Devourer's Legacy: I Regressed With The Primordial Crest-Chapter 49: The Bonding Rite (1)

The old man standing in the doorway was dressed impeccably in a crisp white shirt and a long black tailcoat that nearly touched the ground. White gloves covered his hands, and everything about his appearance screamed precision and order—the kind of person who would probably have a heart attack if he spotted a single speck of dust anywhere in his vicinity.

He stood perfectly still, waiting patiently for Renard’s response with the practiced composure of someone who had spent decades in service.

Renard blinked, pulling himself back from his excitement over his recovered abilities. The Providence display vanished from his mind as he focused on the present.

"Yes, you are?" Renard asked, though the question was more formality than genuine curiosity. One look at the man’s immaculate appearance and professional bearing made his identity fairly obvious.

"I am Sebastian, a humble servant in the care of House Grim," the old man replied with a bow that contained exactly the right amount of respect—not too deep, not too shallow. "Now, if you would excuse me, I shall prepare a bath for you, young master."

"Wait, before that..." Renard held up a hand. "What happened during the awakening ceremony? And where exactly am I right now?"

Sebastian studied Renard for a long moment before answering, his expression carefully neutral.

"The awakening ceremony concluded successfully, young master. Although there was considerable commotion due to a ’malfunction’ of the Genesis Pillar, the situation was handled personally by the Patriarch. There is no cause for concern."

The two of them looked at each other in silence for a few heartbeats.

Both knew that wasn’t the complete truth, but if Sebastian was sticking to that story, it meant the main family had decided to cover things up for now. At least officially.

"Also, you are currently in the Fourth Wing of the main house," Sebastian continued smoothly. "You may rest easy knowing you are safe and well-cared for."

Well, that was something at least. The main family seemed to have contained the immediate fallout, though Renard doubted it would matter much in the long run.

Even if people didn’t know about his dual Blood Crests, anyone with half a brain would have realized that something extraordinary had happened. There was no point in trying to hide anymore—not that he had been planning to anyway.

Still, one question nagged at him.

"Did the Patriarch say anything about me?" Renard asked.

Sebastian might appear to be just another butler, but Renard knew better. The man was one of Patriarch Zephyr’s closest and most trusted aides. If anyone would know the family’s true thoughts about recent events, it would be him.

"The Patriarch was actually waiting to meet with you upon your recovery," Sebastian replied. "However, the Grand Conclave is only a few days away, so he was obligated to depart for the meet."

Renard let out a quiet sigh of relief.

The Grand Conclave was a major annual event where representatives from all eight great families gathered to discuss matters of continental importance. Politics, trade agreements, territorial disputes—all the business that kept the noble houses from each other’s throats for another year.

It was actually fortunate that his father had left. The last thing Renard wanted right now was an interrogation about what had really happened during his awakening.

"So he left for the Grand Con—" Renard paused mid-sentence, his blood suddenly running cold. "Wait?"

The Grand Conclave wasn’t supposed to happen this early. He was absolutely certain it took place at least a month after the awakening ceremonies ended. The timing was specifically designed that way to allow newly awakened nobles to recover and celebrate their achievements.

"Sebastian," Renard said slowly, a sick feeling growing in his stomach. "How many days have passed since I lost consciousness?"

Sebastian looked up thoughtfully, as if he’d been asked something completely mundane. "It has been exactly thirteen days, young master."

"Fuck!"

The curse slipped out before Renard could stop it.

Thirteen days. He’d been unconscious for nearly two weeks while the world moved on without him. No wonder the Grand Conclave was suddenly imminent—he’d missed almost half a month of preparation time.

Sebastian’s eyebrow twitched slightly at the profanity, but his expression remained professionally neutral. "Is there something troubling you, young master?"

Troubling? Renard’s mind raced through everything he had missed during his extended unconsciousness.

The Selection Ceremony—the exclusive event where he had planned to participate alongside the seven Patriarchs, using his position as Heir to Taira Castle as his entry ticket. He had planned to recruit some young talents to his side, but now that opportunity was gone.

