Nobles and those of importance were always announced before they stepped into the banquet hall. This was a sign of respect and tradition that had existed for generations.
However, only those from noble households were ever given this honor. Merchants were never announced, after all, all they had was money, and that was something every noble possessed in abundance.
As for individuals outside the noble hierarchy who were still deemed important enough to be announced, they were powerful figures, beings like Lily of the Abyss. After all, in this world, power stood above money, status, and bloodline.
Inside the grand banquet hall, conversations flowed freely as nobles mingled, formed connections, and strengthened alliances.
Every so often, a new name would echo through the hall, prompting some heads to turn in curiosity, while others didn’t even bother as they stood above the name that was announced.
And at that moment, the voices of the two butlers stationed at the entrance rang clearly across the vast chamber, cutting through all ambient noise.
"Asher Wargrave, Tenth Sun of the Ducal Wargrave Household has arrived!"
As their brains registered the name, every single voice in the hall fell silent. Not a whisper remained. A pin-drop silence reigned supreme, so heavy it felt like the very air had frozen in reverence, or perhaps shock.
Then a sound came.
It wasn’t loud. It was soft, subtle. But somehow, it rang louder than any shout at that moment. It was the sound of a footfall.
Then another.
And another.
Steps that should have gone silent the moment it hit the ground, now echoed like a divine command, drawing every gaze forward as if the will of the world itself demanded attention.
All eyes turned instantly to the entrance.
There, they saw him.
A boy, no older than seventeen, standing tall at six feet three inches, walking with regal composure, as if he were the Emperor of the Zarethorne Empire himself.
His purple hair was perfectly arranged, sitting atop his head like a crown. A flawless hairline framed his forehead, catching and reflecting the light of the hall in mesmerizing patterns. His deep purple eyes, a mirror of his hair, were calmer than any still lake.
A perfectly built, athletic body spoke volumes of his physique without needing words. His presence alone devoured attention like a black hole swallows light. No one could look away. It wasn’t just his lineage, they were all staring at him.
Everyone watched, stunned.
They didn’t believe their eyes.
They couldn’t believe their eyes.
A member of the Duke family.
Not just any member, a Sun.
And not just any Sun, the failed Sun.
The disgrace of the Wargrave.
They all knew who he was. They had all heard about him. Every descendant of the Wargrave family was a genius in their own right. That streak had gone unbroken for generations, until him.
Until Asher.
The youngest heir who had failed his awakening twice.
When Asher underwent his third and final awakening, it wasn’t just the Wargrave family who listened in. Nobles, powerhouses, and those of status had tuned in, curious and cautious.
If Asher failed, it would mark the beginning of the Wargrave’s slow and subtle decline. Even if it was just a spark, small and seemingly insignificant, no one knew what kind of flame it might ignite in the future.
’Handsome.’
That was the shared thought that echoed through everyone’s minds. They had never seen the Tenth Sun before, and certainly not someone so striking.
Even though he was widely known as a failure, few were foolish enough to look down on him openly. He may have awakened on his third attempt, and his future might be limited in the eyes of many, but he was still a Wargrave. He still had monsters of unimaginable strength backing him.
So unless one had equal status, any scorn or disdain was best buried deep within the heart.
In truth, many didn’t even care that he had failed his awakening. Thousands failed to awaken every single year. Not everyone was destined for greatness.
As Asher walked into the hall, he could feel their stares drilling into his back like invisible spears. He had expected this. Wherever he went, people would always stare, because he was the son of a Duke.
And now, they stared harder, because he was the failed heir.
He continued walking calmly, eyes subtly scanning the hall as he searched for a place to sit and observe the event.
’The number of chandeliers hanging from the ceiling just to light up one hall is ridiculous,’ he thought as his gaze moved upward.
Eventually, Asher found a seat. But before he could sit down, he heard the soft, deliberate sound of footsteps approaching from behind.
He turned his head slightly, only to see a beautiful girl walking toward him, standing at about five feet seven inches, her elegant stride filled with trained grace. She reached him and smiled warmly.
"Enjoying the view, Tenth Sun?" she asked, her tone light and inviting.
Asher’s expression remained impassive as he replied calmly, "Isn’t it normal to introduce yourself before striking up a conversation?"
"Indeed," she answered, her smile widening. "My name is Darissa Camber, first and only child of Marquis Darian Camber."
’A Marquis, huh?’ Asher thought. In terms of noble rank, they sit just below the Emperor and the Dukes.
Although Darissa was the sole heir of her household, Crymora operated under merit rather than gender. Male or female, it made no difference. The world didn’t discriminate. Power was the only thing that mattered.
Seeing her smile and properly introduce herself, Asher’s expression softened. His impassive face shifted into a slight smile as he responded.
"Asher Wargrave, Tenth child of the Wargrave Household."
Darissa was momentarily surprised to see him smile. She had expected to look at his impassive face all day, after all, it was said that the Wargraves ’never’ smiled. As the only heir of a Marquis household, she had studied the Empire in depth, especially the Four Dukes.
Her family didn’t side with any particular Duke. Instead, they maintained good relationships with all of them.
As a noble, Darissa had perfect control over her facial expressions. She didn’t let her surprise show. She simply smiled back, and the conversation began to flow naturally between them.
Though Asher was considered a failure by many, he still bore the name of Wargrave. More importantly, he couldn’t be married off to just anyone due to his family’s rigid traditional rules.
Darissa Camber knew this well. And that was why she didn’t hesitate to step forward, to make the first move, to be the first connection.
Others soon came to the same realization. In an instant, several nobles began to flock toward Asher, each one eager to make an impression and build a relationship with the Tenth Sun.
Asher could only sigh inwardly as he continued greeting them one by one, hearing name after name.
He knew that once he saw a person’s face and heard their name even once, he would never forget them. His brain had a knack for never forgetting anything which always worked against him in moments like these.