Ancient Imperial Calendar Year 1813
The day of the Graduation Ball, which had been prepared for three months in advance at the Blood Academy, had arrived.
While the boys wore their latest dark blood red striped and patterned black suits,
The girls wore dresses with long skirts and thin waists in the colors representing their Dynasty, with dark blood red stripes and patterns.
The meaning of the dark blood red stripes and patterns was a symbol of absolute loyalty and submission to the Kislavein Dynasty.
Ricardo and Arnheid attended the ball together, which surprised everyone.
The whole Academy expected Ricardo to attend the ball with Marilin, but when Ricardo came to the ball with Arnheid, there were many rumors.
"What's going on, wasn't the Dynasty Heir going to come with Marilin?"
"I don't know either, did they have a fight?"
"Haha, maybe Arnheid seduced the Dynasty Heir."
"Still, it's a shame for Marilin, she was a very beautiful and affectionate girl."
"Oh, where is Marilin, who did she come with?"
"I don't know either, has anyone seen her?"
All the attention of the Graduates was on Ricardo and Arnheid. When the gossip could not be stopped, Ricardo spread his killing intent to the whole hall.
The killing intent was so intense that the Graduates could not breathe. They fell to their knees and held their throats. Seconds before they were going to die, Ricardo withdrew his killing intent.
The people in the hall started breathing again. They were all breathing deeply. They were in shock.
They were afraid to even look at Ricardo from the corner of their eyes.
"What did I experience?"
"The Dynasty Heir's killing intent was very intense."
"If that damned bastard had continued any longer, I would have been dead."
The hall, filled with terror, fear and anger, cursed and cursed within themselves, but they did not dare to say it to Ricardo's face.
An hour later, the Head Master of the Blood Academy, Kisrael Kislavein, took the podium to give his speech.
After clearing his throat and strengthening his voice with mana, he began his speech.
"Today, I sincerely congratulate the 850th generation of the Blood Academy graduates.
I hope that you will serve the Kislavein Dynasty with all your loyalty and the best in your future lives.
First of all, I have no doubt that you will serve our House Lord IV Orsman Kislavein and his Successor, the Dynasty Heir Ricardo Kislavein with all your loyalty.
That's all from me. You can enjoy the rest of the night, dance and have a good memory for the years to come. Have fun in advance."
When Kisrael finished his speech, the people in the hall applauded Kisrael.
The Academy Masters stayed away from the public eye and left the square to the Graduates.
The rest of the night was spent in entertainment.
Everyone ate, drank and danced, but there was one person missing.
When Ricardo noticed this absence, he went to Marco.
"Greetings, Marco."
When Marco noticed Ricardo, he stood in silence.
"Greetings to the Heir of the Dynasty."
Ricardo received Marco's greeting and signaled for him to raise his head.
"Marco, I didn't see Marilin in the hall. Where is she?"
Marco was angry.
"Don't you know or are you pretending not to know?" thought Marco.
"She didn't come, Heir of the Dynasty."
Ricardo asked in surprise.
"She didn't come? Why?"
Marco felt that he could no longer control his anger, but he respected his friend's authority and hid his anger with a respectful tone so as not to cause a misunderstanding.
"She said it wouldn't mean anything if she wasn't coming with you. She's probably in her room right now, Heir of the Dynasty."
Ricardo felt guilty about what he had heard.
His childhood friend would not attend the graduation ball that she would only experience once in her life because of him.
"Should I go to her? But if I go, what will happen to Arnheid? I will cause a lot of gossip about her."
Thoughts like these were eating Ricardo's mind.
But now he had made up his mind.
"I can't have a future with Marilin, not with her or any of my descendants.
But Arnheid is the only noblewoman in the Western Lands who is not of my lineage. I'm sorry, Marilin. I wish our paths had crossed in another way. Maybe this would have been best for both of us."
With these thoughts running through his mind, Ricardo now drew a clear line between himself and Marilin.
There would be a final dance later in the evening, near the end of the ball. All the Graduates were asked to join in this dance.
Ricardo extended his hand to Arnheid.
"My lady, may I have this dance?"
Arnheid did not hide her smile. Butterflies were flying inside her. With excitement and joy, she held Ricardo's hand.
"It is my pleasure, Heir of the Dynasty."
The two go to the middle of the Hall to dance. While Marco, who watches them with eyes full of anger, cannot hold his thoughts.
"I really can't believe what he found in her. He has been with Marilin since childhood. Marilin rejected hundreds of men who were deeply in love with her, even refused all invitations at the cost of not coming to the ball.
But...but he went and chose a girl he had only known for a few years."
Listening to these words, Alia held Marco's hand tightly and leaned her head on his shoulder, which is what Marco did whenever he was angry.
"If what we call Love was like you said, I would never have fallen in love with you, Marco."
Marco asked in surprise.
"What do you mean, Alia?"
"I mean this, Marco. I also had a childhood friend whom I had known for ten years, but our relationship did not go beyond being a brother and sister. We've never looked at each other that way. Maybe Ricardo feels the same way."
Marco was taken aback for a moment.
"I...I never thought of it that way."
When Alia saw Marco's sad state, she felt a pang in her heart. She couldn't stand to see him in this state.
