Free Web NovelChapter 193: The Party ends
The moment Veda stepped onto the stage and took his seat beside the Head, applause erupted once again throughout Castle Hall Grandus.
The sound rolled across the enormous hall like waves crashing against a shore.
Guests stood from their seats.
Servants paused their movements.
Even some of the guards stationed around the hall joined in the applause.
For many of them, they had just witnessed the rise of the newest Young Lord of Ashenlocke.
Veda stopped before Valentin and bowed respectfully.
His movements were neither hurried nor arrogant, then he sat down on the seat prepared beside the Head of the family.
The seat that symbolized his new position.
His new responsibility.
Nickolas and Cole immediately moved into position.
The two stood beside Stoke, who remained behind the seats of both the Head and the Heir.
Their expressions carried obvious pride.
After all, Nickolas had watched Veda struggle through the Trial of Steel from beginning to end, while Cole, who was just an orphan, was happy to be part of a great person like Veda’s rise.
"We humbly greet the newest Young Lord of Britannia and the Heir to Ashenlocke."
The two hosts bowed politely.
Then they turned back toward the guests and the countless viewers watching through the broadcast.
"The Young Lord consistently remained among the top candidates throughout the Trial of Steel."
The female host began listing his accomplishments.
"Not only that..."
The male host immediately continued.
"He was also the leader of the largest group during the Trial of Steel."
His bright smile remained fixed on his face.
"Leading his team through challenge after challenge."
"Overcoming danger after danger."
The female host nodded.
"And finally defeating the Jewel of Ash herself to become..."
She raised her voice dramatically.
"The Unbreakable Steel of Ash!"
The announcement echoed throughout the hall.
The applause immediately became louder.
Photographers rushed down from the upper floor.
Camera flashes exploded repeatedly.
Several photographers nearly bumped into one another while trying to secure the best angle.
The broadcasting crew focused their cameras directly on Veda like they did to Vera.
Every smile.
Every gesture.
Every reaction.
Were captured, with nothing missing.
Veda simply smiled calmly, then he raised a hand and waved toward the crowd.
The reaction only grew stronger.
Many young nobles looked at him with admiration, others looked at him with jealousy.
A few parents secretly glanced at their daughters.
Marriage opportunities had already begun forming inside their minds.
"Now..."
The hosts spoke together.
"This concludes all introductions."
The two exchanged smiles.
"If you have gifts for the rankers or wish to personally congratulate them...You may now do so."
They pointed toward the upper floor where most of the ranked candidates sat, then they pointed toward the Young Lord’s section.
After bowing one final time, both hosts stepped away from the stage.
Almost immediately, the orchestra increased the volume of its soft music.
Melodies drifted throughout the hall.
Servants carrying silver trays moved gracefully between tables.
Some carried fruit wine, some carried soft drinks, others carried expensive snacks and desserts.
The atmosphere quickly transformed from a formal ceremony back into a noble celebration.
One noble after another approached Veda.
Many came to congratulate him.
Others handed him gifts.
Several Counts continued introducing their daughters.
The awkward marriage discussions that had plagued him earlier resumed once again.
Some young ladies smiled shyly.
Others stared openly.
A few boldly attempted to start conversations.
Veda could only maintain his polite smile.
Elsewhere, many nobles climbed toward the upper floor to meet the remaining rankers.
The hall became lively.
Laughter mixed with music, conversations overlapped one another and servants moved constantly between groups.
Castle Hall Grandus felt truly alive.
Naturally, Ezra became one of the most popular people in the hall.
Many nobles approached him offering their congratulations.
Others offered sympathy.
Many expressed disappointments toward how his family had treated him.
The gifts originally prepared for Zara gradually found their way into Ezra’s hands instead.
Each time someone approached him, Ezra politely thanked them.
He accepted their gifts.
Listened to their condolences.
Exchanged a few words.
Then carefully ended the conversation before it became too long.
His social battery wasn’t particularly large.
And after everything that happened today, he didn’t have much interest in spending hours speaking to strangers.
Time slowly passed.
The atmosphere remained peaceful.
Joyful.
Warm.
