Outside the Ancestor Training Hall, David stood quietly. The guards greeted him as usual. He had been coming here every day ever since Leo entered the hall.
Normally, those who entered the Ancestor Hall would come out within five or six days at most.
But Leo had been inside for an entire month.
What is taking him so long? David thought. A faint tension hung in the air as he waited.
Just then, the massive doors of the Ancestor Training Hall slowly began to open.
The guards and David turned their eyes toward the entrance.
From within the darkness, a single leg stepped out. Then another.
Finally, Leo fully emerged from the hall.
Silence fell.
The guards and David froze, staring at the figure before them in disbelief. Their instincts were struck by pure shock.
The man who had walked out was no longer the same Leo who had entered the Ancestor Hall a month ago. He had grown taller—far taller than before. His once weak body had transformed into a perfectly built, muscular frame.
His hair had grown long, and his eyes glowed a deep crystal-red color. Above all else, an insane and overwhelming power surged quietly from his body.
Leo looked at the stunned David and spoke calmly,
"Long time no see. Sorry, I took a bit of extra time."
David quickly hid his shock and bowed slightly.
"Welcome back, Young Master Leo."
After a moment, he asked carefully,
"Why did your training take so long? And these changes… you look like a completely different person now."
Leo glanced at him and replied casually,
"A lot happened. Anyway, let's go home."
He stretched his neck lightly, testing his newfound strength.
The soldiers nearby stared at him as if they were seeing a stranger. They had once believed Leo to be weak, thinking he was slow because of how long he stayed inside the hall. But now, shock and unease filled their eyes.
No one had ever transformed this much in just one month.
David quickly called for the carriage. Both of them entered, and it began moving toward the Rosard residence.
Inside the carriage, David couldn't hold back his curiosity.
"Young Master… what happened inside the Ancestor Hall? I can feel an extremely strong pressure from you."
Leo did not answer immediately.
In his mind, he spoke to the system.
Can others feel my pressure even when I don't release it?
Yes. When you grow powerful enough, others can sense it naturally.
Leo nodded inwardly. He realized just how much he had grown.
Out loud, he said to David,
"I discovered a hidden test left behind by the First King. No one had ever found it before."
He deliberately left out the part about meeting the First King himself.
At the same time, in the Bellamond
household…
Evelyn was preparing to leave for the Senior Academy, which would begin in two days. She stood in her room dressing when a knock came at the door.
"Enter," she said.
A maid stepped inside and bowed.
"Young Miss, all the luggage has been arranged in the carriage."
Evelyn nodded with a smile.
"What time will Father return?"
"He is on his way, Miss. He should arrive soon."
Evelyn dismissed the maid.
Her father had been outside the country due to kingdom affairs. She had informed him about the broken engagement through a letter, but she wanted to speak to him face to face.
She opened a drawer and took out a bracelet—the gift given to her by the Third Prince. As she tried to close the drawer, her movement slowed.
Her eyes caught something resting quietly in the corner.
A butterfly-shaped hair clip.
Evelyn's fingers stopped mid-air. For a moment, she simply stared at it, as if time itself had paused. The soft metal glimmered faintly under the light, untouched, exactly as it had been for years.
It was the hair clip Leo had gifted her on her ninth birthday. Back then, he had stood awkwardly in front of her, holding it out with both hands, his face red as he told her he didn't know what girls liked. She had laughed, but she had kept it—kept it like a treasure.
She had never worn it after growing older, yet she never threw it away. Never could.
Evelyn slowly picked it up. It felt lighter than she remembered, yet heavier in her chest. Her grip tightened slightly before she placed it back where it belonged.
The drawer closed.
A faint, restrained smile appeared on her lips—sad, quiet, and fleeting.
Then she turned away.
Another knock came at the door.
"Evelyn," a voice called.
She straightened herself.
"Come in."
A beautiful middle-aged woman entered. It was Margaret, the first wife of Duke Arzen.
"Are you ready, Evelyn?" Margaret asked gently.
"Yes, Miss Margaret."
Margaret sighed softly.
"Didn't I tell you? You can call me Mother. You are like my own child."
Evelyn smiled.
"I know. It's just a habit."
