The night before New Year’s Eve.
Many people had come out to the streets to enjoy the festival in full swing.
On the terrace overlooking the festival grounds stood a man.
His face was scrunched up, fidgeting uncomfortably with his tie.
He glanced down with a distant expression at the bustling street.
“…I envy them.”
He too wanted to be among the revelers, but sighed deeply and turned around.
Though this wasn’t a place he particularly wanted to be, he had to attend for the sake of his house.
With a false smile back on his face, he returned inside the building.
The soft sounds of the orchestra, which was undoubtedly the most talented group in the capital, only made him feel more uneasy.
Just as he was losing energy, a clear voice called out to him.
“Big Brother!”
He turned his head at the cheerful voice.
“Lucy! When did you arrive?”
A cheerful red-haired girl approached with a bright smile.
“Just now. Long time no see, Luke Big Brother.”
Luke, who otherwise maintained a formal tone at the academy, relaxed and became the ordinary older brother in front of his younger sister.
“Long time no see. Are you doing well? How’s Father?”
“Father has gone to meet His Majesty and should return soon.”
Lucy greeted Luke cheerfully before lowering her voice to whisper.
“That suit really suits you.”
“Ugh, it’s uncomfortable enough without you teasing me.”
Though usually formal as an academy student, Luke returned to being an ordinary older brother in front of his sister, especially Lucy.
“Puah, well Big Brother does suit the training grounds more than these formal events.”
Luke nodded in agreement.
The party wasn’t something he intended to enjoy in the first place.
New Year’s was worth celebrating, but as nobles, they couldn’t mingle with commoners like this. So, they gathered among themselves to celebrate.
Luke knew this well.
Just because one gained power early didn’t mean one deserves favor or disdain.
If one was favored, they should also know how to give.
The proper noble spirit taught to him since he was young by Blayze Viscount, the incumbent head, made him uncomfortable in this setting.
Had this not been an exceptional party attended by the Emperor, Luke would have found a way to excuse himself.
Though honestly, he’d rather leave right now,
“Still, thank you for enduring it, Big Brother.”
“For something like this…”
Though Luke was convinced by his younger sister’s words, he agreed to stay in her request.
At least now he had someone to converse with, and it wouldn’t be as boring.
“Ah, Big Brother, look over there.”
“Hmm?”
Following Lucy’s finger, he saw someone.
Bright silvery hair and a dark blue dress that suited her well.
A single blue rose that caught all the male nobles’ gazes.
“…Ilina Frost.”
“She was absent last time, but she’s here this time. What a whimsical personality.”
Beside Ilina stood a middle-aged man with similar silvery hair, his cold atmosphere enough to make one feel a chill at a mere glance.
It was the Frost Duke.
At this moment, someone walked towards the Frost Duke from the opposite side.
A man with flaming red hair contrasting against the silver-haired Frost family.
It was Blayze Viscount, father of the twins.
As if lost in thought, Blayze Viscount glanced up to meet the Frost Duke’s gaze.
Upon eye contact, the two nobles immediately frowned.
As Blayze Viscount quickened his pace to pass the Frost Duke,
“Your son is also attending the academy, no?”
The Frost Duke spoke first.
“Coincidentally, our Ilina is also attending. As classmates, don’t you think they should know each other?”
Blayze Viscount’s face slightly distorted.
Their daughter and son, Ilina and Luke, ranked first and second respectively.
It was impossible not to know each other, yet he was asking this…
“The meaning of being ranked first is that someone ranked second means nothing.”
The Frost Duke was wearing a faint smile that was quite an emotional expression for someone nicknamed the icy-blooded Duke.
Just as Blayze Viscount was about to respond,
“Father?”
Luke and Lucy approached.
Seeing them, Blayze Viscount approached his son and daughter, suppressing what he was about to say.
“It’s been a while, Luke.”
“Are you alright?”
“Of course, who do you think I am?”
The father and son exchanged a grin.
At this moment, someone approached them.
“Are you Luke Blayze?”
It was the Frost Duke, extending his hand.
Clearly a handshake request, Luke hesitated for a moment whether to accept it.
Beside him stood Blayze Viscount.
What would be his reaction if he received it…
But at that moment, Luke noticed something.
Ilina, standing behind the Frost Duke’s shoulder, was looking at him.
Their eyes met and Ilina gave a sign by rolling her eyes.
However, Luke
“…Is there something in my eye?”
completely failed to understand.
Finally giving up, Ilina mouthed a few words.
“Shake…shake hands. It meant for you to shake hands.”
After some hesitation, Luke extended his hand to clasp the Duke’s.
“I am Luke Blayze.”
“Yes, my daughter is indebted to you, isn’t she?”
“Rather, I am the one learning a lot from her.”
In response to Luke’s respectful posture, the Frost Duke smiled contentedly according to his standards.
“Yes, that’s the way. One must also have the ability to learn from those better than oneself.”
The Frost Duke glanced at the nearby Blayze Viscount, whose face turned red with anger.
Satisfied, the Duke was about to release the handshake when Luke wasn’t ready to let it end.
“But it will change soon.”
“…What?”
“There is no ice that will not melt before fire.”
At Luke’s words, the Duke’s eyebrows twitched.
“No ice that will not melt before fire…”
The Duke let go of Luke’s hand as if shaking it off and glared icily at him.
“Ice that freezes even flames. That’s our Frost family.”
Turning to Blayze Viscount, the Duke said with the same cold tone.
“Congratulations on having a fine son.”
With that, the Duke turned away.
