Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Adrian sat at a table near the edge of the hall, his plate adorned with a modest selection of food. Despite his exhaustion, the demands of etiquette had chained him here. At first, the conversation had been tolerable—curious nobles and officials congratulating him on his victory, expressing awe at his battle prowess, or making subtle overtures to forge alliances.

But as the night wore on, the steady stream of well-wishers became grating. Nearly everyone in the hall seemed determined to speak with him, each approach blurring into the next.

"Adrian, you were marvelous!"

"Lord Lighthaven, we must discuss your future endeavors."

"Adrian, a word about the academy's exam—"

He forced polite smiles and responded with measured grace, but internally, he was stewing.

'Why didn't I just claim I was too injured to attend? They would have understood, but no—I had to be here.'

The regret was sharp and unyielding, but it was too late. Late regret, as he knew all too well, was useless.

Eventually, Adrian began excusing himself with quiet, calculated ease. He cited exhaustion, gesturing to his still-healing body, and the crowd seemed to understand. While some bid him genuine well wishes, he could feel the occasional lingering glances and hear whispers that followed him.

"Arrogant, isn't he?"

"Typical. Power goes to their heads."

Adrian didn't care. His concern for their opinions ranked somewhere below the effort it took to breathe. With his table finally empty of unwelcome company, he allowed himself a rare moment of peace, sipping from his glass and letting his mind wander.

That peace was fleeting. His attention snapped to the entrance as murmurs swept the hall. Two figures entered, commanding the room's focus without uttering a word.

Aurelius and ...Aurelia.

Adrian straightened in his seat, his brow furrowing in surprise. He hadn't expected them to attend, least of all tonight. Aurelius's steps were measured but steady, a testament to the royal healers' skill. His sharp gaze swept the room, offering polite nods to those he passed.

Aurelia, on the other hand, moved with grace and poise. Her formal gown accentuated her figure while remaining modest, her hair styled elegantly. She carried herself with confidence, but Adrian's sharp eyes caught the subtle flicker of nerves in her demeanor.

'She's still adjusting to the limelight,'

he thought with a faint smile.

Aurelia was immediately greeted by Princess Isabella and two other princesses, their conversation warm and welcoming. Adrian noticed Aurelius lingered with the princesses, likely out of courtesy and also to give Aurelia some space.

Aurelia soon excused herself and approached Adrian, her steps unhurried but purposeful. When she reached him, her lips curled into a warm, worried smile.

"Brother Adrian," she said softly, her voice tinged with concern. "How are you feeling? I'm sorry I couldn't help earlier."

Adrian returned her smile, waving off her apology. "I'm fine, little sis. The healers took care of me, so there's nothing to worry about. And don't apologize—you probably had your reasons. But..." He tilted his head, his tone shifting to a teasing one. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? Or even that you'd already arrived? Didn't we promise you'd come after I called you?"

Aurelia smiled awkwardly, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "I... I couldn't wait. Master left somewhere, and Aurelius was also leaving for the banquet. So, I decided to come too. Besides," she added with a playful glint in her eye, "you said 'home.' I haven't gone to our house yet, so technically, I haven't broken our promise."

Her cheeky grin disarmed him, and Adrian chuckled despite himself. "Smart now, are we?" he said, shaking his head. He flicked her forehead lightly, earning a small pout from her.

"Listen, Aurelia," he said, his tone softening. "You're independent now. You can make your own choices, and that's a good thing. But at least let me know before you do anything next time, alright?"

She nodded, her smile returning, warmer than before. "I will," she promised.

For the first time that evening, Adrian felt a sense of ease. It wasn't just her words, but the sincerity in her expression—a silent reassurance that, even amidst the political games and public scrutiny, some bonds remained unshaken.

"Ah, did you say your Master went somewhere?" He asked trying to appear natural. "Did she tell where she was going and when she would return?"

"Eh, yes. She said she'd return in a month or two, but didn't mention where she was going," Aurelia said, glancing up thoughtfully. "Why? Did you want to meet her?"

"No, never mind. I just wanted to know how much time you could spend at home." Adrian smiled slightly while a strange glint passed through his eyes. "Did Aurelius's master leave too? Or..."

"Ah, yes. But he left a little earlier." Aurelius replied while eyeing a dessert with the corner of her eyes.

'Hmm?' Adrian followed her line of sight and saw a delicious-looking honey cake. An idea quickly formed in his mind as he retracted his eyes to her.

"I see. Right, what about Aurelius?" Adrian asked while turning to the table. His hand moved smoothly, picking up the honey cake. His fingers brushed against the delicate pastry, and he noticed Aurelia's gaze tracking its movement. A subtle smile played at the corner of his lips. "Is he ok? He wasn't injured badly right?"

"Uh..." Aurelia muttered in a low voice, her focus elsewhere. "Yeeaah..."

Adrian sliced into the honey cake with his spoon, bringing a piece to his mouth.

'Urgh, this is sickeningly sweet,

' he thought, forcing a satisfied smile.

'It's like someone melted pure sugar into a pastry. As I thought, these are not for me.'

He watched Aurelia, whose eyes were glued to the cake. Her gaze was so intense, Adrian could almost see the internal struggle playing out behind her eyes. Every movement of his spoon seemed to draw her closer, like a moth to a flame.

'Haha, she's going to crack any moment,

' he realized, suppressing a chuckle.

"Look behind you," he said casually, a hint of mischief dancing in his voice.

Aurelia turned, scanning the hall. Various nobles were chatting, occasionally stealing glances their way, but no one approached. A cluster of officials near a marble pillar seemed particularly interested in some heated discussion.

She turned back, her brows knitting together. A mix of suspicion and frustration crossed her face.

"You tr—" she started, her accusation cutting off mid-sentence.

Before she could finish, a spoon of honey cake slid smoothly into her mouth. The sweet pastry interrupted her protest with delicious precision.

Her eyes widened in a perfect mix of surprise and resignation. Adrian's trademark mischievous grin spread across his face, triumph dancing in his eyes.

"Something wrong, little sister?" he asked, his tone the picture of innocence.

Aurelia's cheeks burned crimson as she chewed, the realization of being completely outmaneuvered settling in. The cake was delicious, which somehow made her defeat even more infuriating.

'Curse his clever tricks,'

she thought, swallowing the cake. '

One day, I'll get my revenge.'

Adrian watched her, looking like the cat who'd not just gotten the cream, but the entire dairy farm.

'Haha, she never changes, right?' Enjoy new stories from empire

"More cake?" he asked, his eyebrow raised in challenge.