Chapter 49: The Invitation

Dinner that evening had settled into its usual comfortable rhythm, Evelyn chattering excitedly about the garden incident while Yuki lounged lazily beneath the table, clearly worn out from playing all around the day. Sylvia listened with amused patience, occasionally exchanging knowing glances with Cassian, both of them fully aware that something had gone slightly sideways in the garden earlier, though neither pressed too hard for details.

Neo was halfway through his plate when one of the household servants entered quietly, bowing respectfully before approaching the table.

"Young Lord Neo, an invitation has arrived from the royal palace, addressed specifically to you." he said, holding out a sealed envelope embossed with the royal crest,

Conversation at the table paused instantly. As everyone’s eyes flicked towards the envelope on Neo’s hand.

Neo set down his fork, accepting the envelope with a slight frown, already suspecting whatever it contained wasn’t going to be particularly welcome news. He broke the wax seal carefully, unfolding the thick, embossed parchment inside.

His eyes scanned quickly over the elegant script.

"It’s an invitation, to a banquet hosted by the Second Princess. Apparently, it’s meant to formally welcome me into noble social circles."

Sylvia’s brows lifted slightly, exchanging a quick glance with Cassian. "The Second Princess is hosting this personally?"

"Seems that way, It says all eligible young nobles of appropriate age and standing are being invited, though it’s clear enough this is mostly aimed at introducing potential candidates for future political alliances."

Across the table, Nora had gone completely still, her lavender eyes fixed intently on the letter in Neo’s hands. She reached over without a word, gently taking it from him to read through it herself, her expression carefully blank as she scanned the elegant handwriting.

Neo watched her carefully, unable to fully gauge her reaction.

"I don’t want to go, It’s obviously just another attempt to parade eligible nobles in front of the royal family for their own political games. I’d rather stay here and continue training." he said flatly, setting the matter aside as though it were already decided.

Cassian let out a low hum, exchanging a meaningful look with Sylvia before speaking.

"As much as I’d love to let you skip it entirely, I don’t think that’s a wise choice this time, Neo."

Neo blinked, surprised. "Why not? I’ve skipped plenty of noble gatherings before."

"Those were minor events. This one is being hosted directly by the Second Princess. Ignoring a personal invitation like this could easily be seen as a deliberate insult to the crown, especially given our family’s already delicate relationship with the royal family." Sylvia explained gently, setting down her own utensils.

Cassian nodded in agreement. "It’s political theater, yes, but refusing to attend would only give them more ammunition against us. Better to show up, play along politely, and leave without giving them any real opportunity to trap you into anything serious."

Neo sighed heavily, running a hand down his face. "Great. So I’m being forced to attend a party specifically designed to marry me off to some random noble’s daughter."

"Not necessarily marry you off, though I wouldn’t put it past a few ambitious families to try their luck." Sylvia said, a teasing smile tugging at her lips,

Neo groaned, dropping his head onto the table dramatically. "This is exactly the kind of thing I hate."

After a long moment of grumbling, he finally straightened back up, resigned to his fate. "Fine. I’ll go. But I’m not staying a second longer than absolutely necessary."

Sylvia’s smile widened with quiet satisfaction. "That’s all we ask. Just stay like we taught you in front of nobles, and make sure to remain calm and composed, that’s all."

Throughout the entire exchange, Nora had remained silent, still studying the invitation carefully, her expression giving away nothing. But the moment the matter seemed settled, she finally set the letter down and then turned her face to look at Neo.

"I’m coming too."

Neo blinked, glancing up at her in surprise. "Wait, you want to come? But you hate these kinds of events even more than I do."

Nora’s expression remained perfectly calm, though there was something distinctly firm behind her lavender eyes as she replied again.

"I’m still coming."

Sylvia’s eyes flicked between the two of them, a knowing smile slowly spreading across her face, though she wisely chose not to comment further.

Cassian, meanwhile, simply chuckled quietly to himself, shaking his head as he returned his attention to his meal.

Neo, completely oblivious to the subtle undercurrent of tension behind Nora’s insistence, simply shrugged, accepting her decision without much further thought.

"Suit yourself, Honestly, I’ll probably survive the whole thing a lot easier with you there anyway." he said, picking his fork back up.

Nora said nothing more, simply picking her own notepad back up and returning to her meal, though beneath her calm, composed expression, her mind had already begun quietly working through exactly how she intended to handle any noble daughter who dared get too close to him during the upcoming banquet.

Evelyn, completely unaware of the tension simmering quietly across the table, happily continued babbling about Yuki’s magic, blissfully unbothered by the far more complicated politics unfolding right in front of her.

After dinner was over, Neo stood up from his seat and returned to his room.

Once inside, he walked toward the designated area prepared solely for his cultivation training and sat down in the center, crossing his legs into a lotus position.

He slowly closed his eyes and entered his inner sanctum.

At the same moment, the runic circle beneath him began to glow, its faint light spreading across the floor. The formation helped him maintain his concentration while also drawing the surrounding mana toward him at a faster rate.

Neo began cultivating using the Celestia Cultivation Scripture, the technique he had learned from his mother.

As the mana circulated through his body, a faint layer of frost began forming across his skin. The temperature around him gradually dropped as the frost continued to spread, eventually covering his entire body.

Inside his inner sanctum, Neo’s consciousness floated quietly within the swirling frost.

He raised his hand and began gathering his ice element in front of him. Slowly, the frost condensed and formed into a solid wall.

However, the wall was still cloudy and foggy. Neo couldn’t see his own reflection through its surface.

’Not pure enough.’

He punched the wall, shattering it into fragments before summoning another one.

Again and again, he repeated the process, continuously refining his ice element and forcing the frost to become purer.