Immediately, several of the noble house leaders moved in closer, their flowing garments brushing lightly against one another as they approached Kazuhiro. Their sharp eyes, glimmering with the weight of authority, didn't just linger on him as they also turned toward Kouhei.
At first, the air was stiff and almost suffocating and it was really thick with doubt. The nobles weren't exactly thrilled with the idea of a mere human standing in a gathering such as this. Whispers ran beneath their breaths, some sharp and some even dismissive. But after a while, after hearing how Kouhei spoke—measured, careful, and respectful despite the awkward pauses—they started to loosen up. That thin layer of hostility slowly peeled back, and what remained was a hesitant but growing respect.
Kouhei, on the other hand, felt like he was walking on the edge of a blade. Each word he let out had to be placed carefully, and even though his heart hammered in his chest, he forced himself to remain calm.
