Inside the palace, the little girl’s cries echoed through the corridors, stirring excitement and curiosity. All over the estate, relatives began gathering in the great hall, eager to hear more.
“What? Husband?” A stern-looking elder muttered as he hurried toward the growing crowd. “She’s promised to the Lin family’s young master! How can she bring anyone else?”
“Don’t tell me that this is true? Scott Lin will turn everything upside down?!”
“Lily brought someone else? The Lin family won’t be happy about this!”
As the commotion grew louder, Kent and Lily stepped into the palace, the tension palpable. Eyes were on them from every corner, from young cousins to elderly relatives, all straining to get a glimpse of the man Lily had brought with her.
The atmosphere was thick with speculation and surprise, but Lily remained calm, her hand resting lightly on Kent’s arm as if to steady herself.
“Is he the one? But why is he wearing a mask?”
“What is your name?”
The little girl came back to Kent and asked, “Remove the mask. I want to see your face.”
But before Kent replied, the baby dragon extended its head and looked face to face with the little girl. The girl almost fell back and ran away like a rat. The dragon felt like chasing her all around, but Kent stopped it hurriedly.
“His face must be ugly. Otherwise, why would he wear a mask like that!” many older women began making speculation about Kent. But he stood silently beside Lily.
“Lily, we heard that you created a big scene in the Doom nation. Is that true?” One of the elderly men asked in a loud tone.
The entire hall fell silent to that question. Everyone anxiously waited for Lily’s answer. But just then an elderly woman arrived in the hall.
From across the room, Lily’s mother, Taylor, stood up from her seat, her face a mixture of shock and disapproval. She walked very close to Lily and stared into her eyes.
“Is this your decision?” Taylor asked in a weak tone.
Lily’s head went down and she slightly nodded without looking into her mother’s eyes.
“Who is this young man?” Her voice held a sharp edge, and all conversation ceased as everyone waited for Lily’s response.
“This is Kent,” she said softly but firmly, “He is the legacy bearer of War God and belongs to the blue planet.”
The room fell into stunned silence.
“But you are betrothed—” one of the uncles uttered, only for Lily’s mother to cut him off.
“Enough!” Taylor’s voice rose, filled with determination. “Let King Ragnor decide this matter.”
Her words sent a ripple through the crowd. Several family members looked scandalized, while others exchanged shocked glances. This wasn’t just a personal matter—it was a political one. The Frost family’s alliance with the Lin family was crucial, and now Lily’s bold act had thrown everything into turmoil.
Kent, standing tall and silent beside her, scanned the room. He could feel the weight of their gazes, the judgment, the intrigue, and the barely-contained outrage. But none of it fazed him.
“If this is truly your choice, Lily… then so be it. As for the Doom family matter, go and explain this to Uncle Ragnor.” Taylor said, her voice resigned but with a hint of warmth.
Lily nodded, her grip on Kent’s arm tightening slightly.
With that, the crowd slowly began to disperse, though the air was still thick with unspoken questions and simmering tensions. Kent met Lily’s eyes, giving her a small, approving nod.
“Looks like you calmed down quite the storm,” he said with a smirk.
Lily exhaled deeply, giving him a faint smile. “There is a bigger matter to deal with.”
The halls of the Frost family mansion had begun to empty out, with relatives and family members murmuring in disapproval as they left one by one.
The news of Lily introducing a masked stranger as her future partner sent waves of discontent through the household. Their hopes, once centered on Lily’s union with the powerful Scott Lin, seemed to have shattered in an instant with the arrival of this mysterious man, Kent.
“How could she?” one elderly relative grumbled as she left the main hall, clutching her cane with a bony hand. “Scott Lin is the future of the Lin Nation, and now she chooses this masked stranger? It’s disgraceful!”
“What kind of man hides his face from his own family? He’s not trustworthy.” Another whispered, shaking her head.
“That mask—it’s a bad omen. A man who hides something has much more to hide. Mark my words, trouble is on the horizon.”
As the relatives exited the hall, their whispers continued to fill the corridors, carrying with them an air of disdain for Kent, the man who disrupted their plans. Many of them were not only disappointed; they were outraged. If Lily married Scott Lin, their family would have gained great wealth and influence. But now, those dreams seemed to have vanished like smoke.
After the relatives left, Lily called for the head-servant Ghule and ordered him to arrange a a room for Kent.
After passing the command, Lily left for her room, followed by her servants. Thea also silently slipped away along with servants.
Kent was led to his temporary quarters by the head servant, Ghule. Ghule had been with the Frost family for decades and was a man of influence within the household, despite his relatively weak magical abilities.
His real strength lay in the information he possessed and the alliances he quietly nurtured behind the scenes. He is mainly loyal to Scott Lin, who offers gifts and wealth in return to Ghule’s information. Now, with Kent’s arrival, Ghule’s source of income is in trouble.
Without a word, Ghule took Kent to a dusty, forgotten room in the far corner of the mansion. The room seemed like it hadn’t been touched in years, the air thick with the smell of dust and neglect. Cobwebs clung to the corners of the ceiling, and a thin layer of dust coated everything in sight.