Night fully settled across the Rosenfeld Main Estate.
Outside—
Snowstorms drifted endlessly across the North beneath silver moonlight while freezing winds moved through dragon banners hanging from the towering fortress walls of House Rosenfeld.
Inside however—
Warmth and light filled the enormous dining hall.
Golden chandeliers illuminated the massive chamber while long blackwood tables reflected flickering candlelight beneath ancient dragon carvings decorating the ceiling itself.
The Rosenfeld family had finally gathered completely.
After two years—
Its returned firstborn sat among them once more.
Meanwhile—
Servants moved silently throughout the hall placing dishes carefully upon the table while noble conversations gradually filled the atmosphere beneath the warm firelight.
Kel quietly entered after freshening himself earlier.
He now wore formal black noble clothing embroidered subtly with silver dragon patterns while his long black hair rested neatly behind him beneath the dim golden light.
The moment he entered—
Several conversations momentarily paused again.
Not because of discomfort.
But because everyone still unconsciously observed him.
The returned heir looked too different.
Too composed.
Too… heavy somehow.
Even simply walking quietly toward his seat—
Kel radiated strange pressure naturally.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly laughed.
"They still stare at you like some mysterious monster."
Kel calmly sat beside his father afterward.
"…They'll get used to it."
The silver-haired spirit sounded unconvinced.
"Doubtful."
Meanwhile—
The dinner finally began properly.
Warm northern dishes filled the table.
Roasted mountain beast meat.
Heavy winter soups.
Dragon-spiced wine.
Black bread infused with mana grains.
And naturally—
The conversations gradually returned.
Though interestingly—
Almost every discussion revolved around two topics tonight.
The South.
And Reina Asheville.
Meanwhile—
Kel quietly ate in silence while listening calmly.
The eldest cousin leaned slightly forward while speaking toward one of the uncles.
"I heard House Asheville expanded again."
Another cousin immediately nodded.
"The Delhart territory incident?"
"Aye."
The sixteen-year-old cousin looked impressed.
"Reina Asheville personally challenged Viscount Delhart in duel."
Another pause.
"And won."
One of the elder uncles quietly snorted afterward.
"That alone would already make her impressive."
Then another pause.
"But this sword art thing…"
Even the older warriors present looked intrigued now.
"The Sovereign's Orbit Sword Arts."
Kel quietly continued eating.
Meanwhile—
The younger knights and cousins became visibly enthusiastic discussing it.
"They say it completely changed aura weapon theory."
One cousin leaned forward excitedly.
"Condensing aura swords from leaking aura itself…"
Another shook his head slowly.
"That sounds impossible."
Meanwhile the eldest uncle calmly drank wine before speaking.
"Impossible things become possible when someone understands battle deeply enough."
His sharp eyes narrowed slightly.
"And the girl was originally trained within Rosenfeld territory."
The second uncle quietly added afterward:
"She was talented even before leaving."
Another pause.
"But no one expected this level of growth."
Meanwhile—
Kel's younger brother suddenly spoke enthusiastically.
"I want to learn it too."
Several family members laughed softly afterward.
The thirteen-year-old looked completely serious though.
"I heard the sword art lets users create endless variations."
His crimson eyes gleamed excitedly.
"That sounds amazing."
The younger sister meanwhile tilted her head curiously.
"Is Lady Reina very strong?"
The second cousin immediately answered softly.
"Very."
Another pause.
"She became one of the Empire's youngest ruling matriarchs."
Kel quietly listened without expression.
Meanwhile—
The conversations shifted gradually afterward.
Toward the South.
And eventually—
Toward dragons.
The atmosphere subtly changed afterward.
Even the servants unconsciously listened more carefully now.
Because the news itself still sounded absurd.
Southern treaties.
Trade agreements.
Diplomatic exchange.
Tourism routes.
Between humans and dragons.
Something previously considered impossible.
Meanwhile—
One uncle slowly folded his arms.
"The South moved first again."
Another pause.
"Smart."
The eldest cousin nodded thoughtfully.
"Controlling the trade routes connected to the Dragon Realm alone will generate enormous wealth."
Another family member quietly added:
"And influence."
The younger knights nearby looked openly fascinated now.
