Chapter 73: Chapter 73

"Will Ferdie Oraboni win?"

"Of course. The others don’t even stand a chance," Ludian replied without hesitation.

The competition might have been called a fair tournament, but Asterian had dominated the event every year.

On rare occasions, Nestian managed to secure a victory, but such instances were so few and far between that the entire event was practically designed with Asterian's victory in mind.

The other heirs had to participate despite knowing they were fated to lose.

Besides, Ferdie Asterian possessed an ability even stronger than Karsus or Alpheus had at his age.

His victory was practically guaranteed.

Tiel, watching Ferdie’s back, whispered carefully to Ludian.

"Then… does that mean His Majesty will grant Oraboni a wish?"

Ferdie had competed in Luminarie for the first time last year.

Back then, after winning the tournament, he had declined to make a wish and simply stepped down.

Some people had criticized him, calling him arrogant for it, but Ludian knew why Ferdie had made that choice.

Ferdie had never desired anything. There was nothing he particularly wanted, nothing worth asking the Emperor for.

Would it be the same this year?

Ludian’s gaze shifted to the small figure standing beside him—his little sister.

‘This time… it might be different.’

Ferdie and Ludian were brothers, but they did not love each other.

That was only natural.

They had once been rivals, and now they were more like comrades—they understood each other, but their relationship was not one of affection.

However, when it came to Tiel…

Ferdie and Ludian cherished her more than anything.

She was their adorable little sister, so precious that they wouldn’t hesitate to give up their own flesh for her.

They wanted to give her everything.

Anything she wanted—they wanted to place it in her hands.

‘Ferdie might actually make a wish this year.’

At the exact same moment, both Ludian and Tiel’s eyes turned to Ferdie.

***

The Race Begins.

The summoned creatures at the starting line all lowered their bodies, preparing to dash forward.

Rowen’s ice leopard, wary of Ferdie’s fire leopard, had moved to the very edge of the starting line, keeping as much distance as possible.

Bang!

The signal exploded, and the race began.

The heirs stood on their respective platforms, controlling their summoned beasts from afar as they raced around the capital.

It was not an easy task—

But the participants were the future heirs of the great families.

Ferdie’s flame leopard shot forward like lightning, overtaking all the others instantly and claiming the lead.

"As expected!"

The imperial citizens lining the race course cheered wildly, watching the streak of fire dart through the streets faster than anyone else.

Everyone already knew that Ferdie Asterian would win, so no one was surprised.

What was surprising, however—

"Iiiiiiik…!"

Rowen clenched her fists tightly, stomping her foot in frustration.

Those standing near the platform could instantly tell from Rowen’s reaction—

Her summoned beast was failing.

Normally, Nestian and Asterian should have been fighting for first place.

But instead—

Rowen’s ice leopard was dead last, struggling to keep up.

"Damn it!"

She stomped her foot again.

The problem was that every time Ferdie’s fire leopard passed by, the heat melted Rowen’s ice leopard’s legs, forcing it to slow down.

Meanwhile, Olivier’s wind wolf was comfortably following Ferdie’s flame leopard, with Sterling and Clemence trailing behind in order.

The other heirs seemed relaxed in their competition—

But Rowen alone was growing desperate, realizing just how badly she was losing.

It was her first time participating in Luminarie, and she was much younger than the others.

Perhaps this outcome was inevitable.

‘No!’

The real problem was that Rowen hated losing.

But whether she liked it or not, Ferdie’s fire leopard completed the lap around the capital with astonishing speed—

And effortlessly crossed the finish line first.

Cheering erupted from all directions.

"As expected of Asterian!"

"Look at that summoned beast! Absolutely magnificent!"

Ferdie’s flame leopard, still burning like a living inferno, strode forward and lowered itself before Ferdie’s podium.

Ferdie reached out casually and dispelled his ability.

Whoosh!

The flames flickered and vanished, leaving no trace of the summoned creature.

The next to cross the finish line was Olivier’s wind wolf.

Then Sterling’s thunder stallion.

Then Clemence’s floral bird.

