Chapter 55: The Challenge

Helios’s smirk faded instantly, replaced by a sharp, cold intensity as he met the killing intent suddenly radiating from Neo.

"Crossing the line? I simply made an observation. Is it my fault the young lady can’t hear a proper conversation?"

Neo’s jaw tightened, his hand curling slightly at his side. "Mocking someone’s condition isn’t an observation. It’s an insult. And you knew exactly what you were doing when you said it."

A few nearby nobles had already begun noticing the tension building between the two young men, conversations dying down as curious eyes turned toward the small, charged standoff unfolding near the window.

Helios’s crimson eyes narrowed further, though a faint, humorless smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Interesting. The famous Draven heir, so quick to defend his little fiancée’s honor. Tell me, is it true what they say? That the great Draven family took advantage of a broken, deaf girl who had lost her parents, all so they could gain control of her family’s wealth?"

Neo felt his temper flare sharper at that, though he forced himself to keep his voice level. "Careful. You’re not just insulting me right now."

"Am I wrong, though?" Helios pressed, taking a slow step closer, clearly enjoying the rising tension he’d managed to stir up. "Why would your family would even care for some Merchant family, who even lost their title as a count after their death? Wouldn’t it be just for their money, what a petty type of people. I didn’t expected something like that from a renowned Draven family. It’s seems, it’s true, that even the noblest bloodline corroded overs times."

A few nearby nobles exchanged uncomfortable glances, clearly recognizing the deliberate provocation for exactly what it was.

Before Neo could respond, a new voice cut smoothly through the tension.

"Lord Helios."

Both young men turned as Princess Elaine approached, her golden gown catching the chandelier light as she stepped gracefully between them, her expression polite but unmistakably firm.

"I believe you’re causing quite a scene at what is supposed to be a pleasant evening," she said, her tone carrying the practiced authority of someone well accustomed to diffusing noble disputes. "Perhaps it would be best to enjoy the refreshments instead."

Helios turned toward her, offering a respectful bow, though his earlier smirk hadn’t fully disappeared. "My apologies, Your Highness. I meant no offense. I was simply curious to finally meet the famous Young Lord Draven in person."

Elaine’s sharp eyes flicked briefly toward Neo, then back toward Helios, clearly sensing there was far more beneath the surface of this exchange than either young man was letting on.

"Curiosity is understandable, but perhaps reserve it for less public settings next time."

Helios straightened, his expression shifting into something colder, more deliberate. "Actually, Your Highness, since we’re already gathered here, I have another matter I’d like to address."

Before anyone could stop him, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a pristine white handkerchief, snapping it open with a flick of his wrist.

The entire ballroom seemed to hold its breath.

"Neo Draven, I formally challenge you to a duel." Helios said loudly, his voice carrying clearly across the now-silent hall.

He threw the handkerchief forward, letting it drift down to land directly at Neo’s feet.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Nobles who had been quietly gossiping just moments earlier now stood frozen, their attention completely fixed on the unfolding scene. Even the orchestra, sensing the shift in atmosphere, quietly stopped playing altogether.

Neo stared down at the handkerchief resting against the floor, his mind racing through the implications.

A formal duel challenge, thrown openly in front of the entire ballroom, was no small matter. Refusing it wasn’t simply a personal choice. It would be read as an open admission of weakness, a public humiliation not just for himself, but for the entire Draven family name. In a room full of ambitious nobles constantly searching for any crack in the Draven family’s carefully maintained reputation, refusing this challenge would hand them exactly the opening they’d been waiting for.

’Damn it. This guy planned this from the start. What should I do of his provocation now? Should I accept it or reject? Sigh... what a painin the a*s.’

Elaine’s expression tightened with displeasure, clearly recognizing the political trap Helios had just sprung in front of the entire court. "Lord Helios, this is hardly the appropriate setting for—"

"With respect, Your Highness, a formal challenge, once issued, cannot simply be dismissed on account of setting. I’m certain the Neo Draven understands the tradition well enough." Helios interrupted smoothly, though his tone remained perfectly polite,

Every eye in the ballroom turned toward Neo, waiting.

Beside him, Nora’s gaze had sharpened considerably, her earlier indifference completely gone, replaced by something far more focused and alert as she watched the exchange unfold.

Neo’s mind worked quickly, weighing his options. He could feel the weight of the entire room pressing down on him, the whispered anticipation, the barely concealed excitement of nobles eager to witness a potential spectacle.

He bent down slowly, picked up the handkerchief, and straightened back up, meeting Helios’s sharp crimson gaze directly.

"Fine, I accept."

A fresh wave of murmurs swept through the crowd, some nobles exchanging excited whispers, others simply watching with sharp, calculating interest, already speculating on wagers and outcomes.

Helios’s smirk finally returned in full, satisfaction gleaming clearly in his eyes.

"Excellent. Let’s go to the training ground immediately."

Helios turned toward the princess and bowed slightly.

"I apologize for the interruption, Princess, but if it’s alright with you, may we use the royal palace’s training ground for the duel?"

Elaine looked at him blankly, folding her arms across her chest. She glanced at Helios, then at Neo, before finally giving a small nod.

As word of the duel spread through the crowd, gasps erupted from the gathered nobles. Excitement quickly filled the air as everyone looked forward to seeing the heirs of two rival families clash against each other.