A small party was held in front of the lake by the annex building. Sylvia approached the innermost table, carrying a steaming pot.
"Warm yourselves up from the inside first."
She smiled brightly as she served hot stew to Glenn and Rector.
"Raon loves stew, so I'm confident this is one of my best dishes."
Sylvia spread her hands, claiming that her stew could rival even the main building's cuisine.
"Indeed. The stew is quite good..."
Glenn received his bowl of stew but couldn't take his eyes off Sia.
"Even when I returned, I kept thinking about the annex's stew."
Rector also accepted the stew with a smile. He nodded gratefully and took Sylvia's hand.
"Thank you, young one."
"Y-young one?"
Sylvia's eyes widened in surprise.
"I'm a bit too old to be called that..."
"With such a young child around, you're still a young one."
Rector smiled faintly, glancing at Sia who had her nose buried in a plate of pasta.
"Come on, no matter how you look at it, she's not that young! Father, you might not know, but Sylvia's age is already... oof!"
Edgar, muttering that it wasn't good to overpraise, was knocked backward after Sylvia hit him on the forehead.
"Ugh!"
Sylvia frowned as she dusted off the hand she'd used to strike Edgar.
"As if you weren't talkative enough, now it's all nonsense!"
She lightly kicked the fallen Edgar, telling him to watch his mouth.
"Ah, Father. How is this a reasonable situation..."
"You deserve worse than that."
Rector clicked his tongue, showing no interest in his fallen son.
"Sigh."
Glenn also shook his head as if Edgar was hopeless.
"Daddy! It's fun!"
Sia clapped her hands, laughing at Edgar who was sprawled on the ground, and the maids finally let out the laughter they'd been holding back.
"Oh, really? Should I do more?"
Edgar rolled around on the floor, seemingly happy just to see Sia laugh.
"Mm, delicious!"
But Sia had already lost interest in Edgar and was focused on the cream pasta Helen had served her.
"Hmm, if she's like this already, it's going to be trouble later..."
Edgar rubbed his temples, seemingly worried about how to catch Sia's attention in the future.
"It's truly... a pleasant sight."
Dorian's voice was thick with emotion as he looked at Sia's table, brimming with laughter.
"Yes. It was worth going to find the Soul Crystal..."
Burren nodded deeply, seeming to feel both pride and nostalgia.
"Raon looks happy too."
Runaan waved her fingers as if conducting, looking at Raon who wore a faint smile.
"..."
Martha gazed at Sia and Sylvia, who was taking care of her, with eyes full of distant longing.
"Let this old man peel the shrimp shells for you."
"Would you like to try this tender beef?"
"Is there anything else you'd like to eat?"
Rector, Glenn, and Sylvia pushed food towards Sia, seeming to feel full just by watching her eat.
"Thank you!"
Sia bowed her head to Glenn, Rector, and Sylvia before passing the food she received to Raon.
"Raon! Eat! They say it's all delicious!"
She took care of her brother even more than she had received, with a bright smile. Glenn, Rector, and Sylvia shot fierce glares once again.
"Raon? How did you win Sia over?"
"Yeah! Why does she like only you so much!"
Sylvia and Edgar furrowed their brows, seemingly unable to understand.
"Ah, it's probably because of the friend who's with my sister."
Raon waved his hands, telling them to calm down.
"Friend?"
"What do you mean?"
Glenn and Rector lowered their chins, asking for a detailed explanation.
"When we were getting the Soul Crystal..."
He explained how Lavera, who was inside the Soul Crystal, ended up being with Sia.
"I see..."
"It's not a bad thing. They both have their pains, so they can comfort each other."
Glenn and Rector nodded, thinking Sia and Lavera could become good friends.
"So that's why she accepted you so quickly."
Sylvia also nodded, seeming to understand now.
"Son, I didn't think you had it in you, but you're quite sneaky!"
Edgar playfully rolled his eyes, saying Raon had made the first move. Fortunately, the chilling aura that the four people had been emitting slowly subsided.
"Well, we'll have to treat her even better from now on."
"It wouldn't be bad to think of it as having two granddaughters."
Glenn and Rector nodded, saying they should pay more attention to Sia.
"..."
Raon smiled faintly as he watched the four people who were now closely attached to Sia.
'It's a pleasant sight.'
The annex had always been filled with just himself, Sylvia, and the maids. But now, the annex was occupied by his two grandfathers and father, who he thought would never visit, and even his sister.
He had thought his mother and the maids were enough, but that wasn't the case. The annex was a space that became happier the more people entered it.
