"I—Anvis Alcer Kallen—stand here today as a newly risen, noble, immaculate aristocrat, utterly detached from all vulgar and inferior tastes—"
"From the very moment of my birth, the noble and honorable bloodline of my house has flowed through my veins!"
"I shall one day become an enlightened ruler—benevolent, magnanimous, and radiant with the dignity of a great lord and an industrious patron."
"I shall shatter every conspiracy and crush every foe. I shall lead my house toward unmatched prosperity. With burning devotion, I shall care for my people, offering them safety and a life of true happiness."
"And I shall live by the creed of fearlessness—never retreating, never yielding—until death itself claims me. Honor is my life!"
(The above is pure nonsense. Please do not take it seriously.)
—
In the castle garden's noon tea gathering, beside a blooming cluster of silver-leaf roses, a handsome boy dressed in a pure-white ceremonial suit spoke with bright, unrestrained enthusiasm to the circle of young noble boys and girls around him.
His features were exquisitely shaped, soft yet irresistibly charming. His skin possessed that characteristic aristocratic pallor; and in his sapphire-blue eyes, a faint cyan shimmer of mystical power flickered, giving him a mysterious and elegant aura.
The true purpose of such tea gatherings was simply to let the younger generation become familiar with—and gradually adapt to—the social rituals of nobility.
Anvis himself had little interest in such events, but the butler "happened" to know a little water-polo gossip, the tutor "happened" to add a little moral persuasion, and as a result, Anvis "happened" to be here.
Besides, most of these teenagers came from families aligned closely with House Kallen. Maintaining good relations with them would certainly benefit Anvis in the future.
Earlier, as everyone chatted, the topic drifted to their ambitions and dreams for the future.And as one of the highest-ranking heirs present, Anvis naturally drew everyone's curiosity—what exactly was his ideal future?
To better craft his public persona, Anvis rummaged through his memories, pieced together fragments, and composed a makeshift "noble declaration." He had no idea where he had heard such things before, but that hardly mattered; the lines sounded impressive, and that was enough.
His fiery, lofty proclamation stunned the young nobles around him—many still idealistic, many still a little naïve. Some even began quietly re-examining their own dreams and feeling ashamed in comparison.
Across the garden, a girl dressed in a lavish pale-pink princess gown, with an adorable light-blue ribbon tied atop her head—Frosa—sat frozen in amazement as she gazed at Anvis.
It was the first time she realized someone's dream could be that grand.
Protect the family. Care for the people. Fearless devotion. Fight to the very end…This was… this was simply too glorious. Too noble!
—
On the other side of the garden, the gathered nobles—invited adults of various ranks—were also holding their own tea party. Unlike the children's playful imitation, this was genuine aristocratic socializing.
As the hosts of the gathering, the Marquis and his wife enjoyed the atmosphere with relaxed grace. But as Anvis's speech drifted across the garden, their expressions became increasingly complicated.
They wanted to laugh—honestly, they did—but since it was their own child, the laughter simply stuck in their throats.
"…Do you think our child has been reading too many heroic biographies? Should we limit them?"After a moment, Elina glanced hesitantly at the Marquis, her amethyst eyes showing a rare hint of uncertainty.
The Marquis hesitated as well. After a long pause, he shook his head.
"No… he has already reached the age when he must learn to stand on his own. We shouldn't interfere too much with the choices he makes.
Reality is the greatest teacher. Some lessons leave the deepest mark only when one experiences them personally."