?The next morning, Lassandra woke Aelira gently.

  ?“Good morning, Lady Aelira.”

  ?Aelira yawned, stretching her arms wide. Her eyes were heavy with sleep.

  ?“Mmh... Morning...”

  ?She let Lassandra wash her face with cool water and comb the tangles from her ice-blue hair. Then, she was dressed in a simple, elegant day dress.

  ?“You look lovely,” Lassandra said with a smile. “Shall we go?”

  ?Aelira answered by gripping Lassandra’s hand tightly.

  ?They walked through the quiet corridors. Gold patterns lined the walls, and portraits of stern ancestors watched them from above. The endless dark blue carpet swallowed the sound of their footsteps.

  ?At the end of the hall, two guards pushed the heavy double doors open.

  ?Creaaaak.

  ?The sound echoed as they revealed the Grand Viremont Dining Hall.

  ?It was a massive room. Gold trim sparkled on the walls, and a giant chandelier glittered above like frozen stars. In the middle sat a long table. There was no food yet—only empty silver plates gleaming under the light. The silence in the room felt heavy.

  ?Aelira took her seat quietly. Lassandra stood behind her, a comforting presence.

  ?Aelira stared at the napkin in front of her. It had a picture of a deer jumping over something. She traced the pattern with her finger, trying to distract herself.

  ?The doors opened again.

  ?Three people walked in: her Uncle Celdric, his wife Elda, and their son, Lysric.

  ?Lysric spotted her immediately. His blue curls bounced as he grinned.

  ?“Oh! It’s Little Chump!”

  ?Aelira didn’t say anything. Little Chump. Radish. Cabbage. He had a new stupid nickname every day.

  ?“Lysric! That’s rude,” his mother, Elda, scolded gently. “Apologize.”

  ?“Tch.” Lysric crossed his arms. “Sorry,” he muttered, looking at the ceiling.

  ?“Lysric.”

  ?Uncle Celdric’s voice was deep and sharp. He stood behind his son like a dark shadow. “Do it properly.”

  ?Lysric flinched. He quickly clasped his hands behind his back. “I’m sorry for calling you Little Chump.”

  ?“It’s okay,” Aelira said.

  ?“Oh my,” Elda giggled, covering her mouth. “She is so mature!”

  ?“I apologized, can I go sit now?” Lysric asked.

  ?“Go.”

  ?As Lysric ran to his seat, Aelira saw a terrifying smile coming toward her.

  ?Oh no.

  ?Before she could hide, Aunt Elda was already there.

  ?“You are just too cute!”

  ?Elda’s hands grabbed Aelira’s cheeks. She pulled, squeezed, and squished them like she was kneading bread dough.

  ?“Uugh...” Aelira tried to protest, but her mouth was being squished.

  ?Elda smelled like old books and dried flowers. It suited her. She looked like the type of person who lived in a library or a greenhouse.

  ?“Elda, you’re bothering her,” Celdric said coldly.

  ?Aelira’s shoulders stiffened when Celdric looked at her. His gaze was heavy, making her feel small. She quickly looked down at her napkin.

  ?“But I can’t help it!” Elda protested, her green eyes wide. She looked like a sad pufferfish. “Am I bothering you, Aelira?”

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  ?“Nuh, ish fwine,” Aelira mumbled through the squishing.

  ?“See? She’s fine!”

  ?Aelira heard a soft chuckle from behind her. Lassy is enjoying this...

  ?The doors opened again. Elda finally let go of Aelira’s poor cheeks and went to her seat.

  ?Vivianne entered.

  ?The moment Aelira’s mother walked in, the room went cold. Everyone stopped moving. Even Lysric stopped fidgeting.

  ?Vivianne sat across from Aelira without saying a word.

  ?Aelira stared at her. She wanted to say “Good morning.” She took a deep breath, leaned forward, and opened her mouth.

  ?“G—”

  ?“Where is your husband, Vivianne?” Celdric’s voice cut through the air.

  ?Aelira’s greeting died in her throat.

  ?“Who knows?” Vivianne replied, looking bored. “He could be here, or he might not.”

  ?“It’s your responsibility to ensure he is present. He has been slacking off for years.”

  ?“He is free to do what he wants. Or are you afraid he’ll disrespect Father?” Vivianne smirked. “Don’t worry. He’s too scared to do that.”

  ?“Vivianne—”

  ?Cough! Cough!

  ?Elda suddenly covered her mouth, coughing violently. Her face turned pale.

  ?“Elda?” Celdric’s angry face softened instantly. He leaned toward his wife. “Are you okay?”

  ?“Yes... don’t worry.” Her voice was weak.

  ?“Water! Now!” Celdric barked at a maid.

  ?“You should worry about your own wife, dear brother,” Vivianne said, her voice stinging like a needle.

  ?“Not now, Vivianne.”

  ?“If not now, when? I wonder if the time will ever come.”

  ?“Stop it,” Celdric warned.

  ?Vivianne just smiled. It was a calm, infuriating smile.

  ?The doors opened once more.

