The Asheville Mansion glowed warmly beneath the moonlit night.
Silver mana lanterns illuminated the enormous corridors softly while elegant shadows stretched across polished marble floors and dark wooden walls decorated with ancient Asheville sword crests. The atmosphere inside the manor remained calm and disciplined beneath the quiet movements of servants and stationed guards.
Yet beneath that calmness—
Tension lingered heavily tonight.
Kel walked silently through the mansion corridors.
His footsteps barely produced sound while cold moonlight occasionally followed him through tall crystal windows lining portions of the hallway. The distant voices coming from the central reception hall gradually became clearer as he approached.
One belonged to Reina.
Cold.
Calm.
Restrained.
The other—
Slightly nervous.
Trying too hard.
Male.
Probably the viscount's son.
Inside his mind—
Sairen immediately sounded amused.
"So the persistent little noble really returned again."
Kel quietly continued walking.
"…Apparently."
"You sound irritated."
"I'm observing."
"Dangerously observing."
Kel ignored her completely.
Meanwhile—
Inside the central reception hall—
The atmosphere felt awkward.
The room itself carried elegant western-central nobility aesthetics. Silver chandeliers illuminated the enormous chamber warmly while black polished floors reflected portions of the soft golden light beautifully. Long crimson curtains rested beside towering windows while expensive paintings and ancient sword relics decorated the walls.
At the center—
Reina sat calmly upon the matriarch seat.
Tall.
Elegant.
Cold.
Her silver hair flowed smoothly over one shoulder beneath the chamber lights while dark noble attire lined with silver embroidery perfectly emphasized her sharp composed beauty. A black sword rested beside her chair while silver eyes calmly observed the guests before her.
Yet despite appearing calm—
She was exhausted internally.
Because the viscount's son had been talking endlessly for nearly an hour.
"…Lady Reina, surely you understand my sincerity by now."
The young noble sitting several seats away tried smiling confidently again.
Unfortunately—
The distance between him and Reina remained strangely large.
Not because he wanted it.
Actually—
He desperately wanted to sit beside her.
But he physically couldn't.
Every single time he approached too closely—
Something blocked him.
An invisible pressure.
A barrier.
A warning.
The first time it happened—
He thought he imagined it.
The second time—
He realized something was wrong.
And the third time…
He nearly screamed.
Because while pretending drunken confidence several weeks ago, he attempted forcing himself close enough to kiss Reina suddenly.
The moment he crossed into her personal space—
CRACK—
An enormous electric shock exploded through his entire body.
He flew backward instantly.
Half unconscious.
Meanwhile Reina nearly killed him afterward.
Only the viscount personally begging for mercy prevented disaster.
Since then—
The young noble no longer dared touching her.
Even now—
Whenever he unconsciously leaned closer—
That strange invisible pressure immediately pushed him back slightly.
As though something ancient silently warned:
"Do not touch her."
Inside his mind—
Fear still lingered from that incident.
Meanwhile—
Viscount Rowan himself sat nearby looking deeply tired.
The older noble wore expensive dark blue noble robes while maintaining polite posture carefully before Reina.
Honestly—
He came personally tonight for one reason only.
To stop his idiot son from embarrassing their family further.
"…Lady Reina."
The viscount carefully spoke afterward.
"My son truly admires you sincerely."
Reina remained expressionless.
The viscount internally wanted to die.
Because even he understood this entire situation felt hopeless.
His son however—
Still looked stubborn.
"I can become worthy of you eventually."
Reina's silver eyes slowly lifted toward him.
And instantly—
The young noble stiffened slightly.
Because her gaze carried absolutely no romantic warmth whatsoever.
Only cold restraint.
Before she could respond—
The hall doors quietly opened.
Everyone instinctively turned.
And there—
Kel entered calmly.
The moment Reina saw him—
Time itself almost seemed to pause briefly.
Her body remained perfectly still.
Composed.
Controlled.
But her eyes changed immediately.
The coldness disappeared.
Replaced instead by something softer.
Warmer.
Relief.
For one dangerous moment—
She almost stood up instinctively.
Almost ran toward him.
Almost embraced him directly.
Months.
He had disappeared for months.
