Hearing the whispers around him, Arthur's face turned even redder, yet his gaze did not waver, still looking at her intently.

Upon hearing these words, Ophelia's face did not show the joy and shyness that Arthur had hoped for; instead, she frowned slightly.

She awkwardly averted her gaze, her eyes unconsciously falling on the other side of the ballroom—on Prince Colin, who had just danced with her and then elegantly walked away.

She didn't dislike Little Aber; in all fairness, he was also handsome, polite, and gentlemanly, and his family background was impeccable. It's just… he's too young.

Especially compared to Prince Colin, he was like an undeveloped child. She really couldn't bring herself to have any romantic feelings towards him.

In contrast, she wished for Prince Colin to stay by her side, telling her more about his adventures in the jungles of the Gana Continent.

That would be far more captivating than the stories of minstrels, making her wish she could lie by a pillow listening to him.

Thinking of this, Ophelia subconsciously bit her lip, her eyes, almost brimming with tears, grew even more forlorn.

Coincidentally, Arthur followed her somewhat melancholic gaze and happened to see Luo Yan walking towards Duke Castellion.

His handsome face immediately lost all color, and his gaze dimmed.

If the opponent were someone else, he would never lack the courage to fight, but if the opponent was someone like Prince Colin… he knew all too well what his chances were.

With shoulders of steel slowly drooping, Arthur dejectedly walked away from Ophina, as if he were heartbroken.

At this moment, Luo Yan, who was holding a wine glass and walking towards Duke Andre Castellion, had no idea that he had unintentionally hurt a brave and straightforward young man deeply once again.

However, considering that Lord Demon King had indirectly hurt more people than he could count on his hands, even if he knew, he'd probably just laugh, pat Arthur on the shoulder, and congratulate him on growing up.

Noticing Luo Yan walking towards him, Andre's face showed a cheerful smile, and he said in a teasing tone.

"Why, isn't Prince Colin with my precious daughter, but instead running over to accompany an old codger like me?"

The different ecologies between the Imperial and Hell could be seen in the attitudes of Duke Castellion and Padric towards their daughters' romantic issues.

Of course, this might also have something to do with the fact that the nobility in the Imperial often had many children, whereas procreation in Hell, having "cross-species hybrid ascension," was relatively difficult.

Luo Yan gently swirled the wine in his glass, smiled slightly, and said calmly and composedly.

"Actually, there are some things I'd like to discuss with Your Grace alone."

"Is it about the Holy Temple Knight Order?" Andre asked instinctively.

"No," Luo Yan shook his head, his smile carrying a hint of mystery, "it's about the White Dew District project. I'm sure Your Grace has heard of it… this isn't the place to discuss business. Would it be convenient to talk in private?"

Andre slightly raised his eyebrows, a strong interest showing in his eyes, and laughed.

"Of course, I think Marshal Aber wouldn't mind his esteemed guest disappearing for a short while."

...

Leaving the bustling hall, the two moved to a quiet lounge inside the manor.

The room was elegantly and comfortably furnished, with soft light spilling onto the luxurious carpet, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance of incense.

A server bowed and presented each of them with a steaming cup of tea, then quietly withdrew, considerately closing the heavy oak door and shutting out the noise from the outside.

When the oak door closed, the room instantly quieted down, leaving only the crackling sound of burning logs in the fireplace and the wisps of tea aroma rising from the cups.

After a brief period of pleasantries, Duke Andre Castellion picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and showed a knowingly smile on his face.

Looking at Prince Colin, who was sitting opposite, he spoke kindly.

"I knew it, the recent commotion in the White Dew District caused by the 'Dantes Group' was indeed your handiwork."

The Castellion family, as a longstanding noble lineage of the Imperial, has deep roots and many ears within the Holy City.

The White Dew District undergoing such significant changes, particularly involving land, naturally could not escape the keen eyes of this astute Family Head.

"Yes." Luo Yan admitted frankly, picking up his teacup and taking a sip, calmly meeting Andre's inquisitive gaze.

Duke Andre's fingers lightly tapped on the armrest, as if weighing his words.

After a moment, he finally could not contain his curiosity and spoke up, "I don't understand, the Holy City territory is vast, with plenty of worthwhile places to invest, what made Your Highness choose the White Dew District in particular?"

Luo Yan did not answer directly but instead smiled slightly and brought up another topic, "As it happens, I discovered something amusing while strolling through the Holy City's market during the day. I wonder if Your Grace has noticed that most of the readily available wine on the market, whether high-end or low-end, comes from the wineries of the Empire's surrounding vassal states rather than from the Holy City itself?"

Duke Andre Castellion, upon hearing this, chuckled and quickly replied, "Your Highness is observant indeed. It is exactly as you said, the 'available' wine in the Holy City mostly comes from the vassals of the Empire, especially the Ryan Kingdom. As for the reasons, aside from soil and climate, it's merely about cost."

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