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"I so will." I took the scepter and badge symbolizing the authority of a lord from Samantha, and with the help of the ceremonial officer, I wore them.

In truth, during the entire lengthy investiture ceremony, only this moment was truly meaningful; the rest was a waste of time. Unfortunately, wasting time is something many people enjoy—or perhaps it's more accurate to say that those moments are the ones they truly cherish.

For example, the ball. Immediately after the investiture ended, the Beast Palace hosted a grand celebratory ball.

This was something I found quite frustrating. Clearly, everyone present coveted my Fontainebleau, and some had even secretly meddled, causing me no small amount of trouble. Now, however, they were all putting on smiles, pretending as if we were long-lost friends, spouting empty praise like "rising star" and "promising future," which no one actually believed. Then, they would feign concern, making the whole affair utterly tedious. If the Taoist priests under the command of Zongyang Zhenren from my previous life were here, they might have handled it gracefully. However, as a descendant of the Peach Blossom Island lineage, I have always despised such hypocritical formalities. Thus, at this ball mimicking the elegance of human nobility, I felt nothing but intense annoyance.

Prince Doss, at King Samantha's gesture, came over to apologize for the "misunderstanding" that occurred at the War God Square. Prince Doss's sincerity was no greater than that of a half-orc's reason. However, I was puzzled by King Samantha's attitude. The War Tooth family's power had declined, but it was still not something I could match right now. Still, I believed Catherine would have many supporters capable of restraining their retaliation. Yet, the Split Tooth family, led by the orc king and at the peak of their power, did not prevent any effective retaliation or further division of Fontainebleau after failing to secure it. This left me wondering what the orc king was wary of.

"Miss Catherine, your radiance illuminates the entire Holy City. May I have the honor of dancing with you?"

"Excuse me, but Catherine is feeling unwell and cannot accept your invitation."

From a distance, Catherine stood in an elegant white gown, her perfect features drawing all eyes at the ball. Since the start of the event, she had not danced with anyone, repeatedly declining invitations. At this moment, she turned down another suitor and met my gaze as she looked up.

"Why aren't you dancing? As someone from Lion Heart City, you shouldn't be unfamiliar with it. Don't tell me you're really unwell—I can sense your aura remains undiminished." I walked over and asked.

"It's nothing. Seeing the ball just reminds me of my three brothers who love these events. Anyway, would Lord Catherine be interested in stepping outside for some fresh air?"

"It would be my honor."

We walked out of the ballroom together into the garden outside. It was night, and the starry sky shone brilliantly. The White Moon and Blue Moon reflected each other, and Catherine's white dress shimmered under the moonlight, making her look like a celestial being. In both my past and present lives, only my master's wife and Senior Lin Chaoying could compare to her beauty. Catherine finally stopped beside a large fragrant banyan tree, gazing up at its canopy, silent for a while before saying, "After so long, everything has changed. There used to be a swing here, made by my father, but it's gone now."

I remembered that as the daughter of the former orc king, Catherine spent her childhood in this Beast Palace. Returning to this place where everything had changed must evoke feelings of nostalgia and sadness. Just as I was about to comfort her, she turned to face me, her eyes clear under the pale blue moonlight.

"Catherine has always been grateful for your trust, yet I know you've doubted whether I could put aside the burdens of my family and race to become someone you can fully rely on. In fact, until today, I didn't know if I could forget the betrayal of my father and the family that betrayed me."

"Today, returning to this Beast Palace where I was born and seeing Samantha again, I finally understood my heart. I never truly belonged to the War Tooth family. My father was dragged into the orc king selection due to this family's burden, leading to his defeat and death, and my mother's sorrowful passing. They stole my happiness, and their names have always been on my list of vengeance."

"Catherine, you should know that the War God selection is the most sacred duel in the alliance. Although tragic, every participant understands the risks involved. Why hold onto this grudge? Over the years, you've endured much hardship for revenge, haven't you?"

"If it were a simple duel, Catherine would be sad but wouldn't bear a grudge. However, it wasn't that simple. When Samantha was twenty-five, despite his exceptional talent and ascension to Sword Emperor, he was still a newcomer compared to my father, a top-tier Sword Emperor. Two years earlier, Samantha disobeyed orders and attacked the residence of the 'Canghai Sword Saint' of the Viking Empire. Upon learning this, my father rushed to rescue him. As a result, Samantha successfully ascended to Sword Emperor, but my father was severely injured by a human mage during his duel with the 'Canghai Sword Saint,' and he never recovered in time for the orc king selection."

"To my father, rescuing Samantha was a duty. For Samantha, who believed in the survival of the fittest, replacing an old orc king with a young and powerful leader was natural. Not only that, but to boost his own reputation, Samantha orchestrated situations that caused my three brothers to offend several influential families within the alliance, forcing my father to participate in the duel to protect our family. Killing the previous orc king brought more prestige than winning without a fight."

"According to the alliance's rules, ingratitude and treachery can be forgiven as long as they do not violate the spirit of bravery. However, my mother was a gentle woman. Despite my royal lion blood, emotionally, I couldn't idolize strength and forget the betrayal. I remember when my mother married my father as part of a political deal, but they fell in love. Though unhappy in the family, my father's genuine affection brought us joy. But that day, I saw my father die before me. At five years old, I couldn't believe that the mighty father was gone. I held his head, calling out, thinking it would bring him back..." At this point, Catherine was already in tears. She wiped them away, composed herself, and continued.