But what made his stomach clench with real regret was missing the Bonding Rite.

This was the ceremony where newly awakened members of House Grim were allowed to choose an egg from a carefully curated collection of rare beasts, captured by the family’s most skilled hunters and tamers. It was one of the most important traditions for young nobles—a chance to bond with a creature that could become their lifelong companion and combat partner.

In his previous life, he had chosen well during this ceremony. The beast that hatched from his selected egg had been very helpful for him. To think he had missed such a crucial opportunity made his chest tight with disappointment.

His mood plummeted completely.

"No," Renard said finally, forcing his expression back to neutral despite the bitter taste of missed opportunities. "Just surprised I was out for so long."

Sebastian nodded as if that were perfectly reasonable. "The healers said it was quite normal given the... intensity of your awakening experience. Your body needed time to adjust to the significant changes."

That was probably putting it mildly. Having two Blood Crests nearly tear him apart from the inside likely qualified as more than just an "intense experience."

"I see," Renard said, unable to keep the dejection from his voice entirely.

Sebastian studied his face carefully for a moment, his keen butler’s instincts clearly picking up on the young master’s distress. When he spoke again, there was something almost kind in his tone.

"The Patriarch has instructed us to grant you access to the Cradle hall," Sebastian said casually, as if mentioning the weather. "While the other heirs have already made their selections, you may still choose from the remaining eggs, young master."

Renard’s head snapped up, his eyes widening with sudden hope.

While it was true that all the obviously valuable eggs would have been claimed by his cousins and other family members, most people couldn’t actually identify what kind of creature would hatch from an unmarked egg. Beast eggs were notoriously difficult to assess—their true nature often hidden beneath mundane appearances. There was still a very real chance he could find something extraordinary among the ’leftovers.’

"Really?" Renard’s face lit up with genuine excitement for the first time since waking up. "That’s fantastic! Can we go now?"

Sebastian’s gaze traveled slowly from the top of Renard’s head down to his feet, taking in his disheveled appearance with the practiced eye of someone who had spent decades maintaining standards. He didn’t say a word, but his meaning was crystal clear.

Renard didn’t need the critique spelled out for him. Thirteen days in bed had definitely taken their toll. Even he could smell himself at this point, and it wasn’t pleasant.

"Well then," he said sheepishly, "about that bath you mentioned..."

"Of course, young master. I shall have it prepared immediately." Sebastian bowed with obvious relief. "Is there anything else you require? Perhaps some food? You haven’t eaten proper meals in quite some time. We can proceed to the Incubation Center after you’ve refreshed yourself and had something to eat."

Now that Sebastian mentioned it, Renard’s stomach gave a rather pointed growl. Thirteen days of unconsciousness would certainly work up an appetite, even if he had been sustained by medicinal elixirs and healing potions during his recovery.

"Food would be good," he admitted. "Something light to start with—I don’t want to overwhelm my stomach."

"Very well. I shall see to both immediately." Sebastian paused at the doorway, his expression softening just slightly. "Oh, and young master? The Patriarch was quite specific that you should have access to anything you need during your recovery. Please do not hesitate to ask if you require assistance with anything else."

With that, the butler disappeared into the hallway with characteristic efficiency, leaving Renard alone with a whirlwind of emotions.

"That’s new!"

He didn’t remember the Patriarch giving him any attention in his previous life, so this was indeed a new experience. Well, it would mostly be due to the commotion he had caused.

Anyway, he had lost nearly two weeks of precious time, and that stung. But the prospect of visiting the Cradle hall, where the eggs were stored, reignited his excitement.

As he waited for his bath to be prepared, Renard found himself genuinely smiling. The Beast Sovereign hadn’t been known for individual strength or combat prowess, after all—it was his beasts and the control he had over them that made him feared. Now he would have the chance to examine and select an egg with all the time and care he needed, without the pressure and competition of the formal ceremony.

Maybe missing the official selection wasn’t such a disaster after all.

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