Lusian spent the night in quiet rest, reflecting on the recent events. The tournament had been a challenge, but more than that, it had exposed cracks in the kingdom's security and the unavoidable tension between the nobility and the imperial forces. At dawn, he returned to the capital, where the official award ceremony for the participants would take place.

  On the day of the banquet at the royal palace, Lusian arrived accompanied by Emily. The atmosphere was festive and lively. In the grand hall, King Philip Erkhan Kesller could be seen seated upon his throne, with Queen Adelina at his right, Crown Prince Andrew beside his fiancée Roxi Briggs Byrne, and Princess Elizabeth. To the left stood the royal concubine Alessia Ferrussi, Prince Leonardo, and his younger brother, Micael.

  Groups of nobles chatted animatedly, sharing stories from the hunting tournament. Lusian made his way toward a table displaying an exquisite selection of fine wines.

  As Lusian approached the wine table, Emily followed at a slight distance, a knot tightening in her stomach. She couldn't ignore his presence; every movement he made unsettled her.

  "You don't have to drink anything if you don't want to," Lusian said calmly, his voice firm, choosing his words with care.

  Emily held her glass with slightly trembling hands and nodded, grateful that he wasn't pressuring her. She took a small sip, trying to steady the nerves running through her body.

  Lusian watched her in silence. His eyes seemed to study every gesture, every reaction, as though he were trying to read her. Emily felt her heart race and lowered her gaze, caught between fear and curiosity. She knew that sooner or later she would have to accept Lusian as part of her life, but she wasn't ready to let her guard down yet.

  The silence around them was heavy with meaning—not uncomfortable, but intense. Neither hurried to break it. Every glance, every restrained movement said more than words ever could. Before long, Sophia joined them and, pinching Lusian's cheek, reminded him not to drink too much. After a brief exchange filled with affectionate scolding, she left them alone again.

  Emily watched him quietly, trying to figure out how to approach him. Noticing her hesitation, Lusian made a small gesture with his hand, inviting her to follow him toward the center of the hall.

  "Don't worry," he said calmly. "Just walk with me."

  Emily nodded cautiously, her fingers brushing against the glass as she struggled to control the trembling in her hands. Each step toward him deepened the turmoil inside her—fear, respect, and a curiosity she couldn't deny.

  From across the room, Kara Bourlance was speaking with her father, Duke Keiler, though her eyes never left Lusian. They burned with a mix of anger and resolve.

  "This isn't fair, Father," she said sharply. "Bringing magical beasts into a competition should be forbidden."

  The duke sighed, wearing a resigned smile."Calm down, my dear. That family always finds a way to cheat."

  Kara frowned, glaring at Lusian."Just look at that idiot. He doesn't even seem to care that he won with the duchess's help. He's no real fighter."

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  "Yes, he's his mother's spoiled child," the duke replied. "I'd wager that if he ever faced you in battle, he'd end up humiliated."

  Kara gave a tight smile—the same one she wore before accepting a challenge."You'll see, Father. At the academy, I'll give him the welcome he deserves."

  "Don't go too far," the duke warned. "Remember, Duchess Sophia is very sensitive when it comes to Lusian. I already had trouble after you broke Prince Andrew's arm."

  Kara didn't hesitate, though her tone softened slightly."Don't worry, Father. Just minor fractures," she said proudly, while the duke nodded in amusement.

  Elsewhere, Isabella Armett was growing increasingly irritated by Caleb's relentless attempts to court her. Already in a foul mood, things only worsened when Prince Leonardo approached and asked her for a dance. Caleb immediately stepped in, and the tension between them was unmistakable.

  "Miss Isabella, wouldn't you rather dance with a substitute prince?" Caleb said, his tone openly challenging.

  "That's rich coming from someone who can't even compete with his younger brother," Leonardo shot back coldly.

  Sparks flew between Caleb and Leonardo as Elizabeth passed by and stopped, watching the scene with concern. She knew well the conflict between the two men, as well as the agreement between her father and Duke Laurence that allowed Isabella to choose whom she wished to be with.

  "Come with me, Isabella. I'll show you somewhere quieter," Elizabeth offered, extending her hand. Isabella accepted gratefully, relieved to escape—if only for a moment.

  "They still won't leave you alone, will they?" Elizabeth asked as they walked.

  "I'm desperate," Isabella replied with a sigh. "I can't do anything to reject them, and my family doesn't have enough influence to intervene."

  "I understand," Elizabeth said softly. "If it weren't for my father, I wouldn't know how to deal with everyone trying to take advantage of my status." She cast a disdainful glance at Lorenzo Denisse, who always seemed to find excuses to approach her.

  As they walked, they crossed paths with Lusian, who was heading toward the lounge, his expression a mix of exhaustion and distraction.

  "Lord Lusian, it's good to see you," Elizabeth greeted him with a gentle smile.

  "Princess, Miss Isabella," Lusian replied respectfully, inclining his head slightly. His fatigue seemed to fade a little upon seeing her; something about Elizabeth always managed to draw his attention, no matter how hard he tried to remain composed.

  "You're going to rest? Don't tell me you're going to dream about a certain young lady," Isabella teased, puzzled by the attention Lusian gave Elizabeth.

  "No, of course not. I just want to get away from the crowd," Lusian replied, attempting to hide his discomfort. His eyes, however, betrayed a faint interest—something Andrew would have hated to notice had he been present.

  Meanwhile, after parting from Lusian, Emily found Clarisse Stanley—her brother's fiancée—near a tall window overlooking the torch-lit gardens.

  "How are you? And my brother?" Emily asked, trying to sound casual, though concern crept into her voice.

  "Hello, Emily. He went to get drinks," Clarisse replied with a faint smile, attempting to ease the tension.

  Emily frowned, studying Clarisse's expression."You look down. Did something happen?" she pressed.

  "My family wants me to break off the engagement with Manuel," Clarisse confessed with a sigh.

  Emily brought a hand to her chest, stunned."This is my fault! Because I got engaged to Lusian…" she murmured, guilt heavy in her voice.

  "It's not your fault," Clarisse said firmly, without reproach. "My father simply doesn't like getting involved in complicated matters."

  Emily lowered her gaze, thoughtful."And what are you going to do?" she asked carefully.

  "I'm not breaking off the engagement," Clarisse answered, her voice resolute. "Not because of family pressure. Not for any reason. It's my choice."

  At that moment, Manuel arrived with Alejandro, greeting them both with broad smiles, completely unaware of the tension that had filled the conversation. They began chatting animatedly, leaving Emily and Clarisse wrapped in a bittersweet calm—while Emily felt yet another conflict quietly taking shape within her.