Free Web NovelChapter 16: Chapter 16: A Week Until Arrival
Chapter 16: A Week Until Arrival
The night wind drifted gently through the garden.
Moonlight poured across the grass like liquid silver, bathing the Darkmoor Estate in a cold, ethereal glow. The distant murmur of fountains echoed softly through the night, while countless stars shimmered across the vast sky above.
Andras remained stretched out on Evelyne’s lap beneath the blackwood tree.
One of Evelyne’s hands moved slowly through his white hair, while the other rested lightly against her dress. From a distance, they looked less like a powerful duchess and her heir and more like an ordinary mother spending a quiet evening with her son beneath the stars.
But Andras’s thoughts were anything but peaceful.
Many things were approaching.
The story of Rise of the Sword Hero was slowly beginning to move.
His fiancée would soon arrive at the Darkmoor Estate.
Then came the imperial princess’s eighteenth birthday celebration—one of the grandest noble gatherings in the Empire.
And after that...
Ambrose Academy would open its gates once more.
The academy where most of the novel’s story had unfolded.
A place where heroes, villains, prodigies, and monsters gathered beneath the same roof.
Andras’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting times were ahead.
After a moment of thought, he finally spoke.
"When will Seraphina Valebright arrive?"
Evelyne looked down at him, mildly surprised.
One golden eyebrow rose slightly.
"Oh?" she said slowly.
"And why are you suddenly asking about your fiancée?"
A teasing smile appeared on her lips.
"Is my son finally excited to meet his future wife after all these years?"
Hearing the amusement in her voice, Andras laughed softly.
"Of course."
He matched her teasing tone perfectly.
"I’m extremely excited. Maybe I’ll marry her quickly and give you grandchildren to spoil."
Evelyne blinked once before laughing lightly.
The sound was soft and elegant, carrying a warmth that few people ever heard.
"You’ve only met her once," she said, shaking her head. "And both of you were children. How are you already talking about grandchildren?"
Andras smiled faintly.
"I was joking, Mother."
His expression soon returned to its usual calm.
"I barely know her. For all I know, she might not even like me."
Outwardly, his voice remained indifferent.
Inside his mind, however, his thoughts were entirely different.
Why would he reject her?
A marriage to Seraphina Valebright offered nothing but advantages.
The Valebright Duchy possessed immense wealth, political influence, and military strength. Their control over magical resources alone was enough to make neighboring kingdoms cautious.
And Seraphina herself...
She would eventually become one of the strongest women in the world.
An S-Rank genius.
Beautiful.
Talented.
Influential.
And most importantly—
Useful.
Andras remembered her clearly from the novel.
Silver hair that resembled moonlight.
Cold sapphire eyes.
A prideful personality sharp enough to wound people without ever drawing a blade.
Many men desired her.
Very few dared approach her.
A faint smile touched his lips.
Even if she disliked him now, that could change.
People were easier to understand once you discovered what they truly wanted.
Besides...
Her talent interested him greatly.
An S-Rank talent comparable to Evelyne’s.
There was absolutely no reason to reject someone like that.
None at all.
Evelyne interrupted his thoughts.
"Why wouldn’t she like you?" she asked confidently.
"You are my son. Any woman should consider herself fortunate to marry into House Darkmoor."
Andras laughed quietly.
"You’re right, Mother."
His tone was smooth.
"She should feel honored to marry me."
Evelyne looked thoroughly satisfied by that answer.
In her eyes, Andras was perfect.
No matter what noble society whispered behind closed doors.
No matter how many rumors surrounded his name.
To her, he remained the child she cherished most.
That blind affection had been obvious even within the original Andras’s memories.
After a brief silence, Evelyne finally answered his earlier question.
"Seraphina should arrive in about a week."
Her voice became slightly more serious.
"Her family is currently handling matters in the imperial capital."
Then she added,
"I hope the two of you get along."
Andras glanced up at her lazily.
"You know what kind of person I am."
Evelyne sighed softly.
Unfortunately, she did.
Andras continued calmly.
"Besides, I doubt she’s as beautiful as people claim."
"Oh?"
"The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen is sitting right here."
For a second, Evelyne froze.
Then the faintest trace of color appeared across her cheeks.
A rare sight.
Even on battlefields stained with blood, Evelyne Darkmoor remained calm and untouchable.
Yet a simple compliment from her son managed to embarrass her.
She quickly looked away.
"I know I’m beautiful," she said, attempting to sound composed, "but you shouldn’t say things like that about your fiancée."
Andras chuckled.
"I’m only speaking the truth."
Meanwhile, another thought surfaced in his mind.
Interesting.
Even someone like Evelyne could be embarrassed by something so simple.
For some reason, he found that reaction surprisingly fascinating.
Evelyne lightly flicked his forehead.
"You’ve become suspiciously smooth with your words lately."
Andras merely smiled.
The alcohol probably played a role.
When drunk, he became noticeably more social.
Conversation flowed more naturally.
Emotions became easier to imitate.
That was one of the reasons he had relied on alcohol so heavily in his previous life.
Pretending to be normal became much easier that way.
The garden gradually fell silent again.
The breeze carried the fragrance of flowers through the night air, while distant lanterns illuminated parts of the estate grounds.
Andras turned his gaze back toward the stars.
Seraphina Valebright.
The imperial princess.
Ambrose Academy.
And finally—
The protagonist of Rise of the Sword Hero.
Soon, all of them would step onto the stage.
But unlike the original Andras Darkmoor...
He already knew how the story was supposed to unfold.
That knowledge alone was enough to change everything.
A faint smile slowly formed on his lips.
Evelyne noticed immediately.
"What are you smiling about?"
"Nothing important."
His answer came calmly.
But inside his mind, countless plans were already beginning to take shape.
This world was no longer just a novel.
It was reality.
And he intended to stand at its very peak.
