Fortunately, the teacup covered Zen’s lips, so Belus didn’t know if he was smiling.

Zen, suppressing his expression, put down the teacup and spoke seriously.

“How could I dare to attend such a prestigious event?”

Belus thought quietly.

“Come to think of it, this man probably hasn’t participated in any social activities outside our club.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Belus spoke as if offering a favor.

“Our grandfather is different from other old aristocrats. Oh, but you shouldn’t approach him casually, you know? Just go and show your face.”

Zen politely nodded and greeted.

“It’s truly an honor. I’ll be careful not to make any mistakes.”

“Haha, making mistakes isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I can’t even imagine you making a mistake.”

After making a dull joke and chuckling, Belus suddenly frowned.

“Sigh…”

“Why are you like that?”

“Just thinking about my party partner is already annoying.”

“When you say ‘party partner’…”

Zen couldn’t bring himself to mention that name, so Belus spoke for him.

“Yeah. Viscount Byron’s daughter.”

Belus looked up at the ceiling and recited like exhaling smoke.

“Oh. Just dealing with that woman is irritating, but with Viscount Byron attending this party too…”

“…”

Zen’s heart pounded. Hearing that name made his eyes show disdain, and his lips curled with a hint of scorn.

“There’s no choice. Sometimes people have to eat things they don’t want to, you know?”

When Belus lowered his head again, Zen, who had already controlled his expression, smiled cautiously.

“But this party requires a partner, and do you have someone to go with?”

At that moment, the person who came to Zen’s mind was Debra. Even though Zen found himself pathetic, he couldn’t find anyone more suitable.

The party was like a gathering of beasts, just like our own den.

Zen had to attend, even wearing the skin of a harmless herbivore.

How could he go to such a disgusting place with her? It was absolutely out of the question.

After organizing his thoughts, Zen answered, “Yes, I have someone to go with.”

Belus, who couldn’t hide his curiosity, remembered something his three friends had said.

“He said he saw me with a woman.”

Smiling with narrowed eyes, Belus asked, “Can I ask who it is?”

Belus thought Zen’s partner wasn’t an aristocrat, or else there would be rumors.

“He said she wasn’t an actress.”

In that case, she must be a bourgeois. But was there a bourgeois who matched Zen’s status?

Curiosity brimming, Belus asked with a sly smile.

“Is it okay to ask who she is?”

Belus thought Zen’s partner wasn’t an aristocrat. Otherwise, there would have been rumors.

“She’s a Countess Blaise.”

Belus’s face, which had been full of laughter, suddenly froze.

“Countess Blaise? Is she Gracian?”

“Yes.”

“Haha.”

Belus let out a dry laugh unknowingly. A commoner, and a foreigner at that, meeting Countess Blaise!
“Bringing Viscountess Blaise as a casual acquaintance is not feasible. But you know, the aristocrats in this country are a bit like that,” Belus said playfully.

“People of high standing can’t just bring anyone as their partner to gatherings, right?”

Zen’s words implied that their relationship was not ordinary. Belus found the situation quite amusing.

If most of the aristocrats, including Viscount Byron, knew about this, there would surely be a commotion.

“By the way, Viscountess Blaise? I haven’t heard of that family.”

“It’s a family in a small town in the east, so it’s understandable if you don’t know.”

Belus thought for a moment, stroking his chin. As a foreigner, how did Zen get involved with such rural nobility?

“No, that’s not really important.”

Leaning forward, Belus asked in a hushed tone as if sharing a secret.

“Is Viscountess Blaise in this mansion?”

Belus had reasons to make such an assumption. Zen was currently attracting a lot of attention.

If Zen had met Viscountess Blaise outside or had wandered into another mansion, there would undoubtedly be rumors.

“Say hello. Let me see her face in advance.”

Even before hearing Zen’s answer, Belus spoke as if he would naturally be introduced.

“He talks so freely. Unpleasantly so.”

Zen didn’t expect Belus to look for Dia. Still, it wasn’t a perplexing situation.

“I’m sorry, but she’s not in the mansion right now.”

Zen said with an embarrassed expression. He had no intention of showing Dia at the moment.

The fact that Dia couldn’t imitate the appearance of a decent aristocrat was also a problem, but Belus was a more significant issue.

“He’s a troublemaker, making a fuss over nothing.”

Belus wasn’t someone who cared about others’ opinions. Raised with excessive love since birth, he found it as easy to hurt someone as breathing.

“If Dia Blaise gets hurt, Debbie will take care of her.”

Zen vividly remembered the restless expression on Debbie’s face, full of concern for Dia. He never wanted to see such a sight again.

“Really?”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

Boldly, Zen answered without a trace of hesitation.

“Hmm…”

Belus sent a suspicious look. Zen smiled awkwardly, enduring that gaze.