When a noble tells you something like this:

“My, Taevas! Your drapery is exquisite! Such exotic patterns and designs!”

They were most likely thinking of this:

(Goodness to Pallas, these curtains are the tackiest and ugliest I have ever seen!)

Or if they say:

“You look so stunning, darling! So wonderfully natural, I could die!”

They really meant:

(Ugh, I really could die from this girl’s foul odor! Does she not know perfumes exist???)

Ronin just found it hilarious how two-faced these aristocrats were. They may be high-class in status but their thoughts were definitely not.

They’re not even high-class or creative insults. Their brains must be too busy thinking of another sugarcoated compliment to say while hiding their real hatred for this party and everyone in this room._.

It was not just him who hates parties. Everyone does, but they were good at masquerading it with forced smiles and laughter.

The one who actually hates it the most among them was the host himself.

(I wish I could skip this ‘socializing’ bit altogether and get on with it. This room is getting stuffier the more they yap those mouths of theirs.)

(I was never suited for entertaining anyway. It is usually Akasa that takes up that task during the boys’ birthdays. I don’t know how she does it.)

He seemed to be also aware of the hypocritical and backstabbing nature of the noble society. And even now, he was struggling to get accustomed to it.

Which made Ronin doubt his origin even more.

‘If he really was used to being in a wealthy family in Scirocco, he should have been used to mingling with all these phoneys and peacocks.’ He thought.

But so far, he still hasn’t gained any information to prove his doubts about Duke Taevas.

That’s not his focus anyway. It wasn’t Taevas that he should be getting dirt or any scandal on, but…

“Some entrees, Your Highness?” He offered the tray with a deceitful smile.

“Oh, thanks, kid!” Cermin took three of those fancy chicken skewers and eat them all in one bite.

‘Tsk, what a barbaric prince. Doesn’t even know proper etiquette.’ He thought.

But being a servant to these fake people had also thought him a thing or two about being fake.

“You have quite the appetite, Your Highness. Have some more if you’d like.” He grinned, making sure everyone was watching this Sciroccan Prince make a fool of himself.

“Ah, don’t mind if I do!”

Cermin even did something more than just gobble up these tiny appetizers.

He tossed them in the air to catch them with his mouth!

One, two, three! He even juggled these meatballs a bit before tossing them down his pipe hole.

The whole party went quiet from this display.

Ronin forced himself to not chuckle and pretended to look surprised.

He didn’t even have to do anything to ruin Cermin’s reputation at all, he’ll ruin it by himself at this point—

“Bravo! How skilled the young prince of Scirocco is! I shall try to do that as well!” One of them exclaimed, also tossing his food into the air and trying to catch it with his mouth.

Since then, everyone followed suit, laughing and giggling at this fun game even when it resulted in staining their clothes and their faces!

Ronin:….. …. …..

‘All these nobles are idiots! I should have known!’ He grumbled due to his plan failing but maintained a bowed head, just offering more food for Cermin to juggle and toss around.

“Hahahaha!” Everyone rejoiced in watching the young prince stand up from a chair and juggle bits of food around.

Cermin tossed it to himself, and did not mind at all if he misses and had them fall smack onto his coiffed golden hair and pristine white clothing.

Someone exclaimed. “Oh, toss to me, Your Highness! I can catch it like a Topaz shark snaring a human head!”

“That’s kinda weird, but sure! Catch ’em all, Mr. Shark!” He twirled a piece of shrimp to his back and have the ‘shark’ guy pounce on it like a shark indeed.

“Oh, oh! Me next! Me next! I can be like an Amber tiger!”

Duke Taevas was on the far away side busy showing people around the house’s armor display, and only noticed the commotion once the shouting become even louder.

“What is going on here!? Why is everyone throwing their food!?” He exclaimed. “Have something made you all upset!?”

“They’re all just wild animals having fun, Father.” Zeuxis grinned by his side. “Let them be.”

“Who is the cause of all this nonsense!?” The duke’s face became bright red and his face puffing out.

“Him.” Ronin pointed to the golden prince in the center of this commotion, bathed in showers of praise for his very good food juggling and tossing skills.

“Oh. His Highness.” Duke Taevas was confused for a second, then calmed down. “I suppose it’s alright then if it’s His Highness.”

Ronin just made a deadpan face and ate a small deviled egg from annoyance.

Suddenly, a frowning Belladonna came up to them.

“I don’t like people throwing food, Father.” Belladonna motioned to herself covered in tomato sauce stains and cheese. “Look at what happened to my dress… Oh…..”

She looked like she was going to cry again, and everyone knew what comes next after.

“It’s alright, darling! Don’t cry, don’t cry!” Duke Taevas carried her and sweat nervously. “We’ll get you changed to an even better dress, alright? Just let the prince have his fun for now.”

“Excuse us, Bella and I shall return shortly.” He excused himself to his guests.

But the guests were too focused on this whole debacle by the golden prince to pay attention to the father and daughter. “Amazing show, Your Highness!”

Ronin smirked at this. ‘Well, I may not have ruined his reputation for everyone else…. But I definitely lowered Bella’s impression of him.’

He then noticed that Zeuxis was also smirking by his side, and had a bad feeling.

“How inspiring this prince is! I should follow his example! Hahaha! ” He cackled evilly before running to the kitchen.

“Oh no.” Ronin quickly followed after him.