On the other corner of the hall, near the main entrance, Julie stood silently beside Magnus.
She had maintained her angelic smile, nodding politely to the streams of guests who approached to greet Principal Ashburn.
Everyone knew at this point that Julie couldn’t speak, a fact that had quickly spread through the polite whispers of the elite.
Therefore, no one bothered talking to her directly, opting instead for a respectful bow or a brief nod in her direction before addressing Magnus.
Many young men, scions of various Legacy Families, had approached her, attempting to court her attention or invite her for a dance.
Each time, Julie had politely rejected them with a graceful shake of her head or a subtle, regretful gesture.
More importantly, behind her polite head movements were two pairs of eyes that always pierced through everyone who approached her, those eyes belonged to Magnus.
He did not want to hinder her potential love life, as he genuinely desired her happiness.
However, he also recognized the pretentious brats of nobility for what they were.
He could see lust, ambition, and calculating schemes in their eyes, rather than genuine affection.
Thus, he checked them thoroughly, his powerful aura subtly pushing them away, ensuring they understood their place.
His protective gaze was unwavering, a silent warning to anyone who dared to harbor ill intentions towards his newly found daughter.
Julie, on the other hand, pouted cutely, a fleeting expression that only Magnus might have caught.
An internal monologue, a torrent of thoughts, went on within her mind, completely hidden from the outside world.
"I’ve been here for a month and haven’t spotted hubby at all,"
she lamented inwardly, her thoughts tinged with frustration.
"I’m sure Yama told me that he was on this planet. He wouldn’t lie to me.
This world is so big, though. Why can’t I just feel his presence? "
Her spiritual senses, usually so keen, were significantly suppressed by the mortal laws of this realm.
"I hope mother is fine" her thoughts shifting to another concern.
"I heard she was saved by father, well, that is fine too. Maybe they will reconcile now. It would be good for them both." A genuine warmth bloomed in her chest at the thought of her parents, reunited at last.
"I just wish I could find hubby soon. I can’t wait to meet him" she thought, a surge of longing washing over her.
"Has he made lovers in this world?"
"Why do I feel like he might have some ’girlfriends’ as people of this world say? It’s a distinct possibility, given his charm,
I’ll have to deal with those bitches, naturally."
"Anyway, let him come into my grasp, oh no!!!"
A sudden jolt of realization hit her, making her inner world falter.
"I forgot! I can’t speak due to the restrictions from this world! How will I tell him that I am his wife, that I am his dear Raphael? He won’t even recognize me!" Panic, cold and sharp, began to creep into her usually serene demeanor.
"Calm down!!! Calm down!!! Raphael, you kept your name Julie for a reason, right?"
she reasoned with herself, trying to quell the rising anxiety.
She had chosen ’Julie’ specifically in her dream-state encounter with Klaus, hoping that the name would hold some significance for him, a thread of memory to pull on.
Raphael hoped Klaus would remember this name, would connect it to the peaceful solace of his dreams.
Till now, almost every noble heir who dared to approach had tried to court Julie. They attempted charming smiles, elaborate bows, and flowery compliments.
But she, caught up in her inner ramblings and profound self-reflection, had simply denied them, either with a polite shake of her head or a small, regretful expression on her face.
Her rejection, though firm, was being misunderstood as her shyness or nervousness by the persistent youths, rather than a deliberate dismissal,
so she didn’t immediately incur any overt hatred or social backlash for her aloofness. They merely assumed she was overwhelmed by the attention.
This continued until Elara and Arthur, having settled their own minor squabble, approached her.
Elara, ever the picture of poised charm, came to Julie’s side and greeted her with a sweet, genuine smile. Her approach was not of a rival, but of someone seeking connection.
Meanwhile, Arthur composed himself, adopting a subtle, respectful smile that was free of the lingering infatuation he had felt earlier.
"Hey, Julie," Elara began, her voice warm and inviting.
"You might be getting bored standing here all alone, surrounded by all these stuffy adults, right? Want to accompany me? Come join us, sister."
Elara had a natural way with her words, immediately calling Julie "sister" on their very first meeting,
an attempt to bridge the social gap and establish a friendly connection.
Arthur stood silently beside Elara, maintaining his composed smile, his presence a silent support.
Magnus, observing the interaction from a short distance, did not stop them this time.
He subtly sensed Elara’s genuine intentions, her desire for companionship rather than calculation.
It was important for Julie to have some friends, individuals she could genuinely connect with, especially since she was new to this world.
He watched with a keen, approving eye.
But who was Julie, truly? She was the incarnation, the living manifestation, of the Spirit Queen herself.
