"Thank you for your words of wisdom, Bezel Domini," Lucien bowed lightly.
Bezel Domini followed the gesture as he replied, "My pleasure, Lord Maroux," before going back towards his seat, out of Blanc's sight.
"There is still much to discuss," Lucien said, settling back into his chair. "But that can wait for another day. Until then, how does dinner sound? I'll introduce the rest of our guests then."
To which, all the people present left through the doors they came from, keeping to themselves.
Blanc, Celine, and Miyanna were on their way to their room until dinner was announced, which gave them enough time to think about all that had happened during the Concord.
For Blanc, this Concord was surreal, seeing a Noble Blood he had only read or heard of in the past, as well as creating yet another worry that lingered on the edge of his mind. It had never crossed his mind even once that his father and brother could be executed, as they were valuable prisoners better kept alive as a negotiating tool than dead. But was that really the case?
High Bezel Domini was of the opinion that such a thing was an impossibility, but what if he was wrong? Was execution even possible? Or was Blanc overthinking?
But the fear that overthinking brought him lingered for a while, as another question followed in his mind. If such a thing were possible for his father and brother, was it a stretch to worry that his sister, Sera, wasn't safe from the blade's edge either?
His mind alone could not come up with answers to such questions, knowing damn well he needed the help of someone with more knowledge on the matter. Someone who had already summoned him to talk later during the night.
So he decided that until then, he would push these thoughts aside and enjoy this time with his two beautiful wives, who seemed to have concluded their thoughts by the time he came back to reality.
"I've been thinking," said Blanc, sipping from his cup of tea,"We still have not used the gold we got from the Metamorphs, correct?"
"We did not get a chance to spend the gold we had beforehand, so yes, my love, almost a thousand five hundred gold is at our disposal, why?" Celine wondered.
"It would be a pity not to spend it, after all," Blanc nodded.
"Wanna buy Raw Vita?" Miyanna asked, after swallowing a piece of carrot cake.
"Using at least a thousand gold for that would be wise, yes," Blanc nodded, "It would be safer for you as well to get stronger before the pregnancy evolves, without having to fight anything."
"I do not deny the appeal," Celine replied, "It would be best to discuss this with Father during dinner, now that you mention it."
"It would also make Kael and Lune happy," Miyanna added.
"We planned to share equally from the beginning, so I do not think they would really be that surprised," Blanc shrugged, "Although I suspect that the presence of Bezel Domini would make Kael even happier."
"I know he is important since I have even heard of his name, but is that old man really that important? It's hard to imagine Kael being interested in anything else besides his romance books," Miyanna replied, amused.
"That's where you are wrong, my dear Miyanna," Blanc chuckled, "Kael venerates that 'old man', so I assure you, he would pay all his share of the gold and burn all the romance books he has only for the chance to greet him."
"Let me explain why that is, sister," Celine began, "Because his achievements really are that great."
And so, for an entire hour, until a maid called the three of them to dinner, Blanc and Celine spoke of all the things Bezel Domini has achieved during his long life so far, making Miyanna understand why all spoke so highly of a crooked, ancient, bald man.
As Blanc and his wives walked towards the Dining Hall of the main mansion, they met with Mera, Auren, Lune, and Kael as they were heading in the same direction.
"What a coincidence," Mera smiled, noticing the three approaching.
Blanc nodded lightly. "Indeed so, Mother. Good evening,"
"And to you three," Auren replied with that same warm smile she always showed them.
Blanc then quietly turned to the twins, grinning, "You look like you slept."
"We got bored while all of you were away and fell asleep," Lune replied, yawning, "Kael even ruined a book by salivating all over it while he slept."
"You promised you wouldn't say that!" Kael cried out, cheeks crimson from embarrassment.
"Oops, I forgot," Lune giggled, running off.
"Ah, yes, did you hear who one of the guests is, Little Kael?" Blanc wondered.
"What guest?" Kael asked, confused, just as he was about to take off after Lune.
"You did not tell him?" Blanc looked surprised at his mothers.
"We planned to keep it a surprise," Mera shook her head.
"Otherwise, if he knew, he would have cried trying to get us to talk to him," Auren giggled.
"Now I really am curious." Kael's embarrassment got cut short, making Lune click her tongue in frustration, "Who is it, Brother?"
"If they wanted to keep it a surprise, I will do so as well," Blanc replied, "I will take you to meet him, you just have to be patient for a minute or two until we get there, okay?"
