[12.30 PM - Crentine Estate, Noble District]

  Dion Cren, the head of the House of Crentine hold a feast attended by all family members including the cadet branch of the family. They are celebrating the coming of age of two of their younglings, Cude Valias and Emma Sardi. Given the primogeniture culture in Rosmayne, Dion ordered his first son, Evran Cren to give the opening speech to welcome the guests.

  After the speech, Dion invited both Cude and Emma to sit next to him. He throws a joke as he sends Laura and her mother away to swap their seats with the stars of the day, which is followed by hearty ughs from the audience. Then, they enjoy their lunch while exchanging tales and keeping up with the rests of the family. The dining hall becomes very loud in no time, and it sts until the end of their meal.

  Finally, the head chef rings the bell and it's time for dessert. When everyone is too full to engage in another high-spirited talk, Dion takes the bridle of the event once more.

  "Truly, it has been very pleasant for me to share this table with all of you. Let me take this moment to once again remind you that the House of Crentine is built on harmony and unity. Let all the parricide happen to any other house but ours. We must always care about each other as we cared for ourselves."

  Dion tells some stories of the family matters, troubles, and disputes. Then, he calls out to the house members who are involved and indebted to him as he helped them resolved the mentioned problems. His legitimacy and leadership aura flows in every word he weaves, invoking the sense of respect and belonging to all.

  "In accordance with that, I believe we are equally invested in the growth in each of our family member. Today, we welcome two of our children into adolescence. Let us share a toast for Cude and Emma!"

  Following the raise of gsses, Cude and Emma shows off their skills to the whole family. Emma pys a lyre and sings a Barban folk song. She demonstrates a great high pitch control that gives shivers to the skin. Her parents looked very proud of her as they kissed her forehead after the performance.

  Meanwhile, Cude, who come up right after Emma, had something else to show. He holds his hands together and closes his eyes.

  "Disperse. Flutter. Preserve."

  A small fireball turns up in the palm of his hands. Then, it scatters into small fme butterflies. They fly up towards the giant chandelier above the dining table and successfully light up every candle. Seeing this, everyone gives a standing appuse. It's common to see magic manifest amongst people during his age, in fact, it's one of the reasons that Prima Risera was held on the fifteenth birthday of a Rosmesian. However, such degree of control is a sight to behold. It tells of the caster's resolve to master their craft.

  "Superb! We have been blessed with bright children! Comely and talented!"

  Dion gives Cude and Emma a light peck on the cheek and embraced their shoulders.

  "Ingrid would be proud, Cude. I will pay a visit to her next month."

  "Please, Diopa, you are a busy man. You shouldn't worry about my te mother. She is at peace and her resting pce is well take care of."

  ". . . I am so proud of you, son. You too, Emma. Keep at it, you both are doing great."

  Cude and Emma bowed down as Dion tapped their shoulders. Back at the table, they continue having light talks with each other until suddenly, the most feared dy of the house cleared her throat, demanding for attention. It's the first daughter of Dion, Cra Crentine staring at both of them.

  The dy, donned in bck dress as if it was funeral, is as intimidating as ever. Her brows that almost seem to be always furrowed, her expression that constantly gives unsatisfied look, and her signature fishtail-halo braid hairstyle never fails to make everyone turns silent. While her brother, Evran, was raised to protect the house from outside disruption, Cra was a self-taught overseer who vowed to ensure the internal affairs of the family remains in check.

  "Speaking of coming of age, I believe you two already have a clear long-term pn, don't you?"

  "Um . . . Yes, Aunt Cra. I am pnning to study-."

  "I have but little concern about that, Emma. For I know that the sons and daughters of our house will always walk the best path possible - in academic and career at least."

  "Y-Yes, I'm sorry Aunt Cra."

  "I'm talking about something much more important. I must know if you two had found any promising marriage prospect."

  "Cra, they still have three years until-"

  When Dion tries to mediate, his daughter immediately gres at him. After all, they previously had agreed that this matter would be handled by her, for a valid reason. Thus, Dion just shook his head in resign and drink his cup empty.

  "Must I remind you that your very OWN daughter is LONG PAST the prime age to get married thanks to you and mother being too soft on her and nodding to every nonsense she has?!"

  Dion, his wife - Lara, and Laura all looked away, they didn't dare to look at her eyes at all.

  "I-I think being twenty-six is not that too -!"

  "Oh, be quiet! How dare you talk back after everything I have done for you?!"

