Damien carried his joyful victory inside of him for the rest of the day.
In the end, the mansion was bathed in twilight, signaling the start of evening. Dinner was served in the grand dining hall. The family sat around the lengthy table, each absorbed in their own thoughts as they savored their meal.
Abruptly, Arel paused mid-bite, carefully wiping his mouth with a linen napkin. His voice broke through the comfortable silence.
"Damien," He began, "Now that your secondary gender has been revealed, I believe its time for your social debut."
Damien's movement slowed to a halt, his for and knife clinking as he placed them down beside his plate. "Social debut?"
Arel nodded firmly. "I've decided to hold a party for your birthday."
Damien's eyes widened, feeling surprised. He glanced at Yuri who offered a smile and then to Lukas who merely raised a brow. A faint smile tugged at his lips like he had already anticipated the event.
Leaning back on his chair, Arel continued, "It's been tradition for the family to formally present the children once they turn six and their secondary gender revealed. Your peers and our family's associates will be eager to see you. Sadly, the branch families cannot make it due to conflict in schedule. So, we'll be meeting them during the annual gathering, instead."
A lot of information was thrust upon Damien all at once. He couldn't help but ask the system to clarify.
System: [Yes, host. Children of the Hertz family usually debut in society early. Then, after their social debut, they are hardly seen, often having proxies for social events or meetings.]
About the branch families, what does he mean?
System: [As you know, host, the Hertz family controls a lot of different sectors in business. They have major stakes in finance, logistics, energy, agriculture, trades, and even retail. So, the Hertz family is structured into four branches to maintain them. Each branch maintains operational independence under the watch of the main branch.]
So, from what branch am I? Damien asked.
System: [You are from the main branch which oversees the entire family and makes final decisions on all major financial, political, and legacy matters. They also manage the retail businesses that the Hertz family owns. The second branch manages food systems, agriculture, and energy. The third branch manages logistics, trading, and technology. Lastly, the fourth branch manages oversees investments and stocks.]
Damien inwardly gasped. Doesn't that mean this family is huge?
System: [Well, host, that's a given. The Hertz have had a long history, after all. In total, there are 15 members in the Hertz family, not including the elders nor the distant relatives of the Hertz family.]
I guess this long dining table does have a use after all...
"You don't seem thrilled," Lukas voiced his concern after glancing at Damien's blank expression. "Are you afraid of meeting new faces?"
Damien was snapped out of his conversation with the system. He shook his head, giving a small smile. "That's not it. I'm just… surprised."
"Understandably so," Yuri interjected gently. "But I believe you'll do well, Damien. You're a Hertz, after all."
"When will this party be held?"
"In a month," Arel replied. "Preparations are already underway."
....
The grand ballroom of the Hertz mansion was alive with vibrant energy and muffled excitement. Everything was bright, chandeliers and candles lighting up the room. Lavish bouquets decorated the halls and tables, their fragrances subtly airing the room with a nice scent. Guests dressed impeccably in formal attire murmured quietly among themselves, their conversations occasionally having laughter.
Damien stood at the entrance of the hall, adjusting the cuffs of his finely tailored suit. A delicate veil covered his face, adding a mysterious charm to his youthful aura. Yuri stood beside him, dazzling and poised, wearing a midnight blue gown. Beside her was Arel, calm and dignified in a classic tuxedo. Lukas, casually elegant in his tailored suit, offered a small chuckle beneath the veil that each family member wore.
Hey, system... Is this veil like some kind of tradition every Hertz goes through?
System: [Not quite, host. Typically during public appearances, members of the Hertz family wear masks usually in the form of a veil or a masquerade mask. The mask serves as a statement of their noble status and as a means to keep their identities hidden.]
"Are you ready to go, darling?" She asked warmly.
Damien nodded, taking a deep breath.
A staff member announced their presence, and finally, the double doors opened with a slow but graceful sweep. As they advanced, the ballroom grew quiet.
Arel straightened his back and confidently stepped forward. "Thank you to everyone for attending this joyous occasion, celebrating the birthday of my second son, Damien." Arel's voice resonated through the ballroom. "Please, enjoy yourselves tonight and celebrate with us."
Polite applause filled the room, briefly overtaking the soft murmur of conversation. Behind Arel, Lukas tensed visibly, a frown dawning his face.
"What's wrong?" Damien whispered, noticing his brother's discomfort.
"The pheromones," Lukas murmured quietly, his voice tight. "They're overwhelming. It's as if everyone is purposefully amplifying their scents, especially the sweeter ones—I can't stand it. It feels as though they're trying to seduce or provoke me deliberately."
He, who had never experienced smelling pheromones himself, gently squeezed his brother's hand in support. Lukas had presented unusually early, a few months before Skye had transmigrated into Damien's body. He could only imagine how challenging it could be at such a young age.
Lukas smiled and patted Damien's shoulder.
"Thanks." He whispered.
As they descended the wide staircase leading to the ballroom, the muffled conversations quieted. Their presence dominated the room effortlessly, an unspoken authority permeating the atmosphere. Damien felt every gaze on him, a mixture of curiosity, respect, and hidden calculations swirling in their eyes. Yuri's gentle hand touched the two children's shoulders, grounding them as she led their descent. The guests parted, creating a clear path for the family to pass.
