Night had fully descended across the northern territories.
Snow continued falling gently beneath dark skies while endless lantern lights illuminated the massive roads leading toward House Velcrest's domain.
The noble gathering had already begun.
Dozens of enchanted carriages moved steadily across the wide stone main road cutting through the frozen city outskirts.
Every carriage carried noble emblems.
Silver wolves.
Golden crowns.
Twin hawks.
Black towers.
Ancient northern banners fluttered beneath the cold winter winds while armored knights escorted their respective households carefully.
The atmosphere itself radiated nobility.
Wealth.
Authority.
And hidden competition.
Inside the Rosenfeld carriage—
Kel quietly observed everything through the frosted window.
His crimson eyes reflected moving lantern lights calmly while Aria sat opposite him adjusting the fur lining near her sleeves.
Then—
As their carriage entered the primary noble route—
Something interesting happened.
One by one—
Other noble carriages began moving aside.
Not hurriedly.
Not fearfully.
But deliberately.
Respectfully.
Each household carriage shifted slightly toward the edges of the road allowing the Rosenfeld carriage uninterrupted passage forward.
Even larger marquess families did not attempt overtaking.
No one cut ahead.
No one obstructed the path.
Because at the end of the day—
This was House Rosenfeld.
The ruling ducal bloodline of the North.
And no sane noble wanted to appear disrespectful publicly.
Outside—
Mounted knights from lesser houses lowered their gazes slightly as the black dragon-emblazoned carriage passed by.
Some younger heirs secretly peeked toward it curiously.
Others whispered among themselves.
Inside the carriage—
Aria quietly watched all this happen.
Then softly exhaled.
"…They're all giving way."
Kel leaned lazily against the seat afterward.
"Of course."
A faint smirk appeared near his lips.
"Being part of a duke family has its own perks."
Aria looked toward him afterward.
"You say that like you're not part of the family yourself."
Kel calmly replied:
"I disappeared for two years."
Inside his mind—
Sairen laughed softly.
"And now you returned causing chaos immediately."
Kel internally answered:
"I didn't do anything."
The spirit immediately replied:
"You absolutely did."
Outside—
The massive Velcrest Estate gradually became visible ahead.
The mansion looked less like a residence and more like a royal palace built amidst snow-covered hills.
Gigantic silver-white walls surrounded the property while countless lanterns illuminated the grounds warmly beneath drifting snowfall.
Ice sculptures decorated the entrance roads.
Noble servants moved endlessly between guests.
Music drifted faintly through cold night air.
And hundreds of carriages already crowded the estate entrance.
The Rosenfeld carriage finally slowed.
Then stopped.
One knight immediately stepped down from beside the driver and opened the carriage door respectfully.
Cold winter air entered instantly.
Kel stepped out first.
The moment his boots touched snow-covered stone—
Nearby conversations quieted slightly.
Several noble guests instinctively turned toward him.
Because honestly—
The image before them naturally drew attention.
Tall figure.
Dark noble attire.
Black cloak fluttering behind him beneath northern winds.
Sharp crimson eyes calm beneath silver lantern light.
Kel carried himself with effortless authority without even trying.
Not arrogance.
Presence.
Then—
He turned slightly afterward and extended one hand toward the carriage interior.
Aria placed her hand against his calmly.
Kel helped her step down carefully because of the gown.
The silver-blue dress reflected lantern light beautifully while her dark silver hair moved softly beneath the snowfall.
Standing beside Kel—
The pair naturally looked striking.
Several nearby nobles quietly observed them already.
Some recognized Aria immediately.
Others focused entirely on Kel.
Especially after recent rumors surrounding House Rosenfeld's returned heir began spreading.
Meanwhile—
The knight carefully closed the carriage door afterward.
Kel glanced toward the escort formation briefly.
Then calmly signaled toward the leading knight.
The armored knight immediately approached and bowed.
"My lord."
Kel reached inside his coat afterward and handed him a small pouch of coins.
"Take everyone."
