Upon hearing the words of Duke Wester, Moon Guardian Duke smiled faintly, saying,

"Duke, this is the internal affair of the Falling Star Kingdom. As the New Moon Special Envoy, it's not appropriate for me to comment."

"Hahaha, Envoy, you are too cautious! This is no longer just a matter for the Falling Star Kingdom alone. Don't forget, Charlotte de Castel is also a vassal of the New Moon Kingdom! As the New Moon Special Envoy, you surely wouldn't want to see the two kingdoms plunged into war again, would you?"

Duke Wester laughed heartily.

And after laughing, he added meaningfully,

"Envoy, the proposal I previously made to you is still valid. Should you wish, the doors of the Duke Mansion are always open to you."

Watching Duke Wester, who as Military Chief so openly extended an invitation to a foreign envoy, Count Stafford's expression grew increasingly unsightly.

"Duke, please be mindful of your status and position!"

He said coldly.

But clearly, Duke Wester was not afraid.

He possessed Blazing Sun Level power, and even more powerful than Count Stafford. With the three legendary figures of the Falling Star Kingdom having declared their non-involvement in the succession struggle, he was the mightiest being among the Falling Star nobility, even holding a higher title than Count Stafford.

"Count, you are mistaken. It is you who needs to be mindful of your status and position."

Duke Wester spoke indifferently.

"Praise the Holy... Duke, Count, today is Saintess's welcome banquet, please let's all cool our tempers."

A tired sigh came from the benevolent Campbell Grand Priest as he approached.

Count Stafford's face turned unsightly.

Though it seemed that Grand Priest Campbell was trying to defuse the situation for the banquet, having already received information from Charlotte, he knew the other's true stance.

At this moment, it appeared the Grand Priest deliberately spoke right after Duke Wester, suggesting a sense of intentional suppression of the Parliamentary Party nobles.

Count Stafford scoffed and was about to retort when suddenly, the clear chiming of the clock rang out. The loud voice of the Royal Palace guard echoed from outside the banquet hall:

"Queen... Her Majesty... has arrived!"

The nobles within the banquet hall stopped in unison.

Instinctively, they looked towards the entrance, where a petite and beautiful young girl in splendid attire slowly entered, escorted by two knights.

Seeing her youthful and tender appearance, many Falling Star nobles were momentarily taken aback.

Some nobles who had done their research couldn't help but whisper among themselves:

"That... no... Countess Castel... is she truly seventeen years old?"

Charlotte, who had deliberately chosen a mature-looking dress: ...

Becoming a Demigod also had its downsides; her senses were far too keen compared to before, allowing her to hear even the faintest of whispers with absolute clarity.

Though she had been prepared for such developments, hearing whispers like "How can she be so young?" and "Is she really of age?" in the banquet hall still made it hard for Charlotte to keep her composure.

Youth was a good thing.

But sometimes looking too young was actually a disadvantage for those in power.

Especially for Charlotte, who planned to ascend the throne.

But who asked her to become a Bloodline not long after crossing?

Her age, her appearance, from the moment she became a Bloodline, was eternally fixed.

Only her well-developed breasts might make her appear not so excessively young.

This body feature, once a source of much distress, now at least made her age seem not too exaggerated.

But her height was beyond redemption, unless she unleashed Divine Power.

Seeing Charlotte's entrance, Count Stafford put away his anger.

He took a deep breath and bowed deeply towards Charlotte:

"Queen... Your Majesty."

"Queen... Your Majesty..."

The other Council nobles, following Count Stafford's lead, also bowed to Charlotte.

Regrettably, their voices were not loud.

Seeing the military faction's attitude, many nobles remained silent at this moment, even those initially inclined to the Parliamentary Party.

Such was the politics of the Falling Star Kingdom; instead of staunch supporters, most were fence-sitters, lending their support to whoever seemed more likely to win.

"Pfft, Queen? Heh... when did I not know, that our Falling Star Kingdom had a Queen? Grand Priest, do you know?"

Duke Wester sneered, his words laden with disdain and mockery.

Grand Priest Campbell looked slightly embarrassed.

He sighed and awkwardly said to Count Stafford:

"Lord Count... this... the Saintess has not yet been crowned, calling her 'queen' right now... indeed seems inappropriate."

Seeing this, the nobles of the Parliamentary Party were taken aback.

What... what did this mean?

Could it be... could it be that the stance of the Holy Royal Court had changed as well?

Upon Duke Wester's provocation, the Parliamentary Party nobles glared angrily at him.

However, Charlotte didn't even give him a glance.

She passed by Duke Wester as if he were not there at all, simply smiling at Moon Guardian Duke, she said,

"Duke, it's been a long time. I had no idea you had become the envoy of our kingdom."

Hearing Charlotte's words, the Falling Star nobles also turned their gaze to the New Moon Kingdom's Moon Guardian Duke, their expressions filled with curiosity.

Curiosity, indeed they were very curious.

It was one thing for the Falling Star nobles to call her 'queen' if they supported Castel and quite another for those who didn't, or who were still observing, to use such a title.

So... as the envoy of the New Moon Kingdom, a colleague of Count Castel, the right-hand man of King Louis V of the New Moon, what exactly was his stance?

It really was crucial. The two contenders for the Falling Star throne and the forces behind them were too special. This was no longer just a matter for the Falling Star Kingdom alone.

Particularly, given that Countess Castel was a New Moon vassal.

In an instant, everyone's gaze was fixed on Moon Guardian Duke.

Moon Guardian Duke smiled faintly.

Amidst the astonished stares, he bowed slightly towards Charlotte, saying,

"Saintess, it's been a long time."