Chapter 856
A small party held in front of the annex lake.
Sylvia approached the innermost table, carrying a steaming pot.
“Warm up from the inside first.”
She smiled as she served warm stew to Glenn and Rektor.
“Raon likes stew, so when it comes to this, I’m more confident than anyone.”
Sylvia spread her hands, saying her stew wouldn’t lose to the main house’s food.
“Yes. The stew is quite good….”
Glenn accepted the stew bowl, but couldn’t take his eyes off Sia.
“Even when I went back to the main house, I kept thinking about the annex stew.”
Rektor also accepted the stew with a smile. He nodded gratefully and took Sylvia’s hand.
“Thank you, daughter-in-law.”
“Da-daughter-in-law?”
Sylvia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I’m not quite ready to be called daughter-in-law….”
“With a child that young, of course you are.”
Rektor smiled softly as he watched Sia, who had her nose buried in a plate of pasta.
“Come on, she is just not a daughter-in-law! Father, you may not realize, but even Sylvia is already… kuh!”
Edgar, mumbling that she shouldn’t be praised too much, was struck on the forehead by Sylvia and toppled backward.
“Geez!”
Sylvia dusted off her hand after hitting Edgar’s forehead and frowned.
“He already talks too much, and it’s all nonsense!”
She lightly kicked the fallen Edgar, telling him to watch his mouth.
“A-ah, Father. Is this even right….”
“You deserve it.”
Rektor clicked his tongue at his fallen son as if he had no interest.
“Hoo.”
Glenn also shook his head in exasperation.
“Daddy! That’s funny!”
Sia clapped with a giggle as Edgar whimpered on the floor, and even the maids burst into laughter they had been holding back.
“R-really? Want me to do more?”
Edgar rolled on the floor by himself, as if just seeing Sia laugh made him happy.
“Yum, tasty!”
But Sia, having already lost interest in Edgar, focused on the cream pasta Helen served her.
“Mmm, at this rate, she’ll be a handful later….”
Edgar massaged his temples, wondering how he’d get Sia’s attention in the future.
“Really… it’s nice to see this.”
Dorian, watching Sia’s table filled with laughter, let out a voice tinged with emotion.
“Yes. It was worth going out to find the soul stone….”
Burren nodded deeply, feeling both pride and longing.
“Raon looks happy too.”
Runaan twirled her fingers as if conducting, watching Raon’s faint smile.
“……”
Martha looked at Sia and Sylvia, who was caring for her, with a gaze full of distant longing.
“Let Grandpa peel the shrimp for you.”
“This beef is tender. Want to try it?”
“Is there anything else you want?”
Rektor, Glenn, and Sylvia pushed food toward Sia as if just watching her eat made them full.
“Thank you!”
After bowing to Glenn, Rektor, and Sylvia, Sia handed the food she received to Raon.
“Raon! Eat! They say everything is delicious!”
With a bright smile, she took care of her brother even more than herself.
Goooooo!
Glenn, Rektor, and Sylvia shot sharp looks once again.
“Raon? How did you win over Sia?”
“Yes! Why does she like you so much!”
Sylvia and Edgar frowned as if they couldn’t understand.
“Ah, it’s probably because of the friend who’s with her.”
Raon waved his hands, telling them to calm down.
“Friend?”
“What do you mean?”
Glenn and Rektor motioned for him to explain in detail.
“When we went to get the soul stone….”
Raon explained how Rabera, inside the soul stone, ended up staying with Sia.
“I see….”
“It’s not a bad thing. Both have suffered, so they can comfort each other.”
Glenn and Rektor nodded, saying Sia and Rabera could be good friends.
“So that’s why she accepted you so quickly.”
Sylvia nodded as if she finally understood.
“Son. I didn’t expect this from you. Sneaky!”
Edgar rolled his eyes jokingly, saying Raon cut in line.
Fortunately, the chilly air between the four of them slowly calmed down.
“Then you’ll have to be even better from now on.”
“Thinking of it as having two granddaughters isn’t so bad either.”
Glenn and Rektor nodded, deciding to pay more attention to Sia.
“……”
Raon softly smiled as he looked at the four people sticking close to Sia.
‘It’s nice to see.’
The annex was always filled only with himself, Sylvia, and the maids.
But now, the two grandfathers, father, and sister who he never thought would come were all gathered.
He used to think just his mother and the maids were enough, but he was wrong. The annex became a happier place the more people filled it.
Raon enjoyed the greater happiness blossoming in the annex with a radiant smile that surpassed tranquility.
– “Nooooo! Stop smiling and move your hands already!”
