Finally, all the high level noble and special guests are done with their gifts.

Then viscount and baron turn comes.

From the viscount, first come Rowan Ashenford, with a smile, moves to Nyra’s seat and congratulates her before presenting a beautiful dress, on which she smiled and told the female knight to take it.

After Rowan, other viscounts also present their gifts one by one, but sadly the nobles have already become numb, as they have now seen those high level gifts, which results in not a single gift making the crowd explode in excitement.

Soon Baron’s turn comes, and Baron Cedric this times moves first.

He gifted a beautifully crafted necklace embedded with a red ruby.

As the event continued, Aurielle’s condition gradually improved, and she felt much better.

She was now able to stand steadily without any trembling.

Luke asked Aurielle, "Does the noble give more than one gift?"

Aurielle got confused why he was asking this, but she nodded and told him.

"They do give, but their first gift is special and second gifts are just money and other things, which are not worth showing in front of crowd."

Luke nodded thoughtfully as he looked toward his inventory and smiled because he was going to shock everyone.

But just as last baron finished giving their gifts, crowd gaze turned toward the corner.

Yes, the place where Luke and Aurielle were standing.

Luke calmly looked at everyone and nodded to Aurielle before stepping forward toward the main platform.

"Will he shed a crocodile tear when asking money?"

"Because his territory was once a part of Stormveil County."

"Well, he will definitely be, because I have heard his territory condition is very bad and will not survive much longer if he doesn’t do anything."

As Luke was moving, surrounding people started gossiping about him and his territory.

Luke expression didn’t change much in response, but Aurielle’s face changed to anger.

Because theses bastard didn’t come to help their territory when it was needed, and now they are thinking about territory.

The seated members also heard the crowd’s gossip, causing the Count’s expression to change slightly. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

He knew it was his fault for being unable to provide help in time, even after giving them his word.

Magnus also doesn’t like that situation, because when an imperial order comes along with a valid reason, they also threaten him to not intervene in royal matters.

Therion’s face didn’t change much; he just gave Luke a glance and found him weak, before turning back his gaze toward the door.

Lysandra was still smiling cheerfully, as if her face didn’t hurt while maintaining this smile.

Countess and Elias also looked toward Luke with pitying expressions, as they believed maybe he was really here to ask for help.

While Octavia just looked with normal expression without much care and Nyra still has the same smile, which she maintains toward every guest.

But only Naivara’s thoughts and emotions were in turmoil as something was forcing her emotions to grow with the chaos unfolding, but she still maintained her emotionless expression.

While Oryn just gave him a disgusted face.

Finally, Luke reached below the platform as everyone looked down toward him.

But his didn’t look first at Nyra; instead, Luke turned his face toward Naivara and looked into her eyes.

She faced his gaze without changing expression, so after a few moments he finally shifted his attention toward Nyra.

Everyone remained quiet and didn’t disturb him, as they simply thought it was his last futile attempt.

Luke brought a smile to his face and said with happy voice.

"Congratulations on your 20th birthday, Lady Nyra."

She nodded at Luke with a smile.

"When we were preparing gift for your birthday we thought, it should be memorable and helpful."

Many nobles remained silent and listened quietly, but some still mocked him.

"What can a territory without money even give? So what’s even the point of thinking those?"

Those voices sure reached toward the front as well, but Luke’s smile didn’t falter, and from the side, Oryn looked toward Luke with a mocking expression as if those words were true.

"So, here is the first gift to Lady Nyra from me and my wife along with our territory."

The moment his words ended, a small vial of black-silver liquid appeared in his hand.

"A potion?"

Everyone got confused by this and thought.

"What’s so special about this?"

Nyra and other seated members also looked curiously at the black-silver liquid inside the vial but waited for Luke to explain.

Luke smiled and told her.

"Lady Nyra, have you heard about the rank breakthrough potion?"

Nyra got confused with Luke’s question but still nodded, though on this many people already guessed where this was going and again mocked him.

"That’s it? Did he really think that Lady Nyra was going to consume his potion, whose quality will definitely be abysmal compared to what she will use in the future?"

Nyra’s face also changed to awkward on this, because she was really planning to take the breakthrough potion but with less potion toxicity.

But the next moment Luke’s voice echoed through out the hall, which shut up everyone’s mouth.

"I know Lady Nyra at peak Iron Knight realm; that’s why I am presenting this breakthrough potion with zero percent potion toxicity."

"..."

A long silence appeared inside the hall as everyone’s mouth really shut up.

Only Aurielle was smiling proudly with an expression.

"That’s my man."

Even the seated members got surprised, because they know a zero percent toxin potion can be made, but it’s so costly and takes time.

Because of that, many high-level master alchemists prefer to make higher-level potions rather than waste time on this.

But the next moment they heard something even more absurd than a free toxin potion.

"And after consuming this potion, the person can not only safely make a breakthrough easily, but it can also stabilize their first realm of bronze tier instantly."

"0-0"

This time, everyone not only got silent, but also their mouths got fully opened, and the potion in Luke’s hand now seems like an elixir rather than a potion.

Even the Count raised his brow in surprise, as this type of potion was incredibly rare and could only be found in ancient ruins or the royal treasury.

Other seated members faces were also the same as count, but Oryn’s face becomes ugly while thinking.

"Where did this waste hero get this elixir?"

Then his gaze turned toward Aurielle, who was smiling while standing in the corner, and soon everyone’s gaze also turned toward her.

Then understanding dawned on them.

"An exiled princess is still a princess; maybe she got this from someone, and now she is presenting this as a gift."

But then a voice echoes throughout the hall, which instantly makes everyone’s expression suspicious.

"Impossible... it’s just a lie. He is definitely trying to poison Lady Nyra."

[Chapter End]

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Author Note:

Huge thanks to Branton_Vickery for your Golden Ticket! Your support really motivates me to keep writing more.