Sudden chill ran down my spine. My hand froze mid-motion, the utensil hovering slightly above the plate. Slowly… I lifted my gaze.
Father was already looking at me.His eyes were calm, yet cold, Sharp and Unwavering. Even Mother's gentle smile had faltered, replaced by a faint unease. Allen, on the other hand, simply looked confused, unable to understand why I would leave my room so late at night.
For a brief moment, silence pressed down on me. Then I made my decision.
"I did, Father," I said, meeting his gaze. "I couldn't sleep… so I went to the garden."
The words left my mouth steadily. Father continued to look at me. But slowly, the cold tension that had gripped my body began to ease, as if the weight pressing on my chest had lessened.
Then, his gaze shifted toward Cecilia.
"Were you with him?"
The question was simple yet it carried weight. Cecilia stiffened. She clearly hadn't expected this.
"I—no, my lord," she replied, her voice trembling despite her effort to remain composed. "After putting Young Master to sleep… I returned to my quarters."
Her words faltered. Her eyes remained lowered, unable to meet Father's gaze. Fear had already taken hold of her.
"You should make sure they are truly asleep before leaving."
Father's words were calm but they carried a sharp edge. It wasn't anger, it was a warning. Cecilia flinched slightly, bowing her head even lower.
"Yes, my lord…"
Then Father's gaze shifted back to us. His expression softened, but only slightly.
"From now on, do not leave your rooms unless your caretaker or guards are with you."
His tone was firm. Not open for negotiation.
Allen blinked, still confused, but nodded anyway.
I followed with a quiet nod of my own. Mother, however, couldn't hide her unease.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. Father glanced at her briefly.
"I'll tell you later."
That was all he said. But the weight behind those words lingered in the air, heavy and unspoken.
The rest of the meal passed in silence, no one spoke. Even the usual warmth of the dining table had faded, replaced by a quiet tension that lingered until the very end.
Eventually, we dispersed, each returning to our own routines until Father decided it was time to leave the capital and return to our territory.
…
Time passed. Days turned into months. Months turned into years.
Life settled into a steady rhythm. Noble studies, etiquette, occasional duties… and above all, our daily sword practice.
Nothing particularly remarkable happened during that time. At least nothing worth mentioning. Until I turned ten.
By then, I had finally begun to adapt to my abilities. My control over them had improved, and I could use them more naturally than before. As for my swordsmanship…
It was stable, but far from refined. There was still much to polish. Allen, on the other hand, progressed far more quickly. Even though we were the same age, the difference was clear. It made sense. He possessed the blessing Blade Mastery.
A talent that allowed him to grasp techniques and movements with unnatural ease.
He will be a genius of blades at this rate, I wouldnt be surprised if he become the next patriarch of House Nightingale…
The thought crossed my mind quietly.
Well… it's not like I have any desire to become a lord anyway.
A faint, self-deprecating smile tugged at my lips as I lifted my gaze toward the sky.
Above me, the blue stretched endlessly, scattered with clouds of uneven, drifting shapes. A gentle breeze flowed through the air, carrying with it a calm that softened even the weight of my thoughts.
The sun slipped behind the clouds from time to time yet its light never truly faded.
I exhaled slowly.And then my thoughts shifted to a problem
…Engagement.
A small frown formed.
He let out a quiet sigh, already aware of what awaited him.
Allen had a fiancée when he was barely five… though it only became official when he turned seven.
And now it's my turn…Yet no one's even told me who it is.
His brows furrowed slightly. Not a single clue…
"Still thinking about your mysterious fiancée?"
A calm, slightly teasing voice came from behind him.
Rio paused. Realizing he had completely spaced out during training, he quickly sheathed his sword. A faint hint of embarrassment crossed his face. Without turning around immediately, he spoke, changing the topic.
"You're already done with your training?" he asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from the subject he himself didn't want to dwell on.
"Yeah, I'm done anyway… how's your training going?" he asked, glancing at me with curiosity.
Allen always tried to check in on me. Even if I didn't talk much. I met his gaze and answered in my usual calm tone.
"The same as always. Building stamina… at least I can keep up with yours now."
That much was true though there was still a clear gap between us. Even so, the increase in stamina had its benefits. It strengthened my mind lessening the strain of using appraisal and allowed me to maintain VoidSense far longer than I ever could before.
Allen grinned lightly.
"Sure, sure… you really are a hard worker, you know."