"Ahem, Marco, aren't you going to invite me to the dance?"
Marco, who was caught off guard by this question, suddenly flinched.
"Alright, I've practiced too much. Come on, I can do this," Marco thought.
Marco extended his hand to Alia.
"My lady, would you please grant me this dance?"
Alia held Marco's hand, her face full of smiles.
"With great pleasure, my Lord."
The later hours of the night witnessed dancing, smiles and sweet romantic moments.
All the Graduates were enjoying one last moment of fun before facing the challenges of the next phase of their lives.
The ball ended when the clock struck twelve.
All the Graduates went to their rooms.
On the other hand, those who could not get over the effect of the moment continued their fun in the city.
After taking Arnheid to her room, Ricardo went to Marilin's room and knocked on the door.
"Marilin, are you awake? Can we talk?"
A few seconds later, the door opened. Marilin's anger and rage could be seen from every aspect, even if she was hiding it.
"Welcome, Heir of the Dynasty. I hope you had a fun night with that silver-headed one."
"She's quite angry," Ricardo thought.
"Can I come in?" asked Ricardo.
"Of course, of course, come in, Heir of the Dynasty."
The two went into the room and sat across from each other. Ricardo started the conversation.
"Why didn't you come to the ball, Marilin? I mean, I know the reason, but isn't this becoming an obsession? Why don't you give other men a chance?"
Marilin was brimming with anger. She frowned, stood up angrily, her veins swelled as if they were about to burst with anger, and she started yelling with all her fury.
"Are you kidding me? Why don't you accept my love for you? I've done everything I could to win you for years, but you went and chose that whore. What does she have that I don't?"
When Marilin vented all her anger, she felt relieved but also regretful and sad.
She fell to her knees and covered her mouth with her hand. Her tears flowed like a flood.
Ricardo felt a deep sense of remorse for the girl he had known since childhood falling into this state because of him.
Ricardo fell to his knees and hugged Marilin tightly.
"I didn't want it to be like this either, but I can't be with you, Marilin. I wish I could tell you the reason, but I can't."
"What is the reason? What kind of reason could you have for not accepting my love?"
Ricardo gently caressed Marilin's head.
"I hope I can explain it one day."
Ricardo stood up and slowly left the room.
When Ricardo entered his room, he lay on the bed without even changing.
"What a day."
"Indeed, Sir."
"Ah, was it you, Giskar?"
"Yes, sir. There is something I wonder. Would Marilin be with you if she were not of your lineage?"
"Are you kidding me? If marriages with age differences were not forbidden in this period, I would not even come within ten meters of these girls who are children in my eyes."
"But sir, when you ascend to the throne, you can marry any woman of any age you want."
"It seems that things do not work that way these days, Giskar. In this period, everyone is married off as soon as they become adults. It is considered unacceptable for people with age differences to marry."
"Seriously? Who passed this law?"
"Hmm, if I remember correctly, my grandfather's grandfather, Rylvas III, passed this law."
Giskar became even more curious.
"Can you elaborate on this topic a little, sir?"
Ricardo normally liked historical conversations, but due to his tiredness, sleepiness and headache, he wanted to skip the topic.
"I'll explain it tomorrow, Giskar."
Giskar couldn't wait until morning because of his curiosity. He was stubborn and started flying around Ricardo's head.
"Sir, please explain it, please."
Giskar, who was circling Ricardo's head like an annoying summer fly, was testing Ricardo's patience.
Finally, Ricardo couldn't take it anymore. He used his hand strengthened with mana and slapped Giskar hard at full speed.
With this slap, Giskar flew from one end of the room to the other, first hitting the door and then hitting the ground.
Giskar was writhing in pain.
"Aaaa, what the heck, sir? What the... I was just curious."
Ricardo's anger calmed down, but at the same time, his conscience ached for the slap he had given.
"Oh, damn it, Giskar, come here. I'll only tell you once."
Giskar appeared in front of Ricardo in a split second.
"I am listening, sir."
Giskar gave his full attention to Ricardo. Ricardo was thinking of going to bed quickly.
"63 years ago, my grandfather's grandfather, Rylvas III, when he ascended to the throne, his first law was to ban marriages with age differences. The reason was that his real sisters, whom he loved very much, were forced to marry old Lords. His sisters had an unhappy and depressed marriage. When Rylvas III ascended to the throne, his sisters told what they had experienced for years. Listening to his sisters' unhappy and depressed marriage stories touched III Rylvas' heart.
III Rylvas, who already had a soft spot for his sisters, passed a law prohibiting marriages between people with age differences so that no one else would experience the bad life his sisters lived and so that people would marry those they loved and were of the same age.
With this law, III Rylvas gained the respect, love and full support of the young population. Although he received objections from the elderly, he silenced all opposition with the support of the young people behind him. Even after his death, he and his sisters were remembered with respect. That's it, our story ends here. Good night, Giskar. I'm going to bed."
Giskar felt satisfied and was happy.
"Thank you, sir, and good night, sir."
Giskar was deep in thought.
"I wish I had watched Harloumen's grandchildren closely in the past thousand years. There were many entertaining events. Oh well, I wonder what will happen from now on. I will watch with curiosity."