Levatein (1)
“Just follow these men. Young master, young lady, and your guests— we'll escort you properly.”
“Yes, you've all come a long way. As Sir Josef instructed, our guard unit will guide you to the inner castle.”
Upon arriving at Levatein Castle, Seong Hyun-jin and his companions were led to the inner castle by the guards, thanks to Josef's arrangements.
The castle consisted of an outer fortress protecting the territory's citizens and an inner one housing the Levatein family and their servants—a massive structure.
Though not as grand as the outer walls, the inner castle was impressively vast. Seong Hyun-jin and the others, visiting for the first time, couldn't hide their awe.
“Whoa...”
“This is where the guardian of the north lives...”
“It's huge. Do people really live in a place this big?”
When Seong Hyun-jin asked in amazement, Clarice nodded with her usual impassive expression.
“Yes, this is where my family lives.”
Her emotions rarely showed on her face, making it seem like no big deal. Having grown up here, the sight was too familiar to her.
Seeing that, Seong Hyun-jin openly envied her.
“Looking at this, all my friends around me are loaded...”
“Anyone would think you live in poverty.”
Serena let out a light scoff at his genuine envy.
“You live pretty well yourself. And you've got a good amount of money now, right?”
“I was poor until I won the Martial Arts Festival.”
“That's just average.”
Seong Hyun-jin shot Serena a glare for her nagging. When she stared back as if asking why, he suddenly reached out and tickled her side.
“Eek!?”
“Don't nag.”
Caught off guard by his touch, Serena flushed red and looked at him.
“W-why'd you touch my side all of a sudden...!”
“It's not like it wears out.”
But Seong Hyun-jin shrugged it off casually.
“Besides, I'm your boyfriend. Can't I do this much?”
“Th-that's not it, but it was too sudden...”
Serena fidgeted, suddenly self-conscious about the spot he'd touched.
...It didn't feel squishy, did it?
She hadn't managed her diet or exercised since enrolling, so she worried she'd gained weight. Of course, her body didn't need such concerns, but her needless anxiety lingered.
Seong Hyun-jin tilted his head, puzzled, but Serena just blushed without explaining.
Ciela watched the two with a strange mix of annoyance, but with others around, she could only sigh instead of pointing it out.
The carriage stopped at the inner castle's main gate. Kaijid Levatein stepped out first and addressed the guests.
“Please wait a moment.”
He approached the guards at the gate, exchanged a few words, and the massive doors swung open.
“Should we get out now?”
“No. We need to go a bit further by carriage.”
“We're already at the gate, though?”
Clarice's lips curved slightly in amusement at Seong Hyun-jin's confusion.
“This isn't the mansion's entrance. The inner castle grounds are quite spacious, so it'd take time to walk to the mansion.”
Seong Hyun-jin marveled at the scale—this was the life of the wealthy.
He glanced at Serena.
“Is your place like this too?”
“Our home is...”
Serena pondered how to describe it. It was vast, but not in the same way...
“......Yeah, it's pretty huge.”
It was enormous in a different sense. The place she'd lived before the academy was her dragonkin father's home, built to accommodate his massive size. So it dwarfed Clarice's home in its own way.
If anything, it felt less like a noble mansion and more like a vast hangar for giant objects—like an airport.
Unaware of this, Seong Hyun-jin said sincerely,
“Really? Take me there sometime.”
“......”
Serena couldn't bear to shatter his expectations and said nothing.
Meanwhile, Kaijid returned.
He climbed back aboard and told Clarice,
“We can go now.”
“Yes.”
Clarice activated the carriage, and it resumed its automated journey. As the enormous inner gates opened, Seong Hyun-jin gaped at the interior once more.
“It's freaking huge.”
His blunt, casual words captured it perfectly. Fitting for the guardians of the Magic Kingdom's north and lords of a vast duchy, an immense mansion sprawled before them.
The expansive grounds felt like an amusement park, and the palace-like mansion stole his gaze instantly. Serena and Ciela smiled lightly at his childlike wonder sparkling in his eyes.
He's so cute.
Our junior's innocence is adorable.
Surprisingly, Yeonhui showed no reaction.
The carriage pulled up to the mansion, and Kaijid stood first.
“Let's disembark.”
“Ah, yes.”