Eventually, Valentin stood and delivered a final speech to the guests.
His deep voice carried throughout the hall.
He congratulated the younger generation.
Encouraged the new Alchemists, reminding them of their responsibilities as members of Ashenlocke.
Many of the younger candidates listened attentively.
Others looked inspired.
When the speech ended, the party officially began entering its final stage.
The number of guests slowly started decreasing.
Many nobles had traveled from distant regions of Britannia.
Some still needed to catch the next departing dirigible while others had long journeys awaiting them.
One by one.
Group by group.
The hall gradually became less crowded.
Not everyone left happily though...
Felix was one of those people.
The moment an opportunity appeared, he left.
Gareth followed behind him.
Felix’s expression remained dark throughout.
His plan had failed completely.
Not only had it failed...
He now understood something even worse.
From the beginning, he had unknowingly handed Ezra the perfect opportunity.
By encouraging Zara and Zavier to appear at the party, by convincing them to steal Ezra’s identity, by forcing the situation into public view.
Felix had accidentally allowed Ezra to reveal his existence not only to Ashenlocke...
But to millions of people across Britannia.
The realization left a bitter taste in his mouth, and the more he thought about it...
The more irritated he became.
Remaining at the party and watching Ezra gain attention felt impossible.
So, he left.
As the crowd continued thinning out, Veda finally managed to escape from the endless line of nobles still attempting to speak with him.
Together with Nickolas and Cole, he headed toward one of the quieter sections of the hall.
Outside.
On a balcony overlooking the star light city.
Ezra stood alone near the railing.
The night wind brushed against his hair; the city lights stretched far into the distance.
Above him, countless stars shone in the dark sky.
A glass of glowing yellow fruit wine rested in his hand.
He quietly watched the night.
Enjoying one of the few peaceful moments he had experienced recently.
During the time Veda was making his way out from speaking with guests, Lucy, who he met at Ezra’s sit area, explained everything to him, before leading him to where Ezra sat.
The assassins.
The ambush.
Wallace.
The reveal.
A bit of everything.
The moment Veda finished listening...
His eyes widened.
"Are you serious?"
He stared at Ezra, then immediately burst into laughter.
"I missed all of that?"
He placed a hand on his forehead.
"No!"
His face became genuinely disappointed.
"I missed the best drama of the entire event."
"No wonder it took us so long to get out of that room."
Nickolas took a sip from his glass of red fruit wine as he spoke. The deep crimson liquid swirled inside the crystal cup before he lowered it again.
"Sir Ezra, my condolences."
Cole bowed politely, his expression carrying genuine sympathy.
Ezra glanced at him briefly.
Then he calmly raised his own glass and took another sip of the glowing yellow fruit wine.
The cold breeze flowing through the balcony brushed against his black and white hair.
"It’s okay."
His voice remained as plain as ever.
The answer was simple.
Yet hearing it somehow made the others feel even more helpless.
"But seriously..."
Veda shook his head while leaning against the balcony railing.
The lights of Lumithar stretched across the distance behind him, making the city look like a sea of stars scattered across the ground.
"They really tried to take your place thinking nobody would easily notice."
A laugh escaped him again.
Even now, he still finds the whole situation ridiculous.
The more he thought about it, the funnier it became.
"When did you find out it wasn’t me?"
Ezra asked.
His dark eyes moved toward Veda.
Veda rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Hmmm..."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Well, it started when he mentioned Vera."
Ezra remained silent.
Veda continued.
"Knowing you, I immediately felt something was wrong."
He rested both arms on the balcony railing and stared out toward the city.
"You... I mean your twin brother... asked me about Vera."
The corner of his mouth twitched.
"That alone felt strange."
"Why?"
Cole asked curiously.
Veda looked back at him.
"Because Ezra isn’t the type to ask random questions about people."
He pointed toward Ezra.
"Especially not questions about Vera, even when he does talk to people, he normally gets straight to the point. Most of the time he acts like conversations are some kind of unavoidable side quest."
Nickolas immediately nodded.
"That’s actually true."
Ezra narrowed his eyes on them.
The two pretended not to notice.
Veda chuckled.
"Then I noticed his Cognis level."
