It's so hard being a hero!

"Miss Sophia, if you are tired, please go and rest for a while. The banquet will not start for a while."

Millie walked over and said with a smile.

Sofia nodded and was about to go back to her room to rest when she heard Layla's voice as soon as she entered the living room.

"Little girl."

Sofia turned her head and saw Leila coming down the stairs.

Then she froze.

Because Lyra changed out of her silver-white knight's outfit and put on a gorgeous pale gold dress.

The dress was a very light gold, as if it had been bathed in sunlight. The hem was embroidered with delicate silver patterns, and the waist tie accentuated her slender waist. A circle of tiny white pearls was inlaid at the neckline.

Her long, golden hair was styled into an elegant updo, revealing her slender neck and delicate collarbone.

She looked like a noble lady who had stepped out of a painting, elegant and beautiful enough to make people unable to look away.

Sophia stared at her for several seconds, opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything for a long time.

"What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen a beautiful woman before?"

Lyra felt a little embarrassed by her gaze and rolled her eyes.

"Why are you suddenly wearing a skirt?"

Sofia finally managed to regain her voice.

"Nonsense, everyone who came this afternoon was a friend or family member. I can't exactly wear my knight's uniform, can I? We're not going to fight."

Leila walked over and flicked Sophia's forehead.

"I am, after all, a duchess; I have to be mindful of my image."

Sophia covered her forehead, but in her heart she was thinking: You know you're a duchess now?

However, she had to admit that Leila did look good in a dress.

The kind of beauty isn't the kind that's delicate and frail; rather, it's a unique blend of heroic spirit and gentle beauty.

It's like a drawn sword wrapped in silk.

"Alright, stop spacing out."

Leila took Sophia's hand and walked towards the courtyard.

"Come on, come with me to greet the guests."

As Sophia was pulled forward, a sense of foreboding suddenly welled up inside her.

Huh? Welcoming guests?

What kind of guests are we welcoming?

Then she found out the answer.

At the entrance of the Duke's mansion, one after another, magnificent carriages came to a stop.

Those who alighted from the carriages were all nobles from the capital, and most of them were young.

Leila stood at the door, a polite smile on her face, and greeted the guests one by one.

Sophia stood behind her like a little follower, with a polite smile on her face, but inwardly she was cursing, thinking: Why is she dragging me along?

"Lyra, you look beautiful today."

A young man in a dark blue suit walked over, his gaze falling on Leila with obvious admiration in his eyes.

"Thank you, Viscount Edmund."

Leila nodded slightly, her smile polite but distant.

"Eh? And who is this?"

Edmund's gaze fell on Sophia, filled with curiosity.

"Oh, this is my sister, Sophia."

Laila stepped aside to make way for Sophia and introduced her.

"younger sister?"

Edmund paused for a moment.

"How come I've never heard that you have a younger sister?"

"You don't need to hear it."

Leila's smile remained impeccable.

“Sophia, this is Viscount Edmund, my classmate from the Imperial Academy.”

Sophia nodded slightly as a greeting.

Edmund wanted to say something more, but then another guest arrived, so he had to give up his seat.

Next, Sofia witnessed firsthand what it meant to have an endless stream of visitors.

One after another, young people stepped forward, men and women, noblemen and young officers of the knights.

Each of them exchanged a few pleasantries with Lyra, and the younger male nobles, in particular, lingered on her for a noticeably longer period of time.

Sofia stood behind Leila, watching this scene, her anger growing stronger and stronger.

Of course she knew that Leila was twenty-two years old and had reached the age where she would be pursued by others.

Knowing something is one thing, seeing it with your own eyes is another.

Especially when you see the way those young people look at Leila, those eyes that are full of admiration, even a little aggressive.

Sofia's fists clenched involuntarily.

"what happened?"

Laila sensed the oppressive atmosphere behind her, turned her head, and asked in a low voice.

"Oh? It's nothing."

Sofia forced an awkward smile.

"I'm just a little tired."

"Hold on a little longer. Once most of the guests have arrived, you can go and rest."

Leila patted the back of her hand and continued to greet the next group of guests.

Sophia took a deep breath and silently told herself: Calm down, calm down. You are a twelve-year-old girl now, not the person you were in your past life. You have no right to interfere in these matters.

But she couldn't help but mentally criticize each and every one of the young men who had tried to flirt with her.

This guy has a long face; he's not good enough for my daughter.

That guy who's laughing like an idiot looks unreliable.

Another one has eyes that dart around everywhere when he talks; he's definitely not a good person.

Sophia was internally screaming her thoughts, but she maintained a polite smile on her face.

Just then, a luxurious carriage pulled by four white horses stopped at the door.

The car door opened, and a middle-aged man in a dark purple suit stepped out.

He looked to be in his forties, with neatly combed brown hair, regular features, a calm demeanor, and an innate air of nobility in his every move.

The moment Sophia saw that face, a name immediately popped into her mind.

Leo.

Crown Prince of the Delos Empire.

At forty-five years old, he had been the crown prince for over twenty years, yet the old emperor showed no intention of abdicating.

Sophia looked at him, and the corner of her mouth twitched involuntarily.

This guy is still the same as always.

He has simply gone from being a young man in his early twenties to a middle-aged man in his forties.

"Uncle Leo."

Leila curtsied slightly, her smile becoming more friendly than before.

"Yes, Leila, you look beautiful today."

Leo gave a gentle smile, his gaze lingering on Lyra for a second before moving past her and landing on Sophia.

His brow furrowed slightly, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

Who is this little girl?

Just as Leila was about to make her introduction, she was interrupted by another voice.

“She is my student, Sofia.”

Frey walked over.

"student?"

Leo raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on Sophia's face for a longer time.

"My Crown Prince, please stop looking and go inside."

Frey interrupted Leo's gaze and stepped aside to clear the doorway.

"Ok."

Leo nodded and stepped inside.

But as he walked past Sophia, he glanced down at her, his eyes holding a meaningful look.

Sophia pretended not to see, but in her heart she was thinking: What are you looking at? Have you forgotten how I beat you to a pulp back then?

Speaking of Leo, he's a very familiar face.

When Su Lan first entered the Imperial Academy, Leo was two years ahead of him and was a prominent figure in the academy.

At that time, Leo was young and arrogant. Because Su Lan performed too well in the freshman assessment and stole his thunder, he came to cause trouble.