Previously~

  A few moments later~

  All the men, from Thomas to Vincent kneeled in front of the ladies. Their heads down.

  “Now-”

  Olivia started the interrogation.

  —------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Seated regally, Olivia crossed her legs, her sharp gaze sweeping over the men before her.

  "I'll start with the oldest." She turned to Thomas, her voice edged with authority. "Why were you beating up our sons-in-law?"

  Ed and Alex exchanged amused glances before looking at Count Duskrane, their father-in-law, with barely contained curiosity.

  Thomas stammered. "Well… doesn't it bother you? These two barely ever let go of my daughters!"

  Olivia frowned, unimpressed. "It's normal for daughters to visit their family once in a few months."

  Thomas huffed, looking at his daughters for support, but they remained expressionless. "I love them more than you do," he insisted. "I can't sleep without talking to them."

  Olivia let out a sigh, shaking her head. "Oh, please. Every time I tell you to call them on the 'combox,' you say you're too tired and will do it tomorrow!"

  Thomas hung his head, caught red-handed.

  "From now on," Olivia declared, "you’ll talk to them daily."

  A flicker of hope lit up Thomas’s face—only to be crushed immediately.

  "And your punishment—" Olivia continued, cutting him off before he could celebrate, "—is to apologize to the sons-in-law."

  Thomas hesitated. His lips parted in protest, but at Olivia’s piercing glare, he swallowed his pride. Face flushed, he turned to Ed and Alex.

  "I-I’m sorry," he mumbled, the words foreign on his tongue.

  Ed and Alex froze, their jaws practically hitting the floor.

  Frantically, they waved their hands. "It’s alright, father-in-law!" Ed blurted, sweating.

  "Men fight sometimes, no big deal," Alex added quickly, nodding for emphasis. Then, he glanced around. "Please, raise your head!"

  Thomas immediately straightened, but as he tried to inch away, Olivia’s sharp gaze stopped him in his tracks.

  "Where do you think you’re going?" she asked, eyes narrowing. "Sit."

  Like a reprimanded child, Thomas sank back down, placing his hands on his head in surrender.

  Next, Olivia turned to Henry. "Do you realize your mistake?"

  Henry nodded solemnly. "Yes."

  "And what was it?"

  "I should’ve stopped Father, but instead, I joined him." He sighed, turning to Ed and Alex before bowing slightly. "Forgive me."

  Ed scratched his head awkwardly. "It’s fine."

  "Yeah, no hard feelings," Alex added with a casual shrug.

  Henry beamed, looking expectantly at his mother.

  Olivia smiled. "Good. Your punishment is to clean Vincent’s monster farm."

  Henry’s smile shattered instantly. "Wait, what?! But I apologized!"

  "Apologizing doesn’t fix property damage." Olivia’s arms crossed in finality.

  "Property damage?! But Vincent fixed it!" Henry looked around, eyes filled with betrayal.

  Olivia ignored him completely.

  Thomas patted his son's back, shaking his head in mock sympathy. "Good luck shoveling mountains of monster poop, son."

  Henry collapsed onto the floor, his eyes lifeless.

  "Is he in shock?" Ed whispered.

  "That sounds rough…" Alex muttered under his breath.

  Finally, Olivia turned her gaze to Ed and Alex. The two flinched.

  "You two are innocent. Stand up."

  Blinking in disbelief, they wasted no time scrambling to their feet, retreating behind their wives like soldiers escaping the battlefield.

  The room fell silent as everyone's attention shifted to Vincent.

  Unlike the others, the five-year-old looked completely at ease, his big round eyes blinking up at Olivia.

  Amelia, Sophie, and the others couldn’t understand why such an adorable child was being punished.

  Vincent tilted his head innocently. "Why am I being punished, Grandma?"

  The women’s hearts melted instantly. Even Olivia faltered, clearing her throat to regain composure.

  "Vincent," she said, rubbing her temples, "do you really not know your mistake?"

  Vincent pouted slightly. "No."

  Olivia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Where did you learn nine-circle magic like time manipulation?"

  The mood in the room shifted instantly.

  A heavy silence settled. Learning a new type of magic—especially one as advanced as time manipulation—was a major decision requiring careful deliberation.

  Vincent frowned and turned to Thomas, who suddenly found the ceiling incredibly interesting.

  "I told Grandpa to tell you," Vincent muttered.

