บท 31: Christmas Banquet [1]
Today was December 25.
It was Christmas Day.
More than two months had passed since Azriel had made it back to the Crimson estate and after the White Haven event.
He and Nol had barely survived his mother's wrath.
Not that Azriel didn't understand her anger.
Suddenly disappearing in perhaps one of the safest places on Earth after just returning from being presumed dead for the past two years...
Of course, his mother would be worried.
As for Nol...
He had been staying at the Crimson estate ever since.
His family, especially his mother and sister, had taken quite a liking to him, treating Nol as family.
Both Azriel and Nol came up with a simple story that Nol was a friend Azriel had made in the void realm, where Nol had lost all his memories, making him know almost nothing about Earth and his own life there.
Somehow Nol had found himself trapped in his own unique skill, forgetting how to use it, making Azriel think he died, so he escaped the void realm without him.
But after finally finding out how, Nol managed to send an invitation to Azriel at the Crimson estate.
At first, Azriel was still suspicious of Nol, but after living with him day after day, he noticed that the boy wouldn't do him or his family any harm.
In fact, it seemed Nol would be the one to harm those who dared to even have such thoughts against his master and his family.
In these two months, Azriel unfortunately couldn't really train much.
The reason?
"I think this one suits him the best, don't you think so, Mother?"
"Yes, I agree. This one makes his eyes stand out much more!"
The mother-daughter pair behind him treated him like a dress-up doll.
They had barely left Azriel's side since the White Haven incident.
Who knows where he might disappear to when left on his own again?
Or better said, with his father.
It seemed that every time the father-son pair were together, Azriel would somehow manage to disappear.
In other words, they didn't really trust Azriel and Joaquin to be left together anymore.
Not that Azriel minded that much...
If he was honest, he had missed the feeling of having people worry over him.
... it felt nice.
Though he was still a little annoyed that they didn't allow him to train.
But that was one of the conditions for being allowed to go to the hero academy.
It was a hassle to persuade his mother since she didn't favor the idea of Azriel leaving the Crimson estate.
Luckily, his father and sister managed to help him out, though the former almost lost his life...
Again.
Only a week was left until the academy would start.
It's not like Azriel really needed to prepare for it.
Currently, his mother and sister were with him in his room.
After changing clothes for the umpteenth time, he had finally settled on a black tuxedo and adjusted his collar properly.
His hair was combed back as well.
Jasmine and his mother nodded at each other, seemingly proud of themselves.
Both of them were sitting on his bed, and as he gazed at the pile of clothes next to them...
His lips twitched.
More than half of them couldn't even be worn today!
'I feel used... not even being in Europe was this tiring!'
Even in this world, Christmas was celebrated.
In fact, it was even more significant than in his previous world, as it symbolized the hope that humanity was still standing.
Each year, the four great clans of Asia would host a banquet.
A Christmas banquet, to be precise.
This year, it was Azriel's family's turn to host.
His sister, Jasmine, was wearing a sleek black dress that hugged her figure, with a high neckline and long sleeves.
The fabric shimmered subtly in the light, cascading down to a modest length just above her knees.
Their mother, Aeliana, wore a similar dress, but hers was red instead of black.
Azriel understood why the protagonist was captivated by Jasmine. Her beauty was simply enchanting, a magnetic force that could draw everyone in.
Even as her brother, Azriel couldn't help but be in awe of her breathtaking appearance. She had a quality that seemed to set her apart from everyone else.
And then there was their mother, whose beauty was on an entirely different level. She possessed elegance and grace that seemed almost otherworldly.
'Still, he's not getting her...'
Not that he had anything against the protagonist. In fact, Azriel liked him a lot.
Sure, he had flaws like every other person, but one of his most irritating flaws was his harem.
'It's not like he has a harem right now, though...'
Perhaps he could change that?
Make the protagonist someone who would stick to one person?
Azriel shook his head.
'I don't have time to waste on that.'
Instead, he would just intervene if he noticed him and Jasmine getting closer.
"Both of you can go downstairs. I'll find you after I see what's taking Nol so long."
His mother frowned a little at Azriel's words.
"Are you sure? It has been a while since you attended something like this..."
Azriel smiled, hearing her concern. He could see Jasmine looking at him, also a little worried.
Azriel was someone who almost never attended banquets.
This would also be the first time Azriel Crimson would reappear in public, dispelling all the rumors that had been going around about him for the past two years.
"Perhaps it's better if I stay with you and Nol...?"
Hearing his sister, Azriel shook his head.
