Shane Drakethorne entered the banquet and quietly made his way to Sera Azurestorm, blending into the crowd without drawing attention.

  Guests mingled, engaging in lively conversation as they sought to form new connections and reinforce old bonds.

  Shane observed the guests, noting their distinguished backgrounds as nobles, knights, and merchants. Although they acted as if they had forgotten the previous emperor’s actions, Shane knew they were purposefully avoiding the topic. Criticizing the emperor would only invite trouble.

  So, people chose to talk about something else, and made it seem like what the emperor had done previously was nothing but just a minor thing that didn’t even have enough spice to talk about.

  Sera nudged Shane and whispered, "Honey, it is getting late. We should begin the banquet. We can discuss the marriage agreement later."

  Shane refocused, pushing aside his turbulent thoughts. He glanced toward his father, Ragnar Drakethorne, and noticed the same dissatisfaction in his father’s expression regarding the emperor’s victory.

  Ragnar Drakethorne, being a powerhouse who could be said to be in the top 10 strongest forces of the Evernight Empire, was powerless against the emperor and more against that promise, which was held sacred by the Drakethorne family.

  Shane glanced around, searching for his mother, but she was nowhere to be seen. He was about to ask his father where she had gone, but she suddenly appeared at Ragnar’s side.

  Shane addressed the crowd, "Thank you all for attending my son’s first week naming ceremony." His words brought the room to a hush.

  Everyone fell silent and turned their attention to the terrace above the hall, where the Drakethorne family stood. The new heir slept peacefully on the throne.

  Shane approached the throne. As Sera deactivated the magic circle, he gently lifted their son and turned to present him to the assembled guests. "I have named my son Alex. From this day forward, Alex will carry the legacy of the Drakethorne Grand Ducal House. Please welcome the heir and future patriarch, Alex Drakethorne."

  The knights knelt on one knee and proclaimed, "We welcome our heir and young master, Alex Drakethorne!"

  Applause filled the hall as decorative magic circles illuminated the banquet, casting an ethereal glow that made the welcome for the Drakethorne heir even more splendid.

  Shane gently returned Alex to the throne and retrieved a bracelet from his dimensional space.

  The bracelet gleamed with a radiant light, its mythic rank marking it as the most precious treasure ever seen.

  Shane carefully placed the bracelet on Alex’s right wrist. It immediately sensed the child’s presence and adjusted in size, fitting perfectly around his small hand.

  This bracelet was a cherished family heirloom, handed down to each Drakethorne heir during their first week naming ceremony by the current patriarch. Only the firstborn could inherit the title of patriarch; others would only assume the role if something befell the firstborn.

  It was a powerful protective artifact, shielding its bearer from spells and Sage rank magic, and capable of withstanding three Paragon rank attacks. Such was the strength of this bracelet.

  After ensuring the bracelet fit securely on Alex’s wrist, Shane stepped back so others could see the child.

  Alex continued to sleep peacefully, the emperor's necklace resting against his chest and seemingly soothing him.

  Sera stepped forward, reached into her dimensional space, and withdrew a pair of earrings. In this world, it was common for men to wear earrings, and many nobles adorned themselves with them for elegance.

  These earrings were of divine rank, and she carefully placed them in her son's ears.

  The earrings fit perfectly, even though there had been no previous piercings in his earlobes.

  Delicate and small, the earrings featured a sapphire at the center. Tiny petals appeared to blossom from the gem’s edge, partially enveloping it in a beautiful design.

  Sera had enchanted the earrings herself, imbuing them with magic that shielded Alex from mental attacks below Paragon rank.

  Sera kissed Alex’s forehead before stepping back.

  Ragnar nudged Nyra Blackheart forward. Nyra, lost in thought, felt frustrated that she had not received anything from Emperor James Evernight.

  After the emperor had left the banquet, Nyra had followed, only to see her son reach him first. She concealed herself in the background and listened to their conversation. Her skills as an assassin, one of her dual classes, kept her hidden from Shane, though she was certain the emperor noticed her presence.

  Nyra now replayed their conversation in her mind, particularly the puzzling decision by the emperor to allow Alex to nullify the marriage agreement in the future, even though he had been the one to force it. Traditionally, only the emperor could dissolve such an arrangement, but now Alex had that power as well.

  Snapping back to the present, Nyra pushed those thoughts aside, determined to make the most of this precious moment.

  Nyra stepped forward and knelt until her face was level with Alex’s. His eyes fluttered open as if awakening, but after a long yawn, he closed them once more and soon drifted back into a deep sleep.

  Nyra smiled at her grandson's cute action. She felt blessed to have such a cute grandson, and she could feel the energy inside the blood of her grandson. Her grandson, Alex, was blessed with black dragon’s blood that had been thinning out over multiple generations.

  Nyra retrieved a black ring of divine rank, just below mythic, from her dimensional space. This ring would protect its wearer from poisons.

  With great care, Nyra slid the ring onto the pinky finger of Alex’s left hand, making sure not to disturb him.

  Nyra longed to pinch Alex’s soft, rosy cheeks, but she knew it would wake him. She stepped back, forcing herself to resist. In her mind, she thought, "Aww, my baby grandson is so cute."

  Outwardly, she maintained a neutral expression, though her lips occasionally curled into a faint smile and her eyes softened with affection before returning to their usual composure. No one could guess what the formidable matriarch was truly thinking.

  If others knew what she was thinking, they would be shocked by how this dangerous woman could be so loving in her mind, given the horror of her power, which was well known in the world.

  With a grand gesture, Ragnar stepped forward to the throne and gazed at the baby. He studied the infant, his brow furrowed in concentration. Yet no one could discern what thoughts occupied the mind of one of the world’s strongest people.

  From the dimensional space, he took out a large egg patterned with multiple colors. All the people watching the ceremony were shocked and felt themselves losing their minds over what Ragnar had brought out.

  Some guests wondered how Ragnar could entrust such a priceless gift to a child. Still, those who knew him understood his devotion to his family and that he would not hesitate. A few believed he should have kept it for himself, considering the egg’s immense value. Its worth could rival a small nation’s ransom anywhere in the world.

  Sera and Nyra were both astonished. Nyra allowed herself a small smirk at her husband’s daring, knowing he was making a statement to everyone present. He was showing the world how much he cherished his grandson and warning that anyone who threatened Alex would face his wrath.

  Shane’s voice faltered as he clenched his fists and whispered, "Father, is that the egg I think it is? Please tell me it is not."

  Ragnar met his son’s stunned gaze and replied, "Yes, it is exactly what you think. It is a dragon’s egg."