Earlier, before Ezra walked over to Desmond...
Ever since the unveiling of the Royal Phantom Rolls, Ezra had unknowingly become one of the busiest people inside the Grand Ballroom.
The moment he stepped back into the hall, students from nearly every corner gradually found reasons to approach him.
Most of them were girls.
A few boys also joined the gathering, though their reasons were noticeably different. Some wished to congratulate him on the success of the Phantom Rolls, others wanted to satisfy their curiosity, while a handful simply hoped to become acquainted with someone whose name had recently spread across Britannia.
Ezra stood calmly among them.
Although he wasn’t particularly fond of social gatherings, he couldn’t openly refuse their approaches.
As a noble...
And more importantly, as someone who had deliberately chosen to place himself in the public eye through his inventions...
This was simply one of the prices that came with walking that path.
If he wanted to achieve the goal he cherished most...
Then this much was only a small sacrifice.
He answered every question politely.
He neither spoke too much nor too little.
His replies remained concise, yet never came across as dismissive.
It was enough to keep the conversations flowing while avoiding unnecessary familiarity.
"Ezra Ashenlocke."
A young High-Ember noble smiled as he lifted the glass in his hand.
"My family was fortunate enough to purchase one Noble Phantom Rolls."
His smile quickly turned into one of helplessness.
"But do you know how stingy my father became after it arrived at our estate?"
Several students looked over curiously.
"He actually built a private glass garage just for the vehicle."
The young noble sighed dramatically.
"And I wasn’t even allowed to sit inside it."
Light laughter immediately spread through the group.
A Viscount’s daughter nodded vigorously.
"My family is even worse."
She covered her mouth while laughing.
"My mother refused to let my father be the first one to ride ours."
The surrounding students became even more interested.
"Really?"
The young lady nodded.
"She insisted that she should be the first. According to her, she needed to show it off to her circle before anyone else."
Another wave of laughter swept through the gathering.
Some students couldn’t help imagining the amusing scene.
Even a few nearby nobles smiled in agreement.
It seemed this wasn’t an uncommon occurrence among households fortunate enough to own a Phantom Rolls.
Ezra quietly listened to everyone.
From time to time, he gave a small nod.
Although his expression barely changed...
He could tell they genuinely appreciated the work The Eclipse had done with his invention.
One of the Non-Noble students standing among the crowd suddenly changed the topic.
"I also heard... that you helped Lady Vera create two new firearms."
Several others immediately turned toward Ezra.
"That’s right."
"I’ve heard the same."
"The rising inventor of Britannia keeps making one surprise after another."
The atmosphere quickly became lively again.
Ezra calmly answered.
"Lady Vera only asked me for assistance. I simply helped where I could."
He spoke in the same composed tone.
"She completed most of the work herself."
His answer caused several students to exchange surprised glances.
"So, it’s true..."
One High-Ember noblewoman looked at Ezra curiously.
"You and Lady Vera Ashenlocke are actually quite close."
Another student nodded.
"Now that I think about it... I’ve attended quite a few social gatherings over the years. And I’ve hardly ever seen Lady Vera pay much attention to anyone."
A young noble folded his arms thoughtfully.
"The only boy she ever seemed close to... wasn’t he her fiancé at one point?"
"Palmer?"
Someone asked.
"Palmer Ashenlocke."
"Yes. That’s him."
"Pamela’s older brother."
The Viscount’s daughter gently rested one hand against her cheek.
Her cheerful expression became noticeably softer.
"Now that you mention Pamela... I wonder how she’s doing."
She looked toward Ezra.
"I expected she’d be among the Ashenlocke children entering the Royal Academy this year."
A trace of concern appeared in her voice.
"But I heard she didn’t even make the final list."
Another noble quietly joined the discussion.
"To be honest... The ten students House Ashenlocke selected surprised quite a few people."
"I even heard someone completely unknown managed to earn one of the ten positions."
