A few days later, at the evening party meticulously prepared and hosted by his second sister Beline, the luxurious castle hall was resplendently decorated. Crystal chandeliers cast brilliant light.
Various noble ladies and madams, dressed in floor-length gowns, with diamond necklaces and pearl earrings sparkling beside their fair skin, moved gracefully, conversing with each other, and occasionally letting out bell-like laughter.
Other male nobles gathered in small groups, holding high-stemmed glasses filled with fine red wine, gently swirling them as they discussed the harvest of their territories, the latest magical research findings, and political secrets circulating in the royal capital.
Occasionally, a few spirited young male nobles would mention recent hunting activities, their eyes gleaming with excitement as they gestured to scenes of prey escaping and their heroic kills, drawing gasps of admiration from those around them.
Still, some senior nobles exchanged glances subtly, quietly discussing the details of business collaborations, their words filled with considerations and calculations of profit.
In truth, Martin had not wanted to attend such a banquet. For him, the social gatherings where nobles were outwardly polite but inwardly scheming were truly tedious and draining, and he would rather think more about how to earn gold coins.
However, he couldn't resist Beline's mischievousness. Beline was like a lively little fox, always finding various ways to wear him down with soft tactics.
She first tugged at Martin's arm pitifully, whining that if he didn't go, she would have no one to rely on at the banquet.
Seeing that this tactic wasn't effective enough, she began to boast about how many novel and interesting things there would be at the banquet, from mysterious magic performances to rare and exotic beasts, describing them vividly.
Martin was worn down, and coupled with his mother's demands, he finally had no choice but to reluctantly compromise and attend the banquet.
At this moment, Martin stood in a corner of the banquet hall, looking at the scene around him that felt completely out of place, and silently sighed in his heart, only wishing for the banquet to end quickly.
Just then, a voice reached Martin's ears, "Hello, excuse me, are you Martin White?"
Martin turned his head at the sound and saw a teenage girl. She was wearing a light blue fluffy dress, with delicate patterns embroidered in silver thread on the hem, gently swaying with her movements, making every movement feel so beautiful.
The girl's face was fair and tender, and a pair of watery big eyes stared quietly at Martin.
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes full of anticipation, as if waiting for Martin's answer.
Martin was slightly taken aback, not expecting someone to approach him in such a setting, and such a lovely girl at that.
He smiled politely, nodding slightly and saying, "Yes, I am Martin White. Is there something I can help you with, Miss?"
Upon hearing this, the girl's face immediately broke into a lovely smile, and a slight blush slowly appeared on her cheeks. She nervously twirled her fingers and softly said, "I... I saw you alone in the corner, and I wanted to say hello to you."
As soon as she finished speaking, the girl curtsied adorably, then said in a clear voice, "Hello! I'm Reina Carlos, the eighth daughter of Count Carlos!"
The two chatted back and forth, and as they talked, Martin discovered that the girl was particularly easy to embarrass.
So, he would occasionally tease her on purpose, and each time he managed to make the girl's face turn as red as an apple.
The grand banquet quietly drew to a close amidst their pleasant and in-depth conversation.
But even so, they still felt that time had passed too quickly, as if there were still many topics they hadn't had time to explore, both feeling a lingering sense of unfinished business.
After the two reluctantly bid each other farewell, a figure, unnoticed, had quietly approached Martin's side.
Looking closely, it was his second sister. She had a cunning, mischievous smile on her face, her gaze fixed directly on Martin, her eyes as if she had discovered some earth-shattering secret. She just stared intently at Martin.
Martin didn't look at his second sister. After leaving the banquet, he didn't even say hello and walked directly to his room, though his steps quickened.