Lunch passed uneventfully, except for Cassandra forcefully feeding Elijah like he was a pet. He could only sigh in discontent, resigning himself to her antics.
Afterward, the students spent the rest of the day studying magic theory. Selena paid close attention, eager to learn, while Elijah listened half-heartedly. He already knew all of this, but he didn't want to give Cassandra a reason to scold him.
When the bell rang to signal the end of the day, Selena lingered behind, asking Elijah, "Are you leaving with me?"
Before Elijah could respond, Cassandra cut in. "He's on timeout. He'll remain under my watchful eye. I would entrust him to you, but no offense, you're far too kindhearted to punish him properly."
Selena didn't take offense and nodded. "Goodbye, then." She met up with Layla, and the two left together. Layla, being close in age to Selena and sharing her kind nature, got along with her perfectly. On their way home, Layla asked if Selena could train with her on compulsion, as it was a skill Layla hadn't yet mastered.
Back at school, Elijah found himself in the teacher's lounge, sighing from sheer boredom. Cassandra didn't let him do anything other than sit and wait. After a while, he broke the silence. "Why are you even a teacher? Isn't it boring?"
Cassandra glared at him. "I'm a teacher because of you, idiot. Why do you think I'm teaching your class?"
Elijah groaned, annoyed. "So angry," he muttered under his breath. "If you hate me sighing, why don't you let me do something?"
Cassandra snapped, "If you're that bored, help me with this paperwork."
"No thanks," Elijah replied immediately, earning an irritated glare.
"Why don't you just use your speed? It'd be much faster," he suggested.
Cassandra frowned. "Why do you rely on speed for everything? Precision matters. I use my speed in combat, sure, but this is paperwork. It requires focus, not speed."
"Such a boring way of thinking," Elijah muttered before standing, much to Cassandra's annoyance. Before she could scold him, he picked her up effortlessly, seating her on his lap and snatching the papers from her hands. "Fine, I'll help," he said, scanning the documents and slowly filling them out.
Cassandra blushed at the unexpected closeness but quickly shifted into work mode, answering his occasional questions about the forms. None of the other teachers dared to comment—what could they say? She was a Velmont. However, several male teachers glared at Elijah with jealousy, their gazes sharp with envy.
After finishing a portion of the work, Cassandra got up to fetch coffee, leaving Elijah behind. "Stay here," she warned. Elijah knew better than to disobey.
As soon as she left, the male teachers took their chance. One of them sneered, "Brat, who are you to get so close to Lady Velmont? A nobody from the trash class daring to court someone of her stature?"
Similar comments followed, the group berating and threatening Elijah, flaunting their family names. Elijah sighed, visibly unimpressed. He could have killed them all in an instant, but Bella would be furious, and his timeout might extend indefinitely.
Moments later, Cassandra returned, coffee in hand, and her glare could have frozen fire. She had overheard everything. Her tone was icy as she spoke. "Oh? How bold you've all become, threatening the heir of the Velmont family."
The men stiffened, their faces pale with fear. "The heir?" one of them scoffed. "Miss Velmont, with all due respect, this child cannot possibly be the heir. Young Master Lloyd is the only Velmont son and the most likely candidate. As his sister, you should know this."
Cassandra's glare sharpened. "Lloyd is the right-hand man of the true heir. But if you doubt me, feel free to challenge him to a duel to the death."
Elijah groaned. "Cassandra, really? A duel? I don't want to kill someone over this."
One of the men, a broad, scruffy-bearded teacher with an arrogant smirk, stepped forward. "Fine. I'll fight him."
Cassandra turned to Elijah. "If you won't take this seriously, how about this—the winner gets my hand in marriage."
Elijah sighed again. "Seriously?"
The man sneered. "Using one hand against me? How arrogant. You're too confident for your own good, brat."
Elijah ignored him. "Let's get this over with. You can start. Hit me with your strongest spell."
The teacher began chanting, but before he could finish, Elijah closed the distance, gripping the man's jaw and twisting it effortlessly, snapping his neck. The lifeless body fell to the ground. Elijah sighed again. "Anyone else?"
The remaining teachers stared in stunned silence, their faces pale. An eighteen-year-old had killed a full-grown mage without breaking a sweat.
Elijah raised his hand, and the man's body disintegrated into dust. He turned to Cassandra, looking unimpressed. "Happy now?"
