

"Tell me to get lost? What right do you have to tell me to get lost?"

"He does indeed have that right."

A voice rang out from the crowd, and the Second Prince, smiling, made his way through the throng.

The surrounding people saw the Second Prince's appearance and immediately began to whisper:

"Why has the Second Prince come?"

"I don't know, he can't be here to help Viktor, can he?"

People speculated about the Second Prince's intentions, while the prince himself remained perfectly calm.

He saw his sister hiding behind Viktor, frowned slightly, sighed, and said to Jace Reiser:

"Cousin Jace, I understand your emotions, but this is not a reason for you to come and deliberately cause trouble."

"Your attitude has frightened my little sister."

Jace Reiser looked at the Princess and saw Aurelian slightly shrinking her head, not daring to look at him. His brain, flushed with anger, immediately cleared of some confusion.

But he still said dissatisfiedly:

"If Her Highness the Princess wants me to leave, of course I can go, but what position does Viktor have to tell me to get lost?"

The Reiser family's contributions to the royal family were not small, and the Kravina family certainly couldn't step on their heads just because of one demon battle.

Jace thought to himself, but then he heard the Second Prince narrow his eyes, his tone becoming somewhat unfriendly.

"Jace."

The Second Prince no longer addressed him as cousin, his tone somewhat displeased:

"Mr. Viktor has been personally appointed by Father as the magic tutor for my little sister."

Whoosh!

Instantly, the entire venue was in an uproar.

"Viktor has actually become the Princess's private tutor!?"

"No wonder he could accompany His Majesty, isn't this a clear sign of cozying up to the royal family?"

Gwen, who was drinking alone not far away, also spat out her wine upon hearing this news.

"What? Viktor? Is the Princess's private tutor!?"

Kevla was also stunned after hearing this news, the smile on her face gradually freezing.

This was no ordinary matter.

Teachers, after all, had their ranks.

If he were just a lecturer at the academy, it wouldn't cause such a shock among the nobility.

But Viktor was a tutor personally appointed by the Emperor for the Princess.

Strictly speaking, this was already a 'master' and 'disciple' relationship.

As the Princess's teacher, strictly speaking, Viktor could even influence the Princess's future.

Thus, those present had new questions.

Such an important position, His Majesty had given it to Viktor, was he suitable?

He was more than suitable!

Not to mention that Viktor was a senior professor at the Royal Magic Academy, already belonging to the Empire.

The youngest fourth-tier Saint Mage, which already demonstrated his genius!

Before Viktor, no one would have believed that a mage could reach this level before the age of thirty.

Viktor's reputation for genius had consistently broken the Empire's records.

If he wasn't suitable, then no one would be.

"Originally, Father was planning to announce this to the whole city tomorrow, but I've explained it in advance to give everyone some mental preparation."

"So, Mr. Viktor's words are essentially my little sister's words. Jace, do you understand?"

The Second Prince explained everything with a light laugh.

Hearing this, Jace Reiser's face turned gloomy. Unable to accept it, he gritted his teeth, glared at Viktor, snorted angrily, and stormed off.

He was gone, and the atmosphere around was no longer quiet.

The nobles began to whisper and mutter to each other, and the entire banquet took on a completely different appearance.

Everyone realized that Viktor had become the Princess's teacher.

Viktor had risen in rank again, and the Kravina family could be said to be at the height of their prosperity.

The Second Prince had proactively appeared to defuse the situation for Viktor, and then actively promoted Viktor's teacher-student relationship with the Princess.

Among those who had become nobles and appeared at the banquet, few were fools.

First accompanying His Majesty, and now receiving favor from one of the royal heirs.

At this moment, everyone felt a sense of suffocation.

Lia Kravina had just come out of the restroom. She adjusted her gown and saw that the atmosphere in the banquet hall was a bit off, leaving her bewildered.

What was going on? Why was the Second Prince by Viktor's side?

Of course, she hadn't seen the initial scene, and was somewhat confused.

Could it be that the Second Prince was already planning to win Viktor over?

The Second Prince smiled and nodded slightly to Viktor.

"I'm very sorry about this situation, Viscount Viktor... oh, pardon me, it should be Earl now."

"I apologize for Cousin Jace's rash behavior."

He bowed slightly, apologized, and then hurriedly left without waiting for Viktor's response.

It was as if he had come purely to defuse the situation for Viktor, to help him make a good impression in front of the guests.

He didn't even stay to say anything more.

Seeing the Second Prince's departure, the guests gradually dispersed, going about their business.

Many young nobles looked at Viktor with strange expressions.

They wanted to come over and greet Viktor, but remembering his attitude towards Jace earlier, no one dared to come and risk unpleasantness.

In contrast, Lia became the target of many people's attempts to strike up a conversation.

"Miss Lia."

Hearing the source of the voice, Lia turned to see several nobles approaching her.

She smiled habitually, though it was a fake smile.

"I'm Hanser, and these two are Mr. Tick and Mrs. Annie."

Lia responded with a kind smile, shaking hands with each of them.

Lia handled these nobles with ease.

As she conversed, she glanced irritably towards Viktor's direction.

She saw Viktor sitting expressionlessly in the corner, yet no one dared to chat with him, and she suddenly felt envious.

Just putting on a poker face was enough to avoid being disturbed, how nice that must be.

Sigh.

Thinking this, Lia heaved a heavy sigh, quickly adjusted her mood, and once again forced a smile as she chatted with the nobles.

Kevla leaned against Erica's side, clicking her tongue in wonder.

"I never thought Viktor would get so cozy with the royal family."

"The Princess's teacher, huh? I've heard the Princess is quite talented too, wonder if that's true."

As she spoke, Kevla saw Gwen on the other side, her face slightly flushed, clearly having had a bit too much to drink. She walked over helplessly and snatched the wine glass from Gwen's hand.

"Alright, alright, little Gwen, stop drinking."

"If you drink too much, there'll be no one to take care of you."

Only Erica was left standing in place, staring blankly at Viktor in the corner.

Beside him was the Princess, who didn't seem to dislike Viktor, and even wore a smile while chatting with him.

And Viktor? He still had that poker face, showing no change at all.

As if suddenly remembering something, she came to her senses and walked towards Viktor.

The Duke had been standing nearby the whole time. Seeing Erica's movement, he couldn't help but sigh, shake his head, and then went back to chatting with the nobles beside him.

"Mr. Viktor, thank you very much..."

"Um... Professor."

As the Princess and Viktor were chatting, an untimely voice interjected.

Both the Princess and Viktor looked towards the source of the voice.

Erica was clenching her fists against her chest, her face slightly flushed.

She seemed to have made some decision, lowered her head, and boldly said:

"I want to become stronger too!"

"I also want to become your disciple!"