Regnum Aetern: Dual Rebirth

Walking through the hallway, the three of them mostly remained silent. That was because Evangeline and Ravia had only just met a few moments ago and didn’t know each other well enough to talk.

Meanwhile, the person to whom the two of them could talk to—Adrian—was not the talkative kind in the first place. This resulted in all three of them remaining quiet.

Walking a single step behind the two, Evangeline couldn’t help but glance at Adrian from time to time.

Ever since that incident during their last outing, she had been unable to look at Adrian the same way as before. Every time she saw him, she couldn’t help but be reminded of the boy who had killed a person without any reaction whatsoever.

And that, in turn, made her remember how easily that beastman had died. Remembering that scene always made her heartbeat quicken, and goosebumps rose on her back.

Still, she knew that Adrian was not at fault and his behavior was most likely the result of his upbringing in this family. And that was why she had decided that she would help him too.

’I will help him so that he doesn’t grow up as someone insensitive.’

And thus, the two of them had started training together once a week. It was better than the outings since she knew that Adrian was not too fond of them.

Soon, they reached a large door with two servants standing on both sides of it.

She could hear the murmurs coming from beyond the door. It reminded her of the time when she stood behind the hall’s door right before her engagement.

The servants seemed to recognize them, giving the three of them a bow, and then they proceeded to open the door as the scenery beyond came into her view.

It was a massive hall with several thick pillars supporting the ceiling from the sides. A beautiful, ornate maroon carpet covered the floor below. Three glass chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their light illuminating the entire hall.

Men wearing luxurious high-high collar coats and women wearing ball gowns and other types of beautiful dresses stood in small clusters, chatting among one another. As the door opened, many of those people focused their attention on the three of them, making her feel the weight of their collective gaze.

It felt very similar to the engagement.

But soon, many of them turned away, shifting their focus back as they continued chatting. This was rather different from the engagement, where all the eyes had stayed on them throughout.

There were still a few eyes on them, but they didn’t seem to be on her.

Following Adrian, they soon stopped near one of the relatively empty corners of the hall. Adrian stood by the wall, supporting his back against it. The shadow of a nearby pillar occupied the exact spot he stood, and Adrian stood under that shadow, obscured by it due to his black hair and black attire.

Evangeline and Rvaian stood beside him, and all of them started quietly observing others in the banquet hall.

After a few moments, Evangeline turned to the two and asked in confusion.

"Hey, now that we are here, what are we supposed to do? We are just standing here..."

This was not what she had imagined. Although she was unsure what exactly she had in mind, it certainly did not include simply standing still.

Adrian’s flat reply came soon after.

"We are supposed to socialize, apparently. Or you can go there and eat some dessert if you want."

’That’s all?’

Ravian chimed in from the side.

"We can talk to children our age and form connections with them. About six years from now, we will all be attending the Imperial Academy, which is supposed to be a place of fierce competition. Many children our age must already have formed groups. We should do so as well, it would benefit us greatly in the academy where everyone is part of some faction."

Adrian shook his head and replied in his usual dull tone.

"Too tedious, I would rather not do it."

Evangeline ,too, shook her head.

"Yeah... I would also ratner not do it."

’Interacting with them for such a reason feels like business. I would rather make friends because I want to and not simply because I need them.’

Ravian sighed in defeat.

"I expected Adrian’s answer, but you too, Miss Evangeline? We would be too disadvantaged when we attend the academy, you know?"

’He has a point.’

But Adrian shook his head once again.

"You’re wrong, Ravian. Do not forget that she and I are special in the sense that we are already Phase Two while all other children have barely reached Phase One. The two of us are ahead of everyone, and that will probably be the case even when we attend the academy. So the only disadvantaged one is going to be you."

Ravian frowned at first, but his eyes slowly widened by the time Adrian finished. He looked speechless.

Then the boy looked at Adrian and her and spoke in a somewhat unconvinced tone.

"I would have connections with the two of you so I would probably not be at a disadvantage either... probably..."

Looking at him trying to convince himself, Evangeline felt somewhat bad for him.

Just then, a few murmurs entered her ears.

A group of men and a few ladies were standing together in a group, all of them looking in their direction. Or more specifically, all of them were looking at Adrian while talking to one another.

She focused her attention on what they were saying.

"Do you see it, countess? It almost looks alive."

"And it speaks so naturally too, almost like a living person."

"With a bit more facial expression, I believe it will be indistinguishable from the real thing."

Evangeline’s expression turned strange as she heard them.

’What are they even talking about.?’

She turned to Adrina and spoke in a somewhat hushed tone, careful not let those people hear her.

"Hey, Adi, those people behind me are talking something strange about you."

Adrian glanced at them briefly—which caused those people to talk even more—and then turned away, as though they didn’t matter to him.

Ravina glanced at them as well then his eyebrows suddenly shot upward as though he remembered something.

"Ah! Adrian I kind of forgot to tell you this. There is a strange rumor about you circulating in the noble society recently?"

Adrian frowned.

"What is it?"

Evangeline also focused her attention on Ravian’s words.

’Rumors about Adi are circulating? I wanna know!’

Ravian spoke after a brief hesitation.

"Those rumors claim that the real Adrian Caelis Ravenshade is still hidden by House Ravenshade and has never appeared in public. And that you are a human-like puppet that is being controlled by Duchess Seraphina."