However, even with a clear understanding of these issues, Lux was still dizzy from these overly enthusiastic individuals.
Noble banquets had a set duration.
These scoundrels were endless!
Fortunately, the quick-witted Lux quickly found a solution. She deliberately brought up Sona as a shield, and then, without any instruction, the fiery girl Kahina began challenging people one by one.
Although she still envied Lux for always being with her sister, because of Lux's "righteous words," she accepted that Lux was her sister's good friend.
However, what was acceptable for Lux did not mean any toad from any family could do it!
Harassing Sona?
Have you eaten?
If not... eat my sword!
These annoying individuals who surrounded them were usually no match for Kahina, and thus were often dealt with so miserably that they dared not show their faces again.
What if someone Kahina couldn't handle, you ask?
Well, there was still Garen!
Kahina, who held Garen's little secret, would call for him… without the slightest hesitation!
And to avoid social death, and to protect his sister, Garen would come whenever called!
If the female singles couldn't win against the male singles, then if the male singles couldn't win, it was mixed doubles!
Just like that, Lux and Sona finally found peace.
However, even as the commotion gradually subsided, Augatha, who had been observing her children's growth, noticed that something was amiss—she didn't know that Lux had Klein, the old fox, as a mentor. In her eyes, her daughter was an innocent young girl!
Now, many families' pigs were eyeing her innocent young girl, how could that be allowed?
After much thought, the sleepless Augatha decided to send Lux to their old family home in Silvermere for a period. This way, Lux could avoid the current vortex in The Capital and also get some exposure to practical business matters.
After all, socializing within the framework of etiquette was not the entirety of a noble's life; governing territory and coordinating management were also essential courses for nobles!
In terms of etiquette and socializing, Lux had done well enough. Now, it was time for her to begin her second lesson!
Moreover, the situation in Silvermere had indeed been a bit off these past two years. According to the family manager's report, the entire Silvermere had experienced frost for three consecutive years, and taxes simply couldn't be collected.
Three years of frost?
Are you trying to fool ghosts here?
Although they repeatedly assured her that the taxes were merely delayed and would eventually be paid in full, Augatha dared to say that the actual situation was absolutely not like that!
Frost, you say?
Alright.
Then let Lux go and see what the frost in Silvermere looks like!
And by the way, give her the second lesson of a noble, let her see what actual management should look like!
However, before sending Lux to Silvermere, Augatha had a lot to prepare—sending Lux to Silvermere was to teach her daughter a lesson, not to put her in danger, so she needed to make more preparations regarding safety.
Hmm… that scoundrel Garen is also almost fifteen.
According to Mr. Xin Zhao, he is now a true man—a true man should go to the army for some tempering!
Thinking of this, Augatha found the family's map of the area around Silvermere and spread it on the table in front of her.
After some searching, she quickly found the nearby garrison base.
Since Garen was already a true man, a man should protect his sister!
With this thought, Augatha quickly took out paper and pen and began writing furiously by candlelight.
One letter was for her sister-in-law, Tiana, who was recently patrolling near Erwindale. If possible, she hoped Tiana would look after Garen and Lux.
One letter was for the Silvermere garrison. A captain in the garrison was a relative from Augatha's maternal side, and Augatha hoped he could provide Lux with some necessary support.
There was a final letter for the Dauntless Vanguard Grand Marshal—the content of this letter seemed unrelated to Garen or Lux, merely praising the recipient's heroic deeds during his tenure as Grand Marshal, then subtly implying that his esteemed son also had a similarly bright future in the Ranger corps, like father, like son, and so on.
This letter was written in Pitt's tone, the words between the lines seemed like casual greetings between nobles to draw closer, but Augatha believed the other party would definitely understand her meaning.
Taking out the Crownguard family seal and sealing the wax, Augatha held the three letters in her hand, then sat quietly on the chair.
Unknowingly, it was already late into the night.
The matriarch of the Crownguard family looked up at a family portrait hanging on the wall.
This painting was done during New Year seven years ago.
At that time, her brother-in-law was still alive, the Ranger captain had a hearty smile; her sister-in-law had not yet fallen in love, the tomboy of the Dauntless Vanguard had an icy face; Pitt sat in the center, holding her hand, and Garen held a toy greatsword horizontally, as if protecting his sister.
And now, seven years had passed in a hurry.
Of the six people in the painting, one had sacrificed his life for the country, resting eternally in Hallvalor, even at his burial, holding a Poro, he still smiled, as if he had just finished telling an interesting story.
Tiana, who had joined the army disguised as a man, had now become the Deputy Commander of the Dauntless Vanguard, striving towards the position of Marshal.
