Chapter 2 – The Spark Before the Storm

A year had passed since the Imperial Gala.

The five male leads had become a constant presence in Lucien's life.

Not because he wanted them to be...

But because fate refused to leave him alone.

Cassian, the Crown Prince, began dropping the formal "Lord Everhart."

Now he simply called him...

"Lucien."

It was such a small change that no one else noticed.

Lucien did.

Rowan always found excuses to visit.

"I was passing by."

"You traveled three days to get here."

"...A coincidence."

"It never is."

The servants learned to stop questioning it.

Elias Ravenshade smiled as always, but everyone noticed one strange habit.

Whenever another noble approached Lucien...

Elias somehow appeared beside him first.

"Oh? You wished to speak with Lucien?"

His smile never changed.

The noble usually fled.

High Priest Caelum prayed more often.

Not for the Empire.

Not for peace.

But for one silver-haired noble who unknowingly occupied every quiet moment of his heart.

He hated himself for it.

Yet every prayer ended the same way.

"May he always smile."

Adrian...

Lucien's older brother...

Remained completely oblivious.

He thought the princes and nobles simply admired Lucien's talents.

Kael and Riven knew better.

One evening...

The dragon king Kael sighed while watching Cassian secretly drape his royal cloak over the sleeping Lucien.

"He doesn't even realize."

Riven laughed.

"Our friend is hopeless."

"You mean dense."

"I mean impossibly dense."

Both of them looked at Lucien sleeping peacefully beside the campfire.

"...He's adorable."

"...He is."

They froze.

"...Did we just say that together?"

"...Forget it."

Meanwhile...

Feelings were blooming elsewhere.

Kael found himself spending more time with Adrian.

The great knight treated him neither as a monster nor a king.

Only as...

Kael.

It was a strange feeling.

One he wanted to protect.

Riven's heart was slowly stolen by Elias.

The marquis laughed with everyone equally.

He defended beastfolk in court.

Shared meals with commoners.

Never looked down on anyone.

Riven had met countless humans.

None like him.

The world seemed peaceful.

Too peaceful.

Because the original protagonist...

Had finally returned.

His name was...

Leonard Ashbourne.

The son of Marquis Ashbourne.

The true protagonist of the original novel.

Blessed by destiny.

Loved by the spirits.

The one every male lead had originally fallen in love with.

Except...

Nothing was happening as it should.

Cassian ignored him.

Rowan barely acknowledged him.

Caelum treated him politely but distantly.

Elias simply smiled.

Every one of them...

Watched Lucien instead.

Leonard noticed.

At first...

He convinced himself it didn't matter.

Then came jealousy.

Then resentment.

Finally...

Hatred.

"So..."

Leonard stood in front of Lucien during the annual Royal Hunting Festival.

"So you're the one."

Lucien blinked.

"...Excuse me?"

"The one who stole everything."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Liar."

The surrounding nobles fell silent.

The five male leads immediately noticed the confrontation.

"You manipulated them."

Lucien frowned.

"I've barely spoken to you."

"You took what was supposed to be mine."

"I don't own people."

"They were supposed to choose me!"

The words echoed through the forest.

Everyone froze.

Lucien sighed.

"I think you've misunderstood."

"No."

Leonard's mana exploded.

"I understand perfectly."

He drew his sword.

"I challenge you."

The knights gasped.

A duel between two high-ranking nobles without royal approval was forbidden.

Yet neither stepped back.

Lucien quietly removed his gloves.

"I don't want to fight."

Leonard sneered.

"Afraid?"

"No."

Lucien's golden eyes became calm.

"I'm afraid you'll regret it."

Steel clashed.

Leonard attacked first.

Fast.

Powerful.

Exactly as the original novel described.

The chosen hero.

But...

Lucien sidestepped effortlessly.

Again.

Again.

Again.

Not a single attack landed.

The spectators slowly realized something horrifying.

The strongest young noble in the kingdom...

Couldn't even touch the forgotten side character.

"Fight back!" Leonard roared.

Lucien sighed.

"As you wish."

One movement.

One strike.

CRACK!

Leonard's sword shattered into hundreds of glittering pieces.

Silence.

Complete silence.

Lucien's own blade never touched Leonard.

The pressure of his sword aura alone had broken the weapon.

For the first time...

Fear crossed Leonard's face.

"You..."

"Enough."

Lucien lowered his sword.

"I never wanted your place."

He turned to leave.

"But don't mistake my kindness for weakness."

The duel spread across the kingdom within a single day.

The nobles were shaken.

The royal court demanded answers.

Who was Lucien Everhart?

How had a forgotten side character become powerful enough to defeat the Empire's blessed genius without effort?

Rumors spread like wildfire.

Some called him a hidden saint.

Others claimed he had made a pact with dragons.

Some whispered he was secretly planning to seize the throne.

The kingdom divided into factions overnight.

And from the shadows...

An unknown figure smiled.

"So..."

"The gears of fate have finally begun to move."

The peace that had lasted for a year was over.

The commotion caused by a single duel would soon drag the entire kingdom into a conflict far greater than anyone could imagine.

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