"Yes, I did say that." Claire affirmed, her voice quivering with both defiance and uncertainty.

  "There you go, Your Majesty. She said that all bastards of impure blood should die." Zain stated, a slight, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips as he turned towards Claire, his eyes reflecting a cold, calculated determination.

  "For your information, Princess Claire, the 3rd Duke of the Joseph family, the 2nd Duke of the Soloman family, and your ancestor, the founding Emperor of the Zinovia Empire, were all of illegitimate birth. So, your statement has just disrespected the Royal family and two Duke families." Zain's words hung in the air, each name he invoked adding weight to his argument, making the tension in the room almost palpable.

  "It's written in our Empire's law that one must take action when the dignity of our Empire is being trampled. So, what I did was perfectly justified." His tone was firm, unwavering, as he delivered his defense. The logic of his argument was like a sword, sharp and cutting through the thick atmosphere of the hall.

  The people present were speechless, listening to Zain's reasoning, but they couldn't retort. In a true noble sense, Zain had justified his actions, and no one could find any loophole in it. The silence that followed was heavy with the weight of unspoken agreements and grudging respect.

  The Emperor and Rivera were also tongue-tied. Saying anything here would only result in demeaning the Royal family. Therefore, they could only blame Claire for not knowing her heritage. The Emperor's usually calm visage was marred by a flicker of frustration, while Rivera's face flushed with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.

  Claire had a mixed expression of shame, frustration, and anger as she shouted, "But you can't hit me, a princess."

  "Haha... You can demean the Empire, but I can't even hit you? What kind of pretense is this?" Zain's laughter was harsh, devoid of any mirth, a challenge to the pretenses of noble decorum.

  "I didn't mean to demean anyone but you." Claire retorted, her voice cracking under the strain of her emotions. The crowd shifted uneasily, the nobles exchanging glances laden with speculation and judgment.

  The Emperor and Rivera had the urge to facepalm. Most nobles present had already understood the situation. Zain needed a justified reason for his actions, so he brought the honor of the Empire and nobles into the conversation. Because of this, no one could simply ignore him. And to avoid being blamed for something Claire didn't do, she had admitted to what she had done. These were mental battles between nobles. Now, they couldn't blame Zain for his actions, as Claire had admitted to being the instigator of the conflict.

  Of course, doing this wasn't easy. It only worked because Zain was the son of a Duke; any minor noble's son would have been directly punished. Also, he had to know the facts to use them to his advantage and have a sharp mind to lead the conversation the way he wanted.

  And the Emperor was known for his fairness and uncaring nature, to the point that he had once ended his own son's life for a grave mistake, earning him the nickname of 'Blood Judge.' The title was a chilling reminder to everyone present of the Emperor's impartiality and the severity of his judgments.

  "Please be the judge, Your Majesty." Zain said, bowing his head slightly in deference, though his eyes remained locked on the Emperor's.

  This put the Emperor in a spot where he didn't know what to choose. If he sided with his daughter, it would appear as if the Royal family was abusing their power. On the other hand, if he judged in Zain's favor, it would make the Royal family look foolish.

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  The Emperor frowned slightly but soon returned to a relaxed state. "It appears that Princess Claire was out of line. But it also seems that one of your servants antagonized Claire. So, she must also be held responsible. While your actions may be justified, theirs were not." The Emperor's voice was measured, his gaze penetrating, as he sought to balance justice and the preservation of his family's dignity.

  Although it seemed as if the Emperor was carefree and didn't pay attention to whatever was happening at the banquet, it was the opposite. The Emperor had been very observant throughout the banquet, getting a good look at his subjects. His keen eyes missed nothing, and his mind was constantly weighing and assessing the actions and words of those around him.

  From his experience, he understood that Zain cared for his servants a little too much. Having lost the initiative because of Claire's admittance of her wrongs, the Emperor decided to bring more people into the conflict to gain the upper hand. His mind worked swiftly, formulating a plan to reassert control over the situation.

  'Haha, kid... You are too green. I have been in these schemes for most of my life.' the Emperor thought, a sly smile playing on his lips.

