Chapter 161

Some time earlier, back when the Lionheart carriage was stuck on the road.

Seeing all important guests had arrived, yet the crucial Lionheart carriage still hadn't brought the new Duke, the newly appointed head of the Lyon family and its last surviving elder were nearly driven mad with anxiety.

"Has old York lost his mind?"

Unaware that the old steward, also one of the "Three Lyon Elders," had suffered a heart attack under the torment of someone's "elementary school sentence construction" and was carried off to the hospital, the stout, bloated head of the Lyon family, clad in a specially tailored oversized tailcoat, couldn't help complaining:

"He said he'd served the old Duke for so many years, experienced every special occasion, and surely wouldn't mess up—I agreed to let him handle it. But how could something as simple as taking someone out and bringing them back by carriage possibly cause such a delay?"

"Don't rush. Wait a little longer."

Compared to the Lyon family's new head, the Lyon elder clearly had more patience. After sending two attendants to urge the new Duke, he frowned at his white eyebrows and said:

"Our new Duke is different from the old one—he's a commoner who never received noble education. Some mishaps in an event of this scale are inevitable. All we can do now is trust old York and give him a little more time."

"Give him more time? Then who gives us more time?"

Glancing through the gaps in the curtain tassels at the hall, seeing some guests' faces already showing impatience, the Lyon head sighed bitterly and said:

If I had known even this could go wrong, I wouldn't have set so many procedures, spared him two rounds of hassle, and we wouldn't be so tightly scheduled with zero buffer!

"Don't rush. The more critical the moment, the more you must stay calm."

After sipping his tea slowly, the Lyon elder took a handkerchief from his robe and wiped tea droplets from his white beard, soothingly saying:

"The new Duke is a reckless fellow who has no idea how to be a proper noble. To get him to cooperate willingly, we must first make him understand that even though he is the Lionheart Duke, the Lyon family can only endure with the support of all three of us."

"So a more elaborate ceremony is actually good—it'll temper his temper and make him realize our importance. Without our arrangements, he couldn't even manage his succession ceremony properly. Only then will he learn his place in future dealings."

"That's true…"

Slightly convinced by the elder's words, the Lyon head hesitated, then finally nodded.

"Fine! Then we stick to the original plan. You keep sending people to urge him. I'll go to the front hall and calm the impatient guests."

"Mm. Go."

…

While the two Lyon elders reached consensus—one sending people to find the new Duke, the other stabilizing the guests—the guests on the first floor of the main building, watching time slip away with no ceremony beginning, had grown extremely impatient.

"Heh, our new Duke's pomp is truly impressive!"

Seeing the growing frowns around him, the "little worm" earl, famous in the capital for his feud with Leon, couldn't help sneering:

"Everyone here is related by marriage to the Lyon family. Many are from the same generation as the old Duke—half of you are his elders, some even two generations older."

"Out of respect for the newly deceased old Duke, we elders rose early to support him, braved the stars and moon to arrive for this ceremony—and now we're just left waiting?"

The "worm" earl's remarks were too blatant, as if he'd written "I'm provoking trouble" across his face.

But first, everyone here was a vulture drawn by the stench of profit, eager to feast on the Lyon corpse—they all knew each other's true nature, so there was no need to pretend virtue.

Second, having risen early to attend the ceremony only to be left waiting so long, everyone's patience was already frayed.

After the "worm" earl finished speaking, not only did no one object—some even volunteered to echo him.

"Indeed, the Lyon family handled this poorly."

"It's not just poor handling—they don't regard us relatives as anything at all, do they?"

"After all, they're the kingdom's twin pillars. Why should they care about petty nobles like us?"

Under the deliberate provocation of schemers and the willing cooperation of self-interested guests, by the time the Lyon head emerged from backstage, the entire hall was in chaos—accusations and sarcasm rang endlessly.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Please be quiet! Listen to me!"

Hearing the tidal wave of condemnation, the Lyon head broke into a cold sweat and shouted loudly:

"I apologize, I apologize—the ceremony today was rushed. The Duke was delayed on the road due to unforeseen matters. This is entirely our fault for inadequate preparation and for disrespecting our honored guests."

"But the reason we went to such lengths was to honor your presence, hence the elaborate arrangements. When procedures grow complex, mishaps are unavoidable. I humbly ask our friends and relatives to overlook this, remembering our past bonds."

"Moreover, among those present are Lady Ani, representing Prime Minister Leonard, and Prince Joshua, representing the Princess. I beg you all to show these two distinguished guests some courtesy and endure a little longer. I thank you all for your forbearance!"

After the Lyon head finished speaking, the previously roaring hall fell instantly silent.

Why? Though hastily delivered, his speech was remarkably effective at controlling the situation.

He immediately apologized and admitted fault to calm emotions, then countered with "The delay isn't disrespect—it's because we honor you so much," reclaiming moral high ground with both hands.

Then he pointed out that the Prime Minister's and Princess's representatives were present, implying that further trouble would mean disrespecting them, silencing provocateurs like the "worm" earl. Finally, he bowed deeply, thanking everyone for their tolerance—completely blocking the option of "being intolerant."

One can only say: the Lyon Three rose to power after the Lyon Blood Night not because of age, but because they truly had skill. This impromptu sequence proved the Lyon head's mastery of rhetoric.

Unfortunately, though the Lyon head's speech successfully calmed ninety-nine percent of the crowd, it enraged the one most troublesome among them.

"I am not anyone's representative!"

Upon hearing "Prince Joshua, representing the Princess," the elegantly dressed youth standing at the front of the guests, who had been conversing with the Prime Minister's wife, darkened his expression. Ignoring his companion's subtle tugs, he bluntly retorted:

"Watch your words! If I must be called a representative, I represent the royal house—not anyone else!"