The Ball

Edward felt something hard poke his thigh under the tablecloth and froze. The hard object was now resting on his thigh.

Casually, he reached down with his left hand and felt the hard object. The familiar sensation told him it was the hilt of the Sword of Victory and Oath.

Judging the distance, the sword was resting on Princess's thigh, forming a bridge between their legs.

Edward wondered, "I didn't see you bring your sword earlier. Did you hide it in your skirt? I've seen girls pull out firearms from their skirts, and even grenades, but never a greatsword!" He then remembered she had a Spatial Ring.

He felt Princess jiggle the sword and glare at him fiercely. He immediately understood; this was their method of telepathic communication from when they watched Inside World. He placed his hand on the sword hilt and sent his mental energy into it. Communication began.

"Fool, don't space out, I'm talking to you!" Princess asked impolitely.

"What were you asking?"

"I asked how your dance practice is going."

"Why don't you ask me if I know how to dance?"

"Then, Guild Master, do you know how to dance?"

"No!"

"I knew it! You're a fool! An idiot! A big, dumb idiot!"

Communication ended. The Sword vanished, and Edward's calf was kicked hard.

Andrea appeared unfazed, but was grinding her teeth.

Edward also appeared unfazed, but was enduring the pain. Knowing he was in the wrong, Edward understood that if he hadn't made a fuss about giving her the ring that day, Princess would have definitely hinted about the dance party. So, he could only silently bear the pain in his calf. After all, a kick from Great Knight was no joke. If not for his astonishing physique, his calf would likely be fractured.

Beside them, George stopped eating and drinking, feeling about eighty percent full. He glanced at his sister and Edward, and an idea struck him.

He wiped his hands, affectionately slung an arm around Edward's neck, and asked:

"Mr. Smith, you don't know me very well, do you?"

"I've only heard a little about you, Young Master," Edward replied, searching his memories. He only recalled that Princess had a younger brother, but he didn't know any specifics.

"That's right. I've been fighting magical beasts on the border for the past two years! I only come back once a year for the New Year."

Edward was startled. "These White Eagle family members are no ordinary people. They're truly willing to let their youngest child fight magical beasts on the border." He then said sincerely, "My apologies. I didn't realize Young Master George could defend the country and border at such a young age. You are truly an outstanding individual."

"Stop with the pleasantries. Let's be direct. You want to be my brother-in-law, right?"

"Uh..." Edward was speechless.

Little George, like a street tough, put an arm around Edward's shoulder and pointed at his nose, demanding, "Give me a straight answer, do you want to or not?"

"Yes!" Edward blurted out instinctively. His past life experience told him never to back down when someone points at your nose and asks a question.

Of course, both of them spoke in low voices, audible only to each other.

Perhaps Princess Andrea with her sharp ears heard, but pretended not to.

"Ah, that's more like it! Among everyone here your age, ask them who wouldn't want to be my brother-in-law?" George said with a satisfied smile. He continued, "But being 'brother-in-law' isn't something you can just decide. You have to grease the wheels with me, your 'brother-in-law', right? You have to give me something, don't you?"

"What do you mean, Young Master?" Edward found the term 'brother-in-law' quite amusing.

"I heard you're good at making weapons, right? My sister's sword was made by you. Ever since she got that sword, I haven't been able to beat her. You have to make me something just as good," George revealed his true intentions.

"What kind of weapon do you want?"

"I'm best with a Morningstar, and I can also use a Meteor Hammer. You have to make it substantial; I'm not used to light ones."

Edward almost spat out a mouthful of blood. "Making a sword or something would be fine. I'd have to assess your character first, after all, divine artifacts shouldn't be passed on lightly. But a Morningstar is so heavy, you want to kill me!"

Someone here might ask, "Why didn't you assess Princess's character when you sold her the sword?" Edward replied, "Look at Zhang Wuji. When he healed women, he stripped them naked, but he never took off his clothes when healing men! It's the same principle, those who understand, understand. No explanation needed."

Edward gently pushed away George's hand from his shoulder, adopting the profound demeanor of an otherworldly master, and said sternly, "Divine objects cannot be easily passed on. Only those with fate can obtain them. Young Master, do not harbor such thoughts."

Princess who was eavesdropping nearby couldn't help but burst out laughing...

The banquet ended before eight in the evening, precisely to hold the dance party as soon as possible. As the guests gradually departed, the venue shifted to the largest drawing-room in the Duke's Mansion.