Cassandra smirked. "Very."
The men backed off, and Elijah leaned back in Cassandra's chair while she settled herself on his lap, regal and composed as if she were seated on a throne. She continued working, flipping through papers as Elijah reached for her coffee. He took one sip and immediately set it back down, a look of disgust crossing his face.
"That tastes like soil," he muttered.
Cassandra laughed softly, glancing at him. "It's an acquired taste."
Elijah raised an eyebrow. How does one acquire a taste for this? He could understand alcohol—it had effects that made people willing to tolerate the flavor. But coffee without sugar? That was like drinking liquid ash. He sighed, deciding some mysteries of the universe weren't worth solving.
By the time they finally finished the work, the sun had begun to dip below the horizon. As they made their way home, Cassandra turned to him. "Thank you. I would've been stuck there for hours if it weren't for you."
Elijah shrugged. "I was bored anyway. It wasn't that bad since it was with you." His nonchalant tone contrasted with the warmth in his words, and Cassandra felt a blush creep across her cheeks.
During the ride home, she quietly reveled in the fact that she'd spent the entire day with her husband. She decided she'd definitely brag to Selene about this later—though she made a mental note to wait until Elijah was out of earshot. The last thing she wanted was for his ego to get any bigger.
When they arrived at the mansion, Cassandra turned to Elijah. "You're free to do whatever you want now, but don't leave the premises."
Elijah sighed, running a hand through his hair as he watched her disappear into the house. Left to his own devices, he decided to find out what everyone else was up to. He approached Thomas, who seemed to materialize out of nowhere, as usual.
"What's everyone doing?" Elijah asked.
Thomas rattled off the schedule as if he had it memorized. "Young Master Lloyd and Lady Elara are together. Lady Selena and Lady Layla are training with your grandmother in the basement training grounds. Your grandfather and father went golfing. Your mother is in the garden. Lady Selene is in your room, where Lady Cassandra just went. Lady Astrid is in the kitchen assisting me with preparations, and Lady Bella has not yet returned."
Elijah sighed, releasing Thomas with a wave of his hand. Mess with Lloyd? No, he's busy with Elara. Talk to Layla? No chance—. Spend time with my mother? Maybe later. That leaves… He smirked to himself. Mother-in-law it is.
He made his way to the kitchen, where Astrid was chopping vegetables. "Good afternoon, Mother-in-law," he greeted with a smooth smile.
Astrid looked up, pleasantly surprised. "Good afternoon, young mast—"
Elijah raised a hand, cutting her off. "Just call me Elijah. Or, if you prefer, your son-in-law."
Astrid chuckled, a soft blush rising to her cheeks. "You're so kind and well-mannered—" She paused, catching Thomas's astonished expression out of the corner of her eye. The butler looked as though he'd just witnessed a ghost. "—for a boy your age. Very well, son-in-law. What brings you here?"
Elijah smiled, leaning against the counter. "I wanted to spend time with you. So, here I am, ready to assist."
Astrid tilted her head, amused. "Oh? Trying to learn more about my daughter, are you?"
Elijah shook his head, grabbing a cutting board and joining her. "No. I'll learn about Selena on my own. I'm simply here to spend time with you."
Astrid's soft chuckle filled the room. "I see. Well, I'm rooting for you. Who knew my daughter would be lucky enough for the Velmont heir to have a crush on her?"
Elijah's lips quirked into a smile. "Your daughter isn't lucky. If anything, I'm the lucky one."
Astrid couldn't help but laugh. "Oh my, good looks and a silver tongue? She won't stand a chance."
"I can only hope," Elijah replied, his voice steady as he focused on chopping.
They continued working side by side until the meal was ready. It was a quiet, companionable time, one that left Astrid more impressed with her son-in-law than she had expected.
Dinner preparation with Astrid felt surprisingly peaceful for Elijah, a stark contrast to the chaos of his earlier day. He enjoyed the simplicity of the task, a rare moment where he didn't have to think about his family dynamics, secret identities, or his role as a Velmont. Astrid's gentle demeanor put him at ease, and her occasional teasing remarks about Selena were almost comforting.
As they worked, Astrid noticed Elijah's meticulousness, a trait not often associated with him. "You're quite skilled at this. Did someone teach you, or is it natural talent?" she asked, glancing at him curiously.
