Chapter 231

Chapter 232. Haven’t You Heard the Rumor? (3)

The knights of Sephira, lined up on either side of the party venue’s main entrance, stood nearly two meters tall. They were part of the elite Lunar Knight Order, selected for their impressive physiques, but their height was also accentuated by the thick-soled leather boots they wore.

*Click, click.*

A woman entered the venue, her high heels clicking sharply. She was a head taller than even those towering knights. Dressed in a revealing purple dress that left onlookers unsure where to rest their eyes, her long black hair fluttered in the wind.

“L-Lady Krona…!”

Certain individuals who recognized her quickly knelt and bowed. They were nobles from the Western Region. Seeing this, the other nobles snapped to attention and followed suit, kneeling and shouting in unison.

“We greet the Lord of the West!”

The Lord of the West, Krona.

She flicked her purple-tinted fingers, and those who had knelt rose to their feet once more.

“Hup!”

It wasn’t telekinesis that forced them up.

Time had reversed.

Those who had knelt were returned to the moment before they had knelt, as if time had rewound.

Krona, the “Space-Time Sorceress,” Lord of the West and an 8th Circle Mage, spoke in a soft voice.

“Don’t be so stiff. It’s been 20 years since I last attended a party, so I’m feeling a bit awkward. Just treat me as a woman today, not as a lord, alright?”

“Y-Yes, as you command!”

Krona walked along the carpet leading to the party’s stage, her eyes scanning the room as if searching for someone. The nobles, unsure of what to do, nervously glanced around.

‘Why on earth is the Lord of the West attending Sephira’s party?!’

‘Does House Sephira have ties with Lady Krona?’

‘Could it be because of Keter? No, that can’t be. Keter has never even been to the Western Region!’

Princess Iris’s attendance alone was already an unprecedented event. But now, even the Lord of the West had appeared. The attending nobles felt both uneasy and excited, sensing that something monumental was about to happen.

‘Is Sephira a den of monsters?!’

They all felt it. Today, in this very place, history would be rewritten.

Krona’s attendance was completely unexpected by the Sephira family as well. They hadn’t heard she was coming. In fact, they hadn’t even sent her an invitation. Yet here she was, suddenly appearing out of nowhere… The Sephira family members in attendance were on high alert, closely watching Krona’s every move.

*Click.*

Finally, she stood before the stage and looked at Hisop.

*Gulp.*

The stage was on the second floor, but Krona was so tall that she didn’t have to look up—she met Hisop’s gaze head-on.

“Hmm, so you’re Keter?”

At her words, everyone exchanged knowing glances. She had come to see Keter.

Hisop was the Deputy Lord of Sephira and currently acting as the family’s proxy. One might expect him to feel envy or jealousy at Krona’s focus on Keter, but…

“My apologies for the late greeting, my Lord. I am Hisop El Sephira, Deputy Lord of Sephira.”

Hisop descended from the stage and attempted to kiss Krona’s hand, but she pulled it back.

“It seems you haven’t learned that purple is dangerous.”

“No matter the danger, I believe it’s more important to show respect to you, my Lord.”

“Hoho. That’s commendable. I’ll let it slide. I wouldn’t want to turn your handsome face into a wrinkled old man’s.”

Krona showed a brief interest in Hisop before shifting her gaze again, still searching for Keter.

Mail and Taragon also introduced themselves, making it clear that they were not Keter.

Krona pouted in disappointment.

“What a shame. If any of you were Keter, I’d have gone to find Eslow and stirred up some trouble right now.”

“……!”

This revealed why she had come to the party.

The Lord of the South, Weaponmaster Eslow, had sent the Lord of the West here.

While others might wonder why the Lord of the South would do such a thing, Keter and Daat knew.

It was a reward. For healing his kin, Lyze. Keter hadn’t yet received his payment.

Eslow knew that Sephira was hosting a party and that Princess Iris would be attending. So, he spoke with the Lord of the West, Krona.

“There’s someone in Sephira who might be to your liking. Go and see for yourself.”

Krona, intrigued by the fact that the usually stoic Eslow had suggested she meet someone, couldn’t refuse. Her curiosity piqued, she came immediately.

This served the dual purpose of introducing Keter to a lord while also ensuring protection from Princess Iris.

“So, where is Keter?”

At her blunt question, Hisop’s heart sank. Keter hadn’t arrived. Even now, on the day of the party.

They had been careful not to let it show, and things had been going smoothly, but Krona’s words made the other nobles realize it too—Keter wasn’t here.

If they hesitated now, it would be an admission that Keter wasn’t present. Just as Hisop was about to respond—

“Brother Keter will be a little late.”

“Oh? And who might this cutie be?”

