In moments of extreme joy or sorrow, the body often reacts in ways beyond our control. It took Lucian Drayden a while to find his voice again, and when he did, it was hoarse and strained. "Where are you now?"
"Alright, wait for me."
The call ended abruptly.
Lucian stared at the glowing screen of his phone, momentarily lost in thought.
"Whoosh—"
The autumn wind rustled through the large plane tree leaves, creating a noticeable commotion.
Suddenly, Lucian stood up, covering his eyes with his hand as he paced back and forth. Eventually, his shoulders shook as he burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Liam: ...Has the boss's condition worsened? Has he gone mad?
The business tycoon quickly regained his composure. After calming down, he began to disdain the hospital gown he was wearing. "Liam, call the stylist. Make it quick."
Liam: "Yes, sir." A well-trained employee never questions the boss's personal affairs; they simply execute orders.
"Wait, never mind." Lucian stopped him, glancing at his reflection in the lake and changing his mind on the spot.
The celestial palace was built halfway up the mountain, a fair distance from the Ravencroft estate.
By the time Lucian arrived, the Ravencrofts already had an unexpected guest.
In the backyard of the Neo-Gothic Château, Julian Drayden had his arm around Sera Ravencroft's shoulder, looking down coldly at Eon, who was sitting on a small stool in gardener's overalls.
"Earlier, when Caelan was here, I didn't want to be too harsh. But now, let's be frank. My fiancée will only ever be Sera. Whether she's a Ravencroft by blood or not, she's the only one for me.
Sometimes, emotions matter more than blood ties. You should understand what it means that Mr. and Mrs. Ravencroft have decided to keep Sera in the family."
"Even if Sera isn't their biological child, she's lived with the Ravencrofts for twenty-three years. Twenty-three years of familial bonds can't be severed just like that. To Mr. and Mrs. Ravencroft, Caelan, and Rowan, you're just a stranger who happens to share their bloodline.
So stop acting like the true heiress and bullying Sera. Whether in the eyes of the Ravencrofts or within our social circle, Sera's excellence is undeniable. Status means nothing; what matters is self-awareness."
Sera tugged at Julian's sleeve, shaking her head gently. "Julian, that's enough." She then turned to Eon with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, sister. Julian didn't mean what he said. He's just protective of me, and I didn't explain things clearly, so he misunderstood you."
Eon sat on the small stool, her posture somewhat bold. In her hand was a small hoe covered in soil, and behind her was the mini herb garden she had just cultivated.
Listening to the absurd back-and-forth between the two, Eon couldn't help but laugh. And then she really did laugh out loud.
Why should she be polite when they were being so rude? Not only would she laugh, but she'd also rub it in their faces.
"Indeed, you're not speaking properly. All I hear is barking."
Julian didn't expect Eon to be so brazen. His face turned pale as he took a step forward. "What did you say?"
Eon's wrist was a bit sore, so she shook the small hoe to relax her joints while continuing her verbal assault. "I'm speaking human language. Can't you understand?"
Julian thought Eon might swing the hoe at his leather shoes and hesitated, not daring to step closer.
Eon noticed and sneered, "Coward." Seeing Julian's increasingly ugly expression, she shifted her tone.
"Actually, I should thank you. I used to think that man's annoying behavior was largely due to his face. But now I see I was wrong."
Julian: "?" Who? What is this woman rambling about?
Eon propped her chin on her hand, giving Julian's face a fair assessment. "His annoying behavior is purely because of the way he talks and acts, which is infuriating and ridiculous. It has nothing to do with his face.
"Of course, the same goes for you. You disgust me purely because of your lack of manners, not because of your face."
Eon started counting on her fingers. "Interfering in other people's family matters with a condescending attitude, making snide remarks, and belittling others. Tsk, so this is the second son of the Drayden family from the capital. Quite an eye-opener."
Her light, almost casual remarks were like a series of slaps across Julian's face, leaving the self-proclaimed nobleman deeply embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, sister. Julian isn't usually like this. It's all my fault—"
"Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap—!" A long, rhythmic applause interrupted Sera. Everyone turned to look.
It was Lucian, sitting in a wheelchair, still in his hospital gown, being pushed toward them by Liam.
Caelan, who had left earlier, had also returned. It seemed the "distinguished guest" the butler mentioned was Lucian.
"Eon is right."
Lucian agreed with Eon's words. His gaze, which had been fixed on her since he arrived, finally shifted slightly toward Julian, though his smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Julian, what kind of nonsense were you spouting just now?"
Julian, still reeling from the intimate way Lucian had addressed Eon, stammered, "Brother, do you know her?"
And what did he mean by "nonsense"? In Eon's words, it was at least "barking." How did it become "nonsense" when Lucian said it?
Lucian didn't answer. Instead, he stood up from the wheelchair and strode over to Eon, squatting down beside her. His peach-blossom eyes sparkled with amusement. "Eon, long time no see."
Everyone: ???????????
Eon glanced at Lucian's perfectly fine long legs and sighed. "If your legs are fine, why are you in a wheelchair?"
Lucian's smile widened as he leaned closer, his handsome face inches from Eon's. "I'm sick, not feeling well. I was unconscious for a whole day just two days ago. If you don't believe me, take a look."
They say prolonged illness makes one a doctor. Similarly, as an alchemist who had spent years refining elixirs, Eon could tell at a glance that the man wasn't lying. Feeling a bit sorry for the pitiful patient, she set the small hoe aside and reached into the greenery, pulling out another small stool for Lucian.
Lucian took the stool and sat down beside Eon, his mood lifting considerably. When he noticed that no one else had a stool to sit on, his mood improved even more.
Indeed, he was special to Eon.
Caelan, who hadn't been offered a stool either before or after Lucian's arrival: ...
So, he, the good older brother, didn't deserve a stool, huh?
If Eon had known what he was thinking, she would have explained. She simply thought the stool didn't suit her older brother's dignified demeanor. She wasn't that stingy.
As for Lucian, back in the Eon Sanctum, when they were out on training missions, they often slept under the open sky, using tree branches as beds. Sitting on a small stool was nothing in comparison—hardly worth mentioning.
"Long time no see, Lucian." Eon couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. After all, returning to modern society and reuniting with someone from the Eon Sanctum—someone who had supposedly died in battle—was nothing short of surreal.
Lucian opened his arms wide, suggesting, "How about a hug to celebrate?"
Eon declined. "Men and women shouldn't be too familiar. It's inappropriate." Nostalgia was one thing, but a hug was unnecessary.
Lucian, undeterred, cheekily replied, "I can be a woman, if you just think of me as one temporarily."
Eon: ...Eon was once again struck by his audacity. After a moment of silence, she commented, "You really haven't changed at all."
Lucian laughed and pulled her into a hug, burying his face in her shoulder. His voice, still slightly hoarse, carried a wealth of emotions. "Eon, we've met again. It's wonderful."
Eon thought about it but didn't push him away. Though she didn't understand how it had happened, being able to meet again was indeed fate.
The others witnessing the reunion: ...
The servants: ...
Julian: ... Sera: ...
Caelan, standing alone with his hands in the pockets of his dark suit pants: ...
He hadn't even had the chance to pat his sister's head, and yet Lucian was already hugging her. What kind of logic was that?