The first thing Ardiel did when he arrived in the Drake Manor was to request Pork skewers from his father for their dinner later, to which the man happily obliged.
With that settled, he headed to his mother's study.
As he entered, he found her buried beneath a mountain of books and paperwork, her attention fixated on a particularly dense stack of documents.
The room was filled with a strong musty aroma that mingled with the earthy scent of cedar from the wooden shelves lining the walls. He didn't know his mother would be as busy as this, and he guessed that this was the usual case for her.
"How was your day, my sweetboy?" she asked without looking up from her papers.
Ardiel's face brightened as he held out a bouquet of white roses. "It went well. I brought these for you."
His mother's gaze shifted from her work to the flowers, and her eyes softened with pleasure. "Oh, how did you know white roses are my favorite? Did you pick them from the Grand Elder's garden?"
Ardiel beamed, glad to see her so pleased. "Yes, I did. I thought they'd brighten your day."
She smiled warmly, her usual stern demeanor melting away. "You always know how to make me smile, Ardiel."
With a chuckle, she added, "You're lucky the Grand Elder allowed you to pick these. If it had been anyone else, even your father, there would have been trouble."
Ardiel perched on the edge of the couch beside her table. "It was Grandma Eleonore who suggested I pick the flowers. She also mentioned that these are the same ones used in your wedding bouquet."
"How sweet," she said. "I'll have to thank her the next time we meet."
Ardiel didn't know much about the value of these white roses, but his mother knew that these are not just an ordinary bouquet of flowers; they were rare and could even be used as an ingredient in special elixirs. This thought made her think of the closeness between the two, afterall, Ardiel practically grew up under close monitoring of Eleonore and Ravenia—the two most notable magisters in the Family—due to his constitution.
"What time is it again?" his mother asked, her attention now back on her papers.
"It's 5:12 PM," Ardiel answered, glancing at the wall clock. "Will you be joining us for dinner?"
"Of course, I wouldn't miss this one, especially since Eileen is rarely here," his mother replied.
"Sister Eileen must be very busy with her provisional duties," Ardiel said.
He and Reno would mostly, if not always, eat breakfast and dinner together, given the nearly two-year gap between them. Eileen and Erick, the twins, had been deployed when they turned 12, the minimum age requirement for enlisting in the military academy for their provisional deployment and further training.
Dragonheart isn't a place for letting their younglings grow with comfort. It is a family of warriors, after all, and there was never a shortage of Rank 7 or 8 among their military force. Having their heirs and younglings go through training at a young age allowed them to maintain their standing among the power holders in the empire.
Ardiel waited for his mom to finish a set of papers first before they went to the dining hall together.
"I was worried that you'll keep being harsh to yourself," his mother said as they walked together.
"I wasn't jealous that my siblings have their dragon pairs, I just don't like having to receive pitiful looks from the people around me, afterall, It's not like there's only Dragon Vessels in the family, I can be an Aura user or a Magister." he admitted, there's no need to hide his feelings from his mother.
"You're a good kid, you take after your father, just more on the stubborn side, which you've got from me," his mother was a proud Aura user, so she wasn't exactly fixated on her kids being Dragon Vessel since she herself was a testament that someone could go toe to toe with the prominent figures of Dragonheart.
They soon arrived at the dining room where a long rectangular table with twelve chairs awaited. Frey was already seated, with Eileen and Reno sitting beside each other on the right side.
"I was wondering why Ardiel hadn't arrived yet. It turns out you both came together," Frey said as they arrived, his eyes sparkling at the sight of his wife.
"Did we make you wait?" Thesia asked with an apologetic look.
"Father and Reno wouldn't mind waiting for you, Mom. Look how they're looking like fools for your beauty," Eileen teased, her frank personality shining through, sparing no one, not even Frey, from her sharp tongue.
"What can I say? Boys will be boys when it comes to girls like us," Thesia giggled as she sat opposite Eileen.
Ardiel, left standing, didn't know where to sit. His father was naturally seated at the head of the table, Eileen was to his right, Reno beside her, and Thesia to his left.
"Don't just stand there, Ardiel," Thesia said with a gentle smile, patting the chair beside her. Her eyes sparkled with affection, making it clear she was pleased to have him seated next to her.
Ardiel took his seat, feeling a sense of comfort and belonging wash over him. He had always sat beside Reno, especially since Eileen, Erick, and Yuran were seldom home due to their military duties. This was the first time in a while he was sitting beside his mother.
"Shall we?" Frey's voice was filled with warmth as he gestured toward the meal being served. Heron, the Head Butler, entered with a team, setting down an array of gourmet dishes. The centerpiece—a towering pyramid of skewers, each one a different flavor—caught everyone's eye.
Eileen's gaze widened in surprise. "Wow, skewers at dinner?" she said, her voice tinged with amusement. It was a stark contrast to the usual formal fare and her curiosity was evident.
"Ardiel personally requested this so I told the Head Chef to add it on the menu starting today, here it is." Frey announced with pride, glancing at Ardiel as if waiting for his approval.
Ardiel's face lit up with delight. "Ah, thank you! I've been eager to try these!" His excitement was palpable, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph as he saw his request come to life, especially after the scene earlier with the girl named Kiera who caused such a grave sin to him.
As the meal began, laughter and chatter filled the room. The once formal atmosphere of the dinner table relaxed into a cozy, familial gathering.
Ardiel felt a deep sense of contentment. The warmth of the room, the delightful skewers, and the loving presence of his family made the evening feel special.
"Ooh, I like this one!" Reno exclaimed, pointing at the skewer with assorted flavors, "The Beef, Shrimp, Pork and Potato, Tomato and Onions complement each other."
"I like the Honey Salmon Barbeque," Eileen praised, for someone who loves fish dishes, the salmon was definitely to her liking.
Thesia's eyes softened as she observed her family, her earlier stress from the day fading into the background. Frey's eyes twinkled with pride, not just in the delicious meal but in the moments of joy and togetherness shared at the table.
Eileen's teasing remarks and Reno's easy laughter blended seamlessly with the vibrant, homely atmosphere.
"I'm glad you liked the food," the Head Chef expressed his gratitude. Seeing the main members of the family enjoy his cooking made him feel like he had achieved something greater in life.
"Ah right, Reno's about to get enlisted in a few days. Has Felix filled you in with the details?" Frey asked.
"Yes, Father. I was told that I'll be departing together with Stormwing Second Squad," Reno replied.
Ardiel, who was listening to the conversation, was shocked. He knew Reno would get enlisted anytime soon since he turned 12 a few months ago, but hearing it right now certainly made him down. Reno was like his Bestfriend aside from being his elder brother.
Frey didn't miss the look of sadness in Ardiel, and he knew the bond the two shared together, so naturally he could understand his youngest.
"Ardiel," Frey called.
Ardiel turned to look at him, surprised his father suddenly calling his name.
"I've talked with Elder Alentor, and we agreed to have you enlist as well after your training with him. Would that be fine with you?" Frey announced. It was like a splash of cold water for Ardiel; he hadn't expected his father to come up with this.
"I would love to!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.
"Of course, you have to do well. If not, you will only delay yourself, well it's a fact that you'll still get enlisted much earlier, you have to do more than your best in order to impress Elder Alentor."
"I'll do my best!" Ardiel smiled, finally having a new source of motivation.
The room seemed to hold its breath for a moment, the weight of the announcement settling in. Then, as if on cue, the warmth and laughter returned. The evening had turned into something magical, a memory he knew he would cherish for a long time.