After Aelius disappeared down the hall, muttering sothing under his breath about "she’s my bride", his shoulders slumped in quiet defeat, Javier stepped inside and flopped onto the nearby couch.
Athine followed with a graceful pace.
"So, Athine?" Javier asked, stretching an arm behind his head as he pulled out his sketchbook. "How do you want your wedding dress to look?"
A faint smile touched her lips as she took her seat across from him. Two maids moved with quiet precision.
one placing a cup of tea before her, the other setting Javier’s coffee beside him.
"Little brother," Athine said gently, lifting her teacup with poise. "You know you don’t have to design it yourself. We have seamstresses for that."
"Yeah, yeah..." Javier narrowed his eyes at her, smirking. "I’m doing this because I promised you two, rember?"
Athine chuckled softly, sipped her tea and gently asked. "But why did you insist on giving Aelius and our own wedding? We could’ve joined the group ceremony—Marcellus, Cedric, even Heres."
Javier leaned back and stared at her flatly.
"They’re marrying into harems," he said casually. "You’re not."
Athine set her teacup down, lips curling in quiet amusent.
"My my... but Heres is marrying only one person, isn’t he?"
Javier scoffed. "Yeah. He’s marrying that bratty girl who keeps pestering and acting like so wild tomboy, only to suddenly go all sweet and shy in front of Heres."
He let out an exaggerated groan and tossed a hand in the air. "If you knew how rowdy that girl is... ugh. Kliatana’s practically a walking headache."
Athine let out soft laugh, her hand resting lightly on her stomach.
"Besides," Javier added, flipping to a clean page in his sketchbook, "don’t you want your wedding to be special?"
He looked up at her, his voice softer now.
"I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. From when I was still just a boy up till now... you’ve never changed. Always together. Always in sync. I know neither of you could bear being apart."
Athine smiled, her expression calm and full of quiet joy.
"I don’t mind the ceremony being simple," she said gently. "As long as we’re allowed to be together... Father already gave his blessing. Just being able to marry him officially is enough. It’s more than I ever hoped for."
Javier scoffed lightly and leaned back.
"Heh... and that’s exactly why I want it to be grand. You two don’t need fanfare to love each other, but I still want to give you the best wedding experience I can. It’s what you deserve."
Athine shook her head with a graceful laugh, setting her cup down.
"You and your perfectionism. You speak like soone far older than your age."
Javier grinned. "I just know what I see. That’s all."
He tapped the sketchbook, then leaned back lazily against the couch. "Y’know... I wonder how Aelius is going to survive when Father sends him off to inspect the guild office here, the trade branch there, the rchant network, bank assessnts..."
He glanced sideways with a smirk. "He’s never spent more than an hour away from you~"
His grin widened.
"And I’m pretty sure soone will be more worried than he is."
Athine narrowed her eyes slightly. A soft flush rose on her cheeks.
"I won’t be worried," she replied with quiet dignity, then looked away. "And besides... that’s none of your business."
While sketching casually, Javier tilted his head, pencil tapping lightly against the page.
"Ah... if I rember correctly," he murmured, eyes still on the page, "so of the new hires at the Bank of Armand... are surprisingly attractive."
The pencil glided effortlessly as he added flowing lines to the dress sketch.
"I rember when I visited last ti, both Liana and Gloria pinched so hard." He chuckled at the mory, shaking his head. "Even though they’re both far more beautiful than anyone there. Honestly, most of the staff can’t even co close to them. Not even close."
Still focused, he flipped the page and began drawing a second draft, adjusting the silhouette based on what Athine had described earlier.
From across the table, her voice ca, till calm, still poised, but carrying a subtle shift in tone.
"Oh? That’s good. I’m sure the guild is glad to have such... capable staff."
Javier nodded absently, still sketching.
"Yeah, their work ethic’s decent. One of the receptionists reminded of a younger version of Gloria, sa glasses look, but with short hair instead of long. But compare to Gloria beauty? h."
He didn’t notice the slight twitch of Athine’s brow.
"But she had that quiet, graceful vibe. Not quite the sa, but it was close enough that I had to look twice."
The pencil paused as he examined the lines.
"Still, nothing beats Gloria in graceful or serene. Ehehe."
He was too focused on refining the neckline details, muttering to himself about lace patterns and embroidery placent.
"Hmm... do you want sothing with shoulder drape or more form-fitted sleeves?" he asked, eyes still on the page.
Athine smiled faintly, setting down her cup with practiced grace.
"Little brother~"
Javier looked up from the sketch, still lazily leaning back on the couch. "Hmm? Yes, Athine?"
"You ntioned one of the new bank staff had a graceful air like Gloria. Did she really look that beautiful?"
Javier blinked, then tilted his head in thought. "My opinion? Hm... yeah, she’s got beauty, I guess. But like I said, she’s not surpassing Gloria."
He waved a hand dismissively, his pencil tapping the side of the sketchpad.
"Honestly, that girl’s smile was probably just professional. Or maybe she noticed I was a noble."
Athine’s eyes stayed fixed on him.
"Strange. I don’t recall seeing her when I visited the bank last month."
"Hmm... according to Senior Officer Jonia, she’s a recent hire. Maybe two weeks in, tops. That would explain it."
Athine gave a small nod, then tilted her head slightly.
"...Who’s more beautiful? Liana or her?"
Javier narrowed his eyes imdiately. "Hah!? Are you seriously trying to compare my elf to so bank staff?"
He scoffed. "Puh-lease. That’s like comparing angels to regular townsfolk. Liana’s on a whole different level."
Athine’s lips curved slightly, but her voice remained soft.
"I see. Then..." she leaned forward, tone quiet, "between and her, who’s more beautiful?"
Javier paused, blinking again.
"...What kind of question is that? You might not notice, but people admire you a lot. You’re still called the Flower of Armand everywhere, you know."
He lifted his pencil and pointed it at her.
"Besides, you’ve already got Aelius. And he’s not the type to look at anyone else."
Athine tilted her head gracefully. "Mmm~ but you’re the one who brought up a beautiful girl just now."
Javier blinked, then gave a short laugh, scratching his head.
"Heh... I was just trying to open a casual topic, y’know? Sothing to talk about while sketching."
( End Of Chapter )
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