Al had just stepped into the courtyard when his eyes immediately caught sight of his family. They were all gathered and sitting casually on the garden benches.

His parents were there, along with three of his sisters. And of course, David was among them, as well as Fani. Almost all of them had their gazes fixed on him from a distance, wearing expressions that seemed… somewhat unusual.

It felt as though some troublesome matter was already waiting for him the moment he arrived.

Al slowed his steps, his mind racing as he tried to analyze the situation.

"Why are they staring at me like that?" he muttered under his breath. "Is there going to be more drama again? Or… do they somehow know that the one earlier was me? Hm… but no, I doubt it. This is probably just about that kid's ego, wanting to get Yura."

His eyes moved across the group until they landed on the only person he could really trust there—Fani.

Fani noticed his gaze, yet she only looked away, pretending she hadn't.

His instincts whispered that this morning was far from over, that something else was bound to happen, whether it turned into a problem or not.

"What is this supposed to be? Hm… should I go over there, or should I just walk away?"

After a moment of hesitation, he let out a long sigh.

"Huff… Why did I even hesitate? Maybe I'm just getting tired of these people," he murmured, straightening his back and exhaling slowly. "Remember, Al! You came here with a mission. Don't run away just because of something so petty."

With that, he gathered his resolve and began walking toward them, curious to see what awaited him. His eyes wandered for a moment toward his old room, which was now being torn down by just three workers. Most of the crew had already been reassigned to the main house, where they were fixing the damaged sections.

The closer he came to the benches, the slower his steps became. His eyes flicked subtly from one person to another, while they, in turn, stared sharply back at him.

But when Al finally reached them, nobody spoke. Silence fell instantly, the atmosphere oddly suffocating.

What is this? Is it just me, or is this really strange? he thought.

After a few seconds of waiting, since no one said a word, he lowered his head slightly and greeted them.

"Good morning, Father, Mother, my sisters, Fani," he said politely, intentionally leaving out David's name.

Edward and Sandra exchanged a glance. Both looked hesitant, as if debating whether to confront Al now or hold it off for later. Yet the way Clarista and Vianna glanced at them made it clear that the two daughters were pushing for them to act.

Reluctantly, Edward and Sandra returned Al's greeting.

"G-Good morning, Al. That's unusual… you're up early today," Edward said, his tone awkwardly stiff for no reason. Sandra gave a short reply, forcing a faint smile and waving her hand lightly.

And then—nothing followed.

The strange attitude left Al puzzled. His gaze swept across each of them again, one by one, trying to make sense of it.

So this time they're just gossiping about me instead of starting another drama? That's new, he thought.

He shrugged lightly, gave a brief response to his parents, and then lowered his head, intending to continue on his way back to his room. All he wanted now was a beautiful nap. The contractors weren't being noisy today anyway, since they were busy drawing up plans for the renovation.

Clarista and Vianna, however, sat stunned, clearly dissatisfied that their parents hadn't acted. David's body trembled slightly, his irritation growing, but he couldn't risk being impulsive.

Aurielle only sighed softly, deciding that it didn't seem like anything serious. Fani even let out a small laugh, finding the whole situation strangely amusing.

Until suddenly—

"Al!" Clarista blurted out, unable to contain herself any longer. Her analytical mind simply couldn't stand something unresolved, something she couldn't figure out.

Al turned back at the sound.

So there really is drama. Is it starting now? he thought.

"Hm?" he murmured as he turned fully to face them.

"Mom and Dad want to tell you something," Clarista said firmly.

Edward and Sandra immediately shot her a glare, clearly displeased. Their daughter had just thrown the burden directly on them, forcing their hands. And so, it seemed they had no choice. This was no small matter—it would be a confrontation they couldn't easily avoid.

David's lips curled in a faint smile, while Aurielle only shook her head.

"What is it, Father, Mother?" Al asked as he stepped closer.

Edward looked him in the eye, and after a moment, he drew a deep breath, adjusting his expression into something flatter, steadier, more authoritative. He wanted to set the tone, to dominate the conversation. Because he knew very well—Al was the kind of child who argued back. And the only way to keep control was to establish dominance from the start.

"Al… is it true that you're in a relationship with Yura Atenri?" Edward asked at last.

So it really is about Yura, Al thought, his gaze flicking to David, who looked away. But Al caught the faint, sly smile tugging at his lips.

As expected. Getting involved with that girl would only drag more trouble to me.

He paused for a moment, wondering what answer he should give. He wasn't sure yet of his family's intentions. Were they just feeding David more fuel, letting him feast from a golden platter while Al was left with scraps? Or were they honestly asking?

"What's wrong with that, Father?" he countered instead of answering directly, testing the waters.

Edward hesitated, caught off guard. He had been asked back instead. As he thought, this wouldn't be easy.

"Well… I'm your father. Of course, I'd be interested in your life," Edward replied.

