The marble corridor gleamed under streams of sunlight pouring through arched windows, each beam breaking into a cascade of gold and white upon the polished floor. Portraits of ancient kings lined the walls, their painted gazes following the three young Igniseros heirs as they strode forward.
Kaizel walked lazily in the center, hands tucked into his pockets, his glasses half-hidden beneath his silver-blond bangs. On his left, Seris carried herself with effortless grace, her posture so perfect it made the nearby guards unconsciously straighten their spines. On his right, Elizabeth hummed softly, glancing between her two siblings with a knowing smile — the calm between two storms.
At the end of the corridor stood the massive golden doors of the Sunlight Hall, etched with radiant sigils that pulsed faintly with light. From within, laughter and music spilled into the hallway like a living thing — the energy of the young nobles gathering inside.
As the guards pushed open the doors, a wave of sound and color hit them.
The Sunlight Hall was dazzling. The chandeliers sparkled like clusters of captured starlight, reflecting off silk gowns and jeweled accessories. A hundred noble children mingled beneath banners of gold and crimson, their laughter bright, their conversations sharp with ambition disguised as innocence.
And at the heart of it all stood Princess Aurora Solaren, the sun's chosen daughter.
She had just turned eleven today, yet her poise rivaled that of queens. Her long, golden hair shimmered like woven sunlight, cascading down the back of her embroidered gown — a radiant masterpiece of silk and light. Her skin held the faint glow of dawn, and her amber eyes sparkled with a mischievous warmth that could melt even the frostiest noble heart. She looked every bit the child of the sun — radiant, kind, and untouchable.
To her right, a girl with long black hair streaked with violet spoke animatedly, her eyes gleaming with mischief. Luna Nocturne, daughter of Duchess Seraphina Nocturne — bold, witty, and utterly unrestrained. Her purple dress shimmered like twilight itself, and her energy was as chaotic as the night skies her house was known for.
"Honestly, Aurora," Luna huffed dramatically, waving a spoon like a sword, "if I were born a princess, I'd have banned boring banquets by now! At least throw in a duel or two. Imagine how much more fun that'd be!"
Aurora giggled behind her hand. "A duel at my birthday banquet? I think Father would faint before the first spell was cast."
To her left stood Elowen Verdentia, daughter of Duchess Viseria — a picture of serenity and natural grace. Her vibrant green hair fell in soft waves down her back, her pink eyes bright yet gentle, like blooming petals after rain. She wore a dress of soft green silk, the color of spring itself, but her attention wasn't on the princess or the chatter.
She kept glancing at the door.
Aurora noticed, a teasing smile forming. "Still waiting for him, Elowen?"
Elowen flushed instantly, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "N-No! I just— It's rude, you know, for someone to arrive late to a royal banquet…"
Luna grinned like a cat. "Oh, come on, you've been staring at that door for the last ten minutes. It's practically glowing with your anticipation."
"I'm not!" Elowen squeaked, her voice an octave higher. "And besides, Kaizel's not even that—"
She stopped herself, cheeks reddening further.
Luna leaned closer. "Not that what? Handsome? Strong? Infuriatingly cool with that blindfold of his?"
Aurora giggled again, "You talk as if you've met him."
Luna shrugged. "Haven't. But Seris brags about him enough for the entire capital to know his name."
Aurora smiled softly at that, her gaze distant for a moment. "Seris says he's… different. Not like the others. I can't tell if that's good or bad."
Nearby, a group of noble children had gathered — each the heir of a great house, all trying to outshine the other in conversation.
Isadora Valtoris, daughter of the Marquess, flicked a strand of her silver-blue hair with casual arrogance. "Honestly, I doubt any of them could compare to Alistair Athelgard. The boy's practically blessed by the gods. Even my father says his mana core shines like crystallized sunlight."
A tall, fox-faced boy with crimson hair — Lysander Vaelstrom — chuckled softly at her remark. His golden eyes gleamed with quiet amusement. "Ah yes, the Hero of the Athelgard line. A child born with power, status, and divine blessing. How terribly boring."
