“Valeeria… I’m back…”

  The slurred voice echoed through the hall.

  Valeria’s expression instantly turned rigid. I frowned and shifted my gaze toward the entrance.

  The owner of that voice was Marcus Kainridge.

  Valeria’s eyes flickered with tension. For a brief moment, guilt and anxiety crossed her face before she looked at me.

  “Edric… what are we going to do?” she asked quietly.

  I allowed a faint smile to appear. “Let’s see what he wants,” I replied calmly. “I’m curious what kind of man he has become.”

  I stood and walked toward the door, but Valeria quickly grabbed my arm.

  “What if he suspects something?” she asked in a low voice. “You know he already dislikes you.”

  I placed my hand gently over hers.

  “He won’t discover anything,” I said. “And even if he tries to cause trouble… I won’t let him.”

  A complicated expression crossed her face. After a moment, she exhaled.

  “Let me speak first,” she said firmly. “No matter what, he is still Julian’s father.”

  I studied her eyes. This was not hesitation—it was resolve.

  “Very well,” I said. “But don’t let him step inside.”

  She nodded slowly.

  “Mother…?” Julian looked between us, sensing the tension.

  “Julian,” Valeria said gently, forcing calm into her voice, “go to your room. Your father and I need to speak.”

  Julian hesitated but eventually nodded and left.

  Valeria took a deep breath and steadied herself before opening the door.

  I followed closely behind.

  The moment the door swung open, four figures stood outside.

  Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

  Marcus staggered slightly at the front, his clothes disheveled and the heavy scent of alcohol clinging to him. Yet his eyes were far too sharp for someone truly drunk.

  Behind him stood a young woman dressed in elegant mage robes.

  I recognized her instantly.

  Helena Ravelle.

  The daughter of Lord Theodore Ravelle of the Ravelle Family.

  Her golden hair flowed neatly behind her shoulders, and her green eyes held an amused, almost mocking glint. She looked less like a guest and more like someone attending a performance.

  Behind her stood two bodyguards.

  Both at the Fifth Layer of Mana.

  I narrowed my eyes slightly.

  “What is he doing here?!” Marcus demanded suddenly, pointing at me. His voice was no longer slurred.

  Valeria answered before I could.

  “I invited him. Do you have a problem with that?”

  Marcus snorted. His gaze lingered on Valeria in a way that made my expression darken.

  “Hmph.”

  A pulse of mana escaped me unconsciously.

  Marcus staggered back several steps, his face paling. But before the pressure could fully overwhelm him, Helena lightly snapped her fingers.

  My mana dispersed.

  Marcus glared at me, fury replacing his earlier act.

  At that moment, Valeria spoke again, her voice cold as frost.

  “What are you doing here? And why did you bring them?”

  Marcus smirked. “Can I not visit my own house? As for them—they’re friends.”

  Valeria’s eyes hardened.

  “Do you think I’m naive? I know you pledged yourself to the Ravelle Family. This is no longer your home.”

  Marcus’s smirk widened.

  “So you know. Fine. I was planning to divorce you anyway.” His tone turned sharp. “But first, I’m coming in to retrieve my belongings.”

  “You will not enter,” Valeria replied without hesitation.

  “You—!”

  Marcus lunged forward as if to push past her.

  I caught his wrist.

  He tried to wrench free, glaring at me.

  “Release me, Edric Valemont!”

  I met his gaze calmly—and released a thin thread of killing intent.

  His bravado shattered instantly.

  “H-Heck—!”

  With a simple motion, I pushed him backward. He stumbled and fell onto the stone path outside.

  Silence fell.

  “Valeria said you will not enter,” I said coldly. “So you will not enter.”

  Even the bodyguards stiffened slightly.

  I shifted my attention to Helena.

  “Lady Helena,” I said evenly. “To what do we owe this visit?”

  She tilted her head slightly, smiling.

  “Our dear Marcus sold us certain ‘valuable ideas’ yesterday,” she replied smoothly. “He claimed the documents were here. Naturally, we came to collect what we purchased.”

  “That’s nonsense,” Valeria snapped. “There are no such documents here. The only records in this house concern the Cyclebound Auction Hall.”

  Helena’s smile deepened.

  “That is not what he said. But since payment has been made… we must verify the truth ourselves.”

  A wave of mana surged from her body.

  The air grew heavy. Even the wind seemed to freeze.

  But before her pressure could reach Valeria, I stepped forward.

  My own aura expanded, sharp and controlled.

  The two forces collided silently in the air.

  Helena’s eyes brightened.

  “So the rumors are true,” she said with interest. “You forced a captain of the Imperial Guard to reveal Seventh Layer strength. And you humiliated my brother Cedric yesterday.”

  Her smile sharpened.

  “I’ve been curious about you, Prince Edric.”

  Without waiting for a reply, she raised her hand.

  Mana gathered instantly.

  A glowing magic formation began forming above her head.

  The air trembled.

  And the confrontation truly began.