"Oh, really, Father? Interested in my life? That's surprising. You barely even cared which school I went to until David told you about it," Al said with an exaggerated, mocking shock. "If I remember correctly, in the three months I've been here, you've only asked anything about me twice? Wow. You're really so interested in my life."

The sarcasm hit like a direct strike, and both Edward and Sandra flinched. The confident air Edward had tried to project deflated instantly. He realized that what he had just said was nothing but hollow words. Sandra quickly turned her eyes away, uncomfortable.

Irritation flickered across their faces, followed by guilt. And yet, beneath that guilt, there was also a faint spark—a push, perhaps, toward trying to care more about their estranged son.

Al, however, knew well that sarcasm wasn't the best approach if he wanted true integration into this family. But sarcasm had always been his habit, whether planned or not, and it was often the only way he knew to push back against arrogance without violence—by throwing their own behavior back at them.

And judging by the way Edward and Sandra were now fidgeting instead of lashing out, it had worked exactly as he expected.

"You don't need to go that far, Al… I apologize," Edward finally said, awkward. "Your mother and I have just been too busy. After staying here for a few months, you should already understand how busy people like us are." He half-defended himself, half-shifted the weight back onto Al.

Al easily spotted several flaws in that reasoning and could've launched another verbal strike. But he chose restraint. One blow was enough. His purpose here was to be accepted, not to become the family's antagonist. So he nodded calmly.

"Alright, Father. I understand."

Edward sighed in relief and pressed on.

"Then… what about you and Yura?" he asked again, returning to the main topic.

"Father… isn't that kind of private? How can I explain that here?" Al replied, glancing at the others around.

Edward exhaled heavily.

"Al, don't talk about privacy. You're still seventeen. Your mother and I have every right to check deeper into your life—including your social life. Even your sisters do."

Al froze for a moment. He had almost forgotten that he was still seventeen, and yes, talking about privacy with one's parents at that age was… strange. After thinking a moment, he gave a hesitant reply, testing the waters again.

"Hmm… Yes, Father. We… we are… dating," he admitted reluctantly, the words sticking uncomfortably in his throat.

The answer stunned everyone. Even though they had suspected, hearing Al say it himself was still shocking. Naturally, all eyes subtly shifted toward David.

Fortunately, David had enough awareness to realize that people's eyes were on him, so he chose to maintain a flat, indifferent expression. The irritation inside him, however, only grew stronger with each passing moment. This little drama wasn't unfolding the way he had planned at all. Still, he decided to wait. Sooner or later, the topic about Al shamelessly using the family name to approach women would surely be brought up.

Yet even his thin layer of calmness was put to the test.

Al's gaze suddenly fell on him. There was something about Al's expression—just slightly annoying, yet enough to fan the flames of David's irritation. His neutral mask nearly cracked.

Then, it happened. Something that made his mind click.

Al blinked at him. A subtle, almost teasing blink.

David's eyes widened. For a split second, he was so shocked his face turned pale. His chest felt tight, his breath caught in his throat, and his body went rigid as if the world had stopped spinning.

In that instant, a memory resurfaced. The black-clad figure from earlier. For some reason, Al's blink—so casual, so mocking—echoed that figure's gesture.

The man's face had been hidden behind a mask, his features blurred by some kind of magical energy that distorted his appearance. But even through the haze, that blink… that blink had been unforgettable. And now, Al's blink felt almost identical.

Yes, the pupil color was different. The details didn't match perfectly. Yet, it was still enough to make David tense up, his mind spinning with uneasy thoughts.

A moment later, he shook his head violently, chasing the fear away.

Impossible. There's no way that person… could be Al. I must just be traumatized by that figure. That's why even this orphan brat's blink is messing with my head. Tch…

Forcing his expression back to calm, David stepped back.

The conversation continued.

"Al… are you serious?" his father asked, his voice carrying both disbelief and a strange weight that made the air in the room feel heavy.

Sandra, who had still been reeling from everything that happened earlier, was equally shocked. Her swollen, red-rimmed eyes widened in disbelief as though she had just heard something impossible.

Al, however, simply nodded.

"That's right. Is it strange if someone my age is in a relationship? Aren't there plenty of people my age who are already engaged?" he asked casually, seizing the chance to throw another jab at David whenever he could.

Edward stared at him for a moment, his eyes narrowing as if trying to read Al's expression. Then, after a pause, he turned his gaze to the rest of the family before shifting it back to Al.

His expression grew far more serious than before. Everyone else immediately straightened their posture, sensing that the next words would touch on the matter they had all been waiting for.

David and Clarista, in particular, wore the tense faces of people who had already chosen to take the role of antagonists in this drama.

Edward finally spoke again.

"This isn't about whether you have a girlfriend or not. The real question is… how did you even come to know Yura in the first place? Don't tell me you—"

But his words were cut short by Al's sudden outburst.

"Father!" Al interrupted sharply. "Don't tell me you're thinking I… used witchcraft or something?"

