A Frosty Welcome for the Fairest Son
The empire's most elite family's daughter had fallen head over heels for a man, prompting them to convene even their vassals for a meeting. Any commoner peering in would laugh at the sheer foolishness of it all, but they were deadly serious. Gathered here were seasoned retainers who had devoted their lives to the ducal house—capable, loyal souls to a fault. Yet none dared treat this lightly; tension etched every face.
Why? Because "as you're all aware, this incident doesn't just concern our house—it's tied to the empire's very future." One Seres Huferion could potentially shake the entire empire to its core.
"Seres Huferion—as everyone knows, the most noble man in the empire."
Alois Graviuss harbored no fondness for Seres, but she acknowledged what was undeniable. Born to the Huferion house—one of the empire's top three families by influence. His beauty resonated beyond imperial borders, across the world. Lately, he'd been healing the masses, earning whispers of "saint."
Our own peers hold similar prestige, but they're all daughters. There's that one other highborn man, but he falls short in other ways. Viol's younger brother came to mind, yet even he paled against the empire's undisputed top beauty. In truth, Seres was the realm's most exalted son! A marriage like his would ripple nationwide, no question.
"Think about it, everyone. What becomes of the woman who marries Seres Huferion?"
Alois posed the question to her vassals, who responded in grave tones.
"She'd be the lucky one who claimed the empire's greatest beauty."
"Instant fame—she'd become a household name overnight."
"And effectively the true heir to Huferion. Men typically hand off the real work to their spouses upon inheritance."
"Commanding 1.5 million territory folk, 5,000 private soldiers, 200 knights—and wielding that to sway the empire at large."
Even if Seres's match were some lowly provincial noble, she'd rocket to powerbroker status in a heartbeat. But what if...
"What if that partner were my daughter, Arios?"
The ducal heir, a Sword Master, a heroine of renown—what power couple would that forge?
"...The birth of an unimaginable juggernaut."
"Huferion ranks just behind us Graviuss. United by marriage? Even a fool could see it'd make the empire's strongest faction."
"Frankly, it's too potent a force."
They rattled off the gains Arios stood to reap from marrying Seres, yet their expressions soured. For every boon came a bane in equal measure.
We could end up swallowed whole by Huferion. Normally, the larger house dominated such mergers, but not this time.
If you're going to fall in love, at least seize control yourself. Don't turn into some idiot handing everything to Seres on a platter! Just look at Arios now, sketching Seres's portrait in her room! Marriage would mean surrendering the entire house to him, no doubt.
And the external backlash? Would rivals let two titan nobles merge unchallenged?
"The imperial family's reaction worries me."
"It could threaten the throne outright."
The vassals voiced their fears gravely. Huferion's 1.5 million subjects plus Graviuss's double that—united? Enough to make the palace sweat.
And "His Majesty the Emperor has shown interest in Young Lord Seres too, hasn't she?"
Hard to credit, but Viol herself fancied Seres—that escalated things.
"I still can't believe it. Her Majesty, eyeing a man?"
"Well, it's not a mismatch in status..."
"A highborn from a top house, the empire's pinnacle of beauty as emperor's consort. On paper, it even sounds ideal."
Especially from Viol, history's prickliest emperor—everyone was baffled. They wanted to deny it, but witnesses abounded, including one from their own ranks.
Arios even clashed with Her Majesty over Seres at a public party! Mistress and retainer brawling over a man in plain view—an international embarrassment. They were still suppressing the leaks, but rumors would spread eventually.
Foreign powers will mock us. Of all houses, Graviuss tangled in scandal.
Generations of Graviuss loyalty defined the pro-imperial faction's leadership. Meanwhile, Seres stood as heir to Huferion, perennial head of the noble opposition. For lord and top vassal to feud over an erstwhile foe? Utterly absurd.
True passion? Or just another of Viol's eccentric pranks? Her past antics suggested the latter.
But if she takes Seres as consort and he becomes the empire's lady of the house, the power balance shatters!
Ideally, they'd bar both Arios and Viol from Seres. Hence inviting him here.
"Right. So how do we defuse this walking bomb called Seres? Suggest ways to make this man abandon my daughter of his own accord."
Strike at the nearer target—daughter over emperor—first. But telling deranged Arios to quit was futile. Better target the culprit, Seres. The vassals huddled.
"We must make it crystal clear we don't welcome him. Crush any dream of becoming Graviuss's lady of the house."
"Host him here a few days, keep the pressure on."
"Remind him of the hierarchy. Even Huferion ranks below Graviuss."
"And show Arios our stance while we're at it..."
Mid-discussion, Alois checked the time.
"...He should arrive soon. Everyone, prepare. Time to pressure our guest, Seres Huferion."
Plans finalized, they timed his arrival and mobilized. First: arm knights at the estate's front gate. Graviuss elites, radiating menace—all per Alois's orders. Greeting guests with armed guards? An egregious breach of etiquette.
But the rudeness drives home our rejection.
Intent on dominating from the outset, Alois scowled at thoughts of Seres.
Seres Huferion! With your position, pick some foreign royal or convenient match. Why pursue awkward targets like my daughter and the emperor?
Alois blamed Seres for seducing Arios and Viol first.
One infatuation? Coincidence. But two top powers losing decorum? He did something.
In her mind, Seres weaponized his looks to toy with women.
Hmph, doubting if he's truly the empire's fairest. Pretty, sure—but hype alone inflated the rumors.
She'd never bought the "empire's top beauty" hype.
Offspring of that Ares, after all. No pinnacle beauty, not even consort material. Lucky if he doesn't kill his partners. So they spread wild rumors to peddle him as prime groom stock.
She suspected Huferion's deliberate spin.
People sway to words. Same face, different tales shift perception. Baseline looks plus "empire's best, supreme" tags, and folks nod along even after seeing him.
So now: I'll strip away that flimsy illusion myself!
...She steeled herself just as the Huferion carriage rolled up.
But
"What the...?"
"No welcoming vibe at all."
"Wrong address?"
Something was off. Seres's escort knights stayed unfazed. Graviuss elites unleashed full aura, yet no shock.
"Such poor manners. Our lord has arrived."
A silver-haired knight snapped, stepping forward—and the entire Graviuss line buckled under her presence.
"?!"
"What?!"
The vassals gaped, crushed by the silver knight's aura. Alois was floored.
A Sword Master?!
The overwhelming pressure evoked her own daughter; she pegged the realm instantly.
Impossible! Since when did Huferion boast a Sword Master? No intel on that!
Her pressure ploy backfired spectacularly—guest brought a strategic asset.
But the real shock hit next.
"Lord Seres, if you would take my hand."
The silver knight, having dispersed the foes' aura, extended a hand to the carriage. Then—a Sword Master, whom no monarch could command lightly, dropped to one knee. Like a servant, she gently clasped the passenger's hand, escorting them out.
The moment that figure emerged...
Alois understood why her daughter tore portraits and wailed—and conceded Seres was truly the empire's supreme.
Thud.
Her grip slackened; the item in her hand hit the dirt.