He paused for a moment before his expression shifted into something more playful.
"By the way… aren't you excited for next month?"
Next month…? Ah… right. It's already that close. The academy…
"Of course," I replied calmly. "Why wouldn't I be? I'm pretty sure you're far more excited than I am."
I added a faint tease but as expected, it barely had any effect on him.
The way nobles speak… always layered, always indirect. A conversation within a conversation. How amusing.
Just then my senses caught something. A faint sound. The distant clatter of wheels against stone. It sounded like a carriage.
My focus shifted instantly. With my strengthened mind, even without actively using Appraisal, my perception had sharpened, refined to a level where even distant disturbances didn't escape me.
A quiet instinct stirred within me.
Something's coming…
I turned my gaze toward the source.
In the distance a black elegant carriage emerged.
Its body was crafted with saffron-toned wood, adorned with intricate gold and silver inlays that shimmered under the sunlight. Two nearly white horses pulled it forward, their steps steady and dignified.
Even from afar, it carried an unmistakable presence. Not ordinary, not something that would arrive without reason.
One glance was enough. I already knew what this meant. My intuition sharpened, all thoughts converging into a single conclusion.
…Engagement.
Beside me, Allen followed my line of sight. Though the carriage was still some distance away, it was impossible to miss as it moved along the paved path cutting through the vast front garden, meticulously maintained by the estate's gardeners.
The quiet rhythm of its approach carried an unspoken weight. Something inevitable drawing closer with every passing second.
Knowing what was coming, I began walking toward the front. Allen followed beside me, curiosity evident in his steps. We didn't rush yet somehow, we arrived at just the right moment. Standing before us was Father, accompanied by our butler, Samson Renald, a middle-aged man with brown hair streaked with white at the sides, and steady brown eyes. His posture, refined and composed, reflected years spent within noble circles.
My gaze shifted past them. The carriage had arrived.
It stood before the manor, its black exterior gleaming under the sunlight. Though not as grand as ours, it carried its own sense of elegance, its details catching the light in subtle, deliberate ways.
Then the door opened. A servant stepped down first, moving with practiced precision before turning and extending a hand inward, welcoming his master to descend.
Footsteps echoed softly as a man stepped down from the carriage.
He wore a navy-blue coat over a white ivory vest, layered atop a crisp white shirt. His trousers matched the deep navy tone, paired with polished black boots and clean white gloves, every detail precise, formal, and elegant.
He stood tall, nearly six feet with a well balanced build, neither too broad nor too lean.
His blonde hair, though slightly tousled, remained neat, framing his fair complexion with effortless elegance.
Then he smiled. A warm, composed smile that carried a natural sense of friendliness.
Father returned the gesture.
"Welcome Lucian, its great to see you again." He welcomes the fuest with a bright small smile.
But my attention shifted. Behind the guest i sensed another presence. I glanced toward the carriage just as the second figure began to step down.
A girl stepped down from the carriage, coming to stand beside the guest.
For a brief moment my heartbeat quickened. It caught me off guard.
Realizing the shift, I steadied myself, drawing in a quiet breath as I forced my racing pulse to calm. It took longer than I expected, nearly a full minute before I could regain control.
Only then did I properly look at her. She bore a resemblance to the man yet softened in a way that brought out a delicate beauty.
Her blonde hair flowed smoothly, glistening under the sunlight like a cascading stream of gold. Part of it had been neatly braided, adding a refined touch to her already elegant appearance.
She wore a deep red gown, its fabric rich and flowing, adorned with subtle inlays of marble-like and sapphire gems that shimmered faintly with each movement.
Her figure was slender, her posture poised, Refined and Graceful.
As she stepped forward, she lightly lifted the edge of her dress and gave a practiced bow, elegant to the last detail.
Then her gaze met ours. For a moment, time seemed to slow. I suppressed the stir in my thoughts and returned the gesture with a proper gentleman's bow, just as I had been taught years ago.
I've greeted countless guests before… So why… Why is this so difficult now?
A faint unease flickered within me.
Is this what they call love at first sight…?
The thought surfaced, unexpected,unfamiliar. I dismissed it almost immediately.
No…This is just admiration.…It has to be. There's no way I fell in love with one look. Although I prefer to know more before falling in love.... Yes its just admiration of her stunning beauty.
Even so my thoughts refused to fully settle. Slowly, I raised my head.