Ezra answered without hesitation.
"That’s because the Trial of Steel was used to choose the strongest among us."
His reply was simple and direct.
Another student nodded.
"I heard Pamela enrolled in Ash Academy instead."
A brief silence settled over the group.
One of the girls sighed quietly.
"Poor Pamela... I heard her brother passed away from a sudden illness."
Several girls lowered their eyes.
A hint of sympathy appeared on their faces.
The mood gradually became quieter.
Before the conversation could continue...
"You’ve all drifted quite far away from the original topic."
A graceful voice interrupted from behind them.
Everyone instinctively turned.
A young noblewoman slowly approached the gathering.
Her elegant gown flowed naturally with every step, while the silver embroidery along its edges shimmered beneath the ballroom lights.
She wore a composed smile that neither appeared arrogant nor overly friendly.
Instead...
It carried the quiet confidence expected of someone born into one of Britannia’s influential Count Houses.
The conversations around her gradually softened.
"Lady Grace Evergrey."
Several nobles greeted her respectfully.
The surrounding students, both Noble and Non-Noble alike, politely bowed.
Ezra lowered his head as well.
Grace returned each greeting with a graceful nod before smiling warmly at everyone.
"I believe... we should be speaking about the guest of honor."
Her eyes finally rested on Ezra.
"Ezra Ashenlocke."
Ezra silently observed the family crest embroidered upon her attire.
Evergrey...
The name immediately reminded him of an earlier conversation.
Back when he and Vera had been preparing the firearm presentation...
She had mentioned another Gun Alchemy House.
House Evergrey.
A Count family steadily rising through Britannia’s military industry.
Many even believed they would eventually replace House Ashenlocke as the kingdom’s leading Gun Alchemy House.
I see...
Ezra understood almost immediately.
She hadn’t approached him out of simple curiosity.
There was a purpose behind her visit.
Grace turned toward the others.
"I happened to overhear part of your conversation. If you don’t mind."
The surrounding students quickly shook their heads.
"Not at all."
"Please."
She smiled appreciatively.
"Thank you."
Grace offered a small bow before continuing.
"I heard someone mention that Ezra assisted Lady Vera in developing her firearms."
She paused briefly.
"The Colt 1911... and the improved Baske model. The E-V 26 MK.II."
The surrounding students listened attentively.
Grace’s calm expression became noticeably more serious.
"I have a feeling... there’s more to that story."
She slowly turned toward where Ezra had been standing.
"Isn’t that right, Ezr..."
Her words stopped.
The smile on her face stiffened.
"...He’s gone?"
She blinked.
The place where Ezra had been standing only moments earlier was now completely empty.
Grace immediately looked around.
Nothing.
She turned toward another side of the ballroom.
Still nothing.
The nobles surrounding her also looked around in confusion.
"When did he leave?"
"I didn’t even notice."
"Did he go to the gentlemen’s room?"
Another student guessed.
Grace slowly clenched one hand beneath her sleeve.
A faint trace of annoyance flickered across her eyes.
Who does he think he is...?
Walking away while I’m speaking.
The thought crossed her mind.
Even so...
Years of noble etiquette prevented the slightest crack from appearing on her elegant smile.
She calmly composed herself once again before anyone could notice her displeasure.
Around her...
The students continued searching for Ezra with puzzled expressions.
None of them realized that, the moment Grace began approaching the group...
Ezra’s attention had already been caught by something happening across the ballroom.
Something that immediately erased any interest he had in continuing the conversation.
Without attracting attention...
He quietly slipped through the crowd.
His destination was clear from the very beginning.
Lucy.
***
Back to the Present...
Desmond slowly pointed a thumb over his shoulder toward Lucy.
His smirk remained relaxed, as though everything happening before him was nothing more than mild entertainment.
"So... her master is actually Ezra Ashenlocke."
His crimson eyes shifted back toward Ezra with open curiosity.
Ezra didn’t answer immediately.
