The hall was silent.
Kael drew a deep breath, steadying himself. Whatever he said next could upset both families if he phrased it wrong—the Emperor… his mother… even Seraphina.
But he didn't care about their mood and would make it simple.
As Selara's gaze shifted toward Kael, waiting for his answer, Emperor Aldric also realized something: Kael wasn't expecting his mother to speak for him.
He intended to answer this himself.
Kael lifted his chin slightly. "So… you want to marry Princess Seraphina to me?"
Aldric nodded once. "Yes."
Kael didn't blink. "I will accept your offer—if the princess herself has no objection."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Aldric: "What?"Selara: "What?"Seraphina: "H-Huh?"
No one expected him to answer like this; they expected him to refuse. But Kael continued calmly.
"But before that… I have one question."
He looked directly at the Emperor. "What can you offer as her dowry if I take her as my bride?"
Aldric went silent, completely stunned. Selara was speechless, her breath catching.
But Seraphina's thoughts were somewhere entirely different.
Seraphina's Thoughts
He… accepted me.
The words echoed in her mind like a soft bell.
He accepted me. Me—who isn't fit for any noble house. Me—who everyone avoids. Me—who boys refuse to even look at…
Her heart fluttered painfully.
But he said he would marry her. Even if he wants something in return, he still accepted. He doesn't hate me. He's willing to stand beside me.
Her scar itched faintly, a reminder of every insult she had endured. But now…
Her face turned completely red.
None of them noticed—not the Emperor, who was too shocked; not Selara, who was panicking; not even Kael, who was bracing for political backlash.
Seraphina just sat there, clutching her hands together, overwhelmed.
Selara's POV
What? He's actually agreeing?
Selara stared at her son as her mind spun.
But… she has a scar… and everyone—
She cut off the thought before it became cruel, but the shock remained.
What can I even do now? If she rejected him publicly, they would offend the crown. And Kael—her beloved son—might resent her for disagreeing with his answer.
She had no choice but to wait for the Emperor's response.
Emperor Aldric's face remained an emotionless mask carved from stone. Is he taking revenge on me now? the thought slithered through his mind like a venomous serpent. That damned Darian… through his son, no less.
To the world, it had looked like a request—something the Emperor wanted in exchange for his niece. Darian had come to ask for the hand of a princess—his family's princess—and Aldric demanded a price. Only two of them knew the truth; even Selara did not.
An A-rank core stone from House Ravenor's treasury.
A treasure so rare that even imperial vaults had only a few. Every great noble house guarded its treasury like a dragon guards its hoard. They stored legacies there—artifacts of ancestors, rare items that appeared once in centuries, gifts from heroes whose names echoed through history. The Ravenor core stone had been one such treasure. Darian's father had secured it generations ago, a final contribution meant to protect the family's future should their descendants lack the talent to rise on their own.
Aldric's gaze sharpened, his posture straightening with the quiet authority of an emperor. "So… you demand a dowry?"
The room went still.
Kael's throat tightened. He hadn't intended for the conversation to sound like a demand, but the moment the words left Aldric's mouth, it felt like he had crossed a line he couldn't step back from. "Y-Yes," he replied, voice steadier than he expected, though there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
Aldric leaned back, studying him with a calculating curiosity that made Kael feel as if every bone in his body was being examined. Then he said, carrying the authority of the throne itself, "I will offer an A-rank core stone as my daughter's dowry."
Silence crashed over the hall.
Even the servants holding their breath seemed afraid to let a sound escape.
Aldric's gaze moved between Kael and Selara, his expression unreadable. "What do you think?"
Selara's breath caught in her throat.
An A-rank core stone… as a dowry?
That wasn't a gesture. No sane man gives away an A-rank core stone. Did he love his daughter so much that he was willing to give up something like that?
Her fingers trembled. Even Darian had never dreamed of an exchange this grand. (He did exchange an A-rank core stone for your hand, sis… but you don't know that.)
Kael, meanwhile, was speechless.
For a long moment, he only stared at Aldric, trying to read the motives behind his words.
Is he insane? My father has only one A-rank skill, and he's the duke of the empire. A damn duke. If he gives that stone to a beggar, that beggar might not become a duke, but he will become so strong that even dukes want to carry favor with him—and he will become your loyal dog if you treat him well and choose a loyal character. With just this, he could gain a weapon against his enemies.
The thought pressed on Kael's mind, but aloud, he said nothing.
Aldric rested his hands together, elbows on the armrests, his tone calm but carrying steel underneath.
"You asked what I can offer," he said. "Is this sufficient?"
Everyone's gaze shifted to Kael again.
Seraphina held her breath, fingers gripping her dress so tightly the fabric wrinkled. Her heartbeat felt loud enough to echo off the marble.
Kael finally broke the suffocating silence.
"…What do you want?"
The Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly. But Kael didn't look away. His posture held. His voice didn't waver.
He met the Emperor head-on.
