CHAPTER 74: CHAPTER 74: FIANCEE?!

As Axelius leaned against the tree, enjoying the rare moment of peace and quiet away from the buzzing party, he slowly began to relax, the sounds of laughter and music fading into a distant hum behind the leaves and wind.

But just as he was starting to drift off into a light daze, he felt the faint crunch of grass beneath someone’s foot in front of him, and with a tired sigh, he opened one eye lazily, expecting maybe a maid or Ellory.

However, before he could react or fully understand what was happening, a rough cloth sack was suddenly thrown over his head, and everything went dark. His body tensed in surprise, but hands were already grabbing him—quick and practiced hands, not the kind of clumsy movement one might expect from a prank.

In a single breathless second, he was lifted and everything around him spun. He struggled, but whoever it was moved fast and efficiently, and he felt himself being dragged and carried somewhere.

Then, just as suddenly, he was dropped to the ground with a hard thud, the impact shaking through his back and shoulder. A hand ripped the sack off his head, and Axelius blinked quickly, his eyes adjusting to the sudden light filtering through tall trees and leaves.

He looked around and realized he was no longer in the garden but probably near the mansion—he was somewhere in the forest, surrounded by trees, moss, and the faint chirping of birds overhead.

He slowly sat up, brushing grass off his clothes, his golden eyes narrowing in confusion and suspicion. "What the hell..." he muttered, trying to stand, his mind racing as he tried to figure out who would even dare to pull something like this—and more importantly, why.

Axelius was still rubbing the back of his head, trying to make sense of how he had ended up in the forest during his sister’s birthday party, when he suddenly heard a voice call out

"He’s here, young master."

His frown deepened as he turned his head and saw two butlers approaching from the trees, Behind them were three kids, likely around his age or a little older, wearing high-quality noble attire with proud crests stitched onto their chests.

The one in the center, a boy with neatly combed chestnut hair and green eyes, looked especially smug as he stepped forward and sneered at Axelius.

"What is this?" Axelius muttered, trying to get up, but the butlers suddenly moved faster than expected, one gripping his left arm, the other his right, forcing him to stand and keeping him in place like some prisoner. Axelius winced, annoyed but confused, until the smug boy stepped even closer.

"So you’re the Dravenhart bastard everyone’s whispering about," the boy said with a sneer, tilting his chin up arrogantly. "You don’t look like much... but I’ve heard enough to know why you’re here."

Axelius narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

The boy scoffed and said with false politeness, "I know you’re pretending to be close to Lady Elena. Don’t think I don’t know about the engagement announcement that’s going around."

Axelius blinked, his heart skipping. "Engagement... what?!" he exclaimed, his voice rising with disbelief.

"So Elena is your fiancee." Owen said,

’Fiancé? Did the Duke introduce me like that on purpose?! No way... that can’t be happening!/

"That’s right," the boy smirked, clearly enjoying Axelius’s shocked reaction. "It’s spreading fast among the nobles. You? Her fiancé? Don’t make me laugh."

One of the other kids behind him chuckled cruelly. "Lady Elena is far too good for a fake noble like you."

"You must’ve fooled them with your little polite bow and that fake smile," the third chimed in. "But we see what you are. A short, useless, powerless fraud."

Axelius gritted his teeth, his fists balling at his sides as the two butlers held his arms firmly, keeping him from moving. The central boy stepped even closer, now face to face with Axelius. "You don’t even have a mana core yet you walk around like you’re something special. All dressed up in shiny things you don’t deserve."

Then, without warning, the boy slapped Axelius across the cheek. The sharp sound echoed in the trees. Axelius winced, biting down a growl. Another punch landed in his stomach from one of the other kids, and the butlers didn’t move to stop them. They stood by, gripping Axelius tightly, letting it happen.

Down on the grass, Owen his tiny body flattened low with worry.

"Axelius!" Owen called out in a quiet voice. "Say something! You need to get out of here. I—I can’t do anything."

Axelius didn’t respond, breathing hard as another punch hit his side. The noble brats laughed, one of them saying, "Let’s see how much gold he’s hiding. Must’ve stolen it from the Grand Duke."."

The butlers began pulling at his clothing, yanking off the golden brooch pinned to his chest and unhooking the chains from his coat. They pulled rings off his fingers one by one, until they reached one on his right hand—the ornate black ring etched with faint blue runes, and with crystal in the middle. It didn’t budge.

"Tch. This one’s stuck," one of the boys muttered. "Whatever. Probably fake."

They left it and turned away, but not before shoving Axelius hard, letting him fall back to the dirt, bruised and disheveled, his clothes stained with grass and dust.

Still breathing heavily, Axelius stayed where he was, his hands clenched into fists in the dirt, "Are you okay Axel?! Damn it! I can’t do anything!"

Axelius didn’t speak yet—but his eyes, now cold and steady, stayed locked on the laughing figures as they walked away, their backs turned.

Elena had been standing elegantly by the garden’s edge, her hands clasped neatly before her, scanning the surroundings with a slight frown pulling at her brows. She had noticed that Axelius had disappeared for quite a while now, and though she didn’t admit it, she had been wondering where he had gone.

Then her green eyes narrowed as she spotted three familiar figures exiting the forest nearby—the same boys she had arrived with. She immediately crossed her arms, her voice sharp and suspicious as she called out, "What did you do, brother?"