His smile slowly disappeared.
"That was the final nail in the coffin. He was only at the Novice Rank."
Veda spread his hands.
"And the funniest part was that he wasn’t even trying to hide it."
His finger pointed directly at Ezra again.
"Unlike you."
"Is that so?"
Ezra replied plainly.
"Yeah."
Nickolas immediately joined the conversation.
He folded his arms while staring at Ezra with an almost accusing expression.
"You enjoy hiding your Cognis presence all the time. Even right now."
He squinted his eyes as if trying to inspect Ezra again.
"If I didn’t already know your actual level, I would think you were just another Novice Rank Alchemist. Most people would think the same and honestly, it’s annoying."
Cole nodded slightly.
"I agree. Sir Ezra... your concealment is unusually effective."
Ezra looked at the three of them.
Then looked back toward the wine inside his glass.
The truth was...
They weren’t wrong.
During the Trial of Steel, he had consciously hidden his Cognis because revealing everything too early would have brought unnecessary attention.
Back then, concealing himself had been intentional.
But somewhere along the way...
It became natural.
Almost instinctive.
Every Alchemist learns how to suppress part of their presence.
It is common practice.
Since a powerful Alchemist constantly releasing their Cognis could affect ordinary people around them.
Some weaker individuals could even become uncomfortable from prolonged exposure.
But Ezra’s case had gradually become different.
He concealed his Cognis so thoroughly that many Alchemists couldn’t accurately judge his true rank anymore.
Unless they possessed stronger perception abilities or were already aware of his level, they would naturally underestimate him.
Maybe I’ve simply gotten too used to doing it.
Ezra thought quietly.
His gaze drifted toward the night sky above Lumithar.
The stars were now getting faint tonight.
Most of them were hidden behind moving clouds.
The distant sounds of laughter and music from the party drifted onto the balcony.
For a brief moment, nobody spoke.
The atmosphere became calm and peaceful.
Far different from the chaos of the unveiling ceremony.
Then Veda suddenly grinned, the bright smile returning to his face.
"It’s good seeing you again."
His words were simple.
Yet they carried sincerity.
Ezra looked toward him.
For a moment, he remained silent, then he raised his glass slightly.
"It’s a pleasure, Young Lord."
Like that, the party continued in a peaceful atmosphere until it finally came to an end.
The following day...
Inside the Ashenlocke Mansion.
Within the Council Hall.
The massive chamber felt far different from the lively atmosphere of the previous night.
The walls were lined with dark polished stone engraved with the history of Ashenlocke. Tall windows allowed pale morning light to spill into the room, illuminating the circular arrangement of seats where the Elders gathered whenever matters of importance needed to be discussed.
Eight Elders sat within the circular structure.
Each of them carried a different expression.
Some appeared relaxed.
Some looked curious.
Some were simply observing.
At the very center sat Valentin Ashenlocke.
His expression remained as unreadable as ever.
He sat with one leg crossed over the other, his fingers resting lightly on the armrest of his chair as he silently listened.
Standing alone in the center of the hall was Ezra.
The distance between him and the Elders seemed large.
Any ordinary thirteen-year-old would probably feel nervous standing beneath the gazes of so many powerful figures.
Yet Ezra remained calm.
His posture was straight, his face showed little emotion and his dark eyes quietly observed the room.
"Ezra Ashenlocke."
Portia was the first to speak.
Her serious expression softened slightly as she looked at him.
"I would first like to offer my apologies for the tragedy that happened to you and for the suffering caused by the actions of your family."
Her voice was gentle.
The events of the unveiling party had embarrassed not only that family but Ashenlocke as a whole.
"Thank you."
Ezra bowed respectfully.
His response was neither cold nor emotional.
He simply accepted the apology.
Portia nodded slightly before leaning back into her chair.
Then Elder Paul spoke.
The old man held a newspaper in one hand.
His posture looked relaxed, but unlike his usual self, there wasn’t a smile on his face.
"News arrived shortly after the event."
He unfolded the paper slightly.
"It concerns a battle between Alchemists that occurred around Glassmere."
Several Elders glanced toward him.
Paul continued.