Raon enjoyed the greater happiness blooming in the annex with a bright smile that surpassed mere calmness.
-No! Stop smiling and move your hands already!
Wrath wildly waved his round arms, saying the food was getting cold.
'No. I'm not eating. I'll only eat Nadine bread later.'
Raon only swallowed the stew Sia had given him, indicating he had no intention of eating more.
-This, this is torture!
Wrath trembled his chin as he surveyed the buffet-style spread of food.
-Sob! This king was wrong! Please eat!
He apologized for mocking and begged Raon to eat the food.
-You said you'd throw this party, didn't you...
Wrath lowered his tail, telling Raon to keep his promise. Pretending to be pitiful, this guy had really developed.
'Hmm...'
Raon gripped his fork as he watched Wrath's tail wagging below.
'I'll let it slide just this once.'
-Then start with that pizza! The shrimp is cooked perfectly!
Wrath panted, urging Raon to grab the pizza.
'Don't be pushy.'
Raon pushed away the clingy Wrath and put the shrimp pizza he mentioned into his mouth.
-Oooh! The bread is crispy and savory, and the shrimp is plump and absolutely fantastic!
Wrath grinned, saying it tasted exactly as he thought. Of course, his taste descriptions were still simple and bland.
'Anyway.'
Raon ate all the food Wrath wanted, and even inhaled the ice cream that came out for dessert, with a small smile.
-Ugh!
Wrath patted his bloated belly and let out a small burp.
'Are you satisfied now?'
-This king knows no satisfaction.
He shook his chin as if it wasn't enough.
"It's the first time I've seen the Division Leader overeat like this. Well, the annex food is delicious after all."
Dorian continued to cut meat with his fork and knife, despite having stuffed his mouth with food no less than Raon.
"It's not a refined taste, but it's the kind you crave once in a while."
Burren nodded in partial agreement as he sipped his tea for a palate cleanser.
"Yeah. It's warm..."
Runaan said it was warm while eating only bead ice cream from start to finish. She was still an incomprehensible person.
"Well, it is delicious..."
Martha nodded with a somewhat bitter look in her eyes. She sighed softly and cleanly stripped the meat off a rib.
"I should go now..."
"Martha!"
As Martha said she should leave and stood up from the table, Sylvia called out to her.
"Come over here!"
Sylvia waved her hand at Martha, urging her to come.
"Huh? Why me..."
"Play with Sia for a bit!"
She smiled brightly, seeming to hope that Sia and Martha would become close.
"Big sister? Are you my big sister?"
Sia's eyes sparkled, seemingly captivated by Martha's mature and graceful appearance, and immediately called her big sister.
"Ah, no. I'm not your big sister..."
Martha blinked blankly, as if it was awkward to be called either big sister or little sister.
"Me too..."
Runaan sat down next to Sylvia, holding a plate full of ice cream.
"You're my little sister!"
Sia laughed, immediately calling Runaan, who exuded both innocence and cuteness, her little sister.
"I'm not your little sister. Or am I?"
Runaan also opened her eyes blankly, looking up at the empty air.
"Just go along with it for now."
Sylvia clasped her hands together as if making a request, and the four women began to share trivial stories, spreading small smiles.
'Now...'
Raon nodded calmly as he watched the Light Wind division enjoying the party without reservation.
'I think it's okay to go.'
After slowly closing and opening his eyes, he approached Glenn, who was looking at the lake with Rector.
"Head of House."
"Ahem..."
Glenn only cleared his throat without answering, keeping his gaze fixed on the lake.
"Head of House?"
Raon called out to Glenn again, but he still didn't turn around.
"Boy. This isn't a formal occasion, is it?"
Rector clicked his tongue lightly, saying Raon still lacked tact.
"Ah, Grandfather..."
Raon rubbed the back of his neck as he called Glenn grandfather.
"Ahem..."
Glenn finally seemed to hear, slowly turning around.
"Yes. What is it?"
"Haha..."
Raon let out a dry laugh and shook his head.
'At least he's not angry, that's a relief.'
He had been worried that Glenn might be upset because of Sia, but that didn't seem to be the case, and he let out a sigh of relief.
"I plan to leave for Sepia within this week."
Raon placed his hand on his chest, saying he wanted to return Rimmer's sword to Sepia.
"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 turned his gaze to the Light Wind division behind Raon.
"It seems those children have accepted it too."
He nodded, seeming to find the Light Wind division admirable for sending Rimmer off well.
"...Yes. It's right to at least return that guy's sword."
Glenn lowered his hand, telling Raon to be careful on his journey.
