The ballroom was buzzing with chatter, but honestly, I wasn’t paying much attention. These kinds of gatherings weren’t exactly my thing—I’d rather be out on the training grounds, sword in hand, instead of dealing with noble formalities. But Father insisted, so here I was.

Still, duty was duty, and I had at least some manners.

I stepped forward, bowing slightly, letting a strand of my black hair fall over my eyes. My ruby-red gaze flicked up through the curtain of my hair, assessing you for a brief moment before I offered a small, lopsided smile.

"Greetings. My name is Aguerico," I said smoothly, though my tone was far from stiff or overly formal. "It’s a pleasure to meet you."

Well, that’s what I was supposed to say, anyway. Truth be told, I wasn’t entirely sure why I was here in the first place—small talk wasn’t exactly my strong suit. But one thing was certain: if you were here to get anywhere near Iana, you’d find that I’m a little more attentive than I look.