With Lina deliberately guiding the conversation, those who had gathered around Baptiste began to believe that the hunting competition had been organized at his suggestion. They praised the Queen while eagerly flattering the deputy captain as well. After all, there was nothing particularly strange about a handsome, virtuous young man attracting the Queen's attention.
Baptiste did his best to maintain a humble and respectful demeanor, but the feeling of being admired and treated as the center of attention was simply too intoxicating. From time to time, a trace of pride slipped through his carefully controlled expression.
No matter how often people called him talented and promising, Baptiste was still only the deputy captain of the royal guard. He had neither a distinguished family background nor immense wealth. In a palace filled with powerful nobles, he would ordinarily have been little more than an insignificant figure.