Edward and the others immediately facepalmed, sighing in unison at the sheer absurdity of the question. The tension eased somewhat thanks to the ridiculous remark that had come out of nowhere. Even Fani, who had been stiff with nerves, couldn't help but let out a giggle.

"Huff…" Edward exhaled deeply, his serious face faltering for a moment. "No. That's not what I was thinking. What I meant was—"

"You must have used the family name to chase girls outside!" Vianna suddenly cut in, no longer able to endure the dragging drama. It was odd—unlike his usual self, their father seemed to be holding back instead of directly scolding Al.

Everyone's attention immediately shifted toward Vianna.

David's lips curled slightly, a faint glimmer of joy in his eyes. For him, this was the perfect opening. The play had finally begun, and all he needed to do was prepare his act to throw fuel onto the fire.

Al, however, simply blinked at her, momentarily stunned.

"Huh? I used the family name to chase girls? How is that even possible?" he asked in genuine confusion, as though such an idea had never once crossed his mind. "Wow… you people really think that far about me, huh?" His tone carried a faint trace of bitterness.

"Then how do you explain knowing Yura, let alone dating her? Isn't it strange? You're still known as the boy from the orphanage, yet somehow you're in a relationship with someone like Yura? And she even knows you live here." Clarista added, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

Seeing the chance, David also took a step forward and began to speak.

"Al… do you even realize that using the family name outside can—"

But before he could finish, Al raised his hand and pointed at him sharply, signaling him to stop.

"Be quiet. The adults are talking," Al said coldly, without even sparing him a glance. His attention remained fixed on Edward and Sandra instead.

David froze, taken aback. For some reason, his body instinctively stepped back, and he found himself unable to speak another word despite the fury boiling inside him.

So this is the morning's drama, huh? Al thought to himself.

"Father, Mother. Is this already your conclusion? Or are you still sincerely asking me?" he asked, needing to confirm their stance.

Edward and Sandra exchanged uncertain glances. They wanted to believe it was the logical conclusion, yet deep inside, they knew they lacked any concrete proof. Without evidence, what could they do?

Sensing the tension mounting, Aurielle stepped forward and took over the conversation.

"Al… we're just curious. We want you to tell us the story," she said more gently, her voice carrying a sincerity that eased the heavy atmosphere.

Her words visibly calmed Edward and Sandra, but they only seemed to irritate David and Clarista further. For them, peace was the last thing they wanted; they had been hoping for an explosion, not reconciliation.

Al fell silent for a moment, thinking. Truth be told, their suspicion wasn't unreasonable. If he were in their shoes, he might have drawn the same conclusion. But that wasn't the point. What he wanted to see was whether they would once again accuse him blindly, like that first night, or if they would handle this differently.

Yet something felt different today. Edward and Sandra seemed softer than usual, holding back their impulses. Aurielle, on the other hand, appeared almost enthusiastic, leaning toward him rather than against him.

In the end, Al chose the path of peace rather than conflict. He remembered a line from the holy book he had once read: Make peace when they offer you peace.

So, he began explaining. Of course, with the story already slightly modified.

He told them how he and Yura had first come into contact, how she learned the truth about where he lived. How Yura was actually Rina's close friend, and that Rina had once accompanied him here, where Vianna herself had seen them at the gate. He explained how Yura had grown curious about Rina's new friend, leading to them connecting through messages online. They had gradually gotten to know each other through those conversations.

Then, just last night, they had finally met in person at a café. After spending hours together, they found themselves comfortable with each other, and decided to give their relationship a chance. Yura had known Al lived here not because he bragged, but because Rina had mentioned it. In fact, Al had even told Yura at first that he lived in the school dormitory.

It was a strange explanation, yes, but it was still convincing—especially once Vianna admitted that she had indeed seen Rina accompany Al all the way to the gate.

Though the story sounded unusual, Edward and Sandra both looked visibly relieved. They even felt a little ashamed, realizing how close they had been to letting their prejudice cloud their judgment once again. Had they been impulsive like before, this morning could have spiraled into yet another ugly confrontation that only pushed their son further away.

Aurielle, on the other hand, looked almost proud. From the start, she had been thinking only one thing: Al had managed to get the attention of a girl like Yura, the daughter of the Atenri family. To her, that alone was impressive. She even wanted to hug him out of sheer excitement, though something inside her still held her back from showing such affection openly.

The only one left truly frustrated was David. After a disastrous morning where he had been slapped, had his potential harem stolen, his subordinates rioting, his room damaged, and now his carefully planned drama collapsing into a peaceful resolution—he could barely contain his rage.

Clarista, meanwhile, simply returned to her seat beside Fani, her face blank. She still felt the whole situation was unfair to David, but at that moment, she could do nothing.

And so, the morning ended more peacefully than anyone expected, sidestepping the kind of drama that could have driven Al even further away.

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