‘No. I’m not eating. I’ll just have Nadine bread later.’
Raon swallowed only the stew Sia had given him, saying he wasn’t interested.
– “T-this is torture!”
Wrath looked over the buffet, trembling his jaw.
– “Ngh! I was wrong! Please eat!”
He even apologized for mocking Raon and begged him to eat.
– “You’re the one who said you’d throw this party….”
Wrath, tail drooping, urged Raon to keep his promise. Even pretending to be pitiful—he’s grown a lot.
‘Hmm….’
Raon picked up his fork, watching Wrath’s swaying tail beneath him.
‘I’ll let it slide just this once.’
– “Then, try that pizza first! The shrimp is perfectly cooked!”
Wrath panted, urging Raon to grab the pizza.
‘Don’t nag.’
Raon pushed away the clinging Wrath and put the shrimp pizza in his mouth.
– “Ahhhh! The bread is crispy and savory, and the shrimp is plump—simply incredible!”
Wrath grinned, saying the taste was exactly as he expected. Of course, his way of describing flavors was still simple and bland.
‘Anyway.’
Raon smiled faintly as he ate all the food Wrath wanted, and even inhaled the ice cream served for dessert.
-Keurk!
Wrath patted his round belly and let out a small burp.
‘Are you satisfied now?’
– “This king does not know satisfaction.”
He shook his chin, as if he was still a bit unsatisfied.
“This is the first time I’ve seen you overeat like this, Sir. Well, the food at the annex really is delicious.”
Dorian, who was stuffing food into his mouth just as much, kept moving his fork and knife, cutting up meat.
“It’s not a fancy taste, but it’s something you crave every now and then.”
Burren said he somewhat agreed as he sipped his tea for a palate cleanser.
“Yeah. It’s warm….”
Runaan, saying it was warm, ate nothing but the beaded ice cream from start to finish. She was still someone you couldn’t really understand.
“Well, it’s tasty…”
Martha nodded with a somewhat bitter look. She let out a small sigh and bit cleanly into the meat on the bone.
“I’m leaving now…”
“Martha!”
Just as Martha said she was heading back and stood up from the table, Sylvia called out to her.
“Come over here!”
Sylvia waved at Martha, beckoning her over.
“Huh? Why… me?”
“Play with Sia for a bit!”
She smiled brightly, as if she wanted Martha and Sia to get along.
“Big sister? Big sister?”
Sia’s eyes sparkled as she called Martha ‘big sister,’ clearly taken with Martha’s mature and elegant appearance.
“Ah, no. I’m not a big sister…”
Martha blinked vacantly, as if unsure whether to be called an older or younger sister.
“Me too…”
Runaan, holding a plate full of ice cream, sat next to Martha.
“You’re a younger sister!”
Sia, finding Runaan both pure and cute, immediately called her a younger sister and giggled.
“I’m not a younger sister. Or am I?”
Runaan stared blankly at the air above.
“Just go along with it for now.”
Sylvia put her hands together, asking Sia and Martha as if for a favor.
The four women chatted about small things and shared light laughter.
‘Now….’
Raon nodded quietly, watching the Light Wind Division enjoy the party with no worries.
‘I think it’s okay for me to leave now.’
After slowly closing and opening his eyes, he approached Glenn, who was looking out over the lake with Rektor.
“Head of house.”
“Ahem….”
Glenn only cleared his throat and kept his gaze fixed on the lake, not answering.
“Head of house?”
Raon called Glenn again, but he still didn’t turn around.
“You brat. This isn’t an official setting, you know.”
Rektor clicked his tongue lightly, saying Raon still had no tact.
“Ah, grandfather….”
Raon rubbed the back of his neck and called Glenn grandfather.
“Ahem….”
As if his ears had just opened, Glenn slowly turned around.
“Yes. What is it?”
“Ha…”
Raon let out a small, awkward laugh and shook his head.
‘At least he’s not angry. That’s a relief.’
He had worried Glenn might be upset because of Sia, but he wasn’t, and Raon let out a sigh of relief.
“I plan to leave for Sephia within this week.”
Raon put his hand to his chest and said he wanted to return Rimmer’s sword to Sephia.
“This might be the last time, so I’d like to go with the Light Wind Division.”
He bowed his head, asking for permission.
“……”
Glenn glanced at the Light Wind Division standing behind Raon.
“It seems those kids have accepted it now.”
He nodded, looking proud of the Light Wind Division for letting Rimmer go so well.
“…Right. It’s only right to send back that kid’s sword, at least.”
Glenn told him to be careful and lowered his hand.
“Thank you.”
Raon bowed his head and expressed his gratitude.