And finally—

Rowen’s ice leopard dragged itself across the finish line, dead last.

One by one, the heirs dismissed their summoned creatures.

A fresh breeze, reminiscent of Olivier, scattered into the air, while Sterling’s fierce lightning sparked—crackling—before vanishing.

Rowen’s clumsy ice construct, on the other hand, melted away into a pitiful puddle.

Rowen clenched her jaw tightly, as if trying to hold back tears, while dispelling her ability.

Meanwhile, Chender Nestian stood in visible shock, utterly dumbfounded by the unexpectedly disastrous result.

"No… how could this…?"

Of course, Rowen’s ability paled in comparison to what Lena had displayed at the same age.

But Rowen was still a Nestian—the future heir meant to succeed Chender and Cornelia as the next family head.

And yet, she had lost so completely?

Fundamentally, the Nestian ability was on an entirely different level from the three marquess houses—Wolfgang, Iker, and Arne.

When Asterian and Nestian clashed, Asterian only won because of elemental compatibility—not because their abilities were objectively stronger.

So no matter how weak Rowen’s ability was, she should not have fallen behind the marquess houses.

Nestian’s abilities were vastly superior to theirs.

Yet, Rowen had suffered a humiliating defeat.

Somehow, both an expected and an utterly unexpected outcome.

The crowd began to murmur, shifting their gazes between Nestian and Asterian.

Chender’s face turned red, his expression tightening, while Cornelia looked visibly unsettled, glancing between her daughter and the other heirs.

"Rowen."

Cornelia called out gently, concern in her voice.

But the girl standing alone on the platform did not turn back.

Sensing the rising tension, the Emperor stepped forward without delay, quelling the atmosphere.

"Well done, all of you."

At his words, the five heirs bowed their heads lightly.

The Emperor’s gaze swept over them one by one, before finally turning to Ferdie once again.

"Ferdie Asterian, you are the winner of this tournament!"

The moment the Emperor spoke, a pre-prepared barrage of fireworks burst into the air, followed by an eruption of cheers.

The Asterian knights stood tall, showing no reaction—as if this was an expected outcome.

Yet, if one looked closely, their shoulders subtly twitched with contained satisfaction.

Ludian and Karsus remained unimpressed, merely glancing at Ferdie as if the outcome had been a foregone conclusion.

Meanwhile, Tiel, still clutching Ludian’s hand tightly, stared at Ferdie.

‘What will he wish for?’

For some reason, she found it difficult to imagine Ferdie making a wish.

Was it because he was too mature for his age?

Or…

At that moment, the Emperor slowly raised his hand.

The deafening cheers and explosive fireworks fell into silence.

Standing tall amidst the stillness, the Emperor looked down at the young Ferdie Asterian and spoke.

"Ferdie Asterian, as the victor, I shall grant you one wish. Speak your desire."

A hush fell over the entire plaza.

Those who remembered how Ferdie had refused to make a wish three years ago now watched him with interest.

Would he decline again?

Or…

Ferdie slowly parted his lips.

The Emperor nodded, urging him to speak.

"My wish is…"@@novelbin@@

The Emperor waited.

"…To receive the Breath of the Tundra."

"…Hm?"

The Emperor’s gaze narrowed, and so did Chender Nestian’s, their eyes both sharp with suspicion.

The Breath of the Tundra was a precious treasure found only in Nestian’s frozen plains.

And yet, why would Ferdie Asterian—someone with no connection to ice abilities—desire such a thing?

"You mean the Breath of the Tundra?"

The Emperor questioned, his expression unreadable.

Ferdie, standing resolutely, nodded without hesitation.

"Yes, Your Majesty. And not just a single flower—I would like as much as possible."

"…Hah."

The Emperor exhaled, intrigued.

"That is my wish," Ferdie declared firmly.

His unwavering tone made the Emperor pause, before he finally asked the obvious question.

"You are an Asterian black leopard. You have no use for the Breath of the Tundra. So why do you want it?"

At this, Ferdie smiled.

As if he had been waiting for that exact question.

"Because," he said, "my little sister gets hot very easily."