Warm golden light flooded the grand hall of House Velcrest.
Crystal chandeliers hung high above the massive ceiling while silver flames danced softly inside enchanted lanterns placed across marble pillars carved with ancient northern symbols.
Music flowed gently through the hall.
Elegant.
Refined.
Yet beneath the surface beauty—
The atmosphere carried the sharp tension unique to noble gatherings.
Every smile hid calculation.
Every greeting measured value.
Every gaze evaluated status.
And the moment Kel and Aria entered—
The entire hall subtly changed.
Conversations slowed.
Eyes shifted.
Whispers spread quietly beneath the music.
Because honestly—
The pair entering together naturally drew attention.
Kel walked calmly beside Aria with one hand resting lightly against hers.
The black cloak draped across his shoulders moved softly behind him while the silver embroidery along his noble attire reflected chandelier light like flowing frost beneath darkness.
His expression remained composed.
Neither arrogant nor humble.
Simply calm.
Dangerously calm.
Beside him—
Aria's silver-blue gown shimmered elegantly beneath golden lights while her silver-black hair framed her face beautifully.
Together—
They looked overwhelmingly fitting beside one another.
Not forced.
Natural.
As though northern nobility itself shaped them.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly laughed.
"They're staring."
Kel internally answered:
"Nobles stare at everything."
The spirit sounded amused.
"They especially stare at powerful bloodlines."
Kel ignored her.
As the pair moved deeper into the hall—
Several nobles instinctively stepped aside to create space for them.
Young noble heirs straightened posture immediately.
Older nobles quietly observed Kel with sharp eyes.
Especially after recent rumors surrounding House Rosenfeld's returned eldest heir began circulating across northern territories.
Some expected a sickly recovering noble.
Others imagined an arrogant sheltered heir.
Instead—
The person before them radiated quiet pressure without even trying.
That alone unsettled many.
Meanwhile—
Aria calmly guided Kel toward the center section of the hall where the host family received guests personally.
At the center stood the Marquess of House Velcrest.
Tall.
Broad shouldered.
Silver-haired despite middle age.
Dressed in elegant white noble attire lined with blue frost patterns.
Beside him stood his wife and the young birthday heir himself.
The boy looked around eleven years old.
Bright-eyed.
Nervous.
Trying hard to appear mature before so many nobles.
The moment the Marquess noticed Aria approaching—
His expression brightened slightly.
"Lady Aria."
He stepped forward warmly.
"You honor this house with your presence."
Aria gracefully bowed her head slightly.
"Congratulations on your son's aura awakening, Lord Velcrest."
The Marquess smiled proudly afterward.
"Thank you."
Then—
His eyes shifted toward Kel.
Immediately—
The atmosphere subtly changed again.
Because unlike Aria—
The young man beside her carried unfamiliarity.
Yet also unmistakable authority.
The Marquess carefully observed him.
Sharp crimson eyes.
Calm posture.
Black cloak bearing subtle Rosenfeld dragon patterns.
And suddenly—
Recognition struck.
His expression sharpened slightly afterward.
"…Young Master Kel?"
Aria nodded calmly.
"Yes."
Then formally—
She introduced him.
"The eldest heir of House Rosenfeld."
The surrounding nearby nobles instantly became quieter hearing that.
Several noblewomen visibly focused harder now.
Young heirs straightened instinctively.
Even older nobles subtly sharpened their attention.
Because the rumored returned heir had finally appeared publicly.
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly inclined his head respectfully.
"Lord Velcrest."
His voice remained smooth.
Controlled.
Deep enough to carry naturally despite the surrounding music.
The Marquess recovered quickly afterward and smiled.
"It is an honor finally meeting you properly, young master."
Kel replied politely.
"The honor belongs to me."
Inside his mind—
Sairen laughed quietly.
"You sound frighteningly noble."
Kel internally answered:
"That's the point."
The spirit sounded delighted.
"You adapt too easily."
Meanwhile—
The young birthday boy stared openly toward Kel now.
Especially at the black cloak and calm crimson eyes.
Children often sensed presence more honestly than adults.
