Regnum Aetern: Dual Rebirth

With the lesson over, Adrian was now in his room, getting ready for the banquet that would start any minute now.

Standing in front of the mirror, he was observing his reflection. His jet-black hair had grown long enough to completely cover his eyes now, so he had neatly swept it to the side. He was wearing a scaled-down version of the adult’s aristocratic clothing, with a black high-collar coat, a white shirt underneath and black pants.

’Looks good enough for the occasion, I guess.’

He was aware that he didn’t have much of a sense of style; it was the same in his previous life. But for some reason, anything he wore looked good on his body, so his lack of sense of style had never created problems for him.

Just then, he heard a knock on the room’s door. And his personal maid’s voice came soon after.

"Young Master Adrian, Young Master Ravian is here to see you."

Adrian spoke after a short pause.

"You can let him in."

The next moment, the door opened, and Ravian stepped inside, waving at him as soon as he did.

"Adrian, why are you still in this room? I spent so much time searching for you in the banquet hall."

Adrian turned to look at Ravian.

He was wearing clothes similar to Adrian’s, with a maroon sleeveless coat, a white shirt underneath, and maroon pants. With his chestnut-colored hair swept back neatly, Rvaian was giving off quite different vibe than usual.

Adrian replied in his usual blunt tone.

"What would I do by going there now? I would obviously enter the hall with my mother and younger brother. Won’t you be doing the same?"

In noble society, every action was interpreted for meaning. If you simply don’t enter the hall with your family, it could cause rumors to spread that the relationship between you and your family wasn’t very good.

Ravian shook his head.

"You are overthinking it again, aren’t you? Well, I was doing the same, actually. But according to my father, if the two of us enter together instead, people might interpret it as us being great friends instead."

’Now that’s one way to look at it.’

Then, Adrian met Ravian’s gaze and spoke in a somewhat serious tone.

"Did you do what I asked you a few days ago?"

One could never be too prepared, so Adrian had given Ravian a task that only Ravian could accomplish.

Hearing his question, Ravian smiled knowingly, gave him a thumbs-up, and spoke somewhat dramatically.

"Worry not, friend, for I have accomplished that task perfectly. So perfectly that even perfection itself will bow before me."

But his dramatic answer was met with silence as Adrian looked at him, unamused.

Ravian’s dramatic smile slowly turned awkward as Adrian spoke flatly.

"I am not in the mood for jokes."

"Now, now, friend," Ravian lightly patted his shoulder. "No need to be so cold. I did what you asked, I memorised all the information related to the nobles I could find. I also searched for all recently circulating rumors like you told me."

Adrian nodded.

’Looks like I’m prepared now.’

There was nothing worse than going into a social event unprepared; Adrian knew this from experience. And since he knew the plans of his mother, he could easily guess that she was going to do something today.

In the end, having more knowledge could only be helpful. And with Ravian’s Origin ability, he was like a living computer with infinite storage. So what reason was there for him not to use the tools he had at his disposal?

Just then, another knock was heard on the door, and his personal maid’s voice came a few moments after, just as before.

"Young Master Adrian, Young Lady Evangeline is also here to see you..."

As he heard her, Adrian let out an internal sigh.

Ravian, meanwhile, turned to him as soon as he heard Evangeline’s name.

"Evangeline Flrivelle of the Florivelle Count family, your fiancée, right?"

Adrian slowly nodded. Then he replied as he turned to the door.

"...Let her in too."

The door opened, and Evangeline stepped inside, making a dramatic victory pose with both hands while smiling.

"Hey ya!"

At that unusually enthusiastic greeting, the two of them could only look at her quietly. Ravian seemed not to know how to react, and Adrian looked at her, not sharing her enthusiasm one bit.

She was wearing a scaled-down version of a pure white ball gown with a frilly, voluminous skirt. Her pinkish-pinkish hair was left loose, adorned with a few hair accessories. Her violet eyes twinkled with excitement.

Looking into those eyes, Adrian could only sigh.

***

Evangeline’s smile slowly turned awkward as she lowered both her hands. She had expected to meet only Adrian when she entered his room, but there was someone else present as well.

’Who is this boy?’

She had no memory of ever seeing this boy in this mansion. Yet, considering that he was present here, he was probably not just anyone.

But before she could clear her confusion, the stranger boy walked closer to her. Putting one hand on his chest, he bent forward slightly in a gentlemanly manner.

A charming smile appeared on his face as he spoke.

"This is Ravian Aurel Graveshroud of the Graveshroud Marquess family, pleased to make your acquaintance. I have heard much about you, as you have been the talk of the empire for several years."

As he finished speaking, the boy looked at her expectantly, as if waiting for her reply.

Evangeline’s expression slowly turned strange. She glanced at Adrian, who was looking at her, expressionless as ever. He tried signaling him with his eyes, asking who this person was.

But he continued to stare at her quietly, not reacting at all.

’Ugh, this isn’t working.’

In the end, she walked up to him and lightly whispered in his ear.

"Adi, Adi, who is this boy? I’ve never seen him before."

She heard him reply in an even tone.

"He is a friend."

Then he turned to the boy and spoke.

"Ravian, no need to be so formal with her; she isn’t used to it. You can simply treat her the same way you treat me."

The boy—Ravian—scratched the back of his head.

"I see."

Evangeline’s mind was occupied by a different thought, though.

’He said friend, right? Adi has a friend?’

Now, that was rather surprising. She had a hard time imagining him being friends with anyone. It was easier for her to imagine this boy being Adrian’s sidekick than his friend.

’Well, it’s a good thing, anyway.’

She focused her attention on Adrian.

And as she did, her mind instantly associated his current appearance with something that already existed in her imagination.

’Seriously, he really gives off mini black dragon vibes.’

Wearing all black attire, with his jet-black hair swept to the side and his uninterested piercing grey eyes directed at the boy, his appearance triggered the image of the black dragon she had in her mind. The one in the last novel she had read in her previous life.

Shaking away the useless thoughts, she spoke to the two of them.

"Hey, we should really go to the banquet hall now; it’s time. Don’t you both think?"

Ravian nodded.

"She’s right."

Adrian, too, nodded after a few moments.

And with that, the three of them left the room together.