Instead...
His gaze quietly drifted toward the embroidered family crest on Desmond’s formal suit.
The silver emblem was unmistakable.
House Derlis.
"A Derlis..."
Ezra said calmly.
"I see."
His tone was flat, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
Behind Desmond...
Lucy looked at Ezra with eyes filled with relief.
The fear that had been building inside her finally began to disappear.
Master came...
She unconsciously loosened the grip on her tight fitted trouser.
But only for a moment.
The instant she noticed the expression on Ezra’s face...
The relief she had just regained froze in place.
His face hadn’t changed.
It remained calm.
Yet...
She had served Ezra long enough to recognize that look.
He wasn’t angry.
He wasn’t shouting.
He wasn’t even releasing his Cognis.
That was exactly what made it frightening.
Desmond casually took two slow steps forward.
His polished shoes echoed softly against the marble floor.
"The way you said my family’s name..."
He smiled faintly.
"...makes it sound like you’ve got a personal grudge against House Derlis."
He tilted his head with apparent curiosity.
"I wonder... Which member of my family offended you?"
Ezra looked directly into his crimson eyes.
"Don’t change the topic."
His reply came without the slightest pause.
"I asked you a question."
The surrounding students instinctively fell silent.
Even the nearby orchestra seemed quieter beneath the growing tension.
Ezra’s dark eyes narrowed slightly.
They remained fixed on Desmond without wavering.
"What... Do you think you’re doing, with someone else’s maid?"
His voice wasn’t loud.
It didn’t need to be.
Compared to his previous words...
This sentence carried noticeably more weight.
The coldness hidden beneath his calm tone caused several nearby students to unconsciously stop moving.
Desmond stared at him for a second.
Then...
A quiet chuckle escaped his lips.
"Heh... Would you look at this guy."
He lightly shook his head.
"No one did anything to your maid."
His smile slowly faded.
"But... Even if I did."
The warmth completely disappeared from his face.
He looked at Ezra as though looking down upon someone beneath him.
"Who exactly gave a Lowline brat... the right to question me?"
The atmosphere instantly became heavier.
No Cognis was released.
No killing intent exploded into the surroundings.
Yet...
The invisible pressure created by two powerful young nobles confronting one another made everyone nearby instinctively react.
Several servants quietly lowered their heads.
Others subtly retreated toward the walls.
The maids working beside Lucy exchanged uneasy glances before creating distance between themselves and the confrontation.
Even students who had been enjoying desserts moments earlier slowly stepped away.
Some didn’t want to become involved.
Others...
Simply couldn’t resist watching.
A confrontation between Ezra Ashenlocke and Desmond Derlis was far too rare to ignore.
Ezra never answered Desmond’s insult.
Instead...
His eyes shifted away from him landing on Violet.
She still stood only a short distance behind Lucy.
Close enough to interfere again if she wished.
Ezra slowly raised one finger.
He pointed directly at her.
"Maid of House Derlis."
He spoke as though Desmond wasn’t even standing there.
The moment Violet heard those words...
Every muscle in her body instinctively tensed.
She met Ezra’s gaze.
Those calm black eyes showed almost no emotion.
They were quiet.
Cold.
And empty.
Like the surface of a lake without a single ripple.
Yet...
The instant their eyes met...
A chill shot down Violet’s spine.
Her body reacted before her thoughts could.
Her right hand immediately moved toward the space bag hanging at her waist.
Cold sweat quietly formed along her forehead.
Even Lucy found herself unable to continue looking directly at Ezra.
She had seen her master many times.
She had fought beside him.
Worked beside him.
Spoken with him almost every day.
Yet...
The young man standing before Desmond somehow felt different.
It was still Ezra.
But...
It also wasn’t.
The calmness surrounding him now felt so distant that she almost couldn’t recognize him.
Ezra’s finger remained pointed toward Violet.
"Take... three steps back."
He looked directly at her.
"Away from my maid."