Daat, Sephira’s advisor and Keter’s close aide, approached Krona.

“Greetings. I am Daat.”

“So, Keter’s late? Even though I’m here? What could he possibly be doing?”

Krona treated Daat like a kitten, but Daat responded confidently.

“It’s a secret.”

“A secret? Hohoho, are you telling me to wait until Keter shows up?”

“Yes. Please do.”

“Hmm…”

Krona bent down and examined Daat closely, her long black hair tickling his face.

“Cute, but also quite cheeky, aren’t you? You deserve some punishment.”

Just as she reached out to pinch Daat’s cheek—

“I can also use space-time magic.”

“……?!”

Daat’s shocking declaration made the nobles’ eyes widen. Krona chuckled in disbelief.

“I don’t recall having such a cute disciple.”

“One hour.”

“Huh?”

“Be my teacher for just one hour. I’ll show you that I can use space-time magic.”

The nobles were stunned by Daat’s bold claim.

“What nonsense is this child spouting?!”

“How dare he speak so boldly before the Lord!”

As the nobles erupted in chaos, Krona looked intrigued.

“That’s quite the bold attempt to buy time. Wanting to learn my space-time magic for free is one thing, but claiming you can use it in just one hour… Can you take responsibility for those words, little one?”

“Yes. I’ll definitely steal and learn space-time magic from you, sis.”

“Sis?”

“You asked to be treated as a woman, not as a lord, so you’re my sis.”

“What? Ohohoho!”

Krona covered her mouth with her hand and laughed. Then, straightening up, she pointed to a tent set up at the side of the party venue.

“You have exactly one hour. If you fail to learn space-time magic from me… I’ll accelerate your time by 100 years.”

The nobles felt a chill run down their spines, even though the threat wasn’t directed at them. Aging 100 years in an instant? They’d surely die, and if not, it would be a living hell.

But Daat responded boldly.

“In return, promise me one thing.”

“A promise?”

“Actually, two things.”

“Hoho, go on.”

“First, wait for Brother Keter.”

“That’s a given. I’ll have to punish Keter for making me wait.”

“Second, no matter how tempted you are, you can’t take me as your disciple.”

“…What?”

“I don’t want to become a mage.”

At Daat’s words, the nobles were flabbergasted.

Who was Krona? An 8th Circle Mage, the pinnacle of sorcery, and the Lord of the West. And here was this child, saying he didn’t want to become a mage or be her disciple?

“Is he out of his mind?!”

One noble couldn’t help but shout.

Meanwhile, Krona silently observed Daat.

‘Hmm, this little one… Is he really that confident?’

Space-time magic. Even geniuses have given up on learning it.

Krona hadn’t always been without disciples. Once every century or so, she would take in a magical prodigy and teach them space-time magic.

And they all failed. Even a genius mage who reached the 3rd Circle in a year couldn’t grasp the basics of space-time magic after a decade.

Was it a lack of talent? No. Among those who had failed as Krona’s disciples were now 7th Circle Great Sorcerers.

Space-time magic isn’t something you can learn with talent alone. Yet here was this child, claiming he could learn it in just one hour.

“Fine. If you can truly master space-time magic in one hour, I’ll patiently wait for Keter and won’t even suggest taking you as my disciple.”

“Thank you. Shall we go then?”

Daat led the way to the tent. As Krona followed, bending down to enter, the atmosphere in the party venue shifted dramatically.

“…….”

“…What just happened?”

“Did I drink too much? I should’ve paced myself.”

First, the Lord of the West appeared, looking for Keter. Then, this child, Sephira’s advisor, showed up and declared he’d learn space-time magic from the Lord of the West before heading into the tent?

It was a situation beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

* * *

Regardless, the party continued.

Nobles continued to arrive one after another.

Vector, the third son of the Browning Family, the most renowned swordsmanship family in the Lilian Kingdom.

Burgundy, the vice-commander of the mercenary region’s sub-headquarters in the Lilian Kingdom.

Even the second son of the Oxford Marquis Family, a 6th Circle Mage, attended, but—

*Clap, clap…*

Only dull applause echoed through the venue.

Understandably so. The presence of Krona, who had appeared first, was overwhelming. It was only natural that the later arrivals failed to capture the same level of interest.

Even the other attendees acknowledged this. How could their presence compare to that of a lord? They quietly took their seats, occasionally glancing at the tent where the lord was.

However, as time passed, the nobles’ expressions began to brighten again.

Partly due to the alcohol, but also because the moment they had been waiting for was finally approaching.

“The Deputy Lord of the Baydant Family, Lord Bolos, has arrived.”

Even though the eldest son of a family known to be at odds with Sephira had arrived, the nobles paid little attention. They knew that after Bolos, the star of the party, Princess Iris, would finally make her appearance.

