In the blink of an eye, six days had passed.
The date had reached September 24.
The streets and alleys of the capital looked the same as always. The people out on the roads shopped for groceries, strolled around, or went about whatever they had to do.
For most people, today was just an ordinary day.
If there was anything special about it, it was that the weather was especially nice. The sky was a clear blue without a cloud in sight, and the autumn breeze was perfectly refreshing.
Luke got up unusually early today. The moment he opened his eyes, he lay there staring blankly at the familiar ceiling. The sunlight spilling in through the window carried a trace of warmth, as if it had pinned him to the bed and made him not want to move at all.
Only after he was fully awake did he get up and head downstairs to brush his teeth and wash his face like usual.
Once he was done, he walked out into the yard. The gentle sunlight settled over his whole body, and he couldn't help feeling a little emotional.
Sure enough, good weather really did put people in a better mood.
At the moment, the huge yard held only Yurna, who was watering the flowers with a watering can.
Luke walked over to the rocking chair, lay down on it, looked up at the blue sky, and muttered inwardly,
"Sign in."
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained a rare delicacy: Starry Sky Cake.]
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained a treasure: Starlight Candles.]
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained 1 Basic Skill Upgrade Card.]
The system's voice rang out twice in succession, instantly catching Luke's attention.
He turned his gaze toward the system inventory and couldn't help grinning.
Not bad. This system was pretty considerate.
Today was little blondie's birthday, so it had gone ahead and gifted him a full cake set.
That saved Luke the trouble of making one himself.
It had even given him a Basic Skill Upgrade Card. Luke glanced over the few beginner-level skills in his system inventory.
Fingertip Trick LV3, Flash of White Light LV3, Tiger Body Tremor LV3.
There wasn't a single one he wanted to level up. After one look, Luke decided to save the upgrade card for later, to use after he got some other skill.
Just then, a set of footsteps came from outside the yard. A moment later, Fiora walked in, then glanced at Luke, who was lying there staring into the sky.
"Good morning."
"Morning."
Luke looked over and greeted her.
Then Fiora headed toward the backyard to begin her daily morning training.
After a while, Sona, Kahina, Quinn, and Poppy entered the yard one after another.
After only a few words, they each started doing their own thing.
As usual, Sona practiced her instrument.
Kahina, Quinn, and Poppy headed to the backyard to join Fiora's morning training.
A few minutes later, Miss Crownguard also came in with light, easy steps. Just from looking at her, it was obvious she was in a very good mood today.
"Good morning!"
She cheerfully greeted the two people in the yard.
Lux sat down in the chair beside Luke, gave two little coughs to draw his attention, then tucked a lock of golden hair behind her ear. "Do you notice anything different about me today?"
Hearing that, Luke studied her face carefully for a few seconds before saying, "You didn't wash your face?"
"Like hell I didn't." Lux glared at him, then added, "I'll give you a hint. It's something about the overall impression."
Luke thought for two more seconds, then said in surprise, "You gained weight?"
"..."
Lux shot him a hostile look, then gave a huff. "No! It's my aura. Don't you think I seem more mature now?"
The moment he heard that, Luke burst out laughing. "You? Mature? Hahaha!"
While laughing, he looked her over again.
If the word mature could be associated with this girl, then pigs might as well learn to climb trees.
Hearing his completely unrestrained laughter, Lux gritted her teeth, but soon hmphed and lifted her chin with utter indifference. "You really have no eye for these things. But whatever. The mature me won't get angry over something like this anymore."
"Really?"
The moment Luke heard that, he stopped laughing and suddenly put on a serious expression. "Then let me tell you something. Just don't get mad."
"Hm?"
Lux immediately felt that something was off and looked over. "What is it?"
"Well..." Luke opened his mouth, looking like he wanted to speak but was holding back. After a long pause, he waved a hand, stood up, and started walking into the house. "Forget it, forget it. It's your birthday today. I'd better not say it."
"?"
A question mark practically appeared over Lux's head. She stood up and hurried after him. "What is it? Just say it!"
"Sigh, better left unsaid. It's all in the past anyway." Luke looked at her and sighed. "Some things are better not knowing."
With that, he shook his head and walked into the house.
Leaving behind a Lux who was standing there with a baffled expression.
She took a deep breath, stared at his back, and her fists clenched on their own.
What she hated most in the world was this kind of jerk who said half of something and stopped there.
A mystery-speaker!
Damn it!
What the hell was it?!
At that moment, Miss Crownguard felt like a cat was scratching at her heart.
Her mind kept circling around what that jerk had done this time.
As a result, Lux spent the entire morning thinking about it.
During that time, she kept tracking Luke down and pressing him for answers.