"Numerous shops were destroyed. The streets suffered considerable damage and the dead Alchemist involved was Wallace, leader of the Wallace Gang."
He lowered the paper.
"One of the criminals listed within the records of the State Alchemists of Metallica."
Paul raised an eyebrow.
His gaze landed directly on Ezra.
"Does this incident have anything to do with you?"
After asking the question, he casually passed the newspaper toward Elder Yestin.
Yestin immediately reached for it.
Clearly, he wanted to read the full report himself.
"Yes."
Ezra answered immediately.
There was no hesitation.
No panic.
No surprise.
Almost as if he had already expected this topic to be raised.
Several Elders exchanged glances.
Ezra continued speaking.
"It turns out that Baron Sterling and his son hired the Wallace Gang to assassinate me before the party."
His voice remained calm.
"An ambush was prepared."
He briefly explained the events.
Not in every detail, but only the important parts.
Enough for everyone present to understand the situation.
"So..."
Elder Tabitha leaned forward slightly.
"You and your maid managed to defeat them?"
A trace of surprise appeared on her face.
Even though she already knew Ezra was talented, defeating an experienced killer like Wallace was still impressive.
"Yes."
Ezra nodded.
Tabitha’s eyes brightened slightly.
"Interesting."
"That’s our Sixth Ranker for you."
Yestin chuckled quietly while continuing to skim through the newspaper.
His laughter echoed lightly inside the hall.
Several Elders nodded in agreement.
Wallace wasn’t weak.
The fact that Ezra survived such an ambush only made his achievements appear even more impressive.
"Ezra."
Elder Ivanhoe suddenly spoke.
His gaze settled on Ezra.
The old man studied him carefully.
As if searching for something hidden beneath the surface.
Something beyond talent or maybe something beyond strength.
"Are you wondering how we knew this incident was connected to you?"
Ezra looked toward him.
"Yes, I am."
His answer remained straightforward.
Although...Truthfully, he didn’t care very much.
If they knew, they knew.
There wasn’t anything for him to hide.
Ivanhoe smiled softly.
The expression made him appear less intimidating than the other Elders.
"Don’t worry about it."
He waved a hand casually.
"The incident has already been handled and the necessary measures have been taken."
He leaned slightly forward.
"Since this is your statement regarding the matter, we will still require an official written report from you to the State Alchemists. A small investigation might also be conducted to verify the details."
His smile widened slightly.
"Although I already believe what you said is true. So, you may relax."
"Understood."
Ezra nodded.
The atmosphere in the hall became lighter.
For a moment.
At least until another voice entered the conversation.
"Now..."
Elder Fredricks spoke.
His sharp eyes narrowed as he stared directly at Ezra. Unlike the others, he made no effort to hide his dislike.
"Za..."
He paused.
Then corrected himself.
"Ezra Sterling. Or whatever your name currently is."
The hostility in his voice became obvious.
Few Elders frowned slightly, even Portia looked displeased.
But, Fredricks ignored them.
"You may have been the victim here."
His fingers tapped against the armrest.
"You may have suffered because Baron Sterling chose to protect his precious golden child from participating in the Trial of Steel."
He leaned forward.
"Despite the order requiring every Mainline, Highline, and Lowline family to present their children between the ages of twelve and fourteen and your family happened to have a ghost child like you."
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"But."
The word echoed sharply.
"You will still be held accountable for your own wrongful actions."
The smirk on his face widened. Almost as if he had been waiting for this moment.
Ezra simply stared back.
His face remained completely expressionless.
Held accountable for my wrongful actions?
The thought crossed his mind.
Yet his expression never changed.
Surrounded by some of the most powerful figures in Ashenlocke...
Standing alone in the center of the Council Hall...
Ezra remained calm.
His dark eyes quietly waited for Fredricks to continue.
******************************************************************************************************
Please ignore this part!
Thank you!
After the duel ended in such a humiliating fashion for Zara, the Guards of Ash wasted no time.
Before the whispers could even settle, several guards stepped forward and seized both Zavier and Zara.
Neither father nor son offered any resistance.
One had completely lost his spirit.
