The Veil Mansion had never shone this brightly before.
Golden lanterns illuminated every corridor and balcony, their warm light reflecting against polished black stone and silver-lined windows. The mansion grounds, once merely elegant, now resembled the estate of an ancient high noble preparing to host royalty itself.
Servants moved endlessly through the halls carrying silver trays, crystal glasses, and carefully prepared dishes while musicians stationed near the eastern balcony played soft orchestral melodies that drifted through the night air like flowing silk.
Outside—
The Southern capital had become restless.
Because tonight—
Every important noble in the South was watching House Veil.
The sky above remained clear.
The crescent moon hung pale and distant above the city while countless stars shimmered around it, casting silver light across the endless stream of arriving carriages.
One after another—
Noble insignias entered the Veil estate.
Inside the grand reception hall—
The atmosphere carried controlled tension.
The hall itself was enormous, redesigned carefully over the last week under Kel's instructions. Massive crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, scattering golden light across polished marble floors while dark velvet curtains framed towering windows overlooking the illuminated gardens outside.
Rows of noble tables lined the sides of the hall, each positioned strategically.
Nothing random.
Everything deliberate.
Even the distance between seats carried political meaning.
At the center of it all—
Landon stood calmly greeting arriving guests.
Tonight, he wore formal Southern noble attire entirely different from his usual military appearance. A fitted black coat lined with silver embroidery rested perfectly against his tall frame while dark gloves concealed the scars along his hands. His sword remained at his waist despite the feast, subtly reminding everyone that his rise had not been built through politics alone.
He looked every bit the rising Southern lord people whispered about.
And the nobles noticed.
The first arrivals were naturally the lesser houses.
Minor nobles eager to establish presence before stronger factions arrived.
Their carriages entered quickly, almost nervously, servants rushing to announce names while their masters stepped into the hall wearing expensive clothing that often tried too hard to imitate higher nobility.
Many immediately began observing the room carefully.
Searching for alliances.
Judging rivals.
Trying to predict why exactly House Veil had gathered everyone here.
"…So many people…"
One young baron whispered quietly to his advisor while adjusting the cuffs of his dark blue coat.
His advisor's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Viscount Veil intends something significant."
Nearby, another lesser noble quietly muttered—
"Or dangerous."
Hours passed slowly.
And the atmosphere grew heavier.
Because eventually—
The truly powerful nobles began arriving.
Count families.
Ancient merchant houses.
Military factions with generations of influence behind them.
The quality of clothing changed subtly.
Less excessive.
More refined.
Every movement sharper.
Every smile more dangerous.
The conversations throughout the hall became quieter now.
More cautious.
Because everyone understood—
The real gathering had not begun yet.
Far above the hall—
From the second-floor balcony hidden partially behind flowing curtains—
Kel watched silently.
Tonight, he no longer appeared as merely Heral the potion maker.
Instead, he wore formal black attire resembling a high-ranking scholar or strategist, simple enough to avoid attention yet elegant enough to blend naturally among noble circles.
His face remained partially concealed beneath shadows cast by the balcony lanterns.
And beside him—
Sairen observed silently through the soul-link.
"…Humans truly enjoy gathering before conflict."
Her voice echoed softly within his mind.
Kel's gaze remained fixed upon the entrance hall below.
"Conflict becomes easier once everyone shares the same room."
Far away—
At Scarder Lake—
Sairen stood upon endless silver mist while watching through his senses.
The luxurious hall reflected within her ancient eyes quietly.
Then—
The atmosphere below changed instantly.
A herald's voice echoed loudly through the mansion.
"Duke Altair Valemont of the Southern Western Territory has arrived!"
The entire hall shifted.
Conversations stopped.
Nobles straightened instinctively.
Even servants unconsciously lowered their gazes.
The massive entrance doors opened slowly.
And Duke Altair entered.
His presence alone felt heavy.
Not oppressive.
But absolute.
The dark military coat draped across his broad shoulders carried crimson lion embroidery near the collar while silver decorations marked countless military achievements earned through decades of warfare.
Behind him followed armed retainers moving with frightening discipline.
