The Crest of Ruin

"After Duke Kael Velentis settled down"

The hall again buzzed with clinking glasses, polite laughter, and muted gossip. The moment Lucien Velentis stepped into the center, the shift in attention was almost physical.

He didn't speak, didn't smile—he merely stood there, towering in black formal robes stitched with subtle arcane threads. His violet eyes swept over the crowd once, and that was enough.

As the music picked up and the banquet came to life, Lucien found himself surrounded—some drawn by curiosity, others by political instinct. The moment you show them progress, the rats crawl in, don't they?

He stood near a lavishly decorated pillar, glass in hand, scanning the hall with practiced calm.

"Young master Lucien."A voice, crisp and neutral.

It was Viscount Rehnar, head of one of the mid-tier vassal houses. He extended his hand stiffly."You represented House Velentis well today. My son could barely keep up watching your last spell."

Lucien met the man's eyes."Maybe he should've trained harder."

Rehnar blinked, lips twitching."...Haha. True. True."

One after another, nobles approached with their veiled praise. Lucien let them speak, offered the bare minimum of responses. A tilt of the head, a raised brow. Cold detachment, but not arrogance—he knew the game. And he played it better now.

Then—

"That's enough politics for one evening."

Lucien turned—and there he was.

Derius Velentis, his uncle, stood tall beside him. No ceremonial robe, no unnecessary flair—just a dark tunic over his lean frame, the faint scent of smoke still clinging to him.

Lucien gave a small nod."Uncle."

Derius glanced at the nobles hovering nearby."Scatter."

No one argued. The air changed.

When they were alone, Derius offered him a glass."Don't let it go to your head."

Lucien raised an eyebrow."The wine or the praise?"

Derius smirked."Both."He paused."You've gotten sharper. 

Lucien looked away for a moment."Haha...of course I have to."

Derius nodded, a shadow crossing his face."Good. You remind me of Kael when he still gave a damn about winning instead of carrying the entire Empire's weight."

Lucien sipped the wine."You didn't come all the way back from the borderlands just to stroke my ego."

Derius's tone dropped, more serious."No. I came back because Kael asked me to... and because I saw what you could become or you can say your potential...haha."He looked him dead in the eyes."You're not your father and you're not me, you can reach greater heights than us. But don't get comfortable in the process even you are genius there are many everywhere.Don't be late for training I think it's time to start breaking you from tomorrow onwards."

He gave Lucian a satisfied smile

Lucien gave a soft, humorless chuckle."I look forward to it."

The two clinked their glasses once—silent understanding between them.

Many nobel women took notice to him and started coming to him as Derius moved somewhere else

The first girl moved in.

She approached with practiced grace, dress trailing behind her like smoke. She gave a perfect noblewoman's bow.

"Lady Freina of House Callen. Congratulations on your victory, Lord Lucien. Your magic was… awe-inspiring."

Lucien's eyes barely flicked toward her. "Thanks."

Before the silence could grow too long, another stepped in, almost bumping Freina aside with her presence.

"Lady Mirelle of House Denarth," she introduced quickly. "It's said the next Duchess Velentis must match the heir in both power and pedigree. My father believes our families would—"

"No," Lucien said flatly.

Mirelle's expression cracked. She blinked, confused, as he turned his head to the side, already done with the conversation

Two more followed next, almost in sync.

"Lady Valis of—""Lady Ennya of—"

He didn't even look at them. Just a short nod, barely visible.

Then another.

"Lady Sariel from House Beren. May I say, Lord Lucien, I've admired you even before the Assembly—"

"Mm." That's all he gave her.

A few others tried, weaving their introductions with practiced elegance:

"Lady Lira of—""Lady Yselle of—""Lady Renira of—"

Each name floated in, but the replies stayed the same.

"Alright.""Good.""No.""Not interested.""Move."

Even without words, the message was clear:

"This isn't a damn marriage market."

One Noble women tried to fake a stumble in front of him. She let out a tiny gasp, brushing his arm for 'balance.'

Lucien sidestepped like she was a fallen chair."Watch your step."

She flushed scarlet.

A servant passed by offering wine. Lucien took a glass, not because he needed it—but because it gave him something to hold instead of punching air out of frustration.

No warmth, no emotion. Just a wall of etiquette wrapped in quiet disdain.

Behind the curtains, a few noblewomen whispered.

"He didn't even look at her.""Gods, that stare…""No wonder they call him the Young duke of Ice already."

And watching from across the room, a shadow stirred.

Ceyla Drell, with black hair pulled into a lazy braid and a half-eaten tart in her hand, squinted murderously at the scene.

Her lips twitched.

"These little roaches. Crawling all over my handsome Lucien. Hmph."

She bit into the tart like she was biting into someone's skull.

Gliding toward him like she was the goddess of the evening—and Lucien was her sacrifice.

Dressed in a dramatic deep-grey gown with silver trimmings, her long black hair braided and pinned in elegant coils, Ceyla looked like someone who'd murdered three tailors just to get the perfect dress just in order to show Lucien her elegant beauty.

