"Hm?"
Fang Li was suddenly pulled free from his thoughts and abruptly raised his head.
A fleeting, razor-sharp edge had awakened his instincts.
"What is it?"
Both Emilia and Beatrice froze in surprise.
"Sir Fang Li?"
Crusch, Anastasia, Wilhelm, Julius, Felix, and the others were all taken aback as well.
That was only natural.
Until then, Fang Li had looked completely relaxed. Like a carefree traveler, he had stayed beside Emilia and Beatrice without showing the slightest tension, putting everyone around him at ease.
After all, even a deadly weapon made people feel safe when it was kept in its sheath, didn't it?
But now was different.
At least, to Wilhelm and Julius, the deadly weapon sheathed away had already been drawn.
Though it had only been drawn a fraction, the aura sharp enough to sting their skin still made Wilhelm and Julius turn grave.
The others, too, sensed that Fang Li's atmosphere had changed.
It had become filled with pressure.
But Fang Li could hardly be blamed for that.
Just as before, this was merely the result of his instinctive reaction.
Feeling that fleeting sharpness, a glint suddenly flashed through Fang Li's eyes.
Then, facing the surprised crowd, Fang Li gave a faint smile.
"Don't worry. We merely have a guest."
The moment Fang Li's words fell, there came a knock at the door.
"Excuse me."
The voice that came from outside was as pleasant and comforting as a spring breeze.
Yet upon hearing it, several people present reacted.
"That voice..."
Felix's eyes widened.
"So he came?"
Julius smiled.
"This is..."
For some reason, Beatrice's expression wavered. She reached out and tightly clutched Fang Li's sleeve.
Meanwhile, the three Royal Selection candidates—Emilia, Crusch, and Anastasia—each reacted differently.
Emilia looked as though she were searching her memories for the owner