Northern snow continued falling softly across the vast Rosenfeld Estate.
The night sky above the mountains shimmered with pale silver stars while cold winds drifted endlessly through frozen pine forests surrounding the ancient ducal territory.
Kel walked quietly along the stone garden paths.
Warm chocolate pastry rested casually in one hand while the other remained tucked inside his black coat.
Beside him—
Aria walked silently beneath the snowfall.
The earlier tension between them had faded slightly after the strange pastry exchange.
Not completely.
But enough that the silence between them no longer felt uncomfortable.
Instead—
It felt calm.
Soft crunching snow echoed beneath their boots while distant lanterns illuminated the massive estate grounds in warm golden light.
Kel casually bit into another pastry afterward.
Warm chocolate filling melted softly inside while cold winter air brushed against his face.
Meanwhile—
Aria occasionally glanced toward him from the corner of her eye.
And honestly—
The sight still felt strange to her.
Yesterday—
This same person stood beneath moonlight controlling elemental floating weapons like an ancient battlefield sovereign.
Tonight—
He wandered around the estate eating pastries like a relaxed traveler with nothing important to do.
The contrast felt absurd.
Meanwhile—
Inside his mind—
Sairen quietly laughed.
"She keeps staring at you."
Kel calmly answered internally.
"She's observing."
"No."
The spirit sounded amused.
"She's trying to understand what kind of creature you are."
Kel ignored her completely.
Aria finally broke the silence afterward.
"An invitation arrived earlier."
Kel glanced toward her briefly.
"From?"
"A nearby marquess household."
Snow drifted softly around them while Aria continued walking calmly beside him.
"They're holding a celebration party for their son's birthday."
Kel nodded once.
A completely ordinary noble event.
Birth celebrations among high nobility usually acted less like family gatherings and more like political networking grounds.
Marriage discussions.
Trade negotiations.
Faction observation.
Power displays.
Everything hidden beneath music and wine.
Meanwhile—
Aria continued speaking.
"Father, uncle, and Uncle Aktaris are all busy currently."
Kel quietly looked ahead toward the distant snow-covered gardens.
Not surprised.
Duke Aktaris constantly managed border military affairs.
His uncles handled internal administration and noble coordination.
Northern high nobility rarely remained idle.
Then—
Aria added:
"So they suggested we attend in their stead."
Kel slowly finished the remaining pastry in his hand.
"You and me?"
Aria nodded.
"This way you can also meet other nobles."
A cold wind passed between them afterward.
Kel understood immediately what the older generation intended.
This wasn't merely attending a birthday celebration.
It was an introduction.
A silent announcement.
The heir of House Rosenfeld had returned.
And now—
The northern nobility would begin observing him personally.
Meanwhile—
Inside his mind—
Sairen sounded entertained.
"Oh?"
A faint laugh echoed softly.
"They're throwing you into politics immediately."
Kel internally replied calmly.
"It was inevitable."
The spirit hummed thoughtfully afterward.
"And what if some noble daughters become interested?"
Kel answered instantly.
"Then their fathers are the ones truly interested."
Sairen burst into soft laughter.
"You really are your father's son."
Kel ignored her again.
Meanwhile—
Aria quietly watched him.
Trying to read his reaction.
But as always—
Kel's expression barely changed.
Then finally—
He asked:
"What about our eldest brother?"
Aria adjusted the fur cloak around her shoulders slightly before answering.
"He's preparing to return to the border."
Her voice carried faint respect unconsciously.
"The monster tides near the northern cliffs intensified recently."
Kel nodded slightly.
That sounded exactly like his elder cousin brother.
Battlefield obsessed.
Always near borders.
Always chasing combat.
Meanwhile—
Aria continued:
"So he won't attend."
Another pause followed.
"And our other cousin is leaving for the capital tomorrow."
Kel remembered immediately.
The older female cousin heavily involved in central imperial politics.
Ambitious.
Sharp.
Socially talented.
Unlike the direct brutality of northern military culture—
She specialized in influence networks.
Then calmly—
Kel asked:
"So we're the replacements."
Aria softly sighed.
"Basically."
The northern winds grew slightly stronger afterward.
Snow spiraled gently across the stone pathways while warm lantern light flickered through drifting white flakes.
