As Orion and Laura walked back toward the mansion, the sky had already darkened, the cool night air carrying a faint scent of flowers. A maid approached, bowing respectfully.
"My Lord, My Lady, it is time to return inside."
Orion nodded, adjusting his pace. He glanced at Laura, who seemed completely unbothered, her usual playful smirk lingering on her lips. He, on the other hand, felt a strange weight pressing on his chest.
Orion instinctively tensed. A sinking feeling settled in his gut.
Sure enough, as they entered the grand hall, both Lady Celia and Lady Sera were seated with knowing smiles—elegant, composed, yet unmistakably mischievous.
Their gazes landed on him first, then flickered toward Laura. And then… there was Elara.
Seated between them, Elara looked utterly sulky, her arms crossed, lips pursed in a firm, disapproving line. Her blue eyes held a storm, her fingers gripping the fabric of her dress tightly.
Laura, however, remained completely unfazed. She offered a polite nod to Celia and Sera before casting Elara a small, amused smirk—one that only made Elara's scowl deepen.
Orion cleared his throat, straightening his back. "What?" he asked flatly.
Lady Sera chuckled softly. "Nothing, dear. We were just… enjoying the view."
Lady Celia leaned forward slightly, her green eyes twinkling. "It's rare to see you walking with a young lady, after all."
Orion exhaled through his nose, already regretting this entire evening.
Before he could respond, Laura clasped her hands together and smiled. "It's getting late. I should take my leave now."
Just as she turned toward the door, Celia's warm voice stopped her.
"Why not stay for dinner?"
Laura blinked, momentarily surprised, but quickly regained her composure. "I wouldn't want to impose."
"Nonsense," Sera said smoothly. "You're already here. Join us."
Elara, who had been silently watching the exchange, tensed. Her fingers curled tightly around the edge of the table.
Still, no one noticed her action and otherside, Laura inclined her head gracefully and accepting invitation of dinner she said. "I'd be honoured."
The dining hall was warmly lit, casting a soft glow over the lavish feast spread across the long table. Plates of roasted meats, buttered vegetables, and fresh bread filled the air with a rich aroma.
Orion took his usual seat—only to realize Laura had effortlessly claimed the spot right beside him.
His mothers exchanged subtle glances before turning toward him.
"You seem quite comfortable, Orion," Celia mused, resting her chin on her palm.
"Indeed," Lady Sera added, lips curving into a faint smirk. "This is the first time a young lady has sat beside you at dinner."
Laura, maintaining her usual grace, merely smiled, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. "That's an honour, then."
Orion groaned internally on his mother's comment. "Mothers…"
Across from them, Elara's expression darkened. She stabbed her fork into her food a little too aggressively.
Noticing her irritation, Laura turned to Celia with a bright smile. "Lady Celia, Lady Sera, I would love to host you both for tea sometime. Perhaps you could also visit my shop."
Orion raised an eyebrow. That was unexpected.
Celia chuckled. "That sounds lovely."
Sera nodded in approval. "We'll gladly accept your invitation."
Then, with a thoughtful tilt of her head, she turned to Laura. "Now that you've become Orion's friend—and Elara's as well—why do you still address us so formally? Calling us 'Lady Celia' and 'Lady Sera' feels a bit distant, don't you think?"
Laura smiled, tilting her head. "Then, how should I address you?"
Sera's smirk deepened. "How about 'Aunt Celia' and 'Aunt Sera'?"
Orion, in the middle of sipping his drink, choked.
Elara, who had just taken a sip of juice, coughed violently, nearly spilling it across the table.
Laura's eyes sparkled with triumph. "Of course… Aunt Sera."
Orion felt his entire body tense. He turned to his mothers, who were enjoying this far too much.
Elara, meanwhile, looked seconds away from flipping the table.
As the meal ended, everyone stepped outside to bid Laura farewell., she offered a polite farewell to Celia and Sera, nodding respectfully.
"I truly appreciate the hospitality. I'll look forward to hosting you both soon."
Celia smiled warmly. "We'll be expecting your invitation."
Sera chuckled. "Take care, dear."
Then, Laura turned to Elara.
"Goodnight, Elara."
For a split second, something sharp and unreadable flickered in Elara's gaze. A silent warning, cold and clear: Don't come back.
Laura merely smirked.
Finally, she turned to Orion. "Goodnight, Orion."
His mothers and sister immediately turned their full attention to him.
Orion cleared his throat, feeling their stares pressing down on him. "Goodnight… Laura."
Laura's smile was beautiful—almost mesmerizing. With a graceful nod, she stepped into the carriage, and the doors closed behind her.
As the carriage rolled away, silence filled the air.