Isadora frowned. "Boring? He's a prodigy!"
"He's a puppet," Lysander said smoothly, swirling the drink in his hand. "When everything is handed to you from birth, what's left to achieve? Power without struggle is just decoration."
That earned him a few laughs from nearby nobles — and a glare from Alaric Veyntar, son of Count Veyntar, whose jet-black hair and golden eyes gave him a predatory look. "Easy words for someone who's never seen a battlefield, Vaelstrom."
Lysander's smile sharpened. "True. But if wit were a weapon, I'd have won the war before you picked up a sword."
A small ripple of laughter spread among the kids.
From the corner, Eirlys Draelis, a girl with dark pink hair and kind green eyes, sighed softly. "Can we not start another verbal duel? It's a birthday banquet, not a strategy forum."
But Luna couldn't resist. "No no, let them fight! Maybe they'll finally decide who's the second strongest after Kaizel."
The group fell quiet for a moment.
"Kaizel?" Isadora tilted her head. "You mean the Igniseros boy? I've heard rumors — a ten-year-old already at Silver Core. But you know how exaggerations spread among nobles."
Elowen's tone grew firmer, her pink eyes lighting up. "It's not an exaggeration. I've seen him train. He's… terrifying. In a good way."
Lysander arched a brow, intrigued. "Oh? Terrifying, you say?"
"He doesn't fight like a noble," Elowen continued softly. "He doesn't think about technique or posture — it's like his instincts just… know. Even his mana moves differently."
Luna grinned. "Sounds like someone's smitten."
Elowen turned scarlet. "Luna!"
Aurora, still smiling, looked toward the door again — as if she could already sense the approaching presence. "So that's the boy who keeps Seris awake during training nights… I wonder," she murmured, eyes gleaming with curiosity, "if he's truly as different as they say."
Lysander smirked faintly, sipping his drink. "If he is, then perhaps this banquet won't be so dull after all."
Meanwhile, outside the doors, Kaizel and his sisters paused as the muffled laughter and chatter echoed from within.
Kaizel cracked his neck, expression unreadable beneath his glasses. "I can already feel the waves of fake politeness through the door. Smells like perfume and pretense."
Seris rolled her eyes. "Try not to start a war before the cake's even cut, alright?"
"No promises," Kaizel said, grinning.
Elizabeth sighed, already sensing chaos. "Can we please just act normal for one evening?"
Kaizel turned toward her, grinning wider. "Define 'normal.'"
The doors began to open again, light spilling out — and with it, the buzz of anticipation.
The doors of the Sunlight Hall opened with a deep, resonant hum — the ancient runes carved into their golden frame flaring to life for a brief instant, as if recognizing the arrival of someone… significant.
Conversation halted.Music faltered.Dozens of heads turned toward the entryway.
Framed by the blinding sunlight pouring through the corridor stood Kaizel Igniseros — silver hair glinting like molten starlight, every strand catching the light as though it was alive. His glasses sat lazily upon his nose, half-hiding those piercing blue eyes that shimmered faintly even through the tinted lenses.
There was something contradictory about him — a lazy calm that seemed to mock the stiff formality of the place, wrapped around an aura so dense it made the very air hum in subtle warning.
Behind him, Seris and Elizabeth followed with poise and grace, their steps refined, measured, noble. But no one looked at them — not yet.Every gaze in that glittering hall was already magnetized toward him — the boy who walked as if the world itself had been carved for his amusement.
Kaizel paused at the threshold, one hand buried casually in his pocket, the other lifting to push his hair back with an effortless flick, as though he'd just rolled out of bed and decided, out of mild curiosity, to grace royalty with his presence.
The faintest, cocky smile curved his lips.
"Damn," he muttered under his breath — just loud enough for the nearby guards and a few horrified nobles to hear. "This place looks like someone dropped the entire treasury in a ballroom."