For several moments—
Neither spoke again.
Then finally—
Kel quietly asked:
"When do we leave?"
Aria answered immediately.
"If we depart tomorrow morning…"
She glanced toward him briefly.
"…we'll arrive by nightfall."
Kel mentally calculated the distance instantly.
A full-day carriage route through northern noble territories.
Likely heavily guarded roads.
Mountain passes.
Frozen rivers.
And several checkpoints.
Meanwhile—
He casually asked another question.
"Which marquess family?"
Aria answered:
"House Velcrest."
Kel's eyes shifted slightly afterward.
Not visibly.
But internally—
He recognized the name.
House Velcrest.
One of the oldest noble houses beneath Rosenfeld authority.
Rich.
Politically stable.
Known for producing talented administrative nobles instead of warriors.
Their territory controlled several important northern trade routes.
Meanwhile—
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly spoke.
"You know them?"
Kel answered internally.
"I studied northern political structures before leaving."
The spirit laughed faintly.
"You prepare for everything."
Kel calmly replied:
"Preparation prevents unnecessary surprises."
Meanwhile—
Aria quietly continued.
"Their eldest son recently awakened aura."
Kel glanced toward her.
"That young?"
"He's eleven."
Kel nodded once.
A respectable age.
No wonder they hosted a large celebration.
Early aura awakening among noble heirs increased political value significantly.
Meanwhile—
Aria hesitated slightly before speaking again.
"There's another reason Father probably wants you to attend."
Kel looked toward her silently.
She exhaled softly.
"People are talking."
Snow drifted slowly between them.
"About you."
Kel almost smiled faintly hearing that.
"After last night?"
Aria nodded.
"The knights already spread rumors across the estate."
Another pause.
"And once nobles hear even fragments…"
She quietly looked toward him afterward.
"…they'll become curious."
Kel understood perfectly.
The floating elemental weapons alone would create massive political interest.
Especially after Sovereign's Orbit Sword Arts already began spreading across the Empire.
Meanwhile—
Aria suddenly narrowed her eyes slightly.
"You don't seem worried."
Kel calmly replied:
"Worry changes nothing."
"Still…"
She hesitated briefly.
"You revealed too much yesterday."
Kel looked upward toward the snowy night sky.
Silver moonlight reflected softly across his crimson eyes afterward.
Then quietly—
He answered:
"Not really."
Aria frowned slightly.
"Six elemental floating weapons isn't revealing too much?"
Kel's expression remained calm.
"That wasn't everything."
Silence.
Aria stared at him blankly afterward.
Then slowly—
A cold shiver ran down her spine.
Because the way he said it sounded completely natural.
As though what they witnessed yesterday truly represented only a portion of his abilities.
Meanwhile—
Inside his mind—
Sairen laughed softly.
"You're scaring her again."
Kel internally replied:
"She asked."
The spirit sounded deeply amused.
"You answer questions in the most terrifying ways possible."
Kel ignored her.
Again.
They continued walking through snowfall afterward.
Aria quietly ate the remaining pastry while thinking deeply about yesterday's battle.
And strangely—
The more she thought about it—
The more unreal Kel seemed.
At times he felt frighteningly mature.
Cold.
Ancient almost.
Then moments later—
He casually baked pastries and wandered through gardens eating chocolate like a carefree traveler.
The contradictions themselves made him impossible to understand fully.
Meanwhile—
Far ahead—
The massive Rosenfeld Estate glowed warmly beneath northern snowfall.
Ancient towers rose toward the moonlit sky while dragon banners moved slowly within cold mountain winds.
And quietly—
A new phase of Kel's return began approaching.
The battlefield of nobles.
Of politics.
Of hidden intentions smiling beneath elegant masks.
Meanwhile—
Beside him—
Aria softly asked one final question.
"What are you planning to wear tomorrow?"
Kel answered immediately.
"Something comfortable."
Aria stared toward him silently.
Then sighed deeply.
"…You really are hopeless."
Kel calmly took another pastry from the paper bag afterward.
"I survived dragon realms."
A casual bite followed.
"I can survive noble parties too."
Inside his mind—
Sairen laughed uncontrollably while snow continued falling endlessly across the northern night