As everyone gathered and waited for the main character to arrive, The gossip did not stop where you could hear it without paying much attention to it.
"Lady Brooklyn, what do you think?"
At that time, Verena, who had a bored expression on her face listening to the girls' conversation, raised her gaze. As soon as her red lips opened up, her soft voice rang out. "Well, it's something you have to decide after seeing what happened, isn't it?
Verena was the only daughter of Duke Brooklyn. It was no exaggeration to say that she was the woman with the greatest power among noble girls.
"Notwithstanding, there is another rumor that also made a commotion in the noble circle, and it was as big as the news of the abandoned child becoming seems to be chosen as an official crown prince by the Emperor himself. I heard a daughter of a low-ranking noble is recently proved to be a saint."
Verena spread out her splendid fan studded with jewels, then she pretended to be yawning with a bored expression. "The noise is so loud that it gave me a headache."
The girls around her looked at each other and quickly responded.
"Is, is that so? That's what I thought too!"
"That's right. I agree with Lady Brooklyn."
At that moment, the commotion around them suddenly quieted down. The girls looked around with puzzled faces at the sudden change in the atmosphere in the ballroom.
"It seemed that young man is the rumored abandoned son"
"The rumors that the Viscount Reynold Agriche support him seemed to be true."
"…."
Verena looked at the place where the people's eyes were focused with uninterested eyes. Then, when she saw Sigren entering, a faint smirk began to appear on her face.
***
Lucian's father, the Emperor, sat on his throne chair that was placed higher than the hall. His red eyes, tanned skin, and pitch-black hair were the same as Lucian, but the only thing that they don't resemble each other was his face 'cause Lucian's look was taken after by her mother.
The Imperial Knight who announces the guest's arrival finally declared the main character's arrival.
"The future sun of the empire!!! His Highness Lucian Hyacinth Blackwell!!!"
The main character of the rumor had entered. And the noble girls who had been talking about him until now all shut their mouths when they saw Lucian's face.
Lucian walked elegantly to where the emperor was seated. People slowly parted but without taking their eyes off him. He stepped on the red carpet that was placed not far from the throne chairs and stood tall.
"Oh my! such a brilliant man"
"It's as if his face is glowing..."
The phrase 'clothes make a man was shown in him. How he walked like a celebrity on the red the red carpet must have done well due to wanting to show people that they should know their place and acknowledge him as the chosen heir to the throne.
Emperor slowly got up from his throne with a satisfied face.
"I believe everyone here has heard the good news."
The crowd was so quiet that you couldn't even hear a single breath.
"This Emperor's glorious bloodline has made a great contribution in the east."
Even from afar, Eugene could see Lucian holding back a smirk. it was very easy to notice a small change in his expression. Growing up surrounded by threats of those greedy for power, Lucian can tell how those guests stared at him ravenous for power.
Eugene secretly smirked. "What a funny talk. He's been ignoring Lucian since the moment his mistress came, but now he's part of your glorious bloodline?" holding back his laughter, as he thought of how funny those words of his can be, Eugene looked at his master who was standing right in front of his father, the Emperor.
The emperor slowly descended from the throne and placed his hand on Lucian's shoulder with a very benevolent face.
"This emperor's proud son, Lucian. Show everyone what you've accomplished here."
"I will, Your Majesty."
It must have been Lucian's small resistance to not call the emperor father.
Lucian gave a signal to the servant next to him with his eyes.
The servant, as if he was been waiting, walked politely while holding something wrapped in a luxurious cloth.
After looking at the cloth for a moment, Lucian bowed his head and then spoke in a no-frills manner. "I would dedicate this to your majesty, the master of the empire."
The servant then rolled up the cloth.
Then, a second after that, Lucian's dull voice echoed in the hall. "This is one of the rarest gemstones, it's called the red heart of the dragon."
Hearing those words, a small exclamation bursts out.
A gemstone of a dragon's heart was completely different from what people thought of it. It was not like a human heart. It was more like a large mineral. The heart was black like obsidian and had red streams like rubies at first glance. The difference was it was more conspicuous and radiated weird feelings that attracted people.
The emperor was greatly pleased seeing the heart.
"Oh oh! What a precious gemstone! A heart of a dragon… This precious gemstone represents the great bloodline of this empire."
Then he spoke to the people in the hall.
"You've all seen it. The greatness of the Empire and the imperial family!"
Since the beginning, the Emperor has been exceptionally emphasizing that Lucian was part of his father's bloodline. He intended to inform the people and especially the empress that all of Lucian's achievements were possible because Lucian was part of the 'imperial family' like him. Well, Eugene guess that the emperor liked to show off. So it was natural that he gave the 'glory' to his bloodline.
The emperor opened his mouth solemnly. "So, I would like to give my son who has contributed to history his original position."
The surrounding became a little noisy after hearing those words. It was because the meaning of what the emperor said was clear.
"Today, in this place, I would make Lucian the official crown prince!"
As soon as the words finished, applause erupted.
I glanced around. These nobles were good at this kind of social life. They seemed to give hearty congratulations. But it was obvious they were unable to openly make gestures against the will of the emperor, so they had to clap formally and fake their smile. It was all the same in any world, what the boss said was the law.
However, it seemed some people did not mask their expression even if they lived in this society, and even in this kind of atmosphere. The royal family. Those people sat at the top a little further away from the emperor's seat, looking very dissatisfied. And the person with the most visible displeased expression was the empress herself. It was clear that the declaration of the official crown prince who might threaten the position of her son was certainly not pleasing to her.
Looking at how the empress was displeased with Lucian's Coronation, The coronated prince looked at her with a teasing smirk on his face, even if the Emperor saw it, he didn't mind and just sat on his throne naturally.
The moment he turned around, everyone who'd just mocked him earlier courteously bowed their heads as an acknowledgment of the future emperor.
Most of the attention of the people in the hall was on Lucian. Many people also tried to get closer to him. So, there were many people gathered around him.
The five families meeting was the regular meeting held by the representative of the five founding families of the empire. In other meaning, it was a gathering of five very influential families in an aristocratic society.
Therefore, no doubt, Lucian's answer just made those people's curiosity increase. Some even whispered that their daughter will suit his taste. Fortunately, people's interest faded a bit as the dance progressed. However, this unfamiliar attention was not to his liking. It was very tiring being stared at. So Lucian sneaked out, and went away from the hall, trying to find a quiet space in the corner of the terrace he sighed at how tiring this day is, staring at the full moon Lucian couldn't help but think of her.
" If only you were here, this day would be one of the happiest days of mine."
" What could've happened to her? Is she alright? Did she also miss me? Like how I missed her so much... If only I wasn't born this way, I could've been with her."
Wondering about Celine's well-being, Lucian continued to stare at the magnificent lone moon with a melancholic expression on his face. Waiting for the first music to finish, Lucian couldn't help but complain eternally, complaining about how those young ladies kept appearing and asking him for a dance. Every time he looks at them, he can feel how they look like the current empress. They were all ravenous for power and lustrous for one's beauty.
As the first music was played, Lucian turned to head back to greet some high-ranking officials but as soon as he walked towards the doorway, the door suddenly opened and a young lady appeared in front of him.