  Laura ended up getting hit with her sister's folding fan repeatedly in the head. Her husband, a wealthy guild master of Soldanke merchant guild, tried to stop Cra from beating her sister but ended up getting smacked in the loin, leaving him growling in pain. Cra is so angry and embarrassed at the same time for having to bring this up in front of everyone. Yet, she feels the need to do it in hope that her sister would feel shame and starts to change to be someone she desires - A wife of a reputable man, just like she is.

  "Do you know how much time it took me to set you up with the Duke of Sarbonna's son? The Marquess of Ostrya? The Marquess of Catalpa? And what about Knight Commander Tristan? Instead of engaging with him like a normal dy should, you poisoned him! Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you put me through?"

  "S-Sister, you are exaggerating! I didn't poison him! It was just a tonic! With . . . With a little side effect! But I already perfected it! It won't happen again, I swear!"

  "He spent two hours in the bathroom thanks to your stupid tonic!"

  "But he got very strong for four hours before the toilet time! And he agreed to it! He even enjoyed a little too much it I daresay!"

  "Oh, Goddess! Spare me from your noise and keep your mouth shut or I'll sew it myself!"

  The others ughed at the sibling squabbles as they bite down the sweet apples on their ptes. After the tense situation subsides, Cra controls her rage and turns her attention back to Cude and Emma.

  "Now, before you suffer the same miserable fate as this fool. Tell me, do you have any interesting potential match for your future marriage?"

  Cude and Emma looked at each other. At first, they hesitate to answer, but then Emma is finally able to muster up a courage. She raises her hand in a bashful manner. She blinks a lot and giving every single sign of being infatuated on someone.

  "A-Actually, I have been exchanging letter with someone. It's been three months now, I suppose. A-And we see each other from time to time also - I mean, whenever he had the chance to go to the capital, since he is from Etherton."

  "Name and titles, Emma," Cra gazed sharply.

  "A-Ah yes, Aunt Cra. His name is Pierre Juraine. He is a knight."

  Cra raised her eyebrows. The name doesn't ring a bell at all for her. She looked at the other adults at the table, and they all shook their heads, telling her that they have no idea about the man Emma was talking.

  "Tsk. It's just a phase and you'll get over it eventually. Focus on your study for now, and when the right time comes, you will find a better man."

  "Wait."

  Dion raised his hand and then whispers to his wife, who was standing beside him as she pours him another cup of apple juice.

  "Do you mean Pierre Juraine the knight captain?"

  Emma nods slowly, and once again, Dion whispers to his wife.

  "Actually, a few months ago, the queen gathered the officials for a meeting regarding the hero Randia. Me and your mother were there," Dion said to Cra.

  "Fortunately, she was always good with her memory. She remembered that they summoned a knight captain named Pierre Juraine to presents his testimony."

  "Randia? What a bad joke. For her to waste her days dawdling on some silly rumors, it seems that the queen has too much leisure time on her pte."

  "Hm. I wouldn't be so sure about that. The evidence presented at that time was solid. Moreover, I heard that young Aramian envoy seemed to confirm the finding also. Err. . . what was his name again?"

  ". . . Nichos," Lady Lara softly speaks.

  "Ah, yes, Nichos. Thank you, my love."

  Cra goes silent for a while. She keeps staring at her parents and Emma from behind her folding fan. She seemed to be in deep thought at first, but then she is exchanging a few whispers with her husband.

  "I have heard nothing of house Juraine, presumably just a barefoot szchta. That is to be said, but I admit that it takes a considerable amount of skill . . . or luck, to be granted an audience with the crown."

  "Hmph. Fine. I will be watching, but he needs to prove himself more to get me to bless your retionship. Do you understand, Emma?"

  "Yes, Aunty. Certainly."

  Next, Car's gaze is turned towards Cude. The young boy looked away at first, but he soon realizes that he cannot get away from her and her questions.

  "Your turn, Auri. Three years study in Varnaria must have left a strong impression on you. Now, tell me, has there been any girl that piques your interest? What about the Duchess of Tuscany's daughter? I reckon that you attended the same school as her."

  The terms auri has the meaning of 'golden boy'. It refers to Cude's hair as being the only one in the House of Crentine that was born with blonde hair, making him stands out from the others. Everyone else in the family is born with dark brown hair. Hence, auri becomes his nickname in the family ever since he was little.

  "Lady Octavia is smart as she is beautiful. However, she is unfortunately rather prone to sickness. I heard that she contracted the consumption."

  "Is that so? What a pity. So, is there anyone else that caught your eyes?"

  ". . . Today, I saw a girl in the festival. Yet, I don't know her name."

  "Describe her then. One of us might recognize her."

