Night slowly descended across the western outskirts of Citadel.
The enormous city lights gradually faded behind distant hills while colder winds drifted through the ancient forest roads surrounding the outer noble territories. Moonlight filtered softly through black tree branches while faint mist spread across the pathways leading toward the Asheville Estate far beyond.
Kel walked calmly through the darkness alone.
His black traveling cloak moved quietly beneath the cold winds while silver moonlight occasionally illuminated portions of his face between shifting shadows.
The road itself remained silent.
At least—
Until monsters appeared.
CRAAAAK—
A massive wolf-like beast suddenly lunged from the forest darkness.
Its crimson eyes burned violently while sharp mana-infused claws tore through the air directly toward Kel's throat.
Unfortunately—
The creature selected the wrong target.
Kel didn't even stop walking.
His fingers moved slightly.
A black blade flashed once beneath the moonlight.
SHHHK—
The monster's body separated cleanly in half before collapsing silently across the road.
Blood splattered against dead leaves.
Kel calmly stepped over the corpse afterward.
No emotion.
No wasted movement.
Inside his mind—
Sairen sighed softly through telepathy.
"You attract trouble strangely easily."
Kel crouched briefly near the corpse before removing the glowing mana core from inside the monster calmly.
"It attacked first."
"You were radiating enough pressure to terrify the forest itself."
"Not intentionally."
"That somehow sounds worse."
Kel stored the mana core inside a storage ring afterward before continuing through the forest road.
And unfortunately—
The monsters continued appearing.
A venom-scaled serpent hiding beneath swamp shadows.
A corrupted boar nearly three meters large.
Several lesser night beasts attracted by blood scent afterward.
Each died quickly.
Silently.
Efficiently.
Kel eventually collected several high-quality monster cores along the way.
Not because he needed them.
But because Reina's personal alchemists would find them useful.
Citadel's outskirts still remained dangerous despite noble territories existing nearby. Wandering beasts constantly emerged from deeper wilderness regions surrounding the western-central lands.
Normally—
Traveling alone at night here was considered stupidity.
But for Kel—
The journey almost felt relaxing.
The cold winds.
The quiet darkness.
The distant sounds of forests beneath moonlight.
After weeks of politics, dragons, diplomacy, and negotiations—
Simple silence felt pleasant.
Eventually—
The Asheville Estate finally appeared ahead.
A large noble manor surrounded by elevated stone walls and silver mana lanterns glowing softly throughout the grounds. The estate itself had transformed significantly since Reina became matriarch.
Before—
The manor carried decay.
Neglect.
Weakness.
Now—
The estate radiated discipline.
Order.
Authority.
Kel quietly observed the property while approaching the main gate slowly.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly spoke again.
"She maintained it well."
Kel's dark eyes calmly scanned the estate surroundings.
"She always works harder than necessary."
"That sounds familiar."
Kel ignored that comment completely.
The enormous gate stood partially open tonight.
Strange.
Normally the outer security remained extremely strict after the assassination attempts years ago.
Kel quietly stepped through the gate afterward.
And immediately—
Something felt wrong.
No visible guards.
No patrol movement.
No aura signatures near the entrance.
The estate remained too quiet.
Kel's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then calmly—
He expanded his perception across the surrounding grounds.
Mana signatures.
Movement patterns.
Heartbeats.
The entire estate slowly unfolded within his senses.
And eventually—
He found them.
Two guards hiding near one side of the mansion instead of patrolling properly.
Sneaking.
Watching something.
Kel silently walked through the shadows afterward.
His footsteps produced no sound whatsoever.
The two guards remained completely unaware.
"…I'm telling you," one whispered quietly, "Viscount Rowan's son is definitely getting rejected again."
The second guard nearly laughed.
"As obvious as always."
Both continued staring through one illuminated mansion window nearby.
"Matriarch Reina will probably throw him out again."
Kel eventually reached directly behind them.
Then calmly spoke in a low voice while mimicking another guard casually.
"Oh?"
Both guards remained focused ahead.
"What are you watching?"
One immediately answered without turning around.
"Viscount Rowan's son came again asking Matriarch Reina for marriage."
The second guard snorted quietly.
"It's obvious what happens next."
"Matriarch is gonna kick that kid out again."
Kel quietly folded his arms afterward.
Interesting.
The first guard continued whispering dramatically.
"I heard last time she nearly—"
Then suddenly—
Both guards froze.
Because they finally realized something important.
