"A ball?" Inanna, who was kneading the No. 4 possessing a cannon fodder body, raised her head upon hearing this. A trace of blankness flashed in her pink eyes as she repeated the word her father just uttered.
"That's right, a ball!" Duke Alama puffed out his chest, his voice resonant, trying hard to make his tone sound full of love and happiness. "My dear daughter, your eighteenth birthday couldn't be properly celebrated because the war situation was tight before. Now that the situation has eased slightly, this belated celebration must be made up for! I have already sent invitations to many outstanding young children within the Kingdom, asking them to come celebrate for you together, and also to witness the grace of our St. Clair family's pearl!"
"Eh—?!"
Hearing that many strangers would gather, Inanna's brows immediately knitted together, and even the movement of kneading the Puchi in her hands stopped.
If she had a choice, Inanna wanted to spend her birthday in the Mushroom Garden with the Puchis.
Unfortunately, the Boss didn't know her birthday and had never asked.
She wasn't complaining about anything. In her mind, Puchis probably didn't have the concept of birthdays, right?
The key point was that her father was now going to bring a large group of people she didn't know at all and was even less interested in. To her, this was no different from social torture.
She wasn't the type of character who could enjoy such scenes.
Seeing his daughter's face full of resistance, Alama clasped his hands and rubbed them slightly, switching to a gentler persuasive tone:
"Good daughter, you are now the Kingdom's youngest War Hero, a rising star watched by everyone. In the future, you are destined to stand in a higher position and shoulder heavier responsibilities. You are indeed familiar with old guys like Lorenzo, but you can't deal with us old guys forever. Those young people are the future of the Kingdom! Taking this opportunity to get to know them a bit and establish some connections will only bring benefits and no harm to you, to the family, and to the Kingdom's future."
The old butler Eric, standing behind him, chimed in at the right time: "What the Master says is very true, Miss. This is indeed a good opportunity."
Inanna swept her gaze suspiciously between her father and the butler, somewhat not understanding why she was only notified after everything was arranged.
And why did the two come together, as if afraid she would refuse?
However, Alama's words did make sense. Inanna wasn't that kind of willful young lady who only cared about herself; she understood the responsibilities brought by her status.
Although somewhat reluctant, she finally nodded in agreement.
In her arms, No. 4, who had waited for a long time without receiving continued petting, finally couldn't help but arch its body.
Inanna came back to her senses then, resuming her absent-minded kneading of its soft mushroom cap.
Exiting the room, Alama quietly wiped away sweat that didn't exist on his forehead—finally didn't get rejected on the spot.
Had to say, with the power Inanna now controlled and her prestige as a "War Hero," within the United Kingdom, if she was determinedly unwilling, really no one could force her, even he as her father couldn't.
Precisely because of worrying about his daughter refusing directly, this blind date convention was meticulously packaged as a "belated birthday banquet."
Moreover, apart from Inanna herself who was kept in the dark, all the young talents and their families who received invitations had, more or less through different channels, obtained some unspoken hint—Duke Alama was selecting a future partner for his only daughter with a boundless future!
Alama was actually quite conflicted in his heart. Doing all this made it seem like he was plotting against his own daughter.
But he couldn't just watch helplessly as Inanna held a Puchi and grew old alone!
Look at those two brats of the Lorenzo family!
When they got married, the brides were fifteen and sixteen respectively.
This was the normal marriage age in the United Kingdom's aristocratic circle!
Eighteen years old, speaking of which, wasn't too late. The real problem was that Alama couldn't see a single bit of thought in that regard from his precious daughter!
Other noble girls of the same age, which one didn't harbor expectations for romantic encounters, their gazes lingering on those handsome, upright young knights or talented rookie mages?
Only his Inanna, all day long, either nestled in the ducal mansion kneading Puchis for a whole day, or ran to the Puchi Dungeon to play with more Puchis.
Regarding this matter, whether Puchis meant opportunity or threat to the Kingdom, Alama temporarily put aside. Just saying if Inanna continued like this, he feared that even when she reached twenty and became an old maid, she wouldn't have a partner!
How could he as a father not be anxious?
Of course, Inanna was the pearl in his palm, absolutely not a burden he was eager to offload. Even if anxious, he couldn't just casually find someone to marry his daughter off to.
For example, that guy named Adin.
Although holding a Viscount title and having abilities sufficient for him to secure a real fief in the future, but... his age was almost catching up to Alama himself!
His daughter absolutely couldn't marry such an old thing!
So Alama didn't invite Adin to this banquet at all, even though he had some friendship with Inanna.
In comparison, the lad Warren, who once served as Inanna's adjutant and performed excellently in the Dragonroar Valley campaign, was much more pleasing to the eye.
Although he only came from a Baron's family, his family background was innocent, his ability excellent, and his character also not bad.
Alama even privately sent people to investigate carefully, confirming the other party wasn't a hypocrite who acted differently on the surface and inside, a son-in-law candidate worth considering.
Of course, even if Alama personally had a good impression of Warren and specially invited him, the final decision-making power still lay in Inanna's own hands.
In fact, the young people who could receive invitations to this banquet were all screened by Alama without exception.
Those guys with stained reputations, misconduct, or physical abnormalities didn't even have the qualification to step into the banquet.
Alama didn't care if he would offend people because of this. If anyone was dissatisfied, they could come find him personally to "theorize."
And if any lucky guy could really win Inanna's favor, Alama would only investigate him even more deeply, ensuring his daughter wouldn't entrust herself to the wrong person.
His only worry now was... his daughter wouldn't fancy a single one in the end.
"Shouldn't... be to the point where not a single one catches her eye, right?" He murmured to himself somewhat uncertainly, as if seeking affirmation. "I've found all the young people in this age group within the Kingdom whose family background, ability, and appearance can be called top choices. Eric, what do you think?"
The old butler behind him bowed slightly and suggested: "Master, Miss is so outstanding; ordinary polite introductions might be difficult to attract her attention. Perhaps... opportunities should be given to the young people to display their abilities."
"Makes sense!" Alama's eyes lit up, having an idea immediately. "Just dancing and drinking is too boring. Have to arrange some programs in the banquet that allow them to show off..."
He began calculating how to cleverly design segments that wouldn't lose dignity while allowing those candidates to have a chance to show their best side in front of his daughter.
...
In the room, Inanna still knew nothing about this at this moment.
However, Lin Jun openly eavesdropped on everything.
(End of Chapter)
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