  Cude expined the girl he saw during the Prima Risera. Her ptinum hair that brilliantly glitters under the soft morning ray. Her eyes that are so violet as if there were hardy geranium gracefully rest inside them. Her dashing dress and luminous confidence that shines and captivates like nothing else. Also, the sunflower insignia that was adorned in her white robe.

  "Sunflower?"

  Car is trying to jog her memory, but nothing came up. Until, suddenly Laura yelled in excitement and startles everyone.

  "Perhaps the girl you are talking about is Lisabelle Arbona?!"

  Everyone is starting to murmur, especially the elders. They are surprised to hear a name they haven't heard for years. To make it even more confusing, Lady Lara suddenly starts weeping out of nowhere, until Emma had to offer her seat to calm her down. Seeing her mother crying while she herself couldn't remember anything, Cra gets a little bit anxious.

  "Ehm! Will someone expin to me about this Arbona girl?"

  "Don't you remember, Cra? When you were ten, you caught hypothermia when you were lost in the wild after sneaking out to py in the snow with your dog, Haggi, during our vacation on Lord Bartra's vil." Dion expined.

  ". . . Huh?"

  "Your mother cried all the time as we were looking for you. Several hours ter, your brother found you bundled up in yers of jackets while being hugged by three men, all wearing nothing but a piece of shirt. Luckily, the search party quickly arrived and all of you could be saved from dying."

  Dion took a pause as he patted his wife's back to calm her down.

  "So, basically speaking, you owe a huge debt of gratitude to the te Master Graham Arbon, the te Lieutenant Lubin, and Master Vincent Bidau. Ever since that day, we always stock up our garment and fabrics from them."

  "Lisabelle . . . is Master Graham's granddaughter," said Lady Lara with quavering and whimpering voice.

  "Her parents were killed by bandits along with her unborn sibling. Master Graham himself was so brokenhearted that he died soon after that tragedy. Now, she only has her grandmother and her uncle, Eleanor and Liam Arbon."

  "Duh, Mother. You have always been such a crybaby about things like this. Take it easy, will you? It's all in the past. I'm sure everything is fine for her now," Laura, who had approached her mother, hugged her.

  After talking her heart out, Lady Lara is feeling lighter. However, one of the house members suddenly raised his hand.

  "I'm sorry for interrupting this doleful mood, my dy. But this girl, Lisabelle Arbona . . . Wasn't she the one who got tried in the juvenile court several months ago? She was charged with a murder attempt towards a military woman."

  The dining hall became noisy once more. They are debating whether it's wise to let such a questionable individual being listed as a marriage prospect of the house. Most of them was against the idea despite the backstory given by Lady Lara, yet all in all, the st call falls upon Cra to decide.

  "Mother, when did Master Graham passed away?"

  "Seven years ago, I think. Almost one year after the death of his daughter and her husband."

  Cra takes a sip of water before continuing. By the look of her eyes alone, everyone knows that she has made a decision.

  "To experience such a tragedy at a young age must have left a scar within her. I will look into her case to see if she was actually mentally troubled to be able to commit such a heinous act, or whether there is more to that story. That matter aside, Master Vincent Bidau runs one of the rgest companies in the entire Seraina, and there are certain melodramatic tales about him and Master Graham Arbon that are famous among tradesman," Cra looked at her husband, which he responded with a nod.

  "If his loyalty to Master Graham is as true as those stories go, Lisabelle will undoubtedly inherit the Arbon Company. That could be both good and bad news, for you, Auri."

  *Tap* Cra folds her folding fan and points it towards Cude.

  "The good news is that I will give you full support to embrace her to our family, and I will make sure not to see any rejection."

  As Cra sharply gazed to the previously murmuring members of the house, they all look down with cold sweat.

  "However, the bad news is . . . You will enter a competition against Master Vincent's first son; Armes Bidau. He is an extremely decorated individual. He graduated the Emir Abbas Royal Academy of Engineering with flying color, and immediately entrusted with the construction of Samah Aqueduct, including the Noria of Ramada - both of which was completed with little to no trouble. On top of that, he is supposed to be very talented at archery."

  "Now, after knowing this, are you still bold enough to set your eyes on her, Auri?"

  Cude didn't answer right away. He collects his thought and pn his words carefully.

  "I will do what I must, Aunt Cra. I shall spare no effort for the glory of our house," Cude stared back right at Cra's eyes unblinking.

  ". . . Hmph. I expected a more concrete resolve. But I suppose it's enough of an answer. As long as you are aware, Auri."

  .

  .

  .

  "Now, what should I do about you, Laura?"

  Seeing her sister so out for blood on her, Laura Crentine can do nothing but hide behind her mother and pray.