The other looked as though his mind had yet to recover from what had happened.
Under countless stares, they were escorted out of everyone’s view and taken away for detention.
The large doors of the hall closed behind them as the unveiling party officially resumed.
Guests gradually returned to their seats.
Servants moved between the aisles carrying trays of drinks and snacks.
The orchestra resumed playing a soft score.
The atmosphere inside Castle Hall Grandus became even more lively than before.
After all, the guests had just witnessed something far more entertaining than they had expected when they first arrived.
A hidden genius had appeared.
A fraudulent scheme had been exposed.
And a father had publicly ruined himself through greed.
Those three things alone were enough to keep nobles talking for months.
The two hosts returned to the center of the stage.
This time, their voices carried far more excitement than before.
After all, the identity of the Sixth Ranker could finally be announced properly.
Not as Zara Sterling.
But as...
Ezra Ashenlocke.
The moment the name echoed throughout the hall; applause erupted from every direction.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The cheers rolled through the massive chamber like waves crashing against a shore.
Even people watching through the live broadcast flooded the comment sections with reactions.
Not only had Ezra displayed remarkable combat ability during the duel, but the story behind him had touched many people.
A boy who had been treated as worthless.
A boy abandoned by the very family that should have protected him.
A boy sacrificed for another child.
Yet despite all that...
He stood there as one of the brightest stars produced by the Trial of Steel.
The contrast was simply too dramatic.
Too satisfying and too memorable.
Many nobles found themselves nodding unconsciously.
The story almost felt like something from a novel.
Yet everyone had witnessed it happen with their own eyes.
***
Far away from Metallica.
Far beyond the snow-covered regions.
Far beyond the glowing crimson sea that reflected moonlight across its endless surface.
A lesser cold land, than the other lands of Britannia.
Thornwick.
A massive island territory controlled by the powerful Duke House of Flame Alchemy.
The Burnwick Family.
Inside one of the family’s grand residences, a large room sat illuminated by golden lamps.
Steam-powered devices occupied various corners of the room.
A miniature steam train ran continuously along a carefully built track system that circled shelves and tables.
Several mechanical toys moved occasionally as gears clicked and rotated.
At the center of the room, a floating screen displayed the live broadcast of the Ashenlocke Unveiling Party.
The screen currently showed Ezra’s introduction.
"I didn’t expect this event to be this fun."
A female voice echoed from the back of the room.
The boy sitting on the bed turned his head.
"You say that," he replied while narrowing his eyes slightly.
"But you followed me here to watch the entire thing from the beginning."
His gaze landed on the girl seated comfortably upon a wine-red sofa decorated with golden patterns.
Two maids stood at her sides.
Their movements were slow and practiced as they gently fanned her.
The breeze caused strands of the girl’s scarlet hair to sway slightly while her scarlet eyes remained fixed on the floating screen.
"But seriously."
The boy frowned.
"Why are you people in my room?"
His gaze shifted toward another boy sitting casually on the opened window frame.
The moonlight illuminated his figure.
His arms remained folded; his expression remained relaxed.
It was as if he was only half interested in the event.
The boy possessed the same scarlet hair and eyes common within the Burnwick bloodline.
"You’re the only person I know in this family who would ignore Mother’s warning and still watch this."
The girl smirked.
"And Cyrus."
The boy sitting by the window finally spoke.
"I was curious about the new Young Lord of Ashenlocke. That’s all."
His tone remained calm.
Almost indifferent.
As though watching the broadcast was simply a way to pass the time.
Cyrus glanced between the two.
A trace of annoyance appeared on his face, yet he quickly returned his attention to the screen.
"Well." He pointed toward Vera’s seat. "It seems Vera isn’t the head after all."
The girl immediately looked toward the screen.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Ehn...Did she actually lose to Veda?"
Disappointment briefly flashed across her face.
"Humph."
She crossed one leg over the other.
"Not that I care. It just means I’ll have something to tease her about during the Second Coming-of-Age Ceremony in the Royal Hall."
She adjusted her posture, then her gaze shifted toward the two boys.
"But.... Do either of you martial arts fanatics know what kind of fighting style that was?"