The words hung in the air like sparks.A few nobles stiffened, fans pausing mid-flutter. Servants froze in panic, unsure whether to laugh or pray for their lives.
But Kaizel?He simply looked amused. His lips twitched upward as if their outrage was the most entertaining thing he'd seen all day.
Then, as the sunlight dimmed behind him and the golden glow of the chandeliers took over, his gaze swept lazily across the hall — every inch the predator hidden behind the charm.
His voice, smooth and unhurried, carried effortlessly through the stunned silence.
"Sorry for the delay," he began, his tone disarmingly casual. That smirk of his deepened as if he were about to say something that would either make the room laugh or get him executed."Had to remind my father I wasn't the one supposed to give the king his taxes. You know how confusing these family responsibilities get."
A ripple of awkward laughter rolled through the hall — some forced, others genuine. A few younger nobles couldn't help but snort, covering their mouths too late. Even one of the royal guards coughed to hide a grin.
The silence that followed wasn't empty — it was alive, charged with amusement, irritation, and a reluctant kind of admiration.
He had insulted the atmosphere of nobility itself… and somehow, made it look good.
From her place near the dais, Princess Aurora Solaren blinked in surprise, lips parting slightly as she laid eyes on the boy her dearest friend Seris had spoken so fondly of.
He wasn't dressed like a noble at all.His outfit was simple — a fitted black vest over a crisp white shirt, sleeves casually rolled to his elbows, the Igniseros crest stitched faintly over his heart. No jewels, no frills. And yet, he outshone everyone in the room without trying.
There was something disarming about that quiet confidence — like he belonged and didn't, all at once.
Aurora found herself staring before she realized it, her heart skipping once, though she'd never admit it aloud.
Beside her, Luna Nocturne leaned forward eagerly, whispering behind her hand, eyes sparkling with mischief."Oh my moons, he's actually hotter than I expected," she whispered breathlessly. "Like, dangerous hot — not the prince charming who saves you, but the one who kidnaps you, insults your kingdom, and still gets forgiven for it."
Aurora nearly choked on her laughter, hiding her mouth behind her gloved hand. "Luna…!"
"What?" Luna said innocently. "Tell me I'm wrong."
Aurora rolled her eyes, cheeks faintly flushed. "You are incorrigible."
Meanwhile, Elowen Verdentia froze completely.Her hands tightened around her cup as her heartbeat stuttered.
She'd seen Kaizel countless times before — training under the crimson skies of Igniseros, eyes blazing, body in perfect rhythm with his mana. But seeing him here, standing tall and calm among nobles dripping with arrogance and perfume… it was different.
Something about him felt sharper.Brighter.Untouchable.
'He really doesn't belong to this world,' she thought, unable to look away.
At the entrance, Seris sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You just couldn't walk in quietly for once, could you?"
Elizabeth chuckled beside her, voice soft but laced with amusement. "He's allergic to subtlety."
Kaizel smirked, still scanning the crowd. "What? I thought I was being polite. Didn't even call anyone ugly this time."
Seris groaned. "That's your standard for politeness?"
"Pretty high, right?" Kaizel grinned, clearly pleased with himself.
Elizabeth covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. "You're a walking cringe lord, you know that?"
Kaizel gasped dramatically. "Excuse you, I prefer the term charismatic rebel."
Seris crossed her arms. "You prefer whatever makes you sound cool. Which, newsflash — isn't working."
He tilted his head toward her, his grin widening. "Oh? Then why's everyone still staring?"
Elizabeth laughed outright this time. "Because they're deciding whether to applaud or exile you."
"Ah," Kaizel said with mock reflection, tapping his chin. "Good. I like to keep people confused."
At the royal table, Aurora hid her growing smile behind her cup. Luna's grin was predatory. Elowen tried — and failed — to look anywhere else.
And Lysander Vaelstrom, lounging lazily near the corner, smirked faintly to himself."Well," he murmured, voice low and amused, "the banquet just got interesting."