First Intergalactic Emperor: Starting With The Ancient Goddess-Chapter 386: The Engagement Ceremony (ii)

The ceremony flowed into its first break after a long round of greetings and formalities. A well-known band took the stage to keep the atmosphere lively—something classical mixed with futuristic synths, expensive and dramatic enough to impress nobles who pretended they weren’t bored.

Servers moved around with trays of drinks and appetizers. Guests scattered into smaller groups, chatting or networking, while others headed toward the dining area. The spotlight on the main stage dimmed for now; the engagement vows would happen after the dinner portion.

Xavier stayed near the back with Angel, watching the hall settle into a calmer rhythm. The crowd’s attention finally shifted away from them, though every now and then someone still sneaked a glance at Xavier like they were trying to figure out why, as a human, he had Luther’s protection.

Lucas, on the other hand, had vanished almost immediately.

He stormed through the corridors of the Blackwood Tower, pushing past unsuspecting guests until he found the room he was looking for. The door wasn’t fully closed, and he could already hear Lucian’s voice echoing sharply inside.

"What were you thinking, Aldric? You created a scene in front of everyone!"

Aldric snapped back, "I protected my family’s reputation. That boy has no place here—"

Lucas stepped in, slamming the door shut behind him. "Father, why the hell is he still here?"

Lucian turned toward him, face already tight from the argument. "Lucas, not now."

"No—now," Lucas said, stepping forward. "Why is Xavier here? Why wasn’t he thrown out the moment he stepped inside? I don’t want him in my engagement ceremony. I want him gone."

Lucian rubbed his forehead. "We can’t throw him out. He’s a public figure with nearly a billion followers. If we touch him, it becomes a headline. If we insult him, it becomes a scandal. If security drags him out, half the hall will film it. This day is important for our family, for our alliances. I won’t let one boy ruin that."

Lucas’s voice rose. "I don’t care about any of that. This is my engagement ceremony. If I say he leaves, he leaves."

Lucian stared at him for a long moment, realizing Lucas had no intention of calming down.

Then Lucas added, "If Xavier isn’t gone by the time this break ends, I’m going back out there and announcing in front of everyone that I won’t get engaged. Let’s see which headline the family prefers. My refusal... or the removal of this so-called celebrity."

Lucian’s expression cracked from the rage that Lucas would even consider doing that tonight.

Aldric watched, silently enjoying his grandson’s tantrum.

Lucas took one last look at both of them, smirking slightly because he thought he had won.

Then he walked out.

The door barely closed before Lucian rounded on Aldric again.

"This is your fault," Lucian growled. "You raised him like this. Spoiled, entitled, completely out of control. He can’t think past his own ego for even one moment."

Aldric opened his mouth to argue, but Lucian didn’t let him.

"I wish I had another son. At least then I’d have one child who wasn’t a useless, arrogant headache."

Lucian shoved past him, leaving the room in fury.

Aldric stood there alone for a while, face twitching.

Then he muttered under his breath, "I also wish I had another son... so I wouldn’t have to deal with you, Lucian."

He sank into the nearest chair, rubbing his temples as the sounds of the celebration drifted back through the hall.

Xavier relaxed with Angel near one of the high tables, sipping a drink while Angel quietly scanned the room, probably analyzing every exit route and every suspicious face just out of habit. The ceremony break gave everyone a moment to breathe, but the tension underneath everything was still there.

Xavier’s gaze drifted around the hall until it landed on a familiar idiot—Reva’s brother—the same guy Xavier had beaten senseless back at the vampire castle. He was surrounded by a cluster of human girls, all of them leaning in, touching his arm, laughing at his stories. They were clearly charmed by the whole "vampire prince" act.

Xavier nudged Angel. "I’ll be back. Gonna have some fun."

Angel smirked. "Try not to make him cry too fast."

"I make no promises," Xavier said, walking off.

Angel headed toward the stage, where Reva sat alone for the moment, and the two began talking in low voices.

Meanwhile, the moment Xavier stepped within a few meters of Reva’s brother, the entire group of human girls turned toward him like metal to a magnet. Their expressions lit up instantly.

"Oh my god— It’s Xavier!"

"Can we get a picture?!"

"Just one—please!"

Reva’s brother deflated immediately, his little crowd stolen in seconds.

Xavier shrugged. "Yeah, sure."

He posed with them, took a few photos, signed a couple of holo-wallets, and the girls left giggling and blushing.

Once they were gone, Xavier finally looked at the guy he came here for.

The brother glared. "You just can’t stop causing trouble, can you?"

Xavier grinned. "Relax. I didn’t mean to steal your fanclub. It’s not my fault they prefer the upgrade."

The brother clenched his jaw, clearly fighting the urge to start something he knew he couldn’t finish. "It wasn’t enough for you to defile my sister, but you’re also having relationships with other women? You’re using her like a toy."

Xavier didn’t break eye contact. "Reva likes when I treat her however I want. You should hear her. Or maybe don’t. Might break your sensitive little heart."

The brother’s expression soured instantly.

Xavier stepped a little closer. "And you really need to let go of that sister complex you’ve got going on. It’s embarrassing. For you, I mean. Not for her."

Before the brother could spit out whatever threat he was preparing, Xavier simply turned around and walked off, leaving him standing there, fists balled, red in the face, unable to do a damn thing about it.

And somewhere in the hall, Lucas had returned, looking for someone to blame.

Xavier caught ‌sight of Lucas and then looked at his watch.

’He should have planted and finished his work by now.’ Xavier thought to himself and set the timer for 30 minutes.