And to the boy—
Kel looked like one of the heroes from northern war stories.
Then—
Kel casually reached inside his coat afterward.
Several nearby nobles blinked slightly.
But instead of pulling out a gift himself—
He calmly handed the velvet box toward Aria.
A perfectly natural action.
Because in noble gatherings—
Men rarely carried gifts directly during formal appearances.
Women usually handled presentation and ceremonial exchanges.
Aria accepted the velvet box smoothly afterward.
Then gracefully handed it toward the birthday boy.
"A gift from House Rosenfeld."
The young heir carefully accepted it with both hands.
The moment he opened the box—
Soft silver light reflected across the bracelet resting inside.
The surrounding nobles quietly admired it immediately.
Beautiful craftsmanship.
Elegant design.
Refined noble aesthetics.
At first glance—
It appeared like an expensive but expected noble gift.
Yet—
Kel calmly spoke afterward.
"Please allow me to explain its function."
The Marquess looked slightly curious.
Kel continued calmly.
"The bracelet stores aura."
The birthday boy immediately looked upward in surprise.
Several nearby nobles also sharpened their attention instantly.
Kel's tone remained composed.
"It can convert stored aura into defensive shielding during emergencies."
Silence spread gradually around nearby listeners.
Kel calmly continued.
"And if necessary…"
A faint pause followed.
"…release aura bursts offensively."
Now—
Even the Marquess looked genuinely shocked.
Because this was no longer jewelry.
It was a combat artifact.
And an incredibly advanced one at that.
The birthday boy's eyes widened completely afterward.
He looked ready to explode from excitement.
Meanwhile—
The surrounding nobles began whispering quietly.
"An enchanted artifact?"
"From House Rosenfeld?"
"For an eleven-year-old?"
"That level of craftsmanship…"
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly added one final sentence.
"It took us considerable time selecting the proper artifact."
His crimson eyes met the Marquess calmly afterward.
"Especially for a loyal house that has stood beside Rosenfeld for generations."
The sentence itself sounded polite.
Yet its meaning carried enormous weight.
Acknowledgment.
Recognition.
Reward.
Every noble nearby understood immediately.
House Rosenfeld publicly valued House Velcrest.
And publicly rewarding loyalty strengthened political influence far more effectively than threats ever could.
The Marquess himself clearly understood this too.
His expression softened afterward.
Genuine gratitude appeared briefly beneath his composed noble demeanor.
"You honor my household greatly, young master."
Kel simply answered:
"Loyalty deserves acknowledgment."
Inside his mind—
Sairen sighed dramatically.
"You manipulate hearts terrifyingly well."
Kel internally replied:
"I'm merely honest."
The spirit laughed.
"That's the scary part."
Meanwhile—
The young birthday heir carefully held the bracelet like sacred treasure now.
Excitement burned across his face completely.
"Can I use it immediately?"
Kel looked toward the boy calmly.
"Yes."
Another pause followed.
"But don't overload the aura channels recklessly."
The boy nodded instantly.
"Yes, sir!"
The surrounding nobles quietly observed everything unfolding.
And slowly—
Their opinions toward Kel shifted further.
Because unlike many young heirs—
Kel did not appear desperate for attention.
Nor arrogant.
Nor immature.
Instead—
He carried himself with composed authority frighteningly similar to Duke Aktaris himself.
And honestly—
That resemblance unsettled many older nobles deeply.
Meanwhile—
Aria quietly watched Kel from beside him.
Observing how naturally he navigated the political atmosphere.
How effortlessly he controlled conversations.
How subtly he strengthened House Rosenfeld influence without appearing forceful.
And once again—
She found herself thinking the same thing.
Kel did not feel like a fifteen-year-old noble heir.
He felt like someone already prepared for rulership.
Meanwhile—
Far across the hall—
Several noble daughters secretly continued observing Kel.
Especially after hearing he personally selected such a valuable artifact.
And beneath the warm chandelier lights of House Velcrest—
The returned heir of House Rosenfeld unknowingly became the center of northern noble attention without even trying to claim it.