  "So, kid! Summon your servants to receive their punishment."

  Hearing this, Zain's face fell. He had already sent Draig and Lilith away to avoid dragging them into this conflict. He looked at Raina for an answer, who lowered her head as she had no resort other than sending Izark a pleading look. Her eyes were wide with worry, and her body trembled slightly with the effort to contain her emotions.

  'This idiot! Sigh... Your son sure knows how to make me miserable.' Izark finally decided to intervene in the conversation.

  "Your Majesty, it would be improper to escalate this matter between kids. They should be left for the younger generation to solve. I'm sure His Majesty wouldn't pay mind to these childish fights. If His Majesty and the Princess are displeased, I, as a host, apologize on behalf of my family." Izark's voice was smooth and diplomatic, a stark contrast to the tension brimming in the room. He bowed to the Emperor, a gesture of respect that did little to hide the underlying strain.

  Some Dukes and nobles gloated, as this event would put some differences between the Emperor and Duke Izark. Their expressions were a mix of satisfaction and curiosity, eager to see how the drama would unfold.

  "Hahaha... Duke Izark, there's no need for you to apologize. As you said, these are petty conflicts between kids. But these should be settled by us adults fairly."

  "I don't understand, Your Majesty." Izark responded, his voice calm but his mind racing to understand the Emperor's intentions.

  "To settle the conflict, the best way is to fight and then forget the hatred." the Emperor laughed, his voice rich with amusement, though his eyes remained cold and calculating.

  'Well, at least this means that the Emperor is willing to look past Zain's blunder.' thought Izark, his relief tempered by apprehension.

  "Do you mean a fight between Zain and Princess Claire, Majesty?" Izark's question raised a couple of eyebrows. The audience thought, 'What's the Emperor doing? First his daughter was slapped, now he is giving a chance for the kid to hurt her more.'

  "Well, that would've been the case, but as you can see, Claire is injured. I guess her sister Rivera can fight this match for her." The Emperor's tone was casual, almost dismissive, as if the fight was a mere formality.

  'Shameless' some thought.

  'Hahaha, this clever Emperor.' others mused, recognizing the cunning behind the Emperor's proposal.

  'He wants us to believe that a slap has seriously injured his daughter.' many whispered.

  'That kid would die if he fought Princess Rivera.' was the common sentiment.

  This was the Emperor's way of getting revenge for his daughter. Even though everyone was impressed by Zain's performance in the fight with Ben, he was far from reaching Princess Rivera's grade. It was rumored that Princess Rivera was close to reaching the Master Realm. Fighting her as an Acolyte Realm Grade 3 was suicide. Even Izark was perplexed by the Emperor's shady scheme.

  'It seems the Emperor is bent on punishing my son.' Izark thought, his mind working furiously to find a way out of this predicament.

  Izark was about to say something, but the Emperor spoke first, looking at Zain. "And it would be best to keep others from being involved."

  'Sly Emperor. If I accept this fight, then it's good; otherwise, he would drag Draig and Lilith into this. Haaa.' Zain thought, his mind swirling with strategies and possible outcomes.

  The Emperor's last line was especially hinting at him as a warning. The implicit threat was clear: compliance or further complications.

  "As I thought, the great intelligence of the Emperor. I agree with the Emperor's suggestions. The matters between the young ones should be settled by themselves." Duke Ranold worded his approval. Some other nobles also followed suit, praising the Emperor's intellect.

  "So, what do you say, Zain?" The Emperor eyed Zain, his gaze piercing and expectant.

  Zain gritted his teeth and agreed. "As you say, Your Majesty." he replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.

  'Kid, if you were to get away with hitting the Royal family without any consequences, it would look bad for us. Although you had a good reason, still you can't. Let this be a lesson for you—some people are not to be touched without the power to handle the consequences.' the Emperor thought, his eyes never leaving Zain.

  The nobles whispered among themselves, the excitement of the impending duel spreading like wildfire. The banquet hall, once a place of celebration, had become a battleground of honor and cunning, where every word and gesture carried the weight of the Empire's future.