"I hope you were unharmed, lady Seastone. I never imagined something like this would happen?"
"It's alright," she answered. "I would hate them to ruin your gathering."
"Yes. I understand what went wrong. I ask for your patience while I make up to you for this. That includes you too, Luke."
"It's okay, uncle."
despite being political rivals, the Aurelcrest's and Sterlings had familial ties. Though coarse as it is, they did share the same ancestors.
"I apologize, everyone. Allow me to make up for this."
Hidan announced. guests reciprocated in kind words.
"It's alright, Lord Hidan. No one was hurt."
"We're sure you have your hands full in the border region."
"Yes, you're all kind," Hidan said. "Thank you for your understanding."
His fake smile was too forced.
But, it's okay though, Hidan was not really apologetic at that time. He was too concerned about what this would entail. His status would plummet drastically by the day after when the news of tonight's attack gets out of here. A commoner staining his carpet will remain as a blemish to his influence.
The poor security he had for this party was understandable when you consider things like this hardly ever happened in the empire. The Knights, at least those with lesser blood, in guards were instructed to stay farther from main halls.
How they snuck in was another matter, this will be seen as incompetence and hinder his rise in a large political structure.
'He needs to clean his image. and fast. To that end, he would not hesitate to cull everyone responsible for tonight's incident.'
"Clean this mess."
he said to the servants. in a hurry, the servants and maids scurried into cleaning, others guiding the guests into the main hall.
Some will find it strange about how things went here, especially Luke since he knew exactly what was wrong with these people.
reviewing the entire situation through their perspective might help.
an unfortunate incident struck during a noble gathering at the earl's mansion. First of all, every word in that sentence will be seen as wrong. The reason everyone there seemed unconcerned about their safety was simple. They just didn't feel like it.
It's hardly a surprise for a noble to feel threatened by a commoner of this world, no matter what weapon they may hold. The nobles always had a superior power.
'What lowborn don't get is not why we have this power and influence,' Luke thought. 'It's how we have this power.'
Luke glanced at Natalie again, below her neck there was a blue gem. and no, that was not part of her decorated necklace. It will appear like an ornament because the luxurious necklace was custom built to hide that gem's true nature.
The Mana stone.
If someone carefully looks around, Luke thought, every lady in this gathering had a similar diamond-shaped gem---some not so obvious. because men can't show them hidden inside their clothes.
the mana stone, or, mana gem, which appears to have half buried into skin, are engraved into their soul. It's what gives them enhanced strength, speed and allows them to use certain relics that makes them nearly invincible to normal people. A different color of gem shows different affinity.
It might be something inside their blood. The reason is lost in history. they were born with blessed physique in the empire for generations and that's a fact.
Nobles are born with this kind of strange power that makes them genetically superior to lowborns.
'There are, of course, special cases like me who isn't born with a gem in his chest. whereas making us inferiors to other true nobles like my fiancee. The only fact I detest about my life.'
"You're not hurt, are you?"
Natalie asked him. The very fact that she thought an attack from that ingrate with a primitive weapon would hurt him tells everything he needed to know. He is weak. He is not like every other noble there. No doubt everyone else there thought that too, especially his mother, explaining her occasional scowl toward him. It was the same case with everyone in his house.
'Now i know once more why i hate these kinds of gatherings. Well, the servants respect me, so there's that, but...'
It was a well known fact that the second son of Duke sterling was not blessed. It was for the same reason he was scorned throughout his life. Some even call him the 'trash of the duke house'.
avoiding the interpretations, he was actually quite popular. Luke stopped caring for that as he grew up.
'getting used to trash talk is a new kind of sad, but, whatever.'
Natalie's look of concern soon vanished. Her look of displeasure was hidden beneath her fake expression typical of a noble.
[It would be better if you were normal.]
an expression he knew all too well. Luke was considered an anomaly as a noble. Both of his parents were pure bloods with sacred ancestry, while he was born with a lesser body.
he stopped thinking and focused on what mattered to him right now.
'I have to play along with her and stay close.'
"This way, please." The servants guided the guests to higher levels.
The earl's mansion was a big place. So long as the great hall, the elevated grand floor where all the main guests were okay with it, the gathering will move onto the next stage.
From above, his mother watched everything that happened. She appeared disappointed when her gaze fell onto Luke.
"Let's go to the main hall."
Natalie grabbed him by the arm and dragged him into there.
'This night cannot go faster. I was hoping it would end after that charade. Thanks to her, I will have everyone's attention on me. an outcome which I particularly wished to avoid.'
***
Later that night, everything proceeded as Luke expected. The main hall was bathed in soft melodies that blend with murmur and refined laughter. Along with his mother, there were several other major aristocrats present there for which he ignored.
Nova offered him a handkerchief when he arrived.
"wipe that blood of your cheek. It's disgraceful."
"Of course, mother."
he almost forgot that graze he got from the glass shards. He stood silently, His dispassionate gaze fell toward the terrace where few people gathered.
The Marquess, Randal Seastone, Natalie's father, was there as well. He approached her to discuss if she was alright.
"This wouldn't have happened if you stayed up here."
"You don't have to worry about it too much. see, i'm fine."
"Lowborn or not, you shouldn't be so careless."
The conversation continued between them. Luke felt out of place. He was downright ignored at that place. Unsurprisingly, he saw this coming. The guests here hold more important positions in the empire than the ones below.
'Higher status means bigger sticks up their arses.'
The Marquess noticed the boy asked for his well being soon after. His crass attitude toward him made the situation more awkward.
"Oh, greetings, Luke. I didn't see you there. Were you alright? I heard about that incident."
In a political sense, The Duke holds higher status in society than a Marquess. Randal just wanted to have Sterlings on their side which led to the marriage talk between Natalie and Luke. not to mention both of them weren't happy about it. While he can't speak for her, when he thinks she is too good for him---which is true---Luke himself had no special feeling for her. This leads to him ignoring her at times.
'If only my brother wasn't engaged, I wouldn't have had to deal with this. Everyone would be happy.'
Luke saw servants standing near the decorated walls, offering platters of exotic delicacies like crystalized starfruit and venison strawberry reduction.
He observed some gazes among the guests falling onto him.
"I'm sure you have many acquaintances that you'd like to have a chat with. Why don't I leave your side for some time."
"Of course."
Luke took a platter and stayed on the side for the rest of the night. After a while he moved to the terrace to catch some wind. Maybe he just wanted to find a place where no one bothered him.
There was a small stairway near the terrace that led above the mansion.
curious, he went higher.
and that was it. no one was here. above him, moonlight bathes the reflecting silver vines and glowing orbs from below. It was a peaceful place.
"Hoh, I didn't realise someone else was here as well."
a voice came beside him. surprised Luke looked over his shoulder.
A solitary man stands at the edge of the terrace, leaning on the rail of the support statue at the ends. Both of their eyes fell on each other.
Luke did not know who this person was, what, or where he came from. But his voice felt so calm and peaceful that it was almost creepy. If he hadn't spoken he would have never known there was someone else here.
I can see him. but I don't feel his presence.'
"Who… are you?"
===