Chapter 86 - Can I just not go to the ball?

The rhythmic sound of a saber slicing through the air echoed across the training field.

Luca’s breath was steady, but sweat clung to his brow and dripped down his neck as he pushed himself, swing after swing. His muscles burned, yet his mind wasn’t on the blade—it was elsewhere, drifting toward the upcoming royal ball in the capital.

He grimaced mid-swing.

A ballroom full of nobles, politics, and expectations... not exactly my idea of fun.

That’s when he heard footsteps approaching.

Vincent appeared, arms crossed over his chest. His silver hair flowing freely, and his gaze, as always, was unreadable.

He stopped a few paces away and spoke in his usual calm tone, "Let’s talk for a minute."

Luca blinked in surprise. Vincent wasn’t the type to initiate conversations—especially not like this.

Still catching his breath, Luca nodded, wiping his face with the edge of his sleeve. They walked over to a shaded bench near the edge of the field and sat down. A quiet, awkward silence settled between them.

Finally, Vincent spoke. "How did you do on the mid-semester exams?"

Luca tilted his head slightly, amused by the obvious attempt at small talk. "Pretty good," he replied casually, keeping the details to himself. He could tell this wasn’t why Vincent came.

Vincent gave a small nod. Then, with no transition, he said, "We’ll be leaving for the ball tomorrow."

Luca nodded at that with a heavy expression.

Vincent didn’t notice that. "All the noble families in the kingdom will be there... which means our family will be there as well."

Luca froze. "Wait, our family? But isn’t our house just a minor noble line? Why would they—?"

Vincent let out a quiet sigh and looked out over the training grounds. "You don’t know," he murmured. "But our family is... quite special."

That answer only deepened the confusion in Luca’s mind.

Special? What the hell does that mean?

Before Luca could press further, Vincent added, "It’s not my place to explain. It’s better if Father tells you himself."

Luca felt his stomach twist.

Father?

Suddenly, the idea of the ball took on a much heavier weight. Meeting his family again—meeting his family for the first time since waking up in this world...

What was he even supposed to say? How do you face a family that isn’t really yours, but still is?

His mind spun with questions.

What if they can tell I’m different? What if I slip up? How do I act around people I’ve never truly known?

But Vincent wasn’t done. "That’s not the only reason I came," he continued. "You know those who played a major role in the beastridge mountain battle will be formally recognized during the ball."

Luca nodded slowly. He vaguely remembered Seraphina mentioning something about that.

Vincent stood, dusting off his uniform. "So... prepare yourself."

With that, he walked away, leaving Luca sitting there in stunned silence.

Prepare myself...?

The realization hit a beat later.

"Wait... shit," he muttered under his breath.

I’m one of them, aren’t I? I’m going to be standing up there in front of the entire empire—right after meeting my so-called familyr for the first time?

He dragged a hand down his face.

As if surviving till now wasn’t enough stress... now this?

The saber training was the last thing on his mind now. He stood up stiffly, shouldering his towel, and trudged back toward the dorms—his heart heavier than when he arrived.

After returning to his dorm, Luca stepped into the shower, letting the cool water wash away the sweat from his morning training. His mind was still buzzing—from Vincent’s words, from the thought of the ball, from the looming encounter with a family he had never met.

He dressed and had a light breakfast, then summoned Kunpeng with a flick of his hand. The little form twirled in the air, chattering aimlessly as Luca poked at it and grinned half-heartedly. After a while, even Kunpeng’s chaotic energy couldn’t hold his attention.

Feeling restless, he decided to take a walk through the Academy gardens.

The morning sun filtered through the leaves, casting a golden warmth on the stone path. As he turned a corner near the rose hedges, his steps slowed. Up ahead, he spotted Kyle—his flame-colored hair unmistakable—standing beside a girl. Her head was lowered, and it seemed like one of them was apologizing to the other. A moment later, the girl turned and ran off, her face red and eyes shimmering.

