Chapter 754: Dark Demon’s Family Feast 4k
At the same time, outside the Duke’s Mansion.
The Second Duchess descended from the carriage accompanied by the Big Princess Eliza, and just as she stepped down, she saw Viscountess Floretty and her husband about to enter.
In the past six months, the Viscountess and her husband had relied on their connections with the Duke’s Mansion to re-enter the noble circles in the capital city.
However, both of them knew their place and rarely attended banquets, so they had no contact with the Duchess.
But the Second Duchess recognized them.
“Are these your niece and nephew, little Rose?”
The Second Duchess whispered to the Big Princess Eliza.
The Big Princess nodded slightly and smiled, “Yes.”
The Second Duchess nodded again and said, “What should I do tonight to fit in with them?”
The Big Princess whispered, “Just act like a parent. Tonight’s banquet is in a family-style setting, so it should be relaxed.”
The Second Duchess then smiled, “That’s good. Thinking about it, it’s almost four months since I last saw Anna and Angie. Recently, walking around the mansion, I always feel empty. I wonder if they miss me as their mother.”
The Big Princess said, “When they’re around, you find them annoying, but when they’re gone, you feel lonely.”
The Second Duchess sighed, “It’s like that…”
…
As dawn faded and the moon peeked out, Anna and Angie’s faces were twisted in distress.
These two troublemakers had finally managed to escape the Duchess’s clutches by going to school, but now they were regretting it. In these four months, they thought about their mother only a few times, probably less than the fingers on one hand.
On this Christmas night, they had planned to have a wild night out with classmates, but unexpectedly, before they could even start, they were caught by Dark, and their plans were ruined.
“Dark, can I not go?”
“No.”
“Dark, my stomach hurts, can I go to the infirmary?”
“No.”
“Dark, please!”
“It’s ineffective.”
“Dark, how come you haven’t died yet?”
“Early to bed, early to rise, keeps you healthy.”
“Damn!”
“Shut up!”
“Grr.”
…
“Brother, thank goodness Anna and Angie distracted them,” Joie said with relief as he walked beside Jon, occasionally glancing at the two princesses.
But Jon suddenly blurted out, “Sis, how many math problems have you done?”
Joie froze, glaring at Jon, “The weather is really nice tonight.”
Jon laughed dryly, knowing he should let it go, but his gaze shifted to Dark, and he couldn’t help but say, “Sis, do you think Dark will still be a math teaching assistant next semester?”
Joie gritted his teeth, “Definitely not. I’ve already asked Professor Melnor.”
“Oh.” Jon breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the night sky brighten above him, “Then we don’t have to do the problem sets he sent us?”
Joie said, “Professor Melnor said he wants to focus on advanced mathematics next semester.”
Jon was stunned, “What does that mean?”
Joie said softly, “He wants Dark to become a regular teacher.”
Jon: “Ah?”
Tonight, for some reason, the night felt unusually bleak.
…
Hephaestus Dragone held his daughter’s hand, a happy smile on his face.
As a professor at the academy, even though he was still in his probationary period, being able to stay with his daughter made him very content.
Moreover, unlike other mother-son pairs on campus, he didn’t need to hide his identity.
His status was different from Ophelia’s. With the protection of Saint Maryann Academy, he didn’t need to worry about the Church anymore because they had initially imprisoned him unjustly.
Now, every time he thought about how parents could only see their children through remote projections, Hephaestus felt a slight sense of superiority.
Dragons were creatures with a strong sense of competition.
The purer the bloodline, the stronger this feeling.
…
The group chatted as they entered the restaurant, climbed the stairs, and moved into the private room, settling down.
Dark placed the two princesses in their seats, then took the main seat. Immediately, people sat down on either side.
Diana sat on the right side under Rose’s urging.
Pandora chuckled and sat down on the left side next to Dark, her mother close by, which set her apart from the others.
Everyone understood why Pandora was invited to this “family dinner.”
Once everyone was seated, the restaurant staff began serving fruit platters, tea, and pastries.
But just as they reached the door, Olivia blocked them, and the maids took over the serving duties, preventing anyone else from entering the private room.
Eve had already taken her designated seat and activated the [Spirit Sympathy] spell.
…
By complaining about how much Anna and Angie worried her, the Second Duchess successfully integrated into the group. While venting her frustrations, she covertly observed Irina.
During the previous war, the [Spirit Sympathy] spell, which allowed instant communication over great distances, was considered strategically important. However, its difficulty meant few mages could master it.
If discovered by demons, users of [Spirit Sympathy] faced concentrated attacks, making such talents rare.
Even the Second Duchess rarely encountered such individuals.
She envied the Duke’s ability to meet his children anytime through this spell.
Beside her, the Silver Wolf Knight Camilla, who had integrated by complaining about Diana, continued to list Diana’s faults.
Jon and Joie’s mother expressed her concerns about Jon’s studies, threatening to break his legs if he wasn’t serious.
Viscountess Floretty struggled to find anything to worry about regarding Rose, making her seem out of place.
Alvaraite, however, talked endlessly about her worries regarding whether the golem elves might face bullying, making herself appear less superior.