  All eyes snapped to Thomas.

  Olivia’s arms folded across her chest. "Care to explain?"

  Thomas awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "Well… I was going to tell you—" He hesitated before finally sighing. "You all know Merlin?"

  Everyone nodded.

  "The new archmage who refuses to show his face?" Amelia asked.

  "He was in the news a few weeks ago," Orianne added.

  Thomas hesitated before turning back to Vincent.

  "Merlin… is an alias." He exhaled. "Vincent has been attending the Spectral Tower."

  Silence.

  Then—

  "WHAT?!" Henry shrieked.

  Ed and Alex looked at each other, stunned beyond words.

  Amelia and Sophie froze before breaking into bright smiles and clinging to Orianne.

  "Congratulations, sister!" they cheered, hugging a still-stunned Orianne.

  Olivia, meanwhile, calmly walked up to Thomas and—

  BONK!

  "You old fool! Why didn’t you tell us?!"

  Thomas rubbed his aching head. "I… forgot?"

  Before anyone could react, Henry suddenly lifted Vincent into the air, tossing him up like a trophy.

  "My son is an Archmage!"

  Then, he spun around and rushed to Orianne.

  "Twins, back off from my wife!" he snapped at Amelia and Sophie, before wrapping Orianne in a tight embrace.

  "Dear, did you hear that?! Our son is an archmage!"

  Orianne remained frozen, her mind still processing the revelation.

  After a few moments, color finally returned to her face. She gently pulled Vincent into her arms, her eyes glistening.

  "My son, Mom’s proud of you." She kissed his forehead. "But why didn’t you tell Mother and Father about this?"

  Vincent flinched, avoiding her gaze. His small hands clenched slightly as he hesitated.

  Tears welled up in Orianne’s eyes. "Do you… not trust your mother?"

  Vincent’s lips trembled. He glanced at Henry, who gave him a small nod toward his mother.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Slowly, Vincent’s tiny hands wrapped around Orianne in a hug. "I’m sorry, Mother. I won’t make this mistake again."

  Orianne wiped her tears, pressing a kiss to his temple.

  Just then—

  WAAH! WAAH!

  A piercing cry rang from the doorway.

  "Jonathan!" Thomas barked.

  Almost instantly, the old butler appeared, bowing slightly.

  "What’s this disturbance?" Thomas demanded.

  "My lord, forgive me. Your grandchildren have just woken up."

  Thomas glanced at Olivia, who nodded in understanding.

  "Understood. You may go."

  Jonathan disappeared like a gust of wind.

  Two maids entered, each carrying a baby in their arms.

  Amelia and Sophie immediately reached for them, trying to calm their cries. No success.

  Olivia stepped forward. With a simple gesture, the maids handed her two bottles of milk. The bottles levitated smoothly, feeding the babies without their mothers having to lift a finger.

  Turning to her daughters, Olivia spoke in a gentle but firm voice.

  "Try to feed them yourselves as much as you can. It makes them healthier."

  Sophie nodded, "Understood, Mother." Amelia, blushing slightly, followed suit.

  And with that, the chaos of the night continued.

  With the babies finally calmed and the room settling into a quiet hum, Olivia took a deep breath, rubbing her temples.

  "This night has been exhausting." She glanced at Thomas, who still sat obediently in his spot, hands on his head like a misbehaving schoolboy. "You, get up."

  Thomas, relieved, scrambled to his feet. But before he could retreat, Olivia’s voice stopped him cold.

  "But you’re not off the hook yet."

  Thomas froze mid-step. His shoulders slumped as he turned back. "What now?"

  Olivia’s sharp gaze bore into him. "Hiding something as big as Vincent being the Archmage is unacceptable." She exhaled. "Your punishment is—"

  "Wait!" Henry suddenly interrupted, raising his hand like a desperate student trying to delay a test.

  Everyone turned to him.

  "Mother," he said, clearing his throat, "shouldn't we, uh, celebrate instead?" He gave a forced grin. "I mean, our Vincent is an Archmage!"

  Thomas nodded vigorously, seizing the opportunity. "Yes! This calls for a feast! A grand one!"

  "An excellent idea, father!" Henry quickly agreed.

  Ed and Alex, catching on, chimed in.

  "I second that!" Ed said, lifting his hand.

  "A banquet would be nice," Alex added.