Kyle noticed Luca and waved him over, his grin wide and unbothered.

"Well, well," Kyle said teasingly, "what’s my future brother-in-law doing out here?"

Luca rolled his eyes and sighed. "Don’t start that again. First, tell me—what was going on just now?"

"Oh, you saw that?" Kyle chuckled mischievously, rubbing the back of his head. "She asked me if I could be her partner for the ball. I said no, of course. I have to escort my sister."

He shrugged. "No one really asks her, anyway. And even if someone did, she always refuses."

Luca suddenly coughed, almost choking on air. "About that... I, uh... I asked Aurelia to go with me."

Kyle turned to him slowly, eyes narrowing in exaggerated horror.

There was a long pause.

Then: "Have you thought this through, brother-in-law?" His voice was eerily solemn.

"What do you mean by that?" Luca asked warily.

Kyle smirked. "You

do

realize my father and grandfather will be at the ball, right?"

Luca froze.

He had not.

Shit. Shit! Of course the Duke would be there. The whole family...

The color drained from his face.

Kyle looked him up and down and laughed. "Yup. I know that look. You just realized."

"But seriously," Kyle continued, tone softening just a little, "even if my sister’s relationship with father and grandpa is not good at the moment... Father and Grandpa care about her more than anything. She’s not called the

Jewel of Drayden

for no reason."

Luca frowned, caught off guard. "Wait... what do you mean their relationship isn’t good?"

Kyle blinked. Then he winced, as if he’d accidentally let something slip. "Ah—oops. You didn’t hear that from me."

And just like that, the teasing grin was back.

"Well, good luck!" Kyle said, slapping Luca on the back. "I’ll be praying for your survival."

Then he turned to jog off. "Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go check if that girl’s still available."

Luca stood there, alone in the garden path, a breeze ruffling his dark violet hair.

Meeting my family.

Facing a royal audience.

Possibly getting murdered by a Duke.

"Great," he muttered. "Just what I needed."

As Luca made his way back to the dorms, the quiet rustling of garden leaves behind him gave way to a louder noise—the storm inside his head.

His thoughts, once a mess of battle formations and saber swings, now revolved completely around one person.

Aurelia.

He couldn’t help but replay Kyle’s words in his head, again and again, as if they held some hidden clue he’d missed.

"Her relationship with Father and grandfather isn’t good right now..."

"She’s the jewel of Drayden..."

Of course that bastard said it

on purpose

, Luca thought with a groan. He

wanted

me to think about it.

But why? Why would Aurelia not be on good terms with her family? From the outside, the Drayden family seemed flawless—noble, powerful, intimidating. But now that he thought about it, Aurelia never talked about them. Not even once.

Should I ask her?

The idea struck him like a pebble to the ribs. And yet, even as he considered it, his gut twisted.

How

was he supposed to bring something like that up?

He wasn’t even sure what

they

were yet.

Sure, they spent time together. She teased him relentlessly, but in a way that made his heart race instead of annoy him. She listened to him. Trusted him on the battlefield. Smiled at him like he was more than just some summoned outsider.

But...

Was that love?

I always feel that there is still a wall in which she has surrounded herself. Like I don’t know who she truly is? Heck even she doesn’t know who truly am I?

He sighed, dragging a hand through his damp hair.

I probably like her... and I can see she likes me too.

But love?

Did he even

know

what that was?

In his past life, he hadn’t dated, hadn’t fallen, hadn’t risked his heart for anyone. His world had been classes, part-time jobs, survival,gaming, and—eventually—regret.

And now?

Now he was about to waltz into a grand ball, get paraded in front of nobles, possibly receive a medal of honor, meet his estranged family, and—just maybe—face the wrath of the Iron Duke.

Luca reached the steps of the dorm and stopped, staring blankly at the sky above.

"Can I just

not

go to the ball?" he muttered.