Ding, ding, ding.
As the grandfather clock struck nine with a resonant chime, the ballroom doors were pushed open to both sides.
A young lady walked into the ballroom, followed by an elderly butler.
Her goose yellow pleated skirt fluttered with each step, silver high heels peeking out from beneath, and her golden floral hair accessory was adorned with massive jewels that emitted a deep, azure glow.
Her appearance was exquisite, her demeanor dignified, and her gait graceful; every smile and every glance was impeccable.
Lynch felt his heart skip a beat, and his breathing quickened.
His eyes were glued to her, and before he knew it, his entire focus was fixed upon her.
"The eldest daughter of the Valente family? Doesn't she never attend banquets? Why is she here today?"
"She is so beautiful. I wonder which man will be fortunate enough to win her favor."
"Don't even think about it. You are just a newly promoted local noble, while she comes from a thousand year old family from the royal capital."
"What did that detective mean by telling everyone to listen? Surely he didn't mean for Miss Valente to walk in?"
"Hahaha, how could that be? He is just an ordinary detective; how could he possibly have any connection to a count's daughter? You are too bold in your imagination. If they had any relationship, I would eat the glass in my hand..."
The ballroom was instantly filled with hushed whispers. Even Princess Chloe, who had been making things difficult, was drawn to the eldest daughter of the Count who had entered. She forgot what she had been about to do, watching as the noble young lady walked toward her with a graceful, swaying gait. The intense aura emanating from her caused the Princess to instinctively take a step back.
Realizing she had lost her composure, Princess Chloe gritted her teeth and twitched, stepping forward once more to raise her voice: "Miss Valente, you..."
However, Miss Valente merely offered her a polite smile before ignoring her entirely. She turned toward Lynch and, with a natural, radiant smile, extended her right hand to him:
"Mr. Lynch Levive, would you mind if Diana de Valente acted as your introducer into the noble social circles of Rhine City?"
It had not been rehearsed, but Lynch understood instantly. He stared into Miss Valente's eyes, lifted her hand, bowed deeply, and left a light kiss on the back of her hand.
"It is my greatest honor, my lady."
In an instant, the ballroom erupted in an uproar.
Although the nobles of Rhine City were all ennobled by the royal family, they were not in the capital of Norin. Aside from the Duke of Vane, the highest rank here was only that of a count. Including the visiting Valente family, there were only four families with the title of count. Therefore, asking Miss Valente to be his introducer meant inviting the highest ranking local family to vouch for him; short of asking the Duke of Vane himself, one could hardly find a higher level of endorsement.
Princess Chloe's expression stiffened instantly, and the portly Count of Lorand standing beside her wore an equally ugly smile. The two exchanged a glance, unable to suppress the shock and anxiety in their eyes; their gazes spoke volumes about their inner thoughts.
This is trouble. Not only did we fail to achieve our goal, we pushed the other side forward instead.
Miss Valente ignored the internal turmoil of the two great nobles. She stood beside Lynch, offered them both a standard aristocratic smile, and then curtsied to everyone in the hall:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to take advantage of the Count of Lorand's reception today to introduce a friend to you all."
"Mr. Lynch Levive holds many titles: a private detective on Villa Avenue, a young man highly regarded by the Duke of Vane, a comrade in the Hall of Order, a friend to the Archbishop of the Church of the Black Night, and a collaborator with the Saint Nightingale. But today, I am not speaking of those. Today, I introduce only one identity: he is an intimate partner of the Valente family and a friend to the family forever."
The hall fell silent, and everyone looked at one another in surprise.
Acting as an introducer in one's own capacity was one thing—many noble young ladies, young masters, and ladies had done it before—but doing so in the name of the entire family was another. This was equivalent to the family itself offering the introduction, something that might not happen once or twice a year in all of Lande.
Princess Chloe's face darkened further. She barely maintained her haughty expression and sneered, "You are merely the eldest daughter of the family, not the heir to the Valente family, and certainly not Count Valente himself. Is it appropriate for you to say such things? Can you truly represent the Valente family? Do not act on impulse and bring shame upon your entire family for the sake of some strange person."
"I am indeed not the heir, but my brother Roger and I are the fruits of the love between the Count and the Countess. Roger certainly would not oppose me expressing an opinion on his behalf as the heir. Moreover, I can certainly represent the Valente family and my father. Tell me, is the Russell family of the Kingdom of Salter not like this?"
Miss Valente spoke with a smile, but Lynch felt cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
This girl has a sharp tongue.
Princess Chloe was the daughter of a court noble—in plain terms, an illegitimate child whom the royal family could acknowledge publicly. She might have the title of princess, but she had absolutely no claim to the succession, her status was lower than all legitimate princes and princesses, and she could never make commitments on behalf of the royal family.
The lethality of that single sentence was greater than selling a guillotine to Louis XVI; it was no less than a slap to the face, and the other party could not even retaliate because Miss Valente was speaking of her own family's affairs.
The feeling was... simply wonderful.
A few words left Lynch feeling refreshed. He felt that all the anger he had suppressed throughout the evening had vanished thanks to Miss Valente. As expected of someone from a thousand year old noble family, even if nothing else, her level of snark was beyond Lynch's reach; he could hardly help but chuckle aloud.
"Miss Valente." Seeing the muscles around Princess Chloe's eyes twitching, the Count of Lorand hurried forward, laughing heartily: "A partner of the family, a friend forever—such claims are better promised by Count Valente himself. After all, that is a matter of the Count's standing."
"I accept the Count of Lorand's good intentions on behalf of my father, but you need not worry. I am making this promise on my father's behalf; viewing Mr. Levive as a partner of the family is indeed my father's intent. Ha, I am well aware of my own status. I would not do anything that contradicts my noble standing or harms the reputation of my family and the nobles of this country for the sake of personal goals."
Now, even the Count of Lorand's expression stiffened. This was a clear rebuke, implying that he lacked the grace of a noble for harassing a commoner of his own country to please a foreign princess.
"My thanks to Miss Valente for the introduction." Realizing it was enough, Lynch stepped forward with a smile and stood side by side with Miss Valente: "Princess, you see, I already have an introducer. Do you feel that the reputation of a noble family from Lande is insufficient to introduce me to these gentlemen and ladies?"
"Hmph."
Princess Chloe remained silent for a moment before turning and walking away. The Count of Lorand chuckled awkwardly to cover for her:
"Of course not, of course not. Detective, please do not misunderstand. We had long heard of your exceptional abilities, which is why we hoped to provide a stage for you to display them and allow the nobles of Rhine to witness your brilliance. You see, your performance truly amazed us, hahahaha."
Soon, the ballroom was filled with pleasant laughter. All the attendees felt thoroughly entertained; they believed that for a long time to come, they would not see such an intense introduction again. And they were equally certain that as the star of the evening, Mr. Lynch Levive would surely shine brightly in Rhine.
Lynch, however, did not smile. Instead, he felt a flicker of emotion as he watched Princess Chloe's retreating figure.
He had not recognized her from the front, but seeing her back as she turned away, Lynch remembered.
He had seen this back before, and he remembered it clearly.
Just a few days ago, at the Edmond Douglas Bank, when the young viscount carrying three mystery relics returned to the office with the banker Douglas, he had shown this same back.
The thief and the princess were, in fact, the same person.
In an instant, most of the questions he had about this reception over the past two days were resolved.
Rate on N.U.
