* * *
“A… promise…?”
That wasn’t even on my list of possible answers.
Of course, I had assumed his birthday gift would be something—a tangible object.
‘But a promise?’
I felt both confused and strangely excited.
What could he possibly ask of me?
But, well… since I liked him, I supposed I had no choice.
‘At this rate, it’s basically like giving him a free wish.’
It felt like I had become someone important enough for Raizen to ask for something like this.
“W-what is it? A wi—no, I mean, what kind of promise?”
[You’ll find out later.]
Why is he like this, seriously?
[Will you keep it?]
“Wait, Hyung? I mean, I need to at least know what it’s about…”
[Sei.]
His voice sounded almost… dejected.
‘Damn it.’
The more socially adept Raizen became, the more dangerous he got.
I knew he wasn’t being entirely sincere, yet I still found myself getting pulled in.
Because… I liked him.
“…This isn’t some kind of magic contract, right?”
[…]
Why isn’t he answering? That’s not a good sign.
“Hyung? It’s not, right?”
[It’s not.]
There was a slight laugh in his voice, which somehow felt irritating.
“Well… if that’s the case, then fine. I’ll do it.”
[Since it’s a gift, you have to keep it.]
His emphasis made me slightly regret my decision.
“…This promise isn’t something that’ll put my life in danger, is it?”
I had meant it as a joke—but he didn’t answer.
My heart dropped.
No matter what he was thinking, I should have brushed it off lightly, but it suddenly felt like something was choking me.
‘I only said that on a whim, but…’
“Sean Kreveta will die at the hands of Raizen Pantheon.”
That was his first recorded kill—the novel stated it happened when Raizen was fifteen.
That time had already passed.
And yet, the sentence still lingered in my mind like a prophecy.
“Sean Kreveta will die at the hands of Raizen Pantheon.”
It sounded like something straight out of a Greek tragedy.
‘I can’t let him see I’m shaken.’
I wasn’t sure what kind of expression I was making.
I forced my stiff muscles to move and tried to smile.
[Are you… still afraid of me?]
“No! No, I’m not!”
I shouldn’t have said anything.
But it was too late to take it back.
“I should’ve been more careful… I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry, Hyung.”
Rather than trying to explain, apologizing seemed like the better choice.
The more I denied it, the weirder things would get.
“…I’m sorry.”
I had completely ruined the mood.
Biting my lower lip, I tried to hold back the emotions welling up inside me.
At that moment, something lightly tapped my left cheek.
The rabbit familiar.
[Sei.]
“…Yeah.”
[You will never be in danger.]
“……”
[And the two of us—we will survive, no matter what.]
I didn’t know what he truly meant by those words.
But one thing was certain—those words comforted me.
“Hyung…”
Slowly, I reached out and gently cupped the rabbit familiar in my hands.
“Happy birthday. I’m really glad… that you were born.”
I silently wished that my feelings would reach him.
After Raizen’s birthday, I lost track of time.
I tried researching ways to use my holy power more effectively, but nothing felt satisfying.
Since my power had no offensive capabilities—except against monsters with an opposite affinity—it felt even more frustrating.
‘No quests, and I still can’t get in touch with Noah.’
The system was functioning normally, so I had some hope, but no new quests appeared.
The only active quest remained the same:
[Quest]
Achieve Raizen’s Affinity: 0 / Progress not displayed
Reward: ???
Looking at it again, it felt like the system was mocking me.
No wonder—Raizen’s Affinity was still at -3.
Unlike before, it wasn’t even displayed in decimal points anymore.
‘Is it that my Affinity rating hasn’t changed, or has the Affinity system completely malfunctioned?’
I was inclined to believe the latter, but I wouldn’t know the answer until I got closer to Noah.
With that frustrating uncertainty, the day of Raizen’s birthday party finally arrived.
“Oh my, Young Master! You look absolutely stunning!”
“Hmm.”
“I’m not just saying that, I really mean it!”
Mila’s overly enthusiastic praise made me clear my throat involuntarily.
I knew full well that she was the kind of person who would call me handsome even if I looked like a beggar, yet I couldn’t help but feel a little pleased.
‘Do I actually look decent today?’
I subtly glanced at the mirror.
The reflection staring back at me was the same as always.
‘No, seriously… why?’
Would it have been better if my hair were still its original silver?
The signature silver hair of the Marquis Kreveta was strikingly pure, without any dullness, and would have certainly drawn attention.
It shimmered beautifully under the light, almost like a built-in beauty filter…
‘Ugh. What the hell am I thinking?’
