Primordial Heir: Nine Stars-Chapter 322: The Banquet

As evening approached, the atmosphere shifted. They each retreated to their rooms to prepare.

When they reconvened in the villa’s main room, the transformation was subtle but striking. Nero wore a dark, tailored suit that fit him well, a simple upgrade from his uniform. He looked older, more serious.

Khione emerged in a gown of pale silver-blue, the color of winter twilight. It was elegant and sleek, leaving her shoulders bare. Her white hair was swept up, and her usual cool demeanor seemed perfectly suited to the attire. She looked less like a cadet and more like the Undine heir she was.

Elreth appeared last, a vision in crimson. Her dress was rich and regal, with delicate embroidery that hinted at phoenix feathers. It was both beautiful and a statement. She wore a polite, practiced smile, though a sharp eye might have seen the slight tension in her jaw, the carefully hidden frustration at playing the gracious third wheel.

The two girls glanced at each other, a silent, frosty appraisal passing between them before both looked to Nero. He offered his arm to Khione. She took it, her posture possessive and calm. Elreth fell into step slightly behind and to Nero’s right, her smile unwavering, the perfect picture of a diplomatic companion.

They walked to the mayor’s mansion together, a striking and slightly intimidating trio.

The banquet was held in a grand hall with high ceilings and crystal chandeliers. The important people of Oxglen were there—city council members, wealthy merchants, senior guards, and local scholars. Everyone was dressed in their finest. A murmur rippled through the crowd as the three cadets entered.

The mayor greeted them warmly and introduced them around. The guests were eager but respectful, trying to make connections without being overly pushy. They asked about the Academy, about their training, and cautiously expressed their gratitude for the cadets’ help with the disappearances. Nero handled most of the talking with a polite, firm courtesy. Khione offered brief, cool nods and the bare minimum of words, her presence alone creating a respectful distance. Elreth shone in this environment, engaging in light, charming conversation, her royal training on full display. She complimented the city, asked insightful questions about local culture, and made everyone she spoke to feel seen.

A lavish dinner was served. They sat at the head table with the mayor. The food was delicious—roasted meats, fresh vegetables, delicate pastries. They ate, making small talk with those around them. Elreth explained a point of imperial history to a fascinated councilwoman. Khione gave a one-sentence opinion on the vintage of the fruit juice to a surprised vintner. Nero discussed monster migration patterns with the head of the city guard.

After the meal, the tables were cleared, and music began—a live ensemble playing soft, elegant dance tunes. The floor opened for dancing.

As expected, no one approached Nero to ask Khione to dance. The Ice Queen’s aura was a palpable, beautiful deterrent. She was quite content to sit with him, her hand resting on his arm.

It was Elreth who moved. She glided over to their table, her red dress flowing around her. She curtsied slightly, her smile diplomatic but her eyes holding a direct challenge—not to Khione, but to the unspoken rules of the evening.

"Nero," she said, her voice clear. "Would you honor me with a dance? It’s only polite, as representatives of our academy and our clans."

All eyes nearby flicked to Khione. The temperature around their table seemed to drop a degree. Khione looked at Elreth, then up at Nero. Her expression was unreadable. After a long, silent moment, she gave a single, slight, regal nod of permission. It wasn’t approval; it was a queen allowing a subject a temporary audience.

Nero, understanding the delicate politics, stood. "Of course."

He led Elreth to the dance floor. They took their positions, his hand on her back, hers on his shoulder. The music swelled.

They danced in complete silence for the first minute. Their steps were perfect, a waltz they both knew from formal training. There was no warmth in it, but there was a sharp, graceful synergy. He led with firm confidence; she followed with flawless precision. It was less a romantic dance and more a demonstration of controlled skill, two powerful entities moving in a temporary, agreed-upon pattern.

"You’re a good dancer," Elreth murmured finally, her voice so low only he could hear.

"Survival skill at Raizen functions," he replied quietly, his gaze fixed over her shoulder.

"My brother spoke with me," she said, her tone conversational, but the words were weighted. "About you. About your value."

Nero’s steps didn’t falter. "I’m not for sale."

"This isn’t about purchase," she said, spinning smoothly under his arm before returning to the hold. "It’s about alliance. About building something that lasts. My way is not through coercion."

The song was nearing its end. "And what is your way, Princess?" he asked, his voice neutral.

"Earning respect," she said simply, meeting his eyes for a brief, intense second. "Step by step. Just like this dance."

The music concluded with a final, elegant note. They parted, bowing slightly to each other with formal respect. The polite applause of the audience washed over them.

Nero returned to the table. Khione’s expression hadn’t changed. Without a word, he held out his hand to her. This dance was different. The music was slower, softer. When they stepped onto the floor, the atmosphere shifted entirely. Her coldness melted into a subtle, private warmth reserved only for him. They moved together not with formal precision, but with a natural, close harmony. Her head rested gently against his chest. They didn’t speak at all. They didn’t need to. This dance was a conversation of its own, a quiet reaffirmation in the middle of the watching crowd.

Elreth watched from the side, her polite smile still in place, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. The banquet swirled on around them—full of music, laughter, and bright lights—but for the three cadets from Glory Academy, it was merely the calm before the storm, a glittering prelude to the dark and silent work that awaited them in the villages beyond the city’s glow and the snake lurking in the shadow.