CHAPTER 19: DISCUSSION

A few gazebos stood among the gardens, their white pillars entwined with vines and blossoms. The faint sound of birds singing mixed with the rustling of leaves, bringing a sense of peace and serenity to the manor’s surroundings.

As they walked closer, the grand main building came into full view, a magnificent structure made of white stone and dark steel accents, tall windows gleaming under the sunlight.

Right before the entrance stood a large, elegant fountain. Crystal clear water cascaded gracefully from the statue of a knight holding a sword toward the sky. The sunlight reflected off the falling water, creating small rainbows in the air.

James slowed his pace, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "It feels like it’s been a while..." he murmured softly as he thought that James’s previous life memory affected his feelings at the moment.

Elara tugged his sleeve with a bright smile. "Pretty, right?"

James nodded gently and patted her head. "Yeah, it really is."

As James stepped through the grand double doors, a wave of nostalgia washed over him for some reason.

The entrance hall of the Steelheart Manor was as magnificent as he knew from memory—vast, with marble floors polished to a mirror-like sheen and tall pillars engraved with intricate patterns of lions and swords, the family’s emblem.

Golden chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, their warm glow illuminating the hall with a soft, regal light. The faint scent of polished wood and blooming lilies filled the air, giving the manor a refined yet homely atmosphere.

Servants lined the hallway respectfully, bowing slightly as James and his family passed. The sound of their footsteps echoed faintly against the marble rhythmically.

They soon turned down a corridor where portraits of past Steelheart Family heads hung on the walls, each one exuding a sense of power and pride. James’s gaze lingered briefly on his late grandfather’s portrait, the man whose shadow still loomed large over the family’s legacy.

Before long, they arrived at a pair of tall oak doors carved with the family crest. Two maids standing nearby pushed them open, revealing the dining room beyond.

Inside, a long dining table made of dark oak stretched across the center of the room, capable of seating at least twenty people. Silverware gleamed under the light of ornate candle trees, and the rich aroma of roasted meat and freshly baked bread wafted through the air.

In the dining room, James sat beside Elara, who had started to eat the dishes quickly as if she hadn’t eaten for a whole day.

"Calm down, Elara. No one is going to steal your food." James patted her small head with a smile.

With her mouth full she mumbled, "Mhmm-mhmm, Elara knows."

James shook his head and looked at his mom, who sat across from him, eating gracefully like a noble, before shifting his gaze at his father, who sat on the main seat. "Dad, what do you think we should do now?"

Hearing the question, Cassian replied as he glanced at Eldric briefly. "What do you want to talk about?"

"The assassination, the project to craft the things in the blueprints, and the Wolfsblade family." James responded as he understood his father’s question concerning what topics might be discussed when there is an outsider present.

Cassian nodded and tapped his fingers on the table in rhythm. "The royal family will likely send someone within a few days or at most a week. Before that happens, I’ll prepare some things. And I’ll need the evidence you mentioned."

He paused for a second before continuing with a smirk. "As for the Wolfsblades, you don’t need to care about them anymore. We’ll pay them a visit and settle this properly."

James nodded before looking at Eldric as he asked. "What about Sir Eldric? Should we bring him over to Uncle Edmund’s territory or..."

"I don’t care where I stay. I only need somewhere I won’t be disturbed." Eldric smiled and waved his hand.

"If that’s the case, stay here," Cassian suggested with a smile. "When that product starts appearing in the world, it’ll stir up a lot of noise and not all of it is going to be friendly." He looked at James again. "So you’ll go back to Edmund’s place and bring him over—"

"Dad, Elara will follow Brother James this time!" Elara interrupted before he could finish, slapping the table and drawing startled looks.

"Elara, just stay home, okay?" Evelyn instantly became worried and tried to persuade her.

"No! Elara will follow Brother James this time!" Elara insisted, eyes fierce despite her small frame.

She then looked at her father with a determined expression as if she wouldn’t back down. "Dad, you promised that I could come with Brother James next time. You better not lie to me, or I won’t talk to you for a longggg time, hmmmph!"

"This..." Cassian’s face faltered, as he had never expected that Elara would throw a tantrum. Then, he looked at his wife, asking for help because he was helpless when faced with the current Elara.

The last time Elara was mad at Cassian because of something, she didn’t speak and ignored him for a whole week.

"You’re on your own." Evelyn stepped on Cassian’s foot, clearly angry because he did say that.

’I said that because she wanted to follow James when he went to Edmund’s territory to do his mission, okay?’ Cassian thought to himself as she looked at his wife, who was also mad at him now.

A second later, he suddenly had an idea in mind.

Cough!

He cleared his throat and spoke smoothly to James. "I forgot that Corvin is free now. I’ll ask him to pick up Edmund instead of making you fetch him right after your journey."

"DAD!" Elara screamed, throwing a half-eaten chicken drumstick at him.

’You’re fucked.’ James and Evelyn thought to themselves when they saw this. Because Elara was a glutton and really loves food, meaning that her action was really something that she would never do unless she was truly mad.

Cassian caught the food and immediately responded with a forced smile. "Okay, okay... You will go with your brother this time. So, please stop being angry and fill your stomach first, okay?"

"Hmmmph!" Elara snorted and pouted cutely for a moment before continuing her meal as if nothing had happened.

Cassian wiped his forehead and sighed in relief for a second before suddenly getting a chill across his spine when he realized that his wife was glaring at him as if she wanted to eat him alive.

’For fuck’s sake, I would rather fight a fearsome enemy over this any day.’

...