But every single time, he found one excuse after another to dodge the question without actually telling her anything.
By the time the whole morning's chaos was over, even the other girls had started getting curious.
At that moment, Luke was stepping out of his room when a pretty figure suddenly flashed over and blocked his path aggressively.
Lux looked at him and forced out a smile. "What exactly is it? Don't worry. If you say it, I definitely won't get mad."
"It's not really a big deal. Since you want to know that badly, I'll tell you." Luke got that far, then abruptly changed the subject. "I think the porridge I cooked is done. I'll go check."
He had barely taken one step when Lux moved to block him again, glaring at him without a word, her face clearly saying that if he didn't talk, she wasn't moving.
Seeing that, Luke smiled and finally told the truth. "Actually, it's nothing. I just wanted to see whether you'd get curious."
The words got you were practically written across his face.
The moment that sentence landed, Lux's chest, which had finally started to show a little curve, rose and fell sharply. She clenched her teeth and stared at Luke, full of disbelief.
As far as she was concerned, that jerk had absolutely done something behind her back.
He was just deliberately refusing to say it now.
And he was specifically saying this to provoke her.
But!
At this point, whether he said it or not was no longer important, because—
she was already mad!!
The consequences of Miss Crownguard getting angry had always been very serious.
A miserable scream rang through the manor.
At the dining table, Luke silently dabbed medicine onto the bite mark on his right arm.
Beside him, Fiora found it funny too and chuckled. "Satisfied now?"
"..."
Luke fell silent, looking like he wanted to cry.
He'd forgotten that this little blonde had a habit of biting people the instant they crossed her. He had even thought that after getting hit with pepper spray last time, she wouldn't resort to that again.
He'd been completely unguarded.
If he'd known, he wouldn't have teased her today.
When she bit, she really bit. She didn't hold back in the slightest.
It hurt.
It hurt a lot.
The other girls were all smiling too. In their opinion, that bite on Luke's arm was absolutely deserved.
Why pick a fight with her when you had nothing better to do?
On the other side, Lux, whose mood had recovered and was even looking quite pleased, was eating lunch in big mouthfuls. Her appetite was even better than usual.
After lunch, everyone gathered in the living room, each of them enjoying the lazy calm of the afternoon with contentment.
Today was Lux's birthday, and for her, it was an especially important day.
Lying on the sofa and looking at the familiar atmosphere around her, the corner of her mouth lifted in a satisfied smile.
Just being able to spend her birthday together with everyone already made her very happy.
The only pity was that Vayne and Frey hadn't been able to make it back.
But they had already prepared gifts in advance and left them at the house, asking Luke to give them to her today.
That only made Lux even happier.
"That should be about right."
At that moment, Luke muttered to himself and shot Yurna a look.
Yurna immediately understood. She stood up and went around drawing all the curtains in the living room. The room instantly dimmed.
"What do you mean, about right?"
Hearing Luke's mutter, Lux looked over curiously.
The other girls did too.
"You'll see in a second."
Luke smiled, then blew out the last remaining light in the room. Without a light source, the living room instantly became as dark as night.
Just then, a new point of light flickered to life, blooming with a crystalline glow like starlight.
Then a second candle lit up, then a third, a fourth...
More and more candles flared to life. The light they gave off wasn't ordinary firelight, but a dazzling radiance like starlight itself.
The girls stared at the starlight filling the entire living room and unconsciously lost themselves in it.
Their bright eyes reflected those shimmering colors as they looked toward the source of the light.
There, on display, was a cake.
It stood like a mountain.
At the top of that mountain, those candles cast their beautiful starlike glow. The light poured over the cake like a waterfall, and within that waterfall were scattered countless stars, making it look breathtakingly beautiful.
It was obviously a birthday cake.
But none of the girls present had ever seen a birthday cake this strange or this beautiful.
At that moment, it was as though they were standing beneath a star-filled sky. Knowing full well who this birthday cake had been prepared for, they couldn't help feeling a bit envious.
Lux's sparkling eyes swept over the scene around her. She reached out to touch the streams of light and let out an involuntary gasp of amazement. "It's so pretty!"
"Looks good, right?"
Bathed in starlight, Luke also looked at the faintly glowing Starry Sky Cake.
He hadn't expected the effect to be this good.
As expected of something from the system. Quality guaranteed.
All of the girls rose to their feet and wandered through the starlight, each of them feeling as if they were inside a dream. It was the first time they had ever been this close to the stars, and it felt indescribably magical.
"Happy birthday, Miss Crownguard."
Luke looked at Lux and offered his blessing with a smile.
Lux looked back at him and felt her heart beat a little faster. A sweet smile hung at the corner of her lips as she said happily, "I love this gift so much. Thank you!"
