The nobles looked uncomfortable as they all sat down. Pier on the other hand was feeling light even after getting his arm burned.

'Magic potions are so convenient.' He hummed as he grabbed the chair and made himself comfortable. The servants once more delivered the food and beverages for the nobles.

'I should buy them more often.' Magic potions are rare consumables in the kingdom. Only the high-ranking nobles can afford them without batting an eyelash at the prices.

Arda was silently fuming at the turnout of the events. The servant she used to order in doing her deeds was now working for Pier. Worse, it would be clear as daylight that if she were to take the servant back everyone would assume that they were conspiring against Pier. Even though she had a higher position herself than some nobles here, she could never go against the power of Pier's family which was close to royalty.

'This...!' She gritted her teeth as she eyed Pier. The latter caught her gaze and smirked at her which made her fume more.

'What's happening? What happened to him?' Arda was definitely confused. She thought that the young master simply had awakened his genius in playing instruments after the royal banquet thus she tried testing the waters again yet to her surprise, it looked like Pier was a completely different person.

'He even found an opportunity from getting hurt.' Raphael thought as he looked at Pier who was thanking a servant that delivered him a sweet macaron.

Once everyone was settled in their respective seats, Asher cleared his throat and proceeded to glance at Pier one more time before opening his mouth to speak.

"The reason why I have gathered everyone today is because of two reasons. First, I am going to select individuals who will go with me to the Yuko Boundary to check with the people living there, and second, since the social seasons have officially begun, we will now improvise our plans to deal with the anti-royalty faction." Everyone tensed at the mention of the anti-royalty faction.

In a kingdom, not everyone would be favorable toward the Crown Prince. There would be some who would oppose and choose another candidate for their favorability.

The anti-royalty faction had been present since the kingdom started and their propagandas continued to exist up until this day.

"Let us first talk about those who are willing to go accompany me in the Yuko Boundary. We need the presence of our faction in that boundary especially now that drought is coming near." Asher first talked about the drought that was coming to the Yuko Boundary.

The Yuko Boundary is the town that was situated between the Kingdom and a forbidden region. Even though it is pretty much far from the capital, the Yuko Boundary still had a considerable population that the Crown Prince needs to increase his influence.

Everyone was silent when asked who wanted to go in the Yuko Boundary. This was not because of the town but what is next to it. A forbidden region is located in the east of the town where there is constant fluctuation of magic and sometimes even complete disappearance of it in unknown patterns. This caused the land to be barren and completely void of any life since every life contained a certain amount of magic.

Getting lost in the forbidden region in the east of the Yuko Boundary would mean one is willing to die at any moment.

"Can I go?" Pier raised his hand. He was curious about what the Yuko Boundary looked like and he secretly hopes to just steal a glance at the forbidden boundary.

Asher was surprised by Pier's actions. He already expected that no one would go with him in the Yuko Boundary considering Raphael still has his own responsibilities in the Duchy.

"Is the young master sure with his decision?" Asher asked Pier. The latter nodded his head without giving any further explanations. Seeing that Pier did not want to talk further to Asher, the prince nodded his head.

"Very well, young master. I will write you a letter about the prospective date of the leave." Asher did not want to let the chance go either. He had been going to the Yuko Boundary mostly by himself and there are times some nobles would accompany him but they were all scared about the sudden fluctuations and disappearance of mana from the forbidden region.

Now that Pier volunteered himself to go, Asher wanted to see how Pier handles himself, especially in the place where most nobles would hesitate to go.

He was constantly amazed at how Pier had been doing in the past weeks and he desired to see Pier's complete change.

"Then I'll go too." Other nobles started making their decisions. Some decided to join but mostly decided to stay in the capital where they would feel much safer from the forbidden region.

"What are we going to do with the anti-royalty faction, your highness?" A noble asked. The atmosphere once more became unpleasant at the mention of the anti-royalty faction. They have been known to ruthlessly kill nobles, especially those who support the royal faction.

"The social seasons will be an important time for us to make our connections! We cannot let them disturb us!" Pier was amazed at how serious the nobles were with making connections in the social seasons.

'Some things never change.' It was always like that. Money and power are the things these nobles and those powerful individuals back in their previous life cared about.

"We cannot just increase the knights stationed at all the possible entrances," Raphael said as everyone thought about what they should do. Every time they hold a gathering like this, the anti-royalty faction would definitely be one of their topics.

"Does the young master have any suggestions to make?" Arda said looking at Pier. Pier flinched at the sudden mention of his name.

'Really now." He chuckled as he once more felt everyone's gazes on him. The nobles who were uncomfortable also flinched at Arda's sudden involvement of Pier in the discussion.

"Does the young master not have any ideas?" She smiled mockingly.

"Lady Arda, please do refrain from igniting any conflict in the middle of an important matter." Raphael clicked his tongue at Arda's childish plots against Pier.

"Pardon my words if it seems mocking, Sir Raphael but we need everyone's suggestions right now. We should not just simply watch as the anti-royalty faction wreaks havoc within the social season!" Arda was defending her own childish plots right now and the other nobles could not disagree with her.

