I strode through the grand entrance of the Nyxveil mansion,choosing the front gate over the hidden dog hole I'd used as a child. The guards, recognizing me instantly, bowed their heads in deference—a gesture reserved for Madam Nyxveil, not for Young Lady Selentia.
"Your house is fucking big," Xavier whispered in awe, his voice barely audible. I couldn't blame him. Even after 48 years of living here, the sheer scale of the mansion still left me breathless.
The Nyxveil mansion was a masterpiece of medieval architecture, a fortress of stone and history nestled among rolling vineyards and mist-shrouded mountains. Its weathered walls bore intricate carvings, arched windows, and towering buttresses that spoke of Gothic and Romanesque elegance. The central tower, crowned with a sharp spire, loomed over the estate, flanked by smaller turrets that added to its imposing silhouette. The main entrance, an arched gateway framed by sculpted columns and wrought-iron doors, exuded an air of timeless grandeur.
Beyond the walls, a cobblestone courtyard unfolded, dotted with manicured gardens, bubbling fountains, and pathways leading to smaller buildings—guest lodgings, servant quarters, and workshops that resembled a quaint village. The vineyards stretched endlessly, their green rows blending into the horizon, while the mountains beyond added a touch of mythic beauty to the scene.
Knights, hidden but ever-watchful, guarded the estate. As a child, I'd rarely used the front gate—the distance to the main mansion was too great. But today, I had a reason for taking the long road. If Rina was right, someone important was visiting.
*Creak.*
The sound of the main gate opening drew my attention. I turned to see a navy-blue carriage adorned with the crest of a white wolf. Stepping aside, I allowed it to pass, but it halted abruptly, and I couldn't help but smirk.
"You said you can see the essence of a person with your bare eyes, right?" I whispered to Xavier, who gave me a suspicious nod. "Time to use it."
As the carriage door swung open, a woman leaped out. Her wavy navy-blue hair cascaded to her waist, framing rosy cheeks and plump pink lips. Her light sky-blue eyes burned with fury as she stormed toward me, trailed by a male attendant who struggled to keep up.
"Young Lady, please control yourself!" the attendant pleaded, but she shoved him away with a sharp, "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME!" He stumbled, his round glasses slipping from his face as he hit the ground. He was tall, with broad shoulders and slightly tanned skin, his shabby three-piece suit doing little to hide his unassuming appearance. Yet, as our eyes met, he quickly averted his gaze, and I knew better than to underestimate him.
"SELENTIA NYXVEIL!" the woman shrieked, her voice dripping with rage. She raised her hand to slap me, but I caught her wrist with a flick of my aura, sending her stumbling back.
*Thud.*
"YOUNG LADY!" The attendant rushed to her side as she fell, her face pale with shock. The knights around us gasped but remained at a distance, their loyalty unwavering.
"How dare you, you insolent girl!" she spat, struggling to her feet. "Do you think you can act so arrogantly just because you've been named the Successor?"
I sealed her mouth with a touch of my aura, silencing her mid-sentence. Her eyes widened in terror as I knelt before her, my voice soft but deliberate. "Elizabeth Graham, I suggest you control that nasty temper of yours. You may be Dain's fiancée, but to me, you're nothing more than the daughter of a marquess."
Elizabeth Graham—youngest daughter of Marquess Berose Graham, a member of the Court of Ignis and the legislative board. She and Dain had been engaged since childhood, and she'd taken every opportunity to torment me, knowing Dain would cover for her. After his death, she'd been married off to a country viscount and died in childbirth—or so the official records claimed. The truth was far darker: her infidelity had led to her brutal murder at the hands of her husband. A tragic end for someone once so beautiful.
"Do you understand me, Elizabeth?" I smiled sweetly as I released her mouth. She gasped for air, clutching her chest, her fear palpable. I glanced at her attendant, who was already watching me intently.
"Let's hope this doesn't happen again," I said, turning to leave. As I walked away, I murmured to Xavier, "What do you think?"
"That man is a spirit," Xavier replied, his tone cautious. "The Spirit of Wind, to be precise."
"A spirit? Not a contractor?" I asked, surprised.
Xavier nodded. "He's concealing his power and identity so well that even high-ranked demon worshippers wouldn't detect him."
