"How shameless..." I remarked, admonishing them.

The confused nobles who were dazedly standing there, staring at me, blinked in unison. Then one after another, they suddenly came to their senses. They muttered among themselves, bemused at first before their actions from earlier slowly sank inside their heads.

Most of them were mortified and were flushing beet red from humiliation. Those who had done the extremes, like resorting to violence and had harassed the stationed knights, looked apologetic, brimming with guilt. The rest who had remained calm throughout the whole ordeal had the face of relief. They could finally be at peace now that the majority are settling down.

I was still a little miffed, annoyed by the humming in my head. The snake-like voice had disappeared as well, which is nice. If it continued, I might have gone senile.

I have no idea what it was, probably because of the alcohol at play. Plus the mixture of the cacophony of different noises, and maybe because I was still unsteady. But that was seriously creepy.

If I was a bit saner, I would have been mystified by it but for now, I was more than glad that it vanished.

The group from the raised podium where the royals are had also ceased whatever they were arguing about. The Emperor who had the look of impatience also neutralized. My father must have heard my outburst so he was looking at me with worried eyes but because he couldn't just leave his post, he remained there and kept an eye on me now and then.

"Nadia..." Gwen muttered as she turned to me.

I was massaging my temples, easing the tension off of them.

'Geez... I had never been so frustrated until now...'

"Everyone, please calm down. The elite knights and the Crown Prince are doing their best in neutralizing the situation outside. You all don't have to worry. No one can do any harm on you within our imperial soil as long as I am still alive," the Emperor finally spoke.

It was uttered with so much conviction that it could be felt penetrating deep into the skin. His loud voice reverberated around the hall, filling the hearts of the people present.

And now that the royal hall's atmosphere had stabled, what left of it was an awkward air. Nobody wants to speak, nor make a move. Either they are all guilty or they are waiting for something...

At that moment, someone appeared from the side doors. It was the empire's powerful magician. I didn't know that he had left the hall because he was still there when I was on my way to the restroom.

"It sure is silent in here," he said before he did his thing.

Soon, magic runes spread all over the place, imprinting themselves on the walls. The runes glowed hot like coals and an almost invisible thin layer of magic covered the surroundings. It was such a pretty sight.

The magic itself was deliberately cast without any chants or spells. He just stood there and then those runes appeared. It was like he breathed and then boom, magic.

The ease of the said barrier spell made everyone who witnessed it, marvel. No one can blame them, he was really good.

Janus then smiled brightly at the people and that smile struck them in their hearts, tugging their strings.

"I have this place covered with protective magic, so you all can be rest assured that nothing will harm you here," he divulged and went straight to the monarchs.

Upon hearing him, the still anxious nobles breathed in comfort. Finally relaxing their tensed bodies.

They are all thinking that now that the greatest magician is here, they have nothing to worry about. As long as a powerful existence such as he is present, they can be reassured.

And that's how Janus cleared the fears away from everyone's mind in a flash.

'Damn... He's really on another level...'

I glanced at Janus who was talking with their majesties now. It wasn't just me but Lost as well. He truly is interested in him.

Janus had come from the outside and must have witnessed whatever was going on there. There is no doubt about it. I wonder what has happened and if it's serious...

Outside huh... If I didn't come back, or if my brother did not fetch me, would I get caught up in it too?

Hmmm...

Ah! Weren't Noah and Rosamunde out in the garden?! Did they return or not?

I suddenly perked up and looked around, trying to see either Rosamunde and Noah's figure but my eyes who were about to roll back from the back of my head have not spotted any one of them at all. I had seen her mother amongst the crowd and she seemed worried. That means she wasn't back.

"Hey... Where's Noah? Is he back?" I inquired to no one in particular.

"Noah?" Gwen repeated.

"Yes, him. I saw him outside when I went out to get fresh air. He's still not back?" I added, leaving the part that he was with Rosamunde.

I have no clue what was going on with those two but if they aren't saying anything, then I will respect their privacy. Moreover, it's none of my business so I shouldn't meddle.

"I didn't see him so maybe he still hasn't?" Gwen responded.

'Oh, dear... I hope those two are fine...'

If I remembered the flow of the waves earlier, it came from the west. The garden outside where I saw both of them is in the south-west, which then meant, they are close to the said incident.

'Oh gosh, are they alright?!'

Should I ask someone to go look for them? Then they would be seen together... but they might be in danger... What to do...

Should I go out myself? But my brother and father would worry...

Tsk. This is stressful...

Should I save their reputation or should I risk exposing them? AAAGGGHHH....

"Lady Rosa! Where have you been? Are you alright?"

My head turned in the direction of that voice upon hearing a familiar name. There I saw Rosamunde herself, unharmed and in one piece. She was being accompanied by Chiwa who was fussing over her.

Noah is nowhere in sight, but at least she's fine? I wonder where Noah is though...

"I'm fine," she said and glanced outside.

It was quick but I could already guess that Noah must have waited for her to get in first before he would come in afterward, probably...

Very stealthy of them, fufufufufu~

If someday, I would end up like real nasty, I could use this knowledge to blackmail them. Not that I will, of course. Ahem~