Both families sat around a table with different delicacies before them.
Fhilhem was angrily glaring at his children as they stuffed their mouths filled with different foods.
"When we get there, do your best to humiliate their cooking and I'll give you a good present when we get back." That was his warning to them before they arrived but now, these two had forgotten all about that warning.
Besides, even if they remembered at some time, they wouldn't be able to bring themselves to criticize the food after having eaten this much.
To the right of Davyon was his family and to his left was Fhilhem and his two sons. They should be sitting according to their age but Seth sat between his two sisters.
As they ate, he whispered into Raela's ear. "They keep eating like they've been starved for centu… gah!"
Halfway through his statement, he got smacked behind the head.
Although he acted like he was whispering, he made sure everyone heard him.
Raetin and Leyrin froze midway through their eating and Fhilhem's face contorted. He was about to scold Seth fiercely when Leah, Seth's mother yelled at him. "Seth! What have I told you about manners?"
"I'm sorry mother." Seth said 'apologetically'.
She turned to Fhilhem. "I'm sorry about my son. Please don't mind the nonsense our kid speaks." She bowed her head.
"It's fine. They're kids after all." Fhilhem said with a feigned smile.
Although the case was resolved just like that, his kids couldn't eat the way they did before. They became extremely cautious otherwise, Seth might humiliate them once more.
*****
They all finished eating and the maids came in to clean the table.
"What brings you here exactly family head?" Davyon asked after the children had gone out of the room, leaving behind Davyon, Leah, Fhilhem, and Rachel.
"Well, I came with another offer for you but it seems you won't be needing it." Now he was acting like he wanted to help them out but after their humiliation, he was rethinking it.
"Surely you jest. We need all the help we can get and if your offer will surely be of help to us, we can't have you take it back. Please, pardon the behavior of our son. It's my fault that he grew up this way so I apologize in his place." Davyon said with a polite bow.
"I see. In that case, I'll accept your apology." Fhilhem said as he nodded.
"The offer I came with was a marriage offer." The moment he finished speaking, the room went silent.
After a few seconds of silence, Davyon spoke first. "I'm sure you know but…"
"Yes, yes. Rachel refuses to marry into our family. That was something that would've brought us closer together and made us both rise in power but it's a shame." Fhilhem sighed.
His meaning was obvious. If Seth hadn't been born, they would've had to arrange a political marriage for the first daughter and her husband would be the Lord of the city.
"Indeed. It is a shame but we intend to fulfill our daughter's will. Since you know she refuses the marriage proposal, why bring it up again?" Davyon asked.
"This time, it's a proposal for Raela. If she marries my son Raetin, it would benefit both of us, especially you who have fallen. Don't you think so?" Fhilhem asked.
"Indeed. It would benefit both sides but I'd like to hear about that from my daughter first. If she agrees to it, then we will proceed with the marriage." Davyon didn't accept, and neither did he reject it.
Political marriages were a common thing to nobles after all.
"My son will be leaving for his training soon since he could feel mana two months after his twelfth birthday. Your daughter will turn thirteen in a few months but she's yet to show any sign of talent. I suggest you act quickly." He was putting pressure on them.
If Raela showed no signs a month after her birthday, her chances would dwindle and if she succeeded even after her birthday, her talent wouldn't be noteworthy.
Davyon's smile seemed forced as he answered. "I'll keep that in the back of my mind."
Leah and Rachel hadn't said a thing since the start of the conversation but Davyon knew Leah's heart ached at this proposal.
"How long do you intend to stay, Master Fhilhem?" Leah asked.
"A day or two. We have somewhere else we need to be in preparation for my son's departure." He replied with a smile.
Seth and Raela stood outside the door with their eyes glued to the door.
"What did they say?" Raela asked when she got tired of listening to nothing.
"How should I know? You're older but you didn't hear a thing but you somehow expect me to hear what they said. Tsk… it's really hard dealing with a shameless older sister." Seth shook his head.
"You brat." Raela held him by the neck and started shaking him.
"Anyways, if it's something involving us, father would let us know about it. You don't have to worry. If it's something about you, I'm here for you and if it's the other way round, I have you, don't I?" Seth said with confidence.
"Of course you have me. I'll go against anyone even father if I have to." She said with pride.
"Now, I'll leave for my room. There are some experiments I need to do. You should head over to your room too." Before he finished his words, he was already walking away.
*****
Not even twenty minutes later, the door to the dining opened, interrupting the ongoing conversation between the two family heads.
The maid began to report "Master Fhilhem, your son Leyrin got caught in a fight with Master Seth…"
Davyon's eyes widened but Fhilhem was smiling wickedly. Although Leyrin couldn't sense mana yet, he knew a thing or two about fighting since he was now in sword training.
"...as a result, Leyrin lost his two front teeth." The maid's report ended and the smile on Fhilhem's face disappeared without a trace.
He turned with a vicious glare at Davyon. "Is this how you treat your guests!?" He yelled angrily and rushed outside.
"Master Fhilhem, I humbly apologize but this wasn't within our control. As you can see, we were all having a meeting together and although our son is a bit spoilt, he has never been caught in a fight. This is a first for us too." Davyon was rushing beside Fhilhem, both of them heading to the place the fight took place.
When they arrived, the maid's report turned out to be underestimated.
Even Raetin had gotten a fair share of the beating. He had a swollen eye and forehead while Leyrin was covering his mouth, obviously hiding his broken teeth.
Davyon saw Seth panting heavily a few feet away from Raetin and asked. "What the hell happened here?"