The great dining hall of House Rosenfeld remained bathed in warm golden light.
Outside—
Night had fully descended upon the North.
Snow continued falling beyond the towering crystal windows while dragon banners fluttered beneath the cold northern winds.
Inside—
The atmosphere remained warm.
Servants moved quietly around the enormous table carrying silver platters and crystal goblets.
The aroma of roasted meats, northern herbs, and fresh bread filled the hall.
Meanwhile—
The family of House Rosenfeld continued their dinner.
Conversations flowed naturally between cousins.
Occasional laughter echoed from the younger children.
The elders discussed military affairs and trade routes.
And at the far ends of the table—
Father and son sat opposite each other.
Duke Aktaris von Rosenfeld.
And Kel Rosenfeld.
The current ruler of the North.
And the future one.
Neither spoke much.
Yet their mere presence anchored the entire room.
At one point—
Kel's eldest uncle finally lowered his wine glass.
The man possessed broad shoulders and a warrior's frame despite his noble status.
His eyes shifted toward Kel.
Then he spoke.
"So, Kel."
The hall gradually quieted.
Everyone knew the question carried significance.
His uncle continued.
"When are you planning to awaken your constellation?"
A brief silence followed.
"You're already fifteen."
Several eyes immediately turned toward Kel.
Including Aria's.
Because among nobles—
Turning fifteen marked the beginning of true adulthood.
And awakening one's constellation represented one of the most important milestones in a noble's life.
Kel calmly set down his fork.
Then replied.
"I only turned fifteen last month."
His voice remained composed.
Unhurried.
"I'm still considering it."
The answer sounded reasonable.
Yet before anyone could continue the discussion—
A deeper voice interrupted.
Duke Aktaris.
The room instinctively became quieter.
The Duke calmly placed his cup down.
Then spoke.
"Everything has already been arranged."
The statement instantly drew everyone's attention.
Even Kel looked toward his father.
The Duke continued.
"Messengers have already been dispatched."
Another pause.
"All twelve priests are currently traveling here."
The younger children blinked.
Several cousins visibly straightened.
Even the elders looked surprised.
Because summoning a single high priest was already difficult.
Summoning twelve—
One from each temple—
Was something only a handful of people in the Empire could accomplish.
The Duke's voice remained calm.
"Two nights from now."
He looked directly at Kel.
"You will complete your constellation awakening."
Silence.
No one questioned the decision.
No one argued.
Because once Duke Aktaris made preparations—
The matter was already settled.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly spoke.
"Your father truly doesn't do things halfway."
Kel internally replied.
"No, he doesn't."
The Guardian chuckled.
"Twelve temples."
A pause.
"The priests are probably terrified."
Kel almost smiled.
Because that was likely true.
The Duke wasn't finished.
He slowly reached beside his chair.
A servant immediately approached.
Carrying a leather case.
The Duke accepted it.
Then calmly slid it across the table.
The case stopped before Kel.
The room became completely silent.
Every family member understood.
Something important was about to happen.
The Duke finally spoke.
"As you are about to awaken your constellation..."
His eyes remained fixed on his son.
"You should also receive your own territory."
The younger cousins instantly became excited.
The older nobles smiled knowingly.
Meanwhile—
Kel quietly opened the case.
Inside rested documents.
Maps.
Official seals.
Land rights.
Territorial records.
As he unfolded the papers—
His eyes slowly scanned the contents.
Then—
For the first time in a long while—
Kel's expression changed slightly.
Not enough for others to notice.
But enough for Sairen.
Inside his mind—
The Guardian immediately spoke.
"Interesting?"
Kel remained silent.
Because he recognized the territory instantly.
Very few people in this world could understand its future value.
But Kel could.
Because unlike everyone else—
He possessed memories from another life.
Memories from Destiny.
The game.
Before he had awakened inside this world.
And the territory currently written upon these papers...
Would eventually become one of the most important regions in the entire North.
Not today.
Not tomorrow.
But in the future.
