The grand reception hall slowly became quiet again.
Only the soft crackling of silver mana lanterns echoed gently through the enormous chamber while cold moonlight spilled across polished marble floors through the towering crystal windows. The atmosphere that moments ago carried uncomfortable tension and noble awkwardness had finally relaxed.
The viscount and his son were gone.
The hidden Twin Swords quietly retreated deeper into the shadows once more.
And for the first time tonight—
Peace returned to the Asheville Mansion.
Reina remained standing near the center of the hall beneath warm chandelier light.
Her silver hair shimmered softly while traces of the cold authority she maintained moments ago slowly faded from her expression. The rigid composure of the Matriarch disappeared little by little…
Leaving behind only Reina.
A woman who had quietly waited months for someone to return safely.
Her silver eyes remained fixed toward Kel.
And unlike before—
She no longer hid the softness inside them.
Slowly—
Reina began walking toward him.
Elegant footsteps echoed lightly across the marble floor while her black noble dress swayed gently around her legs beneath the warm light.
Inside her chest—
Relief slowly spread.
Because he truly returned.
Safe.
Alive.
Standing before her again exactly like before leaving.
Meanwhile—
Kel quietly observed her approaching.
And naturally—
He understood immediately what she wanted.
Not words.
Not politics.
Simply closeness.
A moment.
A confirmation that he truly came back.
Yet before she fully reached him—
Kel suddenly spoke calmly.
"I retuns after sometimes"
Reina stopped mid-step.
Blinking slightly.
Kel calmly turned afterward and began walking toward the enormous reception hall doors the viscount and his son had only recently exited through.
The silver moonlight from the corridor outside illuminated portions of his black cloak softly.
Reina quietly stared at his back.
Then slowly—
Understanding appeared within her silver eyes.
Ah.
He was going after the viscount's son.
To ensure the matter truly ended.
And strangely—
The realization made a small unconscious smile appear at the corner of her lips.
Not because she wanted someone punished.
But because…
Kel always handled things completely.
Carefully.
Quietly.
The young matriarch slowly folded her arms afterward while leaning slightly against the nearby table.
Inside her chest—
Warmth quietly spread.
Meanwhile—
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly laughed through telepathy.
"You really became possessive."
Kel calmly walked through the moonlit corridor.
"I'm resolving future annoyance."
"That sounds suspiciously similar."
"I'm being practical."
"Your practicality becomes increasingly emotional around certain people."
Kel ignored her completely.
The mansion corridors remained silent beneath dim silver lights while distant night winds drifted softly through partially opened windows.
Far ahead—
Kel eventually sensed them.
The viscount and his son walking slowly toward the estate exit while several knights followed behind at respectful distance.
The son still looked emotionally devastated.
Meanwhile the viscount himself appeared exhausted beyond words.
Honestly—
Tonight aged him mentally.
Then suddenly—
Kel's voice echoed calmly behind them.
"Wait."
Everyone immediately stopped.
The viscount turned first.
Then his son afterward.
The moment they saw Herald approaching calmly through the moonlit corridor—
Both immediately stiffened slightly.
Because despite his calm demeanor—
Something about him naturally created pressure.
The viscount carefully straightened.
"Lord Herald."
Kel quietly nodded once.
His dark eyes shifted toward the viscount's son afterward.
The young noble visibly frowned slightly.
"…What now, Mister Herald?"
His voice carried frustration.
Embarrassment.
Emotional exhaustion.
"Did you also come to tell me never meet Miss Reina again?"
The moonlight illuminated his expression quietly afterward.
Honestly—
He expected humiliation now.
Threats perhaps.
Or warnings.
Because clearly Herald stood closest beside Reina.
Yet unexpectedly—
Kel calmly shook his head.
"No."
The young noble blinked once.
Kel quietly stopped several steps before him afterward.
The cold night winds moved softly through the open corridor while silver lantern light reflected within his dark eyes calmly.
Then slowly—
Kel spoke.
"You're not a bad person."
The young noble visibly froze.
Even the viscount looked surprised.
Kel continued calmly.
