Chapter 30
“I hereby announce the Winter Coming-of-Age Ceremony of the North, in the year 918 of the Continental Calendar.”
An elderly priest with white hair stepped onto the podium and recited the formal opening speech.
Soon after, the young men and women—the main participants of the ceremony—began to step onto the stage one by one, kneeling on one knee before the statue of the goddess in reverence.
All of them were sons and daughters of the most prestigious families in the North.
Meanwhile, stuck inside Genebia’s hair and unable to see anything, I asked anxiously,
“So? Can you see? Huh?”
“Yeees, the young people are sitting there—.”
At Genebia’s soulless answer, I tugged hard on her hair and pressed again,
“Hey, explain it properly!”
At that moment, Elda, who had been standing on tiptoe beside us trying to look ahead, suddenly shouted,
“Ah! I can see the young master!”
“Where, where?!”
“Among the three over there—he’s the one in the middle!”
“Me too! I want to see!”
Wrapping Genebia’s hair tightly around myself, I climbed up her head.
“Ow—wait a moment, Miss Lin.”
Pretending to fix her hair, Genebia lifted me up onto the top of her head.
I noticed a nobleman nearby flinch at her now messy hair, but I ignored him.
Then, as my view finally cleared, I gasped.
“Gasp!!”
Sion was on the stage.
Radiating a brilliance so dazzling it felt blinding.
Of course, there were others beside him, but I couldn’t see anyone else.
“…This is insane. He absolutely destroyed it.”
Whoever designed it did an incredible job—the luxurious black suit and fur-trimmed shoulder cape perfectly emphasized Sion’s already tall frame and broad shoulders.
On top of that, his silver-gray hair, like starlight, contrasted with the dark outfit and fluttered lightly in the northern wind blowing through the corridor, creating a scene straight out of a painting.
“As expected, that person is…”
“Ahem, he’s even more than what I heard…”
“H-he’s incredibly handsome.”
Watching Sion kneel with perfect posture, everyone unconsciously let out admiring murmurs at his untouchable aura.
“Hehe… heheh. This is it!”
Seeing Sion looking far more amazing than I had imagined, my cheeks lifted uncontrollably with satisfaction.
After a while, the oath of the coming-of-age ceremony echoed through the hall.
It was long and filled with flowery language, but in essence, it promised them all protection and rights of the North under the goddess’s blessing.
“…Thus, from this day forward, you are the great descendants of the North, and your noble blood and dignity shall become an eternal guiding light on the path ahead.”
As the priest finished the oath, thunderous applause erupted everywhere.
And then, shortly after—
“…!”
The Grand Duchess, who had been watching everything from the high seat, stepped onto the stage.
Though her expression outwardly held a smile, it was obvious her mood must have been twisted after last night’s failed scheme.
Everyone present knew well that she had always regarded Sion—an illegitimate child—as a thorn in her side.
In the tense silence, she spoke as required by tradition.
“Sion Luxior. From this day forward, I officially recognize you as a member of the Grand Ducal family and declare that you shall be entered into the family registry. Accordingly, as the blood of the former Grand Duke of the North, you shall be granted all honors and protection that are rightfully yours.”
At her gesture, a representative elder approached and handed something over.
“That’s…!”
A brooch shaped like a winter wolf.
It was the symbol of the Luxior Grand Ducal House—something Sion never received in the original story.
Seeing Sion finally acknowledged before everyone as a legitimate young master of the house, I felt a lump in my throat and covered my mouth.
Only now did it truly feel like his fate had changed from the original.
“Sob… Sion…!”
“…Whoa, are you actually crying?”
Genebia muttered in confusion, but I ignored her completely.
What do you know, female lead.
At that moment, whispers began to ripple through the crowd.
“Ahem… doesn’t he resemble the former Grand Duke in his youth?”
“I was just thinking the same.”
“Ah, such nostalgic memories…”
“Though his birth may not be honorable, there is no doubt he carries the blood of the Grand Ducal House.”
Several retainers and nobles exchanged meaningful glances.
Noticing the atmosphere, those aligned with the Grand Duchess showed clear discomfort and coughed awkwardly.
