The elegantly dressed nobles stared at Agnes through their eyemasks without uttering a word.

Duke Leurox stepped forward and did a slight bow, saying, "Your Highness, I feel immense gratitude for gracing my daughter’s ball with your presence, but I am failing to understand the sudden stoppage of the ball."

Agnes’s expression remained the same as she stared in Duke Leurox’s direction.

"There has been an incident at the ball, respected Duke. So I ask for your understanding and patience. The Royal Knights will be here soon."

The crowd shifted at the words ’Royal Knights’. They whispered to the ones nearby in confusion and stupor, wondering what may have gone wrong in the ball to suddenly catch the elite guards of the Royal Family’s attention.

Everything seemed fine in the ballroom. Nobody was poisoned or breaking into fights.

Could it be that someone suspicious was in the room with them?

The moment such a speculation rose, some nobles distanced themselves from others and stood at the back with their attendants, not wishing to get into the crossfire.

As the crowd moved, Vincent grabbed the opportunity to blend in and stand at the back of the ballroom, away from the center.

Anastasia was by his side while Leona had left to join Viscount Blaise’s daughter.

’That’s the young lady in blue dress dancing beside who Leona called Count... uh... Count Williams perhaps.’

Vincent’s gaze fell on Viscount Blaise’s daughter standing with the majority of the crowd slightly away from the center.

Leona was standing quietly beside her.

Vincent then turned to search for the man who was supposedly another Count.

Apart from Count Hall whose burly figure stood out, Vincent couldn’t exactly find Count Williams.

’How did she describe him? A creepy man who can’t go without a young lady in his arms... hm...’

It didn’t take long for Vincent to find a clean-shaved middle-aged standing near Count Hall with a young lady holding his arms.

’He was standing right beside Count Hall and I couldn’t find him. I should’ve asked Anastasia to describe people better.’

Anastasia’s job was to help Vincent recognize people. However, she got busy describing the ones coming to talk to him and couldn’t speak about others.

Vincent nudged Anastasia from the side, making her lean down to listen.

Vincent slightly leaned back and said in a soft voice, "Are there other Counts and Dukes in the room you can recognize?"

"Yes." Anastasia answered softly. "If the young master looks diagonally, he’ll see..."

Anastasia introduced the important figures one by one.

Starting with the Dukes. Other than Duke Leurox, there was Duke Brunelle and Duke Heinrich in the ballroom.

Duke Brunelle was with his wife and calmly observing Duke Leurox’s interaction with the Crown Princess Agnes.

Nothing about him stood out other than the fact that he was holding two plates with pastries on them. How he’d eat them was a mystery on its own.

Duke Heinrich was beside him with his daughter. He sipped on wine while his daughter intently stared at Agnes.

Next were the Counts. Count Hall and Count Williams were personally present while it was unknown whether someone from Count Fazner’s house attended or not.

After finishing the Counts, Anastasia moved onto the Marquises.

Meanwhile, in the middle of the ballroom, tears trickled down the face of Duke Leurox’s daughter.

"Your Highness, please excuse me and my daughter." The Duke’s wife politely said and walked out of the ballroom with the birthday girl.

Duke Leurox and Agnes’s conversation had come to an end.

It was concluded that the ball would not continue which made the young girl feel her special day ruined. She could not help herself from crying and was taken away.

Duke Leurox’s face was twisted but he refrained from speaking further and saved his words for the court session tomorrow.

A few moments passed.

A uniform marching resounded in the ballroom.

All the nobles turned their heads in the entrance’s direction.

Vincent saw five tall men in armor walk into the room.

Their armor wasn’t bulky and fitted them properly as per their builds.

Right behind them walked a young man in a black suit with bright gold accents. Draped on him was a long coat with fur on the shoulders.

All the nobles stopped what they were doing, including the Dukes, and stared at the young man who walked with precise and controlled movements.

Agnes slightly squinted her eyes as she saw him.

Vincent could tell he was of some importance as Anastasia stood straight and behind him, stopping to speak about the nobles momentarily.

Five more knights followed behind.

Eventually, all the knights kneeled before Agnes and the young man gave her a courteous bow.

"You seem more radiant tonight, sister dearest."

Agnes’s face had no change of expression at the blatant flattery.

However, several young ladies who prided themselves on composure couldn’t help but feel their cheeks flush as they snuck glances in his direction.

He looked like the man of their dreams. How could they not fall for him?

"I remember summoning only the Royal Knights. What brings you to this ball, brother?" Agnes asked without bothering to return the greeting.

The Royal Knights continued to kneel.

Staring at them from afar, Vincent focused less on the conversation between Agnes and her brother and more on the armor the knights wore.

’That armor isn’t heavy like medieval times. It’s properly tailored to their builds and is made through advanced metallurgical techniques. Hm... Leona might know more about those armors and the metal and alloys used. I can talk to her about it.’

The geek within Vincent flared up. He was a chronically online person and gamer, having played a ton of RPGs. Naturally, he had some idea of these things and a curiosity to know more about them.

Plus, it just so happened that his fiancée was a blacksmith. He could definitely use this topic as an excuse to talk to her more.