Then, Lady Sera turned to Celia with a knowing smirk.
"See? Our first daughter-in-law has arrived. I wonder how many more will follow."
Orion's lips twitched on his mother comment. "It's not like that, Mother!"
Celia and Sera simply shared an amused look.
Elara, however, clenched her fists tighter.
"I'm going to my room to rest," Orion muttered, eager to escape the teasing.
Everyone nodded, and as he turned to leave, a servant suddenly approached from the main mansion, bowing deeply.
"Madam, Young Miss, Young Master," the servant greeted respectfully.
Lady Sera frowned slightly. "What is it?"
The servant took a deep breath before delivering the message.
"My Lady, Lord vale has ordered me to deliver a message… Tomorrow, the First and Second Young Masters will be arriving—with an important guest and some friends."
A heavy silence fell over the group.
Orion's eyes sharpened. "Edric and Arin are coming…?"
He recalled that they were supposed to arrive a week ago, but due to unexpected complications, their journey had been delayed.
Lady Sera exhaled, nodding. "I see. Then we'll prepare for their arrival."
The servant bowed again before leaving.
Sera turned to the others. "Let's get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day."
With that, everyone parted ways, yet Orion couldn't shake the uneasy feeling creeping into his chest.
His brothers were finally coming home.
----
Orion sighed as he entered his room, leaning against the closed door.
Laura's presence was causing unnecessary chaos in his once-peaceful life. That woman was relentless—bold, confident, and utterly shameless in her pursuits.
Her words echoed in his mind.
"Maybe you'll fall for me one day."
Orion exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. "Ridiculous."
Laura's unexpected confession and bold bet still lingered in his mind, an irritating yet fascinating puzzle he couldn't ignore. Her confidence, her audacity—it was unlike anything he had encountered before.
And it gnawed at him.
Turning away from the door, he strode toward the window, pushing it open. A cool breeze swept into the room, rustling his jet-black hair as he gazed at the moonlit sky. The silver glow bathed the land in an ethereal light, stretching long shadows across the courtyard.
This—this was his favourite spot.
For as long as he could remember, the moon had always been his silent confidant. It had watched over him in his past life, through blood-soaked battlefields, betrayals, and bitter solitude. And now, in this life, it remained the only constant.
Laura's words replayed in his mind.
"What if I win our bet, Orion? What if you end up falling for me?"
He scoffed, shaking his head. "I'll never fall again."
Love made people weak. Love blinded, it shackled, and in the end, it destroyed. Hadn't he learned that lesson already? Hadn't he paid the ultimate price for believing in it?
And yet…
He stared at the moon, a fleeting thought creeping into his mind.
"But what if I do fall?"
His chest tightened at the thought. No. He refused to entertain such foolishness.
"Love makes you blind. Love makes you weak. Love takes everything from you."
And he wasn't affording too weak. Not anymore.
Shaking his head once more, Orion tore his gaze from the moon.
"I'm a little tired," he admitted to himself, though he knew rest wasn't an option.
For the past few days, he had developed a habit—sneaking out at night to train. His visions had shown him glimpses of powerful combat techniques, remnants of his past life, and he had slowly started incorporating them into his routine. Refining his footwork, controlling his mana flow, executing strange yet efficient movements—every night, he pushed himself further.
Tonight, however, he hesitated.
He was on the brink of reaching the fourth star of the Novice stage. Perhaps it was better to cultivate in his room instead of venturing outside.
His gaze fell on the vial of ManaGold he had placed on his table. So far, he had consumed only three pills. Five remained.
Releasing a slow breath, he moved toward the table, picking up the vial. Just as he was about to sit down and begin cultivation—
Knock. Knock.
The soft raps at the door startled Orion. At this hour? His body tensed instinctively.
Then came a familiar voice, quiet yet unmistakable.
"Brother... are you still awake?"
Orion blinked. Elara?
For a brief moment, he hesitated before shaking off his thoughts. Why would she come this late?
"...Yes. Wait—I'll open the door."
He pulled the handle, and as the door swung open, Elara stood before him.
Dressed in a light nightgown, the dim hallway light accentuated the unusual gleam in her blue eyes—something uncertain, something unreadable. Her long black hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, making her look almost ethereal in the moonlight.
She wasn't her usual confident self.
Orion frowned slightly. Something's wrong.
He stepped aside. "Come in."
She entered without a word, her posture unusually stiff. Orion closed the door behind her and turned, noticing how she avoided his gaze, fidgeting with the hem of her gown.
The silence stretched between them, heavier than he expected.
"Elara?" he finally asked, stepping closer.
