The atmosphere throughout the Valecrest Manor during the evening carried an unusual sense of liveliness rarely seen within the enormous estate, as servants, attendants, and maids moved hurriedly through the corridors and dining areas with visible urgency while soft lights gradually illuminated the white-and-navy interiors beneath the descending night. The polished floors reflected the warm glow of the mana lamps while distant footsteps and quiet instructions echoed throughout the manor as preparations continued without pause.

And amidst all that movement—

Whispers quietly spread.

"I heard young master Damon is leaving tomorrow morning..."

"...Really?"

"Yes... that’s why tonight’s dinner is being prepared personally under Master’s orders..."

The maids continued working while exchanging hushed murmurs between themselves, careful not to speak loudly enough for anyone important to overhear.

"But honestly..."

One of the younger maids hesitated before lowering her voice further.

"...young master really changed a bit this time, didn’t he?"

Immediately, several nearby attendants glanced around nervously before another servant quietly nodded.

"H-he still caused quite a lot of disturbance..."

"T-that’s true..."

"...but he didn’t hurt anyone unnecessarily this time."

One of the guards standing nearby while carrying supplies quietly joined the conversation afterward.

"I heard young master even sparred personally with the manor guards," he muttered. "And after beating everyone half to death, he still sent medicine and healing potions for them afterward."

A faint awkward silence followed.

"...That 1st part sounds exactly like young master, but the latter half..." another servant whispered weakly.

A few soft laughs escaped afterward.

Then another maid quietly spoke while arranging dishes upon a tray.

"Maybe Crownspire Academy really changed him..."

"Or maybe young lady Cecelia did..."

The surrounding servants quietly exchanged glances afterward.

Because honestly—

None of them truly knew anymore.

Meanwhile, as night fully descended upon the Valecrest Manor and the grand estate became illuminated beneath soft golden mana lights, Damon himself quietly walked through the corridors alone.

Tonight, instead of his usual academy attire or casual clothing, Damon wore a neatly pressed white shirt tucked cleanly into black formal trousers, the refined simplicity of the outfit giving him an appearance far calmer and more mature than the violent heir the manor once feared. His white hair reflected faintly beneath the warm corridor lights while his composed footsteps echoed softly against the polished floor as he descended the enormous staircase leading toward the lower halls.

Servants immediately lowered their heads respectfully whenever he passed.

Yet compared to before—

The atmosphere surrounding him no longer felt purely fearful.

There was caution still.

Respect.

Nervousness.

But the suffocating terror that once dominated the manor whenever Damon appeared had gradually weakened without anyone truly realizing when it happened.

Eventually—

Damon entered the grand dining hall.

And the moment he stepped inside—

His eyes paused slightly.

Because this time—

He was not alone.

The enormous dining hall illuminated beneath dozens of elegant mana chandeliers had already been fully prepared, while servants and attendants continued moving hurriedly around the massive table carrying in one luxurious dish after another. The aroma of expensive food and desserts filled the warm atmosphere while polished silverware and crystal glasses reflected beautifully beneath the lights overhead.

Meanwhile, seated upon smaller chairs specially prepared beside the main dining seats—

Saffron and Cecelia were already there.

Cecelia sat quietly while her unfocused eyes moved curiously around the brightly illuminated dining hall, her small hands resting carefully upon her lap as though trying her best to behave properly.

Meanwhile, Saffron attempted maintaining a serious expression despite clearly looking uncomfortable dressed in formal clothing.

The moment Damon entered—

Both children instinctively looked toward him.

And seeing that scene—

Damon quietly paused for a brief moment.

Then inwardly—

A faint sigh escaped him.

...A family dinner before I leave, huh?

Damon quietly walked forward after entering the grand dining hall before eventually taking his seat at the long table prepared beneath the warm golden glow of the enormous mana chandeliers hanging overhead. The polished silverware reflected softly beneath the lights while servants and attendants continued moving carefully around the hall carrying dish after dish toward the table with disciplined precision.

Meanwhile, seated nearby, Saffron instinctively straightened his posture slightly the moment Damon sat down, though he still tried maintaining a composed expression despite the visible awkwardness lingering around him. Beside him, Cecelia quietly tilted her head slightly toward Damon’s direction as though sensing where he had seated himself before softly relaxing afterward.

Then—

Heavy footsteps echoed faintly throughout the dining hall.

Almost instantly—

The servants standing throughout the room stiffened.

And a moment later—

Duke Valecrest entered the hall.

The atmosphere itself seemed to grow heavier the moment his figure appeared beneath the lights, his broad frame wrapped within dark formal clothing while his fierce golden eyes calmly swept across the table before him.