The leading knight blinked slightly.
Kel continued calmly:
"Find somewhere warm inside the city."
Another pause.
"Buy proper food for the entire escort team. Including yourself."
The knight visibly looked surprised.
Because honestly—
Most nobles rarely cared whether escort knights rested comfortably or not.
Yet Kel spoke naturally.
Practically.
Then calmly added:
"Don't stand outside freezing for hours."
The leading knight immediately bowed deeper.
"Yes, young master."
Kel waved one hand dismissively afterward.
"Go."
The escort knights quickly departed afterward toward the city streets beyond the estate.
Aria quietly watched the entire exchange.
Then softly asked:
"You always treat knights like that?"
Kel calmly adjusted one glove.
"They're still people."
Inside his mind—
Sairen quietly smiled.
"You notice details others ignore."
Kel internally answered:
"Neglected people remember kindness longer."
The spirit laughed softly.
"Again with your terrifyingly political kindness."
Kel ignored her.
Now—
Only Kel and Aria remained standing near the estate entrance beneath drifting snow.
The surrounding atmosphere buzzed with noble activity.
Servants announcing arrivals.
Knights escorting guests.
Noble ladies stepping elegantly from decorated carriages.
Young heirs displaying themselves proudly.
Everything felt alive.
Aria softly looked toward the glowing estate entrance afterward.
"Let's go."
But unexpectedly—
Kel remained standing still.
His crimson eyes calmly scanned the surroundings instead.
The arriving carriages.
The household banners.
The attendants.
The noble escorts.
Everything.
Aria blinked once.
"…Kel?"
He answered calmly without looking toward her.
"Not yet."
Aria frowned slightly.
"Why?"
Kel quietly observed another arriving carriage carrying silver hawk insignias.
Then finally replied:
"Because entering first is annoying."
The young woman stared at him blankly.
Kel continued calmly.
"The entrance crowd is still loud."
A noblewoman nearby laughed excessively while several young heirs loudly greeted each other.
Kel glanced toward them briefly.
"…See?"
Aria almost sighed.
"You dislike crowds that much?"
Kel answered immediately.
"Yes."
Inside his mind—
Sairen sounded deeply amused.
"You survived dragon kings…"
A pause followed.
"…yet noisy nobles exhaust you."
Kel internally replied flatly.
"Dragons are simpler."
The spirit laughed uncontrollably.
Meanwhile—
Kel continued observing calmly.
"That carriage belongs to House Vermont."
Aria looked toward the direction he indicated.
A dark green banner carrying silver tree insignias fluttered softly.
Kel continued analyzing casually.
"Trade-focused."
Another carriage passed.
"House Arden."
Pause.
"Military aligned."
Another.
"House Silvaris."
Kel's eyes narrowed slightly afterward.
"They're bringing too many attendants."
Aria slowly looked toward him.
"You know all these households?"
Kel calmly replied:
"Father made me memorize northern politics before I left."
Another faint pause.
"I hated it."
Aria softly laughed hearing that.
Yet quietly—
She also realized something else.
Kel wasn't merely observing random details.
He was evaluating patterns.
Power displays.
Relationships.
Influence.
And somehow—
He did it naturally.
Without effort.
Meanwhile—
Snow drifted endlessly around them while nobles continued entering the illuminated Velcrest Estate.
The loudness gradually softened as more guests settled inside.
Music became calmer.
Entrance congestion decreased.
Then finally—
Kel quietly spoke.
"Now it's acceptable."
Aria stared toward him.
"You waited just to avoid noise?"
Kel nodded once.
"Yes."
Inside his mind—
Sairen sighed dramatically.
"You really are an old man trapped in a teenager's body."
Kel ignored her completely.
Then calmly—
He extended one hand toward Aria once more.
"Shall we?"
Lantern lights reflected softly across falling snow.
The grand estate doors stood open ahead of them.
And beneath the cold northern night—
The heir of House Rosenfeld finally stepped toward the noble battlefield waiting inside