Aldric: "You asked what I can offer. This is my offer."
Kael: "That is not what I meant. What do you expect from me in exchange for this?"
Aldric: "Mm. I only want you to be faithful to my daughter."
Kael paused. Is he doing this for Seraphina?
He glanced at the princess, then said softly:
"And yet, it is meaningless if the princess does not accept me."
Seraphina jolted, her head snapping up.
Aldric blinked, caught off guard. "…Seraphina?"
The princess froze like a rabbit caught in moonlight.
Her whole body stiffened. Her throat moved once. Her scarred cheek trembled as she lowered her gaze.
"I…" Her voice shook. "I… will not object."
It was barely a whisper—but in the silent hall, it was enough.
Aldric exhaled slowly, relief hidden beneath his royal composure.
Selara felt her heart both drop and lift—pulled in two directions at once.
Kael's eyes softened just slightly when he looked at Seraphina.
Not pity. Not obligation.
Just quiet acknowledgment. A silent I heard you.
Aldric tapped the armrest. "Then it is decided."
But Kael stepped forward.
"Not yet."
Aldric froze mid-breath.
Selara almost fainted.
Seraphina's heart leapt into her throat.
The Emperor's voice dropped an octave. "…Explain."
Kael's expression didn't change.
"There is one more condition."
The air snapped tight like a bowstring.
Aldric leaned forward slowly. "And what could you possibly want beyond what I have already offered?"
Kael replied immediately.
"I want a promise."
Aldric's brows tightened. "…A promise?"
Kael nodded, then answered:
"When it is time to summon heroes, I want a seat there for myself."
Aldric stared at him as if Kael had just demanded something sacred.
Aldric: "Where did you hear that the empire will summon heroes? Did Darian tell you?"
Kael: "No. After my father lost his arm, I noticed many supplies coming into our duchy—weapons, medicine, food. Mercenaries and soldiers arriving from across the empire. Anyone with common sense would know something is happening."
He continued calmly:
"Demons are growing stronger and attacking other races. Everyone knows that. So I came to the only logical conclusion: if demons and demonic beasts are becoming more aggressive, then a Demon King will appear. And if a Demon King appears, then countries will summon heroes from another world."
The Emperor fell silent.
Aldric's thoughts: Would you look at that… A nine-year-old child with once-in-a-lifetime talent and remarkable political awareness. It seems I was right to come here with the engagement proposal. He'll make a fine husband for my Seraphina. As for the 'heroes'—the nobles talked about that, yes. But to summon them, we'll need an enormous amount of magic stones. At least five more years of preparation… maybe ten if the Demon King appears late.
General POV
After hearing Kael's second request, the hall went silent once more. Everyone waited for the Emperor's answer.
No one expected what came next.
A sudden, booming laugh echoed through the chamber.
Aldric: "HAHAHAHA! A very clever boy. Is that the promise you want?"
Kael blinked, startled. He had absolutely not expected the Emperor to laugh so loudly at his question.
Kael: "Y-yes…"
Aldric: "This is very easy. Why ask for something so simple?"
From beside him, Seraphina spoke in a small, hopeful voice.
Seraphina: "Is it?"
Aldric glanced at her, amused.
Aldric: "Yes. For that ceremony, he can attend as the heir of the duchy… or as your fiancé. If you want, I can simply add an extra chair near you."
Seraphina's face turned bright red again upon hearing that.
Kael hadn't expected it to be so easy. But… he thought, the country can't secretly summon heroes and send them to the academy. There are limits even to imperial plans.
Having secured both his goal—the right to attend the summoning ceremony and the extra A-rank core stone—Kael finally turned his attention to the Emperor's earlier request.
He straightened, meeting Aldric's gaze with calm precision, ready to answer.
Kael: "I, Kael, swear this with full awareness of its weight: my loyalty will not be divided. To Seraphina, I give my word—I will not betray her, abandon her, or allow harm to reach her while I still draw breath. Whether as ally, fiancé, or future duke, my loyalty always belongs to her."
Seraphina's face flushed bright red, but this time it wasn't embarrassment—it was pure, bubbling happiness. She hid her face in her arms. Her hands trembled slightly, and a small, unsteady smile appeared on her lips.
The Emperor observed the scene, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Very well," Aldric said, his voice calm but carrying the weight of command. "I will leave Seraphina in your care until the Awakening Ceremony. I will personally attend your ceremony with the core stone. Until then… take care of my daughter."
Seraphina's eyes widened slightly, a mixture of relief and happiness shining through. Kael nodded respectfully, accepting the responsibility without hesitation.
Selara's face was full of shock. She couldn't bring herself to fully accept it, yet there was no denying the truth. Her little Kael had grown up so fast.
She thought he had been a child just yesterday—small, mischievous, dependent. And now… he stood before the Emperor, calm, confident, and capable of handling responsibilities that most adults would struggle with.
A mixture of pride and disbelief churned in her chest.