She had been endlessly curious about what birthday gift Luke had prepared for her, and now, with this surprise, that curiosity had finally been satisfied.
She felt that this was the best birthday gift she had ever received in her life.
At that moment, Luke smiled again and said, "This doesn't count as the gift."
"Hm?"
The instant she heard that, Lux froze. "This doesn't count?"
"It's just a cake. How could that count as a gift?"
Luke said it casually, hands behind his back, looking as inscrutable as the Dragon King.
The Starry Sky Cake and Starlight Candles had come from the system's sign-in today, but before that, he had already prepared something else.
Naturally, he couldn't let this little cake steal all the spotlight.
The moment he said that, Lux got even more curious. "Then what's the real gift?"
Luke gave her a mysterious smile. "Not telling you."
With that, it wasn't just Lux anymore. Even the other girls became intensely curious.
They could tell that this time, Luke wasn't just teasing Miss Crownguard for fun.
"You'll find out later. Make your wish first."
Luke looked at Lux, who clearly wanted to know right now, but he had no intention of telling her yet.
Lux could only suppress that bubbling curiosity and walk over to the Starry Sky Cake. Folding her hands together, she silently made a wish.
I hope everyone is happy every single day.
A sweet smile curved her lips as she opened her eyes and looked at the extraordinarily beautiful Starry Sky Cake, her eyes shining brightly.
Then she frowned in distress. "It's so pretty, I can't bear to eat it."
"All right! Time to eat!"
Luke didn't indulge her. He immediately cut straight into the beautiful cake with a knife, ruining part of the aesthetics on the spot, then happily stuffed a bite into his mouth.
It gave the impression of eating a star.
His face instantly filled with satisfaction. The Starry Sky Cake melted in his mouth with a soft, sweet texture that wasn't cloying at all. Its luscious fragrance flooded his taste buds and truly gave him the feeling of traveling through the stars.
It was basically the sweetest dream a dessert lover could imagine.
As for Miss Crownguard, who had just said she couldn't bear to eat it, she showed no mercy at all once she started. Bite after bite, her eyes narrowed in bliss.
That flavor satisfied every fantasy she had ever had about cake.
The other girls were also curious about what it felt like to eat a star, and they all came closer. Without exception, they were conquered by the cake's taste.
Even though they had eaten lunch not long ago, it didn't affect their appetite in the slightest.
A cake that had looked quite large was thoroughly wiped out in no time once so many people started eating it.
Afterward, the group all leaned against the sofa with their hands over their stomachs, their faces full of satisfaction.
Around then, the Starlight Candles had nearly burned out.
Yurna drew open the curtains, and light filled the room once more.
"In a little while, take these and deliver them to my father and my brother."
Leaning against the sofa, Luke spoke lazily.
The Starry Sky Cake had been huge, so he had naturally saved part of it for Jarvan III, Jarvan IV, Tianna, Augatha, Garen, and the others he knew.
"Yes."
Yurna answered, though she had eaten quite a bit herself and didn't have much strength to move around at the moment either.
She decided to rest for a bit before setting out.
Human beings got sleepy once they were full.
Especially in a quiet room like this, with a perfectly pleasant wind rustling the leaves outside, no noise to disturb them, and soft sunlight filtering in through the windows. The whole place felt especially peaceful.
Before he even realized it, a wave of drowsiness came over Luke. He already hadn't been in the mood to do much, so the moment he closed his eyes, he fell asleep on the spot.
Even Fiora, of all people, couldn't help feeling drowsy at noon today. Her eyes held a trace of sleepiness, and her whole body had taken on a lazy looseness.
Once Luke, leaning back on the sofa, unknowingly became the first to doze off, that sleepiness seemed to spread like an infection. Lux, Sona, Kahina, and Quinn all started feeling drowsy one after another.
At first, they could still manage an occasional bit of idle chatter.
But later, even those chatting voices disappeared. The living room, which had been lively just moments earlier, fell into complete silence.
Without noticing it, all the girls drifted off to sleep as well.
Who knew how much time passed.
Yurna was the first to wake up. She hadn't really been that sleepy to begin with. Rising quietly, she tidied herself up a little, then stood at the entrance to the living room holding the portion of cake meant for delivery.
She looked at the people inside, all asleep on the sofas, some leaning, some lying down, and a gentle smile appeared in her eyes.
Laziness really was contagious.
With that thought, she left the living room and went out to deliver the cake.
By the time Luke opened his eyes again, he had somehow shifted into a different sleeping position and was now lying sideways across the sofa.
The moment he opened them, he was greeted by a soft, pale bare foot right in front of his face. Its five toes were smooth and delicate, adorably pretty, and the nails shone like pearls.
