Book 1 Chapter 983

983.

The most prominent figures from esteemed families around the world, poised to lead the next generation, gathered in a lavish banquet hall to enjoy a social party.

The host was the Rurawalin family, a renowned magical hero lineage from the Rodren Empire.

The attendees, fitting the grandeur of the Rodren Empire and the Rurawalin family, erupted in continuous exclamations of admiration.

"Taid, I'm genuinely curious, so I'm asking,"

Tea Marcoa, the heir of the Marcoa family, asked, poking a fruit with her fork.

Although the fruit was in season, it was as fresh as if it had just been harvested.

"Are you really best friends with Chelsea Rurawalin?"

"Sister. You saw the picture."

"No, I just don't quite understand. How did you become best friends with someone from the Rurawalin family?"

"What?"

"I really can't believe it."

"Sister. Our family is not one to be outdone."

"You're not outdone, but Rurawalin is a different class, a different level."

Even though she had heard that her brother and Chelsea were best friends since their first year, Tea still found it hard to believe.

The Rurawalin family's influence was that immense.

As her brother spoke, Tea crossed her arms.

"Ah, Taid."

At that moment, Chelsea, passing by, spotted Taid and approached.

Gasps of admiration erupted from those around as they saw Chelsea, dressed in a gown for the party.

"When did you get here?"

"A little while ago."

"You should have said something when you arrived."

"You and Abad looked busy. Ah, this is my sister and the heir of our family, Tea Marcoa."

"I am Chelsea Rurawalin. Thank you for accepting our invitation."

Chelsea elegantly curtsied, lifting the hem of her dress slightly.

Tea returned the greeting to the picture-perfect young lady from a prestigious family.

"Thank you for the invitation. I'm Tea Marcoa. My brother is always indebted to you."

"Oh no. I'm the one who receives a lot of help."

'She's becoming more reserved as the days go by,' Taid muttered inwardly.

Her usual impish demeanor was nowhere to be seen.

If Karl and Iliana were here, they would have teased her immediately.

Of course, Taid wouldn't.

He was sure he'd be secretly punished if he did.

"Speaking of which."

"Yes?"

"Is something wrong? Abad's demeanor seems different than usual?"

A flawless nobleman, that was Abad's usual disposition.

But today, he seemed a little different.

He appeared somewhat agitated.

Seeing Abad in the distance, Taid wore a puzzled expression.

"Something happened."

Chelsea shrugged at his question.

"Chelsea, Taid. You were here."

Just then, a familiar voice was heard.

Exclamations of surprise poured from those nearby.

"Nella, come on in."

"You're here, Nella."

Tea, standing next to Taid, froze at the appearance of Nella, who was breathtakingly beautiful even to another woman, but Chelsea and Taid greeted her calmly.

To them, she was simply a close friend.

"Chelsea, you look so beautiful today."

"You look beautiful too, unnie."

The two chatted happily.

Even so, Nella's entrance drew fervent gazes.

Tea whispered to her brother.

"Brother."

"Yes, sister."

"You're amazing. To be so composed with such a beautiful friend by your side."

"Hmm… Nella is definitely one of the top three beauties in our school. But I've gotten used to it? And."

"And?"

"There's one person who's beyond just beautiful."

A person who could make people lose their senses with their mere presence and ensnare them like toys with a single smile.

Tea crossed her arms at Taid's words.

"With friends as beautiful as these, do you not develop romantic relationships? I heard Karl is dating the heir of the Hergin family?"

"I will marry an ordinary woman."

Taid's words made Tea shake her head.

Just then, Nella, having finished her conversation with Chelsea, greeted Tea.

"Taid, let's spend some time together at the party today."

"You have it tough too."

Nella gave a wry smile at his words.

Taid knew that Nella attracted a lot of unwanted attention at these social parties.

Normally, Chelsea would have stayed with her, but as the host, she couldn't.

If Taid, who was of the opposite gender, were with her, it would reduce the number of those trying to make advances.

"Being excessively beautiful must be a hardship."

"Please speak comfortably. Heh heh."

"Then shall I call you 'unnie'?"

"Yes, Tea unnie."

Nella spoke affably, and Tea exclaimed to Taid in admiration.

"She's a kind girl with a good personality. But is she too kind that people take advantage of her?"

"Someone takes advantage of Nella? Such a fool wouldn't survive in Lumen."

Although she was revered like a saint at school, few students dared to take Nella lightly, even among the fourth and fifth graders.

Anyone who had witnessed her shattering enemy lines with a morning star during battle would undoubtedly obey her.

As they were talking.

The entrance began to buzz.

"Oh, it's Zerdinger."

Tea exclaimed in admiration.

Another pillar of the Rodren Empire.

The Zerdinger family had arrived at the party.

Celia, representing the family in place of Lis, had come today.

Her cousin, Emira, was with her.

Celia, who greeted Abad and Chelsea as representatives, was surrounded by a throng of people, exchanging greetings.

Nella, watching this, tilted her head.

"Is something going on between Celia and Abad?"

"Did they fight again?"

"Hmm. They've been getting along well lately."

Taid's words made Nella tilt her head again.

***

"Young ladies, here is water."

Chelsea looked at the grey-haired attendant who elegantly brought three glasses of water on a silver tray and said.

