“I apologize for taking so much of your time. I should let you young people spend some time together. Mia, why don’t you come with your mother.”

With a hearty laugh, Elena stood up together with Mia.

“No, Duchess. Please stay.”

Ingrid and Luna hurriedly stood up to dissuade Elena from leaving, but Elena shook her head.

“Mm, no, I am sure you all have a lot to talk about. Please take your time. We will be seeing each other at the dinner party anyways. Alan, Irene, please make sure to treat our guests well.”

“Yes, mother.”

“Then I will see you later, my lady.”

Raven and Irene stood up, followed by Ian. They gave a slight bow to the duchess.

Elena smiled at the youths’ gazes, then left the room with Mia.

Once Elena had left with her maids, a brief silence filled the room. The escorting knights of the royal family waited outside, while the five youths, as well as their maids, sat around in the spacious sitting room.

Raven broke the silence first.

“Haven’t you come here because you have something to say? Why don’t you stop being discreet and just be straight with it?”

At Raven’s forthright words, Ian flinched and raised his voice. He was interrupted from stealing glances at Irene.

“Who is being discreet? You’ve become cocky in the short time I haven’t seen you, you little brat.”

“That’s funny. Do people like you set our status based on age? Or do you perhaps treat any princes older than you as if they are your seniors by chance?”

“What? This brat is reall...