He sat up and, sure enough, saw Lux sprawled carelessly across the sofa, sleeping soundly. One foot had drooped outside the sofa, while the other was in the exact spot he had just been looking at.
The other girls were still asleep. Fiora was leaning against the side of the sofa, her sleeping face peaceful and quiet.
Kahina and Quinn were leaning against each other.
Sona seemed to have already woken up. Soft, gentle music drifted in from the yard outside, somehow adding an even deeper sense of drowsiness to the room.
As for Poppy, for some reason she had ended up asleep on the table in front of the sofa, flat on her back in the shape of a giant spread-eagle, sleeping just as soundly.
Luke yawned, still feeling a little sleepy, but he didn't lie back down.
Instead, he got to his feet and stepped lightly toward the yard, making almost no sound at all.
By then it was afternoon. The sunlight outside was still gentle, and the breeze was just as pleasant.
Sona sat upright in her chair. Her aqua-blue hair stirred with the wind as her slender fingers lightly brushed the strings, producing one beautiful melody after another.
Luke walked over to the rocking chair and lay down on it.
Listening to the music, feeling the wind, and looking at the blue sky, he could only feel that this moment was pure peace.
Before long, another figure came out.
It was Fiora.
For once, she gave a thoroughly relaxed stretch, showing off her graceful, taut figure. It felt as if that single stretch had also released all the laziness built up in her body.
Seeing Luke lying on the rocking chair and staring blankly at the sky, she also walked over and settled onto the rocking chair beside him.
Neither of them spoke to break the quiet.
Looking up at the blue sky, Fiora felt as if she finally understood a little why Luke liked this kind of plain, peaceful life so much.
Even she was starting to fall in love with these days.
Without realizing it, under his influence, she had started to feel that living a little more ordinarily, a little more simply, didn't seem all that bad after all.
Soon afterward, Quinn and Kahina woke up as well. The two of them stepped out of the house with a trace of drowsiness still clinging to their faces.
They splashed cold water on their faces before they felt more awake.
A few minutes later, Lux and Poppy were awake too.
Coming out of the house, Lux let out a yawn and slumped into a chair, still not quite fully rested.
The way she stared blankly up at the sky looked exactly like Luke.
Poppy, on the other hand, was full of energy. Sitting in the spot Yurna usually favored, she opened a book and started reading.
By now, she had already found a new goal.
Poppy believed that a yordle without a goal was a pitiful thing.
So before, her goal had been to find an owner for this hammer.
And in her eyes, that goal was already close to being fulfilled.
Luke had said that if they couldn't find that demon hunter, he would take the hammer.
And how easy could a demon hunter possibly be to find?
So Poppy felt it was only a matter of time before Luke picked up the hammer.
That meant while she still had time, she could start looking for her next goal in advance. Then, once she handed the hammer to Luke, she could move on seamlessly.
With that in mind, Poppy felt full of drive toward the future.
"Mahjong?"
"Mahjong!"
That afternoon, with Luke's suggestion and Lux's immediate agreement, two Mahjong players were locked in.
The other two players, brimming with fighting spirit and ready to take on the other three by themselves, were Sona and Kahina.
Sadly, there was no sisterly synergy bonus just because two sisters were playing together.
After a few rounds, empty pockets remained empty pockets.
"I have to say, Miss Crownguard's play on that hand was absolutely beautiful."
"Oh, not at all, not at all. Your Highness's game was a real eye-opener too."
Meanwhile, Luke and Lux, both of whom had won money, flattered each other shamelessly while laughing like co-conspirators.
The sisters' gazes instantly turned full of grievance.
They clenched their fists, engraved this moment into their memories, and silently vowed to study up on their Mahjong skills and one day take revenge!
Time passed.
At around six in the evening, the girls all headed home, including Lux.
Meanwhile, Luke was in his room changing into the clothes Yurna had prepared for him.
Today was Miss Crownguard's coming-of-age ceremony. On such an important day, there was no way the celebration would remain at his house the whole time.
House Crownguard had started sending invitations to nobles all across the capital two weeks ago. Tonight's banquet would be held at the largest estate in the city.
The invitation said seven-thirty in the evening.
In other words, the banquet would begin in an hour and a half.
That was why Fiora and the others had left early to prepare.
Night.
Seven-thirty.
Outside a grand estate, carriage after carriage had already come to a stop, each one bearing nobles of varying rank from the capital.
The nobles, dressed in splendid formalwear, stepped down from their carriages with smiles on their faces, greeting familiar acquaintances around them and exchanging pleasantries as they made their way into the estate.
Tonight was not only a banquet hosted by House Crownguard, but also a social occasion for the capital's noble families.
And what surprised many of the nobles was that tonight's greeter was rather nice to look at.
