"Huh?"
"What's wrong?" The swordswoman's hoarse voice brushed against Hainf's ear.
"Nothing. I saw a few familiar faces." Hainf unobtrusively shifted inward a little. The tiny movement earned a hint of admiration in the swordswoman's eyes.
Hainf, however, was puzzled. He had seen that mage, but how had his younger brother, Klin Montoro, ended up with them? He hesitated over whether to go down and greet them, but there were too many people in the square, and he might not even find them if he went down. After hesitating for a while, he ultimately stayed where he was.
"Not going to say hello?" the swordswoman whispered beside his ear, her breath fragrant as an orchid.
"No, no need. I'll talk to him later." Hainf felt several crazed, jealous gazes land on him.
The swordswoman smiled faintly.
Count Tonigell raised his hand, and the crowd fell completely silent in an instant.
Seeing this, Hainf secretly admired him. "I dare say," he told the swordswoman, "that in Eluin, not a single lord possesses such prestige."
"I heard that the First Prince is also renowned for his wisdom."
"This has nothing to do with wisdom, Miss Claudia. It's about the confidence of certain victory. Do you know why Sword Saint Darus was still remembered by ordinary people decades later? Because he subdued the Cruzian people. The Eluinians need a hero like that, someone they can draw courage and confidence from, proving that we can accomplish a great undertaking like Former Lord Eck's as well."
"You know quite a lot, sir."
The praise made Hainf feel light-headed, as though even his bones had shed a few ounces.
The residents of Tonigell watched their lord without blinking. The young man on horseback was clearly enjoying their attention.
Hainf saw the man's age clearly, and his