The morning passed quietly after Slyveria’s sudden appearance in the courtyard. What had started as a peaceful mont of ditation for Aurelion had quickly turned into a small battle of persistence as the young girl refused to let him go about his day without accompanying her sowhere. Which, as it turned out, ant only one thing.
Dinner with the family.
By the ti evening settled over the castle, warm lantern light illuminated the royal dining hall within the inner quarters. Unlike the vast ceremonial banquet halls used for official gatherings, this chamber was far smaller and far more comfortable. Long windows lined one side of the room, the fading twilight sky visible beyond them while the soft glow of golden chandeliers reflected against polished marble floors.
At the center stood a long wooden dining table carved with delicate royal patterns. Tonight, only a few seats were occupied.
Selene sat at one end of the table, her posture elegant as always. Her silver hair shimred under the chandelier light, and her calm eyes carried the gentle authority of the empress. Across from her sat Aurex, leaning slightly back in his chair with the composed presence of a ruler who had spent the entire day dealing with affairs of state. Slyveria hurried ahead of Aurelion and rushed toward her seat with visible excitent. "We’re here!" she announced.
Aurelion followed a mont later, "...You dragged here," he said. Slyveria ignored him completely and climbed onto her chair, swinging her legs slightly as she waited for dinner to begin.
Selene looked up when they entered. Her expression softened imdiately. "Little Moon," she said warmly. "You’re finally back." He gave a small nod and smile as he took his seat. "Yes, Mother." he answered.
Aurex glanced toward him as well. His gaze was calm, though it carried the quiet weight of a king who rarely wasted words. "...You returned earlier than expected." He paused. "... How is everything going in the territory?"
Ohh, FYI. I didn’t return after seven years, I kept visiting them in between. I ca here 8 months ago but you guys know mother right.
A servant stepped forward to begin placing dishes onto the table. The aroma of warm bread, roasted at, and herbs slowly filled the room as the evening al was served. Then Aurex spoke. "...Since you’re here," he began cutting a small piece of at as he spoke, "...there is sothing I wanted your opinion on." Aurelion nodded. "Recently," Aurex continued, "...a gem mine was discovered in the eastern hills near the border." Slyveria looked up with sudden curiosity. "Gem mine, does that an We are rich now?"
WE WERE ALWAYS RICH. I NEED TO GIVE SLYV MORE PRESENTS, I GUESS. Aurelion thought.
Selene remained quiet for the mont, though she seed to already know where the conversation was heading. Aurex continued. "...It appears to contain a large concentration of mana-infused crystals. The miners estimate the site could beco one of the kingdom’s most valuable resources within a few years." Aurelion lifted his eyes "And the problem?" he asked. "The region is unstable," Aurex replied.
He looked directly at Aurelion. "If we exploit the mine imdiately, it could attract unwanted attention from neighboring territories." Aurelion thought for a mont. "You could establish a controlled mining operation under military supervision," he said calmly. "Limit the number of workers and keep the discovery quiet until the infrastructure is secure." Aurex nodded slightly. "That was one possibility." He took another bite before continuing. "Second question." He said. Selene leaned forward. "...Another one?"
Aurex ignored her. "The northern trade road has been experiencing frequent bandit attacks again." Aurelion reacted. "I thought that road was secured years ago." He asked "It was, then soone stopped maintaining patrols." Aurex gave a slight nod. "What would you do?" He asked. "Reassign one of the regional commanders," Aurelion replied imdiately. "And increase patrol rotations for a few months. Once the bandits realize the road is being watched again, most of them will disappear."
Slyveria looked between them. "You two talk like this all the ti?" Aurelion turned. "Just these days." Aurex continued without pause. "There is also the matter of the coastal port expansion."
Selene slowly set down her utensils. "Darling." He glanced toward her. "Yes?" She made a pout. "No work talk while eating." The table fell silent for a mont. Aurelion hid a faint smile. Slyveria giggled quietly. "...But we’re just talking," Aurex replied. Selene shook her head. "You are interrogating your subordinate during dinner and not conversing with your son. " Aurex reacted with a low tone. "I’m not...interrogating him."
Aurelion leaned slightly back in his chair. "I was wondering how long it would take." Slyveria nodded eagerly. " too. Brother is only mine for today. " Aurex looked around the table. "You’re all against ." Selene folded her hands. "This is dinner. Not a council eting." Aurelion chuckled. "That’s a rare victory. Nice one Mother. "
Slyveria leaned closer to Aurelion. "Did you really fight monsters today?" Aurelion glanced down at her. "Yes." Then, she got more curious and rained down here questions.
"What kind?"
"Several."
"Were they big?"
"So of them."
"Bigger than father?"
Aurelion looked across the table at Aurex. "Much bigger." Slyveria gasped dramatically. "Wow." Selene laughed quietly. "You’ll fill her head with nonsense." Aurelion turned. "I’m answering her questions." Aurex finally leaned back in his chair. "For the record, I am not smaller than a monster." Everyone laughed. Dinner continued with lighter conversation after that.
Selene asked about the territory Aurelion had been managing. Slyveria talked endlessly about things she had discovered during the day. At one point she proudly explained a small flower she had found in the gardens that "looked magical." Aurelion listened quietly, occasionally answering questions or teasing her when she exaggerated sothing. For once, the atmosphere at the royal table felt almost ordinary.
Eventually the plates were cleared away. The servants quietly stepped back from the table. Aurex looked toward Aurelion again. This ti his expression was far less formal than before. "You’ve been back in the capital for several days now." Aurelion nodded.
Aurex tapped his fingers lightly against the table. Then he said, "Your Academy classes start tomorrow, right?" The question hung quietly in the air. And just like that—
A new Chapter of Aurelion’s life was about to begin.
[To be Continued]
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