  Even Vincent looked up at Olivia expectantly, eyes shimmering with hope.

  Olivia narrowed her eyes, scanning the room. Every single male was looking at her with hopeful (or desperate) expressions. Even Thomas had his hands clasped together in prayer.

  She sighed. "Fine."

  "YES!" Henry pumped his fist.

  "But," Olivia added, raising a finger, "your punishment stands, Thomas."

  Thomas visibly deflated. "Damn it…"

  Ignoring him, Olivia turned to Jonathan, who had appeared once more, awaiting orders.

  "Prepare for a feast. Let the servants know that the Duskrane household will celebrate tonight."

  Jonathan bowed. "As you wish, my lady."

  And just like that, the atmosphere shifted from one of judgment and punishment to excitement and celebration.

  The grand hall of Duskrane Castle was alive with music, laughter, and the rich aroma of a feast prepared for royalty.

  Golden chandeliers cast a warm glow over the long banquet table, which was overflowing with delicacies. Roasted wyvern meat, fine wines, exotic fruits from distant lands—no expense had been spared.

  At the head of the table, beside Thomas, Olivia sat with her usual composed elegance, though her eyes softened as she watched her family enjoy themselves.

  Thomas, now in much higher spirits, raised his goblet. "To my grandson! The youngest Archmage in history!"

  The hall erupted in cheers.

  Vincent, sitting beside Orianne, blinked in confusion. "Do I have to say something?"

  Henry laughed, patting his son’s head. "Just say thank you, son."

  Vincent nodded. "Thank you."

  Everyone laughed at his simple yet adorable response.

  Meanwhile, Ed and Alex were having a not-so-peaceful dinner experience.

  "You guys are eating too slowly," Amelia scolded Ed, holding a forkful of food to his mouth.

  "Come on, open up," Sophie urged Alex, doing the same.

  "We can eat by ourselves!" Ed protested.

  "Yeah, this is embarrassing," Alex muttered.

  But the twins ignored them, shoving food into their mouths anyway.

  Thomas smirked. "Serves you two right."

  The lively chatter and clinking of glasses filled the hall as the celebration stretched into the night, marking a day none of them would forget.

  As the family sat in the grand dining hall, the air buzzed with cheerful laughter and lighthearted conversation. Jokes were exchanged, glasses clinked, and the warmth of the evening settled over everyone like a comforting embrace.

  Sophie suddenly smirked, nudging Amelia. "Hey, Amy, remember when Henry was being chased by wyverns?"

  Amelia chuckled, nodding. "How could I forget? He was running for his life, screaming the whole time."

  Henry flinched at the mention of it, already regretting his existence.

  Orianne, intrigued, turned to them. "What happened?"

  Henry quickly waved a hand, feigning nonchalance. "Nothing,wife of mine, nothing at all. Just a... minor incident."

  Orianne's curiosity only deepened. Her eyes twinkled mischievously as she looked at Sophie and Amelia. "I’d really love to hear about it."

  The sisters exchanged glances, barely holding back their grins.

  Sophie leaned in. "Well, what happened was..."

  Henry had just turned ten a few weeks earlier, and as usual, he woke up that morning with mischief on his mind. His latest brilliant idea? Hide his sisters' favorite rabbits somewhere they’d never find them.

  And so, he ventured to the Veilspire Mountains, tied the unsuspecting hares to a tree, and returned home, fully prepared to bask in their frustration.

  Except, this time, it didn’t go as planned.

  When Amelia and Sophie couldn't find their beloved pets, they were devastated. Instead of the usual shouting or chasing, they broke into tears, their little faces red and puffy.

  Henry, expecting rage, was instead hit with overwhelming guilt.

  Feeling like the worst brother in existence, he caved immediately and took them to the mountains to retrieve the rabbits.

  Everything was fine. Until it wasn’t.

  Just as they were making their way back, a group of wyverns spotted them. Their hungry eyes gleamed as they licked their fangs.

  Henry's stomach dropped.

  Without hesitation, he scooped up both sisters and bolted down the mountain path, heart pounding like a war drum.

  "WHY?! WHY DID I DO THIS?!" he screamed, dodging branches and leaping over rocks.

  The wyverns gave chase, their thunderous steps shaking the ground beneath them.

  "HELP! SOMEBODY HELP!" Henry bellowed, panic settling deep into his bones.

