As he was having this internal conversation with himself, his eyes caught a movement near the entrance.
A woman who seemed to be in her mid-twenties, wearing a beautiful blue gown, flanked by a couple of maids, entered the hall with graceful steps. The Duke's smile widened at the woman's appearance.
The woman was none other than Vanessa, the Duke's daughter.
Vanessa stopped near the entrance for a moment, turned to the maids following her and gave them orders in an inaudible voice.
The maids bowed slightly in response and quickly dispersed in different directions.
Among them was Sera, who had been ordered by Julian to take a closer look at the envoy and report everything back to him. She gave Vanessa one last respectful bow before slipping away into the crowd of servants.
Vanessa then turned toward the raised platform and walked toward it. As she reached close, she smiled warmly and bowed.
"Father, you are already here," she said.