"There is no need. Seriously, both of you are worrying too much. I promise I will be fine. Besides, it's about to start, and I'm sure Father is waiting downstairs already."
It would be odd if his mother and sister were late. As for Azriel, it wasn't like anyone was expecting him anyway, so he could afford to be a little later than them.
"Fine... just make sure to stay with Nol if you aren't joining us. Otherwise, find us if something happens."
Luckily, his mother relented this time, making Azriel break out in a small smile.
"I doubt something will happen, but I promise I will find you if it does."
Who was he kidding?
Of course, trouble would happen!
In fact, Azriel was counting on it.
This Christmas banquet would be...
'The perfect chance to change Azriel Crimson's image.'
ความคิดของผู้สร้าง 
Crypthh
Crypthh Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Also, please give me all of those golden tickets and power stones you have hidden!
บท 32: Christmas Banquet [2]
Crystal chandeliers hung from the high, vaulted ceiling, each one dripping with hundreds of glittering prisms that cast a cool, silver light over the room.
The walls were adorned with sleek, silver panels, etched with delicate patterns that seemed to come alive in the flickering candlelight.
Large, ornately framed mirrors hung between the panels, reflecting the grandeur of the space and making it seem even larger.
The floor was a gleaming expanse of polished marble, inlaid with swirling patterns of onyx and silver.
Everywhere you looked, there were fresh flowers – roses, lilies, and orchids in every imaginable color – arranged in tall, vases that stood on pedestals of carved mahogany.
Long banquet tables, draped in heavy white linen, were laden with silver platters of the finest foods.
At the center of each table, candelabras of polished silver held thick, white candles that burned steadily, their flames dancing in the air.
The guests themselves were a dazzling sight, each one dressed in the height of fashion.
Men in tailored tuxedos and women in glittering gowns moved gracefully around the room, their laughter and conversation a pleasant hum that filled the space.
Waiters in crisp, white uniforms moved seamlessly among the guests, carrying trays of champagne and canapés.
At one end of the ballroom, a grand piano stood, its black lacquered surface reflecting the room's light.
A pianist played softly, the music dancing through the conversations and adding elegance to the atmosphere.
Amidst the crowd, a young woman captivated nearly everyone's attention.
Her silver hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, catching the light from the chandeliers and shimmering like a waterfall of molten metal.
She wore a dress that matched the room's cool elegance, a flowing gown of shimmering silver that clung to her figure and flared out gently as it reached the floor.
Her eyes were a striking shade of grey, clear and piercing, framed by long, dark lashes that fluttered with every blink.
Her lips, tinted with a hint of red, curled into a delicate smile that sent shivers through the hearts of every young man in the room.
Not a single person in the room was unaware of her identity.
She was the Princess of the great Frost Clan.
Celestina Frost.
And soon-to-be elder sister.
"Congratulations, Celestina. I'm certain you'll make a wonderful elder sister."
"Thank you," Celestina replied, her voice like the chiming of a silver bell, resonant and enchanting.
"Though I must admit, I'm hoping for a little sister rather than a brother."
Celestina's smile remained gentle as she spoke.
If Azriel were to hear this, he might question his grasp on reality even more than he already did.
After all...
There had been no mention in the book of Celestina's mother being pregnant.
Which meant that Azriel's survival had somehow added another member to the Frost Clan.
How exactly had that happened?
Perhaps it would be best if he never asked Ragnar.
"Right? Having a little brother will honestly just make you worry all the time. I can't count the number of times Azriel almost drove me crazy."
Hearing Jasmine's words, Celestina's smile froze.
'Azriel...?'
Why would she suddenly say his name?
It wasn't just Celestina who looked at Jasmine in shock; Caleus Nebula, the Prince of the Nebula Clan, who was the same age as the Princess of the Crimson Clan, shared the same astonished expression.
His amethyst hair shimmered under the chandelier light, matching his striking violet eyes that held the depth of galaxies.
Both knew about Azriel being dead.
Every single member of the four great clans knew of it.
What caught them off guard was that Jasmine normally never spoke of him since his death.
Ever.
Celestina respected Jasmine immensely. The Princess of the Frost Clan aspired to be a pillar of humanity, a hero, and saw the Crimson Princess as a rival she needed to surpass.
Who wouldn't think like that?
Jasmine Crimson, who would likely be the strongest second-year student just as she had been in her first year, had already set her sights on becoming the student council president and was destined to be the next head of the Crimson Clan.
She was an obstacle that, in Celestina's eyes, needed to be overcome.
But she still considered Jasmine a friend.
Given their high statuses, there weren't many people Celestina could interact with without worry.