That's right. That greeter was Luke.
Standing at the entrance of the estate, Luke wore a dark expression as he welcomed noble after noble entering through the doors.
He was dressed in lavish formal attire, and paired with his strikingly handsome face, he looked every bit like nobility incarnate, radiating irresistible charm.
Quite a few noble ladies who passed through the entrance lit up the moment they saw him dressed so sharply.
Across from him stood Garen and his older brother, Jarvan IV, looking equally miserable.
If Luke couldn't get out of it, then the two of them naturally couldn't escape the fate of becoming greeters either.
Two princes and the heir of House Crownguard standing at the entrance as greeters—it was easy to imagine just how prestigious tonight's banquet was.
Even Jarvan III himself would be attending in person.
"Welcome, welcome."
Luke let out a helpless sigh as he greeted yet another newly arrived noble.
During all this, he saw Fiora arrive in a formal gown. Her bearing was noble and cool, making her one of the most eye-catching sights of the night.
Then there was Kahina. In a gown, she looked graceful and refined, drawing plenty of attention as well.
Quinn's gown had been prepared by Luke. Since she had never worn one before, she still moved a little awkwardly as she walked in alongside Kahina.
Poppy swaggered into the estate right behind them.
The greeting duty lasted a full hour. Luke and the other two had started working half an hour early.
At around eight o'clock, nobles finally stopped arriving.
Nearly more than half of the capital's nobility had gathered in this estate tonight. The turnout was considerable, to say the least.
It wasn't that much less than the number of nobles who had once attended the banquet at the palace on the day Luke formally made his debut.
Eventually, someone else came to replace the three of them at the entrance.
Only then were they finally able to head into the banquet hall inside the estate and find a place to sit down and rest.
As they passed by one room, they could see it was filled with gift boxes, all beautifully wrapped.
Every one of them had come from a noble house.
As the treasured daughter of one of Demacia's top noble families, Lux's coming-of-age ceremony had truly gone all out.
In the vast main hall, the nobles gathered under the lights in clusters, chatting away.
Augatha was all smiles among a circle of noblewomen. It was obvious that she too was especially happy today.
Tianna's laughter rang out clear and hearty as she stood among a group of military officers.
Luke, meanwhile, walked up to a middle-aged man.
The man was tall and solidly built, with short hair and a stern face. Garen resembled him quite a bit.
"Good evening, Uncle Pieter."
Luke stepped forward and bowed respectfully, offering the greeting due from a younger generation.
"Our first meeting."
Pieter placed a small gift box in Luke's hand and said with a smile, "A little meeting gift. Nothing too valuable, just a token of goodwill. That girl Lux is playful by nature. I hear she's been bothering Your Highness quite a lot."
"Not at all."
Luke smiled, accepted the gift, and under the man's gaze immediately felt like he didn't want to stay there any longer. So he quickly said, "Then I'll be going, Uncle."
"Mm."
Pieter nodded and carefully watched Luke's retreating back, letting out a cold snort in his heart.
So this is the brat that girl keeps running off to see all day?
Appearance-wise, he was admittedly excellent, and word was he'd recently accomplished two impressive feats.
But no matter how he looked at him, Pieter simply couldn't be pleased.
Luke felt a strange chill down his back and instinctively quickened his pace, though he had no idea where that cold feeling was coming from.
That man just now was Pieter Crownguard.
He was Garen and Lux's father, Augatha's husband, and Tianna's older brother.
The reason Luke had never met him before was because Pieter held an important post in High Silvermere. As the military commander there, he oversaw affairs both great and small, and normally couldn't get away.
This time, he had only just arrived in the capital because of Miss Crownguard's coming-of-age ceremony, as well as the national celebration that would take place before long.
As Luke walked, he opened the small gift box in his hand and found a bracelet inside.
Though Pieter had said it wasn't worth much and was only a gesture of goodwill, the bracelet looked expensive at a glance. After putting it around his wrist, Luke even thought it looked pretty good.
After that, he had intended to go find the sword princess.
But before he could take more than a few steps, the firelight illuminating the hall dimmed with a series of soft puffs, as if all the light had gathered toward the front.
The nobles' voices gradually quieted as well.
From around the corner, a luminous white figure slowly stepped out with elegant grace.
Lux made her entrance in a gorgeous white evening gown, her bearing refined and noble. Her flawless, breathtakingly beautiful face carried a sweet smile, and she was so stunning it almost didn't seem real.
Her brilliant golden hair draped naturally over both shoulders, and a dazzling necklace rested against her fair neck.
The edges of her crystal shoulder pieces were decorated with tiny gold tassels. The gown clung tightly to the lines of her body, gathering in cloudlike folds at her waist before flaring into a wide skirt. Starry diamonds were scattered across it, gleaming with every movement.