"Thank you."
Raon bowed his head, expressing his gratitude.
"See him off well."
Rector, who seemed to have heard the situation from Glenn, patted Raon's shoulder with a somber look.
"I underst..."
"Raon."
As Raon was about to nod, Sia approached him.
"Eat more! You need to grow big and strong!"
She held out some bead ice cream, repeating the words Sylvia and Edgar had said to her.
"Say ah!"
"Uh..."
As Raon rolled his eyes, Glenn, Rector, Sylvia, and Edgar once again revealed fierce gazes.
"I, I wanted to be the first to do that..."
"Ahem!"
"Raon?"
"Son, no cutting in line!"
The four adults trembled their fingertips, as if they had hoped to be the first person Sia fed.
"Hurry!"
Sia stomped her feet, urging Raon to eat quickly, ignoring the gazes of the four people. The lake rippled violently and the ground shook due to her immense strength.
"Mmm..."
Raon couldn't betray Sia's expectant gaze and reluctantly ate the ice cream.
"Raon..."
Glenn, Rector, Sylvia, and Edgar bit their lips, revealing even colder gazes as if they now saw Raon as an enemy.
-Kehehehehehe!
Wrath burst into laughter, shaking his about-to-burst belly.
-Now it's no longer your turn to be the cute one!
He cackled, saying Raon would only get picked on from now on.
'I was never in charge of being cute!'
-This is why people say you lack tact!
* * *
"Phew..."
Raon left the still bustling annex, carrying a bundle of packed food and ice cream.
'I'm tired.'
Being with family was certainly happy, but it was also true that it drained energy quickly. He hastily left the party venue, feeling like he might melt into liquid if he stayed there any longer.
-But why did you pack food and leave?
Wrath tilted his head, looking at the food bundle in Raon's hand.
-Pe-perhaps it's a gift for this king tomorrow morning? If so, this king will graciously accept it...
'It's not for you.'
Raon pushed Wrath away, telling him not to be ridiculous.
'It's for Aunt and Merlin.'
Alice and Merlin were currently resting in Federick's mansion. He wasn't sure if the two would be awake, but they could eat it later, so he planned to leave it in their room.
-Hmm...
Wrath shook his head with his mouth closed.
-You're sometimes quite perceptive, aren't you?
'It's not about being perceptive, it's just the right thing to do.'
While organizing this party, he had felt guilty about whether it was okay to do so when Alice and Merlin hadn't properly woken up yet. But if he kept postponing it, a sudden big war might break out and it could be canceled, so he held it as quickly as possible.
'It's a shame.'
He sighed naturally, thinking that if Rimmer, Alice, and Merlin had been at that party too, it would have been much more enjoyable than now.
'No, I shouldn't think about that now.'
Raon shook off the stifling sigh and headed towards Federick's mansion. As he was about to open the door and enter, someone came out first.
"Raon."
Denier Zieghart. He drew a smile as elegant as the moonlight.
"I heard you were having a party, what brings you here?"
Denier smiled faintly, looking at the annex where the party was still ongoing.
"I brought some food. What about you, Palace Master? Why are you here?"
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Denier.
"I came to see my sister."
Denier tilted his head, saying he came to see Alice.
"You told me she had woken up. I came just in case, and fortunately, she was awake, so we could have a conversation."
He smiled, saying he was lucky.
"...I see."
Raon bit the tip of his tongue as he looked at Denier.
"How was Aunt?"
He surveyed Denier's gaze as he asked about Alice.
"She didn't look bad. She can't get up now, but I think she'll be able to soon."
Denier raised his hand with a subtle smile.
"Take good care of her. Well then."
He waved his hand as if he had said all he needed to say and came down the stairs.
"Ah, give my regards to Sia too. Tell her uncle will come to see her later."
Denier disappeared towards the main building after asking Raon to pass on his greetings to Sia.
"..."
Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Denier's back.
'I still can't figure out what he's thinking.'
Denier was suspicious in many ways, but he hadn't actually done anything. It was frustrating because even though he wanted to be suspicious, there was nothing to be suspicious about.
'What do you think?'
-As this king has said from the beginning, such a guy is the most problematic. You can't tell if he's an ally or an enemy.
Wrath narrowed his eyes, saying he just wanted to beat him up.
'In any case...'
It seemed like he needed someone to keep Denier in check. He would be leaving for Sepia this week, so he needed someone who could prevent Denier from moving freely or find out what he was up to.
'Someone who isn't inferior in status and is simply... Ah!'
A person came to Raon's mind.