Navigating through the crowd, Johann quickly emerged from the guests, eyes bright with excitement and relief. "Damien! Lukas! Finally, something interesting!" Johann exclaimed quietly, grinning mischievously. "I've been waiting forever."
"You're telling me," Lukas chuckled, giving Johann a playful nudge before leaning near his ear. "These events are always unbearably dull."
Damien laughed softly, feeling his tension ease in Johann's easy-going presence. "We should find something to entertain ourselves. Otherwise, we might not survive the evening."
"Definitely! Though, I suppose you both still need to make the rounds and greet the guests first." Johann smiled understandingly. "I'll wait near the buffet line. Come find me once you're done and then let's play." With a cheerful wave, Johann stepped away into the bustling crowd.
It was only after Johann left that he heard it. Around him and Lukas, murmurs twisted like smoke—sharp, deliberate, and laced with the scent of ambition. Everyone present held significant influence and power, after all they had to be to even know the Hertz family, much less attend one of its gatherings.
An elderly man dressed in a pristine tuxedo came forward and greeted them both. "It's good to see the young heirs of the Hertz empire." He bowed slightly before continuing, "Congratulations on your birthday, Damien."
"Thank you." Damien smiled politely.
System: [This is Veleo Thorne, the owner of THORNE Group. He works closely with your father and Friedrich von Forst, overseeing supply chains and maritime logistics. Renowned for his punctuality and ruthless skills in negotiations, he once shut down five major ports just to settle a contract dispute. The decision sent economic tremors worldwide.]
Of course. Of course that's the case... Damien couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Good evening, Mr. Thorne. Congratulations on your recent acquisition of Plagris's company." Lukas greeted, a bright tone colouring his voice.
Thorne gave a hearty laugh. "I see that your quite informed. Yes, it was a challenging endeavour but..."
Damien found himself blanking out, not understanding anything from the discussion.
He made polite, brief introductions and nodded respectfully through a few more conversations before he quickly grew weary. He slowly stepped away from the crowd, sighing as he made his way to the buffet line to find Johann. Just as he was nearing his destination, he heard an voice to his left.
"Ah, it's the Hertz boy," said a voice to his left. Smooth. English-accented. The man wore a navy suit so precise it made Damien freeze for a few seconds. "Surprising to see you unattended by your brother."
Damien politely replied. "Lukas is currently occupied by the crowd. You'll find him near them if you wish to speak with him."
System: [That man is Delton Royce, hedge fund manager turned political advisor. His relationship with the Hertz is complex. I advice the host to stay far away from him.]
Royce gave a hum and stepped closer. Just behind Royce, Damien overheard snippets of an exchange between two oil magnates.
"I told the Emir, no deal unless we control sixty percent of the shipping routes—"
"You're mad. That'd violate every trade accord from here to Levia."
"No one enforces Levia anymore."
Laughter. Thin, but cold.
That brittle laughter sent an uncomfortable chill down Damien's spine, his fingers subtly tightening.
Royce casually sipped his drink, eyeing Damien curiously. "Tell me, Damien. Is your family positioning itself in the East Asian private sector again? Rumors do travel fast."
"I don't engage in rumor," Damien replied smoothly, his tone mild but dry. "And I'm not yet of age to sit at that table for those discussions."
Royce's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, the gleam behind them calculating. "And yet here you are. Dressed like a chess piece."
This f*cker? Picking on a six year old? Come on, now...
Damien turned his head slowly, eyes glinting beneath his mask. "Perhaps. But you seem to forget—chess pieces only look decorative to those too short-sighted to see through the end."
It was a dangerous reply. But Royce only chuckled, the sound strained. There was a shift in the air. Damien felt it immediately. Around him, the smiles held tension, slowly becoming guarded. Glasses clinked too lightly and laugher grew tense.
It seems that I've crossed over to the side of the party where I'm not welcomed. Tell me, system, how did this bastard and his group enter the party? It's highly unlikely that my father would invite someone like him.
System: [Royce secured an invitation indirectly through another influential guest, acting as his proxy. He's here to see how the Hertz family is moving since his financial accounts are not doing so well, particularly his off-shore ones.]
That guy must be blind to pick someone like him. He commented.
"Be careful, Damien," Royce warned, his voice strained. "There are people here who'll hand you a glass in one hand and a leash in the other. Know the difference."
Damien didn't flinch. "Of course. The leash they offer is typically of high quality. And the drink is likely poisoned. But the hand offering both usually belongs to someone desperately clawing for control."
A few heads turned.
Royce's knuckles whitened slightly on the glass.
Damien continued, voice calm. "You mistake my young age for naivety, Mr. Royce. I've read the reports your firm buried last year. If I were you, instead of testing the patience of a child thrice younger than you, I suggest you worry about whether your off-shore accounts will survive the year."
System: [Read? More like I gave you the information...]
Shush 110, let me sound cool for just a second.
Now the room was quiet.
Someone coughed behind them—forced and uncomfortable.
Royce laughed, his voice grating to the ears. "Such a sharp tongue for someone so small."
"And dull ears for someone so loud," Damien replied, tone clipped and eerily polite. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
He stepped past Royce without a glance, the hem of his tailored coat brushing gently against the man's shoes.
As he walked away, he sighed.
System, I'm really not cut out for this kind of life...