Pure, beautiful, radiant.
The moment she appeared, everyone present was stunned.
Countless eyes were drawn to her. Even some of the women found themselves staring.
Lux slowly walked to the center of the front platform and bowed to all the nobles before saying happily, "Welcome, everyone, and thank you for coming to my birthday banquet. I hope you all have a wonderful evening."
Her happy, guileless voice was light and pleasing to the ear, and smiles appeared on many faces in the hall.
Pieter looked at his daughter, his grin stretching practically to the back of his head, pride filling his eyes.
But the moment he thought about how his precious little treasure now ran off to some boy's house all day long, the smile on his face vanished.
His fists clenched a little tighter.
Luke felt another mysterious chill at his back and scratched his head in confusion.
Putting everything else aside, Miss Crownguard really was stunning tonight.
Soon after, another figure appeared.
It was Jarvan III.
Half of his hair had already gone white, and tonight he had made a point of wearing his crown as he attended Lux's coming-of-age ceremony, dressed in full formal regalia.
In his hands, he held a silver tiara that looked almost like crystal as he walked to stand before Lux.
"This is the birthday gift I prepared for you. I hope you have a very happy birthday."
With a gentle look in his eyes, he slowly placed the tiara onto Lux's head as she bowed it slightly.
When she lifted her head again, the silver tiara made her look even more nobly beautiful, like a princess.
"Thank you, Uncle Jarvan."
Lux answered sweetly.
Jarvan III smiled and patted her head fondly, his gaze almost as if he were looking at his own daughter.
He had adored this little girl from House Crownguard ever since she was young.
Now, seeing her come of age, he couldn't help feeling a touch of emotion.
The little girl who had once been a wailing baby small enough to hold in one hand had now grown into such a graceful young woman.
"My friends, I hope everyone enjoys tonight's banquet."
Then Jarvan III turned and delivered a short speech to the assembled nobles.
After the applause, music began to play, and the banquet officially started.
As the star of the evening and the most dazzling young lady there, Lux had no chance of getting away.
She was quickly surrounded by Augatha and a crowd of noblewomen, forced into one conversation topic after another.
Luke, meanwhile, found a secluded spot and sat down alone with a glass of wine in hand. Sipping quietly, he felt fairly relaxed.
At least he wasn't being mobbed the way he had been last time.
Unfortunately, he had still been too naive.
Even though he had deliberately chosen a dim corner, he himself was like the only star in the dark night—far too eye-catching.
Before long, noble ladies came swarming toward him.
Surrounded once more, Luke had a flash of desperate inspiration and shouted, "My brother told me recently he's considering marriage prospects!"
Jarvan IV: "???"
Watching a number of noble ladies light up and start heading in his direction, he wore an expression that clearly said please don't come over here.
Not caring anymore, he immediately dragged Garen into it too. "Garen says he's been looking for the right girl all along!"
Garen: "???"
Garen! The greatest genius House Crownguard had produced in a century, a rising star of Demacia's Dauntless Vanguard, a future pillar of the nation!
He too was a hidden treasure in the eyes of many noble ladies.
And just like that, all three of them were doomed together.
Two princes and the eldest son of House Crownguard—if any of them took a liking to a girl and a marriage were arranged, it would practically be a straight leap to the top.
No wonder these noble ladies were so enthusiastic.
So no, not all women were reserved.
Especially not in front of men who were handsome and capable.
"Look outside!"
At that moment, someone let out a cry of surprise, instantly drawing a great many eyes.
People began turning toward the outdoors in response.
"Wow, who did this?"
"It's so beautiful!"
"Look!"
One exclamation after another followed, pulling more and more attention.
People started gathering on the open-air balcony, looking outside.
Lux did too.
The moment she looked out, she froze for an instant, and then her eyes lit up all at once.
In the blackness of the night outside, countless fireflies glowing in all different colors had somehow already filled the air.
Their bodies shone with vivid, multicolored light as they drifted through the darkness, turning the night into something dreamlike.
People stepped outside and stood amid the scene, watching the fireflies floating around them. They unconsciously lifted their hands, not to harm them, but simply to let them drift past.
As they flew through the air, the fireflies became even more beautiful under the night sky, shimmering with dazzling color.
The breathtaking sight left many nobles sighing in admiration.
Quite a few noble ladies' eyes began to shine with longing.
If someone could create a scene like this on their birthday, then honestly, getting married on the spot might even be worth it.
Who had arranged this?
Only a small handful of people knew the answer immediately.
Lux's sparkling gaze turned toward Luke, delight plain in her eyes.
Fiora, Kahina, Quinn, and Sona, who still had not made her appearance elsewhere, all looked toward Luke as well.
