“Are you going?” asked Eris, looking at Nero behind her who threw the last glance at his grandfather, who was now surrounded by many people, talking to him. Hence, Nero nodded, realizing that his only relative didn’t need him now.

“Yes,” said Nero, following the girl, and passing through a few tables with different snacks and meals.

Soon, they ended up entering inside a particular part of the hall. The main difference here was that only scions stood around the different tables. While they moved toward the fifth company, composed of the peers slightly smaller or elder than them, other youngsters just threw glances at Eris without even looking at Nero.

“Why are there five groups instead of six?” asked Nero as they approached their place while Eris kept looking at the tall youngster with Avalon family insignia on his clothes. His question returned her to her senses as she threw a dissatisfied glance at him.

“Our Duke has five children, and four of them get his favor,” said Eris before throwing her last glance at her beloved while Nero solved a certain puzzle, remembering how Duke talked with his youngest son and that the fifth group here was more small children like him. While his brothers and sisters formed their factions with different nobles. Just that was enough to tell him about many things happening in the Avalon household.

In such a manner, while Nero looked around, memorizing the faces of those with Avalon family insignia on their clothes, he and Eris ended up arriving at the group, dedicated to the small children who were also divided into similar four groups.

“The festive battles will soon start. Let’s go. We should join other guys, neighboring our lands,” said Eris, waving her hand while Nero nodded.

Soon, they were standing in front of the table with a few children talking with each other. A glance was enough for Nero to recognize Tyrel, Hellman, and Groan insignias on their clothes. Their age, height, and appearance differed. The boy from the Hellman household said nothing and sat alone without taking his eyes off the third major group while only a brother and sister from Tyrel household talked with a small boy from the Groan family.

Of course, their arrival didn’t go unnoticed, and both Tyrels smiled, looking at Eris and Nero.

“Eris,” said the attractive girl with a smile.

“Eris,” said her brother, as a blush appeared on his cheeks.

“Sister Eris,” cried the smallest from the Groan family as he jumped from his seat and embraced her.

Only the boy from the Hellman family ignored that.

“Okay, calm down, Zig,” said Eris as she hit him into the nose with her finger before looking at Aleona and George, her old pals who already looked at the boy behind her. Hence, it was an ideal moment of introduction. “That’s Nero Claus, the grandson of Baron Claus.”

Both siblings quickly exchanged glances before smiles appeared on their lips.

“I am Aleona Tyrel,” said the girl with brown hair and green eyes.

“I am George Tyrel,” said the boy with black hair and green eyes.

“Zig Groan,” said the small five-year-old boy, following the elder children.

Nero nodded, while Eris just approached the table and threw a certain snack into her mouth before pointing at the lonely boy at the side.

“That aloof boy is John Hellman, the third son of his father. Just don’t pay attention to him. He is always like that when he sees Alice Avalon,” said Eris as she put a smile on her lips, followed by other children. Such a weird reaction aroused Nero’s curiosity and he just couldn’t stop asking.

“Is there something else?” asked Nero, realizing that there should be something.

“Of course, there is,” said Aleona as she released a short laugh.

“He is unlucky. I pity him,” said Zig.

“Love can be cruel, right Eris?” asked George, to which she just rolled her eyes.

“Unlike him, I don’t need to compete with my brothers, and Mark never showed me I had chances, while Alice keeps playing with three brothers and their feelings,” said Eris while Nero rose his brows in surprise when he threw his glance at the eldest boy of this company. Many new puzzles appeared in his mind.

“Yes, it’s a pity. I can’t even imagine how painful it is for him to stay here and watch how his elder brothers could easily talk and laugh with the one he is in love with,” said Aleona in a melancholic manner.

“It won’t last long at least. Half a year later, and John will pass through his first transformation, getting a right to join a certain group of our elders,” said George.

Following those words, Eris, George, and Zik started their conversation about different topics. Nero didn’t even realize when he was already sitting near Aleona and kept talking with her. She was also bored from interactions with Zik and her brother, and Nero was a good time-wasting source. Hence, they started talking. Scions hierarchy was unclear to him, and thanks to her, Nero solved a few puzzles in his head. Especially, the one related to the festive battles which could happen today.

“Hence, it’s a good chance to attract attention to your figure. Both elders and elder youngsters will pay attention to them. Since it’s your debut, I have no doubts someone will challenge you to look at your abilities,” said Aleona.

“Someone strong?” asked Nero to which Eris shook her head.

“No, the opponent similar to you, or the one who is slightly stronger than you,” said Eris with a smile on her lips while Nero nodded. “But, be cautious. There are many of those who have small rank, but good mastery over weapons.”

“Thank you,” said Nero, realizing that it was a hidden warning. As he nodded.

Overall, this girl, Aleona, came to his liking. Unlike Eris, who was arrogant and unsuccessfully hid her contempt behind a mask, Aleona looked soft, caring, and elegant. She was more female than a girl with a weak, dangerous vibe around herself. Hence, Nero knew who he will ask for dancing.

In such a manner, half an hour passed, guests and nobles kept enjoying the atmosphere while servants brought more drinks and food until a certain drunk man didn’t break his glass of wine and looked at the Duke.

“Father, the celebration is amazing, as usual. But I don’t know about you, but my eyes are slowly closing from boredom. How can a celebration go without a good fight?” said Arthur, who looked drunk, but his eyes were clear.

When other guests heard him, they also realized what he wanted to achieve and started supporting him, making noise before Duke Gatsby raised his hand, silencing them.

“So, you want to start the festive fights, right son?” asked Duke Gatsby as a certain gleam quickly passed through his eyes. “Will you give us the honor to become the first challenger?”

Arthur only released a loud laugh.

