4 Banquet And Princess

The next day, the morning atmosphere at Duke Everett's palace was filled with excitement. Diland was summoned by his father, Duke Everett, to meet in his private study.

With confident steps, Diland entered the room, where his father sat behind a large desk, while his mother sat beside him with a warm smile on her face.

"Diland, my son," Duke Everett said enthusiastically, "I've heard about your remarkable achievement. You've become the youngest swordsman in the empire, which is a great pride for our family."

Diland, who always craved praise from his father, felt happy to hear those words. "Thank you, Dad," he said humbly. "I'm just trying to do my best."

Diland's mother smiled proudly. "We're truly proud of you, sweetheart," she said.

"And to celebrate your success, we've planned a party next week. It will be the perfect opportunity to introduce you to many important guests, including representatives from the imperial family."

Diland was touched by his parents' attention and support.

"I'll do my best to prepare," he said determinedly.

Meanwhile, his father added, "But before the party, you need to learn noble etiquette properly. We'll be inviting many high-ranking noble families, and you must present yourself with proper decorum."

Diland nodded in agreement. "I'll learn as best as I can, Dad," he said with determination.

In the following days, Diland filled his spare time with learning noble etiquette. He received lessons from expert teachers in the field, and his mother also provided valuable input on appropriate behavior for a nobleman.

However, amidst the preparations for the party, Diland continued to ponder the meeting with Princess Elysia, a representative from the imperial family.

He had heard stories about the beauty and kindness of the princess from the palace servants who had interacted with them before.

Even without meeting her directly, Princess Elysia's name had become a warm topic of conversation among the palace staff.

On the day of the party, Diland's heart pounded as he awaited the arrival of the guests at the palace gates. When Princess Elysia descended from her white horse, Diland felt as if the world stopped spinning for a moment.

Although it was his first time seeing her in person, Princess Elysia's beauty surpassed the image he had heard before. With an admiring gaze, Diland greeted Princess Elysia respectfully.

"Welcome, Princess Elysia," Diland greeted with a slightly trembling voice.

Princess Elysia returned his greeting with a warm smile. "Thank you for your welcome, Diland," she replied gently.

Seeing Princess Elysia with hopeful, soulful eyes, Diland felt his heart beat faster. He couldn't wait to spend time with the princess and embark on a new adventure in his life.