"Emira's attendant is quick-witted."

Chelsea smiled and took the glass of water.

After receiving Celia's water as well, Emira said to the attendant, Leo.

"Leo, could you bring some fresh fruit too? Chelsea?"

Chelsea, without suspecting Leo's alias, replied.

"Me too."

"Please get Chelsea's as well."

Leo nodded and left.

Meanwhile, Celia, sitting on a sofa placed in a corner of the banquet hall, looked tired.

Seeing Celia like that, Chelsea said.

"Celia Zerdinger."

"Why?"

"Praise me quickly."

"What is it again?"

"Do you know how hard I worked for you today?"

"For me? You just didn't want Abad and Emira to be involved."

Celia scowled.

Chelsea scoffed at Celia's reaction.

"Either way, it's true I made an effort for you."

Emira chuckled at their conversation.

"I don't know what hardships Chelsea went through, but it couldn't have been as much as Celia unnie's."

"Don't tell me."

"What is it? What is it?"

As Celia frowned, Emira covered her mouth and giggled.

"It's a secret. Because it's your weakness."

Celia was currently wearing a cute dress instead of a knight's uniform.

Recalling Celia's behavior, which involved whining and acting all cute, Emira clasped her cheeks, her expression enraptured.

Celia sighed deeply at Emira's reaction.

With this, the relationship between Abad and Celia became known even to the elders of their families.

Although there was no official announcement yet, it was undoubtedly a monumental event that would shake the Rodren Empire.

'I don't know. I'll deal with that when it happens.'

Celia muttered to herself and scanned the banquet hall.

Then she frowned.

"As expected, the gazes directed at us are not entirely friendly."

"They have a lot of nerve. Even if it's our family, to cast hostile glances at Zerdinger in the Rodren Empire."

Chelsea clicked her tongue.

A subtle tension had begun to fill the social gathering since the Zerdinger family entered.

Not everyone, but many esteemed families from regions other than the Western Continent began to cast hostile glances.

More precisely, the gazes were directed at Arhi, who was closely related to Zerdinger.

This, in turn, caused a peculiar atmosphere to arise among the youths of the Rodren Empire.

Zerdinger symbolizes the 'sword' of Rodren.

For whatever reason, viewing Zerdinger, the head of the knight families of the Rodren Empire, with hostility could be interpreted as a challenge to the empire's authority.

'I expected it, but the atmosphere is worse than I thought.'

Meanwhile, Leo, walking among the crowd, clicked his tongue as he observed the scene.

Even though it was a social party for those not yet active in politics, it was already the heart of politics.

'No, because they're young, they might cause problems more emotionally.'

"I think we should definitely protest to Zerdinger this time."

"Honestly, isn't it just a newly founded small country? Aren't they using Zerdinger's backing to increase their influence?"

Indeed, in secluded corners of the banquet hall, voices complaining about Arhi could be heard frequently.

As they felt that the perception of Arhi was more unfavorable than expected.

A commotion arose again at the entrance of the banquet hall.

It was due to the arrival of another influential family.

It was none other than the Hergin family, the supreme heroic lineage of the northern continent.

Upon the Hergin family's entrance, all eyes turned towards them.

And it was the beginning of a great upheaval.

Even Abad and Chelsea, who had approached to greet the guests, were taken aback.

'No. I heard they would be represented by someone from the Hergin family, but this is beyond imagination.'

Chelsea muttered to herself.

The one at the forefront of the Hergin family was not Eliza.

Eliza walked behind someone, as if she were a subordinate.

The one walking as the representative of the Hergin family was someone Abad and Chelsea knew very well.

Karl Thomas.

Karl wore a relaxed smile befitting a representative of the continent's foremost noble family.

However, Chelsea could see a certain emotion in her friend's eyes.

'Save me.'

Her desperate and pathetic gaze left Chelsea speechless.

Meanwhile.

Leo, watching the situation, let out a hollow laugh.

'The head of the Hergin family is truly audacious.'

He had already heard rumors that Karl would attend as the acting head of the family.

In fact, that alone was an unprecedented honor, going beyond common sense.

It was tantamount to a declaration that Eliza and Karl would marry in the future.

However, with Eliza also present, he had assumed Eliza would play the role of the figurehead.

He had expected Karl to make decisions as acting head, and Eliza to announce them, but he was proven wrong.

Surprisingly, at this assembly, Karl's position was higher than Eliza's, the heir.

As Leo marveled.

"Hergin… are they crazy?"

"I thought it was just baseless rumors spread by the lower class…"

"Did they really consider a commoner as the heir's consort?"

"No, why is a commoner at the very front, bypassing the heir?"

"To tarnish the face of a heroic lineage… Hergin is also at its end."

Leo clicked his tongue at the negative voices heard from all around.

'There's no way Eliza can't hear this.'

Hasty words spoken.

And as Leo predicted.

Anger began to fill Eliza's eyes as she quietly followed Karl.

Reading the atmosphere, Karl's face turned pale.

And with an earnest gaze, he looked at Abad and Chelsea.

'Help me!'

Of course, Abad and Chelsea averted their gazes.

At their reaction, Karl swallowed hard internally.

'A war won't break out… will it?'