I am currently standing at a little distance away from my siblings, or rather half siblings, with my loyal maid.
The First and Second Princes were currently being devoured by a swarm of sycophants, their laughter echoing through the Nave like polished silver.
It does not exactly seem like a place where I am welcome at. After all...
"So, that's the youngest one ?"
"Yes, No doubt about it. It is his first time here."
"What a coward. He has never shown his face in the new years Banquet and now he comes ?"
"It is mandatory, after all"
"At least he has gotten His Majesty's eyes."
"Eyes don't bring talent or power. Neither. He is nothing but a placeholder."
The whispers of the nobles drifted toward me.
See ? There is absolutely no shortage of people who love gossiping in this So-called High Society. And thanks to mana enhanced hearing, I can hear everything, every word they are saying.
So why am I even bothering to enhance my ears ? Simple.
Hearing what other people think of me has always been a matter of interest for me.
As much as I would just love to get away from here and sit at a sofa in a corner and enjoy some parfait, i can't.
Why ? Simple.
I know the Marquis is coming to greet me. I can't just go into a corner and make it hard for him to find me, can I ?
I looked at the marquis and his family, greeting the twins.
It's good that he's smart. I don't want others to think of me as a threat ...yet.
I watched the Marquis navigate the twin princes with the precision of a master mariner. He bowed at the perfect angle, spoke the perfect words, and moved on at the perfect time.
After his greetings with the other princes, he came to me.
"Your highness, the third prince, Greetings. I am Marquis Andras Sterling." His tone was flawlessly formal, betraying not a hint of our prior connection at the palace.
Acting like this is our first time huh... pretty good, marquis.
He called his wife and daughter forward.
"She is my wife, Selena Sterling," he continued, presenting the green-haired woman with the emerald eyes. She offered a light, graceful bow that spoke of a Noble woman who had mastered the arts of the high court.
"Greetings, your highness." She greeted me with a light bow.
"This is my lovely daughter."
"G-geetings, your highness." She nervously greeted me with a ninety degree bow, her golden hair nearly brushing her knees.
She was probably three years older than me, a spitting image of her mother, except for the golden hair that she got from her father.
"It is a pleasure of mine, to meet all of you, Lord Sterling. Madam Sterling. Lady Sterling," I greeted them back with proper royal etiquette. My voice was calm, my posture relaxed.
The gossip behind me flared up instantly.
"Did Marquis Sterling just greet that child ?"
"What else can you expect from him? Marquis Sterling keeps good relations with everyone, ...even those who are lowly and undeserving of it."
"Yes, he is a true Gentleman. Indeed."
I almost had to suppress a laugh.
Wow. Lowly and undeserving? wow, so I am so pitiful that even merely greeting me or being nice to me can boost someone's reputation score now ? At this point, Even i, myself am starting to pity myself.
High society is something else, alright.
After that they went back on their way and I too, got away from there, drifting toward a secluded sofa in the far west corner. I sat down, picked up a spoon, and dug into a peach-and-cream parfait. The cold sweetness was a welcome relief from the heat of the crowd.
I was peacefully enjoying my dessert, while sitting on a sofa and I found myself looking at a pair of Father and child.
"Father, look! These cookies look tasty!"
I saw a boy of the same age as me or maybe a little older, pestering his father, trying to draw his attention. He was desperate, his eyes searching for a single spark of recognition or shared joy.
"Yes, Rolan, yes. They are tasty." the father replied, his voice a flat, empty monotone. He didn't look at the boy. He didn't look at the cookies. He was scanning the room for someone more important, someone who could actually further his career.
the father didn't even seem to care at all, no matter how much the boy tried.
Rolan, My boy, You're fighting a losing battle.
I took another bite of my parfait. In this hall, children were either weapons to be wielded, or burdens to be ignored like me and this boy.
What a pitiful child. Not that i have time care about others, since....
"Is that the youngest ?"
"With that maid, hair and eyes ? There is no doubt, it is him."
"How vile, He has no manners."
"What else can you expect from someone of lowly blood."
"True"
I have my own problems to deal with, here.
For god's sake, can't i even enjoy my food in a little peace here?
This time, I'm not even using mana enhance. Which means these High and Mighty bastards don't even intend to hide their disdain.
It' like, they are hoping to catch a flicker of shame in my Amethyst eyes. Or maybe they are trying to make me want to jump on them and punch them in the face.
"they sure are looking down on you." Aqua, who was also trying out the piece of parfait i set aside, said.
[That they are.] I replied through telepathy.
"Are you not gonna confront them ?"
[No]
"Hmm... I thought, You were the type to lash when someone looks down on you ? You know, The proud guy type."
Whatever gave you that idea, woman ?
[I don't have neither the energy nor the time to waste on every mutt that barks at me.] I said, my tone as flat as the marble floor.
"I see... So, you're the type to confront mutts only when it actually comes to bite instead of just barking, are you ?" Her voice had a hint of amusement.
[Pretty much. But, you seem to have gotten one thing wrong, My dear queen.] I picked another bite.
"What is it ?"
[Why do you think these no-name nobles are looking down on me in the first place?]
"because they think that you're inferior to them."
[That's not the reason. That's an excuse.]
"An excuse ?" She said in confusion.
[Yes. The real reason is that, I am superior to them and they know it Very well.]
"How does that make sense ?"
[It does. I am of Royal Blood and that makes me superior to them. So, they are using my other blood, as an excuse to look down on me. Because looking down on someone superior, is their way of feeling stronger about themselves.]
"Trampling on others to feel good about themselves ? That's.... Pretty twisted"
[People are like that by nature. Twisted and complex.]
"Huu... I will never understand you humans."
[You don't need to. The only human you need to understand is me.]
"Wow, how straightforward. It might have even sounded a little romantic if you had put some emotions into it."
[I didn't know you were that type of girl. A romance fan. Want me prepare some novels for you ?]
Well, I guess she is a girl, after all. Not gonna comment on her age, Though.
"Hmm~ Hmm~ Not a bad idea. I do need some entertainment."
Yeah, I can see that. Fine. Romance novels it is, then. I wonder if the Royal Library even have those.