Marcus Soros and Elisa Windsor's flawless waltz was like a boulder thrown into a still lake, sending ripples through the ballroom. The applause and praise had yet to fully die down, and the air still held the admiration and amusement directed at this "golden couple"—at least, in the eyes of the onlookers. Marcus's seemingly courteous yet unmistakably provocative gesture was like a poisoned thorn, piercing deep into Leon Hohenzollern's heart and leaving him so humiliated he could barely contain his fury.
However, not everyone could wrap provocation in impeccable manners and back it up with genuine ability, as Marcus had. There were always people who saw only the surface glamour and overlooked the substance and restraint beneath it.
Julian von Metternich was just such a person.
As the legitimate son of Caspar, second son of Marquis Metternich, Julian had inherited his father Caspar's arrogance, shallowness, and "talent" for stirring up trouble. He was twenty years old, and his strength had barely reached the threshold of a High Knight—well above Leon's. In the Imperial Capital's circle of young aristocratic wastrels, he was Leon's "old nemesis." The two had been at odds for ages over stupid things like horse races, gambling debts, and romantic rivalry. In Julian's eyes, Leon Hohenzollern was a useless fool who had lucked into being born into a good family. He didn't deserve to stand on equal footing with him, let alone have a fiancée like Elisa Windsor!
At that moment, Julian was gathered with a few of his cronies, watching Marcus Soros make his composed exit beneath the admiring gazes of the crowd. Then he glanced at Leon, slumped in a corner like a stray dog, and practically burst with glee! He had disliked Leon for ages. Seeing his rival take a hit felt even better than