  ?Wilkram shuffled in, yawning. He had dark circles under his eyes and looked like he had just rolled out of bed.

  ?“Good morning, everyone.”

  ?He paused, sensing the heavy mood. “Did... something happen?”

  ?No one answered. He slumped into the seat next to Vivianne. He felt her cold eyes on him and shrank into his chair.

  ?“What?” he whispered.

  ?Vivianne ignored him.

  ?Aelira watched them from across the table. They are so far away... Lysric was sitting right next to his parents. Even if he was getting scolded, they were together.

  ?Why am I sitting over here?

  ?She remembered asking once. Her mother had said, “You are just there. Stop asking stupid questions.”

  ?Creak.

  ?The doors opened one last time.

  ?Sylas Viremont entered. The Patriarch. The Ruler of Isen.

  ?The air in the room got heavier. It felt hard to breathe. Everyone stood up immediately.

  ?Sylas looked at each of them with sharp eyes. Then, he waved his hand.

  ?“Sit.”

  ?Everyone sat.

  ?“Looks like everyone is here. Good. Let’s eat.”

  ?Servants quickly filled the table with food.

  ?Celdric had a plate full of meat. Vivianne had a balanced meal. Elda had mostly vegetables.

  ?Aelira had smaller portions, but there were meatballs in front of her. Her stomach growled quietly.

  ?She grabbed her fork. Instinctively, she held it in a fist, ready to stab the meat.

  ?Then she stopped.

  ?“Are we not going to hire an etiquette teacher? Her table manners are... lacking.”

  ?Her father’s words from last night echoed in her head.

  ?Aelira looked around. She watched how her mother held her fork—elegant, precise.

  ?I can do it.

  ?She took a deep breath. Carefully, she placed her index finger on the top of the handle and balanced it with her thumb. It felt weird and heavy. Her fingers trembled a little.

  ?Steady...

  ?She aimed at the meatball. She pushed the fork in.

  ?It slid in perfectly.

  ?She lifted it to her mouth... and took a bite!

  ?“Ha!”

  ?She let out a small, happy sound.

  ?Suddenly, she felt eyes on her. She panicked. She looked at the head of the table, but Grandfather Sylas hadn't even looked up.

  ?“I-I’m sorry,” she whispered, blushing.

  ?The sound of silverware clinking continued. No one scolded her.

  ?From behind, she heard a tiny whisper.

  ?“Good job, Lady Aelira! That was perfect.”

  ?Aelira smiled at her plate, her ears burning red. Lassy saw it.

  ?When the meal was over, silence returned. It was time for Grandfather’s speech.

  ?Wilkram wiped his mouth and started to stand up.

  ?Yank.

  ?Vivianne grabbed his vest and pulled him back down. Hard.

  ?Wilkram blinked, confused. Then he looked at Sylas. Grandfather hadn't dismissed them yet.

  ?Wilkram turned pale. He looked at Vivianne with wide, grateful eyes. She didn't even look at him.

  ?Sylas cleared his throat.

  ?“Yesterday, Vivianne came to me with an interesting idea.”

  ?Everyone looked at Vivianne. She sat calmly, inspecting her fingernails.

  ?Celdric frowned. Interesting idea?

  ?“She said,” Sylas continued, “If we need to raise a hero, why don't we hire a hero?”

  ?Celdric’s hands gripped the arms of his chair. His knuckles turned white.

  ?“Vivianne suggested we ask Zaek Evarard to take Aelira as his apprentice.”

  ?“Zaek Evarard?” Celdric blurted out. “The hero who killed a High Demon?”

  ?“That’s the one,” Sylas smirked. “It’s been a while since I heard that name. Nostalgic.”

  ?Celdric forced a laugh. “You... didn’t accept, right, Father? A hero? That’s madness! They will laugh in our faces. The name ‘Viremont’ will be the laughingstock of the capital if we ask and get rejected!”

  ?“No,” Sylas said calmly. “I accepted. It wouldn’t be bad to see that old dog’s face again.”

  ?“But Father—”

  ?“The merit is worth the risk. Besides... Vivianne didn’t come to me with just this.”

  ?“Didn’t come with just this?” Celdric looked between his father and his sister.

  ?Vivianne finally looked up, a small, triumphant smile playing on her lips.

  ?“Are you questioning my decision, Celdric?” Sylas asked. His voice was low, dangerous.

  ?“N-No. Of course not.” Celdric looked down, clenching his fists under the table.

  ?“Good.”

  ?Sylas’s cold gaze swept across the room. It stopped on Aelira.

  ?“Aelira.”

  ?Aelira straightened her back. “Y-Yes!”

  ?“Zaek won’t pick a student he isn’t interested in. When he comes... show him your determination.”

  ?“Understood!”

  ?“Good. That is all. Leave.”

  ?Sylas stood up and left.

  ?One by one, the others followed.

  ?Aelira remained in her big chair for a moment, the silence ringing in her ears.

  ?Show my determination?

  ?She looked at her small hands.

  ?How do I do that?