Ilina, who was following the Duke, briefly turned her head to look at Luke.
She whispered silently with her lips.
“Sorry.”
Luke silently watched Ilina’s retreating back.
“Luke, that attitude just now-”
Blayze Viscount’s words were cut off by Lucy.
“Deserves punishment. No matter how angry one is, it’s not right to show such attitude to a Duke-”
“Very well done.”
“Father!”
“Ho ho, ho. There is no ice that stays forever in front of fire.”
Nodding, the Viscount grabbed Luke’s shoulders with both hands.
“Get stronger, Luke. Crush that arrogant nose that will surely fall.”
Recalling Ilina’s magic, Luke felt a sense of difficulty,
“Yes, Father.”
but there was no way he could agree outright.
‘Someday, definitely.’
Luke firmly pledged.
As the party heated up, Luke once again came out to the terrace.
Luke, holding a non-alcoholic cocktail in one hand, sighed deeply.
‘I miss beer.’
Luke wished the party would end quickly.
Then he could immediately go out to the streets and celebrate with others.
While sipping the cocktail pitifully, someone approached.
“Oh, isn’t that Luke?”
“You’re right, but who… Oh, Lord Lucas.”
Blonde hair, tanned skin, somewhat relaxed posture.
He was Lucas, the eldest son of the Goldsun Viscount.
“It’s been a while, how’ve you been?”
Despite his informal tone, something in Luke felt uneasy.
Still, the other party was the eldest son of a viscount, a noble of higher rank.
“I’ve heard that you owe my younger brother.”
At the mention of Louis Goldsun,
Luke’s eyebrows automatically furrowed.
Seeing Luke’s reaction, Lucas grinned wryly.
“That’s really sorry of me. I didn’t know my younger brother was such a greedy person.”
Approaching Luke and leaning against the terrace railing, Lucas continued.
“I wish I had a neat younger brother like you. How is Lucy doing? Is she well?”
“She’s doing well.”
“She’s doing well, I see. She’s as sharp as her appearance.”
After sipping the cocktail briefly, Lucas leaned towards Luke.
“Anyway, I’ve heard that my younger brother owes a student greatly.”
“Ah student?”
“You don’t know? I heard he’s a commoner.”
It was at this moment that Luke realized who the person in question was.
“It’s Arthur he’s talking about.”
As if reading it from Luke’s expression, Lucas sneered and said,
“You seem to know. Can you introduce me to him? My younger brother wants to apologize for what he’s done, you see.”
“Preposterous.”
Luke immediately realized his words were false.
Even if Luke was dense and naive about worldly matters, he remembered Lucy complaining about Lucas.
If those stories were true, the person in front of him was definitely not meeting Arthur for good reasons.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know much about that friend.”
Due to being indebted in a practical test, Luke considered Arthur a friend.
Luke decided to protect his friend.
“Hmm… That’s quite disappointing. I thought I’d get a glimpse of his face.”
Lucas sipped his cocktail again and said casually,
“Do you know why the Emperor personally attended this party this time?”
That was something Luke was curious about too.
The Emperor, who hadn’t attended personally until last year, suddenly revealed his intention to attend this year.
Because of that, Luke was also forced to attend.
“Why is that?”
“It’s a story I heard… but…”
Lucas lowered his voice and whispered to Luke.
“You know the academy’s incoming freshman, the Second Princess, right?”
“Yes.”
The fact that the Second Princess of the Magic Empire would enter the academy was already a famous story known to all students. It didn’t seem like something worth whispering about…
“There’s another famous person coming.”
“Is there someone as impressive as the Princess?”
Lucas shook his head at Luke’s question.
“Perhaps even more so.”
He lowered his voice even further.
“There’s a rumor that one of this year’s freshmen will be a candidate for the Holy Maiden.”
Luke felt as if the cocktail he drank was coming back up.
“A, A Holy Maiden?!”
“Shh! Lower your voice. It’s still a rumor, but it seems there’s some commotion happening in the Holy Country. It’s quite likely to be true.”
The Holy Maiden coming to the Royal Academy of the Magic Empire…
Isn’t it like willingly entering the tiger’s den?
“Anyway! That’s the rumor~”
“Thank you for the valuable information.”
“If you appreciate it, introduce me to that friend of yours.”
“…I apologize.”
“Hey, come on.”
Lucas leaned against the railing and looked down at the crowd below.
“Wow, there’s quite a commotion.”
“They’ve all come out to enjoy the festival.”
“Tsk, how enjoyable can such a disorderly, informal mess be.”
‘And this comes from someone who’s talking about formality.’
Luke was flabbergasted but kept it in while replying,
“Still, it’s nice to see everyone enjoying themselves, isn’t it?”
“That’s… well…”
As Lucas was observing the festival, his eyes stopped at one spot.
“…Oh ho.”
“What are you looking at?”
Lucas replied with a smirk.
“There’s a gem shining amidst the trash.”
“Gem?”
“Such an alluring gem. Compared to it, its owner is too pitiable. It’s exactly like the proverb ‘pearls around a pig’s neck.'”
Luke couldn’t understand at all what he was talking about.
But as he looked at the eyes speaking those words, he felt a chill run down his spine.
A sticky greed stuck there made the eyes dirty.
And at the end of that gaze was a pair of figures.
A woman with pure white skin contrasting with black hair and a dress, with radiant crimson lips, and a gray-haired man who paled in comparison to her.
Lucas licked his lips and muttered.
“I want it.”
“To the point of taking it by force.”
“Isn’t it fascinating?”
“Isn’t it fascinating?”
