Mia and Eileen hurried over from the opposite side of the dance floor.
"She's my friend. Chester, watch your attitude," Mia said as she stepped beside Nora, blocking Chester's line of sight.
"Princess Mia…" Chester frowned, then shook his head. "Please don't cover for her. Why would you bring a half-beast into the banquet—especially a catgirl?"
Mia didn't want to argue logic with him and escalate things. She simply said calmly, "This matter ends here. Your companion needs to change her dress—I've already arranged for a replacement."
Eileen took the wide-brimmed hat from Maple and helped Nora put it back on, covering her trembling cat ears again.
"…Thank you," Nora said softly.
Eileen smiled and shook her head, subtly shielding herself from view.
Chester's expression darkened. He clearly didn't want to let things go so easily.
But he also didn't want to offend Princess Mia. Otherwise, the many admirers around her might tear him apart on the spot.
In the end, he said, "Since she's your friend, then have her step forward and apologize publicly."
"After all, she tripped my companion and tore her dress. Asking for an apology isn't too much, is it?"
Seeing Chester back down slightly, Mia felt a bit relieved—but his demand still made her frown.
"I-I already apologized twice…" Nora said softly from behind Mia.
Mia patted her hand reassuringly, signaling her not to panic.
Then Mia gave a slight bow toward Mapel. "On behalf of my friend, I apologize, Miss Mapel. Please forgive her."
Mapel had long wanted to leave. She quickly waved her hands and returned the bow in a fluster. "It's fine, it's fine—it was my fault for not watching where I was going…"
Chester said nothing. Although the catgirl hadn't apologized personally, Mia had given enough face, and he couldn't press further on that point.
So he added, "Then please, Princess Mia, have this half-beast leave. Surely the Winter Food Festival banquet isn't a place where a half-beast should remain."
The moment he said this, Mia's expression turned cold. Just as she was about to refuse, a sharp voice rang out from the entrance of the hall—
"Who was it that said my companion should be thrown out?"
Ron's steady yet cold voice, amplified by Battle Aura, echoed throughout the entire hall.
The band on stage stopped playing, exchanging confused looks.
All eyes in the hall turned toward the commotion in the corner.
Ron, dressed in a black tailcoat, walked in from the entrance with a straight posture.
The crowd parted, countless gazes falling upon his handsome face.
He didn't immediately go to Nora. Instead, he stopped in front of Chester, expressionless, and repeated:
"Who was it that said my companion should be thrown out?"
Chester instinctively took half a step back. After taking a deep breath to steady himself, he asked in a low voice, "Was it Your Highness Ron who brought a half-beast into the banquet?"
"What of it?" Ron's tone softened slightly. "Is there any rule stating that a half-beast companion cannot attend?"
The surrounding crowd fell silent, watching intently.
Chester had already spoken too boldly earlier. Now, with no way out, he could only press on:
"The Winter Food Festival banquet is meant to honor the soldiers who bravely fought against the beastfolk."
"Yet Your Highness brings a half-beast into the banquet—and even has her watch the entire award ceremony. Isn't that an insult to those soldiers?"
After hearing him out, Ron didn't get angry—instead, he smiled, his gaze playful.
"So you're saying that half-beasts are the same as beastfolk?"
"The soldiers fought against beastfolk—not half-beasts, correct?"
"If I had brought a female beastfolk in, then yes, that would be inappropriate. I admit that—though I don't think my tastes are that extreme."
"But what does that have to do with half-beasts?"
"How does it not?" Chester's voice suddenly rose, as if he had seized upon a strong argument. "Of course it does!"
"Aren't half-beasts the children of beastfolk? They still carry that filthy bloodline!"
"Your Highness, please don't twist the concept!"
His words spread through the hall, stirring another wave of murmurs.
Nearby, the First Prince, Eil André, sat quietly at a table, still in his light black armor. He gently swirled the dark red wine in his glass, watching the scene unfold through the crowd.
Nora's face was pale, filled with guilt. She felt as though she had caused enormous trouble for the Boss.
But she had no idea what to do.
She had even tried to leave earlier, only to be stopped by Eileen.
"Don't rush," Eileen whispered. "If you leave now, it will only make things worse—it would mean admitting that His Highness Ron was wrong to bring you here."
"Wait and see how he handles it. Don't act rashly."
Nora nodded silently.
Her hands clenched tightly against her chest, her nails digging into her skin without her noticing.
Back in the center, after listening to Chester, Ron stepped forward again and asked softly:
"So what you're saying is—because Nora has beastfolk blood, you can ignore her human half and classify her entirely as beastfolk. Is that right?"
Chester took another step back and raised his voice:
"Isn't that the case?"
"Or is Your Highness simply trying to protect her?"
"As long as beastfolk blood flows in her veins, she is guilty! At the very least, she has no place at the Winter Food Festival banquet!"
Ron looked at him—and suddenly laughed.
He stepped forward once more, raising his hand to point at his light crimson eyes. Then, sweeping his gaze across the crowd, he fixed Chester with a sharp stare and asked:
"There is beastfolk blood in my body as well."
"By your logic—even if my father personally invited me—I have no right to stand here, correct?"
"Or… did my father make a mistake too?"
At that moment, Chester's face turned pale. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he stumbled back two or three steps, retreating into the dance floor.
"H-That's different…" he stammered.
"You're His Majesty's son… a-and you only have one-quarter beastfolk blood…"
"That's not the same as a half-beast…"
"I-it's not comparable…"
Ron didn't let him go. Smiling faintly, he stepped closer, his tone gentle but laced with coldness:
"My mother was a half-beast—just like Nora. She also had beastfolk blood."
"That fits your theory perfectly, doesn't it?"
"Both in sentiment and in law, my mother was a concubine formally taken by Emperor André III."
"So, according to your logic—if Nora must be removed from the Winter Food Festival banquet—"
"Then I insist that you request my father to publicly apologize to the entire Empire."
"After all, marrying a half-beast… that sounds dangerously close to colluding with the enemy, doesn't it?"
"What do you think, Mr. Chester?"