Chapter 147

"Congratulations on winning the tournament, Your Highness — ho-ho."

Madame Droir visited Solara Palace not long after.

She had come with a proposal: to tailor Friedrich a new tailcoat in honour of his victory.

"You'll be attending many more social occasions from here on, after all. I expect the invitations have been piling up?"

"Quite right. He's actually receiving more of them than I am these days."

The tournament victory alone would have drawn attention — but the revelation of his status as Sword Master had triggered an absolute flood of social invitations. The first Sword Master in decades, after all.

"Though the man himself seems less than enthusiastic about attending."

Friedrich looked immediately startled and shook his head.

"Not at all. I'm perfectly—"

"You come back exhausted every single time. Did you think I couldn't tell?"

"It isn't quite as—"

Friedrich's face went slightly pink as he pressed his…