The music of the gala hummed softly in the background, violins weaving into cellos, laughter and chatter layering over the melody like silk on glass. Golden chandeliers shimmered overhead, scattering light across the sea of masks, gowns, and tuxedos. Amidst it all, Penelope turned to Jayden, her smile playful and knowing.

Jayden straightened slightly under her gaze, his voice soft but earnest. "Um... yeah. I had good company."

Penelope's grin widened, her eyes flicking knowingly toward Kate. "I see."

Kate returned the smile with smug amusement but said nothing, letting the silence speak. Then, with a casual tilt of her glass, she changed the subject. "By the way, do you happen to know where my father is? I think I've had enough wine for one night."

Penelope raised a brow. "Leaving before your guests, huh? That's a bit rude, don't you think?"

Kate smirked, unrepentant. "I never begged them to come."

Penelope let out a long-suffering sigh. "You're impossible, Katherine." she chuckled, shaking her head. Yet there was affection in her voice, the warmth of old bonds.

Kate smirked wider. "I learned from the best." With that, she stepped forward and pulled Penelope into a warm embrace.

When they parted, Penelope's smile lingered, bittersweet. "So... this is goodbye?"

Kate shook her head. "For now," she chuckled softly before turning to Jayden. "Stay safe, Jayden. And try not to get yourself into trouble."

Jayden gave her a small, respectful smile. "Yes, Aunt Kate. I will."

Kate smiled. For the briefest second, her eyes sparkled at the title. It softened her expression. She gave him a single nod before turning back to Penelope, mischief flickering in her gaze. "The same goes for you, Penny. I know how troublesome you can be... especially when vodka's involved."

Penelope scoffed indignantly. "Watch it, young lady. I'm still old enough to be your mother."

Kate laughed as she began to walk away toward the corridor. "HahahaYeah, sure thing, Mom."

Penelope shook her head, though nostalgia softened her smile. Her gaze lingered on Kate's retreating figure. "I forget how much of a rebel she used to be," she muttered under her breath, voice tinged with fondness.

Turning back to Jayden, her expression sharpened, curiosity glimmering in her eyes. "So... how was it?"

Jayden blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"Your chat with Kate," Penelope clarified, her tone gentle but probing. "Did you finally get answers to the questions that have been bothering you?"

Jayden hesitated, weighing his words before nodding slowly. "Not all of them. But... yes. I got some answers tonight."

Penelope exhaled, relief brushing her features. "That's good to hear. Shall we take our leave then?" she asked, her voice lowering into something softer, more intimate.

But Jayden wasn't listening anymore. His gaze had fixed on the masked man entering the hall through the back corridor, walking alongside Kate.

Jayden's brows furrowed. His instincts screamed the truth before his mind confirmed it. This was no doubt Castor Lunaria.

Without hesitation, Jayden's dragon eye flared to life, the system screen appearing before him in glowing text.

__________

*Name: Castor Lunaria

*Age: ???

*Level: ???

*Ability: ???

*HP: ???

___________

Jayden wasn't surprised. A man like Castor was a titan among mortals, a powerhouse whose very name carried weight. If he couldn't read Penelope's stats, it was only natural he couldn't pierce Castor's veil either. But the blank void of question marks unsettled him nonetheless.

But then it he felt it.. someone was watching him.

The air shifted, heavy, suffocating. His pulse quickened. He looked up... and locked eyes with him. Castor.

And even through the mask, the weight of his gaze struck Jayden like a hammer. Cold, crushing, divine. A chill slithered down Jayden's spine, every instinct screaming danger. It was like staring into the abyss of a god. Castor didn't move, didn't speak.. he just watched. Silent, unreadable.

Jayden's breath caught. His fingers curled unconsciously at his sides, a primal part of him screaming to bow.. or to run.

Then, as suddenly as it began, Castor broke the gaze and turned away, walking out of the hall with Kate. The crowd parted reverently, offering their farewells.

Jayden remained rooted, shaken by the weight of that silent encounter.

"Jayden?" Penelope's voice sliced through the haze, concern clear in her tone. "Are you okay?"

Jayden blinked, snapping out of his daze. He forced a small smile. "Um... yeah. I'm fine." he replied.

Penelope exhaled softly. "You must be tired. Should we head home?"

