The absolute microsecond Eric's footsteps traversed beyond the threshold of the chamber and dissolved into the silence of the expansive hallway, the massive portal closed smoothly with a low acoustic vibration.
The layer of controlled composure expanding across Lucy's features—who remained positioned in immediate proximity to her elder brother—evaporated within a single microsecond. A subtle, mischievous, and enigmatic smile materialized across the contours of her lips.
Without a fraction of forewarning, she translated her right boot forward, delivering a sharp yet light tap directly over the frontal edge of her elder brother's royal footwear.
Immediately following that playful strike, she narrowed her eyebrows fractionally, tilting her neck upward to lock her pupils strictly into Celestian's golden eyes. Allowing a layer of feigned indignation and playful anger to surface across every contour of her countenance, she projected in a sharp yet light vocal frequency:
"Now... he has traversed away from this coordinate, has he not, Brother?"
Even after delivering that sharp tap against her elder brother's footwear, Lucy's momentum remained unquenched. Locking her sharp, crimson-gold pupils strictly onto Celestian's facial features, she unleashed her sequence of inquiries:
"Where have you been vanishing to all these days? Multiple suns have set since your return to this realm!"
Registering his younger sister executing such audacious strikes against his boots while projecting demands, the subtle curve across Celestian's lips deepened fractionally. Without a microsecond of forewarning, he translated his right arm forward with fluid speed.
Reaching behind Lucy, his powerful fingers clamped around the upper fabric of her collar, lifting her entire frame directly upward into the air with a single, effortless motion.
The absolute microsecond Lucy's boots disengaged from the marble floor, her frame remained suspended in mid-air. Locking his luminous golden pupils onto his dangling younger sister, Celestian projected a playful yet commanding vocal tone:
"The threshold of your audacity has escalated significantly... Is this the exact protocol of etiquette you employ while addressing your elder brother?"
Despite remaining suspended in mid-air, zero reduction surfaced within Lucy's fierce demeanor. Attempting to squirm by twisting her legs through the draft, a sharp ignition of defiant resentment flared within her crimson-gold pupils.
Rotating the alignment of her neck to lock her gaze strictly into Celestian's luminous golden eyes, she projected her sharp protest:
"I am by no means audacious or ill-mannered!"
Feeling the firm grip of her elder brother clamped around her collar, she flailed her hands through the air, allowing the intensity of her irritation to deepen across every contour of her face as she continued:
"It is you who has bound me within the strict perimeters of this sanctuary! Had you not imposed such restrictions upon my departure... I would have had zero reason to execute such conduct!"
Sustaining his grip over Lucy as she remained suspended in mid-air, the vector of Celestian's golden pupils rotated, anchoring strictly onto the three young women seated upon the sofa.
Luna remained positioned in an exceptionally relaxed posture, her back resting comfortably against the velvet contours of the sofa. Extending her refined fingers, she lifted a delicate biscuit from the carved platter resting on the table.
Consuming it with measured ease, her calm, sharp pupils strictly tracked the ongoing friction between Celestian and Lucy without projecting any vocal interference.
On the adjacent side, the countenances of Miryana and Alexia presented a starkly contrasting resonance. Seated comfortably upon the sofa, they casually enjoyed the steaming tea served within their intricate porcelain cups.
Watching the sibling squabble unfold, a clear layer of amusement remained anchored across their lips—they were thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
Registering his sister squirming in mid-air alongside the undisturbed detachment of the three seated figures, a light, playful sweetness resonated through Celestian's grave vocal tone:
"The three of you appear to be deriving substantial enjoyment from this spectacle... It seems this precise scenario introduces a high degree of amusement into your cognition."
The absolute microsecond the vibration of Celestian's playful inquiry suspended into the draft, Luna deposited her delicate porcelain tea cup onto the table. A subtle glint ignited within her pupils as she projected in an effortless tone:
"Should we... merely remain seated here in absolute silence then?"
Positioned in immediate proximity to her, Miryana deepened the subtle curve anchored across her lips. Enveloping her refined fingers around her cup, she locked her pupils strictly into Celestian's golden eyes and projected:
"It is simply that a considerable duration had elapsed since we last observed you in this precise demeanor... hence my gaze remained anchored upon you."
Conversely, zero tokens escaped Alexia's lips. Resting her left elbow smoothly against the plush armrest of the sofa, she supported her chin within her palm, silently tracking the entire spectacle through her calm, grave pupils.
Disengaging his gaze from the three countenances, Celestian rotated the alignment of his golden pupils back toward his younger sister suspended in mid-air.
Lucy remained actively squirming in a futile attempt to disengage her clothing from his grip, intense resentment flaring within her crimson-gold pupils.
Observing her persistent struggle, Celestian released a low, grave breath into the draft. Without a microsecond of forewarning, he unclamped his fingers from the fabric of her attire.
The microsecond his grip dissolved, gravitational force pulled Lucy's frame downward, her boots making sharp contact against the marble surface of the floor.
Leaving his younger sister upon the floor, Celestian adjusted the contours of his royal cloak with a fluid motion. Without projecting any additional token, he advanced his long, measured strides directly toward the grand carved portal.
The moment her feet hit the floor, Lucy dusted off her clothes. Seeing her brother walking away, she pouted again:
"Brother! You never listen to me!"
Walking toward the door, Celestian replied calmly without turning back:
"This habit of getting angry over everything... is just like Idar."
Just then, footsteps echoed near the door, and Silvia appeared, stopping right at the entrance. A hint of surprise flashed in her beautiful emerald-green eyes. Looking at Celestian, she asked:
"When did you get back?"
A warm, handsome smile appeared on Celestian's face. Looking at Silvia, he asked back:
"Where were you wandering around?"
Silvia smiled gently and replied:
"I was just in the inner chambers of the palace."
Celestian adjusted his cloak and said casually:
"I arrived just a moment ago... and now I'm heading to my room to get some rest."
Without stopping, Celestian walked past the door and stepped out into the grand hallway.
The smile on Silvia's lips deepened. She immediately matched her pace with his and said with a warm smile:
"I'll come along with you."
She followed closely behind Celestian.
Back in the room, Lucy could only stand there watching her brother leave, while the three women on the sofa quietly watched Celestian walk out into the corridor.