Cameron knew his sister well, and he knew that if Camellya didn't want something like this, her refusal would be immediate.
The fact that she hadn't answered him right away was enough for him to realise she was thinking about it, and more often than not, that usually ended in a positive response.
"You seem very against this. It's just one party," Leon said, and Cameron immediately snapped back at him.
"Of course I am! I could tolerate her following you into a dungeon since it was a familiar one and I knew the levels of the monsters inside, so I wasn't completely against it. But this is only going to put her in the spotlight and paint multiple targets on her back!"
"Targets on her back?" Leon echoed. "I get the spotlight part, but what do you mean, 'targets on her back'?"
At this, Cameron closed the distance and slammed his hands on the table, causing the items on it to vibrate slightly as he spoke in a tone edged with irritation.
"Dude, don't play dumb with me."
"I'm not. I really don't get what you mean," Leon responded, the smile fading from his face as he shifted into serious mode.
He glanced at Camellya, but she seemed more focused on whatever she was typing on her phone than in his exchange with Cameron, and she didn't look like she was going to say anything anytime soon.
"Oy! Look here," Cameron said, snapping his fingers in front of Leon's face to get his attention. "Did you somehow forget that you're the son of two people who saved the entire world or something?"
"Technically, my parents aren't really 'Heroes'. People just call them that…"
"That doesn't matter. What matters is that they were involved in defeating the Supreme Ruler of an entire other world, and as a result, you're one of the highest-ranked nobles in the Russell Empire."
Cameron paused to take a deep breath and calm himself before continuing.
"I live in a republic, so I'm not too familiar with all the specifics of Nobility, but I know arranged marriages are a thing, mostly done by those seeking connections, power, or trying to expand influence.
As the child of two war heroes who literally saved the world, you're prime real estate for nobles, not just in Russell but in every other country.
There are a lot of eyes on you, and if you're seen in public with my sister, those eyes will turn to her as well. Among them are people who want to marry their daughters to you, who've definitely already sent more engagement requests than I can count.
Last I checked online, there's no news of you getting engaged, so it's obvious you've rejected all those requests. Now, how do you think those rejected families are going to feel if you show up to a party with my sister?"
Cameron leaned forward, narrowing his eyes as he spoke, but before Leon could respond, he continued.
"While they can't do anything to you because of your status, they'd be very jealous, and many wouldn't hesitate to take out their jealousy on her since she's not a noble.
So excuse me if I don't want my sister becoming a target for some silly noble's envy."
Hearing Cameron's reasoning and recalling Camellya's reaction from a few days ago, Leon couldn't help but chuckle.
To Cameron, who was completely serious, Leon's laughter came out of nowhere, prompting him to ask, "What's funny?"
"Nothing. I'm just reminded of how much you two care for each other," Leon replied with a smile.
"What are you talking about…?"
Cameron looked confused, having no idea what Leon meant, but Leon ignored the question and focused on the teen's earlier words.
"Now then, Cameron, I'd like to correct a few things. For one, I've never received any engagement requests."
"I call bullshit," Cameron shot back immediately, causing Leon to burst into laughter.
"I'm serious, and there's a perfectly logical reason why."
"Perfectly logical? Enlighten me then."
Leon nodded and obliged Cameron's request without hesitation.
"The Russell Empire's Emperor Vincent is a very smart and ambitious man, which is obvious from how quickly he got my father on his side during the war over 20 years ago.
Now, the Raviaz Household wields influence comparable to entire countries, and as long as we are affiliated with Russell, the Empire would unquestionably be the continent's strongest nation.
But our affiliation with Russell is not permanent, and Emperor Vincent wants to change that. He wants something that would tie the Raviaz family to Russell and keep us here regardless of whatever tempting offers other nations present.
Pointing at Cameron, Leon referenced his earlier words.
"You mentioned that arranged marriages were used to form connections, didn't you? Well, that's one method the Emperor wants to use to tie 'Raviaz' to 'Russell'.