A spirit of wind, masquerading as a mere attendant? The implications were staggering. "But aren't spirits forbidden from leaving the spirit world without a contractor?"
"Only spirit kings can roam freely," Xavier confirmed. "But I can't tell if he's one yet. What I do know is that he's thousands of times more powerful than you are now."
I winced at the jab but pressed on. "Why isn't anyone reacting to you on my shoulder?"
"To them, I'm just a lizard," Xavier grumbled. "And they can't hear me, even if I speak directly to you."
I stifled a laugh. It was better this way—I needed to recruit him before his true nature was revealed. Rudrick, you've been playing your own game, haven't you?
As I entered the mansion, I spotted Alancia and Ezekian descending the spiral staircase, hand in hand. They were laughing, their closeness unmistakable.
"What a bastard!" Xavier hissed. "Just this morning, he was proposing to you, and now he's flirting with her?"
"I know," I muttered, my smile tight.
Alancia's eyes widened as she noticed me. "W-what is that lizard on your shoulder?" she squealed, hiding behind Ezekian.
Xavier bristled. "A LIZARD? How dare a mere human call a dragon a lizard!"
"Calm down," I whispered, though I couldn't help but smirk. "It's my friend. You shouldn't be so rude, Alancia."
"Since when are you friends with lizards?" she sneered.
"Considering I live with snakes, a lizard isn't much of a stretch," I replied coolly.
Ezekian sighed, turning to Alancia. "Young Lady, would you mind waiting in the garden?" Reluctantly, she complied, shooting me a venomous glance as she left.
Tsk. My luck with siblings was truly abysmal.
Ezekian's gaze lingered on me, intense and unreadable. "I'll be leaving the Nyxveil mansion tomorrow," he announced abruptly.
My eyes flickered with surprise, but I masked it quickly. "I'm not coming with you," I said firmly.
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "Selentia, I—"
Before he could finish, the chandelier in the living room crashed to the floor with a deafening roar. Maids screamed, and knights materialized from the shadows.
"What happened?" I demanded.
"A technical issue, My Lady," one knight replied, bowing his head.
I examined the fallen chandelier, my instincts tingling. It didn't seem like an accident.
"Is everyone all right?" I asked the maids, who nodded shakily.
Ezekian lingered, his expression conflicted. "Alancia is waiting for you, Young Duke," I reminded him.
He hesitated, then walked away without another word.
---
Selentia didn't know it, but the chandelier's fall was no accident. Xavier had acted on impulse, his growing attachment to her clouding his judgment. When Ezekian stepped closer, something primal had stirred within Xavier—a burning desire to protect Selentia, even if it meant sabotaging the moment.
- *I want to kill this guy. But she wouldn't like that.* -
So, with a flick of his power, Xavier had brought the chandelier down. As Ezekian walked away, Xavier smirked, though he couldn't quite understand why he'd acted so impulsively.
- *It must be the wild demonic power inside me,* he reasoned. *It can't stand his divine aura.* -
Little did he know, this was only the beginning of the lengths he'd go to for her.
---
Standing before my father's study, I took a deep breath. I needed his permission for something risky yet necessary—to attend the Academy. It was the only way to hone my skills without drawing attention.
"Do you want me to look into your father's essence?" Xavier asked.
I nodded. "Better to be sure."
Knocking on the door, I entered to find my father at his desk and an unexpected guest lounging on the sofa—Master Edwin Ronald, the Tower Master of Noctemi. His black robe hung loosely, revealing his bare chest, and his laid-back demeanor was a stark contrast to my father's stern expression.
"An uninvited guest," Father said dryly.
"Selentia, this is Edwin Ronald," Father introduced. "Edwin, my eldest daughter and successor, Selentia Amaris Nyxveil."
I bowed slightly, my mind racing. What was Master doing here?
Master's eyes flicked to Xavier. "What's that on your shoulder? A lizard?"
"A cute one," I replied, my tone light.
Father raised an eyebrow. "I thought you preferred cats."
"I thought a lizard might keep the cat company," I lied smoothly.
Father shrugged, his attention already drifting. "What brings you here?"
"I need your permission," I said, my voice steady. "To attend the Academy."
The room fell silent, the weight of my request hanging in the air. Father's gaze sharpened, and even Master seemed intrigued.
This was the first step toward my future—a future I would carve for myself, no matter the cost..