Meanwhile…
Inside the Grand Hall, a buzz filled the air as people gathered to witness the engagement ceremony, the grand event drawing nearly everyone of importance to the room.
“Sigh, why now, of all times,” Aqualina muttered, her expression reflecting deep dissatisfaction as she sank back into her chair. She could hardly believe they were postponing something as critical as the trial just to attend an engagement. The entire situation was, frankly, absurd to her.
“Well, maybe this is actually the ideal time,” Thalia replied with a casual shrug, glancing around the packed hall. “With all the chosen ones gathered here, it could be the perfect opportunity for a grand engagement that will go down in history… or something like that,” she said, a hint of irony in her voice as she sat across from Aqualina.
Aqualina shot her a sideways glance before her gaze shifted to Raven, who sat beside Thalia, eyes locked on the groom….. Or, more specifically, on Leon, dressed in an overly formal suit that made him look out of place as he waited for Selene, who was still nowhere to be seen.
Thalia gave a slight, pitying smile, “Look at him,” she said, barely concealing a smirk. “He looks like a poor, abandoned puppy, standing up there all by himself. But honestly…..” she added, noticing Kai making his way over, “I think those two would make an interesting match. What do you think, Aqualina?”
“Pffftt!” Raven let out a light chuckle.
Aqualina merely shrugged, a glint of disinterest in her eyes, “Honestly, I couldn’t care less about Kai’s love life…” she said and added inwardly, “Unless it somehow involves the slave contract I need. That’s the only thing I care about when it comes to him.’
Just then, Helena appeared beside them, her face alight with curiosity. “Hey, have any of you seen Aria or Lia around?” she asked, her gaze sweeping over the group.
Aqualina’s expression darkened slightly, a look of irritation crossing her face as she snorted dismissively, “I don’t know… and don’t really care,” she replied, though inwardly she muttered, ‘Bitch!’ under her breath.
Helena’s cheerful expression faded for a moment as she noticed Aqualina’s attitude, but she brushed it off, assuming Aqualina was just in one of her difficult moods. Instead, she shifted her attention back to Aqualina with a hesitant look. “W-What about Aether?” she asked, almost shyly.
The trio—Aqualina, Raven, and Thalia—reacted visibly. Aqualina’s face twisted with mild disgust, while Raven frowned, and Thalia watched Helena with an amused, knowing expression.
“Aether? Why do you even care about a servant?” Aqualina said, her tone dripping with disdain. Inwardly, she added, ‘Bitch!’
Helena chuckled awkwardly, a soft blush spreading across her cheeks. The sight made Aqualina raise her eyebrows in shock. ‘Wait, is she blushing? What exactly did she do to him… or rather, what did he do to her?’ Aqualina mused suspiciously.
Before anyone could continue that line of thought, Kira suddenly appeared, interrupting them, “Has anyone seen Victor?” she asked, her voice tinged with impatience.
The group exchanged glances before collectively shrugging. Kira clicked her tongue in irritation, “Just where could he have gone? I’ve been searching for him everywhere…” she muttered, her eyes drifting over to Leon. Her face softened as she watched him. “Poor thing—look at that awkward expression on his face. Standing up there alone like that… Do you think Selene doesn’t actually like him?”
The others shrugged again. Helena finally answered, “I actually asked her if she needed any help, but she said she didn’t need my help—only him. I have no idea what she meant by that… Do you think she’s planning to kill him?” Helena laughed, only half-joking.
But the group turned serious!
Meanwhile…
Kai, standing beside Leon, gave his shoulder a light, reassuring pat, “Relax, Leon. My sister is just taking her time making sure everything’s perfect. She’ll be here soon.”
Leon smiled, nodding. “I don’t mind the wait, especially if it means she’ll look even more beautiful when she arrives.”
Kai chuckled, though the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, “True enough, Leon”
Leon glanced at him, then grinned, “I think it’s high time you start calling me ‘Brother’ now… maybe even ‘Big Brother’ if you’re feeling generous.”
Kai’s lips twitched in response. “Not a chance—that would mean acknowledging you as the elder. You’ll be my little brother, always! Hahaha…”
“Hahaha…” Leon laughed heartily along with him, the tension in his face softening slightly.
“Congratulations, Leon,” Vesperine chimed in, her voice warm and gentle as she approached them. She was dressed in a stunning outfit, her clothes on par with the finest the royals could offer.
Leon’s eyes widened slightly as he took in her appearance, a slow smirk forming on his face. “Wow… You look absolutely stunning…. Sister,” he said, his eyes lingering on her curves.
Vesperine gave him a radiant smile, replying, “Thank you, Leon. You look rather handsome yourself in those clothes.”
Leon chuckled, his voice softer now. “Hahaha… thank you. Though, if I’m honest, I think you outshine me.”