Specifically, he wants my father bound to the Empire. Marriage is one way he can do that, but as I said, the Emperor is a smart man.
He isn't foolish enough to even suggest for a moment that my father take a second wife because he knows that if he so much as insinuates that, then Lucia Raviaz, the 'Healing Angel' would become the 'Healing Devil' in a split-second."
Leon chuckled at that, then quickly returned to explaining things to Cameron.
"Anyway, that leaves him with only one way to connect the Imperial Family to the Raviaz Family through marriage.
Me.
Emperor Vincent has two daughters, the Second Princess, who's five years older than I am, and the Fifth Princess, who's my age. Unfortunately for him, he can't simply order an engagement like he could with any other Noble family, since that would anger my father, who isn't exactly fond of 'arranged marriages' in the first place. So if he wants his daughters to win me over, they have to do it themselves.
He doesn't want me getting 'distracted' by other noble ladies while his daughters are trying their luck, so he made very clear his intention to have a Princess marry into the Raviaz Family. Because of that, no noble would dare send an engagement request, as it would be seen as an insult to the Emperor."
Leon paused to finish his drink, then opened another can and continued.
"That's why your assumption is wrong. I've never received any engagement requests. Many nobles have realised that there's no chance for them to connect their families to the Raviaz Household through marriage, so they've mostly given up and are focusing on other families.
Some still hold out hope, but they're in the minority.
As such, while taking your sister to a party with me would put her in the spotlight, what you're worried about…Well, I can't promise there wouldn't be any jealous eyes, but very few would dare act on that jealousy since they'd be scared of pissing me off by targeting any girl I fancy enough to bring to a party."
The moment Leon finished talking, his phone buzzed, and he picked it up to respond to the text, and just then, Camellya spoke.
"Are you two done talking like I'm not here?"
"Yeah, we're done," Leon said before Cameron could respond. Then, interrupting again, he added, "Besides, Cameron, even if I didn't take your sister to the party, she'd end up in the spotlight in the coming years anyway."
"What do you mean by that?" Cameron asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I wonder," Leon replied, locking his phone screen and glancing at Camellya, who was narrowing her eyes at him, then said, "Why don't you ask your sister?"
He rose from the table and continued, "In light of future cooperation, you can't leave your brother out of the loop, Camellya. He has to know some things. As for what things, I'll leave that up to your discretion. He's your brother, after all."
Leon then held up his phone screen, which now had a call incoming, and said, "A friend of mine's in town, so I'm gonna go see him. Call me when you're done talking with him."
He picked another can from the wine pack and began heading toward the door, tapping the button to answer the call as he added, "I'd go ahead and make the preparations for you to come over to Russell with me and attend the party too."
After saying that, Leon opened the door and left the house, leaving the twins in a rather tense atmosphere.
◇ ◇ ◇
Just as Leon had said, he went straight to meet a friend from the Elven Continent, the son of one of the other members of the party that had defeated the last invaders' Ruler alongside Leon's parents and Manuel.
He was a few years older than Leon and was quite the collector of rare artifacts and items, which was why he had travelled so far from home.
Leon had mentioned heading to Zeusea in a mutual group chat, so his friend decided to drop by since he was nearby and wanted to see Leon.
While the two were hanging out, with Leon having been pulled into a bar, Camellya called to inform him of her final decision.
"You're already done talking to Cameron?"
[What do you mean, 'already'? It's been 2 hours.]
"Oh, really? I guess time really does move faster when you're having fun," Leon replied with a chuckle.
Camellya didn't comment and quickly went on to let him know what she had decided.
[Cameron will stay back with my mother, while I'll come with you to Russell for the Noble Heirs Meeting.]
Hearing this, Leon waved at his friend who was calling him from afar, glanced out the bar window, and as his eyes landed on a billboard advertising a fashion brand, he responded, "In that case, I guess we'd better start getting your party dress ready."