Ever since the topic of the coming-of-age ceremony began, Hibbort's words had always carried double meanings, whether it was his address when inviting them to sit, or his seemingly offhand remarks just now.
The phrase "remaining composed even when facing me" could be interpreted in two ways.
As the supreme ruler of the Empire, Hibbort always carried an extremely dominant aura of authority. This presence naturally pressured nobles and commoners alike who stood before him. Once fear took root in their hearts, it would manifest not only in their body language but even in their inability to meet his gaze.
Yet the dark-haired little girl seated before him now shows not a trace of fear. Her cold, clear eyes simply gazed at the surface of her tea, completely unlike the timid girl of the past, common-born, who used to hide behind her sister at the first sign of trouble.