They knew this had to be his doing.
Lux stopped caring about propriety and started walking straight toward him, only to see him mouth a few words.
It's not over yet.
Lux blinked.
Not over?
There was more?
This had already surprised her so much.
Boom!
A sudden explosion rang out overhead, startling everyone. Quite a few people instantly went on guard and looked toward the source of the sound.
"It's in the sky! Look up!"
Someone shouted, and everyone turned their eyes upward.
There, in the sky, where the sound had just come from, a brilliant burst of color suddenly bloomed.
Then it became unstoppable.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
One explosive crack after another sounded out as fireworks shot into the air, blooming under the night sky in dazzling flashes of light like flowers opening in full glory.
Everyone stared upward, spellbound.
It was too beautiful. Those bursts of light adorned the night so brilliantly that it almost looked like day.
And yet, this was only the beginning.
Countless fireworks rose into the sky. Though the sounds were loud, nobody found them noisy. They were all too deeply captivated by the spectacle before them.
Then, from all across the capital, a grand fireworks celebration began.
It was as if it had been prepared long in advance, all of it waiting for this one day to burst forth together.
That night, one girl's birthday lit up the entire capital.
"This is the birthday gift I prepared. Do you like it?"
Beneath the fireworks blooming overhead, Luke smiled at Lux as she came to stand beside him. His voice was nearly drowned out by the fireworks.
But Lux still heard him clearly.
"Of course I do!"
At that moment, Lux felt as though her heart were about to leap right out of her chest. She watched the fireworks in the sky, their colors reflected in her eyes.
This was a moment she knew she would never forget for as long as she lived.
A strange emotion filled her heart to the brim. She turned to the Luke beside her, her face overflowing with joy, and shouted happily, "This is the best birthday I've ever had!"
That day, the wish she had made came true.
I hope I get an especially wonderful birthday gift!
This was the best gift she had ever received in her entire life.
Fiora looked over at Lux's happy face and at Luke standing beside her, then raised her eyes back to the fireworks, staring at them in silence.
Just like her, Sona, Kahina, and Quinn were all equally lost in thought.
As they looked at the fireworks filling the sky, each of them unconsciously showed a trace of envy.
If only I were the one having a birthday today.
Standing quietly in a corner, Yurna looked up at the fireworks overhead, and at last a smile curved her lips.
Meanwhile, Tianna, Augatha, and the others all looked in Luke's direction as well.
There was no need to ask. This whole scene had obviously been created by that boy.
Clearly, he had put a great deal of thought into it.
Who knew how long it had taken him to prepare fireworks on such a citywide scale?
Tianna had known ahead of time that he had brought people from the Research Institute in to tinker with gunpowder.
But even she hadn't expected gunpowder could be used to make something this beautiful.
Even she, looking up at those fireworks, almost wished she were twenty years younger.
Women had always been emotional when it came to things like this, and no one could dislike a scene this beautiful.
Pieter looked up as well. Sharp-eyed as he was, after following the direction of some people's gazes, he also guessed who was behind all this.
His eyes shifted toward Luke.
That boy certainly knew how to make things happen.
A fleeting trace of approval flashed through his eyes, but soon he gave another cold snort.
If this was all there was, then it still wasn't nearly enough.
Looking at his daughter's incredibly happy expression, he raised his eyes to the sky again and let out a quiet sigh.
Young people these days really did know a thing or two about romance.
There were also some people who were intensely curious about the fireworks. They wanted to know who had created them and what exactly they were.
But since His Majesty the King himself was standing there with his head tilted up and a faint smile on his face, clearly fully informed, no one dared act rashly.
The fireworks lasted for over ten minutes, stunning the entire capital.
Across the streets and alleys, countless people stepped out of their homes to watch them, sensing that something unusually grand was happening that night.
After those ten-odd minutes passed, everyone returned to the main hall.
At that point, Jarvan III gave a brief explanation regarding the fireworks.
Once the nobles learned that it was something being researched by the Research Institute, they all relaxed.
Before long, a beautiful melody rose into the air.
Sona appeared in a gorgeous gown, poised and elegant, carrying her etwahl with her.
Her exquisite music instantly quieted the room, and everyone listened carefully.
After that piece ended, the dance officially began.
As pair after pair stepped onto the floor and began dancing to the music.
Lux also turned her hopeful gaze toward Luke.
Luke stood and started walking toward her. He stopped before her, gently raised a hand, and extended the invitation. "Miss Crownguard, may I have this dance?"
"With pleasure."
Lux placed her small hand in his, rising to her feet with his guidance.
Hand in hand, with one hand at the shoulder and the other joined, they stepped into the center of the floor with perfect waltz form.
