It has now been seven years since Alex last spoke with Xymaris. Alex had been preparing for his awakening for the last year. The goddess did tell him that her blessing would reach him on this day, so he was curious what the blessing was. There was also the secret wish of wanting to see her again. Which he would never tell her, of course.
"Well, at least that asshole knows how to pick out a suit." Alex said out loud.
Alex was wearing a black suit jacket with red designs with a black undershirt and a dark red tie, along with Black dress pants and dress shoes. He was given this suit by the main Blackwood household butler. He was sent by Alex's father, Edward Blackwood, a man Alex had never met.
To Alex, Edward was nothing more than a man who shared his last name. After all, he didn't even share blood with Edward. His mother, Anna, had never even let Edward touch her. You may wonder, How did she have two kids then?
Well, simple answer: magic.
Anna, with the assistance of her sister, combined their magic to allow Anna to have children that were completely hers. Plus, it wasn't like Alex or Raven could inherit the Blackwood titles anyway due to Edward already having a son from his previous marriage.
You see, two years before he married Anna, he was married to another noble lady. Who tragically died during childbirth; however, the child survived. That was Edmund Blackwood, the heir to the Blackwood territory. Alex had also never met him, but Raven had during her awakening ceremony. From how Raven described him, he had already angered Alex. Apparently, he had called Raven the daughter of a whore during the ceremony to some of his associates. Which made Alex and Anna both angry. It was then that Alex vowed to get payback against him; however, he couldn't at the moment due to him not having awakened yet.
"Master Alex, may I come in?" said the monotone voice behind the door.
Yes, Veronica, I've finished dressing." Alex said as he turned toward the door.
Veronica walked into the room and bowed to Alex. She had grown her blue hair out and let it flow as it reached her waist. She was still as beautiful as ever, as were the other two maids. Strangely as the year's past none of the maids seemingly got older. They looked the same for the past ten years.
"Lady Anna and Lady Raven are waiting for you in the main room; it's nearing time for the ceremony as some of the last guests are arriving."
Alex took a deep breath after hearing what Veronica told him. Many lords and ladies from across the region have arrived at the Blackwood mansion for this event. It was a special day after all.
"Any surprise visitors, or is everyone who came expected to be here?" Alex asked Veronica.
"No surprises as far as I know, young master." Veronica answered.
Alex turned around to face Veronica and asked, "Good, So how do I look?"
"As handsome as ever, young master." Veronica answered once again in her monotone voice.
"You know, if you don't say it with emotion, it doesn't feel sincere, and here I was thinking you were finally opening up to me." Alex said as he straightened his tie.
"You've known me your whole life, young master; you know it is rare I show any emotion."
"Yes true, however I still remember the times you slightly smiled, I'd bet a whole smile would look even more beautiful than your emotionless face." Alex teased Veronica.
All Veronica could do was sigh, then she said, "Follow me to the main room to meet with your mother and sister."
The two started to walk down the hallway to the main room, and Alex asked Veronica, "So will you be joining us for my awakening ceremony or will you remain here with Mary?"
"Myself and Eve will be joining you; Eve wouldn't miss this for the world; after all, you're like a little brother to her...don't tell her I said that." Veronica told Alex with a glare while saying her last sentence.
"A little brother, huh?" Alex turned to Veronica and said, "And tell me, how do you see me? You have watched over me all my life along with Eve, so do you see me the same way?"
"No, you are my young master; that is all." Veronica said in her monotone voice.
Alex nodded while being disappointed. "One day Veronica I'll crack that shell you created for yourself, I swear it." he thought to himself. In Alex's previous life he had a thing for girls who hid their emotions from the public. While he didn't meet many of those girls in real life they were some of his favorite anime characters.
The two reached the main room, where Anna and Raven were waiting along with Eve. Anna was wearing a long black dress with black evening gloves on each of her arms, paired with black heels. She was stunning, to say the least.
"It Looks like I will have to find a way to stop men from glaring at her tonight, I see." Alex thought to himself.
Then he turned his attention to his sister, Raven. Like her mother, she was also wearing a black dress with black heels; however, her dress had hints of purple in it, which brought out her eyes.
"How the hell am I supposed to keep eyes off of both of them now?! Well, I guess looking is fine even though I don't like it, but absolutely no touching." Alex sighed as he thought to himself.
Alex was very protective after all; he wasn't going to allow anyone to do anything to the people he loved.
Alex, Anna, and Raven, along with the two maids, left the house. Alex could see the droves of people dressed in fancy suits and dresses outside of the mansion. About halfway to the house, three of the Blackwood household guards came up to the group.
"Good evening. We will be escorting you to the ballroom for the ceremony. If you would please follow us."
Anna reluctantly agreed, and the group followed the guards. They got many looks from the nobles as they walked past them.
"Is that Lady Blackwood?" a woman said.
"She is beautiful..." a man who was drooling over Anna before his wife hit him in the arm said.
"The Young Lady has grown even more beautiful since her awakening," an older gentleman said.
"That young man must be Alex Blackwood." another woman said.
"He looks so handsome." a young girl in a yellow dress said.
Alex wasn't used to this many people. Even in his previous life, he wasn't exactly a social butterfly and had a small friend group. So the crowd was making him feel anxious.
The Guards reached the doors to the ballroom and opened them. Inside the room, there were long tables placed on each side of the room, along with live piano and violin music with performers near the front of the room. Dozens of noble ladies, gentlemen, and young heirs and heiresses were spread across the massive room. However, the only thing Alex really noticed was the man at the center of the room, sitting on an extravagant throne with a young man a few years older than Alex beside him. Alex knew immediately who it was on the throne.
Edward Blackwood