And now—
He suddenly stood there beneath the chamber lights again.
Yet Reina controlled herself perfectly.
Because guests remained present.
Meanwhile—
The viscount and his son immediately turned fully toward Kel.
And the atmosphere subtly shifted.
Because they recognized him instantly.
Herald.
The terrifying advisor constantly standing beside Reina ever since her rise to matriarch authority.
The man noble society quietly feared.
The same man rumored to have personally destroyed House Asheville's former leadership without shedding visible blood.
The same man who recently returned from the Dragon Realm alongside dragons.
Kel calmly observed the room afterward.
Then faintly smiled.
"I think…"
His voice echoed softly through the chamber.
"…I arrived at the wrong time."
The viscount immediately straightened slightly.
Even his son visibly became nervous.
Meanwhile—
Reina finally spoke.
And unlike before—
Her voice carried warmth now.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
"Mister Herald."
Kel slowly looked toward her.
Reina's silver eyes quietly remained fixed on him for several moments before she calmly continued:
"The work I entrusted to you…"
A slight pause.
"…has it been completed?"
Kel understood instantly.
Not the words.
The meaning beneath them.
Reina wanted confirmation.
You returned safely?
You're truly here?
Kel softly smiled afterward.
"Yes."
His dark eyes calmly met hers.
"It's finished."
For the first time tonight—
A faint softness appeared within Reina's expression.
Almost invisible.
Yet undeniably there.
"…Thank you."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"You may return to your position."
Kel nodded quietly afterward.
Then calmly walked behind Reina's seat.
Exactly where he usually stood before leaving toward the Southern Territories.
The familiar position strangely made the atmosphere feel normal again instantly.
Inside Reina's chest—
The tension she carried for months finally loosened slightly.
Meanwhile—
Kel quietly observed the room afterward.
His dark eyes calmly swept across every individual present.
First—
Viscount Rowan.
Nervous.
Careful.
No harmful intentions currently.
Then—
The son.
Emotionally obsessed.
Persistent.
Annoying.
Not malicious enough for immediate concern.
Yet still irritating.
Then—
The knights.
Kel's perception expanded silently throughout the room.
Four knights stood behind the viscount.
Professional.
Moderately trained.
One carried hidden poison needles.
Another favored concealed short blades.
Kel memorized everything instantly.
Meanwhile—
He also quietly located Reina's Twin Swords.
Both female knights remained hidden naturally within the hall.
One concealed above the eastern balcony shadows.
The other hidden behind layered decorative wall structures near the rear corridor.
Perfect positioning.
Perfect reaction distance.
Kel internally approved slightly.
At least their awareness hadn't deteriorated while he was gone.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly whispered:
"You really watch over her carefully."
Kel remained expressionless.
"She has enemies."
"You scanned the viscount's heartbeat three times."
"Routine analysis."
"And the son?"
Kel's eyes briefly shifted toward the young noble.
"…Potential problem."
Sairen immediately laughed softly.
"That sounds suspiciously possessive."
Kel ignored her completely.
Meanwhile—
The viscount awkwardly cleared his throat afterward.
"Lord Herald…"
Kel slowly looked toward him.
The older noble visibly became slightly uncomfortable beneath that calm gaze.
Because honestly—
Herald's presence felt oppressive in strange ways.
Not openly hostile.
Just…
Dangerously composed.
The viscount carefully continued:
"I heard of your return recently."
Kel nodded once.
"Recently."
The viscount smiled awkwardly.
"…And your achievements in the south."
Another pause.
"The Dragon Realm situation especially."
Even now—
Most nobles still struggled understanding how Herald somehow entered dragon politics successfully.
Kel remained calm.
Meanwhile—
The viscount's son quietly observed Kel from across the room.
And strangely—
Something about him felt deeply uncomfortable.
Not because of appearance.
But because of Reina.
The moment Herald entered—
Everything about her changed slightly.
Her eyes.
Her posture.
Even the atmosphere around her softened unconsciously.
The young noble suddenly realized something painful.
Lady Reina never looked at him that way.
Not even once.
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly stood behind Reina afterward like a shadow naturally belonging there.
And somehow—
That sight alone already answered more questions than words ever could.