Anton nodded,

"Well, it can't be helped. If you say she is not your mother, then she is not your mother. But let me give you this advice, those eyes will draw attention to you and not just attention from those who wonder if you are a Doxon... But attention from true Doxons themselves.

Should you ever meet them, I can almost a guarantee an altercation" the Sensual Palace head said and Hal frowned slightly but still smiled,

"Thanks for the advice"

Noelle however was not willing to let things rest just yet,

"No, no. I want you to apologize. Apologize for being so casual with the greatest gift of all. The gift of potentially being related to the great Duchess of the Doxon Duchy"

Hal shook his head with a light smile,

"I won't"

Noelle frowned and her eyes flashed as she began to release her pressure. It was stiffling and even Emily could not remain undaunted in the face of it as the pressure showcased Noelle's cultivation to be at the peak stage of the Cosmic semi-Saint realm which in itself was quite impressive.

But what Hal felt was most impressive about the whole situation was that despite how indiscriminately oppressive the pressure was in the sense that it affected everyone including Anton beside her, the Sensual Palace head was unfazed.

Which meant Anton was at the very least a one-star saint.

(Remember the Cosmic Saint realm ranges from one to nine stars. Mentioned in the auxiliary chapter).

The Sensual palace head stretched his hand and patted Noelle's shoulder, bringing the woman back to her senses such that she reined in her pressure but even then she still looked upset,

"I think you're going a little overboard. You're oppressing my dear daughter and granddaughter" Anton told her with a light smile.

Even then, Noelle's annoyance remained evident as she pointed at Hal angrily,

"He's the one who's going overboard. Such an arrogant brat. What's so good about you anyway that makes the Duchess unworthy of being your mother?" She asked him.

"It's weird" was all Hal said in response and it confused Noelle who asked,

"What's weird?"

"This obsessive complex you seem to have with the Blue-eyed witch despite the fact that she is so much younger than you" he clarified and Noelle gritted her teeth but it was Anton who spoke while Emily shook her head at how things seemed to be escalating so fast.

Amelia however felt it was to be expected.

"Brat, don't you know it's disrespectful to talk about a lady's age?" The sensual palace head said but there was a backtone to his words that told Hal he could continue down this path of jocularity,

Hal shrugged,

"I only think she's old judging from your looks. I mean she is still as beautiful as those centuries younger than her but if she is with you as old as you are, then surely she is in your age group"

Rita's eyes widened and she tugged at Hal's clothes while Karmen tried her best to hold in her laughter,

"What, do you have a death wish?" Rita could not help but ask but just then Noelle burst into elegant laughter with her hand covering her mouth before she looked over at Anton who's face was a little hard to read,

"I know right? I tell him it's his good fortune that I continue to stay with him." She said in between hysterics.

This was all in good fun of course as, despite his middle-aged look, the Sensual palace head was a looker. He did himself justice in a location and cultivation style where looks were incredibly important.

"Well, it can't be helped if you're the good looking one in the relationship" Anton said with a bright smile before the two paused and looked into each other's eyes for a long while before Noelle was back to looking at Hal in anger,

"Don't think I've forgotten or forgiven your imprudence. You seem to have been a good influence on Emiliana's mood and are the reason she returned home with her condition cured so I will let you off the hook just this once." Noelle said.

Hal inwardly rolled his eyes,

"Thank you" he said with his voice dripping with sarcasm but then Noelle was already on her feet and suddenly mere inches away from him.

His eyes widened as he could not believe the speed but then he thought that was to be expected. This woman was a Semi-saint not to mention at the peak stage.

There was no way he could follow her movements.

Funnily, it took her moving to his front in such an instantaneous manner for him to actually give the Expedition he was going on with Melinda's father more thought than just being a ploy to know what he was hiding.

The battle itself was bound to be intense and he was bound to face or at the very least meet people with this sort of strength.

He could not explain it but even though it was potentially dangerous and he could very well end up in a life-threatening situation, he was actually anticipating the expedition now.

It was still mostly something he was being forced to do because his father-in-law did not like him but even more than that, it was his chance to see all those high-powered fellows in action.

That said, it also brought to mind how weak he was at the moment and even more so when he was in the midst of those who were not actually close to him and would hinder him from making use of his Bloodline.

The stagnation he was facing was an issue which he was not yet sure how to overcome except to simply push through and gain possession and make use of resources such as the Primal fruit.

But while he awaited overcoming the stagnation, he needed an ability he could use in public, and without worry, he needed an Ordinance. He could not care less if it was Elemental or Abstract, he just needed one.

Fortunately, he had the Orb he had gotten from Red Beard and planned to use it to attempt comprehending the ordinance of fire but according to Grimoire, there was a possibility he would not be successful.

"I am not saying you will definitely fail, I'm only saying you should not be too disappointed if you don't succeed" it had said.

And when Hal asked why that was the case, the Grimoire would not say.

Anyway, Noelle stared right into his eyes, hard enough to intimidate,

"I will forgive you this once but any further disrespect against the Duchess and I could get... Very mad"

Hal furrowed his brows and was covered in cold seats as her intimidating factor clearly had an effect on him.

She stepped back quickly though and just as fast as she had appeared before him, she was back on her seat while Anton burst into loud boisterous laughter,

"Don't be too worried, kid, Noelle just has a temper problem. Well, this had been quite the lively first meeting. You, visitors, should join us for dinner tonight" he said and Hal bowed slightly,

"We would be honored"

-Anton's thoughts-

'There's no doubt about it, you are Svetlana's son. That accounts for her strange order to not be seen physically for months after she became Duchess. You are not Silva born at all, you're just Silva raised.

You reached this level of cultivation at such a young age even without the resources of the Doxon family, I wonder if you have some sort of support.

Emiliana says she met you in that rundown city but that does him you were not being supported and groomed in secret.

Judging from your reactions to Svetlana's name, I doubt your growth can be accredited to her at all.

I wonder if she knows you are now in the capital... Knowing her, she must already be aware of your arrival.

It's just as Noelle said, what's so good about you?

What makes you special, Hal from the Silva Duchy?'

...

Pending that night, Hal stayed in Emily and Amelia's joint residence which was large and with numerous rooms and it was in one of those rooms that Hal now sat with his Communication Talisman in hand and listening to Ehrlich's instructions regarding what Tanya wanted in the Doxon Duchy capital,

"The family in question is the Kruger family and I will be upfront with you, they are part of the top echelons in the Doxon Duchy. Their patriarch is a member of the Doxon Duchess' court.

They have powerful experts and the weakest of their guards is at the Peak stage of the Cosmic Armament Realm. Any lower than that is either a member of the young generation and is in training or is simply considered unworthy.

While definitely lower in status to the Antonovs and the Sensual Palace as a whole, they still have a say in matters of the Doxon Duchy and it would appear that they have business with an Organization the princess is staunchly against.

The business involves a map and it is that map the princess wants... It is that map that you are required to steal..."