She didn't respond right away, her fingers tightening slightly around the fabric. Then, in a voice quieter than usual, she whispered,
"Brother… I want to ask you something."
Orion softened his gaze, sensing her hesitation. "Go ahead."
She swallowed.
And then—
"B-Brother… what did you and Laura talk in garden? Can you tell me"
Orion stilled.
For a brief moment, he said nothing, his sharp mind processing her words.
So that's what this is about.
His expression didn't change, but Elara saw the hesitation in his eyes. Immediately, she panicked, waving her hands. "I-If you don't want to answer, you don't have to!" she blurted out, as if regretting asking.
Orion exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "It's not that," he reassured her. "It's just… unexpected."
She bit her lip, waiting.
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, in a neutral tone, Orion finally spoke.
"She proposed to me."
The words slammed into Elara like a physical blow.
Her breath hitched. The world around her blurred. It felt as if the ground beneath her had crumbled away, leaving her weightless and vulnerable.
"…She what?" The whisper barely left her lips.
Orion, not noticing the way her fingers trembled slightly, continued, "Laura asked me to marry her."
Elara's chest tightened painfully. Her vision swam
Her stomach twisted. Laura… purpose him?
Her worst fear… had come true.
Her lips parted, but no words came out. She tried to steady her voice. "W-What did you say?"
Orion looked at her, his black eyes unwavering. "I rejected her."
Silence.
Then, as if a heavy chain had been lifted from her heart, Elara exhaled.
The relief was so overwhelming that her knees nearly buckled.
She tried to fight it, tried to keep her expression neutral, but she couldn't stop the small, joyful smile from breaking through.
Orion narrowed his eyes slightly.
Wasn't she sulking just a moment ago?
Then—before he could even react—Elara suddenly threw herself at him.
"Elara—"
His body stiffened as her arms wrapped tightly around him, her small frame pressing against his chest. Her grip was firm, almost desperate.
She didn't speak.
She just… held on.
Orion blinked, momentarily lost. What's with this reaction?
Elara, however, wasn't thinking clearly.
She didn't even know why she had hugged him—only that her emotions had overwhelmed her. The moment she heard that he had rejected Laura, something inside her had… snapped.
She clung to him, listening to his heartbeat, feeling the warmth of his presence.
This is dangerous… but just for a little longer… let me stay like this.
Then—she realized what she was doing.
Her body stiffened. Her mind cleared.
Slowly, she pulled away, her cheeks burning.
"I-I'm sorry," she mumbled, refusing to meet his gaze.
Orion stared at her, still processing the sudden hug. And then—he chuckled.
"It's fine."
Elara hesitated before stepping back. I need to leave before I embarrass myself further.
"Then… I'll see you tomorrow, Brother." She turned quickly, gripping the door handle. "Goodnight."
Before he could respond, she bolted out of his room, her heart still pounding.
Orion stood there, staring at the door.
She came all the way here just to ask about Laura… and then left looking like she won a battle?
He exhaled, rubbing his temples.
I don't understand women. Both Elara and Laura are strange.
Shaking off his lingering thoughts, he walked toward the centre of his room. The moonlight filtering through the window cast a silver glow across the floor, its soft luminescence illuminating the space around him. With a slow breath, he sank onto the floor, crossing his legs into a meditative position.
From a small wooden box beside him, he picked up one of the crystallized ManaGold pills—its golden hue shimmering slightly under the dim light. Holding it between his fingers, he studied it for a moment. The concentrated energy within was potent, far purer than the liquid form.
Without hesitation, he placed the pill in his mouth, feeling its smooth surface dissolve almost instantly on his tongue. A sharp, tingling sensation spread through his mouth before seeping into his body, igniting a warmth that coursed through his veins.
His eyes closed.
He focused.
The energy spread through him, slow at first—like a trickling stream—before it surged, flooding his meridians with raw power. His body tensed, muscles tightening involuntarily as the rich mana forcefully integrated with his system.
He gritted his teeth. The purity of the ManaGold pill was leagues above the diluted form he had consumed in his past life. His body, unaccustomed to such a direct influx of energy, burned from within.
Sweat formed on his brow, but Orion remained still, unwavering. He directed the flow of mana, guiding it into his meridian, allowing it to settle and fuse with his natural reserves. With each cycle of controlled breathing, the chaotic energy slowly became manageable—refined, absorbed.
Minutes passed. Then an hour.
By the time he exhaled a deep breath, a faint mist of excess mana escaped from his mouth, dissipating into the air. His body felt heavier, yet at the same time, stronger—more refined.
His black eyes opened, sharp and piercing.
Finally, he steps in fourth start of novice.
But he closes his eyes again and start stabilized his cultivation.