"Even more so-"

"It seems the young master has something to say, too." Asher interrupted Raphael who was about to retort with Arda's statements.

"I do?" Pier asked himself quietly. The Crown Prince stared at him as if he was urging Pier to say something about the matter.

'What benefits do I get with speaking out in this darn meeting anyway?' He sighed as he placed his uninjured hand on the table comfortably.

"Why don't you try conducting a subjugation plan, your highness," Pier commented without any thought. He only wanted to make some random comments that are related to their issue of discussion.

"Subjugation plan, you say?" Arda's eyebrows twitched at Pier's words. It sounded like he was making fun of the meeting.

"Please continue, young master." Asher urged Pier to continue speaking.

"Don't the knights do that with the monsters in the surrounding areas of the kingdom? I am pretty sure there will be a certain pattern where the anti-royalty faction will be hidden considering they have been present since the kingdom had started centuries ago. Simply try to take advantaging advantage of those locations by announcing a fake gathering of the royalty faction. They will surely show up." Pier was laughing at how childish his suggestion was. He was only voicing out the thought he had about randomly fighting some villains in a novel.

Everyone suddenly thought about Pier's words. There haven't really been any actions of subjugation towards the anti-royalty faction. This was because they have been treated as a complete norm within the social hierarchy. They have been a part of society and were considered antagonists.

"That's a great suggestion, young master!" Asher said as he stood up from his chair and pounded the table with his fist.

'Huh?' Pier who was having fun with his childish suggestions got confused.

"W-What? wait, that was just a-" He tried explaining but Raphael's excited voice interrupted him.

"It was a brilliant idea, Pier!" Pier had a look of disbelief on his face as he watched the two highest-ranking successors say how his idea was perfect.

"Are you... serious?" He definitely thought that it was an absurd idea and someone had probably thought about it before.

"A-As expected, young master! You thought about it so well!" Arda complimented Pier. Pier's mouth was agape. He was in constant disbelief with the world he had just come into.

'Is this some sort of novel written by a five-year-old?' Who would've thought that his silly idea of fake-holding a gathering of nobles to attract the anti-royalty faction would be accepted by everyone?

'Besides, why didn't they attack during the Royal Banquet?'

Everyone discussed Pier's plan. The nobles who were once giving him side glances now were completely avoiding their gazes as if they were embarrassed to talk to him.

"I will be entrusting the young master to conduct this plan along with us," Asher said as he glanced at Pier. The latter only stared at him for a couple of seconds before nodding his head and looking somewhere else seeming disinterested.

Asher flinched at Pier's response to his warm acknowledgment of him. It would have been a different story if some other noble or individual had shown disinterest in Asher's acknowledgment of them. It might have led them to the worst case that they could imagine but if the person was from the young master of the Belmiunde Household then it would simply look like a small conflict between two friends.

'As if he could punish me for not being 'respectful.' Pier made a funny face in his mind that seems to mock Asher.

He was disappointed at the series of events. First, he expected Asher to at least be the prince charming in the novels that he had read when someone is in need of help but all he did when Pier got burned by the servant was to keep quiet and stare at the scenario.

Second, he was disappointed that his silly suggestion of having a fake gathering was actually the first time someone thought of it.

'Even a five-year-old child can think about it!' He was slightly frowning with his thoughts. Asher, who saw Pier's small frown was having his own thoughts.

'Is the young master displeased with me?' He then thought about what happened earlier.

"Young master, I have no excuse for the lack of my response at the events earlier. Please do pardon my passiveness and ignorance." Asher said as he approached Pier. The young master of the Belmiunde household looked at Asher with distaste present in his tongue.

Pier wanted to curse Asher and tell him to act more princely but he thought about the consequences if he did so.

"I understand, your highness. It was by no means his highness's fault that he chose to ignore the situation. It was also partially my fault for I used to barge in at these meetings uninvited and ruin them constantly. Thank you for the reminder, your highness. I deserved it" Pier snickered inwardly at how petty he was being right now.

He knew that it was indeed a petty and disgusting attitude to act as if he were hurt and make the person he was talking to be eaten up with his conscience but he simply wanted to get back at all the things Asher did to Pier in the past.

Asher clenched his fist at Pier's words. He knew it was his fault he was unresponsive when Pier was burned. He did not expect any of it would happen and he did not know how to act and right now, Pier was making him face his mistakes.

"Young Master, it was not my purpose to do that -"

"It's fine, your highness. But next time, if the crown prince wants to invite me at least treat me like a proper guest, I suppose." Pier's cold tone along with his piercing gaze on Asher's eyes gave chills to the Crown Prince.

Pier walked away after sighing with disappointment once more. Raphael then arrived at the scene late after talking to some nobles.

"Your highness, did the young master leave already?" He wanted to depart with Pier outside but he wasn't able to catch up with him.

"Tell me, Raphael. How does someone become so intimidating after only a few weeks?" Asher asked Raphael while still staring at the door Pier had gone out.

"Huh?" Raphael was confused with Asher's words.