Chapter 362: The Smallest Courtesy House Asrephath Can Offer

Lancet returned Melisande Asrephath’s welcoming smile with a rigid smile of his own. To answer her question, he equipped a respectful tone and said:

"I purchased something at the Grand Auction today, and I thought it would be a waste to leave Rosenblum without at least trying to meet the Asrephath family. I’ve heard so much to know you’re literally legends when it comes to magical trade. I probably won’t get another chance like this anytime soon."

Vaelric’s expression remained composed, but the interest behind his eyes sharpened immediately.

The Defender of Hebthej had come to their home willingly, and from everything the family had heard, King Romsgard had taken a particular liking to the young Legend Summoner.

Lancet was still a student, but that mattered considerably less when his name was already circulating among kings, powerful Awakeners and major Guilds.

Treating him well now could build a relationship with the King, and Vaelric Asrephath knew an opportunity when he saw it.

Melisande, his wife, noticed the same thing, though her attention kept drifting toward Spectra.

She wondered why Lancet had brought her with him but that was a question that could only be answered by him. There was no time for speculation, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Spectra Hexerra was history walking on two feet. Her title as a villainess still carried an ugly shadow, and any sensible person knew better than to forget what the Mother of Demons had once been capable of, but she was Lancet’s Summon now.

As long as she remained under his command, there was little reason to believe she would suddenly slaughter everyone in the entrance hall.

Besides, being a villainess did not mean Spectra entered every building with the intention of destroying it. If anything, being able to say that the legendary Mother of Demons herself had once entered the Asrephath estate as an honored guest would become a great story attached to the family name.

Spectra seemed to notice how carefully both of them were looking at her. A knowing smile touched her painted lips. "I simply go wherever he takes me."

"Oh my. I am thrilled," Melisande said quickly, her smile brightening. "We are more than happy to have both of you. Truly, you are doing us a great favor by visiting."

She stepped aside and gestured through the immense doorway while Vaelric followed suit. "Please, come in. Our home is yours for as long as you wish to stay."

Lancet thanked them and entered with Spectra beside him. The main entrance opened into a great wide corridor, its polished floor cutting between tall pillars and branching toward several wings of the estate.

Vaelric and Melisande followed a few steps behind, and the moment their guests had turned forward, husband and wife looked at one another.

The brief gleam in their eyes said enough. Neither needed to explain what kind of opportunity had just walked through their front doors. They were simply glad that it did.

Corven stood farther down the entrance hall and watched the exchange with considerably less excitement.

He understood Vaelric and Melisande well enough to know exactly where their thoughts had gone, but even he had not recovered from the identity of their visitors.

Lancet Leogardt was actually standing inside the Asrephath home. After months of hearing Opaline praise everything from his summons to his face while the Inter-Class Competitions played on television, Corven could already imagine what would happen if she came downstairs and saw—

A sharp gasp came from the far end of the corridor.

Everyone looked over. Opaline was standing there, having just turned the corner.

She stopped so abruptly that the hem of her dress swung around her ankles before settling. Her blue hair fell in thick, carefully kept waves past her shoulders, held partly away from her face by two small gold clasps that matched the bright golden eyes now stretched almost impossibly wide.

She wore a soft cream-and-blue house dress fitted neatly around her upper body before opening into a light skirt at the hips, elegant enough for the daughter of Asrephath without looking like she had expected company.

The fabric left her arms mostly bare and followed the youthful curves of her figure before falling to her calves. But Lancet barely noticed the clothes, he was looking at her face and the expression painted over it.

’There she is,’ he thought.

Opaline Asrephath looked exactly like the girl he had created.

For Opaline, however, the last few seconds made absolutely no sense. ’What is this?’ she cried in her mind. ’What is this? What’s going on right now?’

Her eyes locked onto Lancet and refused to move. ’Is that really Lancet Leogardt standing a few feet away from me? Am I dreaming?’

She had watched him through screens for months. Seen him fight, argue, summon heroes out of history and stand in arenas while commentators shouted his name.

She had complained to Corven about his recklessness, defended him against haters on the internet and argued with television hosts who dared talk about him in a negative light.

Now he was standing inside her house.

Lancet smiled when their eyes met.

Opaline’s face immediately turned pink. ’Oh my gosh, he’s smiling at me.’

Lancet walked toward her while Opaline remained rooted in place. "Hey."

Nothing came out of her mouth.

She heard him. She knew he had spoken. She even understood that this was normally the part where another human being answered, but her thoughts had become occupied with completely useless things.

He was taller from this close. Really... really... tall. His suit looked ridiculously good on him. His voice sounded slightly different without a television screen between them. And why was he still looking directly at her?

"Opaline!"

Her mother’s voice finally cut through the mess inside her head.

Opaline flinched and looked over.

Melisande stared at her in embarrassment. "By the Elders, where are your manners? The Defender of Hebthej is here. Lancet Leogardt is greeting you and you’ve not responded!"

"Oh." Opaline cleared her throat and straightened so quickly that Corven winced for her. "Uhm, sorry."

Lancet did not seem bothered. He offered his hand instead, his smile remaining easy. "I’m Lancet."

Opaline stared at his hand for half a second before remembering that she was supposed to do something with it. She slipped hers into his. "I’m Opaline."

His fingers closed gently around hers.

’Oh my God his hand is so strong and warm and he’s being gentle with mine!’

She almost forgot to release him.

Lancet did first, saving her from herself, and Opaline immediately tucked both hands behind her back as if that could somehow hide what had just happened.

Spectra watched the entire exchange from beside him with a faint smile that Opaline did not notice because looking at the legendary Mother of Demons would have required her to stop looking at Lancet.

Vaelric had already moved on to being a host. He turned toward Corven and raised one hand. "Tell the maids to prepare dinner. Something worthy of our guests, and make sure the kitchen understands who we are serving."

His eyes moved respectfully toward Lancet and Spectra. "I expect the Legend Summoner and the legendary Mother of Demons have had a long day in Rosenblum."

Corven inclined his head. "At once, sir."

Lancet looked at Vaelric. "You really don’t have to do that. We only came to visit for a while."

"Nonsense," Melisande said immediately. "We absolutely must. After what you did at Hebthej, feeding you dinner is hardly some impossible burden."

Vaelric nodded firmly beside her, clearly unwilling to let an opportunity to host Lancet disappear because the boy was trying to be polite. "Please, do not worry about it. Consider it the smallest courtesy House Asrephath can offer."

Opaline had been staring at Lancet again and only caught the end of the exchange. Her attention finally moved toward her mother. "Wait. What do you mean?"

Melisande looked at her strangely before smiling. "Why, you silly girl. Lancet will be having dinner with us."

Opaline froze all over again.