As the day of the banquet drew closer, the Veyron estate began to change. It was no longer simply an old residence where the family lived according to the rhythm of the seasons. For several days now, every corridor seemed occupied, every room echoed with hurried footsteps, and every gardener suddenly had an urgent task to complete. The preparations were now visible everywhere. Tapestries had been hung throughout the main galleries. Additional chandeliers had been suspended from the ceilings of the great hall. The gardens had been completely tended to, and the paths were lined with flowers from the greenhouse. Even the old stone walls seemed to have regained a certain elegance beneath the decorations. Kael watched everything from the main staircase. His arms were crossed as he watched a group of servants move an enormous decorative structure toward one of the rooms. Noah appeared beside him. “How long have you been standing here?” Kael didn't look away. “A few minutes.” “That’s been at least fifteen.” “Do you count how long I spend doing nothing?” “Absolutely.” Kael gave him a look. Noah smiled. “I’m beginning to understand why you’re the patriarch. You’ve developed a very advanced technique: watching other people work.” “I can find something for you to do.” “No, thank you.” Adrian, coming down the staircase behind them, heard the last sentence. “He’s right. You should avoid giving him any responsibility.” Noah turned around. “Thanks for the support.” “That wasn’t support.” Lysandra arrived as well, holding back a laugh. “Are you already arguing?” “No,” Noah replied. “We’re discussing my great usefulness in this house.” Adrian looked at Kael. “And what’s your opinion?” Kael thought for a few seconds. “He’s very useful.” Noah immediately looked satisfied. “See?” Kael continued. “He allows everyone else to stay focused while he talks.” Lysandra burst out laughing. Noah placed a hand over his heart. “Betrayal.” Kael allowed himself a faint smile. He was beginning to enjoy these moments. Noah’s presence, Adrian’s remarks, Lysandra’s laughter… there was something simple about all of it. Here, in the corridors where his family had lived for generations, he didn't feel obligated to constantly play the role of patriarch. Not with them. A voice suddenly echoed from the hall. “Patriarch Veyron.” Kael turned his head. A Black Raven knight had entered the room. He stopped a few meters away and respectfully bowed his head. “The first guests have arrived.” “Already?” “Yes, Patriarch.” Noah murmured, “Here we go.” Kael gave him an amused look. “You wanted some action.” “I wanted food.” “That’s not the same thing.” “For me, it is.” Lysandra shook her head. “You’ll never change.” “I have no intention of changing.” Kael descended the remaining steps. The knight stepped aside to let him pass. Outside, several carriages had indeed arrived. The first guests were not yet among the most prestigious, but their presence meant that things were becoming serious. Servants were tending to the horses while members of the Black Raven Order discreetly checked the surroundings. Kael walked forward calmly. Ethan was waiting near the entrance. “You arrived just in time.” “For what?” “To welcome the guests.” Kael looked at the carriages. “How many?” “About thirty people so far.” Noah stopped behind him. “Thirty?” Ethan nodded. “And that’s only the beginning.” Noah remained silent. Then: “I take back what I said yesterday.” Kael looked at him. “What?” “I’m not going to survive this banquet.” Ethan laughed. “You’ll survive.” “I could hide in the greenhouse.” “I’d find you.” “Even if I hid behind the flowers?” “Especially there.” Kael shook his head. He went down the steps with Ethan. The first guests began entering the courtyard. Among them was an old noble family from northern Eldoria, the Arvens. Their representative was a man in his fifties, accompanied by his wife and son. When they saw Kael, they stopped. The man bowed. “Patriarch Veyron. It is an honor.” Kael returned the gesture with a simple nod. “Welcome to the Veyron estate. I hope your journey went well.” “Perfectly.” The nobleman seemed slightly impressed. Not frightened. Rather, he seemed fully aware of the person standing before him. He briefly glanced at the knights behind Kael, then at Ethan, before recognizing Lucian, who had just appeared in the entrance. His expression changed slightly. “Professor Lucian Veyron.” Lucian smiled. “You can simply call me Lucian.” The man gave a small laugh. “I’m not sure that would be very wise.” “It’s certainly more pleasant.” Kael looked at his uncle. “You’re starting already?” “I’m only making things easier.” Ethan interrupted. “He’s been doing that ever since he arrived.” “And no one has stopped me yet.” Aldren appeared behind them. “Because everyone knows it wouldn’t work.” Lucian gave him a look. “You should be checking the guards.” “I already did.” “Twice?” “Three times.” Darius, arriving from the inner courtyard, calmly added: “Four.” Aldren turned around. “You’re exaggerating.” “I saw you walk past the same corridor three times.” “That was a thorough inspection.” “It was the same corridor.” Noah discreetly moved closer to Lysandra. “Do they do this often?” She looked at the group. “I think so.” Adrian replied, “Probably for a long time.” Kael sighed. “Unfortunately.” Aldren placed a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, little Kael. Your estate is in good hands.” Kael looked up at him. “You just called me little Kael in front of guests.” “And?” “Aldren…” The old man smiled. “What?” Ethan turned away to hide his laughter. Lucian made no effort to hide his. Noah also began smiling. Kael looked at all of them. “You’re all unbearable.” Darius crossed his arms. “Yet you stayed.” Kael looked at his group. For a brief moment, his expression completely relaxed. “Yes.” He remained silent for a moment. Then he returned to welcoming the guests. --- As the hours passed, the estate gradually filled. The names changed, as did the families. Some were familiar to Kael. Others he had only met once or twice. A few had known Ethan for years and immediately seemed more relaxed in his presence. But they all had one thing in common. They had come for the eight-hundredth anniversary of House Veyron. And, above all, they had come to meet the person who now stood at its head. Kael noticed it every time. A