Simple.
Direct.
No unnecessary threats.
No raised voice.
And that alone...
Was enough.
Before Violet even realized what she was doing...
Her feet had already begun moving.
One step.
Another.
Then a third.
Only after stopping did she suddenly blink.
...When did I move?
She hadn’t consciously decided to retreat.
Her instincts had done it for her.
Desmond watched the entire scene unfold.
For a moment...
He simply stared.
Then he laughed.
"Hey...Hey...Hey..."
His amused smile slowly returned.
He stepped sideways until he once again blocked Ezra’s view of Violet.
The two young men now stood directly opposite each other.
Crimson eyes.
Deep black eyes.
Neither side looked away.
Neither side released Cognis.
Neither side made the first move.
Yet...
The pressure between them steadily increased.
Several nearby students quietly swallowed.
Even breathing seemed slightly heavier.
Desmond’s smile gradually disappeared.
"You dared show killing intent toward my maid."
His crimson pupils became noticeably brighter.
A faint scarlet glow flickered deep within them.
"Do you even know... who you’re standing in front of?"
Ezra’s expression remained unchanged.
"Do I look... like I care?"
His answer came so naturally that it almost sounded like a genuine question.
There wasn’t the slightest hesitation.
Nor was there any attempt to provoke Desmond.
He simply didn’t care.
The straightforward reply caused several nearby nobles to exchange stunned looks.
Even Desmond’s smile became noticeably stiffer.
Before either of them could speak again...
A soft clap interrupted the growing tension.
"That’s enough, boys."
Vera’s calm voice drifted between them.
She had somehow stepped directly into the space separating the two.
Neither hurried.
Nor nervous.
She looked first at Ezra.
Then at Desmond.
Her expression remained composed.
Desmond glanced toward her.
Ezra remained silent.
Just then...
"As gentlemen...arguing over a maid is one of the least elegant things you can do."
A calm female voice came from Vera’s back as a rhythmic tap of a walking stick echoed across the polished floor.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
A young noblewoman approached with graceful, measured steps.
Her black hair flowed neatly behind her shoulders, while the ruby embedded in the golden handle of her walking stick reflected the ballroom lights.
Two distinguished nobles wearing the same family crest quietly followed several steps behind her.
Students instinctively made room as she approached.
Desmond looked over.
"...Ah."
A pleasant smile immediately returned to his face.
"Willow."
He greeted her innocently.
The young woman stopped only a few steps away.
Her expression didn’t soften in the slightest.
"Don’t use that fake innocent smile on me, Desmond."
She lifted her walking stick.
The ruby-tipped handle pointed directly toward him.
"You’ve already embarrassed yourself enough. Arguing over a maid."
Her crimson eyes shifted toward Lucy.
The disappointment in them was impossible to miss.
Lucy immediately lowered her head.
She didn’t dare meet the young woman’s eyes.
Vera quietly sighed.
"Willow, dear... There is a difference between fighting over a maid... and confronting someone for harassing one."
Her voice remained as calm as ever.
"Don’t mix the two together."
Willow looked at Vera for several silent seconds.
Neither woman raised her voice.
Yet...
Their conversation naturally drew everyone’s attention.
Finally...
Willow turned toward Ezra.
Ezra calmly met her gaze.
"No one was fighting over a maid."
His reply remained simple, then he looked toward Desmond.
"Isn’t that, right?"
Desmond raised one eyebrow.
"...Ah. He’s right."
He nodded lightly.
"We weren’t fighting because of a maid."
He began speaking almost automatically.
"We were just..."
His voice stopped and his smile froze.
That bastard...
He baited me.
Realization struck almost instantly.
Desmond slowly turned toward Willow.
The look she was giving him now was far colder than before.
"So, you were...harassing his maid?"
Willow asked quietly.
The colder her voice became...
The more Desmond felt the confidence he had built moments ago quietly collapsing beneath his sister’s unwavering stare.
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