As Klaus stood amid the grandeur of the ballroom, he couldn't ignore the scrutiny of those around him. Whispers traveled like currents, subtle yet ever-present. Though he was clad in the imposing aura of a Swordmaster, his age—barely entering his teenage years—was a curious anomaly. The silver-haired, blue-eyed youth seemed as though he belonged among men of power twice his years, but his youthful face betrayed the truth.
Nobles approached, introducing themselves with varying degrees of sincerity. Most sought to align themselves with his rising star, while others carried veiled motives. Some foreign dignitaries, dressed in attire that spoke of lands far from the Lionhart domain, came forward, offering compliments that bordered on flattery.
