* * *
There was a saying—whoever occupied the top floor of the Goldman Hotel during the Manifestation ceremony was the protagonist of that year’s event.
It may have started as a mere marketing ploy, but over time, it became a near-unquestioned tradition.
Because of that, every year, people across the empire secretly placed bets on which family would take the top floor.
So, was the winner this time the House of Luavis?
If one were to ask, the answer would be an ambiguous nod.
After all, in an Manifestation ceremony attended by none other than the Crown Prince, would it really matter who secured the hotel’s top floor?
And yet, the Duke of Luavis had claimed it.
For a simple reason.
He refused to be overshadowed by the Duke of Pantheon.
That was the only reason.
He got what he wanted, but the Duke of Luavis felt no satisfaction.
If anything, his mood had only soured further.
And it was all because of the foolish boy kneeling before him.
“Why are you silent? I asked if you know what your duty is during the Manifestation ceremony, Karon Luavis.”
Fiery red hair and deep olive eyes—the most vivid embodiment of the Luavis family’s signature colors.
The current Duke of Luavis, who possessed those very features, spoke in a tone that was more fitting for addressing an incompetent subordinate than his own child.
Before him, a boy knelt.
The third son of the Luavis family, Karon Luavis.
From his hair to his eyes, his features were an exact copy of his father’s.
The child who, among the three brothers, resembled the Duke the most.
The child who had once received his favor—only to now become the greatest disgrace to the family.
“T-To remain still and silent…”
Karon’s voice trembled, barely audible.
The Duke’s brows furrowed in irritation.
He picked up the teacup before him and hurled it to the floor beside Karon.
CRASH!
With a sharp shatter, hot tea and glass shards scattered across the floor.
“I told you to fix that pathetic stuttering habit of yours.”
“I’m sorry…!!”
Karon immediately pressed his forehead to the floor.
The burning tea should have hurt, but before the overwhelming fear of his father, he felt nothing at all.
Seeing the red hair splayed against the floor, the Duke felt that same sharp irritation scratch at his insides again.
“Tch.”
‘Disgraceful.’
“I’ve said this before—I expect nothing from you anymore. As long as you don’t bring shame to the family, I won’t complain. But… if you ever make a fool of me again, you’ll leave this house with nothing in your hands.”
“I understand…!!”
His piercing gaze held nothing but cold fury.
No matter how much time passed, the sight of this son—his own son—only fueled his anger further.
He had swallowed his pride and arranged for Karon to become the Crown Prince’s attendant, yet the fool got into a fight with the prince and was sent back in disgrace.
And then, rather than acknowledging his mistake, he threw a tantrum, saying he didn’t want to return to the palace.
That was when the Duke had abandoned all expectations for Karon.
He had once cherished this son, thinking him the most promising of his children.
He had given him everything.
But in the end, he didn’t even come close to the eldest, who had inherited his mother’s eye color.
And now, whenever Karon stood before him, stuttering like a frightened child, the Duke could only feel disgust.
He despised himself for ever considering this boy as his successor.
‘Still, I can’t discard him just yet.’
“But who knows? If you do well enough, things could change.”
At those words, Karon’s head shot up. His face brightened with expectation.
The Duke smirked.
There was no need to offer a concrete reward.
A vague promise was more than enough.
The boy would wag his tail eagerly with just that.
But people only see what they want to see.
The Duke failed to notice the confusion flickering in Karon’s eyes.
To Karon, his father was a man who could change at any moment—one who could erupt in fury, only to then offer the false hope that everything could go back to the way it was.
Because there were no clear rules, he had learned to shrink away and watch for signs.
Even so, he knew exactly what he was supposed to say now.
“Yes! I won’t disappoint you! I’ll stay quiet and behave, Your Grace!”
“Good. Now, leave.”
Karon Luavis limped as he exited the room.
The Duke watched the closed door for a moment, then clipped the end of his cigar and placed it between his lips.
“Hmph…”
As he exhaled a long stream of smoke, he walked toward the window and pulled back the curtain. Bright sunlight flooded in.
Squinting against the light, he looked down at the streets far below and let out a quiet chuckle.
From this height, the bustling crowd looked just like ants.
‘The Pantheon family took a townhouse nearby, didn’t they?’
Well, it made sense.
They couldn’t just let that cursed brat wander freely.
Keeping him isolated from the crowds was the safest option.
‘This must be a real headache for you, Claude.’
Muttering the name of the Duke of Pantheon, he let out a small chuckle.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door roughly.
Duke Luavis asked irritably.
“Who is it?!”
“It’s me!”
A high-pitched voice that could almost tear eardrums apart.
It was his wife.
‘She’s here quite early.’