The princess and the lord.

What would happen when the two met? What kind of reaction would they have? Both had come to see Keter, after all.

“…….”

But strangely, even after Bolos arrived, 30 minutes passed with no sign of the princess. Not even the distant sound of a carriage could be heard, and the nobles began to exchange knowing glances.

“She’s not coming, is she?”

“As expected, there’s no way the princess would come to Sephira.”

“Maybe it’s because Lady Krona is here…”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Rumors say the princess and Lady Krona don’t get along… But this is a secret, so don’t spread it around.”

As the nobles whispered among themselves, the party venue grew noisy.

*Whoosh!*

The clouds in the night sky parted, and a fierce gale swept through.

“Whoa!”

The wind was so strong that even grown men staggered. The delicate ladies were quickly shielded by Sephira’s knights.

“Look, over there!”

Someone pointed to the sky. But there was no need—everyone was already looking up.

A massive winged creature flapped its wings, each movement generating an immense gust of wind.

“A dragon!”

“A dragon?!”

Dragons weren’t considered monsters. They were revered as sacred beings or a distinct race. For a dragon to appear at the party venue was unheard of.

At that moment, Baiga stepped forward and shouted.

“Everyone, calm down. That’s not a dragon—it’s a drake.”

A drake. A lesser species of dragon. Though not a true dragon, it was still classified as an S-rank monster, the highest tier.

“Isn’t that even more dangerous? What are Sephira’s knights doing? Shoot it down already!”

A middle-aged noble, terrified, berated Sephira’s archers. But the archers, though they had arrows nocked, didn’t shoot.

“That drake isn’t wild. It has a saddle on its back.”

“What?!”

As the Sephira knight had said, a wild drake wouldn’t have a saddle. This meant someone was riding it.

“Everyone, make way. Her Highness is arriving.”

After enjoying the crowd’s reaction, Baiga shouted, and the nobles, still dazed, cleared a path in the center of the venue.

The drake began its rapid descent. Already massive from a distance, it appeared even larger up close, resembling a small mountain.

Even the knightly nobles in attendance trembled like ordinary folk under the drake’s overwhelming presence.

*Thud!*

Finally, the crimson drake landed on the ground.

*Rumble!*

*Whoosh!*

As it exhaled, flames spewed from its nostrils.

The nobles hastily backed away.

*Clank.*

Amidst the drake’s overwhelming presence, a heavy metallic sound reached their ears.

“That emblem…?”

“The Royal Dragon Knight Order!”

“Ah, Princess Iris is here too!”

The nobles quickly knelt and bowed their heads. It was both a gesture of respect to the princess and a fear of being enchanted if they met her gaze.

Princess Iris.

She appeared wearing a mask, just as the rumors had said.

Her peach-colored pink hair. A beauty so stunning that even the mask couldn’t hide it… The flowers in the party venue seemed to bend their heads just to catch a glimpse of her.

“We greet Her Highness, Princess Iris.”

Hisop, the party’s host, knelt before the princess.

“…….”

The princess silently scanned the room, much like Krona had. A dragon knight accompanying her spoke instead.

“Where is Keter?”

The knight’s voice carried immense pressure.

The Royal Dragon Knight Order, directly under the royal family. Every member was a Swordmaster, and the knight escorting the princess was the vice-captain, a Grandmaster.

Hisop struggled to breathe but managed to reply.

“Keter… will be a little late.”

“How dare you make Her Highness wait—”

The knight frowned, ready to unleash his anger, but Princess Iris raised her hand.

“It’s fine.”

“Gasp!”

“Huff!”

At the princess’s words, some male nobles clutched their chests and collapsed. Her voice carried a mesmerizing power, and those with even the slightest impure thoughts toward her couldn’t withstand it.

“I’ll wait.”

At the princess’s words, the knight immediately bowed.

“As you command.”

The princess showed her favor.

Hisop quickly clapped his hands, and music began to play in the venue. With all the attendees present, the party officially began—even though the main guest, Keter, was absent.

“It’s been three years, Your Highness.”

Baiga approached Princess Iris and bowed gracefully. The princess nodded slightly, accepting his greeting.

“Would you like to see Sephira’s night view? It’s a sight you won’t find anywhere else in the kingdom.”

“Very well.”

The princess accepted Baiga’s escort without hesitation.

Watching this, Hisop let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew…”

The Lord of the West, Krona, was being handled by Daat, but only 30 minutes remained.

As the music played and delicious food was served, the party’s atmosphere still lacked vitality.

Hisop licked his dry lips and muttered to himself.

“Keter, hurry up and get here already.”

Though he tried to act composed, Hisop’s heart felt like it might burst at any moment.