Kureha stood on the stage, looking down at the guests below with an utterly calm expression, without the slightest hint of joy.
After all, this banquet was not something she wanted at all. She even found it somewhat repulsive. She had only been forced here by her elders, at least to go through the motions.
Otherwise, why would she be standing here, watching these young nobles show off in front of her?
Thinking back on how she had been tricked into returning, Kureha felt rather gloomy and irritated. She had been so close to finding the thief impersonating the Glairet Family.
Yet she had been deceived into returning by news that her mother was critically ill.
Only after returning to the Imperial Capital did she realize she had been fooled. The moment she opened the door and walked inside, her mother and father had been leisurely drinking afternoon tea.
The news of her mother's critical condition had merely been a way to trick her into coming back. Otherwise, she never would have returned.
It turned out that, some time ago, Kureha's parents had begun considering introducing her to potential marriage partners, and had even prepared a banquet.
But then news had arrived that someone had defeated Imperial troops using Glairet sword techniques, causing Kureha to leave the Imperial Capital alone to investigate.
There would have been nothing wrong with that, but the incident had occurred in a city near the border, where demons often appeared.
Worried that she might suffer another accident, the Glairet Family had chosen this method.
At the same time, it was also to ensure that the banquet could proceed smoothly. As for investigating the person impersonating the Glairet Family, they would send someone else.
There was no need for Kureha, a Sword Saint, to personally take