The banquet truly began once Duke Alaric's words settled into the hall.
Music flowed more freely now, no longer restrained by ceremony. Servants moved in practiced harmony, carrying trays of wine and delicacies from every corner of Arcanor. Conversations bloomed like flowers after rain, overlapping yet controlled, never quite crossing into chaos. This was not a feast of excess—it was a gathering of power, dressed in silk and smiles.
Aurelian stood beside his parents near the center of the hall.
One by one, nobles and influential merchants approached.
They bowed.
They smiled.
They chose their words carefully.
"Duke Blackthorne, Duchess Blackthorne—my congratulations."
"Lord Aurelian, your ceremony today was… remarkable."
"It is an honor to witness the future of Solum."
Aurelian responded to each greeting with calm politeness.
"Thank you for attending."
"I appreciate your kind words."
"I hope you enjoy the evening."
His voice was steady, neither distant nor overly warm. Respectful. Measured.
Inside, however, he was more alert than he appeared.
Every glance.
Every shift in tone.
Every hidden calculation behind polite smiles.
He noticed them all.
Some gazes carried genuine admiration.
Some carried curiosity.
Others—thinly veiled hunger.
Yet none of it unsettled him.
If anything, it felt… familiar.
In his previous life, boardrooms had not been so different from banquet halls. Only the weapons had changed.
---
Alya, however, cared nothing for politics.
She clung to Aurelian's neck with small arms, her golden frock rustling softly as she shifted. Her cheek rested against his shoulder, and every so often she would peek out at the hall with wide blue eyes, fascinated by the lights and music.
Several noble ladies noticed her almost immediately.
"Oh my, she's adorable."
"is she the youngest Blackthorne ?"
"May I hold her, Lord Aurelian?"
One woman stepped closer, her smile gentle, arms extended.
Alya stared at her for a second.
Then turned her face away and tightened her grip around Aurelian's neck.
A soft, almost offended sound escaped her.
A ripple of laughter spread nearby.
Another lady tried next, then another.
The result was the same.
Alya refused all of them.
She buried her face against Aurelian's shoulder, small fingers fisting in his clothes as if declaring ownership.
The sight melted more than a few hearts.
"She's attached to him completely…"
"How precious…"
"She love him that much…"
Aurelian adjusted his hold slightly, steady and natural.
"It's fine," he said calmly. "She's shy."
Alya peeked out again, then relaxed when she realized he wasn't handing her over.
From that moment on, the attempts shifted.
Not toward Alya—
But toward him.
Young noble ladies began to linger nearby under various excuses.
Offering drinks.
Commenting on the music.
Asking harmless questions that were anything but accidental.
Some laughed too easily.
Some leaned just a little too close.
Some watched him as if he were a prize already being measured.
The competition was subtle, but unmistakable.
Aurelian endured it with quiet composure, responding politely but never encouraging more than courtesy.
Time passed.
Eventually, as the crowd shifted and the flow of guests moved elsewhere, the space around him cleared.
For the first time since the banquet began, he found himself momentarily alone—with only Alya in his arms.
She yawned softly, resting her head against his chest.
Aurelian lowered his voice.
"Getting tired?"
She nodded, eyes half-lidded, then shook her head stubbornly as if refusing to admit it.
He smiled faintly.
That was when he sensed them approaching.
---
Elena von Solvaris and Lucian von Lionheart stopped a respectful distance away.
For a brief moment, none of them spoke.
They had seen each other earlier—from afar, during the entrance.
This was different.
This was close.
Lucian broke the silence first, straightening slightly.
"Aurelian von Blackthorne," he said. "It's good to meet you properly."
Elena followed smoothly.
"Congratulations on your Age Ceremony," she said, her tone warm but composed. "It left quite an impression."
Aurelian inclined his head.
"Elena von Solvaris. Lucian von Lionheart."
"I appreciate your congratulations."
There was no stiffness in his voice, but no false familiarity either.
Just balance.