Kai, not missing a beat, piped up with a grin, “See? I picked out her attire. She looks incredible, right? My fashion sense is unmatched! My taste is best!!”
Leon raised an eyebrow, smirking, “Well, yes, it’s quite… tast-ahem I mean I’d say your choice is rather… eye-catching,” he said with a hint of a laugh.
Kai’s grin widened as he glanced at Vesperine, pulling her close and pressing a light kiss to her lips. “And what about you, my love? Do you like what you see?” he asked, his voice warm.
Vesperine smiled gently, her fingers tracing his cheek. “Of course, Kai. I love it more than anything in this world,” she murmured, returning his kiss. But a flicker of worry crossed her face, clouding her usual serene expression.
Kai’s brow furrowed as he pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes, “Is something on your mind? You look a little troubled,” he asked softly, his voice full of concern.
Vesperine hesitated, then spoke in a low voice, “W-Well, I haven’t seen your father anywhere…”
Kai’s face hardened slightly as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry,” he said, his tone steely, “You’ll see him soon enough, I promi—”
Just then,
BOOM!
A massive crash shook the hall as something—or someone—collided violently with the podium where Leon had been standing moments before.
The crowd gasped, many instinctively crouching down or looking around in alarm, while a few turned to face the disturbance with guarded expressions.
“Hello, everyone~ Hehe…” a sinister voice rang out, the sound laced with chilling amusement. A wicked laugh followed, making several guests shiver as they turned to see Victor walking toward them.
Leon’s face twisted in confusion, “What is he doing h—?”
“Father?” Kai’s voice cut through the room, shocked and filled with panic as he spotted his father, Velc, sprawled out where the impact had landed him. Without hesitation, Kai rushed over to help him, eyes wide with concern.
“Cough, Cough”
Velc coughed up blood, struggling to rise as he clutched his stomach in agony. The last thing he remembered was the masked man’s brutal kick to his abdomen, knocking the wind out of him.
Victor, meanwhile, casually flipped his white hair back, the motion almost graceful. He looked completely unfazed, and a small, almost charming smile played at his lips, catching the eye of a few innocent women in the crowd.
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Leon’s face contorted with rage as he yelled, “Guards, arrest this bastard! Now!” His voice was laced with fury as he pointed toward Victor.
At his command, the guards sprang into action, some forming a protective barrier around Leon while others advanced on Victor.
But before they could reach him,
“I’m warning you,” he said, his tone dangerously low, “if you want to die today, go ahead and take another step.”
The guards froze mid-step, flinching as his words seemed to grip them, not with fear, but with something almost primal—a powerful presence that made their blood stir. It was as if their very bodies were compelled to heed him, a sensation they couldn’t shake… like standing in the presence of…. a Dragon Emperor?
“What are you waiting for?” Kai shouted, his anger rekindled. “Catch that bastard!” The guards blinked, snapping out of their trance, and resumed their approach. But just as they were about to reach Victor—
“P-Please, don’t do it!” Ashara’s voice rang out as she appeared before the guards, holding her hands up in a desperate attempt to stop them, “Trust me, you don’t want to mess with him. I know him better than any of you, and if he’s promised to kill, he will do it… without a second thought! Let’s not turn this wonderful celebration into a bloodbath, right?”
The guards exchanged uneasy glances, visibly disgusted to see a low-class succubus standing in their way.
Even Victor’s expression softened in mild surprise, ‘Now that’s what you call a friend showing up at just the right moment,’ he thought with an inward nod of approval.
“Are you all right, Mr. Velc?” Leon asked, his voice edged with worry as he looked at the injured man.
“I-I’m… I’m fine,” Velc managed, though his pained expression betrayed him. His eyes shifted to Victor, and he asked, “W-Who is this man?”
Leon and Kai’s expressions turned grim as they responded in unison, “He’s the disciple of the Sovereign, known as Victor.”
Velc’s eyes widened in shock, a mixture of fear and astonishment washing over him as he locked eyes with Victor, who returned the stare with cold, unwavering intensity.
“W-What? Why are you looking at me like that? I haven’t done anything wrong… sir,” Velc stammered, his voice calm yet clearly seeking to defuse the tension, wary of making an enemy out of someone so formidable backing!
Victor let out a low chuckle, almost amused by the display, “Nothing wrong, you say? Then tell me, how do you explain this?” Read new chapters at empire
“What do you mean?” Velc’s brow furrowed in confusion, and both Kai and Leon looked equally puzzled.
Victor’s eyes remained locked on Velc as he called out, “Sel!”
Thud!
The doors swung open, and Selene stepped into the room, her expression shadowed by a small, almost mocking smirk. She wore a stunning black ensemble with blue accents, her long, dark blue hair flowing behind her like an icy waterfall. Each step she took seemed to drain the warmth from the air, leaving a trail of frost and a chill that spread across the room.