Chapter 119: Before the Debut

Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Before the Debut

However, after listening to the rough events of all those years and chatting for a while longer, Jeremy picked up some good news.

That his previous calculations were indeed superfluous. Although Sylas’s engagement was bestowed directly by the royal family, his parents had never forced the child to comply with it.

Taking advantage of the momentum, he conveniently probed into a few questions regarding future political marriages as well.

But these two, having been forced into a political marriage by their own families, had absolutely no intention of repeating that with their children.

Upon learning that he had kicked Amber to the curb on Sylas’s behalf, they conversely dropped a compliment: well done.

Simultaneously, they committed that his future marriage would be decided by himself. Whether to marry or not was entirely up to him.

One of Jeremy’s concerns was lifted. He moved on to ask about his studies.

The answer he received was: let him choose.

The first option — re-enroll next year with the identity of "Jeremy Noan Valmont," while simultaneously processing an academic suspension for Sylas.

The second option — after the start of the semester on January twenty-fifth, take Sylas’s place, correct all identification data, and continue studying in Class 659 of the Anima department.

Jeremy naturally chose the second option.

He didn’t have the free time to sit around waiting for half a year and then crawl from the beginning for another half year. Moreover, the level of synchronization among the five people in the current team could be temporarily considered formed. If he waited until next year to re-enroll, having to build from the foundation and polish coordination with a group of new members, just thinking about it was annoying. He refused.

Tomorrow, after the banquet ended and his identity was made public, the name on his documents would also be corrected.

Everything was much smoother than anticipated.

"Is older brother coming back tomorrow?" Jeremy asked casually.

Atalai: "Your brother is tied up with missions this year, unable to leave the country. Tomorrow’s and the day after tomorrow’s banquets will only be the three of us."

Jeremy gave a "yeah," indicating he understood.

He remembered from Sylas’s memories that the direct cousin named Jelius, after graduating from the Magic Academy, received orders from the Master of the Magic Tower and went to another country for work. He had originally thought he would return for the New Year. It seemed the mission workload over there was not light.

Even though the royal family had made it clear that absence during the first two days of the banquet was forbidden without a major reason, the status of the Magic Tower was on par with the Divine Temple; its power spread across the continent, and to a certain extent, could stand equal to the empire itself.

Therefore, once orders were received, skipping the national day banquet or an investiture ceremony was no big deal, let alone just a New Year’s banquet.

None of the three were the chatty type. The conversation stopped right there.

Outside, the doorbell rang, followed by a voice transmitting through a magic tool:

"Lord Duke, the formal attire for the banquet that you ordered has been rushed over. Would you like to take a look now?"

"Yes."

Receiving Elwyn’s affirmative, the stylist and the butler outside pushed the door and entered.

What met their eyes were several rows of long racks holding formal attire, plus an array of gemstone jewelry housed in magical ice crystal display cases, of every style imaginable. Anyone who didn’t know better would think someone had just dumped an entire fashion boutique and a jewelry store straight into the living room.

Jeremy swept his gaze around.

Aside from the matching formal wear sets for men and women, the two thickest rows were clearly tailored for someone his age.

Elwyn jutted his chin towards them: "Every year, custom orders are made according to your measurements. This year’s batch was finished just in time. The formal attire and jewelry for tomorrow’s banquet, whichever you like, you can take."

"Yes."

Tomorrow could be considered his first debut, but Jeremy had no particular interest in these things. While the tailor and designer took turns showcasing each set accompanied by lengthy explanations, he casually pointed to an outfit that looked relatively pleasing to the eye.

As for the necklace, cufflinks, family crest brooches, and the like, he let them coordinate everything according to their proposals.

The following day.

When the first barrage of fireworks tore through the night sky, the royal family’s banquet bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new year officially commenced.

Because they had notified the royal family in advance about announcing the return of the Valmont family’s eldest young master right at this banquet, in just a few short hours, the news had spread throughout social circles.

Compared to the boring previous years, this year could be considered to have an extra story worth chewing on. Thus, even before the banquet officially started, the young aristocratic young masters and ladies who loved gossiping had gathered in clusters in the hall, discussing this young master who had never once shown his face.

"I heard the eldest young master of the Valmont family returned this time."

"The eldest young master? You mean the real Jeremy Noan Valmont?"

"Exactly. Sylas’s biological older brother. When Sylas was little, didn’t he throw a tantrum insisting on taking his brother’s name at all costs? I heard the Fate stone will be corrected this time."

"Correcting it is good too, saves us the trouble of self-hypnosis every time we open our mouths so we don’t call the wrong name. But I wonder what the temperament of this real Jeremy is like. I hope it’s not a second copy."

"I hope so too... But didn’t the Divine Temple announce eleven years ago that he had gone missing at the bottom of the abyss? After all those years, he actually survived and returned?"

"That’s not it, he was found and brought back eleven years ago, but remained constantly comatose. Rumor has it that Sylas paid an extremely heavy price. Trading his own eternal slumber for his brother’s awakening."

"So it seems he values his family quite a bit, not to the point of being rotten to the core. In short, I just hope this newly returned young master isn’t as crazy as his younger brother..."

"All of you shut your mouths for me. What did Jeremy... Sylas do to you for you to stand here making such a loud fuss?"

An icy cold voice rang out from behind.

Those busy gossiping jumped in fright, turning their heads clamorously, only to see Lomita — the heir to one of the four Duke families — standing right behind them, her gloomy gaze pinned tightly onto each person.

That look was no different from asking them if they wanted to continue living.

No one was clear on when she had become close with Sylas to the point of stepping up to speak for him like this.

But facing this ancestor whom they absolutely could not afford to offend, the group could only force out awkward smiles, hastily adding:

"Sorry, sorry, we were just talking nonsense."

"Right, right, actually Young Master Jeremy... Oh no, Young Master Sylas has quite a good temperament too."

"Yes, yes, those rumors must be from someone... ahem, jealous who spread fake news...?"

Towards these yes-men, Lomita only felt annoyed. She dropped exactly one word: "Scram."

Those few instantly scattered like a flock of birds hit by a thrown stone.

The maid Linna, although very helpless in the face of her master’s do-as-she-pleases attitude, let her vent this time.

Linna clearly understood how terrible her young mistress’s mood was.

Since noon today, right upon hearing the news that Young Master Sylas had fallen into a coma, her young mistress had paced back and forth in the dressing room so much she messed up the hair that had just been pinned up.

Asking around for half a day, the return was a thunderbolt: that friend she had managed to make with such difficulty had personally sacrificed himself to awaken his older brother, and wouldn’t wake up for the next ten years. Perhaps even longer.

With her mood at the bottom of the abyss, those fools just now had perfectly stepped on the red line.