"They say draconic diplomats actually entered Imperial territory personally."
Another replied immediately.
"And southern nobles already started residence exchanges with the Dragon Realm."
The second uncle narrowed his eyes slightly afterward.
"Interesting timing too."
Another pause.
"The expedition happened."
"The South suddenly stabilizes politically."
"Then dragons open diplomacy immediately afterward."
His gaze quietly sharpened.
"That sequence feels too convenient."
Meanwhile—
At the center of the table—
Two people remained almost entirely silent.
Duke Aktaris.
And Kel.
Father and son quietly ate beneath the warm candlelight while endless conversations unfolded around them naturally.
Yet beneath the surface—
Both understood far more than anyone else here.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly whispered:
"This is amusing."
Kel calmly lifted his wine glass slightly.
"What is?"
"Everyone discussing massive historical events casually…"
Another amused pause.
"…while the person responsible sits silently eating dinner."
Kel quietly took another sip.
Meanwhile—
Beside him—
Duke Aktaris remained expressionless externally.
Yet internally—
The Slaughter Dragon had already connected countless pieces together.
Reina Asheville.
Landon Veil.
The South.
The expedition.
The Dragon Realm treaty.
And above all—
Timing.
Two years ago—
Kel departed accompanied by two loyal knights personally assigned under the duke's authority.
Reina Asheville.
And Landon Veil.
Neither returned with him.
At first—
Aktaris immediately understood Reina's absence after hearing she reclaimed House Asheville and became matriarch.
But Landon…
That situation felt different.
Until the South's official expedition reports surfaced recently.
The second highest contributor of the southern expedition.
Count Landon Veil.
A knight originally assigned to Kel.
And even more suspicious—
The first-ranked individual mentioned repeatedly throughout southern rumors.
A mysterious alchemist-advisor.
Heral.
The same figure constantly appearing beside Reina Asheville.
The same figure involved in southern stabilization.
The same figure linked indirectly to the Dragon Realm diplomacy.
And somehow—
Every trail eventually circled back toward Kel.
Inside Duke Aktaris' mind—
The conclusions already formed clearly.
His son was involved.
Deeply involved.
Perhaps far deeper than anyone realized.
Yet—
The duke remained silent.
Because he understood something important.
If Kel wished to reveal it—
He eventually would.
And if he chose silence—
Forcing answers would accomplish nothing.
Meanwhile—
Across the table—
Kel quietly continued eating.
And surprisingly—
He also understood his father likely suspected almost everything already.
The duke was not foolish.
Far from it.
If anything—
Aktaris von Rosenfeld possessed terrifying intuition sharpened through decades of warfare and politics.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly muttered:
"Your father definitely knows."
Kel quietly cut another piece of roasted meat.
"…Probably."
"And yet neither of you says anything."
Kel calmly replied internally:
"There's no need."
Meanwhile—
The family conversations continued endlessly.
His younger brother excitedly spoke about dragon combat styles.
The younger cousins debated southern trade profits.
The elder uncles discussed political consequences.
And through all of it—
No one realized the absurd truth.
The heir quietly eating beside the Duke of the North…
Was the hidden center behind nearly every topic discussed tonight.
The Dragon Realm treaty.
Reina's rise.
The sword art.
Southern stabilization.
Mercenary influence.
All of it connected directly back toward Kel.
Yet he simply sat silently beneath warm candlelight.
Calm.
Composed.
Like someone entirely uninvolved.
Meanwhile—
Duke Aktaris finally glanced toward his eldest son briefly.
Only briefly.
Yet within that short moment—
The duke's sharp eyes quietly observed everything.
The calmness.
The hidden pressure.
The unnatural composure.
And for perhaps the first time fully—
The Slaughter Dragon understood clearly.
The boy who returned home…
Had already become something far beyond ordinary heirs.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly whispered afterward:
"You know what's terrifying?"
Kel calmly lowered his wine glass.
"What?"
The spirit laughed quietly.
"Neither side truly understands how dangerous the other actually is."
Meanwhile—
At the massive Rosenfeld dining table—
Father and son remained silent beneath dragon banners and flickering golden light.
And around them—
The world unknowingly discussed the consequences of the heir sitting quietly among them