“Of course, father. No problems,” said Arthur, looking right into the eyes of his father while servants quickly emptied the space in the center of the hall, allowing everyone to have a good view over there.

Soon, when everything was ready and servants prepared several blunt swords, Arthur drank another glance of wine before stepping inside the fighting perimeter. A moment, and he was already at the center of the Hall, raising his sword before his voice resounded across the palace.

“Andrey Claus, come here, I challenge you,” said the drunk youth.

...

..

.

As soon as the challenge resounded across the hall, many people showed different reactions. Count and Brunne Melor exchanged glances, realizing that someone used the same method against them. They already wanted to whisper something to Andrey when their idiot put away Sylvana’s hand and moved toward the center of the hall, making them feel helpless. Of course, their experience was enough for them to see that something was wrong when the usually calm youngest son of the Duke made the challenge and aimed at their person. They two turned and looked toward the Baron, who felt their piercing glances, turned at them and saluted with a glass of wine.

While Baron and his old enemy glared at each other, Andrey already stepped inside the fighting perimeter, raising a blunt sword.

“I never thought I offended the member of the Avalon family. If I did, please accept my sincere apology,” said Andrey as he made a half-bow. “But, I don’t think the battle with a drunk opponent will be fair.”

“Hmm,” said Arthur, harrumphing and adjusting his stance as he started circulating his inner energy to get rid of the alcohol in his body.

“What about now, will you an honor to fight with me, adventurer?” asked Arthur with a clear and loud manner with no trace of drunkenness, while anger appeared in Audrey's eyes when his opponent reminded him about his past, and making many nobles change the way they looked at him. Just a few words from this youngster were enough to harm his reputation as a potential heir to the Claus barony.

“It will be an honor to spare with the youngest son of the Avalon household,” said Andrey, aiming to hit Arthur to where it was painful, underlining his bad relations with his father. But Arthur only smiled at his provocation.

“Don’t worry, adventurer. I won’t use my upper hand against you,” said Arthur as he balanced himself to be on equal with a weaker opponent, angering Andrey even further.

Of course, such a show attracted attention, especially Arthur’s brothers and sister were now closely looking at the center of the hall when Duke Gatsby waved his hand and announced the start of the battle.

As soon as the battle started, Andrey jumped in the enemy's direction, covering his body and sword with inner energy while Arthur stood and looked at him, doing nothing. When the blade was already several inches away from him, Arthur released a sigh before his figure disappeared and reappeared moments later when a male cry resounded across the hall.

A moment and Andrey was already on the floor, crying like an animal as blood kept pouring from his crotch area. Right now, the man felt so much pain that he even forgot about the manners and the importance of his noble appearance as he kept crying from pain. Just now, he was sure that his sword would cut the opponent’s shoulder, and the next moment; he was already on the floor, feeling enormous pain below.

“What have you done?” cried Andrey a bit time later as he threw a hateful glance at the calm man nearby to him. That man approached Andrey and looked right into his eyes with a smile on his lips.

“Nothing serious. I just made you infertile,” said Arthur while Andrey widened his eyes in shock and made a disbelieving expression on his face.

“You are joking,” said Andrey, to which Arthur only shook his head.

“If you don’t trust me, you can ask others. Everyone here heard a particular sound of breaking eggs,” said Arthur with the same smile on his lips while Andrey made a terrified expression on his face.

“Why?” asked Andrey, to which Arthur only widened his smile.

“No particular reason. I was just in the mood to do so,” said Arthur with a bright wide smile while Andrey blacked out.

Turning to the surrounding nobles, there was still a smile on his lips as Arthur looked at the shocked guests and nobles when a familiar voice attracted his attention.

“Looks like the previous visit to the family prison wasn’t enough for you, Arthur,” said Duke Gatsby with clear anger in his voice. “You dared to shed blood here.”

“I know it, father. Will you give an order to accompany me there or I can go there myself?” asked Arthur with a calm expression on his face, as if he wasn’t talking about his future visit to the scary place. Such answer made veins appear on the usually calm face of the Duke as he glared at his youngest son before he stood up from his seat, which looked more like a throne and pointed at Arthur with a tip of his sword.

“I - Duke of the east, head of the Avalon household, command my youngest son - Arthur Avalon to a four-year sentence in the family prison inside the most strict zone,” said Duke Gatsby solemnly without taking his eyes off the Arthur.

Such an announcement made all Arthur’s siblings smile, while a slight satisfaction appeared on the faces of Count and Brunne Melor. Though he just destroyed a certain portion of their plans, related to Andrey with one swing of the sword, they still got something from this exchange as they turned and looked at Baron Claus, who just furrowed his brows. It was he who told his adjutant about the potential problems his grandson might have during the debut because of the Count Melor and that Andrey Claus. But he didn’t expect he would solve this problem so radically by making one illegible to become an heir. How could an infertile man succeed someone?

Hence, Baron felt a huge portion of gratitude for solving this unpleasant problem for him and already wanted to say something when Arthur turned in his direction and smiled. That smile was so familiar to him and showed there was nothing to worry about while several knights surrounded Arthur and accompanied him out of the palace.

Duke Gatsby followed him with his glance before he disappeared. But, thanks to his actions, Duke had no desire to watch after the festive battles and just signaled servants to start music while his wife and concubines calmed him down.

In such a manner, the music started while Nero, who saw everything that happened between his grandfather and Arthur, noted to himself.

‘That’s a favor. There will be a day when I will return it.’

These were his thoughts while he watched with huge satisfaction how Andrey’s wife and a few more people took him and left the palace under the funny glances of the public, which already realized the change in status. If that man was a potential heir before, now he was infertile nobody. Wounds in the crotch area were very hard to heal, and people here had no doubts Melor household will just kick them out instead of looking for the cure.