And spirits were known for their innate ability to gauge the purity in someone’s heart just by looking at them, to perceive the truth beneath the surface.
As the Spirit Queen, even though her immense powers were suppressed by the mortal laws of this world, she possessed a fraction of her original, unfathomable abilities.
This fraction was enough for her to see through anyone’s true emotions, to discern their intentions with crystal clarity.
In Elara, she saw a complex blend of emotions: a hint of initial jealousy, perhaps at Arthur’s momentary distraction, but more profoundly, a deep respect and a touch of genuine inspiration.
Elara was curious, but her heart was fundamentally a mix of pure and evil.
Meanwhile, in Arthur, Julie saw subtle but undeniable signs of infatuation towards her, a natural human reaction to her otherworldly beauty.
However, she also clearly perceived the hard resistance he was putting on, his conscious effort to remain unfazed by her beauty.
He was fighting his own instincts, and that impressed her.
Julie understood clearly what was happening.
Elara wanted to assess Julie, to understand this new, captivating presence in their social circle.
At the same time, she also wanted to subtly test Arthur’s loyalty, to see if his admiration for Julie would waver beyond a fleeting glance.
Julie wasn’t worried. She was the Spirit Queen. If she wanted, in her original, unsuppressed form, she could have razed this entire planet out of existence with a mere thought.
The mortal laws of this world, while restricting, were merely a temporary inconvenience. Even after being suppressed by these mortal laws, she possessed a small fraction of her original powers, enough to handle almost any challenge this world could present.
Moreover, the ten elder spirits of the Spirit World were bonded to her right now.
She had managed to bring them together, forging contracts with them even when they were scattered across the planet.
Her magical non-divine powers (powers she could use without interference) were already reaching the SSS-rank, as the mortals of this world described it.
So, she did not fear anyone, especially not these petty nobles.
She felt entirely secure, particularly in the benevolent and powerful presence of Magnus, her new father.
The trio Elara, Arthur, and Julie left their respective places and moved towards a slightly less crowded section in the center of the hall, where they began chatting.
Of course, Elara and Arthur asked questions, and Julie, unable to speak, responded with graceful nods for ’yes’ and gentle shakes of her head for ’no’.
Since they did not know sign language, it was a slow but functional conversation, filled with gestured questions and silent answers.
Their conversation, however, was soon interrupted.
Slowly at first, then with increasing intensity, everyone’s gaze was drawn away from the various social circles and towards the last guest of the evening.
The intensity of their entrance was dramatic, even before they fully appeared inside the hall.
Outside the mansion, the media reporters, who had been lingering by the entrance, suddenly flocked in a frenzied mass towards a sleek, imposing black limousine bearing the crest of the Hunter’s Association.
The car was undeniably expensive, exuding an aura of understated power that bespoke true influence.
The flashbulbs erupted, a blinding cascade of light, as cameramen jostled for position.
The limousine’s back door opened with a soft, almost inaudible click.
From within, two men stepped out. One was in his sixties, his white hair neatly combed, his posture commanding despite his age.
He was almost similar in age to Magnus, but his aura was distinct.
This was William, the Chairman of the world’s largest and most influential organization, the Hunter’s Association, a Paragon whose name carried immense weight across continents.
The media, recognizing him instantly, surged forward, a tidal wave of microphones and cameras.
Their fervour was palpable, eager for any statement from such a pivotal figure.
However, they were immediately separated by a well-trained cordon of formidable bodyguards, a human wall that efficiently held the press at bay.
Amidst the shouts and camera flashes, a lone media reporter, bolder than the rest, managed to project his voice above the din.
"Sir William!" he called out.
"There have been rumors circulating that your long-lost grandson has appeared! Can you confirm this, sir?"
William merely smiled, a slight, knowing curve of his lips that hinted at deep satisfaction.
He did not directly answer the question with words. Instead, he simply pointed a single finger towards the opposite door of the limousine.
Inside the banquet hall, a massive, high-definition screen, usually used for displaying event schedules or promotional videos, suddenly flickered to life.
The live broadcast from outside the mansion entrance began to play, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.
The hall, which had just been recovering from Magnus’s arrival, fell into an even deeper, more profound silence. All eyes were glued to the screen.
On the screen, as a youth stepped out of the long, dark car, the very air within the banquet hall seemed to freeze.
Julie’s breath hitched in her throat, her angelic face paling slightly.
Her wide, innocent eyes dilated with a profound shock that shook the heart of the new spirit queen.
A single, silent thought, filled with disbelief echoed in her mind
Join the novel’s discord - .gg/8M4SyARCYQ