**
The banquet was held in the imperial palace's gorgeous grand hall.
Long tables were placed in an ordered arrangement and all sorts of luxurious delicacies had been laid out on top.
The musicians were playing a mellow but pleasant music in the background.
The aristocrats and bureaucrats of the Theocratic Empire, as well as those invited from other nations, had gathered in one hallway to exchange idle banter and flatter each other.
"Oh! Oh my goodness, Lady Alice! To think that you'd grow up into such a beautiful lady. I can't even fathom how much more beautiful you'll become after reaching adulthood."
"Thank you for your kind words, Lord Viscount."
Alice's eyes smiled elegantly as she looked at all the nobles who were approaching her to offer their greetings. While doing this, though, she was sighing deep inside.