glance. A greeting. A short conversation. Then the same discreet observation. They knew he was young. They also knew that he ruled an eight-century-old house and, as patriarch, commanded one of the most powerful knightly orders in the kingdom. Some had known his parents. Others had heard stories about them. And a few had simply heard about Kael himself. He didn't think much of it. Yet after a while, he began to understand what Ethan had meant. This banquet was not simply a celebration. It was a meeting between several generations. Families who had known his ancestors. People who had worked with his father. Nobles who had known his mother. Commanders who had fought alongside the Black Raven Order. And new faces who knew Kael only by his name. It gave the event a different kind of importance. While he was welcoming another family, Lysandra moved closer to him. “Are you all right?” Kael turned his head slightly. “Yes.” “You’re thinking a lot.” “Is it that obvious?” “A little.” Kael looked across the courtyard. “I was simply thinking about my parents.” Lysandra didn't answer immediately. She looked at the guests, then at the flowers arranged along the steps. “They would probably have found this impressive.” Kael smiled faintly. “My mother would have criticized the flowers.” “Why?” “She would have said they weren't arranged properly.” Lysandra smiled. “Then she probably would have spent the entire evening moving them around.” “Yes.” Kael briefly imagined the scene. His mother walking through the gardens with that serious expression he remembered so well, giving instructions to the gardeners while his father pretended not to be interested. The image drew a small laugh from him. Lysandra looked at him. “You just laughed.” Kael immediately returned to his usual expression. “No.” “Yes, you did.” “You heard wrong.” “I heard perfectly.” Noah walked past them. “So did I.” Kael closed his eyes for a second. “Why are all of you like this?” Noah smiled. “Because it’s rare.” Kael stared at him. Then, unexpectedly, he said nothing. He simply smiled slightly. --- Late in the afternoon, Ethan finally managed to pull Kael away from the entrance. “Go get ready.” “I’m already dressed.” “Not for tonight.” Kael looked at his clothes. “They're fine.” “They're fine for a meeting.” “It’s a banquet.” “Exactly.” Kael immediately understood what his brother meant. “You want me to change.” “Yes.” “Why?” Ethan looked at him as though the answer were obvious. “Because you’re the patriarch of House Veyron and you’re about to receive several hundred people.” Kael sighed. “I could stay like this.” “No.” Darius, passing beside them, intervened. “For once, I agree with Ethan.” Kael looked at him. “You too?” “Yes.” “Traitor.” Darius smiled. “You already knew I'd take his side.” Ethan placed a hand on Kael’s shoulder. “Come on.” Kael allowed himself to be dragged toward the staircase. Noah, who had heard the conversation from the corridor, called out: “Wear something black!” Kael stopped. He slowly turned around. “Noah.” “Yes?” “I can hear you.” “That was intentional.” Adrian, standing just behind him, sighed. “You should stop provoking the patriarch.” Noah shrugged. “He’s not going to kill me.” Kael continued walking. “Not today.” Noah paled slightly. “Did you hear that?” Adrian smiled. “Yes.” Lysandra burst out laughing. --- A little later, as the sun began disappearing behind the hills, Kael stepped out of his chambers. His outfit was more elegant than usual, perfectly suited to the occasion. Ethan was waiting in the corridor. He looked at him for a few seconds. Then nodded. “There.” Kael raised an eyebrow. “What?” “Nothing. You finally look like someone who's about to carry eight hundred years of history on his shoulders.” “That’s reassuring.” Darius appeared at the end of the corridor. He stopped. “Not bad.” Kael stared at him. “Only not bad?” “Very good, if you prefer.” “Thank you.” Darius approached. For a brief moment, he looked at Kael the way he had when they were children. Then he smiled slightly. “You've changed.” Kael frowned. “In a good way?” “Yes.” Ethan looked at Darius. “He’s grown up.” “I know.” Kael sighed. “Are you going to start telling stories?” Darius and Ethan exchanged a glance. “Maybe,” Darius replied. “Absolutely not.” Kael looked at them. “I’m watching you.” Ethan smiled. “That won’t work.” A deep voice suddenly echoed behind them. “What are we talking about?” Aldren had arrived. Kael looked at him suspiciously. “Nothing.” Aldren smiled. “Too bad.” Darius crossed his arms. “We were talking about telling stories about Kael when he was a child.” Aldren's eyes lit up. “Ah.” Kael took a step back. “No.” “I know some very good stories.” “Aldren.” “Some are even about your father.” “No.” Ethan started laughing. Kael turned toward him. “You’re supposed to be my brother.” “I am your brother. That’s exactly why I want to hear them.” Kael looked at Darius. “And you?” Darius shrugged. “I already know the stories.” “Traitor.” “Once again.” Aldren placed a hand on Kael’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, little Kael.” Kael closed his eyes. “I have a feeling this evening is going to be very long.” Aldren burst out laughing. “Now you’re beginning to understand what it means to be a Veyron.” And for the first time in several days, Kael thought neither about his responsibilities, nor about the mysteries, nor about the things he didn't understand. He simply thought about the evening ahead. About his family. About his friends. About the people he cared about, and those who had traveled from far away to share an important moment with him. The estate was ready. The gardens shimmered beneath the magical lights. The flowers from the greenhouse filled the paths with their delicate fragrance. Inside the great hall, the tables had been prepared. And behind those doors, hundreds of people would soon gather. Kael finally descended the staircase with Ethan, Darius, and Aldren. Lucian was waiting for them in the entrance hall. He looked at Kael, then smiled. “Ready?” Kael looked toward the doors of the great hall. He took a slow breath. “Yes.” This time, he truly meant it. House Veyron was about to celebrate eight hundred years of history. And tomorrow, perhaps, the estate would return to its usual quiet. But tonight… Tonight, Kael simply wanted to enjoy what was still there.

The First Guests