Elena's gaze drifted briefly to Alya.
"She's… adorable," she said honestly. "May I?"
She extended her arms carefully, slower than the others had, as if giving Alya time to decide.
Alya looked at Elena.
Really looked.
Golden hair.
Soft eyes.
A gentle smile.
For a heartbeat, it seemed like she might agree.
Then Alya turned her head away and hugged Aurelian's neck again.
Firmly.
Elena blinked.
Then laughed softly, not offended in the slightest.
"I see," she said. "I've been judged."
Aurelian smiled.
Just a little.
It wasn't deliberate.
But it was enough.
Elena's breath caught for half a second.
Her heart skipped—once, sharp and unexpected.
She recovered quickly, lifting her chin with practiced grace.
'Control yourself,' she told herself. 'It's just a smile.'
Lucian noticed.
He didn't comment.
---
They moved to the side, giving Alya space to rest.
Lucian spoke again.
"You handled the ceremony calmly," he said. "Most people would have panicked."
Aurelian shrugged slightly.
"There wasn't much I could do about it."
"That's exactly it," Lucian replied. "You didn't try to do anything."
Elena smiled faintly.
"Everyone else was reacting," she said. "You were… observing."
Aurelian met her gaze briefly.
"Observation helps avoid mistakes."
Lucian's lips curved slightly.
"I can respect that."
There was a short pause.
Then Elena asked the question she had been holding back.
"Have you decided about the Arcanor Continental Academy?"
Aurelian blinked once.
"I haven't thought about it seriously."
Lucian frowned.
"You haven't?"
Aurelian shook his head.
"I know of it," he said. "But nothing beyond that."
Elena exchanged a look with Lucian.
Then she leaned forward slightly, eyes bright.
"You should go."
Lucian nodded immediately.
"It's not just an academy," he said. "It's where everything begins."
Aurelian listened.
Elena spoke first, her voice carrying quiet passion.
"The academy isn't just about magic or swordsmanship," she said. "It's about understanding the world. Politics. Strategy. Survival."
Lucian continued seamlessly.
"You'll train with people from every race in Arcanor," he added. "Elves. Dwarves. Demi-humans. Fairys. Geniuses. Monsters."
"Some will become allies," Elena said.
"Some will become enemies," Lucian said.
"And some," Elena finished, "will shape the future."
Aurelian considered their words.
"And you plan to attend?"
Lucian nodded.
"In four years," he said. "When we're fourteen."
Elena smiled.
"The same year as you."
Aurelian looked between them.
"You're confident I'll go."
Lucian crossed his arms.
"With what happened today?" he said. "The academy won't leave you alone."
Elena added softly,
"And neither will the world."
Aurelian exhaled quietly.
"That sounds troublesome."
Elena laughed lightly.
"It is."
Lucian smirked.
"But it's also worth it."
Silence settled for a moment.
Aurelian looked down at Alya, who had fallen asleep completely now, breathing slow and even.
"I'll think about it," he said finally.
Elena smiled, satisfied.
"That's all we ask."
Lucian nodded.
"When the time comes," he said, "I'd rather face the academy with someone like you beside me than against me."
Aurelian looked up.
"For now," he said calmly, "we'll see."
Something unspoken settled between them.
Not friendship.
Not rivalry.
But the beginning of both.
---
From a distance, Duke Alaric watched the scene unfold.
So did Duke Chris and Duke Ragnar.
Chris smiled faintly.
"They're getting along," he said.
Ragnar crossed his arms, amused.
"Or sizing each other up."
Alaric's gaze remained steady.
"Both," he said. "And that's good."
Chris nodded.
"The academy will be… lively."
Ragnar laughed quietly.
"And dangerous."
Alaric's lips curved slightly.
"Let it be."
---
As the music continued and the night deepened, threads began to weave.
Not loudly.
Not violently.
But inevitably.
Three paths had crossed under chandeliers and silk.
And though none of them knew it yet—
The future of Arcanor had just taken its first quiet step forward.