And for the first time in what felt like years—

All three of his children sat there together.

Saffron.

Cecelia.

And Damon.

An unreadable expression slowly surfaced across the Duke’s face for the briefest moment after seeing the scene before him.

Then it disappeared just as quickly.

Without speaking anything further, Duke Valecrest calmly walked toward the head seat positioned at the end of the table before sitting down silently.

Almost immediately afterward—

The remaining dishes were brought forward.

Elegant roasted meat glazed with fragrant sauces, fresh bread still carrying warmth from the ovens, rich soups layered with mana herbs, grilled fish prepared carefully beneath delicate seasonings, expensive desserts decorated beautifully with cream and fruits, and countless side dishes worthy of a ducal household gradually filled the enormous dining table beneath the soft lights.

Meanwhile, Damon quietly observed the meal spread before him.

Then subtly—

His eyes shifted toward the side.

Sahira stood there alongside the servants assisting with the dinner preparations, and after noticing Damon’s glance, she quietly gave him a small reassuring nod as though confirming something silently to him.

Only then did Damon finally pick up his utensils.

And soon—

The dinner began.

Yet despite the luxurious atmosphere surrounding the grand hall, the meal itself passed beneath near complete silence.

Only the soft sounds of utensils touching plates occasionally echoed throughout the room while servants moved carefully around the table refilling drinks and replacing dishes whenever needed.

Saffron remained unusually quiet throughout the dinner, clearly aware of the oppressive atmosphere created by the Duke’s presence, while Cecelia occasionally ate sweets quietly beside Damon without fully understanding why the room itself felt so heavy.

Meanwhile, Damon himself remained calm and composed while eating, though inwardly he could not help noticing how strangely unnatural this entire scene felt.

A family dinner.

The thought itself still sounded foreign.

Eventually—

The dinner came to an end.

The servants gradually cleared away the dishes while the family itself remained seated beneath the warm lights and lingering silence of the dining hall.

Then finally—

Duke Valecrest opened his mouth.

"The breach that opened within the Velmora District has been conquered."

The calmness within his deep voice immediately drew everyone’s attention.

"Although there were losses..."

A faint pause followed.

"You should return to the academy as soon as possible."

Damon’s brows furrowed slightly after hearing those words.

...Losses?

The Duke had spoken casually.

Yet for someone like him to specifically mention losses—

The situation likely had not been simple at all.

Meanwhile, before Damon could continue that line of thought further—

A small hesitant voice softly entered the silence from beside him.

"A-are you really going, big brother?"

For a brief moment after Cecelia’s hesitant question echoed softly throughout the grand dining hall, even the atmosphere itself seemed to still slightly beneath the warm chandelier lights.

Because not only Damon—

Even Duke Valecrest himself unexpectedly turned his gaze toward the little girl.

Cecelia sat quietly upon her small chair while lightly clutching the fabric of her dress within her tiny fingers, her unfocused eyes lowered slightly while a visible sadness lingered across her soft expression after asking the question. Compared to the timid little girl who rarely spoke during meals before, the fact that she had gathered enough courage to ask Damon directly already felt surprising enough.

Meanwhile, Damon quietly looked at her for a moment before his eyes slowly shifted toward the side.

And there—

Saffron sat unusually silent.

The little boy clearly attempted maintaining his usual stubborn expression, yet the slight tension within his shoulders and the faintly lowered gaze lingering across his face made his emotions painfully obvious.

...So even this brat looks depressed, huh?

A small chuckle unexpectedly escaped Damon afterward.

The sound itself immediately caused both children to glance toward him again.

Then Damon leaned slightly back into his chair before casually looking toward Saffron.

"What?" he asked calmly, faint amusement lingering within his voice. "You don’t want me to leave either?"

Saffron visibly flinched the moment the question directly landed on him.

Almost instantly, the little boy straightened up while trying forcing an annoyed expression onto his face.

"T-that’s not it!" he protested quickly. "I-it’s just..."

His voice hesitated awkwardly afterward.

"...I still haven’t completed my challenge with you yet..."

The moment those words left his mouth, even he himself seemed embarrassed afterward, immediately looking away while pretending to focus elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Damon simply laughed quietly after hearing that response.

Not mocking.

Genuine.

Then slowly—

His gaze moved back toward Cecelia again.

The little girl still looked visibly sad despite remaining silent now, her small hands resting quietly against her lap while waiting for his answer.

And seeing that expression—

Damon eventually raised one hand before lightly patting her soft white hair once more.

"I’ll be back soon," he said calmly.