’And also to improve my relationship with her and show that I care.’

Vincent was in his own world while the said fiancée he was thinking of was keeping note of everything that was happening.

Every movement of the Prince, the knights, and the Crown Princess was taken into consideration.

As the Prince heard the Crown Princess’s question, he gave her a polite smile and answered, "Most of the Royal Knights were occupied so I was sent here with my personal ones on Father King’s orders."

Agnes narrowed her eyes. The Prince kept his composure, smiling warmly. But his eyes did not contain the same warmth as he stared at his sister.

"Very well." Agnes replied. "The knights are to move to the courtyard and investigate."

The Royal Knights did not move from their kneeling positions.

Many nobles raised their eyebrows at this while Agnes frowned.

The Prince took a step forward and said, "Dear sister, those are my personal knights. Only I can command them. So if it’s the courtyard you wish to investigate, I’ll happily take them to it. Rest assured."

His comment was flawless and captured many hearts at the ball once again.

Agnes was not flustered and kept her composure, replying in a neutral tone, "Please do."

The Prince and the knights left the ballroom and went to the courtyard.

Seating arrangements were made for the nobles in the ballroom by Duke Leurox as many servants constantly walked in and out.

The nobles took a seat and enjoyed another serving of refreshment and snacks while waiting for the Royal Knights to finish their investigation.

Agnes continued to be in the middle of the ballroom, sitting with her legs crossed and sipping on white wine while having a light conversation with the Dukes, waiting for the knights to be back.

Vincent was getting bored and wanted to go home at this point.

He grabbed a few finger sandwiches and practiced eating them in a refined manner to pass time.

A few minutes passed.

The uniform marching of the Royal Knights resounded in the ballroom again.

Everyone stopped eating and looked at the Prince entering with his personal knights.

The Prince’s expression was serious as he took fast and quick strides toward Agnes.

When he reached her, he asked, "Were there survivors?"

The immediate response to his question was the crowd of nobles staring at him with wide eyes.

Many questions erupted in their heads such as ’what did he mean by survivors?’, ’survivors? There were people killed?’, and so on.

Had it not been for the presence of the two royals, the crowd would’ve erupted in a frenzied gossip.

Unlike their shocked selves, Agnes felt nothing from the Prince’s question.

She did not stand up from her seat and gave him a slight nod. "There were."

"This is a serious matter, sister." The Prince emphasized. "We need to talk with the survivors and to get a complete understanding of what had transpired. Father King would not be happy with the casualties of the hounds."

The nobles felt on edge as they heard the word ’casualties’. Everything before and after did not go through their heads as this single word got highlighted.

They felt restless and shifted in their seats, wanting to leave the ball immediately but feeling helpless at knowing an investigation was ongoing and couldn’t unless dismissed by the royals themselves.

Agnes shook her head at the Prince’s response and said, "I can’t tell you about the survivors to protect their identities. However; there’s something I wish to know. What were the hounds doing here?"

For a split second the Prince knitted his brows in annoyance but then flashed a smile.

"Dear sister, do you think that you, the Crown Princess, could attend a ball secretly and wouldn’t have guards protecting you?"

’The Royal Hounds were protecting me?’ Agnes thought internally. ’It doesn’t make sense. I snuck out without anyone’s knowledge. Even father doesn’t know of it.’

From afar, Leona could see the doubt on Agnes’s face. She also did not fail to notice the pause the Prince took before responding, as if taken aback by the Crown Princess’s question.

Agnes looked at the knights and said while turning back to the Prince, "I assume except talking to the survivors, everything’s been investigated. I need a written report of that by tomorrow morning. And please do a cleanup."

The Prince shook his head and said, "A report cannot be written unless we finish talking to the survivors."

"You cannot talk to the survivors now as their identity is protected. All attendees of the masquerade ball will remain anonymous." Agnes said firmly.

The nobles were feeling awkward at the heated conversation, having no clue on what they were supposed to do other than sit and listen.

They had a good impression of the Prince due to his elegance and refined manners but they also liked the Crown Princess for doing them justice and not revealing their identities.

If it was a normal ball, they wouldn’t have minded others knowing them. But it being a masquerade ball, many nobles—men and women alike—had done a few things under the cover of the masks which they wouldn’t want others to find out in the room.

It would be a big hit to their reputation and pride.

"The anonymity will be taken into consideration, rest assured." The Prince tried to instill confidence into the crowd and the Princess.

Agnes still shook her head. "It will have to wait until tomorrow when the court begins. I will bring the survivors there myself."

"It has to be now." The Prince firmly shook his head. "The matter is regarding the hounds and needs to be taken with extreme caution. Father King will punish me and you both if we give him an incomplete report. Please try to understand."

"I will talk to Father King myself." Agnes responded. "You can leave now."

The Prince clenched his fist at the side but kept a neutral expression. "Dear sister..."

His face slowly turned serious.

"...we actually have an idea of who the survivors are. House Leurox’s guards and servants were keeping a watch on who entered and left the ballroom the whole time secretly. The guards escorting you have already told us about the time you left the ballroom and entered the courtyard, and also with whom you reappeared in the ballroom with."