On the other side, the three men—Viscount Gretebail, Viscount Floretty, and Jon and Joie’s father—sat around a small table, sipping drinks and quietly criticizing their own situations.
Three men with vastly different personalities and abilities found common ground in strange ways, feeling a mutual understanding.
Claire discussed with Big Princess Eliza how to promote the princess’s image using simulation cards. Claire suggested creating rare cards based on the princess’s likeness.
Eliza was highly interested.
In recent years, she increasingly understood the importance of public opinion and how to win hearts and minds. Without proper publicity, achievements would go unnoticed.
Even without any achievements, saying the right things in newspapers and media could gain support.
To make someone known, especially as a potential heir, was crucial.
Big Prince Charles, despite doing nothing, remained untouchable.
Doing more often led to mistakes; better to do nothing.
Charles, however, was not passive. He always did more.
To win, both achievements and publicity were necessary.
In this era, meeting the spiritual needs of the populace was as important as basic material construction.
Eliza looked to the future, believing that if Claire’s simulation duel business flourished, it would become a significant support for her.
Thus, she enjoyed talking with Claire.
…
As Eve and Irina simultaneously used [Spirit Sympathy], they connected over great distances and projected their observations onto the walls.
This distant yet intimate “family dinner” officially began.
…
Parents stopped complaining, and the students immediately sat upright.
Regardless of age, children always wanted to show their best side to their parents.
And parents generally wished to be seen as flawless by their children.
Viscount and Viscountess Floretty once again put on serious faces, and Viscount Gretebail pretended to be reserved.
Jon and Joie’s parents, like typical nobles, showed every detail of their seriousness.
Even the Second Duchess regained her composure.
Alvaraite was the first to speak, greeting Hephaestus briefly.
As a temporary professor, Hephaestus habitually took charge, seeming to say, “You can trust your children to me.”
However, the parents were more concerned about Pandora.
Many parents became interested in mana duels due to their children’s enrollment at the academy.
Viscount and Viscountess Floretty, Jon and Joie’s parents, and even the Second Duchess were no exception.
Thus, they had heard of the famous [Silver Dragon Maiden].
Of course, parents’ priorities differed.
Upon realizing the Silver Dragon Maiden was present, their immediate thought was to ask her to look after the children.
They hoped senior students would help younger ones academically, a common parental wish.
They usually didn’t consider that senior students also had their own studies.
Facing this situation, Pandora could only smile and take charge like her mother.
Parents clearly showed different attitudes towards Hephaestus, repeatedly saying “please,” “trouble,” and “thank you,” making Hephaestus feel a bit jealous of her daughter.
The dinner was harmonious.
Except for Anna and Angie, the other students were happy to meet their parents.
But as the dinner progressed to academic evaluations, the family atmosphere, like a bubble, easily burst.
Parents started asking about their children’s semester grades and learning attitudes through the two professors present.
Hephaestus and Dark together barely made up one complete professor.
Hephaestus had learned to be tactful, but Dark had no such reservations.
With a fair and calm tone, he detailed Anna, Angie, Jon, Joie, Victoria, and Phoenix’s learning attitudes and progress.
Even when Anna and Angie signaled desperately or threatened him, he remained steadfast.
Thus, parents quickly learned that Anna, Angie, and Joie formed an “evil force” in the academy.
They also learned about a “model child” named Aurora.
Aurora’s mouth hung open as she realized that as Dark continually used her as an example, her peers’ looks toward her changed.
This made her instinctively shrink, wanting to hide behind someone like Dark.
She subconsciously ignored that Dark was the root cause of the current situation.
Although, internally, Aurora wasn’t afraid.
…
Apart from their lack of enthusiasm for studies and constant desire for excitement, Anna and Angie’s academic performance was decent.
Jon, among the first-year students, was likely the most diligent, with results second only to Aurora’s.
The true dimwit in the Demon household was a certain bat from the Fool’s Academy.
…
Anna and Angie were seasoned troublemakers and were currently in a state of “high and mighty.”
After the academic assessment ended, they quickly returned to their usual selves, laughter resuming.
Parents didn’t want to ruin this rare “family dinner,” so they suppressed their frustration and asked about amusing incidents at the academy.
When it came to amusing incidents, the Halloween masquerade ball had to be mentioned.
Anna and Angie began enthusiastically recounting their “perfect performance” at the masquerade, oblivious to the Second Duchess’s increasingly dark expression.
Seeing the Second Duchess’s mood about to erupt, Eliza hurriedly intervened, allowing the “family dinner” to proceed smoothly to its end.
Finally, parents again entrusted Pandora and Dark with their children’s care, instructing them to learn from Aurora and strive towards becoming like Pandora and Dark.
…
In an unsatisfactory ending to the “family dinner,” Dark led the way through the bustling night market of Traveler’s Street, starting the second half without parents.
Anna and Angie slipped away midway.
Jon and Joie followed Dark obediently.
Pandora and Diana swept through the snack stalls.
Rose and Aurora conversed quietly.
Dark was suddenly surrounded by golem elves.
Hephaestus and Olivia brought up the rear, watching the children move further away.
The Christmas bell chimed in the fireworks.
…
Life is so splendid, what else could one ask for?
