Black Online

Knock~ knock~!

"Young master, we need to start heading for the party!"

Sebastian’s voice came from behind the door.

"Coming!"

Fang Raon took one good look at himself in the mirror and adjusted the black tie of his burgundy suit.

It fit him really well.

’Let’s get this over with.’

He took a deep sigh, then he walked to the door and pushed it wide open with a strong push.

"Young master."

Sebastian put his hand to his chest and bowed and took a good look at Fang Raon and smiled after seeing him.

’He carries a strong presence, that of a leader.’

Raon nodded at him and remained silent as they started making their way down the long hallway.

It was already possible for them to hear the music and chatter of the loud guests even from all the way here.

"...Is Mother coming to the party?"

He asked.

"I don’t know, but I can go inquire."

Sebastian suggested.

"...No need. I am sure that she is busy."

Fang Raon said.

Since she hadn’t even come to see him yet, he understood that she still treated him like he didn’t exist alongside her other children.

Buzz~ buzz~

In that moment, his phone buzzed in his pocket, and he quickly took it out to check the message.

It was from Chaewon. She sent a picture. It was a photo of her babysitting her neighbor’s kid, and she added the caption, "Missing you!"

"Pretty girl. Who is she?"

Sebastian asked curiously.

"...A friend."

Fang Raon said and pocketed the phone.

"I am not telling your father if you’re worried. It is good that you already have someone. You can continue the lineage of the family without a problem."

The head butler said.

"Will it really be that simple?"

Fang Raon asked with a wry smile.

While Sebastian was trying to keep his spirits up, he knew that it wouldn’t be that simple to marry a commoner.

Aizen cared about connections, and marriage was a strong way to get connections, which was why he married Sara in the first place.

She was the only child of Booked Family, as her father had trouble making more children, and thus, she ended up being the only heir.

They were declining family, and to make sure that everything her father worked for wouldn’t be destroyed, she married Aizen.

However.

Aizen just used her to completely swallow her father’s business, and he did exactly that.

Thus, Booked Family was just a remnant of the past, and there weren’t even that many people that knew of them anymore.

Chatter~ chatter~ chatter~!

"...There are a lot of guests."

Fang Raon said as he saw the Great Hall in the distance, and it looked like a concert of sorts because of how packed it seemed.

"They’re all here for you, young master. I’ll stay by your side, so don’t worry."

Sebastian touched his shoulder, and Fang Raon just nodded, and then he entered the Great Hall.

There were some guests that looked over, but since they didn’t recognize him, they all just looked away.

They had no idea that he was the star of the party.

"..."

Sebastian looked around, but then he caught sight of Aizen, who also looked over, and waved them over.

"Lord Aizen is over there, and he is asking us to go over."

He said.

"Mm."

Fang Raon nodded, and then Sebastian cleared a way for him as he walked through the crowd and soon arrived over at his father.

He was standing near a table—the table of the Rain Family—and they all turned to look at him, looking at him like he was some exotic animal.

"This is my son, Fang Raon."

Aizen said with a smile and patted his shoulder firmly, acting like they had a close father-son relationship.

While Fang Raon tried to hide his uncomfortableness, he smiled politely and did the famous bow gesture of the Fang Family.

’Is he using me as some kind of political pawn? What is my father planning?’

Fang Raon wondered.

"...Ugly."

Juniper whispered, but it wasn’t as quiet as she intended, and everyone around the table was able to hear her clearly.

Ronin looked pissed at her. Nero stayed cold-eyed, but he was displeased. The rest of the family looked awkward.

Aizen’s eyes turned cold.

It was very disrespectful.

"How dare you?"

Sebastian asked angrily, and his fist tightened.

"...I apologize for my granddaughter’s foolishness."

Nero said, and he even bowed his head, which shocked every family member gathered around the table.

"Idiot!"

Ronin shout-whispered at his daughter Juniper, who looked down, but it didn’t look like she had any intention to apologize.

"Don’t listen to her, Sebastian. You’re good-looking."

Fang Raon said with a smile and playfully slapped him on the arm.

Sebastian looked at him in surprise, then understood what he was doing, and burst into laughter.

It brought strange reactions from everybody as it was obvious that she aimed those words at him—at Fang Raon.

They then understood that he was well-aware, but he wanted to make it into a lighthearted situation.

’Oho.’

Nero touched his chin with a small smile creeping onto his lips, and he nodded with admiration.

’Any other child from Big Families would’ve thrown a fuss over the insult, but not him. He is very mature for his age.’

Ronin thought with an impressed look.

"I am honored to meet the High Lords of the Rain Region. I’ve heard a great deal about your impressive family."

Fang Raon said with a smile, and then he turned to look at the blind-eyed man and, for some reason, felt like the blind man could see him.

"Lord Nero, it is a pleasure to finally meet you in person. Your reputation precedes you, and I am eager to learn from your wisdom."

Nero laughed at the simple flattery, but he could tell that it was genuine.

"Young man, your flattery is appreciated. I’ve also heard about you, a poor child cursed by the gods with the unknown illness.

"I am happy for you that you have found a way to defeat the illness, and since you have also seen the world of blindness, you can appreciate the gift of sight even more."

Nero said with a smile.

"I do. Every day I see new things, new colors, and new beauty that I never noticed before. It’s a pleasure that not many people can experience, isn’t that right?"

Fang Raon asked with a smile.

"Ah yes... Indeed."

Nero smiled.

He also remembered the day when he managed to learn Read to such a high level that he was finally able to see the world again.

It was experience and pleasure that he was never going to forget.