"Edward."
"Hm?" I turned to my left and saw Jayden. He was looking at with a conflicted expression.
"It's about Sylvia..." Jayden muttered without blinking, addressing Sylvia directly.
"Oh, you know her? You didn't tell that you knew Jayden, Sylvia?" I asked Sylvia, feeling confused.
"E-Eh? I don't know him..." Sylvia replied.
"Jayden seems to know you though," I said, glancing at Jayden, who didn't seem to understand what I was talking about.
The hall fell silent as everyone held their breath, captivated by what was happening.
I could feel King Charles' and Queen Edith's gazes on , but I promptly ignored them.
Aurora was raised with the mindset of a dutiful princess, but Sylvia was different. I had known her since childhood, and despite her efforts to be like her sister, she was vastly different. She wouldn't be able to conform to the expectations placed on Aurora, especially regarding her engagent.
"Well..." Jayden glanced at Sylvia, who was awkwardly trying to avoid his gaze. "She is my candidate for fiancée..." Jayden took out a picture and showed it to .
It was a picture of a beautiful, smiling Sylvia.
"..."
Okay, this is getting really awkward.
They even gave him a picture of Sylvia?
Sylvia stared at her own picture, her eyes wide open in surprise.
They are obsessed with Jayden... no.
They are obsessed with his status as an Apostle and his close connection to Eden.
I can't help but wonder what Louisa would have thought of this and what she would have done.
Sylvia and Rubina were the youngest, and Louisa definitely had a soft spot for them.
"Your fiancée? And I wasn't even aware of this. Were you, Alfred?" I threw the question at Alfred.
"U-Uh? No?" Alfred, caught off guard, imdiately denied and looked at Sylvia with confusion.
Damn.
His brain seems to shut down whenever Milleia is around.
He just contradicted his parents' words.
And judging by their expressions, they are not happy.
The heir to the Celesta Kingdom's throne denied any knowledge of an engagent between Sylvia, his own sister, and Jayden.
"..." Thankfully, Aurora stayed silent.
"U-Uhh... b-but..." Jayden stuttered, looking for help from King Charles, but he couldn't say anything.
This was an important day for his son.
What would happen if he confird Jayden's words?
Alfred would be ridiculed in front of all the important nobles from two powerful countries. He would be seen as incapable, and the recent rumors about him being infatuated with a commoner would be reinforced. It would make him seem unfit to rule such a powerful kingdom.
Aurora couldn't say anything either.
Even if she didn't know about her parents' plans, she could have pretended to be aware to save Jayden. But in doing so, she would be dooming her own brother.
Aurora understood this, but did the Crown Prince?
Alfred was already losing popularity due to the factions supporting Layla over Milleia, who was a commoner. Another scandal involving him would only be detrintal to his image.
Jayden had only spoken the truth, but unfortunately, Charles and Edith had chosen to keep it hidden from both of their eldest children, hoping for a smooth transition. It would have worked if Jayden and Sylvia had talked privately without making their thoughts public, but Jayden had done just that, capturing everyone's attention.
They never expected that I would do sothing like this either. They probably thought they could make Jayden and Sylvia talk before making any official announcents.
But now, they couldn't say anything.
They could only postpone their plans, which would only delay the inevitable. But I was putting my faith in Aurora. I honestly didn't think she would let Sylvia marry Jayden, and even if she couldn't do anything, well, I would cross that bridge when I ca to it.
"Yeah, that guy is not engaged to her."
A voice rang out as footsteps approached us.
And here cos the second one.
Colton Arvatra walked towards us with confident steps, a smug smile plastered on his face.
Colton glanced at Jayden and sneered. "Clearly, that guy is not engaged to Sylvia, but I am," he declared, reaching out for Sylvia's hand.
"..." Sylvia flinched slightly and took a step back.
"What do you think you're doing...?" Colton asked, his smile wavering angrily as I grabbed his arm preventing him from reaching Sylvia.
The tension in the air beca palpable, with only the sound of people's breaths filling the silence.
An irritating smile crept back onto Colton's face as he freed himself from my grip and turned to King Charles Celesta. "I am engaged to Sylvia, am I not, Your Majesty?"
