Princess Iris moved gracefully among the guests, courteously greeting every noble who bowed in her presenbsp;
Her smile was fwless, her voice soft yet firm, leaving a refined and elegant impression with every word she spoke.
No matter how fttering the nobles were, she responded with the same measured kindness, thanking them for their pliments without showing even a hint anbsp;
But then, her gaze fixed on someone in particur.
Among the crowd of elegantly dressed here he was.
Non Rook.
To everyone’s surprise, instead of mingling with the kingdom’s elite, he seemed far more ied in the ba.
He hadn’t stopped eating since he arrived, sampling one delicious treat after another served on the luxurious trays.
He didn’t even seem aware of the mog and disdainful looks some were giving him.
To him, the only thing that mattered at that moment was the food.
A fsh of mischief sparkled in the princess’s eyes.
'So he really loves his food, huh?'
Without hesitation, Iris walked straight toward him.
Murmurs began to ripple through the nobles.
"Where is the princess off to...?"
"Wait... could it be...?"
"It ’t be!"
Non hadn’t even noticed the princess’s preseil she was close enough for her shadow to fall over part of the table.
Only then did he lift his head—still holding a pieeat in his hand—and regard her with his usual calm expression.
"Oh," said Non, as if notig her for the first time. "Yhness."
He offered a slight nod in respect, but before he could say anything further, the princess interrupted him with a smile.
"Non Rook."
Silence fell over the hall.
The nobles froze in their pces.
'Wait... what did she just say?' went the general thought.
That young man, who had beeing as if he had no manners, was… the legendary warrior?
Some tried to hide their astonishment, but others simply couldn’t.
Gnces darted around as they tried to process the revetion.
Among the most shocked were the noblewomen—many of whom had heard tales of Non but had never seen him in person.
"Is he… Non Rook?"
"But he’s been right in front of us the whole time!"
"It ’t be—no oold us he was so young!"
"Why did no one pay attention to him before?"
The murmurs grew louder, and chaos threateo erupt.
Some girls immediately regretted not having tried to speak with him earlier. Other nobles felt anger for having overlooked someone so important. The more calg among them were already scheming ways to approach him before it was too te.
But Non, ign the otion around him, simply tinued chewing his food and replied:
"I see Yhness has e in person to greet me."
Iris ughed softly.
"There’s o be so formal with me. After all, we’re close friends."
The silence grew even heavier.
Could it really be that Princess Iris and Non Rook were close friends!?
The murmurs swelled in volume.
Emily looked around, notig the flood of bewildered, surprised, and even envious expressions across the nobles’ faces. She wondered if this was a joke from the princess or if she was truly speaking the truth.
For his part, Non didn’t seem surprised or affected at all.
He simply nodded calmly.
"If Yhness says so..."
Emily felt an urge to cover her fabsp;
'How he be so nont in a situation like this?!'
Iris seemed to relish the guests’ reas, but sooing to her role as hostess, she made a slight gesture.
"e, Non. I’ve prepared a special pce for you."
Non gnced around and then at Emily.
"Could she join me as well?"
Iris observed Emily for a moment before smiling.
"Of course."
Taking Emily by the arm, Non led her alongside the prihrough the sea of nobles who were still whispering incessantly.
'This is a disaster,' thought Emily as she felt the inteares fixed on her babsp;
Finally, they arrived at a slightly more secluded part of the hall.
There were fewer people there, yet the tables were still den with food, and the atmosphere was much calmer. Non took a quick look and nodded in approval.
"Nice spot."
Iris appeared pleased with his assessment.
It was at that moment that Emily decided to be polite and gave the princess a small bow.
"Thank you very much for letting us be here, Yhness."
But Iris shook her head.
"There’s o be so formal with me. If you’re close to Non, then those formalities aren’t necessary."
Emily blinked in surprise, feeling her cheeks warm slightly.
'Why does everyone say I’m close to Non?!'
But before she could reply, Iris turned her attention back to Non.
"I wao ask you something, Non. Could you apany me when I deliver my speech?"
Non, who was about to grab another bite, paused.
"Will there be food after the speech?"
Iris let out a soft chuckle.
"Yes."
Non nodded.
"Then it’s fine."
But then he added calmly:
" I trust that Emily will be uhe prote of some reliable guards in the meantime?"
Iris looked at him with i before smiling.
"You take that as a given, if you like."
It was then that the princess gnced around at the uests in that area.
These were not just any nobles.
They were representatives of other nations.
With an enting smile, the princess gestured toward them.
"Allow me to introduce you to Non Rook."
The first to step forward were the representatives from Bravka.
A short-haired white woman with intense red eyes advanced fidently. Despite her youthful appearance, her upright posture and the quality of her attire spoke of her high status.
"Anya Volkov," she said in a firm voice. "It is an honor to meet you, Non Rook."
Behind her, several women in simir attire offered slight bows. There were also men in matg formal wear, all with serious expressions.
Then, a brown-haired woman with her hair tied in a high ponytail approached with a more rexed smile.
"I’m Cassiel," she introduced herself. "It’s a pleasure to see you in person."
After her, a tall man in a bck robe came forward with a calm expression.
"Caleb," he said simply. "A pleasure."
The trast between them was striking.
The representatives from Bravka appeared stiff and disciplined, while those from Astria… exuded a more rexed air.
Non observed them all calmly and finally replied:
"I uand."
And theook another bite of food.
Emily felt her eye twitbsp;
' he really keep eating after all this?!'
