As a coming-of-age ceremony for a duke's direct daughter, it was naturally impossible for the top nobles of the empire to miss such an important banquet.

As the daughter of the Melos family, Ariel could recognize most of the upper-class guests present. After all, many of them were people from the aristocratic circle, and many of them even interacted with them.

Either this is a young master from a certain Marquis family, or that is a young lady from a certain Earl family... They are even familiar with each other.

Because social interaction is a very important and compulsory course for nobles, the situation of the Melos family with few heirs is a special case. With fewer family members, there will naturally be less social interaction.

But in the elite education of the nobility, there is a history of nobility that introduces and studies each aristocratic family. For example, the location of each family's fiefdom, the family's symbol and family emblem, etc.

Of course, what is indispensable is the historical merits and honors of each noble family.

In Ariel's current words, this subject is a history of bragging among nobles to compare themselves to each other and praise each other. The basic events and honorary history above are all exaggerated and beautified.

For example: Count Beru killed an evil dragon that was raging in a village in the empire in the winter moon of 1143... Do you think this kind of thing and honor may be true?

If this earl had such ability, he would have become a duke long ago. According to rumors, the dragon that was slain was at most a sub-dragon. After public opinion building and mutual bragging, he got the so-called title of dragon slayer.

In fact, among the major nobles, the so-called "dragon-slaying warrior" title has long been lost on the streets.

Why not look at the former novice who has been dominating the Forest of Death for hundreds of years. He has been known as the Death Disaster for many years, but who dares to actually slay the dragon?

Even an ordinary legendary powerhouse would never want to provoke a real adult dragon.

Therefore, this aristocratic history is fairly outrageous, and it would be great to have two points. However, the basic introduction to each aristocratic family is definitely useful for identifying people.

Ariel, who had studied these assiduously back then, was not surprised to be able to recognize them.

In addition to these middle- and upper-class nobles, there are the four real top ducal families of the Sder Empire, plus an imperial royal family. There is no shortage of them in this coming-of-age ceremony.

But of course, those sent by these families to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony are all representative figures.

For example, the Melos family is sparsely populated, and Ariel is missing. Naturally, it is impossible to send Fitch, the only heir, to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony, unless the girl's brother is interested in Lucy.

Not to mention, if Fitch Melos is interested in Lucy, a marriage between the two families is really possible.

Therefore, the Melos family sent a butler to the banquet as a representative; the Ross and Kyle families also sent two collateral descendants whom Ariel was not familiar with to represent them.

It can be seen that as the duke family of the same level, they basically have little interest in Lucy's adult etiquette. At least the important members of the direct family do not like this cute and timid girl very much.

As for the royal family, when she first met Harold, the girl thought he was here as a representative of the royal family.

However, when she saw another royal representative team in the banquet hall today, Ariel was even more sure of her guess. That guy definitely had an ulterior motive in coming to the Terry family!

At the same time, when she saw clearly the arrival of the royal family, the girl felt a little disappointed because her other friend Nia did not come to participate in Lucy's coming-of-age ceremony. She did not know why.

In addition to representatives of the major duke families, most of the visitors were actually here for the coming-of-age ceremony. Various princes, earls, and noble sons from the viscount family all came for Lucy.

Of course, among so many of them, only one will be able to embrace the beauty in his arms in the end.

So the purpose of so many female guests at the banquet was obvious. This is another level of adult etiquette, probably similar to the blind date conference in the modern world.

These aristocratic children can find their favorite person to get to know each other at the venue. As long as the other person agrees to dance together after communication, it is probably equivalent to agreeing to a relationship. Afterwards, the relationship will be deepened before going further.

The surrounding guests also formed small circles, and familiar people gathered together in twos and threes. They were either smiling and chatting, or talking in low voices about a certain noble girl.

Ariel, who also came from a noble background, is naturally familiar with such gatherings of nobles. She has seen many such scenes. However, the girl has always been the protagonist before, or at least the focus.

Now, from the perspective of a bystander, I have a different feeling when I look at this banquet. Each of the noble guests looks bright, polite, elegant and reserved.

But in the eyes of a girl whose mental power has transformed and whose perception has become stronger, the falseness can be clearly seen. It is like people wearing masks, hiding their inner desires and emotions under the light.

Ariel sighed a little when she saw all the things in front of her. She was also a noble, so she was already used to this.