“See him off well and come back.”
Rektor, who seemed to have heard the story from Glenn, patted Raon’s shoulder with a calm look.
“Okay…”
“Raon.”
Just as Raon nodded, Sia approached him.
“Eat more! You have to grow big!”
She handed him the beaded ice cream, repeating the words Sia and Edgar had said to her.
“Say ah!”
“Uh…”
As Raon glanced around, Glenn, Rektor, Sylvia, and Edgar all gave him fierce looks again.
“I-I wanted to be the first to do that…”
“Ahem!”
“Raon?”
“Son. Don’t cut in line!”
The four adults all trembled, clearly wanting to be the first person Sia ever fed.
“Hurry up!”
Sia didn’t care about their looks at all, bouncing on her feet as she urged him to eat.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
She was so strong that powerful waves rose on the lake and the ground trembled.
“Mm…”
Unable to betray Sia’s expectant gaze, Raon had no choice but to eat the ice cream.
“Raon…”
Glenn, Rektor, Sylvia, and Edgar all bit their lips, giving him even colder looks as if he were their enemy.
-Kehehehehehe!
Wrath shook his bursting belly and let out a roar of laughter.
-Now your time as the cute one is over!
He snickered, saying Raon would now only get scolded.
‘I was never in charge of being cute!’
-That’s why they say you have no tact!
—
“Sigh…”
Raon left the still-bustling annex, carrying a bundle of food and ice cream.
‘I’m exhausted.’
It was definitely happiness to be with his family, but it was also true that it drained his energy.
If he stayed at the party any longer, he felt like he’d melt into a puddle, so he hurriedly left the hall.
-But why did you pack food to take with you?
Wrath tilted his head as he looked at the bundle in Raon’s hand.
-Oh, is it a present for this king for breakfast tomorrow? If that’s the case, I’ll accept it with a generous heart…
‘It’s not for you.’
Raon brushed Wrath off, telling him not to get carried away.
‘I’m giving it to Aunt and Merlin.’
Aris and Merlin are currently resting at Federick’s mansion.
It’s uncertain whether the two will be awake, but since they can eat it later, I planned to leave it in the hospital room.
– Hmm….
Wrath shook his head silently.
– Sometimes you really are quick-witted.
‘It’s not quick-wittedness. It’s just the obvious thing to do.’
While preparing this party, I did feel guilty, wondering if it was okay to go ahead when Aris and Merlin still hadn’t fully woken up.
But if I kept delaying, a big battle could suddenly break out and force me to cancel, so I just held it as quickly as possible.
‘It’s a shame.’
If Rimmer, Aris, and Merlin had joined the party, it would have been much more enjoyable, so I let out a sigh without realizing it.
‘No, let’s not think about that now.’
Raon shook off his heavy thoughts and headed toward Federick’s mansion.
As I was about to open the door and go inside, someone was coming out first.
“Raon.”
Denier Zieghart. He smiled, as refined as if drawn by moonlight.
“I heard the party was still going on—what brings you here?”
Denier looked at the still-active annex and gave a gentle smile.
“I brought some food. But may I ask what brings you here?”
Raon narrowed his eyes at Denier.
“I came to see my sister.”
Denier nodded, saying he came to see Aris.
“You let me know that she’d woken up. I stopped by just in case, and she really was awake, so I was lucky to be able to talk with her.”
He smiled, saying he was fortunate.
“…Is that so.”
Raon bit his tongue as he looked at Denier.
“How was Aunt?”
He glanced at Denier, asking about Aris.
“She didn’t seem bad. She can’t push herself yet, but I think she’ll be up soon.”
Denier gave a gentle smile and raised his hand.
“Take good care of her. Well then.”
As if he’d said everything he needed, he waved and walked down the stairs.
“Oh, give my regards to Sia too. Tell her her uncle will come see her later.”
With those words, Denier disappeared in the direction of the main house.
“……”
Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Denier’s back.
‘I still don’t know what he’s thinking.’
Denier was suspicious in many ways, but he had never actually done anything.
Even if I wanted to be wary, there was nothing to point to, which left me feeling stifled.
‘What do you think?’
– “As I said from the start, that kind of guy is the real problem. You can’t tell if he’s an ally or an enemy.”
Wrath narrowed his eyes, saying he just wanted to beat him up.
‘It looks like…’
It seemed necessary to have someone keep an eye on him.
Since I would be leaving for Sephia this week, I needed someone who could keep Denier from making a move or at least watch what he was doing.
‘Someone who isn’t outranked and is simple… ah!’
A person suddenly came to Raon’s mind.