Her eyes locked onto Lucien.

"Ah… there you are, My Lord."

Lucien instinctively took a half step back. Aria blinked up at him in confusion.

Ceyla stopped a little too close. Her voice was syrupy, exaggerated. "Your presence lit up the arena earlier… and now, the banquet too? How am I supposed to breathe when you shine so bright....My lord?"

Lucien stared at her flatly.

"I really sometimes wanna kill her fpr spouting nonsense in every way...haah"

He cleared his throat. "You may want to sit. Hallucinations are the first sign of mana fatigue."

Ceyla's expression didn't falter. "Even your jokes are divine...My lord ."

Lucien turned to Aria.

"Come. The food looks decent."

Aria stuck out her tongue at Ceyla before slipping her hand into Lucien's and walking with him to the center of the hall.

Ceyla just stood there, cheeks pink, completely unaware she was being ignored.

tch...Someone save me or save her from herself

After removing the pest....Lucian started seeing the surroundings. He saw Lysandra Merren, she was wearing a long blue gown with a purple diamond, which is quite rare, the dress just looked so elegant and beautiful on her. Yet she was uninterested in the surrounding and was doing it just for formality. It was like she just wanna go somewhere and complete her sleep.

He also saw Talven Rourke, dressed in red garments matching to his hairs he was looking confidently handsome as he was talking to various people, talking about his strength, magic and stuff.

Across the hall, Kallis Derroth, stood quietly near the refreshment table, dressed in deep forest-green robes with gold trim. His normally calm expression was cracked with visible tension. His light brown hair was styled neatly for once, and his green eyes were nervously flickering toward Aria.

His friend, Roan Thayel—nudged him with his elbow and whispered,"Oi, are you staring again? You've been drinking grape juice like it's wine just to hide your nerves."

Kallis turned red. "Shut up."

"You gonna ask her to dance or keep crushing silently like an idiot struck by love?"

"She's the Duke's daughter," Kallis muttered. "And younger than me...I mean you know ."

Roan smirked. "So? It's just a dance. Not a marriage proposal, dumbass. Go before I drag you."

Kallis looked back at Aria. She was eating a small strawberry cake with perfect joy, eyes twinkling. For a moment, the clamor of the hall faded.

"She's… radiant," Kallis muttered.

Roan rolled his eyes. "Oh spirits. Just go already, lovestruck idiot."

Kallis swallowed, adjusted his robe, and made his way toward Aria, each step like walking toward his own execution.

Lucien sensed something and turned slightly. ...The hell is this fool doing?

Kael also took notice, sipping his wine slowly. Their eyes met across the room—father and son and no words spoken.

Only one expression.

A silent protective code between them."If he breathes wrong near Aria—eliminate him."

Lucien nodded once, slowly.

Kallis stopped in front of Aria and gave a deep, nervous bow. "L-Lady Aria… may I have this dance?"

Lucien stepped forward instinctively, but Aria caught his arm with a smile. "Brother, it's alright. He's just asking nicely for a dance."

Lucien frowned, narrowed his eyes at Kallis, and said with dangerous softness, "Is that so? I was going to ask first."

Aria giggled. "You didn't. So now you have to wait."

Kallis looked like he was about to faint.

Lucien turned to him, resting a hand lightly on his shoulder. "Try not to step on her dress, or even touch her or even breathe near her Derroth.Hmph."

Kallis swallowed. "Y-Yes, Young Master."

As music began, Aria extended her hand and the two moved onto the floor. The court musicians played a flowing waltz as they spun gracefully. Kallis wasn't the most confident dancer—but Aria's light steps guided him, and soon they matched rhythm.

From the sidelines, Roan whistled. "Look at you, you damned miracle."

Lucien, standing beside Kael, was watching with folded arms."He better stay away from her from now on" he muttered.

Kael chuckled under his breath. "My precious daughter..shall I kill him..??"

After the dance followed by Lucian and Aria danced for quite a while. Then Kael Velentis step forward and announced

"Tonight, we celebrate the four victors of the Selection Trial."A round of polite applause followed.

"These four—Lucien Velentis, Ceyla Drell, Talven Rourke, and Lysandra Merren—will represent our Duchy in the Imperial Talent Assembly."

More applause was heard in the whole room and cheering for them 

"As reward, each finalist may choose either an artifact or martial art from the Ducal Treasury. Lucien, as victor, will be granted access to both they can visit the treasury tomorrow evening and all the contenders should know they are not representing themselves they are representing the duchy and the name Velentis, and act accordingly. All four will attend training together from tomorrow onwards and learn and enhance their strength and weakness as a teacher is already assigned to each one of you who is suitable for you."

Gasps and whispers followed that statement.

Kael raised a hand, silencing the crowd.

"Let tonight be a feast in your honor. May House Velentis rise ever higher. Let none forget the strength of our name."

The nobles bowed."Glory to House Velentis