Ever since the spy planted as the little mutt’s tutor had been rooted out, the rest of them had been exposed one after another.
As a warning, the enemy had even sent the severed hand of one of the missing spies—delivered in an unmarked parcel.
That’s why this week of the Manifestation Ceremony was the perfect chance to exploit a gap in the Pantheon Duchy.
Duke Luavis pressed his cigar into the ashtray, barely even smoked, and gestured toward his aide standing by the door.
The aide opened it immediately.
As soon as the door swung open, the Duchess of Luavis strode in, her long auburn hair cascading down her back.
She plopped onto the sofa with a faint frown before raising a fan to cover her face.
“I told you to cut back on the cigars, dear.”
“And? How did it go?”
Duke Luavis went straight to the point, treating his wife no differently than he did his own son—like a subordinate rather than family.
The Duchess narrowed her eyes, coughed theatrically, and finally spoke.
“Hah. It was so easy it was almost laughable. No matter how distant a branch family they are, do they have no pride at all?”
“Baron Odil is a rigid man, but it seems his wife thinks differently.”
“Yes, almost… disgustingly so. She’s like some lowly matchmaker, really. Anyway, after handing her a few trinkets, her eyes practically turned red with greed.”
The Duchess had been mocking Baroness Odil when she caught the sharp gaze of her husband, prompting her to get to the point.
From the growing resentment among Pantheon’s branch families after adopting a commoner orphan to the scandal that had unfolded at the New Year’s banquet—she reported everything.
Duke Luavis’ eyes gleamed with a sinister light.
“Light? You’re saying that when that little mutt reappeared, light spread out?”
“Yes. That’s what they say. Apparently, that commoner orphan who disappeared alongside him cried his heart out, saying it was all thanks to his ‘brother.’ And now, rumors are spreading that the incident four years ago was just a setup by enemy forces.”
“What? Hah!”
What an absolute farce.
“There’s no doubt he’s pulling some kind of trick. That bastard is exactly the type to stage such a spectacle. Of all things, only the two kids vanished? Does that even make sense?”
Raizen Pantheon was cursed.
That was the truth, and it had to remain so.
Because if it weren’t, then life was simply too unfair.
A grotesque sense of inferiority stirred within Duke Luavis.
Only two ducal houses existed in the Empire.
From birth, he had been compared to him.
At the Academy, that wretched man had stood in his way every single time.
“Of course. Isn’t it obvious?”
Even as she spoke, the Duchess looked at her husband with an expression that hinted at exasperation.
She closed her fan, set it on the table, and leaned in closer to him.
“Regardless, I’ll make sure the Baroness is fully enchanted. No need to worry.”
“Yes, that’s how it should be. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he realizes the loyalty he boasted about has been shattered.”
“Indeed.”
The Duchess let out a low laugh before murmuring under her breath.
“In the end, our Luavis house will be the only ducal house left in this Empire.”
Duke Luavis nodded in agreement, as if responding to the voice thick with greed.
If the Pantheon Duchy had an atmosphere of well-ordered serenity, then the Imperial Capital was undoubtedly dazzling and lively.
The last time I came to the capital, I went straight to the palace, so I hadn’t been able to properly look around.
But this time, it was a little different.
I stayed in a townhouse in the heart of the capital for two days before moving to another near the village of Shailot.
Even so, I couldn’t exactly relax and enjoy the sights.
‘Raizen’s Manifestation Ceremony.’
That alone made it a huge event.
But the real problem was that it was happening with none other than Crown Prince Hamuel and Karon Luavis.
To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, I had re-read the novel from start to finish multiple times.
But since the novel only started after Kim Minsoo had possessed the protagonist, there wasn’t much concrete information on Karon Luavis.
So, I went back and carefully reviewed the rumors and achievements of Karon Luavis that I had previously skimmed over.
And the conclusion I came to was:
‘Avoid him at all costs.’
Karon Luavis was a walking disaster.
The kind of guy who didn’t understand moderation.
His sheer audacity in wreaking havoc made me wonder if he was just plain dumb.
As if he had completely given up on life.
Back when I read the novel, I assumed his exaggerated antics were just a setup to highlight the dramatic change after Kim Minsoo took over.
His character had barely any real substance to begin with.
Still, there was one undeniable trait—he reacted to the Pantheon Duchy like he had stepped on a landmine.
‘Well, I’ll be wearing an identity-masking artifact anyway…’
The Manifestation Ceremony was a gathering of countless people.
Among them, there were bound to be those affiliated with the Kreveta Marquisate.
There was always the chance that someone might recognize my face.
That worried me at first, but in hindsight, it was a needless concern.
‘Besides… it’s unlikely I’ll be alone at any point.’
I just needed to stay quiet and keep my head down.
* * *
