Adira greeted people left and right, smiling for them oh so happily and beautifully.

She wore this very pretty grey gradient cocktail dress—with two straps overlapping each other as they crossed over to the other shoulder and another pair that went straight to her back, it was littered with feathers across her torso and the skirt and snowflake patterns all over the skirt.

Almost all noble family came, hoping to establish some kind of connection with the Sylveris family or even the lady herself. It showed how influential and powerful this ducal family was who ranked next to the royalty.

However, what made Adira's banquet different from what all these noble families threw wasn't the complete attendance of these noble blood. But the attendance of even commoner families that wanted to celebrate their beautiful and kind lady's name day.

Even Peter's family was there!

"Happy Birthday, Big Sister! I knew you weren't a simple person, but I didn't imagine you were the legendary Lady Sylveris." Blabbered Owen excitedly and animatedly.

Adira giggled happily at this lively troll, who grew another couple more centimeters and was almost catching up to her now. He really was just like her real little brother. He had no filter when he faced her and she loved that.

"Thank you, Owen. However, I'm still your big sister Adira, and that will never change." Adira said and planted a quick peck on the boy's forehead that immediately made him blush.

Casimir then promptly snatched the lady's hand as his other arm snaked possessively around her waist.

"Hello, little Owen." Casimir greeted with a strong emphasis on the adjective he used on the boy.

He snarled at Casimir and Adira could only sigh helplessly as she could almost palpate the rising tension between the two of them.

Seriously, Casey. That's a boy you're picking a fight with.

Casimir then shifted his gaze, as it turned more formal and serious, and bowed his head towards Adira's second parents.

"Sir Peter, Madam Hyacinth. I am here to formally inform you of our wedding ceremony to be held tomorrow. I know it is a bit rushed, but I've long been planning to marry her ever since God knows when. We hope you could celebrate with us then."

Peter and Hyacinth were taken aback, not only because they were invited to a royal's wedding eventhough they were of common blood, but also because the crown prince himself extended the invitation to a family as humble as them. He even bowed his head towards them! They didn't deserve such honor!

"Yo-Your highness! Please raise your head!"

"W-We are not worth you bowing your head to us!"

"No. Adira acknowledged the both of you as her second parents, therefore, I need to show you my respect as well."

Peter and Hyacinth's hearts warmed at their crown prince's words. The rumors they heard—about how he was a cold-blooded, heartless demon and so much more—seemed too farfetched now.

With the real deal in front of them, who was as gentle and warm like their Lady Adira, the rumors all seemed too outrageous.

"Of course, your highness. We will be there." Hyacinth replied and looked over to her husband, who finished her sentence for her.

"We wouldn't miss it for the world."

Casimir graced them a rare smile and several clanging sounds of utensils reverberated across the hall. It made Adira laugh jovially.

Truly, if you aren't used to it, that would really be your reaction.

Now, Adira's guest list didn't stop there yet. Even the princess of Alynthi Kingdom came as soon as she heard about Adira's name day celebration!

She walked, all poised, tall and mighty, towards the so-called Goddess of the Empire and greeted her a happy birthday.

"Thank you, your highness. It is such an honor to have your presence here."

Adira routinely yet politely thanked her and curtseyed gracefully. Somehow, Thea couldn't find a flaw she could exploit and tug open so she was getting annoyed at Adira.

"Well, I've heard lots of stories about the Goddess. It's such a waste if I didn't attend your party and finally see this Goddess with my own eyes." Thea replied, still up her high horse and didn't forget to slip in her derision and annoyance at this woman clinging tightly on the Crown Prince.

However, if you really looked at it, it was Casimir, who was keeping Adira locked in his hold, as he kept a hand over the girl's hand that clung to his arm.

"My, I'm afraid to have disappointed you, your highness. Those are only rumors people exaggerated along the way."

Adira bashfully denied the title people dubbed on her—to which Casimir strongly objected.

"Of course not." And as concisely as that, he successfully pointed out to his wife and the princess that there was nothing wrong to those rumors—in fact, those were nothing but facts.