Once they arrived in front of a large door, one of the two guards defending the entrance yelled out, "All members of Blood Denegis have arrived."
After finishing their introduction, the guards moved to open the doors, which took them into a large hall.
The walls of the dining hall were filled to the brim with paintings of all the previous Maroux Patriarchs, Matriarchs, and generation after generation of children.
On the far left, there stood a small painting of a small girl who Blanc instantly recognised as being Celine.
"Now that's what I call cute," Blanc grinned as he looked at it, only to receive a small elbow to the ribs as a reply.
On the ceiling, three enormous glass chandeliers filled with candles stood towering over them, lighting the hall with such brightness as if it were still day.
And what awaited them all was a long wooden table filled with all kinds of food, to the point that Blanc worried for the sanity of all the chefs.
"Welcome," Lucien said, rising from his seat at the head of the table, "Please take a seat."
Glancing around the long table, Blanc noted that Lucien, his wives, and his daughters were seated at the far end, accompanied by Bezel Domini, the Daughter assigned to Blood Maroux, and three other guests Blanc did not recognize, all positioned beside members of Blood Maroux.
Observing the arrangement and the unspoken hierarchy it represented, Blanc and his family made their way to the opposite end of the table, placing distance between them and the guests of Blood Maroux as a sign of respect.
Luckily, the distance between all three groups wasn't so great that conversation became impossible. Soon proven by Lucien as he began speaking.
"Thank you all for coming," he said before closing his eyes and placing his hands atop his plate, "We bring forth gratitude to the Vita for all her blessings, and we pray that She will continue to smile upon us as She has done in the past, Vita la Nima."
"Nima," all the people present said, except for the guests, who already started picking food from the plates in front of them.
And although in the past, when Blanc, Celine, Miyanna, and the twins were in the wild, they got used to speaking as they ate, this time, however, they knew to refrain from doing so, as the disrespect to Blood Maroux and their guests would be too great.
There was enough time for idle chatter and introductions after they ate.
"Brother," said Kael, a few chairs away after they all finished eating, "Who is it you were so excited to present to me?"
"Do you not recognise him?" Blanc asked, surprised as he wiped his mouth.
Kael only shook his head as a reply, which prompted Blanc to sigh deeply as he got to his feet.
"Let's go then. Lune, Celine, and Miyanna, you come too," he said, looking at the two.
"Me?" Miyanna's eyes went wide. "Why?"
"Because I have to present my wives as well," Blanc grinned, narrowing his eyes, "Are you afraid, my love?"
"Never," Miyanna muttered, getting to her feet, her jaw tightened as she was unable to deny the challenge her husband threw at her.
Once all were gathered, they walked around the table, going towards Bezel Domini, who was just finishing a conversation with one of the guests, when he noticed Blanc approaching.
"May I disturb your Lordship for a second?" Blanc asked.
"But of course," Bezel Domini nodded, putting his hand forward, "There is no need to present Lady Celine to me, as her beauty is well known."
"Thank you, My Lord, for your kind words," Celine replied, offering her own hand, which Bezel Domini lowered himself to kiss.
"And who is this young lady?" he asked, after letting go of Celine's hand.
"This is my second wife, Miyanna," Blanc nodded.
"I do not recognise her name. What Noble Blood are you from, My Lady?" Bezel asked, placing his hand forward.
"I was a commoner, My Lord," Miyanna replied, offering her hand.
"A commoner made Noble Blood, kin of my kin," he muttered with a prideful look in his eyes, before kissing her hand as well, "An absolute pleasure to meet you, Lady Miyanna."
"Likewise," Miyanna nodded lightly before taking a step to the side, revealing the twins.
"And who are these little ones?" Bezel Domini giggled, looking into Kael and Lune's eyes, "Are they the twins?"
"They are my Lord, my younger siblings, Kael and Lune of Blood Denegis," Blanc said to Bezel Domini before turning towards the twins, "Kael, Lune, let me present to you his Lordship, High Bezel Domini of the Archivum Civitas."
That was all that Kael needed to hear for his knees to give out, falling to the ground in pure shock.
"Is he alright?" Bezel Domini jumped to his feet, despite his old age.
"Not to worry, My Lord," Blanc chuckled, crouching down to pick up his younger brother, "If there is one in the Empire who sees your Lordship as the closest thing to a legend, well, that is my younger brother."