"Mommy, who is this?" An adorable voice asked before a squeal left his lips when something white and fluffy jumped on him.
A fair woman's hand held onto her son's back and chuckled at the embarrassed look on her son's face after he got hold of the fluffy being. The poor boy's face was as red as his hair, causing the occupants in the room to frown in concern.
Another woman frowned subtly and lifted a finger. The white fox floated away from the poor boy immediately. She didn't look amused as she brought it close, staring at it with a sharp stare.
"Elias, do you want seafood or cat food for dinner? I'm sure that you would like those."
The white fox went still and started to shake its head uselessly. It even looked at the servants for help, but they all looked down as if they had seen and heard nothing.
The white fox whined, but it lifted two of its paws. Say whatever you want, but he liked cat food better than those slimy sea animals!
The white-haired woman huffed and let go of the fox, who went to hide in another corner of the room immediately.
The red-haired woman covered her mouth and chuckled, "It seemed that Miss Celaena never goes easy on her charge."
Celaena, the white-haired woman, huffed. Her face was stoic and cold, but those who knew her well could only shake their heads when they saw the doting and fond gaze. Her face was the very embodiment of contradiction.
"And you seemed free to come to the Eastern Continent for a visit, Jour."
Jour sighed, "How cold, and I wonder how your husband even finds beauty in you."
"Jour, my face is enough to let the Royals and the imperial family grovel to ask my hand in marriage."
That was a fact, and the poor little boy, who was escorted out to get change, nodded his head in agreement. He had never seen anyone more beautiful and unique than his mother, and he believed no one could top his mother. However, who would have thought that a friend of hers would be one of a kind as well?
Seeing the curious gaze of the young child, Celaena turned to him and smiled softly. Her unusual eyes were highlighted by her pale complexion, making her look eternal. "Hello, dear. My name is Celaena. What is yours?"
The child was flustered as he stood and made a perfect bow, befitting the heir of a wealthy count. "Hello, Miss Celaena. My name is Cale Henituse. Nice to meet you."
Celaena nodded and looked back at her friend. Eyebrows raised as she saw the sly look on the woman's face. Well, that wasn't a very good sign.
Jour shrugged and elegantly drank the Lippe Tea before putting the cup down soundlessly like the true lady she was. Celaena scoffed at the action but didn't mention the lady's past deeds. There is a child here; no need for verbal violence.
However, Jour thought otherwise. She turned to her son and requested, "Cale dear, would you mind going out to play with Elias for a bit? Mommy has to talk with Aunt Celaena here, okay?"
Cale nodded obediently and went to the white fox. They stared at each other for a while before he motioned toward the ajar door that led to the hallway.
"Would you like to play outside with me?"
Elias looked at his master before nodding excitedly when he saw the signal. He jumped to the door, and Cale followed right after, relieved that the white fox didn't try to avoid him.
The servants bowed and followed after the youngster, but not before closing the door to the drawing room.
All that was left was for the two women to talk peacefully.
"Now that my child is gone," Jour leaned back leisurely, a rogue grin on her face. "I didn't expect the same heartless Empress would be here for a vacation. '"
Celaena tilted her head to the side, an innocent look plastered on her once stern and stoic face. "Oh? Can't I be here for a vacation with my children and do my work simultaneously?"
"Oh, but my empress. Your time is precious. The fact you're here just makes those geezers more greedy for power." Jour took a cookie and popped it into her mouth, her eyes slyly observing the empress before her.
She thought the silver-haired woman would be ticked off at the mention of those greedy nobles, but she was left stunned. The cookie in her hand fell off just as those red lips curled upward.
Celaena tried, but the way her shoulders trembled and the evil smirk were downright unsettling.
It reminded Jour of the time this woman forced two dragons to kneel before her because they destroyed her manmade lake.
"J-Jour…" The handkerchief didn't do its job right at covering the growing smirk. "Did you seriously think that I didn't prepare for their demise?"
Jour's arrogance was gone under the unfocused gaze as she straightened up, but Celaena didn't notice.
"For all I care, they can die for the sin they commit. I'm not their benevolent emperor or their leader."
What Celaena said was fatal, but Jour knew better than to doubt her friend's mentality and humanity. Even after losing her husband to their enemy and the fall of the once-revered empire, her friend had always been the same.
So the same person couldn't leave the citizens of the empire to those rotten nobles. There could only be one way for all of them to follow her.
"But Jour," Celaena rested her chin on her hand on the armrest, "This isn't my problem anymore. They join forces with the Empire, so for all I care, they can rot in hell after their crimes come to light!"
Jour grinned back, and they shared a hearty laugh.
Their laughter could be heard outside, making Cale and Elias look at each other. Chills ran down their spines as if someone had dumped ice water on them.
Cale hugged the fox close as he walked into the dining room, led by the head butler. He whispered, "Do you think Mommy and your master are even talking?"
The fox looked away, and if he were a human, he would have a sheepish smile. 'They are talking about those rotten geezers without a doubt!'
Shaking his head to get rid of the thought that his mother would cause another destruction, Cale looked up to the old butler with a silver monocle.
He asked politely, "Sir Harson, who else lives here?"
"No need to be polite, young master Cale. Please call me Harson comfortably." Harson, the head butler, answered politely with a gentle smile as if he were smiling at his grandson. "Other than Lady Celaena, her two children live here. At this time, they must have already completed their assignment and must be waiting in the dining room."
"Oh…" Cale was excited because he was only allowed to interact with the noble children of the northeastern territory, but he didn't like it. They were all too stiff and arrogant, and wanted to gossip and target each other. It was tiring and annoying.
He wondered if they looked just like their mother.
"Young Master Cale, we have arrived at the dining room." The head butler said with a gentle smile, looking like a grandpa smiling at his grandson.
Cale, who has a similar butler taking care of him, smiled. "Thank you."
The door to the dining room opened, and Cale peered over shyly, contrary to his polite and confident self.
"Hello."