Cyrus stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"I honestly don’t know. It looked completely new and that’s exactly why I’m curious."
"New?" The boy by the window scoffed. "It isn’t difficult to understand."
The other two immediately turned toward him while the boy continued watching the broadcast.
"It relies on redirecting the opponent’s strength back at them. That’s all there is to the style."
Cyrus blinked.
The girl narrowed her eyes.
"That’s our geni, genius for you."
Cyrus laughed.
"One look and you’ve already figured out the principle."
He leaned forward.
"So can our esteemed Young Lord Genius replicate it and teach his humble brother?"
He winked dramatically.
The boy at the window remained expressionless.
"I said I understand what he did, but I didn’t say I could replicate it."
His eyes remained fixed on the screen.
"There’s a key component missing. A very important one."
The girl immediately pointed at him.
"But if someone used it against you directly..."
"I’d figure it out immediately."
He answered before she finished.
The confidence in his voice made both of them laugh.
"That’s Ravenor for you."
The girl smirked.
Both Cyrus and her teasing look made Ravenor slightly uncomfortable.
Yet his expression barely changed.
"I don’t care about the martial art and I don’t care about the person. He’s only Sixth Rank."
He glanced toward Cyrus.
"Maybe that’s someone for you."
Then his eyes shifted toward the girl.
"And maybe you, Sasha."
"Well, he’s cute."
Sasha admitted immediately.
"But I’m not interested."
"I am though... not in that way of course"
Cyrus replied with a faint smile while the two looked at him narrowing their eyes wondering who was insinuating he was.
His eyes returned to the image of the white-haired boy displayed on the screen.
"Ezra Ashenlocke, huh..."
***
Back in the Capital City of Lumithar.
Inside Castle Hall Grandus.
The hosts had already moved on from introducing Ezra.
After the excitement surrounding his identity reveal finally settled down a little, they continued the ceremony and introduced Priscilla Ashenlocke.
The applause remained strong, then came Nate Ashenlocke.
The moment Nate’s image appeared on the massive holographic screen suspended above the stage, the reaction throughout the hall changed noticeably.
A wave of confusion spread through the guests.
Many nobles exchanged puzzled looks.
Some whispered to the people seated beside them.
Others immediately began searching their memories.
From the outer branches of the Ashenlocke Family to noble houses that had no direct ties to the Duke Family, almost nobody knew who Nate actually was.
The hosts deliberately avoided mentioning his true family background.
Only introducing his name, his rank and the achievements he accomplished during the Trial of Steel.
That alone made the situation even more mysterious.
The more information the guests received, the more curious they became.
"Who is he?"
"I’ve never heard of him before."
"Neither have I."
"Was he hidden somewhere?"
Questions spread throughout the hall.
Many people eventually settled on the same conclusion.
Nate was probably from some low-profile Lowline branch of Ashenlocke.
A child whose talent had remained hidden until the Trial of Steel gave him the opportunity to display it.
Unlike Ezra’s story, which felt like a tragedy overcoming fate, Nate’s story now appeared to the crowd as that of a hidden gem suddenly discovered from obscurity.
And people loved stories like that.
The applause remained steady until the hosts eventually raised their hands once more. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
"People of Britannia!"
The male host shouted energetically.
His amplified voice echoed throughout the enormous hall.
"It is finally time to announce the top of the top!"
The female host followed immediately.
The excitement in her voice matched his perfectly.
"The children who stood above every other candidate in the Trial of Steel!"
The crowd immediately became more focused, with many guests straightening their posture, while others leaned forward in anticipation.
The atmosphere gradually became hotter.
"Starting with the Third Rank!"
The female host pointed dramatically toward the screen.
"We would like to introduce to you all..."
The two hosts paused briefly, then announced together.
"GARETH ASHENLOCKE!"
The giant screen displayed Gareth standing up from his seat.
He wore a relaxed smile while giving the crowd a casual wave.
Applause erupted again.
Some younger nobles looked at him with admiration.
Others whispered among themselves.
The energy inside the hall continued rising.
Every introduction increased the expectations for the future generation of Ashenlocke.
If the lower ranks were already this impressive...