My gaze also fell on Uncle Charles.
No.
Please don't do it, Uncle.
Charles wore a conflicted expression but nodded. "Yes, you are the most likely candidate to be my youngest daughter's fiancé."
"See?" Colton snorted, attempting to reach out for Sylvia's hand again, this ti past .
Once again, Sylvia stepped back, seeking refuge behind , but I stood my ground.
I understand.
King Charles can't afford to disrespect a prince of Arvatra, the younger brother of the man who is going to be his future son-in-law, especially on such a significant day of alliance between two countries that have been enemies for countless centuries.
But I don't care about that.
I grabbed Colton's hand inches away from Sylvia again.
"Ahaha. What's this?" Colton glared at , struggling to break free.
I tightened my grip and smiled. "Actually, I am currently engaged in a conversation with Sylvia," I said, lowering my voice. "So why don't you scram and co back later if there's anything left to discuss?"
With a sizzling sound, dark blue flas erupted from Colton's arm as he grabbed hold of . My entire right arm burst into flas as well.
"E-Edward...!"
"Sylvia, step back," I urged.
"Edward... what's going on?"
"This doesn't concern you, Jayden," I interrupted him, holding my grip firmly despite the burning blue flas.
"What the hell are you doing?" Colton asked, confusion etched on his face.
His blue flas weren't affecting ; in fact, they weren't even damaging my grey suit. A thick layer of Ruah covered my entire arm, repelling the flas.
"Ruah, huh? You think that will be enough?" Colton sneered, channeling even more mana.
The atmosphere heated up, and people started to beco restless.
Nobody was trying to stop us, at least not yet.
King Charles should have intervened, but he was watching us with an indecipherable expression.
[]
Figures.
As for the Arvatra clowns...
The King was observing with an eager smile, clearly relishing the situation. Azeliah was looking at curiously, and the elder siblings... I couldn't quite decipher their thoughts.
Now, my entire body was engulfed in dark blue flas.
"Now, ask for forgiveness and I-"
"No," the mont I said that, purple fire burst out of my body, instantly incinerating the blue flas around .
"W-What?!" Colton's eyes widened, seeing the purple fire, which was clearly stronger than his own, overwhelming him.
I was wielding the Fire of the mythical Renegade Dragon, a fla that had nearly destroyed the continent centuries ago. This wasn't any ordinary fire.
"Anathemas Fire," I muttered, my hand still gripping Colton's arm.
"A-Are you kidding ?!" Colton sneered, increasing the intensity of his flas. "I'm using the flas of Seth! Don't underestimate !"
Seth, huh.
They all have the bloodline of that freaking God.
Frowning at Colton's escalating flas, I couldn't help but worry about the important nobles surrounding us. Did he want to harm them?
I drew my short sword and swung with my left hand.
A tallic sound rang out as my blade clashed with another.
"It's you, huh."
I turned my gaze toward the newcor—lvin Troyen, the sa man who attacked , Eric, and Milleia before.
"Ruah." I covered my sword with Ruah and strengthened my grip.
"..." lvin seed startled by the sudden surge of strength. "Y-You're in the Fifth Ascension, but sothing is wrong... how is this possible-"
Ignoring him, I spun on my heels and roundhouse kicked lvin. He raised his arm defensively, but my Ruah-infused leg struck him powerfully, and a loud cracking sound filled the air.
-Bam!
lvin lost his footing, colliding forcefully with Colton, whose arm was now freed by .
You want a show, Uncle Charles?
Then let's give it to you.
I smirked and kicked off the ground. "Second Wing."
In an instant, I appeared in front of lvin and slamd his face into the ground.
-Bam!
The hard surface cracked slightly as lvin spat out blood.
""Kyaaa!""
"S-Step back!"
People around panicked and stepped back avoiding the cracks on the ground.
"B-Bastard!" lvin grabbed my arm, and I felt a searing pain run through it. At the sa ti, I sensed the dark blue flas raging behind .
"Take that!" Colton shouted and dark blue fires sputtered out threatening to burn .
I snorted and threw lvin into the blue flas.
-Booom!
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