Sienna leaned back in her chair, lazily watching with a smile as grandma Byra tore into Numia. Not one person had stepped in to defend Numia. She wondered if that was because the children had gone to school, so there was no need to hold back for Corven Junior’s sake.

"You are not just shameless but incapable of having proper vision. Your son is not an adult!! Have you thought of what people will say when they discover that Sienna is sending out shirtless images of an underage beast man? It is not only inappropriate but it is a crime." The old woman’s voice cut through the morning air like a whip.

Sienna’s hand dropped, dangling limply for a few seconds. She blinked once. twice, then glared at Numia.

Numia, who had mastered the art of looking both offended and clueless at the same time waved her hand dismissively. "Mother, It’s not a big dead. I am the one that took the pictures, would I set my son up for ruin in the hands of a pervert? The queen is one of us. She is practically a Rocland."

Sienna’s mouth dropped down.

Someone dropped a spoon.

Ali licked honey from her fingers really loudly. And Eli just sighed.

Grandma Byra whacked Numia on her head with her hand. "How dare you say that? Are you trying to get all of us killed? If I ever hear that nonsense again, I will wring your neck."

Rubbing her head, Numia whined. "Mother, stop hitting me. In the end, all I am doing is for Corven’s future. He is a strong young beast man with a successful future. The queen should see his...assets. It’s just promotion. Think of it like advertising fine horse at the market."

Sienna nearly choked on her saliva. "Did you just compare your son to a horse?"

Linera shook her head while grandpa Corven glared at Christo, like he always did, when Numia started trouble.

Numia sniffed. "Not just any horse, a prize stallion, thank you very much,"

Grandma Byra slammed her cane on the table, rattling cups and sending Ali into a fit of giggles. "Mama, uncle Corven is a horse."

Sienna pulled her daughter to lean back in her chair. "Shhh. Stay out of this Ali."

"You have lost your mind." Grandma Byra screeched. "This family has dignity. We don’t pimp out our sons and daughters. We are not without shame."

Numia rose, leaning towards grandma Byra, her voice dripping with false reason. "It’s not shame, it’s strategy. The royals only like strong matches for their females. Sienna is the queen’s friend. We have the greatest connection into their marriage circle. Why not let Sienna casually mention my son, praise his physique and talk him up to unmarried princesses?"

Sienna raised her hand weakly. "Correction: I am not the queen;s acquaintance. I am her reluctant breakfast companion. She is the queen, I can’t claim friendship in her absence."

Her grandmother jabbed a finger at Numia. "See, even Sienna has more sense than you despite being younger. You are obsessed! Every day it’s the same story with you--trying to marry Corven into a noble or a royal family. You don’t think of his grades but you think of climbing the ladder and becoming important. You don’t think of improving yourself or helping this family in any other way. Your mind is filled with only rubbish. You want to send shirtless pictures of your son to the queen! What next, will you send his laundry too?"

Numia’s eyes lit up. "That’s not a bad idea. She can see that he is clean and tidy."

Many groans came from different directions.

Sienna just laughed. Was Numia always stupid or did she choose to pretend to be stupid, depending on the circumstances?

"Mama, send my pictures too." Ali said, waving her sticky fingers.

Sienna muttered, "I would rather keep them for myself."

Her grandmother meanwhile, was being pulled back by Christo because she was trying to kick Numia. "You fool, you are dragging this family into ridicule. Do you want us to be the biggest mockery of the kingdom? Do you want others to say we are desperate for power and wealth?"

Numia puffed like a pigeon. "Desperate? No. Ambitious, just like every other person in this kingdom. Visionary. I see opportunities where others see obstacles."

Christo suddenly screeched, angrily, loudly. He finally saw it fit to say something. "Opportunities? You mean embarrassing our son until he becomes the poster boy for desperation among the daughters of the nobles? My mother is right. Forget it."

Numia ignored him. She turned to Sienna. "Sienna...my niece. You are close to the queen. As long as she steps in, what will people have to talk about? And you don’t have to make it obvious that you are matchmaking. Just slip the picture into conversation."

Sienna was blown away. "How is that?"

Numia raised her hands. "Say something like, ’Oh by the way, my nephew Corven Junior Rocland is very strong, here’s proof.’"

Sienna stared at her aunt. "Do you hear yourself? That sounds like the most stupid sales pitch in history. It is so obvious that it screams what you are after."

Aunt Selra lowered the spoon she had been licking only a moment ago. "Exactly. If you want to sell your son, at least do it with dignity. Write a poem, compose a song, make him trend on the BeastNet for his cuteness and brains. Don’t leak shirtless pictures!"

Numia’s eyes gleamed. "Trending on the BeastNet...." She clapped her hands once. "Aha! why didn’t I think of that? Mija is an influencer, I am sure she can find way to help me out with this. Maybe we can have Corven Junior wield a pan like Sienna, muscles shining under the sun--"

Sienna groaned. "Please don’t. I don’t want my pans tied to your mess."

Ali piped up, "Mama, can I sing the song? I will make it funny!" She began humming a tune about the foods they had eaten for breakfast.

Sienna pinched the bridge of her nose. She pushed her empty plate away and rose. Breakfast was over and entertainment in the form of Numia’s dram was over. It was time to do something much more useful.

Numia was chattering away meanwhile, planning a whole photo shoot for Corven Junior, Sienna and the queen!!

"Numia, listen carefully." Sienna said sternly, "I will not under any circumstances send shirtless pictures of your son to the queen. I will not do a photo shoot with him and invite the queen to join us. I will not recommend Corven Junior to the queen. I have said this before and I am saying it again. If you are desperate to join the royal family, maybe you should divorce my uncle and marry one of them."