The banquet hall of the Union's headquarters was buzzing with life, the evening air thick with chatter, laughter, and the clinking of glasses. A celebration—one held in my name.
This event marked my official proclamation as the heir to the Korean Awakener Association, yet here I was, standing in the middle of it all, dressed casually while holding a glass of orange juice.
I took a sip, sighing to myself. Mother's orders.
Even if the alcohol content was practically nonexistent, she had made it clear: No alcohol. Period.
I had asked Father if I could at least change into something more formal, but he simply waved me off. "There's no need for that," he had said. "Just enjoy the night."
Easier said than done.
Currently, I stood beside him, glancing around at the room filled with executives and their families. The walls were lined with lavish golden chandeliers, and the atmosphere practically dripped with elegance and power.
"Will Mother be coming?" I asked, looking up at him.
Before he could answer, I caught sight of her arrival.
Without thinking, I ran toward her.
It was probably childish—running toward my mother in the middle of a formal event. But so what? I was eight, and I had grown fond of her warmth. In a world where expectations were constantly crushing down on me, my mother was one of the few who never treated me as just an heir, but as her son.
"Mom! I didn't know you would come."
She smiled, her presence as elegant as ever. "And why shouldn't I come to my son's proclamation party?"
"That's right," I smirked. "I'm your talented and handsome son—it's only fitting that you should be here."
She chuckled, pinching my cheek. "You're a cheeky little one."
I rubbed my face, pretending to scowl before eyeing her with concern. "But is Dr. Han okay with you coming here?"
Dr. Han was her personal physician, always making sure she didn't overwork herself.
"Yes, he is, son," she reassured me. "There's no need for you to worry."
Father approached us then, greeting her with a small nod. "How was the trip, hon?"
"It was relatively fine," she answered. "Dr. Han came with me to make sure everything was okay."
Before we could continue, Chang-Min walked up to Father, whispering something in his ear.
After a brief pause, Father turned back to my mother. "Hon, come with me. We need to greet the Yoo family—they'll be arriving shortly."
I perked up at that. "Should I come?"
"No, stay here with the executives' children," he said firmly, and Chang-Min subtly tilted his head toward a group of kids nearby.
I groaned, drawing a chuckle from my parents. "You'll be fine, son," Mother said, patting my head before following Father.
I watched them go before turning to Chang-Min.
"You're not going with them?" I asked.
He shook his head. "The chairman ordered me to stay here and make sure you're fine."
I simply nodded at that. It made sense. The children of these executives weren't just here to mingle—they were opportunists in the making. People like them—and more importantly, their parents—would go to great lengths to secure connections. Having Chang-Min's presence meant they would behave.
Soon enough, an executive began making his way toward me, his children trailing behind him.
"That's Executive Beom-Seok," Chang-Min murmured beside me.
Beom-Seok stopped before me, offering a respectful nod. "Congratulations, Rheon-nim, on your official proclamation as heir."
I smiled politely, keeping up appearances. "Thank you for your support, Executive Beom-Seok."
He motioned to his children. "This is my youngest son, Yejun—he's eight, the same age as you, Rheon-nim. And this is my eldest daughter, Aera—she's eleven."
Both children stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Congratulations, Rheon-nim," they said in unison.
I nodded, giving them both a polite thank you.
More executives approached, introducing their children—some younger, some older, and some my exact age. We exchanged pleasantries, talked about mundane things, and while I kept up the formalities, my mind wandered elsewhere.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of my parents again—now standing with the Yoo family of Shinhwa.
Excusing myself from the children, I made my way over.
Father noticed my approach. "Ah, there he is." He turned to the Yoo family, motioning toward me. "Son, I'd like to introduce you to the Yoo family of Shinhwa. They are dear friends of our family."
I bowed slightly. "Good evening. I hope you all had a safe trip coming here."
Jin-Tae Yoo, the head of the Yoo family, let out a low chuckle. "Your son is quite mature for his age—that's a good thing."
I offered a polite smile.
Then, Min-Ah Yoo, his wife, gently nudged a young girl forward. "Jiyoung, introduce yourself."
A little girl, around five years old, peeked out from behind her mother before hesitantly stepping forward.
"...I'm Jiyoung Yoo," she said quietly.
I kneeled slightly to match her height. "Hello, Jiyoung. My name's Rheon."
She gave a small nod, clutching the hem of her dress shyly.
As the party continued, I tuned into my father's conversation with Jin-Tae Yoo.
They were discussing the latest news in the Awakened community—specifically, a 21-year-old Awakener who was currently fighting ranked Awakeners.
Apparently, he had electrokinesis abilities.
That caught my attention.
Electrokinesis?
I did some quick mental math.
If this Awakener was 21 years old in 2006, and if my previous knowledge was correct… then he would be 40 years old by the time the Eleceed canon timeline begins in 2025.
So that meant…
This guy is definitely Kayden.
I kept my expression neutral, but internally, I was already piecing things together.
Meanwhile, Min-Ah Yoo and my mother were engaged in their own discussion—likely about the latest gossip in the Awakener community.
I also happened to notice that Min-Ah Yoo's belly was slightly swollen.
So she was pregnant with Jisuk Yoo.
Interesting.
For the remainder of the night, I mingled with the children of the executives, speaking with Jiyoung every now and then, until the party finally came to an end.
As the event wrapped up, I found myself seated in the back of our car, heading home with my parents.
The night had been long, and despite everything, my mind refused to rest.
Kayden.
Jiyoung.
The political maneuvering of Awakener families.
One thing was clear.
This world was starting to unfold before me in ways I never expected.