Elijah shrugged, slicing vegetables with precise movements. "A bit of both. My sisters thought it was necessary for me to be self-sufficient. Cassandra, in particular, wouldn't let me get away with being useless in the kitchen."
Astrid laughed softly. "Cassandra seems to be very… hands-on with you. She's always doting, isn't she?"
Elijah smirked. "She's relentless, but she means well. Most of the time."
Thomas, who had been moving about the kitchen, stopped momentarily and stared. Who is this person pretending to be Elijah Velmont? he thought, watching the young man engage in pleasant conversation and actively assist in meal preparation. It was like seeing a completely different side of him.
As they set the final touches on the meal, Astrid wiped her hands on a towel and turned to Elijah. "Thank you for helping, Elijah. I can see why Selena might be drawn to you. You have a way of surprising people."
Elijah chuckled. "Well, I'm glad I could make an impression. Besides, it's been a while since I spent time doing something… normal."
"Normal is underrated, but it's the small moments that count," Astrid said warmly, patting his shoulder.
When dinner was ready, the rest of the family trickled into the dining room, each drawn in by the enticing aroma. Cassandra raised an eyebrow when she saw Elijah setting the table alongside Astrid. "What's this? My brother, helping in the kitchen? Should I be concerned?"
"Don't tease him," Astrid chided lightly, though she was smiling. "He was wonderful company."
Elijah ignored Cassandra's smug look, instead taking his seat and watching as the others joined. For once, the atmosphere at the table was lighthearted. Even Selena, who arrived late with Layla, seemed surprised by the sight of Elijah behaving so… tame.
As dinner began, Astrid leaned over to Selena and whispered, "Your future husband is quite the charmer. You should give him a chance."
Selena flushed at her mother's words, glancing at Elijah, who was calmly eating as if he hadn't overheard. Maybe he's not as bad as I thought, she mused, though she quickly pushed the thought aside. He had a long way to go before earning her full approval.
Dinner was lively, with a mixture of casual chatter and heated conversations. Bella arrived late, her sharp gaze locking onto Elijah as she addressed him bluntly.
"You killed a teacher today?" she accused, her tone heavy with disbelief.
Elijah leaned back in his chair, sighing. "Cassandra made me do it."
Bella's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Cassandra? You made him kill a teacher? Why on earth would you do that?"
Cassandra crossed her arms, her pride practically radiating from her. "Hmph. I couldn't let anyone blatantly disrespect Elijah to his face. A lesson needed to be taught."
Elijah shook his head, his tone tinged with exasperation. "It's not like I needed to kill him, though. It wasn't entirely their fault—they didn't know any better."
This drew silence and a few raised eyebrows from around the table. Mireille tilted her head, her lips curving into a faint smile. "First, you help with dinner. Then you defend someone who apparently disrespected you. If I didn't know better, I'd think my son is growing up."
Bella, however, was unimpressed. She scoffed. "Tell that to the 30 students you killed, Elijah. Thirty pairs of parents are bombarding me with demands for answers, and now I have to come up with creative excuses."
Elijah's sigh was softer this time, and he lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry, Bella."
The room went still. Every eye at the table fixed on him, stunned.
Lloyd broke the silence with a teasing grin. "Alright, who are you, and what have you done with Elijah? Apologizing? Did Cassandra's time-out work wonders in just one day?"
Elijah glared at his brother. "I have manners, Lloyd. I'm not some rabid animal devoid of emotions."
The skepticism around the table was palpable, and Elijah groaned inwardly, feeling his reputation sink further. Soon enough, though, the conversation shifted, and dinner continued smoothly.
After dinner, Mireille returned to the garden, tending to her plants in the gentle glow of moonlight. Elijah followed her, catching up as she knelt beside a flowerbed.
"Something troubling you again, Elijah?" she asked without looking up.
Elijah shook his head. "No, I just wanted to spend some time with you."
She chuckled softly. "Hmm, are you really that bored, or are you just avoiding Layla?"
He sighed, his voice dropping slightly. "I'm not ready to speak to her yet."
Mireille straightened, brushing soil off her hands. "So, she's the cause of these changes I see in you," she said, her tone light and teasing.
Elijah smiled faintly. "Maybe. But I wanted to spend time with my mother. That's all."