Evelyn's biological mother, Natasha, was the duke's second wife. Duke Arzen and Natasha had met by chance, and over time, they fell in love. After Evelyn was born, she had a younger brother who was five years younger than her. Years later, Natasha divorced Duke Arzen. The reason for their separation was known only to the two of them.
Margaret smiled warmly.
"Your father and brothers will arrive soon."
Evelyn had two older brothers—Margaret's sons.
Soon after, the house butler entered.
"My Lady, the Duke has arrived."
Margaret and Evelyn went to greet him.
In the main hall, the doors opened. Every maid and butler bowed deeply as Duke Arzen entered with his two sons.
Despite his age, Duke Arzen looked to be in his prime. His brown hair was neatly kept, without a single sign of decay, and his well-built frame showed no weakness.
His expression was calm and composed, yet his eyes carried a depth shaped by years of command and battle.
He released no aura, but each step he took was steady and confident, making it clear that his authority came from experience, not youth.
Evelyn stepped forward.
"Welcome back, Father."
The Duke stopped before her and asked in a heavy voice,
"Evelyn… are you certain about your
decision?"
Margaret asked anxiously,
"What decision? What happened?"
The Duke turned to her.
"Evelyn has broken her engagement with Leo. She informed the Rosard family—without an official announcement."
Shock spread through the hall.
Margaret's face went pale with shock—she hadn't known about the broken engagement.
The brothers exchanged a brief, surprised glance, clearly not expecting it, but their expressions were mild compared to Margaret's.
"Yes, Father," Evelyn answered firmly, meeting their eyes with quiet resolve.
Margaret asked worriedly,
"Why, Evelyn? Why did you break the engagement?"
Evelyn replied softly,
"When I go to the academy, I realized we are like two boats heading in different directions."
She paused, then said,
"I fell for someone else."
"Who?" Margaret asked.
"The Third Prince, of this kingdom, Julian."
Mike, her second older brother, scoffed.
"Good thing you broke it off with that loser. He had no power. The Third Prince is a much better match."
The Duke shot Mike a deadly glare.
Mike immediately shut his mouth.
Margaret looked saddened. She had truly liked Leo. He was always such a sweet boy, polite and thoughtful, and seeing him now, knowing the engagement was broken, left a quiet ache in her heart.
Kevin, the eldest brother, said nothing. He only stared at Evelyn quietly.
The Duke spoke again.
"This is your life. I will support your choice.
But do not regret it later."
"I won't," Evelyn replied.
At the Rosard household, Leo's carriage arrived.
As he stepped out, the soldiers who stood at the entrance froze, staring at him in disbelief. His massive transformation left them utterly shocked.
Without a word, Leo ignored their stares and walked into the house.
All the maids and staff inside turned to look. Their eyes widened in astonishment—he had become taller, stronger, and far more handsome than they had ever imagined.
Every step he took radiated a quiet, overwhelming power that left no doubt: this was no longer the same Leo who had left a month ago.
He entered the mansion and said calmly,
"David, prepare a bath for me."
David nodded and left.
Leo walked into his room and stood before the mirror. He had truly changed—his height, his body, everything. Perfect.
The maids prepared the bath. Leo immersed himself and washed away his exhaustion.
Afterward, he tried wearing his old clothes, but none of them fit.
He called David.
"Buy me new clothes. Same style, just larger."
David nodded and left.
Meanwhile, Duke Arzen sat quietly in his carriage, heading toward the Rosard family.
Evelyn had already departed for the academy
Leo… he might have been a fine match for her, Arzen thought, leaning back in his seat. But that boy carries nothing but his family name—nothing else of value.
And Duke Drake… the only man in this entire kingdom to reach the Supreme Master realm. A man who refused the throne to protect his family name, and who will not tolerate anyone insulting the Rosard household.
By breaking the engagement without an official announcement, Evelyn—and the Bellamond family—have shown blatant disrespect to the Rosard name.
Breaking the engagement in secret, after an entire month, was more than a disappointment—it was an insult.
Tension coiled tightly in Arzen's chest as he stared out the carriage window, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
Back at the Rosard household, Leo wore the new clothes David had brought. He tied his long hair back neatly.
David says,
"The Duke is calling for you. He's in his office."
Leo stood and walked toward the office.
At the same moment—Duke Arzen's carriage entered the Rosard estate.