As they stepped out, doors befitting the mansion's grandeur opened. An elderly butler emerged and bowed deeply.
“Young master, young lady. You've returned safely.”
“Butler, it's been a while.”
He was Adam Baidgen, the head butler overseeing the entire Levatein mansion. Father to Josef Baidgen, who had escorted them earlier, he was a capable man who'd managed the estate for over forty years.
Even the servants, who outranked him socially, received polite speech from Kaijid, the family's second son.
“This is Adam Baidgen, our head butler.”
“Welcome, esteemed guests. Are you the ones invited by the young lady?”
“Ah, yes.”
Adam smiled kindly at Seong Hyun-jin's confirmation.
“The journey must have been cold. Please, come inside.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Seong Hyun-jin observed proper etiquette more than expected. Kaijid and Grace felt a peculiar impression at his well-mannered demeanor in such moments. His academy friends, used to it, felt otherwise.
“Welcome.”
As they entered, servants working inside bowed respectfully. Not quite the fantasy lineup of dozens in a row, but the sheer number created an impressive sight.
Once inside, Clarice asked Adam,
“Is Father here? I'd like to introduce our guests.”
Adam replied,
“I'd love to escort you to the family head right away, but he's away and won't return until evening.”
“Where did he go?”
“The family head just finished subjugating beasts and is on his way back.”
Adam added,
“A banquet celebrating the successful subjugation will be held upon his return. We can introduce your guests then.”
“Perfect timing.”
Clarice turned to Seong Hyun-jin and the others.
“There'll be plenty of delicious food at the banquet. I was going to ask the head chef for a special dinner anyway, but no need now.”
“A banquet? I didn't pack fancy clothes for that.”
Clarice's lips quirked at his concern.
“Of course we'll provide them. Guest attire, including formal wear, is always prepared. No need to worry.”
“Oh, really?”
Dedicated guest outfits—even for banquets. Unimaginable for Seong Hyun-jin, who'd lived ordinarily even in his past life.
But banquet attire means...
He recalled noble banquets from webtoons and imagined the female characters' dresses. Webtoons weren't reality, but the beauties beside him outshone any fiction.
Grinning lecherously at the mental image,
“Heh heh.”
“......?”
Serena flinched at the creepy laugh, but Seong Hyun-jin stared openly and whispered,
“Serena.”
“Yes?”
“Let's wear pretty clothes.”
Her face reddened. Unlike his intent, it sounded affectionate—like her boyfriend wanting to see her dolled up.
With love-struck ears now too, she nodded shyly.
“......O-okay.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Ciela shot them a openly displeased glare, but Yeonhui remained oddly unresponsive.
What she hid within, no one knew.
Just...
A banquet should have private spaces for some alone time...
Only she knew her thoughts.
As head butler Adam Baidgen had said, the Levatein family head and lord of the vast duchy returned to the mansion only as evening fell.
Kaijid Levatein and his wife Grace went to the main gate to greet him.
“Father.”
Duke Elcarus Levatein. The north's guardian and most seasoned knight boasted a massive, sturdy frame despite passing the age of seventy.
His sheer presence was intimidating, amplified by his ducal aura, instantly evoking the ruler of the north.
Even his son Kaijid felt it, explaining his vassals' unwavering loyalty.
“Kaijid, my daughter-in-law, you've returned safely.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Yes, Father.”
“How was it? Is that man you saw worthy of standing by our daughter's side?”
Kaijid bowed at the duke's question.
“He's a bit unusual, but his skills are undeniable.”
Kaijid continued,
“I saw it with my own eyes. That was the sword of the Sword Star.”
“...So the rumor of him manifesting the Sword Star's sword at the Martial Arts Festival was true.”
Duke Elcarus narrowed his eyes, but his lips curved slightly.
“Not a lightweight, then.”
“Yes, he has some quirks, but no issues with his character.”
“Good.”
The duke dismounted and said,
“I'll judge the rest myself when I meet him.”
“Yes, Father.”
Kaijid and Grace bowed deeply. His aides followed the duke inside, and after a while, the pair raised their heads.
Grace asked Kaijid,
“Does Father intend to betroth our lady to that man?”
“Likely. If he deems him suitable, it will happen.”
Kaijid said,
“That student seems to be the Sword Star's disciple everyone's been talking about.”