Much to my surprise, the New Year Party ended without much drama. I was especially shocked that Cecilia didn't try to pull any moves after what she did at my house, but I suppose having her father there made it troublesome for her.
Of course, she had to pull one last thing before the party was over.
After I walked out of the washroom, Cecilia quickly pulled on my tie and kissed me on the lips. Her soft, plump lips pressed against mine.
She broke the kiss, a playful glint in her eyes. "This is the kiss I couldn't give you when the year ended." She let go of my tie and slipped back inside.
I hate to admit it, but she was a very good kisser, especially for a girl supposedly kissing for the first time.
Kissing her was a... pleasant sensation, even if I didn't have any romantic feelings for her. I wiped her lipstick off my lips with my hand before heading back into the washroom to wash up. With two super overprotective fathers nearby, I didn't want any drama tonight.
That was the last bit of excitement for the evening. As the party concluded, everyone started getting ready to leave. Before they could, I approached Seraphina.
"Hey Sera, I want to come to your estate after this party," I said, scratching my head. "Traveling together would be better, but you're leaving right now, right?"
She tilted her head before replying, "I can stay overnight, and we can leave tomorrow if you wish."
Rachel overheard our conversation and jumped in, "You're welcome to stay! We have plenty of guest rooms."
She grabbed both of Seraphina's hands, shaking them enthusiastically. It was amusing to see Seraphina, clearly surprised by Rachel's actions, but still enjoying the warmth.
Rachel shot me a sidelong glance before turning her attention back to Seraphina. 'I wonder what that's about,' I thought, scratching my cheek.
Soon, the others began to depart with their parents.
"You need to come visit the South one day, Arthur," Marcus said as he patted my shoulder. "Fighting against the dark beasts will be valuable experience for you."
"Thank you for the kind offer, King Marcus," I bowed. "I will certainly visit the Viserion estate in the future."
That wasn't a lie. I needed to meet the dragon Tiamat eventually.
"I heard your swordsmanship is very refined," Arden commented as I bowed to him.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
His eyes looked thoughtful before he finally spoke again, "If you defeat Lucifer and become Rank 1 this year, you can choose any treasure from the Winward treasury not currently being used."
My eyes widened in shock, and everyone around us gasped.
Any treasure from the Winward vault? They even have some Legendary-rank artifacts there! The reason for that is, of course, because Legendary-rank artifacts choose their own masters, and a single person, even Radiant-rankers, can't wield multiple of them.
"Father?" Lucifer asked, his voice shaking with surprise.
"What, do you think you will lose?" Arden asked, turning to his son, his eyes narrowing. Lucifer looked at me, his emerald eyes meeting my blue ones, and shook his head.
"No, I will win," he answered confidently.
Of course, he was confident. Currently, I was strong enough to defeat Rachel, but even Ren could beat me. It was inconceivable to Lucifer, who is so far above me, that I could catch up to him.
But I will.
I now had another reason to defeat Lucifer: to claim an invaluable artifact from the Winward treasury.
"HAHAHA!" Alastor laughed as he stepped in. "I never thought I would see Arden Winward, the Black God of Fighting, ever wager something like this."
"Is it that surprising?" Arden retorted. "I simply wish to reward Arthur if he manages to become the greatest genius of this generation by beating my son."
Arrogant words. Those words still sounded arrogant even with Sun Zenith still around. After all, he is in the same generation as Lucifer and is the youngest person in history to reach
But as long as Lucifer doesn't unlock his second Gift, I won't lose to him when we eventually face off in five months.
My preparations are perfect, and I'll be ready to defeat him in the tournament.
"You've certainly made the tournament more interesting, Arden," Quinn said, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. Cecilia looked at me before subtly licking her lips. That goddamn hyena-like imperial family.
After the bet was made, the guests soon left, leaving just Rachel, Seraphina, Alastor and I.
"Let's talk about this tomorrow okay?" Alastor said to me as he smiled, "Get some rest now."
I nodded as I smiled, "Yes Uncle."
As the party drew to a close, I joined Rachel and Seraphina in one of the guest rooms. Rachel, always eager to host, had already prepared the room with cozy blankets and pillows, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
"Thank you for staying, Seraphina," Rachel said warmly, handing her a neatly folded set of pajamas. "It's nice to have you here."
Seraphina nodded, accepting the pajamas with a slight smile. "It's no trouble. Arthur, you too," she said, turning her gaze to me. "I appreciate the company."
I nodded, feeling a bit out of place amid their polite exchange. "It's my pleasure, Sera. It'll be nice to have some downtime together before we head to your estate."
Rachel gave me a smile. "You two will have plenty of time to catch up. For now, let's get ready for bed."
The three of us retreated to our respective rooms for the night. After shedding my suit and shirt, I let myself fall onto the bed, sinking into the plush mattress. The events of the evening played back in my mind, but the comfort of the bed quickly pulled me into a state of relaxation.
As I lay there, my thoughts wandered to the upcoming tournament. Arden's challenge and the stakes involved weighed heavily on my mind. The promise of a legendary artifact was both thrilling and daunting. I knew I had to give it my all to defeat Lucifer and claim that prize.
Just as I was drifting into sleep, a soft knock on the door pulled me back to consciousness. "Come in," I called out, propping myself up on one elbow.
The door creaked open, and Rachel peeked her head in. "Hey, I just wanted to check if you needed anything before we all turn in for the night."
I smiled, appreciating her thoughtfulness. "No, I'm good. Thanks, Rachel."
She nodded, stepping inside for a moment. "You know, we're all rooting for you, Arthur. You've got this."
"Thanks, Rachel. It means a lot," I replied, feeling a bit more at ease.
She gave me a reassuring smile before closing the door behind her. The room fell into silence once again, and I let out a deep breath, closing my eyes.
In the quiet of the night, with the moonlight casting a gentle glow through the curtains, I allowed myself to relax. The anticipation of what lay ahead was still there, but for now, I let the comfort of the bed and the warmth of the room envelop me.
Gradually, my thoughts began to blur, and I felt myself being pulled into a restful slumber, ready to face whatever challenges tomorrow would bring.