A future no one else knew.
The Duke calmly continued speaking.
"The territory spans the Far Northern Coast."
Several nobles nodded.
They knew the region.
At least superficially.
The Duke continued.
"It stretches from northeastern borders..."
His finger moved across the map.
"...to portions of the northwestern coastline."
The younger children looked amazed.
Even Aria blinked.
Because the territory was enormous.
Truly enormous.
The Duke's voice remained steady.
"It is currently filled with monsters."
A pause.
"And undeveloped resources."
Another pause.
"But it belongs to House Rosenfeld."
Then finally—
"It now belongs to you."
The room fell silent.
Even the younger cousins stopped speaking.
Because they understood what that meant.
Kel was no longer simply the heir.
He was becoming a ruler himself.
The Duke continued.
"I have completed all necessary paperwork."
His gaze remained unwavering.
"From this day forward..."
Another pause.
"...you hold the title of Count."
The words carried weight.
Ancient.
Heavy.
The title settled across the room like a declaration.
Count Kel Rosenfeld.
A ruler.
A noble lord.
A territorial owner.
Not merely an heir anymore.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly laughed.
"Count Kel."
Kel internally replied.
"Sounds troublesome."
The Guardian laughed harder.
Nearby—
Aria suddenly smiled.
Then spoke.
"I received my territory last year."
Several younger cousins immediately looked toward her.
The silver-haired young noblewoman looked slightly proud.
"As well as my title."
A brief pause.
"Viscountess Aria Rosenfeld."
The younger children looked impressed instantly.
Meanwhile—
Kel continued studying the documents.
The others thought he was reviewing administrative details.
In reality—
He was recalling memories.
Ancient player knowledge.
Hidden locations.
Rare resources.
Future trade routes.
Monster spawning zones.
Ancient ruins.
Lost treasures.
Everything connected to this territory.
And the more he remembered—
The more valuable it became.
Inside his mind—
Sairen noticed immediately.
"You know something."
Kel internally answered.
"Perhaps."
The Guardian sighed.
"That answer means yes."
Eventually—
Kel closed the documents.
Then slowly stood.
The room instinctively watched.
Even Duke Aktaris remained silent.
Kel bowed slightly toward his father.
Not excessively.
Just enough.
Respectful.
Proper.
Then calmly spoke.
"I will govern this territory well."
His voice remained steady.
Confident.
No hesitation.
No uncertainty.
Then he added.
"Thank you, Father."
For a brief moment—
Silence filled the hall.
Then Duke Aktaris slowly nodded once.
Nothing more.
Yet somehow—
That simple nod carried approval.
Meanwhile—
The younger generation had become focused on an entirely different topic.
Kel's younger brother immediately spoke.
"What about us?"
The youngest cousin quickly joined.
"Yes!"
Another child added.
"When do we get territories?"
The atmosphere instantly became lighter.
Several adults chuckled.
The younger children all looked eager now.
Dreaming of castles.
Titles.
Knighthood.
Glory.
The second eldest uncle finally laughed.
Then answered.
"When you turn fifteen."
Groans immediately followed.
The younger children looked devastated.
Several years still remained for some of them.
The adults laughed softly.
Even Aria smiled.
At the far end of the table—
Kel quietly returned to his seat.
The documents remained beside him.
The title.
The territory.
The future.
All now resting in his hands.
Outside—
Snow continued falling endlessly across the North.
Beyond those frozen horizons lay the territory he had just inherited.
A wild land.
A dangerous land.
A land filled with monsters.
Treasures.
Forgotten secrets.
And opportunities.
To everyone else—
It appeared like a difficult burden.
To Kel—
It looked like the beginning of something much greater.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly asked:
"What are you planning?"
Kel looked toward the snow-covered darkness beyond the windows.
Then internally replied.
"Everything."
And for the first time that evening—
The ancient Guardian of Scarder Lake felt a brief moment of sympathy.
Not for Kel.
But for anyone unfortunate enough to stand between him and the future he intended to build.