Devouring Dragon Heir-Chapter 60: Ch The banquet -2

Edward’s jaw tightened, but he remained silent, unable to contradict her open challenge.

The handsome youth they had just been talking about was Arthur.

Like many who rose from humble beginnings, he was an orphan. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

But unlike most, he possessed an innate talent that allowed him to defy the rigid social structures of this world.

He had risen through the ranks of independent hunters with remarkable speed, his prowess was undeniable among those who knew about him.

His accomplishments had caught the attention of the Crimson family, who, in an unusual display of progressive thinking, had given him the unprecedented opportunity to attend this high-society banquet.

Arthur currently stood alone near the food counter, a plate of untouched delicacies in his hand.

He looked somewhat awkward, his eyes darting around the grand hall, clearly overwhelmed by the sheer opulence and the unfamiliar social customs.

It was his first time in such a high-society banquet, and he was clearly lost, a fish among the sharks.

He preferred the quiet solitude of the forest or Gates, the murmurs of the ballroom were unsettling to him.

He ran a hand through his dark hair, a silent gesture of his discomfort.

He had met Elara Crimson while hunting in the perilous depths of the dangerous forest on the outskirts of the capital.

Elara, in a fit of youthful rebellion, had run away from home, seeking an escape from the suffocating expectations of her family.

Arthur had stumbled upon her just as she was cornered by a group of cultists beyond her rank, and despite being outmatched, had saved her with his surprising combat prowess.

From that moment, a bond had formed, evolving from friendship into something deeper, a budding love interest that defied social conventions.

Lady Crimson, upon learning of Arthur’s ability had surprisingly approved their relationship for reasons unknown to him.

Elara Crimson, noticing Arthur’s discomfort from across the room, began to move towards him, her elegant gown swishing softly as she navigated through the clusters of conversing guests.

Her outer expression was one of concern mixed with affection, though what went inside hardly anyone knew.

She reached his side, her presence carried a sense of comfort for him.

"How do you feel, Arthur?" she asked, her voice soft and understanding.

She gently took his free hand in her own, her fingers lacing with his.

Arthur turned to her, a genuine smile replaced his earlier awkwardness.

He moved his eyes around the hall once more, a wry expression on his face.

"Quite dopey, I would say. This is... a lot. So many people, so many fancy clothes. I feel like I’m in a dream sequence from a very boring novel."

Elara chuckled softly at his antics. Her grip on his hand tightened reassuringly.

"You’ll get used to it" she said, though her own smile was tinged with a certain undetectable emotion.

Suddenly, the entire atmosphere of the banquet hall shifted.

The ambient chatter, which had slowly resumed after the earlier tension, died down abruptly, replaced by a sudden, palpable silence that spread from the grand entrance like a chilling wave.

All eyes, from every corner of the vast room, turned instinctively towards the source of the disturbance.

Heavy, deliberate footsteps were heard, each one echoing with undeniable authority on the polished marble floor.

A tall, short-bearded man with stark white-light brown hair walked in.

His shoulders were broad, his posture erect, and every step he took seemed to radiate an invisible wave of power.

He moved with a quiet, forceful confidence that compelled everyone present to freeze in place, their conversations halted mid-sentence.

Lord Blackwood, the patriarch of the Blackwood family and host of the banquet, who had been standing near the entry of the hall overseeing the arrivals, immediately rushed forward to welcome the new, incredibly important guest.

His usual jovial demeanour was replaced by one of profound respect and a glint of strategic importance in his eyes.

"Welcome, Lord Magnus," the Blackwood patriarch said, a wide, almost deferential smile on his face, his voice carrying clearly in the sudden silence.

Magnus gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable, betraying no emotion.

"My pleasure, Lord Blackwood," he replied, his voice deep and resonant, filling the grand hall with an understated power.

Behind him, closely followed a young girl in her early twenties.

Her hair colour perfectly matched the man’s, a striking white-light brown, cascading down her back in soft waves.

Her eyes, however, were what truly captured attention; they were wide and luminous, speaking volumes about her innocence and a gentle nature that seemed out of place in such a high-stakes gathering.

Her face was angelic, framed by soft features, which mesmerized every young man in the banquet hall, including Arthur, who, despite his devotion to Elara, couldn’t help but stare, momentarily captivated by her ethereal beauty.

Lord Blackwood looked at the young girl, a flicker of genuine surprise in his eyes.

He had known about Magnus, but never of a daughter.

"Lord Magnus," he began, his voice tinged with polite inquiry, "I didn’t remember you having a daughter?"