The band was already set up on one side of the hall, with musicians tuning their instruments. Nobles were already taking their positions on the dance floor with their partners.

Strictly speaking, the first dance the butler Hunter mentioned was the first free dance. Before that, there was a ceremonial group dance.

Edward, having no dance partner and not knowing how to dance, stood aside with Bishop of the Holy Light Church and Elwin, drinking tea.

Just then, the music slowly began. Grand Duke of White Eagle and Princess Andrea stood at the front as the lead dancers. Everyone else took their positions in order and slowly began to dance.

The guests, with their partners, danced gracefully, their formations intertwining like colorful butterflies, a beautiful sight. Edward couldn't help but sigh. In his past life, he had only seen such scenes in movies. Now, experiencing it firsthand, he couldn't help but admire the nobles' composure. This was clearly unpracticed, yet it was flawlessly executed. No wonder people say it takes three generations to produce a noble. All their effort went into these seemingly useless things.

Before long, the group dance concluded. Everyone, including the dancers, applauded. This was also a ritual to celebrate the New Year.

The musicians began preparing the next piece, and the young men started to eagerly step forward, one by one, towards Princess Andrea. Edward saw this from afar. The first to approach was Young Master Francois from Southern Highland Castle. He walked up with his head held high, smoothing his shiny hair, like a peacock preening its beautiful feathers.

"Sir, do you think Princess will agree?"

"She definitely won't. Didn't you say he's an idiot? And Princess doesn't like idiots," Edward replied.

"That's true. He even proposed to Princess when we visited the High Mountain Castle. Did he even consider that he's not even a professional, how dare he propose to a Knight Princess?"

"Ordinary people have the right to pursue beauty and happiness, I think that's normal?" Edward felt that Young Master Francois would definitely be a protagonist of a rags-to-riches inspirational story in other novels.

"You don't know yet? The High Mountain Castle allows polygamy. This guy has already married over a dozen wives!" Elwin said.

"There's such a good thing... Oh no, I mean this guy is really daydreaming. This is an insult to Princess. It's very cultured of her not to kill him on the spot." Edward said, thinking to himself, no wonder a young master of a kingdom came to the White Eagle banquet, and wasn't even given a seat closer to the front, it turns out he came crawling on his own.

As expected, that peacock-like Young Master Francois left dejectedly.

The second was Reinhardt, as the Princess's Guard Captain and a Great Knight. He was the most competitive among all of Princess's admirers present. Many had speculated that Grand Duke would take him as a son-in-law. However, Princess also shook her head with a apologetic smile.

As Princess rejected the young talents one by one, she proudly glanced over at Edward, giving him a provocative look.

Edward shrugged and returned an apologetic smile. At this moment, Bishop walked over and asked Edward with a smile:

"Why doesn't Mr. Smith ask Princess for a dance?"

Edward expressed his regret, saying he didn't know how to dance.

"What's so difficult about dancing? It's just one-two-three, one-two-three, spin around, and so on."

The old man cheerfully enlightened him:

"You are already a formal spellcaster. Based on my observation, with your mental power and physical coordination, if you wanted to learn, you should have learned it on the first try just now."

"Ah." Edward slapped his forehead. "How could I not have thought of that."

"You just don't understand yourself after the promotion yet. Many things are no longer about whether you can do them, but whether you want to do them."

The old man gave Edward some 'chicken soup for the soul', just like some success coaches from his previous life.

"Watch carefully now, the first dance is about to begin. Try to invite Princess for the second dance." The old man patted Edward, who was staring at the dance floor, and walked away.

At this moment, on the dance floor, Grand Duke of White Eagle was dancing with his daughter again. This disappointed all of Princess's admirers present, and they also breathed a sigh of relief. Because this meant Princess did not have someone in her heart yet.

Grand Duke of White Eagle teased Andrea while dancing:

"Didn't you personally send the invitation? And that kid even gave you a precious Spatial Ring, why doesn't he even have the courage to ask you for the first dance?"

"Don't mention it, I forgot that kid doesn't know how to dance." Andrea said helplessly.

"Heh heh, it seems that kid isn't as outstanding as you say."

"Don't fathers always not want their daughters to have boyfriends?" Princess asked stubbornly.

"After all, no one wants the cabbage they painstakingly raised to be gobbled up by a pig, right?"

"I'm not cabbage, but that guy is really a pig!"