  Back in the present, Sophie burst into laughter. "Orianne, you should’ve seen him!"

  Henry groaned, rubbing his temples. "Can we not—?"

  "He was screaming like a banshee," Amelia added, smirking. "And he kept making these desperate promises, saying he’d donate all his pocket money to the temples if he survived!"

  The entire table erupted in laughter.

  But then, the Countess tilted her head, smiling knowingly. "Oh, but aren't you forgetting what happened after that?"

  Amelia’s smile widened as she picked up where she left off.

  "Both of our rabbits were crushed under the wyverns’ feet before we could reach them," Amelia said dramatically. "We ran as fast as we could, but they were closing in on us."

  Henry groaned, sinking lower into his seat. He knew exactly where this was going.

  "And then," Amelia continued, "Henry tripped on a rock. Face-planted right into the dirt."

  The entire hall snickered.

  "Both of us went flying toward the wyverns," Sophie added. "At that moment, we thought we were done for."

  "But then," Amelia said, turning to Henry with a proud expression, "our dear brother suddenly yanked a small knife from his belt and threw it at the closest wyvern—"

  "It was pure desperation," Henry muttered under his breath.

  "—but the moment the knife left his hand, it turned into an Aura Blade and struck the wyvern dead on the spot!"

  Everyone at the table looked at Henry in shock.

  Even Vincent, who had been quietly listening, leaned forward in fascination. "Father, you awakened your aura at ten?"

  Henry coughed into his fist. "That’s not the point here."

  Thomas chuckled. "No, no, let them continue. I’m enjoying this."

  Edward, now fully invested, asked eagerly, "What happened next?"

  Amelia took a sip of water before continuing.

  "Henry rushed back and shoved us behind a tree. We thought the wyverns would charge straight at us, but they actually froze. They had just watched one of their own drop dead in an instant."

  Alexander let out a small laugh. "And?"

  "The silence only lasted for a moment. The wyverns were pissed. They charged again—"

  "And then Henry," Sophie interjected, barely holding back laughter, "he danced in the middle of chaos, saying he killed a wyvern. Then, grabbed his knife, covered it in aura, and just—leapt straight into them, laughing like a complete madman!"

  The table erupted in disbelief.

  "Wait, hold on—" Edward laughed, wiping a tear. "Brother-in-law, were you on something?"

  Amelia shot him a glare, and he quickly pressed a finger to his lips.

  "Henry fought all of them like that," Amelia continued, shaking her head. "He slashed through four of them, laughing maniacally the whole time. By the end, he could barely stand."

  The entire room was captivated by the retelling. Even Olivia, who usually remained composed, was listening intently.

  "But then," Amelia said, turning to the corner of the room, "just when he was about to collapse, a wyvern sneaked up on him from behind."

  She locked eyes with Jonathan, standing silently near the wall.

  "And that’s when Uncle Jonathan saved him."

  All eyes turned to the old butler. He gave a small nod, his expression unreadable.

  Olivia smiled. "Henry passed out, covered in blood, pus, and wounds. The sisters were so scared, they cried all night by his side until they fell asleep."

  Henry sighed, shaking his head. "When I woke up, my whole arm was drenched in snot." He gave his sisters a pointed look.

  Sophie and Amelia instantly turned red.

  "Why would you bring that up?!" Sophie spluttered.

  The table exploded with laughter again.

  Orianne smiled at Henry, warmth in her eyes. "I’m proud of you." She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.

  Vincent, who had been listening in admiration, suddenly raised his hand.

  Olivia gestured for him to speak. "Yes?"

  Vincent looked at Henry, eyes shining. "Did Father really donate his money to the temple?"

  The entire room fell silent.

  Henry gulped.

  Before he could answer, Thomas smirked, taking a sip of wine. "He didn’t."

  Vincent’s hopeful expression crumbled.

  Olivia, shaking her head in amusement, added, "He said Jonathan saved him, not any god from the temple. So the deal was off."

  The entire hall erupted into laughter again.

  Henry simply sighed, knowing there was no escaping this one.

  As the celebration carried on, Vincent quietly slipped away from the dining hall.

  He walked toward the baby room, his expression calm—except for the slight smirk curling at the corner of his lips.

  He reached the door and placed a hand on it.

  "Let’s meet our dear reincarnators, shall we?" he murmured, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.

  CREAK.

  The door slowly swung open.