"You simply lack basic understanding regarding women."
Silence.
The son blinked repeatedly afterward.
"…What?"
Inside his mind—
Sairen immediately started laughing softly.
"You're giving relationship advice now?"
Kel ignored her.
The corridor remained silent beneath drifting moonlight while Kel calmly continued.
"If you truly like or love someone…"
His voice remained composed.
"…you shouldn't persist endlessly after clear rejection."
The young noble slowly frowned slightly.
"But persistence proves sincerity."
Kel quietly shook his head.
"No."
Another pause.
"Most of the time, it only creates annoyance."
The words landed heavily.
Because unfortunately—
They were true.
Kel calmly looked directly into the young noble's eyes afterward.
"You were fortunate."
His voice slightly sharpened.
"You never truly crossed your boundaries with Reina."
The son visibly stiffened slightly hearing her name directly.
Kel continued calmly.
"If you had…"
The atmosphere became colder for only a brief moment.
"…this conversation would be very different."
Silence followed instantly.
Even the viscount unconsciously swallowed slightly.
Because somehow—
They instinctively understood he wasn't exaggerating.
Then slowly—
The coldness disappeared again.
Kel calmly folded his arms afterward.
"But."
The young noble looked confused.
Kel's gaze remained steady.
"You're still young."
"You're capable."
"You come from a respected household."
"And despite your foolishness…"
A faint almost amused look appeared within his eyes.
"…you're not malicious."
The viscount looked genuinely shocked now.
Because honestly—
This sounded more like mentorship than warning.
The son himself looked increasingly confused.
Kel quietly continued afterward.
"Instead of chasing one woman endlessly…"
The moonlight illuminated portions of his face softly.
"…become someone worthy first."
Silence.
Kel's dark eyes calmly reflected the silver corridor lights.
"Women don't admire desperation."
"They admire men who possess direction."
"Purpose."
"Capability."
Another pause.
"And sometimes…"
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"…the unreachable."
The young noble stared silently.
Kel's voice remained calm.
"If you become someone even women struggle imagining reaching…"
The corridor winds drifted softly between them.
"…then you won't be begging anyone for marriage anymore."
Another step forward.
"You'll become the one choosing."
Silence followed afterward.
Long silence.
Because strangely—
Those words carried weight.
Not empty advice.
Truth.
The viscount quietly looked toward Kel afterward.
And for the first time tonight—
True respect appeared within his eyes.
Because Herald wasn't humiliating his son.
He was correcting him.
Guiding him.
Meanwhile—
The young noble slowly lowered his gaze.
Thinking.
Actually thinking for the first time in months perhaps.
His obsession toward Reina began because she seemed untouchable.
Strong.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Someone far above ordinary noblewomen.
So instead of improving himself—
He simply chased endlessly.
And now—
Hearing those words…
He finally realized how pathetic that looked.
Inside his mind—
Embarrassment slowly spread.
Then eventually—
The young noble quietly spoke.
"…I understand."
His voice sounded calmer now.
More grounded.
Kel simply nodded once afterward.
"Good."
No further lecture.
No threats.
No cruelty.
Simple.
Direct.
Complete.
Then calmly—
Kel turned around immediately.
The black cloak behind him moved softly beneath moonlight while his footsteps echoed quietly through the corridor once more.
The viscount suddenly spoke from behind.
"Lord Herald."
Kel paused slightly.
The older noble lowered his head respectfully.
"…Thank you."
Kel didn't respond verbally.
He simply continued walking calmly back toward the reception hall.
Inside his mind—
Sairen sounded endlessly amused.
"You really lectured a lovesick noble under moonlight."
Kel quietly replied internally.
"He needed direction."
"You sounded suspiciously experienced."
Kel remained silent briefly afterward.
Then calmly answered:
"Observation teaches many things."
Sairen softly laughed.
"Yet somehow you remain terrible regarding your own emotions."
Kel ignored that statement immediately.
Meanwhile—
Back inside the reception hall—
Reina still waited quietly beneath warm chandelier light.
And the moment Kel re-entered the room—
Her silver eyes immediately found him again.