Chandeliers, golden candlesticks, and ornate lanterns illuminated the massive ball, the light reflecting on the marble floors and mirrors on walls to reveal white statues and a domed ceiling of art and golden carvings. If not for the windows around the dome revealing the starry night it would have been impossible to tell the difference between day and night.

Beneath this majestic sight were men and women wearing the most exquisite and expensive garments. However, there was an unusually high number of young men in their early to middle twenties. Among them, a few seemed to be much more popular with the older nobles who were always seeking to greet them and shake hands.

Among them in a corner, leaning on a pillar was a figure that seemed to be far less popular. But everyone looked at him with curious gazes. His hair was black, his clothes expensive but simple but what made everyone curious was the figure next to him. A man with brown skin, a relatively long beard, wearing an exotic silk robe of purple and gold. In his hand was a staff with a crown inlaid with gems of many colors, with the largest being red, blue, white, and brown.

----------------------------------------

It seems they were only curious about my journeys and my partner. Not that surprising, I was only an heir to a barony and now I am just a normal man with noble blood.

Not being the center of attention is good for now, but I doubt it will remain that way for long. Most of the people that did greet me only wanted to sate their curiosity about my advisor, Al-Ishraq, and after I gave an extremely simplified story about our meeting no one bothered to engage me in conversation again.

“Everyone seems to be wanting to get on with those three” Ishraq noted, pointing at three men with his eyes.

“Ah yes, the first one with blond hair is Willhelm the heir to the Strauss County, the largest in the Grand Duchy. The second more muscular black-haired one is of Limothier while the other thinner one is of Lundern”

“You don’t really like the Strauss kid, do you?”

Ishraq was eagle-eyed as always…

“I have never told you why I kicked myself out of my inheritance huh?”

“So, he was the reason for your fall?”

“And I will step on him when I rise above anyone of them.”

Ishraq ‘s face changed into a grin, he admired ambition, but he also loved revenge.

Suddenly the music changed, and I stood up straight.

A female figure had appeared on the main staircase. She was an almost petite brunette, her hair tied into a rather intricate chignon while a single bang was falling on the side of her hair. She wore a purple dress that perfectly outlined her hourglass figure. Above her, rather well-endowed breasts was a necklace of sapphires.

She was like a work of art, created by the god of art himself. My golden step on the path to ascension.

“Soon….” I whispered towards Ishraq who simply nodded, his grin becoming increasingly devilish.

As she walked down with such majesty and beauty, I walked towards the front of the crowd without being noticed. In the front were the three heirs of the Counts looking expectantly towards her.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

Ignoring them she turned towards me and with a smile, she extended her hand,

“Dear sir, would you be kind enough to be my partner for the night?”

With a smile, I bowed and took her hand.

“It will be an honor, my lady “

----------------------------------------

As the two of us danced the eyes of the entire ballroom fell upon us. There were surprised nobles and there were ones looking at me as if I was a thief.

“You are going to be in so much trouble now”

She said in such a beautiful and ethereal voice that made me hold her a little bit tighter.

My eyes locked with her beautiful hazel eyes and I said,

“Alicia……….. You are worth all of it”

Her blushing face was cute and I could feel I was getting attached to her.

I looked at the three sons of counts who seems to have found dancing partners, but they were clearly not happy. I could feel their gaze, but they know so little.

They think this will be the beginning of courting the eldest child of the duke who had no male heirs. The duke had blocked all attempts of courting..........until now. A marriage with any of the big houses could unite the houses into one, larger and stronger. The king would stop it if he could, but the current king is pathetic, to say the least. The situation in the capital appears to be getting worse and worse which means their ability to interfere in the affairs of the Grand Duchies have become nonexistent.

I noticed we were being observed by someone from above.

“Look who is watching”

I pointed my eyes to the above balcony where someone like Alicia was watching, she was wearing an identical dress but red in color and she wore a necklace of rubies shaped just like Alicia’s. She was looking at us with a smile.

Some men tried approaching her but several butlers blocked off that part of the balcony.

“Alice is playful but she is also intelligent. She knows when to keep a distance.”

Alicia praised her little sister, but I could feel she is also hinting at the pressure on her. She couldn’t keep a distance from everything happening and that will happen soon. She is at the center of it all, the firstborn and the key to power.

“Good Evening, ladies and gentlemen”

I heard a man announce with a loud voice and suddenly all the music stopped.

“Sorry to interrupt your dance but I must thank all of you for joining me in this evening. As you know my eldest daughter is at the age of marriage...”

I could see all the eyes turn towards Alicia for a moment.

He continued on.

“….. and my youngest daughter will be also ready for marriage soon.”

I could sense the tension within him increasing from the sound of his voice.

“So after...discussing... the matter with my father I have decided to announce….”, he took a deep breath before continuing

“… the marriage between my daughter Alicia Drakenhoff to Alden of House Zauber.”

I couldn’t control my smile as everyone gasped and turned toward me. Some gazes were filled with killing intent. I saw Ishraq hiding behind the crowd struggling to control his laugh.

Then the Duke continued, “As allowed under the ancient laws of our people, Alden of House Zauber will be adopted into the House of Drakenhoff. Thus he will be named Alden Drakenhoff after the marriage..”

I looked up and saw shadows moving on the windows.

“Just in case…” I thought.

After a pause, someone started clapping. I looked at him and saw Viscount Hagen. Then one by one more applause but most were silent. The congratulations came from minor nobles from the territories directly controlled by the duke.

The attention was all on me and it was becoming suffocating.

Suddenly someone shouted and everyone including myself turned towards him.

It was Count Limothier.

“I protest, this is unacceptable. An exiled low-ranking noble becoming the heir to the entire Drakenhoff duchy?”

I could see many nobles nodding their heads in agreement.

Those heads will soon be on the floor in front of me soon. On their necks or not.

Then his son joined the argument, “I am willing to challenge you to a duel for the right for Alicia’s hand.”

I did expect the possibility of being challenged to a duel but the chances of it happening………

Oh well, it can’t be helped now. Then I noticed Willhelm Strauss behind the Limothiers, he seems to have recognized me. For a moment we looked at each other in the eyes, his hatred was quite clear in them. He was obviously the leading candidate and I have a feeling he was the person that pushed the muscle-headed Limothiers over the edge.

Turning towards the two idiots I gave my answer,

“I accept”.