Jayden nodded with a smile. "Yes."

She smiled back, about to respond when—

"Lady Penelope!" a voice cut through the conversation.

The voice echoed through the hall, thick, playful, arrogant.

Penelope froze, her jaw tightening. She knew that voice. She groaned under her breath before schooling her features into a polite mask.

"Lord Felix," she muttered, her smile tight and forced as she turned to face the intruder.

The man who approached was tall, broad-shouldered, in his early forties. His blue hair was slicked back neatly, with a single rebellious strand falling over his face. He didn't wear a mask, and his black tuxedo fit like it was tailored for arrogance, and his sly grin only cemented it.

Jayden recognized him instantly from research. Felix de Bree... the third son of the leader of Atlas, one of the 3 continents.

According to blogger's reviews, Felix was arrogant, entitled, and infamous for always getting what he wanted.

Except, apparently, for one thing.

"Penelope, darling," Felix said smoothly, stepping closer, his eyes shining with unearned confidence. "How many times must I tell you? No need for titles. Call me Felix."

Penelope's tone was flat, indifferent. "Alright then. Felix. What do you want?" she asked sharply.

Felix's grin widened despite her bluntness. "You know exactly what I want, Penelope. Your hand in marriage." he said smugly. He had been pursuing her for over a year now, persistence bordering on obsession. Penelope, however, had never once entertained him. She had rejected him countless times, but his ego, so accustomed to conquest, couldn't comprehend her refusal.

Penelope scoffed, her patience thinning. "This isn't some kind of fairy tale, Felix. I've told you countless times... I'm not interested. Or do you want me to spell it out for you?"

Felix's hand clenched at his side, but he masked the anger with a veneer of charm. "No need for that, my love. I only ask for a chance to prove my affection. That's all."

"Affection?" Penelope let out a humorless chuckle. "You must be joking."

But Felix pressed on, inching closer, ignoring the warning in her tone. "This is no joke, dearest. From the moment I saw you, I knew I wanted nothing more than a place in your heart."

Penelope's patience snapped. "We went on one date, Felix. One." she said. "And the only reason I agreed to it was because your father begged me to. If not for that, I wouldn't be caught dead with you.

Her words landed like daggers.

Felix froze, shock flashing across his face. He hadn't known about that arrangement. And worse, her words cut directly at his pride. A few nearby guests overheard, some whispering, others chuckling quietly.

Penelope's eyes narrowed, her voice sharp as steel. "And for the record.. you don't just demand a place in someone's heart. You earn it. And heaven knows I'd rather burn in hell than fall for the likes of you."

Gasps rippled through the onlookers. Felix's face drained of composure, his reputation crumbling before watchful eyes.

Penelope inhaled sharply and delivered her final blow. "This is your last warning, Felix. Try this again, and I'll involve your father." she threatened, and turned to walk away.

But Felix couldn't accept it. His humiliation burned hotter than reason. Rage surged, and with a swift motion he grabbed her arm, yanking her back violently.

Penelope yelped, startled, his crushing grip digging painfully into her skin. His aura exploded outward, dark and suffocating, pressing down on her like a storm.

"Where do you think you're going, bitch?" Felix snarled, his voice warped with fury. His eyes blazed with indignation. "How dare you insult me? Do you know who I am?"

Penelope's eyes flared with wrath. She trembled with the instinct to retaliate, her own aura sparking at the edges—

But before she could act, another voice cut through the chaos like a blade.

"Let her go." a voice cut through the chaos like a blade.

The voice was low, edged with steel and death. The hall trembled as a suffocating aura burst outward, swallowing Felix's completely. Heads turned, gasps rose... the oppressive energy was coming not from a seasoned warrior, but from the boy standing just behind Penelope.

Jayden.

His aura pulsed like a living storm, coiling around the hall. He stepped forward calmly, his golden eyes glowing beneath his mask, his presence radiating raw, primal power.

Felix froze, sweat dripping down his temple. His aura had been obliterated, crushed into nothingness beneath Jayden's overwhelming dominance.

Jayden stopped before him, their faces inches apart. His gaze was like a predator's, his voice low, guttural.. more of a growl than words.

"I said... let her go."

The killing intent in his tone left no room for doubt. And everyone in the hall knew it too...

This person was dangerous.