Pitt, who used to sit upright, was now covered in old injuries, always aching when it rained, but when building the fortress at Sorrow Pass, he still ate and lived with the soldiers.
Augatha herself had bid farewell to the anxieties of her maidenhood and finally began proudly declaring that she had become a qualified mother.
Lux, who was teething at the time, had now become an Exemplary Noble praised by nobles from all families in The Capital, growing more graceful and elegant.
Garen, who could only be boisterous, had now gradually become composed, increasingly resembling a true man.
And now, Lux and Garen would also leave Demacia Capital to start their next journey in Silvermere.
They would truly see the people and soldiers they would govern in the future.
They would spread their tender wings like birds leaving their nest.
At this moment, Augatha's heart felt empty.
Soon, the vast Crownguard Manor would be left with only a lonely mistress.
Augatha also wanted to go to Silvermere, to take a vacation for herself.
But… perhaps not.
Lux's "Art Support Association" still needed supervision; even if the Crownguard family enjoyed the king's trust, there still needed to be a significant person remaining in The Capital.
On the bright side, did this mean she no longer needed to maintain her motherly demeanor and could temporarily give up tasteless salads?
Late at night, all was quiet.
Augatha sat for a long time, then returned to her room and took out an exquisite flute from a small compartment in her dressing table.
In the empty garden, the Crownguard Lady, usually solemn and serious, sat in the pavilion, gently bringing the flute to her lips, then took a deep breath.
The melodious flute music soon drifted into the silent night of The Capital.
Augatha's fingerings were no longer skilled, and her breath was no longer stable.
But as the tune of "Song of Triumph" began, she seemed to return to twenty years ago, to the first time she met Pitt.
At that time, he was resplendent in his armor, returning victorious with His Majesty the King after repelling the Noxus people.
At that time, she herself had come to Demacia Capital from Silvermere for the first time, excitedly cheering among the crowd—though she didn't know why she was cheering.
Seemingly realizing that playing the flute in the middle of the night would disturb people's sleep, after one song, Augatha chose "Night on Silvermere Mountain" as the second piece.
Unfortunately, she could no longer fluently play the melodious tune. The muffled, sobbing flute sounds were just like Pitt's clumsy playing eighteen years ago when she tried to teach him—that time, the broken melody and silly smile annoyed the serious teaching girl. She gritted her teeth and demanded to know why he insisted on learning from her when he knew he had no musical sense.
And Pitt put down the flute, lay on the sunny hillside, and said with a laugh: "Because… that way I can play the flute you've played!"
Thinking of this sentence, even the current Augatha still felt her heart race.
Perhaps because her heart was beating too fast, Augatha couldn't smoothly play the last few slurred notes. She pursed her lips and put down the slightly out-of-tune piccolo from her lips.
Then, she stood up, gently shook her head, and wiped her face.
When she looked up again, she had regained her elegance and composure.
Holding a spare key and a candlestick, she silently left a kiss on her son's and daughter's foreheads, then whispered goodnight in a voice only she could hear.
Finally, Augatha returned to her room, blew out the candle, and lay on the soft double bed.
This time, Augatha slept exceptionally soundly.
… … … … … … … …
Klein was aware of the events of the latter half of the night, but did not inform Lux.
Lux, at this moment, had already reached the final step of carving the magic circuit.
Her daily training had made her hands steadier than many experienced stonemasons, and her solid theoretical knowledge had made the construction of magic circuits her instinct. After three years of magic study, Lux finally, in her own carving room, successfully carved a complete magic absorption and amplification circuit for the first time!
Placed within the reserved groove, Klein felt the magic converging from the Petricite, almost feeling an urge to let out a long howl to the sky.
How many years had it been!
He finally had his magic again!
Then, before he could be happy for long, this magic, like water poured into a sieve, quickly vanished without a trace.
"…"
Klein, who had been incredibly excited a moment ago, was speechless the next, and his silence caused the originally excited Lux to also fall silent.
"What's wrong, Klein?" Lux asked cautiously, "Is the circuit wrong?"
"The circuit is correct." Klein's tone was so calm it sounded like he was about to cry, "I am wrong."
"???"
Lux had never heard Klein speak in such a tone. She stared blankly at her sword, as if seeing Klein for the first time.
"But, it's fine." Klein quickly adjusted his mindset, "At least, next, I can use the magic from the Petricite to conduct the next stage of training for you and Sona."
"What training?" Hearing Klein say this, Lux finally relaxed, "Practical training? Starting to cast spells?"
"The final step before practical application." Klein said word by word, "Combat simulation training!"