In Auraria Imperial City, the heroes who had defeated the Mad Dragon and returned by a long road were treated with grand hospitality.
And even greater attention was paid to the four heroes who had come to Auraria instead of returning to their home countries.
"But why have they come to Auraria?"
"The reason is unknown, but doesn't it mean that among the Five Empires, our Auraria is the finest? Perhaps they might even settle here."
"His Imperial Majesty the Emperor will be pleased."
"Coincidentally, I was looking into marriage arrangements for my daughter... this works out well."
The ministers of Auraria whispered among themselves as they watched them attending the banquet.
And for good reason—those four had each achieved tremendous merit in this war.
One elderly nobleman, a minister of Auraria, observed them closely.
He was the minister who had just mentioned looking into marriage arrangements for his daughter.
He seemed to be pondering which of those four would best suit his daughter.
Moreover, he heard that one of them had been recognized by the Holy Emperor himself for possessing immense divine power and had received the Emperor's personal seal.
'So it's him.'
The elderly noble's gaze was directed at Griffith.
His cold expression was a flaw, but judging by the way the women at the banquet glanced at him, that very trait seemed to make him more attractive.
However, he was ultimately someone who would join the Temple. He didn't want to send his daughter to the Temple.
The elderly noble's gaze shifted to the side.
'The Crown Prince of Hresvelg Empire, was it?'
It was Oscar.
The elderly noble was impressed. He was truly a handsome man, as if painted in a portrait.
A crown prince— that would be even better. His daughter could become the Empress of an empire.
At that moment, the elderly noble's eyes met Oscar's.
"……!"
The elderly noble was startled and quickly averted his gaze. His eyes were so cold that it felt like making eye contact with a ghost.
'...He won't do.'
He was someone whose energy was cold enough to make one suspect he was of the demon race. One could instinctively sense that he was dangerous.
The elderly noble kept his head lowered for a while before turning his gaze again.
The next person he looked at was Calix, renowned as a mercenary.
The elderly noble shook his head and turned away. Calix had lost the sight in both eyes during the battle with the Mad Dragon.
Though they said he hadn't completely lost his vision yet....
'I cannot take a man with physical defects as a son-in-law.'
The elderly noble evaluated coldly and shifted his gaze.
'He would be the best choice after all.'
Romeo Rosebery.
Though he had renounced his claim to the throne, he was still undeniably of imperial blood. Moreover, his appearance was beautiful, and seeing how readily he smiled, his personality seemed good as well.
And so, after the banquet ended.
People began freely walking around with champagne, eating desserts, and engaging in conversation.
Seizing the opportunity, the elderly noble approached Romeo with a champagne glass in hand.
As he approached, Romeo greeted him first as if he had been waiting.
'Good manners too.'
The elderly noble smiled to himself and continued the conversation with him.
As they exchanged various topics, before he knew it, the subject had drifted to an odd direction.
"Relia? Relia... hmm...."
The elderly noble quietly pondered the name Romeo had asked about, then seemed to recall something and said, "Ah!"
"You mean that princess! The daughter of the late Princess Iris!"
At his reaction, Romeo smiled gently and drew out more information.
"Is there anything you know about her?"
"If it's that princess... she went missing a few years ago. At first, His Majesty sent soldiers to search for her but soon gave up, if I recall correctly.... Since she left the imperial palace on her own feet, he must have decided to let her live freely."
"Missing...."
"It seemed she left of her own will to avoid a political marriage. His Majesty graciously ordered the search to stop. I heard she had been living in a tower at the edge of the forest until then."
He found himself divulging everything he knew without realizing it.
Perhaps he was drunk, for strangely the words just kept flowing.
Belatedly, the elderly noble tried to steer the conversation by asking Romeo, 'By the way, do you have a fiancée....'
But when he came to his senses, the golden-haired man was nowhere to be found even after rubbing his eyes and searching.
It was as if he had been bewitched by a fox.