The morning came sooner than either Blanc or Celine would have wanted to, as they were woken up by the maids who came to change the bedsheets, as was customary the night after an engagement.
Still half asleep, Blanc acknowledged the maids and what they had to do and dismissed them with a wave soon after, as they had to get dressed properly before anything else.
"Celine, wake up," he said, placing a hand on her naked shoulder and tapping it lightly, "we soon have to join the others for breakfast and say goodbye to those that leave today, including your father."
At his warm words, she woke, stretching wide as she exhaled, before staring at the ceiling with empty eyes, "I could sleep for another day."
"You tell me," he yawned, "tonight you will be able to rest better, no more parties left, only worries."
"The Iron Line?" she asked as she stared at the Marks on his naked back, tracing them with her fingers.
Blanc nodded at that, the anxiety of their coming the only constant in the last few days, "I feel powerless just thinking about how I could stop it."
"I would not believe you, if you said you weren't," she replied, as she got up, "come, let's get dressed and forget about it for a while."
"Good morning, Blanc! Sister Celine!" yelled Lune as she exited the main hall to greet them.
"Sister?" Celine muttered as she heard her.
"Good morning, Little Flower, did you sleep well?" asked Blanc, smiling.
"Mmm!" she nodded, her hands hidden behind her back.
"What are you hiding?" questioned Blanc as he watched her.
"Nothing for you, but for Sister Celine," Lune replied as she showed what she was hiding, giving her a white pearl necklace, "I made it myself!"
"This is most wonderful," said Celine, crouching down at eye level with Lune, "Thank you, Lune, I will treasure it dearly."
"Good, now let's eat breakfast. The others are waiting!" she smiled as she grabbed Celine's hand and began dragging her inside the main hall.
"Don't you have anything for your lovely brother Lune?" asked Blanc.
"No. Sorry," she giggled as they entered the Main Hall.
Everyone was present in the Main Hall as they entered. Lucien, Lady Fiamma, her son Aidan, and all of Blood Denegis, who watched Blanc with wandering eyes as they entered.
However, they dared not ask directly what they wanted an answer to, but one of the maids who woke Blanc earlier came in for a moment, gave a sharp nod towards Elion and the Matriarchs, and left, which overjoyed Mera as a grin shaped her lips.
Blanc refused to make eye contact with her as they sat down, yet still spoke, "Good morning, My Lords and Ladies, apologies if we kept you eating."
"Not to worry, son. Please, enjoy your meal," said Elion.
"Indeed, my Lord Elion, they need to replenish their energy. They look more tired than a soldier after a battle," laughed Lucien, watching them.
"Father," started Celine, but kept her tongue as she began eating.
"How are you, Sera?" started Blanc, changing the topic as fast as he could, "nervous to be leaving your beloved brother behind?"
"Yes, my heart is shattered," replied Sera as she ate, "I will be crying every night at the thought of you, little brother."
"I sure hope so," started Blanc, but soon got interrupted by Aidan, who sat next to Sera.
"Make sure not to do that, Sweet Sera, it would ruin my mood."
His words made the hall go silent for a moment as everyone turned their face towards them, but Sera soon spoke, "Of course not, Lord Aidan, I was just joking."
However, Aidan did not reply to her words. He only kept eating, as they would soon leave after the breakfast was done.
Fucking brat, Blanc thought as he still kept watching him and refusing to eat.
"Anything wrong, Lord Blanc?" asked Aidan as he returned the stare.
"No, Lord Aidan, I was just thinking about something, do not mind me," Blanc replied, returning to his plate.
Soon after, everyone returned to eating with small conversations here and there, but once breakfast ended, they received confirmation that everything was ready for the departure of the Patriarch of Blood Maroux and the ones leaving with Blood Seraph.
And so, they all moved to the entrance to say their goodbyes, and while everyone was saying their farewells to Sera, Blanc and Celine went first to Lucien.
"Father-in-law," said Blanc, bowing deeply, "May your roads be safe on your way back."
"No more Lucien, eh?" Lucien smiled before placing a hand on Blanc's shoulder, "But thank you, Son-in-Law. Make sure to treat my daughter better than Lord Aidan seems to treat your sister, otherwise I will make sure you suffer in ways you did not know you could suffer before."
"Father," Celine wanted to complain, but Blanc kneeled before them both, stopping her in her tracks.
"I assure you, father-in-law, that I would sooner die than treat her horribly. If you wish," started Blanc, retrieving a knife from his back, "I could swear to the Vita right this moment."
Both Lucien's and Celine's eyes went wide, impressed by Blanc's words,
"No," began Lucien, smiling, "your actions are proof enough."
"Blanc, could you give my father and me a moment before we join your sister?" asked Celine, placing her hand atop his.
"Of course. Take your time." Blanc sheathed the knife before bowing again. "Take care, father-in-law." Then he turned and walked toward the group that surrounded Sera.
"Here to see me off?" asked Sera as she noticed Blanc approaching.
"Who else? It might be hard to believe, but I will miss you," smiled Blanc as he went for a hug.
With a smile, she reciprocated it, "Yes, so will I, little brother," she replied in a whisper.
"Take care of yourself, Sera, and do not allow yourself to be controlled by him," whispered Blanc back as he kissed her cheek.
"I will do my best, and make sure you do too with Celine, or I will come back and kill you," she smiled, taking a step back, "now, I have to go and see if Kael will miss his sister."
"I will be careful, and do not worry, he will miss you… We all will," Blanc replied as he sat next to his mothers, who kept silent during their conversation.
"I know the situation, but I do not like it one bit," muttered Auren.
"Neither do I. The way the brat spoke with her made my blood boil," replied Mera, ensuring nobody besides them could hear them.
"I'll go and say a few words to the horned fucker if you wish me to," whispered Blanc.
"Do not dare, that could ruin the alliance," began Mera, "Sera is old enough to take care of herself."
"Very well, but I will still go to say my farewells to Lady Fiamma," replied Blanc, "do not worry, mothers, I will keep my tongue in check."
"Lord Blanc," spoke Fiamma as she noticed him approaching while she and her son spoke with Elion, "to what do we owe the pleasure?"
"Lady Fiamma, I wish to offer my good wishes for your journey, and to humbly ask you to care for my sister," replied Blanc.
"Not to worry, Lord Blanc, as I was saying to Lord Elion, she is to be treated well, I promise you that," smiled Fiamma.
"Thank you, my Lady," bowed Blanc deeply.
"She is to be my wife, Lord Blanc," began Aidan, "what makes you think she will not be treated well?"
"Aidan, remain silent," ordered Fiamma as she glared at him. "Apologies, Lord Elion, Lord Blanc, he is happy to have such a wonderful fiancée as Sera."
Elion stood silent, and so did Blanc, for a few moments, before he bowed once more to Fiamma, "Thank you for your words, Lady Fiamma, and safe travels on your way back."
And with that, Blanc turned around and returned to where Sera stood, now speaking with Celine and the rest of the family.
After they exchanged a few more words and hugs, Sera entered the lizard-drawn carriage of Blood Seraph and, together with Lucien, who stood in his carriage, departed the estate of Blood Denegis.
A feeling akin to defeat appeared in Blanc's heart as he watched the carriages.
He wished to speak his mind, or at least threaten the boy to make sure he would treat his sister right, but he knew such actions could put the alliance they had in danger.
So, with a sigh, as he watched the sky, he cast this feeling away.
Stay strong, sister.