Grand Return System

An Unwanted Guest

Then—

The door opened.

A richly dressed old man walked inside.

His clothes were extravagant, layered with expensive fabrics and decorated with subtle patterns that revealed his status. His hair was already streaked with gray, but his face retained the arrogance of someone who had spent his entire life being obeyed.

His presence filled the doorway.

Behind him, the servants of the Treasure Pavilion stood awkwardly.

They clearly hadn’t expected him to force his way inside.

The old man glanced around the private room.

His gaze swept across the luxurious furnishings.

Then it landed on Leon.

For a brief moment, the arrogance in his eyes became even stronger.

He had come here believing that his status alone was enough to justify entering the highest-class private room.

He had not expected to see strangers occupying it.

Rias’s expression changed the moment she saw him.

Her brows slowly drew together.

There was no fear in her eyes.

But there was recognition.

And something more complicated beneath it.

Selena noticed immediately.

She turned toward her fellow student.

"Junior Sister, what’s wrong? Do you know this person?"

Her voice was soft.

Concern flickered in her blue eyes.

Rias didn’t answer immediately.

Her fingers tightened slightly against the fabric of her robe.

She looked at the old man for another moment.

Memories she had no desire to revisit surfaced in her mind.

The royal household.

The endless expectations.

The chains hidden behind beautiful words.

Marriage.

Duty.

Bloodline.

Power.

She had once been surrounded by those things.

And this man was part of that world.

Rias lowered her eyes briefly.

When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet.

"Yes, I know him."

She paused.

There was a faint hesitation in her expression.

Then she continued.

"This person is Lord James. His surname is no longer spoken publicly here, but in terms of seniority, I have to call him uncle."

Selena’s expression changed slightly.

She had not expected that answer.

Her eyes moved from Rias to the old man standing near the doorway.

So he was family.

And judging from Rias’s reaction, this wasn’t a family connection that brought warmth.

It was something heavier.

Something that carried old obligations.

Rias remained composed.

But her hand had quietly tightened around the edge of her robe.

She did not want to show weakness.

Not here.

Not in front of Leon.

The private room suddenly felt different.

The noise of the auction house outside seemed farther away.

The laughter in the corridors faded into a dull murmur.

For a moment, only silence remained between them.

Leon finally lifted his purple eyes.

His gaze settled calmly on the unexpected guest.

There was no anger.

No hostility.

Only a quiet assessment.

The old man had entered this room believing his status gave him the right to stand above everyone else.

But he had yet to realize something important.

This was not his room.

And the person sitting inside was not someone he could casually provoke.

Selena noticed the subtle change in Leon’s expression.

She didn’t say anything.

Neither did Rias.

They simply waited.

Outside, the Treasure Pavilion continued preparing for the auction.

Inside, an entirely different kind of auction seemed to be beginning.

One involving status.

Family.

And pride.

And for the first time since entering the Treasure Pavilion, Rias understood that the peaceful wait before the auction might already be over.

So that was the case.

The identity of the arrogant man outside the private room was not some random noble. He was actually a member of Rias’s royal household.

It also explained why Rias had reacted so strangely when he appeared.

As for why James had failed to recognize her, that was hardly surprising.

Both Rias and Selena were wearing masks.

Their appearances were completely concealed.

Even someone who had met Rias before would have difficulty recognizing her beneath the mask, especially under the dim golden light of the private room.

Selena glanced at Rias again.

There was a hint of curiosity in her blue eyes.

"Then why didn’t you go up and acknowledge him?"

Her tone was innocent.

She genuinely did not understand.

If they were relatives, shouldn’t Rias simply greet him?

Rias rolled her eyes at her.

A faint smile appeared beneath her mask.

"Although we are related by blood, there is no affection between siblings in royal family. Plus I am a girl. Moreover I don’t like anyone in the royal family except my mom and brother and I am neither liked or familiar to anyone else.

So there’s no reason to recognise anyone."

She said nonchalantly, her voice laced with no anger, not even with any resentment. Perhaps that made her words hit even more heavy. For the sake of the family, blood relationships may exist, but those could not foster any love, Rias had got accustomed to that thought over time. For her, they were just names attached with various branches on a distant family tree; her only blood relation of love being her mom and her brother.

As for others?

The remaining people were just strangers with the same name. Selena was rendered silent for a moment, of course She knew the royal household would be a difficult place. Still, it was surprising to hear Rias’s comment being uttered so nonchalantly, it somehow made her own heart tighten up.

She gave a light nod in understanding. However, she was feeling a slight bit of anger on Rias’s behalf. The quietude returned in the room with nothing else but footsteps and the slight murmur from the auction house.

However the atmosphere inside of the room shifted, Leon was sitting as before, in his midnight purple robes and his long silky black hair that went past his shoulders sat around him, some slight amethyst patterns embroidered along the edges of his robes glittered subtly when the light catches them, his purple eyes looked placid and remained the same.

He had heard everything.

But he did not comment.

There was no need.

The matter between Rias and her royal household was not something he intended to interfere with unless she wanted him to.

Then the door opened.

The sound was louder this time.

"Who is this esteemed guest that dares to snatch my private room?"

The voice was arrogant.

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