And beside him—
His daughter.
The young noblewoman wore a flowing crimson dress accented with black silk gloves, her long dark hair cascading over one shoulder elegantly.
But the moment her eyes landed on Landon—
The subtle shift in her expression became obvious immediately to anyone observant enough.
Warmth.
Interest.
Affection.
Whispers spread instantly throughout the hall.
"…The rumors were true."
"She really came with him…"
"House Valemont's daughter…"
Landon maintained perfect composure while greeting the Duke respectfully.
But many nobles already began recalculating internally.
Because if the relationship rumors proved true—
Then House Veil's future position would become far more dangerous politically.
Kel observed everything quietly from above.
Calm.
Unmoving.
Sairen's voice echoed softly.
"…The atmosphere changed immediately."
Kel nodded faintly.
"Altair is the South's military pillar."
And just as the hall slowly settled again—
Another announcement followed.
"Duchess Seraphine Elthorn of the Southern Eastern Territory has arrived!"
The atmosphere sharpened once more.
The entrance doors opened again.
And Seraphine entered like flowing moonlight wrapped in emerald silk.
The elegant gown she wore tonight shimmered subtly beneath the chandeliers while golden jewelry rested delicately against pale skin. Her long silver-blonde hair flowed freely behind her, and every step she took carried effortless elegance.
Dangerous elegance.
The kind that concealed poison beneath beauty.
Many younger nobles immediately lowered their eyes.
Not from respect.
But intimidation.
Because Duchess Seraphine's reputation throughout the South was terrifying.
She was beautiful.
Brilliant.
And utterly ruthless.
Her pale eyes swept calmly across the hall before briefly resting on Landon.
A faint smile appeared.
Small.
Unreadable.
Then—
She entered fully.
Now two Dukes stood beneath the same roof.
Already enough to make tonight historic.
Whispers intensified throughout the hall.
Excitement.
Tension.
Speculation.
But above the hall—
Kel remained focused elsewhere.
Toward the still unopened entrance.
Sairen noticed immediately.
"…You're waiting."
Kel's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yes."
Because there was still one person missing.
The most unpredictable variable of all.
The Third Southern Duke.
The ruler of the wildest Southern territory.
A man absent from politics for nearly five years.
A Duke most younger nobles had never even seen personally.
Duke Kael Draven.
A silence settled over Kel internally.
Because despite all calculations—
This was the one uncertainty he had never fully resolved.
Would he come?
Five years ago, Duke Draven's only son had been infected by an unknown creature during an expedition into the Southern wilderness.
The boy survived.
But lost his sanity completely.
Afterward—
The Duke vanished from politics almost entirely.
Leaving governance largely to his wife while he spent years searching wilderness regions, ancient ruins, and forbidden territories trying to cure his son's madness.
Most believed he no longer cared about noble affairs at all.
Which meant—
He should not have come tonight.
Kel's gaze remained fixed on the entrance.
Calm externally.
But calculating endlessly.
Then—
The mansion doors opened again.
And the hall froze.
Completely.
Even the musicians stopped playing instinctively.
A herald's voice trembled slightly while announcing—
"Duke Kael Draven of the Southern Wild Territories… has arrived."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then—
He entered.
Tall.
Broad.
Wrapped in a long black coat lined with dark fur still carrying traces of wilderness dust.
Unlike the polished appearance of other Dukes, Kael Draven looked almost feral.
His long dark hair rested loosely around his shoulders while exhaustion and age carved deep lines beneath cold gray eyes.
Yet beneath that fatigue—
Power remained terrifyingly visible.
The hall itself seemed to tighten around his presence.
Because everyone here understood exactly what this meant.
All Three Southern Dukes…
Under one roof.
For the first time in nearly a decade.
And it had happened because of a rising Viscount.
Or at least—
That was what the nobles believed.
Above the hall—
Kel watched silently from shadow.
And for the first time tonight—
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Because while this gathering looked spontaneous to everyone below—
In reality—
This moment itself had been carefully constructed from the beginning.
Even if…
He had never been entirely certain the final Duke would actually appear.