Holy City West District, the autumn wind blows through the winter garden of the Valencia Mansion, beneath the glass dome is a warm and tranquil greenery.

Golden-red vines wind around the pillars, and the indoor maple trees have eventually sensed the seasonal change, adding a touch of deep withered yellow to their branches.

It is now late autumn.

Although the great storm sweeping across the Vast Ocean destroyed large areas of farmland in both the Old and New Worlds, it seemingly did not affect this garden.

To celebrate the coming first snow, a tea party in the name of flower-viewing is being held.

Silver tea sets are neatly placed on the carved wooden table; the teapot emits a blend of tequila and citrus aroma, and the family crest on the teacups shines with gold—Golden Eagle Wings, the symbol of the Valencia Family.

In the Holy City, Valencia is a name known by all, for this illustrious family has produced three "Regent Kings" over the past century.

In the Empire, the Regent King is a position second only to the Emperor, commanding the respect of numerous people.

If the Emperor is the immortal "Divine Chosen" of Saint Sis in the mortal realm, then the Regent King is the spokesperson of the Emperor.

Apart from representing His Majesty on several occasions, the Valencia Family has also used its long-accumulated prestige to become the representative of the "Elder Faction" that stands for traditional noble interests, competing against the Aber family who represents the "Officer Faction" and the Gregory Family leading the "Church Court Faction."

Because the Valencia family's emblem is the "Golden Eagle Wings," they, along with the "Silver Oak" Lambert Family and the "Bronze Sea Horse" of the Castelion family, are jointly known as the golden, silver, and bronze trios of the Holy City.

Whenever the Golden Family is mentioned, people naturally think of them.

"Have you all read the letter?" Duke Albert Valencia leaned on the vine chair, his teacup untouched, his gaze already upon the guests, "The self-statement of that 'Prince Colin' ... and his administrative arrangements at Withered Wood Port."

"We've read it."

Duke Lambert placed a leather-bound booklet on the table, his thumb gently caressing the spine, smiling approvingly, "Every word in the letter is compliant with etiquette, the language refined, the dignity undoubted yet without arrogance, only with due measure... It is apparent that his father did not neglect his teaching."

This was the letter sent by His Highness Roxey Colin to the Imperial City, expressing the Colin family's yearning for the Empire while sincerely proposing to hold a funeral for his father in the Holy City.

For such a request, the honor-valuing Valencia Family could not possibly refuse.

Especially in Duke Albert Valencia's view, this prince from a distant land is an excellent candidate for alliance.

Duke Albert Valencia raised the teacup, looking towards the church spire outside the window, his tone gentle yet with deep implications.

Seeing no objections, he began speaking.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the surname 'Colin,' as I recall, indeed makes an appearance in the ancient Peter genealogy... Although this surname may not have left a prominent mark, its glory has not been entirely forgotten."

Duke Lambert nodded approvingly, agreeing with what was said.

"He speaks in adherence to ancient laws, fully observant of etiquette, never stepping an inch out of line... This is completely different from those debased nobles who exile themselves to the New World."

"We may not need to immediately accept him into our circle, but if he truly represents the revival of the 'Old Aristocratic Spirit,' at the very least—"

An Earl gently placed their teacup on the tray, producing a slight sound of ceramic resonance.

"—he is worth providing with an 'entry ticket' to the Council of Elders for observation."

"Especially as he shows an expectation for 'progress.'

Duke Valencia and Duke Lambert both simultaneously cast their gaze towards the silent Duke of Castelion.

The luxuriously dressed middle-aged noble stroked his slender mustache, pondered seriously for a moment, and then nodded in agreement.

With the three giants of the Council of Elders having nodded, the rest of the nobles followed suit. Thus, one of the three major factions in the Holy City, the Elder Faction, reached a consensus on the issue of Prince Colin—they decided to give the ancient family that had left the nation years ago a chance, and whether or not they could seize it would depend on the young heir himself.

Outside the window, servants carefully covered the garden's iron trees with protective cloth, much like how these old nobles cautiously nurtured a name gradually being forgotten by time.

Meanwhile, in the Holy City Military Zone, behind the stone walls of the Imperial Staff Headquarters, in the Marshal's office, the flames in the fireplace were steadily burning, illuminating the impressive silhouette of Marshal Laco Aber.

If the Regent King is the "first mortal" under the Emperor, then the Marshal is His Majesty the Emperor's most trusted enforcer in the mortal realm.

Unlike those traditional nobles who value magic and disdain martial arts, Marshal Laco Aber is indeed an outlier in the Imperial Noble circle.

Not only does he practice the "Dragon Divine Sect Combat Skills," which only rough individuals would learn, but he has also achieved a Demigod Level in martial arts and married a woman of alien race who possesses Dragon Blood.

Because of this, the nobles in the Holy City view the Aber Family as barbarians who ignore tradition, even the relatively open-minded Pope Gregory IX has voiced criticisms of his actions.

Saint Sis does not forbid believers from practicing the martial arts of the Dragon God, but at least, shouldn't the Empire's nobles marry a human maiden?

However, contrary to his unpopularity in high society, Marshal Laco Aber and the Aber family behind him enjoy considerable prestige among the Empire's populace—especially within the military ranks!

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