Old Man Yama's Reincarnation

Ignis slipped away from his parents' side, eager to avoid the tedious ritual of mingling with the nobles. The thought of exchanging polite pleasantries bored him to no end, and he had no desire to partake in it. Instead, he grabbed a glass of orange juice from a passing waiter and retreated to a quiet corner of the grand hall. From there, he observed the gathered nobles with a detached curiosity, his sharp eyes scanning the room as he waited for the arrival of the evening's host—Count Aleric Ravenwood—and his family.

After what felt like an eternity, the count finally made his entrance, flanked by his two wives and two children. The room fell into a respectful hush as Count Ravenwood ascended the staircase, a glass of wine in hand. He raised it high, his voice carrying across the hall with practiced ease. "Thank you all for coming to this celebration. Your presence honors me, and you are all most welcome."

Almost immediately, a nobleman stepped forward, raising his own glass. "Congratulations, Count Ravenwood, on achieving the rank of a four-star Knight! A truly remarkable accomplishment."

The sentiment was echoed by others, one after another, until the hall buzzed with congratulatory remarks. The count acknowledged them with a gracious smile, toasting to the assembled guests before descending the staircase to mingle. He exchanged brief words with various nobles, his demeanor polished and affable. When his gaze landed on Evan and Alenna, he offered a polite nod, but he made no move to engage them in conversation, leaving that for a more private setting later in the evening.

Ignis, meanwhile, was growing increasingly restless. The formalities of the party held little interest for him, and he was on the verge of slipping away entirely when a maid approached him. She bowed slightly and said in a soft voice, "Young Master, if you'll follow me, there is a separate gathering arranged for the children."

Relieved, Ignis nodded and followed the maid without hesitation. She led him to a spacious room filled with the children of the attending nobles. The ages ranged widely, from six-year-olds like himself to teenagers as old as fifteen. The atmosphere here was noticeably more relaxed, though the undercurrent of noble decorum still lingered.

As Ignis stepped into the room, a boy around eight or nine years old approached him. He was dressed in a finely tailored blue coat and black pants, his black hair neatly combed and his fair skin glowing under the room's chandelier light. With a confident smile, the boy extended his hand.

"Hello," he said, his tone friendly but carrying a hint of pride. "My name is Kaelen Ravenwood, son of Count Aleric Ravenwood. And you are?"

Ignis recognized the boy immediately—he had been standing beside Count Aleric Ravenwood on the staircase just moments ago. The boy's confident demeanor and fine attire marked him as the count's son. Ignis met his gaze evenly and replied, "My name is Ignis, son of Grand Commander Evan." He chose his words carefully, omitting his full name, Ignis Drakonis, as per his father's strict instructions. Evan had made it clear that his surname was to remain a secret, known only to his parents. Given that Evan himself bore no surname, this omission would raise no eyebrows.

Kaelen's smile widened, and he nodded as if confirming a suspicion. "When I saw your bright red hair, I guessed you must be the Grand Commander's son. And I was right. Welcome, Ignis."

Ignis acknowledged the greeting with a polite nod and followed Kaelen's gesture to take a seat. Once Ignis was settled, Kaelen turned toward a young girl with blonde hair, calling out to her. "Sister, please come here."

The girl, who appeared to be around six or seven years old, excused herself from the group of noble children she had been speaking to and made her way to Kaelen's side. She stood quietly, her bright eyes curious as she looked at Ignis.

Kaelen gestured between them. "Lyra, meet Ignis, son of the Grand Commander. And Master Ignis, this is my sister, Lyra Ravenwood."

Ignis inclined his head slightly, his tone polite but reserved. "Hello."

Lyra mirrored his gesture, her voice soft but friendly. "Hello. It's nice to meet you."

Kaelen chuckled, breaking the brief silence. "This is our first time meeting each other. I can't believe we haven't crossed paths in the past six years."

Ignis responded with a calm, measured tone. "We're children. Meeting often doesn't hold much significance. To be honest, I prefer spending my time reading books rather than attending gatherings like these. If it weren't for my parents bringing me here, it might have taken even longer for us to meet. Of course, if you had come to visit me at my mansion, that would be a different matter."

Kaelen nodded, his expression thoughtful. It was clear from Ignis's words that he had little interest in social events like this one.

After a moment, Kaelen gestured toward the spread of food and drinks. "Well, please help yourself to some refreshments and enjoy the evening. I have other noble children to greet, so I'll leave you for now."

Ignis offered a polite smile. "No problem. Please, go ahead."

Kaelen turned and moved on to greet the other noble children, and Lyra, after a polite nod to Ignis, followed her brother to mingle with the rest. Ignis, meanwhile, remained seated, his expression stern and unapproachable. He longed to leave the room immediately, but he knew doing so would be seen as rude—a breach of etiquette that could reflect poorly on his parents. Reluctantly, he stayed, though his discomfort was evident on his face.

A few noble children approached him, attempting to strike up a conversation, but Ignis responded with only the briefest of greetings. His curt replies and closed-off demeanor quickly discouraged further interaction, and they soon drifted away, leaving him alone once more.

After enduring the stifling atmosphere for half an hour, Ignis finally rose and made his way to Kaelen. "Could you please ask one of the maids to escort me to the garden or somewhere with fresh air?" he asked, his tone polite but firm. "I'm not feeling well around so many people."

Kaelen nodded understandingly. "Of course. I'll call someone—"

Before he could summon a maid, Lyra interrupted, stepping forward with a small, knowing smile. "No need, brother. I'll take Master Ignis to the garden myself."

Kaelen raised an eyebrow but didn't object. "Alright then."

Lyra turned to Ignis, her voice light but purposeful. "Master Ignis, please follow me."

Ignis trailed behind her as they left the bustling room and stepped into the tranquil garden. The cool night air was a welcome relief, and Ignis's gaze immediately drifted upward to the moon, its pale light casting a serene glow over the flowers and pathways.

Lyra stood beside him for a moment before breaking the silence. "You don't actually feel unwell, do you?" she said, her tone teasing but perceptive. "You just didn't want to talk to the other children. Am I right?"

Ignis didn't bother to deny it. "Yes, you're right," he admitted plainly. "I don't enjoy idle conversation, and if I stayed any longer, my behavior might have come across as rude. I don't want to risk harming my parents' reputation."

Lyra studied him for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "You really are different," she said finally. "Alright, if you want to stay here, I won't disturb you. I'll send someone to fetch you when our parents meet."

Ignis frowned, turning to look at her in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"

Lyra simply smiled—a mysterious, knowing smile—and said, "You'll understand when the time comes." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Ignis alone in the garden.

He shook his head, dismissing her cryptic words for the moment. Whatever she meant, he would find out eventually. For now, he was content to sit on a bench surrounded by flowers, the moonlight bathing the garden in a soft, silver glow. He closed his eyes, savoring the quiet and pushing Lyra's enigmatic remark to the back of his mind. After all, some things were better left to reveal themselves in due time.

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