Then what kind of monsters were sitting at the very top?
After nearly a minute of introduction and commentary regarding Gareth’s accomplishments, the hosts smoothly transitioned to the next candidate.
The Second Rank.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Many people already knew whose name was about to be called, even before the announcement happened.
"Now introducing the Second Rank of the Trial of Steel!"
The female host announced.
"VERA ASHENLOCKE!"
The moment her name was spoken...
The reaction exploded.
Inside the hall and even through the live broadcast.
The comment section of Linsta instantly became flooded.
Messages appeared so quickly that they became impossible to read properly.
Love emojis.
Heart emojis.
Words of admiration.
Marriage proposals.
Entire paragraphs praising her beauty.
The screen moved so quickly that viewers could barely keep up.
Inside the hall, the reactions weren’t much different.
"She really is beautiful."
A young nobleman muttered under his breath.
"It’s honestly hard to believe she only got second place."
Another noble replied.
"She truly deserves her title."
A young noble lady sighed.
"The greatest flower among the Flowers of Britannia."
The photographers nearly rushed forward.
Camera flashes exploded continuously.
Every angle.
Every expression.
Every movement.
They captured everything.
Vera stood calmly through all of it.
Her posture remained elegant; her expression remained as unreadable as ever.
The overwhelming attention didn’t seem to affect her in the slightest.
That only made her appear more unattainable.
And more attractive.
Not far away, both Priscilla and Page couldn’t help reacting.
"Yeah... yeah... she’s beautiful." Page rolled her eyes. "Big deal."
"Haha!"
Lyra immediately pointed at her.
"You jealous bitch."
She laughed loudly.
Page’s eye twitched.
"Shut up."
She turned her face away.
"You’re so annoying."
Meanwhile, Nina sat nearby with an expression that clearly showed she was enjoying herself.
She stared directly toward Priscilla.
A mocking smile slowly formed on her face.
Priscilla could feel the gaze immediately.
Yet she refused to look back.
She knew exactly what Nina wanted.
A reaction.
And she wasn’t planning on giving her one.
Not today, not ever.
Nate watched the entire exchange unfold.
A low chuckle escaped him.
The girls continued their silent battle while he simply enjoyed the entertainment.
Nearby, Ezra remained seated comfortably.
His expression didn’t change much, he simply observed everything quietly.
After spending an entire day traveling.
After fighting assassins.
After exposing Zara and Zavier.
After surviving everything that happened during the unveiling party.
For the first time since arriving...
He finally felt as though things were settling down.
At least for now.
A few minutes later, Vera eventually returned to her seat.
The applause slowly died down, the photographers retreated and the comment section gradually calmed.
Then...
The lights inside the hall suddenly went out and darkness swallowed the whole hall.
The conversations immediately stopped.
A quiet sense of anticipation spread throughout the crowd, then a bright spotlight descended from above.
The beam illuminated the center of the stage with the two hosts standing there together.
The orchestra began playing a slow score, the music carrying a sense of suspense.
The entire hall became silent.
"Now..."
The two hosts spoke together. Perfectly synchronized.
"The moment all of you have been waiting for."
The orchestra continued playing.
The music gradually slowed while the suspense grew heavier.
"We would like to introduce to Britannia!"
The hosts smiled brightly, their voices echoing throughout the hall.
"The Number One Ranker of the Trial of Steel!"
Guests adjusted themselves in their seats again.
Those who arrived late watched with eager anticipation while those who had attended from the beginning smiled knowingly.
Across the live broadcast, thousands of comments appeared.
People guessed names.
Made predictions.
Argued with each other.
The excitement reached its highest point.
"And..."
The orchestra lowered its volume.
"And the Young Lord of Ashenlocke!"
The atmosphere tightened; the anticipation became almost tangible.
Then...
The music stopped completely.
"VEDA ASHENLOCKE!"
The two hosts shouted together while pointing toward the right side of the stage.
At that moment, Veda stepped forward.
A calm smile rested on his face.
His posture was steady, his eyes carried confidence.
The spotlight fell upon him alone.
And the entire hall erupted into thunderous applause as the lights of the hall lit back on.