Ooooh~! The great demon lord's flirting is coming in strong! They're littering dog food all over the place again!!!

The noble gallery, who eventually got used to them spreading dog food each and every chance they got, watched the drama unfold with great interest.

And they even got free dog food for their poor hearts!

"Mommy, I'm hungry."

Mommy?

Thea, who was closest to them, finally noticed the cute little raven-haired child peeking from behind Adira's back—his beautiful sapphire orbs looking up to her with love and devotion.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Baby. Why don't you go with Daddy to get food?" The Lady of the night, Adira, softly coaxed the child to go with his father while she entertained her guest.

"Nooo~ I want Mommy."

"My."

"This is?" Thea, who couldn't hold her curiosity, asked.

"Oh. I forgot to introduce him to you. This is Heise. Our son." Adira happily announced and beamed a bright smile before placing Heise in between her and Casimir.

"Our?" Thea, who was still in denial, repeated in a doubtful voice before shifting her gaze towards the frozen man, who suddenly showed a very warm and beautiful rare smile.

"Yes. Our." He answered and patted the little boy's head.

Thea wasn't sure how she was able to remove herself from their presence as she was overcome with shock. She did not hear this! She didn't know they had a child!!!

And because she was too shocked, of course, she couldn't have thought about the difference in the supposed-to-be parent's age to the child.

So the night went on with Casimir and Adira, as well as Heise, greeting several guests and exchanging talks about random things.

The king, who sat above the others, with Silfor and Andrea, could see how well-loved the woman was and thought back to the words she spoke, back when he asked her at his office—to how she spoke of something as if she was so sure of what will happen in the future.

...

"I... I am not worthy to be this empire's empress, Your Majesty. The chaos and destruction that I will bring upon this land is something so horrendous you will want to kill me yourself.

But, I love your son—more than I expected, more than I thought I was capable of. I love him more than my own life and my own heart.

So if by giving him up to Iris, will save him and this kingdom from me, then I do not mind wrenching my heart apart one more time.

I cannot give him anything that is better than Iris' power and status as the maiden of light. There is only me, my heart and my life. There is only our son and our family. So please, I ask you, your majesty, give me until my birthday to spend it with them.

After then, I promise to give him up and disappear forever."

...

He clenched his fists as he watched that happiness glowing brightly on his son's face—a joy that only Adira can bring out of him. He cannot allow him to lose that again.

He can't allow anyone to take it away from his son. He can't let Adira go.

So he waited for a chance—when Adira briefly parted with both Casimir and Heise to greet someone and get snacks for the child on the way. She wanted the child to get used with his father before she leaves.

He approached him and lightly tapped Casimir's shoulders. He needs to let Casimir know of her decision. Maybe he can stop her. Even when it was practically his fault the lady was going away.

"Can I speak to you?"

And Casimir nodded before instructing Heise to go over to his Sylveris grandparents for a while and followed his father to an open balcony.

"What is it, Father?"

"When I lost your mother, I was so heartbroken I was not sure how I was able to move as routinely as possible. But I tried—to cope up with the sadness, with the pain, with the emptiness she left behind, with the sons she left to my care.

I did my utmost best to be a good father to you and Stefan—especially to you—even when you remind me of her the most. Even when everytime my eye sees you, the pain resurfaces again and again."

"I'm sorry."

"No. You need not be. You are our most beloved first son. Her precious little crystal. She'd hate me if I hated you for that."

The king gave a small pained smile as he turned to look at Casimir and faced him head on.

"If you lost her, Casimir, what would you do?"

Casimir remained silent for a while as he tried to analyze why his father was asking him something so obvious and why did he feel nervous about this question?

It couldn't be... Did he have something to do with Adira acting weird?

"That might be where we differ, Father. Because I swear, I will not survive that."

Notes:
Hi~~~! I'm back!!! Yaaaay! This week was hell!!! 😭 I could only hope to read your comments while doing my best at my exams. So thank you so much to those that participated in the poll and for your words! It made me very happy.

So since I've been away for a week...