30 :The Duchess’s Wrath

A Night of Celebration Turns to Chaos

The grand banquet hall of the imperial palace was filled with laughter and music. Crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow over the nobles, who raised their glasses in celebration of the Third Princess's seventh birthday.

Averis Ravenshade sat quietly, dressed in a white suit beneath a black coat, sipping fruit juice with an air of boredom.

Beside him, his mother, Seraphina Ravenshade, looked stunning in a silver gown adorned with elegant jewelry and a red mana crystal necklace.

Everything was peaceful.

But Averis knew better.

He remembered.

"The banquet attack happens tonight."

It was a major event in the novel he read in his past life.

"Demons infiltrate the palace. Chaos erupts. Many knights die. The imperial family is humiliated. But…"

He glanced at his mother and then at his father, Aldric Ravenshade, who was seated at a distance, conversing with the other dukes.

"In this life… things will go differently."

And then—

BOOM!

The massive entrance doors exploded, sending splinters and debris flying.

Screams filled the hall as black-armored demons surged in.

A banquet of nobles… had become a battlefield.

---

A Knight's Perspective – Facing Despair

"No… not here. Not now!"

Knight-Commander Reynard felt his blood run cold as dozens of demons flooded the hall.

But the worst was the towering figure stepping through the broken doorway.

A Demon Knight.

It was over two meters tall, clad in obsidian armor pulsating with cursed energy. Its burning red eyes locked onto the nearest noble with sadistic amusement.

"A Class-3 Demon Knight inside the Imperial Palace?!"

Reynard's grip on his sword tightened.

"We have to hold them back until the Dukes move!"

But the Demon Knight moved first.

It vanished—

CLANG!

Reynard barely managed to block, but the force sent him crashing into a pillar. His arms went numb from the impact.

"This strength… it's on a completely different level!"

The Demon Knight grinned and raised its sword to end him.

And then—

A flood engulfed the battlefield.

---

Seraphina Ravenshade – The Water Sovereign's Call

Seraphina Ravenshade stood tall, her crimson eyes cold as ice.

Her mana surged, forming a glowing blue sigil in the air.

"Come forth—Tidelis, Sovereign of the Azure Depths."

A deep rumble shook the hall.

A swirling vortex of water erupted beside her, expanding into a massive summoning gate.

From within, a serpentine dragon emerged—its body composed of liquid sapphire scales that shimmered like an endless ocean. Its fins and tail rippled as though swimming through unseen waves.

Its piercing blue eyes glowed with abyssal power.

A High-Rank Water Spirit.

A being of floods and storms—a spirit that had drowned entire armies in ancient wars.

Tidelis's deep voice reverberated through the air.

"I have answered your call, my Contractor."

Seraphina's voice was calm yet commanding.

"Protect my son."

Tidelis lowered its head in acknowledgment before forming a sphere of flowing water around Averis—an impenetrable barrier.

The spirit's voice, cold and resolute, echoed.

"None shall lay a hand upon the heir of House Ravenshade."

Averis, watching from inside the water sphere, blinked.

Then smirked.

"This is oddly comfortable."

---

Selene Draconis – A Regressor's Shock

Selene Draconis, the Third Princess, clenched her fists.

She knew this attack was coming.

After all—she had lived through it before.

"But… why? Why is everything different?"

In her past life, the attack had been devastating.

Many nobles died.

The imperial family was humiliated.

But now…

The dukes were responding faster than before.

The battle was already turning in their favor.

And then—there was Averis Ravenshade.

She turned to look at him.

The High-Rank Water Spirit protecting him… wasn't supposed to be there.

He wasn't supposed to be this strong.

"What the hell changed?"

---

Aldric Ravenshade – The Duke of Frost and Shadows

Aldric Ravenshade sighed.

"This is an insult."

A shadow flickered.

Then—

He vanished.

FWIP!

He reappeared behind a Demon Knight, his sword already slicing.

SHLINK!

The demon froze—its head slowly sliding off its shoulders before it collapsed.

Another demon lunged.

Aldric didn't even glance.

He simply swung once.

SLASH!

The demon's chest split open, its body crumbling.

His cold gaze turned toward his wife, who was effortlessly crushing the enemy with waves of water.

A smirk tugged at his lips.

"She's enjoying herself."

---

The Dukes' Might – The Battle Turns

The other Dukes entered the fray.

1. Duke Verdantia (South) – Raised his staff, causing colossal vines to burst from the floor, impaling demons.

2. Duke Solheim (East) – Slashed forward, his blade igniting with golden flames, incinerating enemies.

3. Duke Ironhart (West) – Punched a Demon Knight so hard its ribcage collapsed, sending it flying.

The battlefield shifted instantly.

What was once an overwhelming demon attack…

Became a slaughter.

---

The Battle Ends – A Message of War

Within one hour, the battle was over.

The last demon fell, its body turning to ash.

Not a single noble had died.

Only knights had perished.

The Emperor, sword still drawn, narrowed his golden eyes.

"Someone orchestrated this."

His expression darkened.

"Find out who."

Averis, standing amidst the scattered demon corpses, clenched his fists.

"This was a test."

And he knew—

It was only the beginning.

End of the Chapter 30