Prince Morgan's gaze remained fixed on the group across the hall, his jaw clenched as he took in the familiar, frustrating sight of Adrian in the center of attention. The laughter and warmth in Isabella's smile, so openly directed at Adrian, only deepened the bitterness that had been simring within him for years.
'How long do you intend to stand in my way?' Morgan thought, the words laced with resentnt. It seed that no matter how far he went or how much he achieved, Adrian Lighthaven was always there—always one step ahead, always garnering the admiration and respect that Morgan had fought to earn.
The mories were all too vivid.
At the Royal Academy, Adrian had been the picture of calm excellence, his steady deanor and quiet intelligence effortlessly drawing the favor of teachers and ntors alike. 'Such maturity for one so young,' they'd praise, their voices tinged with admiration.
And the girls… nearly all of them had, at so point, harbored either a secret or open crush on Adrian. He had been the one they looked up to, the one they whispered about in the hallways, leaving Morgan to play second in a ga he hadn't wanted to lose.
And yet, despite knowing this rivalry was one-sided, that Adrian likely hadn't done anything intentionally to overshadow him, Morgan couldn't shake the feeling of resentnt.
Adrian's successes had always felt like his own failures, his achievents a reminder of what Morgan had yet to accomplish. And now, seeing Adrian so close to Isabella, so at ease with the one person Morgan had quietly hoped would see him as more than just another noble… it was more than he could bear.
A low voice beside him broke through his thoughts. "He ca, huh?"
Morgan turned, eting the calculating gaze of Prince Cedric, Isabella's older brother and his own longti friend. Cedric watched Adrian with a cool disdain, his eyes narrowed as though the sight of his presence alone was an insult.
Morgan inclined his head slightly, his gaze returning to Adrian and Isabella, and allowed himself a bitter smile. If anyone shared his feelings toward Adrian, it was Cedric.
Since they were children, Cedric had treated Adrian as a rival—no, an enemy.
For reasons he'd never explained, Cedric had harbored a deep dislike for Adrian, one that only seed to grow as Adrian's accomplishnts multiplied. And while Adrian had always maintained a polite distance, often ignoring Cedric's subtle provocations, that indifference only fueled Cedric's animosity.
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Over the years, that resentnt had passed to Morgan too, gradually tainting their relationship with a competitiveness he couldn't entirely control.
A thought occurred to him, and Morgan's lips curled into a sly smile. He glanced over at Cedric, lowering his voice to a murmur. "Tell , Cedric, why don't you take the chance to show your strength now he has returned? Wouldn't now be the perfect ti?"
Cedric's gaze snapped to him, his eyes narrowing in a flash of irritation. The look said it all:
'Don't mock .'
But sothing about Morgan's suggestion seed to resonate, and Cedric's gaze shifted back toward Adrian, his jaw tightening. The words lingered, gnawing at his pride, but Cedric wasn't foolish enough to underestimate his rival.
He finally spoke, his voice low and edged with caution. "It's not that simple, Morgan. He's not the sa as before. I've heard the stories—how he took down a peak Lunar Tier Awakener and beasts alone. I'm not about to gamble with my reputation until I'm sure of a victory." Cedric's lips twisted as he spoke, his reluctance barely concealed beneath his tone.
But the idea had taken root.
Morgan could see it in Cedric's eyes—the old rivalry reigniting, the silent dare hanging between them. Pride warred with hesitation, and despite himself, Cedric seed to entertain the thought. Even as he shook his head, a flicker of interest remained.
Morgan suppressed a smirk, recognizing the effect his words had. "Are you saying you're afraid, Cedric?" he teased lightly, knowing well the buttons he was pressing. "Afraid that Adrian's reputation might be more than just rumors?"
Cedric's eyes flashed with indignation, though he remained silent. It was clear the notion rankled him; for all his caution, Cedric had always been fiercely protective of his status, his pride in his abilities. The re suggestion that he might fear Adrian's strength seed to strike a nerve, and Cedric's expression darkened as he weighed his options.
After a long mont, Cedric straightened, his gaze hardening with a resolve that hadn't been there before. "Fine. If it cos to a duel later, I'll face him," he said, the words edged with determination. "But don't mistake this for recklessness. I intend to be prepared. Let him think he can bask in everyone's praise for now—he won't keep it for long."
Morgan nodded, pleased to see his friend's resolve steeled. He knew Cedric well enough to recognize when his pride had been pricked, and if anyone could match Adrian's skill, it would be Cedric. Only after him though.
'I will see what happens first, and then act accordingly.' Morgan knew when to act and when not to, he wasn't an idiot who would be swayed by these kind of people who would only try to bring others down.
While Morgan was busy with his funny ideas, Cedric was having his own internal discussions as well. 'Hmph, do you think I will take your bait and just challenge him. Dou you think I'm an idiot? This is my sister's banquet, which ans I'm the host as well. So, I gotta use my host authority to set you and him up. Then I will see whether to act or not.'
Across the room, the laughter of Princess Isabella and the twins echoed as Adrian engaged in a lighthearted conversation. Their faces were bright, their attention wholly on him, oblivious to the whispers and glances exchanged in the shadows.
They wouldn't allow Adrian's charm to rule forever. Soon enough, his world of admiration and respect would start to crack.
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