Beneath the lights, they looked at each other and moved together flawlessly to the music.
They immediately drew a great deal of attention and quickly became the center of the entire ballroom.
Sitting in a corner, Fiora watched the two of them dancing in the center. She lifted her wineglass and took a drink, feeling a little sour inside.
After all, his dancing now had been taught by her own hands.
And now he was using those newly learned steps, at his first proper formal event, with another woman.
Beside her, Ammdar was shivering slightly. Having learned his lesson this time, he didn't dare say a single word.
"What are you even doing sitting here?"
Fiora turned and gave him a cold look.
Ammdar: "?"
So now even breathing was a crime?
Scolded for no reason yet again, Ammdar felt wronged beyond belief.
Kahina sat in her chair, looking at Lux dancing with Luke with open envy. She almost wished she could swap places with her.
But today, Lux was the star. As long as she was happy, that was enough.
Sona, preparing to withdraw from the stage, also glanced at the two figures on the dance floor. A gentle smile touched her eyes before she quietly departed.
Soon, the dance came to an end.
The two of them bowed to the surrounding crowd and immediately received thunderous applause before stepping off the floor.
Lux forgot to let go of Luke's hand. Lifting her pale chin with a trace of pride, she said, "You're not bad at dancing after all. All that practice these past few days wasn't wasted."
Luke smiled. "I'm honored by Miss Crownguard's praise. So, did I pass as your dance partner?"
"Barely. I'll count that as passing."
Lux gave a little huff, sounding adorably smug.
But the happiness in her eyes was impossible to hide.
Just then, Luke felt another chill down his back and was suddenly struck by a bad feeling. He immediately let go of her hand. "As long as I passed, that's all that matters..."
After releasing her hand, he turned around, but once again couldn't find the source of that strange chill.
Only then did Lux notice that she had still been holding Luke's hand the whole time. Feeling the lingering warmth in her palm, she couldn't help going momentarily blank.
"Lux, come here for a moment."
Augatha beckoned to her with a smile.
"Oh."
Lux answered instinctively and walked over.
Luke also picked up his pace and slipped away, eventually finding Fiora sitting alone in a corner with a glass of wine.
When she saw him sit down beside her, Fiora inexplicably commented, "You looked like you were having fun out there."
"Uh, it was all right."
Luke thought for a second, then tried to flatter her. "This was all because my teacher taught me well. Let me toast you."
No matter what else might be said, Fiora had genuinely put in a lot of effort these past few days teaching him how to dance.
Seeing him raise his glass with that ingratiating smile, holding it out toward her, Fiora gave a cold huff.
But she still lifted her own glass and lightly clinked it against his.
Both of them downed the wine in one go.
A faint flush rose to Fiora's face, and for some reason, she suddenly started calculating how long it would be until her own birthday.
The moment she realized it was still at least five months away, she poured herself another glass.
Ten-thirty at night.
The banquet finally came to an end.
Luke immediately headed home with Yurna.
The entire night had felt like he was being haunted. He had no idea how many times he had felt a chill creeping over his back, leaving him deeply unsettled.
And every single time he looked, he couldn't find the source.
Had his sixth sense broken?
Luke was genuinely spooked, feeling like some ghost had truly set its sights on him. He hurried home as fast as he could, burrowed under the blankets, and soon fell fast asleep.
By the old rule, ghosts couldn't attack if you hid under the covers.
Meanwhile, at House Crownguard—
inside Lux's room.
Lux rolled back and forth across her bed, her mind constantly replaying the Starry Sky Cake, the fireflies, and the fireworks from today. The smile on her lips simply refused to fade, and she wasn't sleepy in the slightest.
That feeling of her heart racing was still there.
She lifted the hand that had held Luke's during the dance today, as if she could still feel its warmth lingering there, and an uncontrollable happiness overflowed in her eyes.
Inside her chest, something seemed ready to leap free in joy and delight.
Suddenly, a glimmer of light lit up at her fingertips, startling Lux badly.
She hurriedly covered the light, but in the next second, even more light slipped uncontrollably through the gaps between her fingers.
"Shadow follows light... Shadow follows light..."
She whispered the words softly.
But that racing-heart feeling refused to fade. Under that feeling, no matter how many times she repeated the usual spell she used to control her light, it no longer worked.
Lux began to panic. She yanked up the blankets and hid herself entirely underneath them.
She kept trying to steady her mind, and only after quite a while did the glow finally fade away.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Lux pulled the blankets down again, now a little exhausted, and stared blankly at the ceiling.
Then, once more, her thoughts uncontrollably drifted back to that moment when she had danced with him today.
A sweet smile slowly curved her lips.
And before she knew it, she fell asleep.
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