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51: Chapter 51 A Glamorous Debut in Social CirclesFu Hao gazed at the river, devising a strategy of ”water attack.”

Lacking manpower? Simply borrow the power of nature—for instance, by building a dam upstream and opening the floodgates at the critical moment to wash the enemies away in one fell swoop.

If the opponents were human, this strategy would be too obvious, but fortunately, he was dealing with monsters of lower intelligence.

The key lay in the dam’s construction. While there was plenty of manpower, building a large-scale structure like a dam required skilled architects.

The problem was, where could he find them?

The answer was obvious: those capable of building large-scale structures like dams were either royalty or nobility.

Fu Hao reviewed the territory quests that had been piling up, specifically those related to social gatherings.

Fu Hao decided to attend the upcoming coming-of-age party for Duke Doris’s daughter, which was expected to be attended by many high-ranking nobles.

Usually, players of commoner origin rarely received so many social quests from nobles, but the rumors of ”Fu Hao the Big Spender” and ”Helm’s Disciple” had swept through the Rowen Kingdom. Nobles eager to curry favor sent party invitations one after another, causing the quests to pile up—and beyond party quests, there were also proposals for investments and political marriages.

”This is my first time attending a social party... Do I need to learn how to dance?”

Fu Hao began preparing for the party three days later.

Three days later, at the Duke Doris estate.

The 17th birthday coming-of-age commemorative banquet for Duke Doris’s daughter was underway.

There were about 300 guests at the party; compared to the parties hosted at the royal palace, the number wasn’t large, but the status of the attending nobles was even higher than those at royal parties.

Almost no noble could refuse an invitation personally sent by Duke Doris, and many attended the party just to see Ella, the Rowen Kingdom’s most talented woman, with their own eyes.

Ella was venting her frustration to her father, Duke Doris—rumors had it that her father would decide her lifelong marriage partner today.

”Father, I have already said, I do not want to get married yet.”

Ella rarely contradicted her father, but this time she couldn’t hold back.

”How could I bear to let my precious daughter marry far away?” the Duke sighed.

Ella sensed something unusual in her father’s words.

”Did Second Prince Mian propose to me?”

The Duke was shocked; only he and his personal guard knew about Second Prince Mian’s proposal.

”How did you know that?”

”Looking at the current situation, it’s quite obvious. Among the neutral nobles, you hold the strongest influence. Second Prince Mian must want to win you over, and marriage is the only path—besides, he hasn’t given up on the right of succession to the throne yet.”

Because First Prince Carlson had emerged victorious in the Crown Prince’s trial, a large number of neutral nobles had defected to his side. The power gap between the Second Prince and the First Prince was gradually closing, so proposing to Duke Doris at this moment was inevitable.

”Correct. I wanted to refuse, but I couldn’t find a suitable reason, so I had to announce to the public that I would ’let my daughter choose her own husband’—in noble society, regardless of gender, it is very rare for the person involved to choose their own marriage partner. But given your reputation for talent, this excuse is somewhat reasonable.”

”So, I have to choose a marriage partner today.”

Ella confirmed Second Prince Mian was on the guest list for the party and said with a bitter smile.

If she rejected Second Prince Mian’s pursuit and didn’t choose any other man, it would certainly put Duke Doris in an awkward position.

”I’m sorry. But your father doesn’t think this is a bad thing. I have gathered the best talents in the Rowen Kingdom; you will surely find someone you like.”

Ella understood this was unavoidable; she pressed her lips together and nodded.

”Second Prince Mian has arrived!”

The guard announced loudly, and the nobles in the banquet hall looked toward the entrance. Second Prince Mian, dressed in his finest, walked into the venue with two attendants, heading straight toward Duke Doris and Ella.

”Duke Doris, Miss Ella, greetings.” Second Prince Mian performed a royal bow.

”Thank you for gracing us with your presence.”

”Greetings, Second Prince Mian.”

The Duke and Ella responded politely—even if they were displeased, they could not show it on their faces.

After the pleasantries, Second Prince Mian stared at Ella’s face and offered words of praise.

”Miss Ella, it has been five years since we last met, and you have become even more beautiful.”