This is how nobles are, all the darkness and desires are hidden under the table. On the surface, they all look peaceful and polite. This is what nobles call elegance or rules.

If it were her before, maybe she would still be able to blend in now. In front of everyone wearing a mask, she would also wear a mask to get around, and even talk and laugh.

She can do the same now, or even do it better, but there is no need to do so now.

Because after leaving home, she was not Ariel Melos, the little princess of the Melos family, but just Ariel! At this moment, the girl suddenly felt a little pale.

'Perhaps... only by his side can I not wear any mask, just be myself, relax and feel comfortable.'

After sighing silently, the girl retracted her thoughts, still maintaining a polite smile on the surface. She gently picked up the glass of wine and tasted it elegantly, while pretending to look at the guests around her.

In fact, Ariel's extraordinary temperament has aroused a lot of interest so far. Many people want to come forward to get to know her, but they are all politely brushed off by her with a smile.

There is a saying that the girl is fully qualified as a noble. Elegance, grace, confidence, calmness... She possesses almost all the characteristics of a noble.

For example, the maid next to her was already impressed by her aristocratic demeanor. Not only did her eyes become hotter, her voice when she softly introduced the guests was also sweeter.

I'm afraid that as long as the banquet is over, Ariel can seize this already lustful maid.

'Naughty woman...'

The girl who knew the maid's thoughts secretly rolled her eyes, but she didn't know that she was also a nymphomaniac to Bai Na.

However, even though she was complaining in her heart, she still maintained a calm and elegant smile on the surface. She did not look down on the other party because of her status as a maid, which may have given the maid the illusion that Ariel was interested in her.

Ariel found a place to sit in a corner, showing that she had no intention of making friends with the guests. The little maid also followed the girl step by step, and it seemed that she had caught her eye.

Anyway, she was destined to be in vain, and the girl didn't pay much attention to her. But maybe she could still use the waste? After thinking about it, she ordered the maid.

"Come and have a drink with me."

The girl actually didn't mean anything else. It was just that it was too disobedient not to find someone to drink with on this occasion. But in the eyes of the maid, this was already a clear hint, and she felt pleased that the situation was stable.

The maid responded sweetly, her face rosy as she didn't know what plot she was imagining.

Perhaps it was due to the strict family tradition of the Terry family, but this maid was indeed very polite and reserved. Even when she was serving as a drinker at a banquet, she didn't really get too close to Ariel.

Just like that, Ariel sat aside and drank a small drink with the beautiful maid. She occasionally dealt with some guests who came to strike up a conversation and make friends, and quietly waited for the real protagonist of the banquet to enter.

We didn't have to wait for too long. When the number of guests entering the hall gradually became less and less, the magic music in the hall slowly became quiet, and the guests stopped talking in a tacit understanding.

As the atmosphere in the banquet hall became quiet, under the gaze of many noble guests, a middle-aged man in a black dress slowly walked down the steps in the center of the castle hall.

The middle-aged man has short silver hair and a cold and serious expression. Although there are some wrinkles left by the years on his face, it does not affect the majesty he exudes at all.

He just walked down the steps slowly, but the aura condensed on his body was extremely terrifying. He was obviously just wearing an ordinary dress for a banquet, but he could feel as ferocious as battlefield armor.

He was like a bloodthirsty battlefield beast, his aura alone overwhelmed all the guests present!

…

Ariel, who had been sitting in the corner, finally became serious at this time. She slowly sat up straight and looked solemnly at this middle-aged man with an iron-blooded aura.

Facing the pressure of his terrifying momentum, the girl kept the elegant smile on her lips unchanged. But the ferocious momentum from the battlefield made her feel secretly awe-inspiring.

"Master...are we finally going to play?"

Looking at the middle-aged man slowly walking down the steps, the girl couldn't help but recall the rumors about Duke Terry.

Bunir Terry, Duke Terry, one of the four great dukes. The contemporary head of the Terry family, a legendary and powerful warrior.

The Terry family guards the border, and Duke Terry is also a fierce general who has fought on the battlefield. However, due to years of war, he has a tough and iron-blooded character.

Whether it is within the family or outside the family, he always speaks the truth. Because of his tough and iron-blooded military style, he is also known as the war lord!

The other party practices martial arts suitable for battlefield fighting, which in pale terms means AOE range damage. Among the major foreign races in the north, he can be said to be famous.
Chapter completed!