Reinhardt Windsor draped an arm around his younger sister Annie's shoulders and gently but firmly led her away from the overly enthusiastic circle of noblewomen. He kept an impeccable, slightly distant smile on his face as he nodded to the ladies, deftly cutting off their questions about Annie's personal life. As the eldest grandson of the Windsor family and heir to the dukedom, Reinhardt had long since grown used to navigating all kinds of social occasions. Protecting his family, especially his innocent-minded younger sister, came naturally to him and was his responsibility.
"Brother, they're so noisy," Annie murmured with a small sigh of relief, instinctively edging closer to Reinhardt. She enjoyed lively gatherings, but she was uncomfortable with attention that was so blatant and clearly motivated.
"You'll get used to it, Annie," Reinhardt reassured her quietly, patting the back of her hand. "You're a young lady of the Windsor family. There'll be plenty of occasions like this in the future. Just keep smiling, speak less, and listen more, and you won't go wrong." His steady voice held the reliable warmth characteristic of an older brother.
Annie nodded obediently and looked up at her brother's sharply defined profile, feeling more at ease. She suddenly remembered what she had seen behind the crystal curtain earlier and couldn't help asking in a soft voice, "Brother, should we... go say hello to Cousin Elisa? She seems to be alone over there." She pointed toward the cool, aloof figure beside the long table.
Following his sister's gaze, Reinhardt saw Elisa standing quietly at one end of the long table laden with delicate desserts, a glass of water in her hand. She stood in stark contrast to the guests gathered in lively groups around her. She was like an isolated island, radiating a chill that warned