This was no lie. Ella was not only hailed as the most talented woman in the Rowen Kingdom, but her beauty was also the most outstanding among all the noble ladies.

”Your Highness Mian has also become more handsome.” Ella responded perfunctorily.

Although Second Prince Mian had a decent appearance, Ella had no affection for him.

”Haha, you are too kind. However, Duke, I heard that Miss Ella will be choosing her husband from among the party guests. Is that true?”

”Indeed. As long as it is someone Ella chooses, I will approve.”

”They say Duke Doris dotes on his daughter, and it is true. I will do my utmost, and I hope to be chosen by Miss Ella.”

Second Prince Mian flashed his signature smile and was about to leave when the guard at the entrance announced again:

”Viscount Lepis has arrived!”

Upon hearing ”Viscount Lepis,” the banquet hall became even noisier than when Second Prince Mian had entered.

”Viscount Lepis? Isn’t that Helm’s disciple!”

”Yes, I heard he revived the nearly bankrupt Lepis Territory in just one week. Just how much money did he spend?”

Second Prince Mian’s face changed instantly—the surrounding discussions about Fu Hao had completely overshadowed his own entrance.

”A person of commoner origin dares to attend a party hosted by a Duke. Duke Doris, I will go and drive him out.”

Everyone knew that Fu Hao stood on the side of the First Prince, and that he had made Second Prince Mian lose face during the prince’s trial.

The nobles at the surrounding tables who were discussing Fu Hao noticed Second Prince Mian’s anger and immediately shut their mouths.

”Second Prince Mian, Viscount Lepis was personally invited by me. I know you do not have a good relationship with him, but I advise you to show some restraint. If you anger Helm’s disciple, can you bear the consequences?”

The Duke’s words forced Second Prince Mian to suppress his anger—even though Fu Hao was only a Viscount, the status of ”Helm’s Disciple” was enough to crush him, a Prince.

Taking advantage of the awkward atmosphere, Ella moved to another table.

”Father, I will go check out other tables.”

”Go ahead. Tell me if you find someone you like.”

Second Prince Mian watched Ella walk away and sneered—he had already notified all potential competitors that unless they wanted to be his enemy, no one would attempt to win Ella’s heart.

Second Prince Mian’s threat had worked. Ella visited over twenty tables but only received polite greetings; no men of her age took the initiative to express interest. She immediately realized it was Second Prince Mian’s doing, but she was helpless.

Worse still, Second Prince Mian stepped onto the stage and used ”Voice Amplification Magic” to draw everyone’s attention. Duke Doris wanted to stop him, but it was too late.

”Greetings, everyone. I am Second Prince Mian. I have taken the stage today only to make a confession—”

”Miss Ella, I love you. Please accept my feelings.”

Duke Doris realized Second Prince Mian was up to something and hurriedly tried to stop him, but it was too late.

Cheers and applause rang out in the hall—clearly from Second Prince Mian’s supporters. He gestured for an attendant to hand him a sound-amplifying prop and asked again: ”Miss Ella, are you willing to accept my proposal?”

Ella bit her lip and refused resolutely: ”I am sorry.”

Second Prince Mian’s face darkened, and the hall fell into an awkward, icy silence.

”I heard that Miss Ella would be choosing a husband today. If you already have someone you like, I will naturally step aside; if not, then you are toying with me and the nobles present—everyone, tell me, is that not so?”

”That’s right!”

”Miss Ella, accept Second Prince Mian’s proposal!”

The chorus of agreement rose and fell. Ella realized she was in a desperate situation and frantically racked her brain for a countermeasure.

She suddenly remembered the one person in the entire venue who was not threatened by Second Prince Mian—Fu Hao Lepis.

He was Helm’s disciple, known for rejecting others, and he was also well-known as the First Prince’s number one confidant.

Because the nobles were all swarming around him, Ella had not had a chance to speak with him.

Ella couldn’t predict how he would react, but she decided to take a gamble.

”Actually, I have already promised my life to the one I love.”

Ella’s words caused an uproar in the banquet hall. Second Prince Mian’s brow twitched violently: ”Who is it? If you dare to lie—”

Ella took a deep breath, and her clear voice resonated throughout the hall:

”My fiancé is Viscount Fu Hao Lepis.”