Chapter 13 – Approaching the “Princess”

My goal for this celebration banquet was to check the stats of every single Hero candidate, but it was proving to be more difficult than I’d anticipated.

To trigger the skill from Halunar’s eye, I needed to maintain a steady, unwavering gaze on my subject throughout the entire data-reading process. However, the hall was packed, and people were constantly on the move. I’d managed to scan only about twenty people, and the party was already beginning to wind down.

Time was running out. I had to prioritize the most urgent tasks.

While I might have other chances to encounter the remaining candidates, there was one particular person I could only get close to during this banquet.

The question was, how could I approach that area without drawing too much attention?

Should I just slip in quietly? It was crowded enough over there.

I was weaving through the throng to get closer to where the “Princess” was seated when a familiar voice called out, stopping me in my tracks.

“Asher, what exactly are you doing?”

That useless Jullius… he certainly has a knack for picking the worst possible moment to interfere!

Wait. Actually, I might be able to use him to my advantage.

“Young Master, I was looking for you. I thought you might be speaking with the Princess, so…”

Up until now, Jullius hadn’t been able to get close to the “princess”. It seemed he either felt that jostling through the crowd was beneath him, or he had simply forgotten. However, the Griffin family and the Royal House shared close ties; offering a greeting was practically mandatory.

As if only just remembering this, Jullius blinked.

“Oh, now that you mention it… I really should go show my respects to the Princess.”

“Would you like a fresh glass of wine, then? And perhaps a glass of juice for Her Highness?”

Jullius looked at the empty glass in his hand and nodded.

“Good idea. Go fetch them, quickly.”

I hurried to grab two new drinks, returning just as he had successfully carved a path toward the “royal” figure who sat at the center of everyone’s attention.

I quickened my pace, almost breaking into a run. As I reached the spot where Jullius was beginning his formal greeting, I leaned my body forward…

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Young Master, I’ve brought the wine— Ah!“

The two drinks on the tray soared through the air in a graceful arc before splashing directly onto the elegant white gown of the “Princess” seated there.

The surrounding crowd let out gasps of horror.

I lunged forward, shoving the “priestess” standing nearby out of the way, and whipped a handkerchief from my pocket. I cried out in feigned terror: