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Aria\'s hand covered her mouth in surprise as Aengus gently leaned in and placed the flower in her silver hair.

"A special gift for you, my beautiful girl," Aengus gently smiled. "It will remind you of me whenever you feel lonely."

"You can also communicate with it mentally."

"Really! Thank you, Ethan. I will cherish it in my whole life," she said, hugging him tightly.

"Ahem! Ahem!"

A sudden cough echoed through the garden, grabbing their attention immediately.

They turned to see Claire, standing with an amused smile on her face.

Aengus had sensed her approach from afar, so he wasn\'t surprised.

"Are you two lovebirds done? Leon is here. It\'s time for dinner," Claire said, her smile still lingering.

Aria, flustered, quickly stepped away from Aengus.

"Yes, Aunt. We\'re done. Let\'s go."

Aengus followed them, his mind already drifting toward his plans for tomorrow. He needed to reach Darkwood Forest and hunt everything in sight. It was a ruthless plan, but he reassured himself it was for the greater good.

As they walked through the corridor, Claire suddenly stopped.

"You two, shower and get to the dining room quickly. And no mix-ups in the showers—there are separate bathrooms." She winked playfully.

"Aria dear, please show him the way!" Claire added before heading off to the dining room.

Still flustered, Aria guided Aengus to the shower room, making sure everything was prepared comfortably for him, like a caring wife.

Aengus felt warmth in his heart, appreciating her care.

"Ethan, find me when you\'re done bathing. I\'ll be nearby."

Aengus watched her leave, tying up her hair, her graceful beauty at its peak.

Shaking his head to clear the distractions, he stepped into the bathroom and allowed the hot water to stream over him. It cascaded down his hair, over his chin, abs, and feet.

Lost in thought, he wondered when he\'d last had such a peaceful bath, cared for by people who genuinely seemed to care for him. Had he finally found a family?

---

Leon, still in his sharp military suit, entered the dining room, looking as handsome and composed as ever. His gaze swept across Drake, Yona, and Claire, a hint of concern in his furrowed brows.

Taking his seat, Claire stood beside him like a devoted wife, serving the food with graceful ease.

"Ethan and Aria aren\'t here yet?" he asked casually, glancing at the empty seats.

Claire smiled playfully. "I\'m sure they\'ll be here any moment. But what\'s with you, acting like a father all of a sudden? If you like, I could give you one," she whispered teasingly into his ear as she continued to serve him.

"Cough!"

Leon cleared his throat loudly, reminding her that there were still young ones present.

Drake and Yona, both awkward and slightly embarrassed by the exchange, quickly focused on their plates, chomping down their food in an attempt to avoid the awkwardness.

"Humph!" Claire snorted in irritation, drawing a raised eyebrow from Leon.

"Claire, you need to understand that the world isn\'t safe. I won\'t risk my child\'s life in these dangerous times. It\'s just not possible. Not yet, at least," he said sternly, his voice firm.

Claire\'s expression softened, a hint of helplessness in her eyes. She knew he was right, but it didn\'t ease the sting of his words.

Step, Step

Just then, the sound of footsteps filled the room, and their attention shifted as Aria and Aengus entered. Both looked refreshed, dressed in casual clothes provided by the estate.

"Aria, Ethan, take your seats," Claire said, glancing at them with a smile.

"Thank you fo the hospitality!"

Aengus and Aria took their seats opposite General Leon at the table, the tension easing a bit with their arrival.

After serving the food, Claire finally sat down next to Leon at his insistence. The four of them began to eat in what seemed to be a harmonious atmosphere. Drake and Yona also felt relaxed after their arrival as they continued.

Eating was also necessary for the higher Ranks as well.

Though the Transcendentals are strong, they still couldn\'t survive for long without sustenance—about four weeks at most. It was absolute. That meant death was inevitable in this world, even for those who could live long lives.

As they ate, their conversations flowed during breaks.

"So, Ethan, what are your plans next? Do you have any specific place to go? Or would you consider joining our army? We\'d give you a worthy command. What do you say?" General Leon\'s interest in recruiting Ethan still hadn\'t faded.

"Ah, I\'m sorry, General. Aria and I have an urgent mission to attend to tomorrow. It\'s very important," Ethan replied politely.

Once again, General Leon faced the same rejection.

He sighed. "Ethan, I know you\'re from a different place, but think about this kingdom sometimes. We are in dire need of help!"

"I\'m sorry to disappoint you, General, but what\'s making you so worried? I heard you\'re preparing for war. What\'s happening?" Aengus asked, curiosity piqued.

The others listened intently while continuing to eat, their spoons moving steadily.

"Yes, there are problems, but not with the demons," Leon began, his tone grim.

"We, along with 26 other kingdoms, are dealing with internal strife due to the oppressive demands of Emperor Kairos. He\'s been demanding excessive troops and resources, which is dangerous since we\'re more of an alliance than an empire under full imperial rule like others."

Leon\'s face tightened in frustration.

"Emperor Kairos has proven himself worthless and overbearing time and time again. As a result, some subsidiary kingdoms have begun pulling out of the alliance, forming their own individual armies.

That\'s the situation for now. We\'re worried that Emperor Kairos could do something foolish out of anger, sparking an all-out war between us. It\'s really embarrassing—nobody wants to give in. Their stubbornness is dragging us all down!" Leon clenched his fist, causing the room to tremble slightly.

Aengus and the others nodded thoughtfully, sensing the future of Kairos Empire is uncertain.