Her smile deepened as she picked up a watering can. "Do you remember when you were little? You'd come here when Cassandra and Selene were being overbearing. I'd tell you they only acted that way because they cared. Layla would join us, and I'd teach you both how to plant flowers."
Elijah's expression softened. "Of course I remember. You let us water the flowers, and I always picked the blue ones. They're still my favorite color."
They worked side by side for a while, planting flowers at a leisurely pace. Unlike his mother, who wore a dress and remained spotless, Elijah managed to get dirt smudged on his shirt.
"Why do you like gardening so much, Mother?" he asked, his voice tinged with genuine curiosity.
Mireille smiled as she gently pressed soil around a seedling. "It's a hobby I picked up a long time ago. Watching something grow, nurturing it, and then starting over when it withers—it's a cycle I find peace in. Maybe you should find a hobby too, Elijah. Something to pour your time and energy into. You're going to be on this earth for a long time, after all."
Elijah fell quiet, her words lingering in his mind. As they continued working, Mireille broke the silence. "Your grandmother will need to bind you and your wives soon, making all of you true mates. Right now, Selena is your only real mate."
Elijah nodded. His grandmother's magic was extraordinary—powerful enough to bind mates or even turn people into vampires.
A thought suddenly struck him. "Mother?"
"Hmm?" She looked at him with mild curiosity.
"Grandmother can turn people into vampires with her magic, right?"
"Yes," Mireille confirmed.
Elijah's eyes narrowed as he pieced the idea together. "I think the vampires Bella, Lloyd, and I encountered were created through magic."
Mireille's expression shifted from surprise to admiration. "Your brain works when it wants to, doesn't it? I have no doubt you'll be an amazing heir someday."
Elijah smiled faintly, continuing to help her until the work was done. He glanced at the house and sighed. "Well, Selene and Cassandra are probably wondering why I'm not in bed yet. Goodnight, Mother. I love you."
Mireille watched him disappear into the house, her heart swelling with pride. Her son was kind and gentle to those he cared about, yet fiercely unyielding to his enemies. He reminded her so much of his father. Surrounded by the beauty of the flowers she loved so much, Mireille couldn't help but smile.
Elijah entered his room, his clothes streaked with dirt from the garden. Selene stirred from her nap, rubbing her eyes as she sat up in bed. Her blue pajamas matched her drowsy expression.
"Are you coming to bed?" she mumbled.
Elijah ruffled her hair with a small smile. "Soon."
Selene's days had become blissfully lazy since moving back home. Without chores to do, she spent most of her time napping or lounging. But Elijah knew better than to underestimate her.
Grabbing clean clothes, he headed for the shower, leaving Selene to drift back into her dreams.
After finishing his shower, Elijah stepped out of his room, drying his hair with a towel. He paused when he saw Cassandra leaning against the wall, her arms crossed. She was dressed in white pajamas, her hair still damp from her own shower.
He smirked. "Were you showering in your room?"
Cassandra huffed, brushing her hair back with a flick of her wrist. "You have a hard time keeping your hands to yourself."
Before Elijah could respond, Selene stirred in bed, sitting up with an annoyed expression. "Oh, that reminds me, Elijah. Care to explain why Cassandra's been bragging to me all day about how you assaulted her in the shower this morning and how much you like her figure?"
Her sharp glare bore into him, and Elijah sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I wasn't assaulting anyone," he said, his tone flat. "I had to prove a point. And while it's true that Cassandra has the best figure among my wives, that doesn't mean she's my favorite. I love you all equally. If you were the one in the shower, Selene, I would've done the same."
Cassandra's grin widened at the compliment, while Selene's frown deepened. Elijah sighed again, sensing the impending storm.
"That being said," he continued, reaching over to pet Selene's head gently, "your facial expressions are much cuter."
Selene blinked at him, her face flushing slightly as his hand lingered in her hair. He laid down beside her, thinking the matter was resolved. That, however, was a mistake.
Selene suddenly climbed on top of him, her usual laziness vanishing in an instant. Her eyes glinted with a mix of mischief and challenge. "Prove it," she demanded, leaning down dangerously close.
Cassandra, watching from the side, frowned in mock offense. "Don't forget about me," she said, slipping onto the bed and joining them.
Elijah groaned internally, feeling the weight of his choices. It was going to be a long night.