The echoes of Kael's Arcseal still lingered in the sacred chamber.
Even after the pillar's glow dimmed and the frost receded, no one could look away from the boy in silver. Whispers crawled through the air like vines—every breath, every thought now tethered to a single name.
Kael Faelwinter.
The Duchess's "disgraced" son was anything but.
Two SSS-class talents?
In Ice and Mana Core mastery?
That wasn't just rare—it was threatening.
Especially to those who stood highest.
Seated on the royal platform, Crown Princess Seraphine Valebliss sat with her hands laced gently in her lap, her posture as regal as moonlight on still water.
Her expression had not changed.
Not even when Kael awakened.
But her eyes had.
Silver-blue and unreadable, they followed him now with an intensity that made several nobles fidget. Her magic shimmered around her in controlled waves—a quiet storm held back by iron discipline.
She leaned toward her royal advisor and whispered softly, though her gaze never left Kael's retreating form.
"Who was responsible for monitoring House Faelwinter's heir?"
The advisor swallowed hard.
"Reports said he was talentless, Your Grace. His Arcseal was… supposedly frozen."
"Was it?"
"N-no, of course not, now that we've seen—"
Seraphine stood.
The air chilled instantly, her Water and Light mana flowing like twin rivers through her armor. Nobles around her bowed. Even the high priests fell silent.
"Then the empire has made a mistake."
Down below, Ravian clenched his jaw.
His hand twitched. He had felt the cold, seen the gleam in Seraphine's eyes when she looked at Kael.
He wasn't used to that.
He wasn't used to being second.
[System Alert: Fate Divergence Detected.]
[Target: Seraphine Valebliss – Emotional interest diverted 2%.]
[Recalibrating destiny trajectory…]
Two percent.
That wasn't much.
But it was enough to make his blood boil.
Meanwhile, Kael had returned to his mother's side in the upper observatory box.
Velra didn't speak.
She simply brushed her fingers through his long white hair with eerie calm, as if she'd been waiting for this moment all along.
"Beautiful," she murmured. "They finally see what I've always known."
Kael's expression didn't change, but his eyes flicked toward the royal stands.
Seraphine was still watching him.
And beside her, Ravian burned.
Not in power.
But in pride.
[Bond Link System Notification:]
[Affection Detected: Seraphine Valebliss – 6%]
[New Passive Unlocked: Arcane Aura – Charisma and mana presence increased in public settings.]
[Warning: You are being watched.]
Kael's lips curled.
Let them watch.
Let Ravian grind his teeth.
Let Seraphine wonder.
Let the world begin to question who the real heir of this generation is.
Because Kael wasn't finished.
Not even close.