The next morning, Ardentis was still in an uproar. The duel between Lucius and Commander Darius had spread far beyond the city. Every noble household, every knight, and even the Empire’s elite had heard about the battle. Some called it an unfair ruling, while others whispered of Lucius’ terrifying aura control.

  But amidst all the rumors, one thing was certain—Lucius was no longer just a shadow of House Magnus.

  That evening, he received an unexpected summons.

  Lucius entered the grand dining hall, a place that had always felt cold and distant to him.

  But tonight… tonight was different.

  As he stepped inside, every gaze turned toward him.

  It was subtle, but the shift in the room’s atmosphere was undeniable.

  

  
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    His mother, Lady Seraphina, smiled at him—genuine warmth in her eyes for the first time in years.
  
    


  
• 
  
    Selena and Erene looked excited, practically beaming with pride.
  
    


  
• 
  
    Adrian, leaning back in his chair, smirked. "You really had us fooled, you dummy," he teased. "Hiding all that power from your big brother?"
  
    


  
• 
  
    Selena crossed her arms with a playful grin. "People were betting on you, you know."
  
    


  
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    Erene giggled. "I won some gold! You owe me a favor, little brother!"
  
    


  

  Lucius let out a small chuckle, shaking his head.

  But then, his eldest brothers spoke.

  Cassius, sitting with perfect posture, smiled, but it was not a warm smile. "It was an interesting duel, I’ll admit. But let’s not celebrate too soon, little brother. It was still a loss, after all."

  Julius scoffed. "Exactly. Commander Darius wasn’t even using his full strength. If that had been a true battle, you wouldn’t be sitting here right now."

  Their words were calm, but their resentment was clear.

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  Lucius met their gazes without flinching.

  Then—Duke Magnus spoke.

  "You did well."

  Silence. Absolute silence.

  Cassius and Julius stiffened.

  Never—not once—had their father acknowledged Lucius in such a way.

  Selena and Erene exchanged stunned glances. Adrian raised an eyebrow, barely able to believe what he had just heard.

  Lucius, however, remained unreadable, his golden eyes fixed on his father.

  Duke Magnus, his expression cold as ever, observed him carefully. There was no warmth in his voice, but there was something else—recognition.

  The Duke placed his goblet down. "But your real test is yet to come."

  The air grew heavier.

  "The Empire-Wide Tournament is approaching," he continued. "All noble families will send their best young warriors to compete—not just for glory, but for recognition in the Empire." His eyes locked onto Lucius.

  "You will participate."

  Cassius and Julius tensed.

  Selena and Erene’s eyes lit up with excitement.

  Adrian grinned. "Well, this is going to be fun."

  Lucius, still calm, asked, "...And what do you expect of me?"

  Duke Magnus leaned forward slightly, his cold gaze sharper than ever.

  "Win."

  The weight of the single word hung over the room.

  "If you wish to prove that duel was not a fluke—win against the best. Show the Empire that you are not just a nameless child of House Magnus."

  Cassius clenched his jaw. Julius looked away, his expression unreadable.

  Lucius, still unfazed, picked up his glass, took a sip of water, and set it back down.

  "...Very well."

  The challenge was set.

  And this time, Lucius would not be overlooked.

  As the family gathering ended, Lucius found himself walking through the halls of the estate, accompanied by Adrian, Selena, and Erene.

  Adrian, walking with his hands behind his head, smirked. "You do realize that if you enter this tournament, every noble house is going to send their best to crush you, right?"

  Lucius glanced at him. "That was going to happen anyway."

  Selena nudged his shoulder. "Still, this is exciting! The entire Empire will be watching!"

  Erene sighed dramatically. "And now we have to put up with nobles coming to challenge you left and right."

  Lucius chuckled. "I suppose I should get used to it."

  Adrian stopped, his usual teasing expression replaced with something more serious. "Just be careful, Lucius."

  Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

  Adrian glanced around before lowering his voice.

  "You're not just fighting for a title. You’re challenging the power structure of the Empire."

  Lucius understood. This tournament wasn’t just about skill—it was about politics, ambition, and legacy.

  And House Magnus had just thrown him into the center of it all.

  The road ahead would be brutal.

  But Lucius?

  He would not back down.

  Far beyond Ardentis, in the heart of the Empire, whispers of the mysterious fourth son of Duke Magnus had already begun to spread.

  And among those whispers, certain powerful figures had taken an interest.

  Some were intrigued.

  Some were wary.

  And some… were preparing to crush him before he could rise.

  The Empire-Wide Tournament was coming.

  And Lucius’ true battle had only just begun.