Jasmine was someone she admired and regarded as a friend, unlike her little brother, whom she never knew how to talk to.
Azriel always seemed lost in his own world.
She wanted to ask why Jasmine had mentioned Azriel, but she felt it would be inappropriate.
Maybe it was just a slip of the tongue?
Caelus and Celestina exchanged a fleeting glance, and in that brief moment of understanding, they silently agreed to let it pass.
"Speaking of the devil, where the hell is he...? He's already half an hour late. If he shows up now, it will become quite troublesome..."
Both Celestina and Caelus grew even more puzzled by Jasmine's mumbling.
'...has she finally lost it?'
"Jasmine, are you feeling alright?"
Caelus asked with concern, causing Jasmine to snap out of her daze and look at him with wide eyes.
"Ah, yes, I'm fine. Sorry about that,"
Jasmine replied, though Caelus remained unconvinced.
"Are you sure? If you're feeling unwell, perhaps we should—"
Suddenly, his words trailed off as he noticed something unusual.
It wasn't just him—everyone in the ballroom had fallen silent.
The music had abruptly stopped, and the chatter had ceased as if the sound had been abruptly cut off.
'What's happening...?'
Celestina, though not overly worried, found the sudden silence strange.
'A special event, perhaps?' she wondered.
Step—!
A single, thunderous step echoed through the ballroom, drawing everyone's attention to the entrance.
Heads snapped towards the entrance, their gasps echoing off the walls.
What they saw…
"!?"
Left them trembling.
'H-how…!?'
Celestina could hardly believe her eyes.
No one did.
Standing there was the prince who was thought to have died—the one who had fallen in battle against the Void.
He stood tall and commanding, his posture impeccable and resolute, radiating an aura of confidence and strength that seemed almost otherworldly.
Every gaze in the room was locked on him, their faces a mix of astonishment and bewilderment.
Step—!
Each step he took resonated through the space like distant thunder, rendering the crowd spellbound and motionless.
He wore a black tuxedo that melded seamlessly with his dark hair, enhancing the striking contrast of his crimson-red eyes.
Those eyes were like pools of liquid fire, burning with an intensity that was both mesmerizing and disquieting.
Behind him, another figure in a pristine white tuxedo stood slightly in the background, his presence barely noticed.
Yet, his silver hair and matching crimson-red eyes oddly hinted at a striking resemblance to the crimson prince.
The subtle sheen of his silver locks caught the light, adding an otherworldly quality to his appearance.
Yet, it was the prince in black who held the room's undivided attention.
Step—!
.
.
Step—!
.
.
Step—!
.
.
Step—!
.
.
Step—!
.
.
Celestina recalled Jasmine's earlier words.
.
.
Step—!
.
.
He continued to walk calmly through the crowd, their disbelief evident in every eye.
.
.
Step—!
.
.
Until...
.
.
Step—!
.
.
He finally stopped.
.
.
Standing in the center of the ballroom.
His crimson eyes, so intense they were almost unrecognizable, swept over the assembled guests.
Suddenly, his gaze locked with hers.
Ba... Thump!
Celestina's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met for a fleeting moment.
He was the first to break the connection, turning his gaze to his sister, who regarded him with narrowed eyes.
Azriel's lips curved into a soft, knowing smile.
Ba... Thump!
Celestina felt her heart skip a beat once more, this time with the impact of his smile.
And she wasn't alone.
More than half of the guests felt their hearts quicken at that smile.
"All of you are looking at me like I'm some sort of ghost—"
His voice was soft, yet it effortlessly carried across the room.
"—Why? Today is Christmas, after all... the day of miracles."
With that, he moved towards a nearby waiter, who visibly paled upon his approach.
Azriel casually took a glass of red wine from the tray, as if nothing unusual had happened.
"I'm sure you have many questions about me. Where have I been all this time? Did I die? Was I disowned? Did I run away?"
He addressed each of the rumors that had been circulating about him with a calm smile.
"The truth is, I wasn't dead, disowned, or fleeing. Instead, I..."
The crowd leaned in, hanging on his every word, until he abruptly turned his gaze toward someone.
Celestina, along with everyone else, followed his stare and saw him looking at his father.
Joaquin Crimson, flanked by Ragnar on his left and Aeliana, his wife, on his right, watched with approving smiles.
Joaquin gave a nod of acknowledgment.
"For the past two years, I was in the Void Realm."
"...!"
ความคิดของผู้สร้าง
Crypthh
Crypthh
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Also, please give me all of those golden tickets and power stones you have hidden!
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