Ignoring all of it, I shouted at the top of my lungs toward Sion, who was stepping down from the stage,
“Waaah! You’re amazing, Sion!!!”
“W-what was that?!”
“Good grief, that startled me.”
“Who was that? How uncouth.”
People looked around in surprise and irritation at my outburst.
Genebia and Elda whispered urgently,
“Miss Lin! You’ll get caught like this!”
“Sorry, sorry.”
I apologized half-heartedly—because I wasn’t sorry at all.
Then, when I looked back at the stage, I had the strange feeling that Sion and I had made eye contact through the crowd.
After the coming-of-age ceremony ended, a banquet was held.
“Alright, where’s Sion?”
I scanned the crowd sharply like a hawk, searching for him. Then I spotted him standing with Garen in the distance.
“Ah, there he is!”
I poked and tugged at Genebia’s hair.
“Let’s go over there!”
“Ow—could you stop pulling?”
“Got it, Genebia? Don’t say I came with you. Just let me watch from nearby.”
If Sion found out I’d come here when I was supposed to be resting, he would definitely get angry.
“…Alright.”
Grumbling, ‘I need to wrap this up quickly,’ Genebia trudged toward Sion.
At that moment, the music in the hall suddenly changed to a very romantic tune.
At the same time, people stepped back, forming a circular space in the center.
Elda, who was following behind, beamed.
“Kya! It’s dance time!”
As she said, nobles from the North came forward laughing, tossing flowers as they began to dance.
“…Oh, come on.”
Naturally, Sion and Garen—who had zero interest in dancing—stood off to the side talking to each other.
Then, a beautiful woman with long purple hair approached them.
My eyes immediately narrowed.
“Hey, what’s with her?!”
But the woman extended her hand—not to Sion, but to Garen.
I relaxed for a moment—then frowned again.
“Wait, how dare she choose Garen over Sion?”
Just as my pride was about to crack, Elda spoke up beside me,
“Isn’t that Lady Diene?”
“Huh?”
Looking closely, it really was Diene Shuto—the knight who had visited the annex recently. Presumably Garen’s ex.
Sure enough, Diene grabbed Garen’s stiff, startled hand and dragged him forcefully onto the dance floor.
Watching them, Elda held her cheek dreamily.
“Wow… Sir Garen is in a relationship too? I’m jealous.”
“…Hmm.”
I shifted my gaze back to Sion, who had been left alone.
Everyone around him was laughing, dancing, and chatting—but Sion stood there alone, still and solitary.
Seeing that made my chest ache.
I quickly called out,
“Genebia.”
“What now?”
“Go dance with Sion.”
“…What did you just say?”
She looked down at me in disbelief.
“I said go dance with Sion.”
“Why would I?”
“Look! He’s all alone over there!”
“He doesn’t look lonely. If anything, he looks pretty comfortable.”
Clicking my tongue, I lectured her,
“Think about it, Genebia. On such an important day, if a guy that amazing is standing there awkwardly alone, doesn’t that look bad?”
“….”
“And Sion is a young master. He might end up being your superior’s superior someday. If you get on his good side now, won’t your future be easier?”
A flicker of hesitation crossed her face.
“…But I’ve never danced before.”
I placed a hand firmly on her shoulder.
“Genebia. Does Sion look like the kind of person who’d actually dance if asked?”
“…Absolutely not.”
“Exactly! Just stand next to him. Keep other girls from approaching him. And while you’re at it, chat a little—break the ice, okay?”
“…No, I mean, why do I have to break the ice with him in the first place—”
Just then—
“So this is where you were.”
Sion’s voice came from behind.
“Ah! That scared me!”
“…!!!”
I instantly hid inside Genebia’s hair.
“Why are you so startled?”
Sion asked calmly.
Genebia, pretending to fix her hair while hiding me, answered awkwardly,
“…It’s nothing.”
“……”
A brief silence followed.
Peeking through her hair, I stole a glance at Sion.
Oh my god… he looks even more insanely handsome up close…!
That was the moment I lost my focus for a second.
“…Excuse me.”
Sion suddenly reached out and swept Genebia’s hair aside.
And just like that—
I was exposed.
I awkwardly waved at him as our eyes met.
“…Hi, Sion.”
“……”
Sion’s gaze turned cold.