This pointed question, spoken by him, was quickly caught by every guest present.

Whispers immediately began to ripple through the hall as people tried to infer the identity of the mysterious girl.

Speculation ran rampant, ranging from a newly adopted ward to a distant relative.

Magnus, however, seemed entirely prepared for the question.

He offered a rare, melancholic smile, a fleeting expression that softened his usually stern features.

"What can I say, Lord Blackwood? Years back, in my younger days, I had a wife with whom I had spent my most cherished years.

We were separated by circumstances, and unfortunately, years after, her family informed me that she had passed away.

But they hid the fact that she had given birth to a daughter.

all these years devoting myself to the Academy, to my duties, I never went home, never sought out my past, and thus remained oblivious to her existence."

His voice softened further, a genuine warmth entering his tone as he looked at the young girl beside him, his gaze filled with care.

"After so many years, by a twist of fate, I’ve finally met her. Her name is Julie, and she is my daughter."

"Julie can’t speak, so I hope everyone will be understanding of that"

Magnus declared with his Ex-rank aura flaring for a millisecond, but that was enough to get the decree down the throats of everyone,

to people outside they will think of it a request,

but the people who really knew Magnus’s history would know that this was far from a request but an undeniable threat.

’ you either choose to live or mess with her ’ this what he meant.

Lord Blackwood, a master of social etiquette, immediately smiled widely and extended his welcome to both Magnus and Julie.

Julie’s striking characteristics, her unique white-light brown hair colour and certain delicate facial features, were so uncannily similar to her father’s that no one dared to openly question the story or suggest anything untoward.

The resemblance was undeniable and served as irrefutable proof.

Even if they did harbour private suspicions or whispered among themselves, they certainly wouldn’t say something loud enough to reach Magnus’s ears.

After all, the man who had just entered, the man who was now claiming Julie as his daughter, was Magnus Ashburn, the principal of the prestigious Guardian Academy.

His reputation, his power as an EX-rank Paragon, and his immense influence were absolute.

Challenging him, especially on a personal matter, was an act of extreme foolishness.

Elara looked at the phased-out Arthur, his gaze was fixed on the ethereal beauty of Julie.

A familiar annoyance, mixed with a touch of exasperation, prickled at her.

Despite his genuine affection for her, Arthur, like many men, was not immune to striking beauty.

With a quick, deliberate motion, she reached out and pinched his elbow sharply.

Arthur immediately recoiled, a small yelp escaping his lips.

He blinked, his eyes rapidly refocusing on Elara, as if woken abruptly from a deep dream.

"What?" he asked, his voice a little disoriented.

Elara’s expression was a mixture of disdain "Tsk," she scoffed softly.

"Mother is right. All boys are indeed the same." Her words were a teasing jab, reminding him of his momentary lapse.

Arthur’s face immediately flushed, a bead of sweat forming on his temple.

He knew his mistake, he had been far too mesmerized by the newly arrived girl, Julie and Elara had caught him red-handed.

He quickly recovered, forcing a charming smile. He immediately reached out and gently took both of Elara’s hands in his own, holding them firmly.

"Elara," he began, his voice earnest, his gaze unwavering as he locked eyes with her.

"Even that girl, Julie is beautiful, yes, that is just the exterior. But she might not have a heart as beautiful as yours, a spirit as strong. That pure, captivating beauty is merely skin deep."

He squeezed her hands gently, his thumb stroking her knuckles.

"You are the most comforting presence I’ve felt in my life, a beacon in the chaos. And to be honest, as captivating as she is, she simply can’t match your beauty, Elara.

Earlier, I was just momentarily surprised that someone came even remotely close to you in terms of outward beauty, but you are still the undisputed queen in my heart, the one who truly shines."

With all the ego-pumping and sweet, carefully chosen words, Arthur was finally able to convince Elara.

Her earlier pique softened, replaced by a pleased smile.

She knew Arthur genuinely cared for her, and his flattery, though slightly over-the-top, was delivered with sincerity.

She squeezed his hands back, a silent acceptance of his apology.

Although their tender moment was discreetly observed by some of the surrounding guests. Whispers and sneers rippled through the nearby groups.

"Dude, I’m not joking, if he said that cringe stuff again, I might just puke out my last meal," a young man spoke his companion, rolling his eyes dramatically.

"Shut it, idiot. That’s precisely why you’re single, and he’s not," another female sharply elbowed the youth, her tone clearly indicating her exasperation with his lack of social grace.

The reality of Arthur’s success, even if through somewhat cliché words, was undeniable.

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