The atmosphere in the drawing room of the Duke Altavis residence shifted instantly. The silence that had hung in the air, born of shock, slowly thawed, replaced by a wave of warmth spreading to every corner. The eyes of everyone present—Duke Elgard, Duchess Larina, and even King Nalvon—were wide open. Yet, this shock was not rejection. There was absolutely no resistance radiating from their faces. Instead, broad smiles began to form, sincere and full of joy.
The prospect of a grand Altavis family banquet, a magnificent celebration that would become the talk of the entire kingdom, made their enthusiasm overflow. Duke Elgard was already envisioning the main hall's decorations, while Duchess Larina looked radiant as she thought of gowns and guests.
For Kazien, this was not merely a party. It was the culminating moment he had waited for with such patience: his engagement to Alvin.
Kazien lowered his head slightly, gazing at the peaceful face of Alvin, who was sound asleep on his lap. Alvin's breathing sounded regular, his chest rising and falling gently. The chance to slide a ring onto the finger of the person he loved most, a symbol of an eternal bond before everyone, was a dream finally coming true. His heart pounded, not from nervousness, but from the warmth spreading rapidly as he imagined Alvin standing beside him at the engagement altar. He could see it clearly—Alvin in formal attire, smiling shyly yet happily, holding his hand before the nobles and the people.
However, amidst that euphoria, Kazien's mind did not fully dissolve into personal happiness. His gaze shifted, sweeping across the room until it stopped at a slightly dimly lit corner. There, Raliana and Ritalia stood stiffly.
The two girls seemed to be trying to hide their nervousness. Although they had been accepted in this environment, there was an invisible barrier they still felt. They were still waiting for certainty, a destiny not yet clearly written regarding their own future. Kazien saw the anxiety in Raliana's eyes, the way she squeezed her younger sister Ritalia's fingers, as if strengthening each other amidst the conversation of these "titans" of power.
Kazien sighed softly, then adjusted his sitting position with very careful, slow movements. He didn't want even the slightest body movement to disturb Alvin's sleep. His left hand still gently stroked Alvin's hair, providing subconscious comfort to the young man.
After ensuring Alvin remained comfortable, Kazien lifted his face, looking at his parents with an expression that shifted drastically—from a gentle lover to a serious negotiator.
"Father, Mother," Kazien said. His voice was not loud, yet it held a weight and authority that instantly drew the attention of everyone in the room. The small laughter and enthusiastic whispers about the party fell silent.
Duchess Larina, who was just about to discuss curtain colors for the party, turned immediately. She saw the seriousness in her youngest son's eyes. "And what is that, Kazien? Speak, my dear."
Kazien wasted no time. "I have a request."
Duke Elgard set down his tea cup, looking at his son with interest. "Speak."
"I request that Father and Mother formally adopt Raliana and Ritalia into the Altavis family," Kazien stated firmly, without a shred of hesitation.
Silence blanketed the room again, but this time it was a different silence. It was the silence of shock at such a specific and sudden request.
Kazien raised his hand, pointing toward the two girls standing like statues in the corner. Raliana's face was pale, while Ritalia's eyes were perfectly round.
"Raliana," Kazien continued, his voice flowing calmly as he explained his reasoning, "is destined to be Dave's future wife."
The name Dave made Duke Elgard raise an eyebrow slightly. He knew who Dave was—the son of Vice Commander Waxler, one of the respected pillars of the military.
"As the son of Vice Commander Waxler," Kazien continued his argument, "their family holds a prominent position in the military and society. For their relationship to run smoothly without damaging gossip, Raliana needs an equal social status. She cannot enter the Waxler family as just a commoner with no background. That would make things difficult for Dave and for herself."
Kazien then shifted his gaze to the younger girl. "And Ritalia is her sister. The two of them are an inseparable package. They have been through many hard things. They deserve the safety, status, and protection that was previously out of their reach. Being part of the Altavis family will provide an umbrella of absolute protection for them."
In the corner of the room, a suppressed sob was heard. Raliana covered her mouth with both hands, her body trembling violently. Beside her, Ritalia looked as if she had momentarily lost the ability to breathe. To become the adopted child of a Duke? To enter one of the four strongest noble families in the kingdom? It was an unimaginable blessing, something they dared not hope for even in their wildest dreams.
Duchess Larina looked at the girls with a mother's instinctive gaze. Her heart was touched. She saw both the fragility and the potential within them.
Without needing a long discussion with his wife, Duke Elgard nodded firmly. He trusted Kazien's judgment completely. "Very well," Duke Elgard answered, his voice deep and soothing. "We will adopt them both. The administrative process will be handled tomorrow morning. Starting today, consider this house your rightful home."
Raliana and Ritalia immediately fell to their knees, weeping with emotion while whispering their thanks repeatedly, though their voices were unclear through the sobs.
"Are there any other requests, Son?" asked Duke Elgard, sensing his son wasn't finished.
"Yes, there are two more!" Kazien answered with full confidence. His gaze sharpened, implying that the next two requests were no less important—perhaps even more crucial.
"Speak!" Duke Elgard encouraged, his back now straight, ready to hear what strategy his genius son was devising.
Kazien shifted his gaze from his parents, now looking straight at Rio. Rio, who had been standing silently as a professional guild overseer, felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as Kazien's sapphire eyes locked onto him.