The golden light from the chandelier above did little to warm the chill he felt inside.
After the meal, Kaelen looked directly at him and said in a firm voice, "I've arranged an engagement for you."
Rayan's eyes narrowed. "With whom?"
Kaelen gestured toward the far end of the hall, where a young maid stepped forward. "Her name is Lina. You are going to marry her."
Rayan's breath caught for a moment. He looked at Lina—modest in her posture, yet strong in her gaze. A servant girl from a fallen merchant family, now being offered as his bride.
He hesitated, confusion and frustration tightening in his chest. But then, his mind went to his grandfather—the only person who had ever treated him with kindness. He remembered the frail words from the night before.
"I want to see your wedding, Rayan. But I fear I won't make it that far."
With those words echoing in his heart, he finally nodded. "I accept."
"That's good," Kaelen replied without emotion. "Tomorrow is your engagement ceremony. Be ready. Make sure to behave—guests will be arriving."
Dinner ended, and Rayan was shown to a guest room in the mansion. He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the old wooden floor beneath his feet.
"Up until now, I've barely been managing to take care of myself… and now I have to look after someone else too."
He sighed, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders.
"Then I'll just have to work even harder. Earn more. Be more."
Eventually, sleep claimed him.
The morning sun rose over the Sunreign estate, casting warm light over the forest-lined road and the towering stone mansion.
Rayan dressed simply but neatly, stepping outside as guests arrived in groups—nobles, knights, merchants, and officials.
The air was filled with murmured conversations and curious glances.
Inside the hall, his grandfather was carefully dressed and seated in a tall ceremonial chair. Rayan stood silently beside him. No one acknowledged him at first, until Lucen approached, followed by others who offered polite greetings.
From across the room, Rayan caught the sound of whispered gossip:
"Did you hear? Lucen is engaged to the daughter of the Magic Knights' Order Captain."
"Really? That's a high match. She's a third-rank crest holder."
Rayan clenched his jaw slightly.
In this world, status is everything—and status is measured by crest levels. My father is a knight. Every knight earns respect through their crest rank.
Of course, he arranged Lucen's engagement first, to someone above even himself, and now wants to polish the family name by showing me off.
The Captain of the Magic Knights Order arrived soon after, accompanied by his proud daughter—graceful, elegant, and dressed in silver-blue robes. The engagement was officially sealed before all the guests, and Kaelen stepped forward to announce:
"My father, Lord Sunreign, is happy to witness the engagement of Rayan and Lina. May this union bring strength and dignity to our house once more."
Time passed quickly after the announcement. The guests slowly departed, their curiosity satisfied.
When the moment to leave finally arrived, Rayan visited his grandfather once more. The old man smiled faintly and gripped his hand with what little strength remained.
"I'm proud of you, boy. No matter what they say, you've grown."
With a quiet farewell, Rayan departed from the estate—this time, not alone.
Lina walked beside him as they returned down the forest path, their journey back to Rayan's modest home just beginning. Whatever the future held, they would face it together.