I smacked my forehead a few times.
No matter how much I tried to dress up, my face was still my face.
No matter what I did, I’d always pale in comparison when standing next to Raizen.
At least when we were younger, I could get by on being “cute,” but that wasn’t an option anymore.
‘Why the hell did Raizen have to grow up so well…?’
And on top of that face, he even had a natural pheromone scent of roses?
Honestly, unless God personally decided to pour every desirable trait into one person, this kind of thing shouldn’t even be possible.
Obviously, most of the guests at today’s party would have eyes only for him.
Those already infatuated with him would be lingering nearby, hoping to get his attention in any way they could.
‘I can’t even use the excuse of being family to stay by his side anymore.’
It wasn’t like last year’s birthday party.
Back then, Raizen was still young, and I had only recently been adopted.
But today… today was a day where Raizen was the sole protagonist.
‘Of course. That’s how it should be…’
Still, the thought that I couldn’t stay by his side, even under the pretense of family, left me feeling a little melancholic.
“Young Master?”
“Huh?”
At the sound of Mila’s voice calling me, I quickly adjusted my expression.
She looked at me with a hint of concern before shaking her head.
“It’s nothing. It’s time to head down now.”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
I left my room and headed to the lobby, where the Duke and Duchess were already waiting.
“Sei, you look incredible today.”
“That outfit suits you so well.”
There was a faint wistfulness in their eyes as they spoke.
They were probably reminded of their late friends, whose features had become more apparent in me as I grew.
“You both look amazing as well.”
And I meant it.
The Duke and Duchess were already striking individuals, but today, they had clearly gone all out.
Even from a hundred meters away, anyone could tell they were the esteemed Duke and Duchess of Pantheon.
“Thank you, Sei.”
The Duke gave a soft smile before speaking again.
“It’s about time we head out.”
“Understood.”
As I followed them, I glanced back over my shoulder.
The familiar sights of the ducal estate filled my vision.
‘The Wheel of Fortune…’
Of all things, the tarot card I pulled last night came to mind.
I had asked whether the party would be affected by a curse, but the response I received was something entirely different.
[At last, everything begins to move. May you find the place where you truly belong.]
Rather than a mere tarot reading, it felt more like a message left for me by an ancient deity.
Before I knew it, we had reached the entrance to the banquet hall.
By now, all the invited guests had arrived.
‘Remember, Sei, today’s party includes the Crown Prince and the Luavis nobles.’
I took a quiet breath, recalling the Duke’s warning.
‘No Noah, no quests.’
The novel’s starting point was approaching, yet things were already vastly different from the original storyline.
“Presenting His Grace, Duke Claude Retum Pantheon! Her Grace, Duchess Liliana Miel Pantheon! And Young Master Shane Miel Pantheon!”
The grand doors slowly opened before me—a gateway leading to an unknown moment in time.
∗ ∗ ∗
“Young Master Shane? Oh, you mean that commoner orphan?”
“Didn’t he disappear for a while…? Guess he’s still clinging to the ducal family.”
“There were rumors that he was sick, but he looks just fine to me.”
I didn’t understand why these kinds of remarks always seemed to reach my ears so clearly, even when I wasn’t trying to listen.
But I kept my head high, not allowing myself to show any sign of weakness—just as my etiquette tutor had taught me.
“Humility is not a virtue for nobles.” I repeated those words to myself like a mantra.
As I took my designated seat, the grandeur of the hall fully came into view.
The interior was tastefully designed with red and black accents, exuding an air of refined luxury.
It was as if the entire setting was crafted to declare to every visitor, This is Pantheon.
‘So this is… the Pantheon Ducal Estate.’
This wasn’t just a gathering of the ducal family’s branch members or vassal houses.
This was an assembly of the empire’s most influential nobles—a place where politics and power played out beneath the guise of celebration.
The decor had to be neither excessive nor lacking, but still overwhelmingly authoritative.
‘This is… incredible…’
The realization sent an unsteady thump through my chest.
“Now entering, the star of the evening—Young Master Raizen Miel Pantheon!”
The announcer’s voice boomed through the hall, snapping my gaze toward the entrance.
The grand doors opened, and there he was—Raizen.
His hair was slicked back into a perfect pomade style.
He wore a white outfit embroidered with deep red patterns.
Though his lips curved into a soft smile, his sharp eyes gazed down at the guests with an air of effortless arrogance.
There were no dramatic spotlights, yet my vision was filled with nothing but him.
* * *