That voice…
Did not belong to either patrol member.
Slowly—
Very slowly—
They turned around.
And immediately went pale.
Standing behind them calmly beneath the moonlight—
Was Kel.
Or rather—
Lord Herald.
The man constantly seen beside Reina ever since she became matriarch.
Her advisor.
Her strategist.
Her sword instructor.
The terrifying noble manipulator who dismantled House Asheville's corruption entirely.
The guards immediately straightened so violently one nearly injured himself.
"L-LORD HERAL!"
Both instantly bowed deeply.
One looked moments away from collapsing entirely.
"P-Please forgive us!"
"We were just—"
Kel calmly raised one hand.
Silence returned immediately.
The cold moonlight illuminated portions of his face softly while his dark eyes quietly observed both trembling guards.
Then slowly—
He stepped closer.
The guards visibly panicked harder.
Kel gently placed one hand upon a guard's shoulder afterward.
And somehow—
That felt even more terrifying than violence.
"Relax."
His voice remained calm.
"First answer something for me."
Both nodded rapidly.
Kel glanced briefly toward the illuminated mansion windows.
"How many nobles have come asking for Reina's hand while I was gone?"
The guards awkwardly exchanged glances.
Then one carefully answered.
"L-Lord Herald…"
His voice trembled slightly.
"Quite a few."
Kel remained silent.
The second guard quickly continued.
"Many nobles came after hearing about Matriarch Reina's rise."
"Especially after the Dragon Realm trade situation started."
Another pause.
"Most stopped after Matriarch clearly rejected them politely."
Kel quietly listened.
Then softly asked:
"And this viscount's son?"
The two guards immediately looked uncomfortable.
One eventually answered carefully.
"He's… persistent."
Kel raised one eyebrow slightly.
"How persistent?"
Silence.
Then the second guard awkwardly whispered:
"…Once he tried kissing Matriarch Reina without permission."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Cold.
Not visibly.
Not explosively.
Just—
Cold.
The surrounding night winds themselves seemed heavier suddenly.
The guards immediately felt pressure crawling across their skin instinctively.
Kel's expression remained calm.
Too calm.
"What happened afterward?"
The first guard swallowed nervously.
"Matriarch Reina broke his face."
A brief pause.
"She nearly killed him."
Kel quietly stared toward the mansion windows afterward.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly muttered:
"That sounds appropriate."
The second guard quickly continued.
"Viscount Rowan himself personally came begging afterward."
"Otherwise Matriarch would've executed his son."
Another brief silence followed.
Then slowly—
The coldness surrounding Kel disappeared.
Almost instantly.
Like nothing happened.
Kel calmly removed his hand from the guard's shoulder afterward.
Then quietly said:
"Both of you…"
The guards immediately straightened again.
"Return to your posts."
His dark eyes calmly observed them.
"And if I catch either of you eavesdropping again…"
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
Dangerous.
Calm.
Terrifyingly polite.
"…you already know what happens afterward."
Both guards nearly saluted simultaneously.
"YES LORD HERAL!"
They vanished immediately afterward.
Faster than professional assassins.
Inside his mind—
Sairen sounded highly amused.
"You frightened them badly."
"They neglected security."
"You were also jealous."
Kel silently continued walking toward the mansion afterward.
"…No."
The silver-haired spirit laughed softly.
"That pause sounded extremely convincing."
Kel ignored her completely.
Yet strangely—
His thoughts still lingered briefly on the earlier conversation.
Nobles pursuing Reina wasn't surprising.
Actually—
It was inevitable.
Reina was young.
Beautiful.
Powerful.
And now controlled an increasingly influential western-central noble house connected to southern trade routes and indirectly linked toward draconic commerce.
Naturally—
Countless nobles would pursue her.
Political marriages alone made her extremely valuable now.
Yet…
The thought of someone forcing themselves toward her strangely irritated him more than expected.
Kel quietly narrowed his eyes slightly.
Annoying.
Very annoying.
Inside his mind—
Sairen immediately noticed.
"Oh?"
Kel continued walking calmly.
"Don't start."
"I said nothing."
"You were thinking loudly."
The silver-haired spirit sounded deeply entertained now.
Meanwhile—
The Asheville Mansion stood quietly beneath moonlit skies ahead.
Warm golden lights glowed softly through several windows while distant footsteps echoed faintly somewhere inside.
And unknowingly—
Reina Asheville remained completely unaware…
That the person she waited months to see again…
Had already returned.