The air in the Moonlight Garden shimmered with unease, as if the flowers themselves were listening.

When Leon and Seraphine reached closer to them, suddenly the feminine yet teasing voice of Liora's mother sounded.

"Liora, look, your 'friend' is also here now."

Liora, hearing her mother's words despite warning her not to say something weird in front of him when they had nothing going on between them, thought it was a nightmare. She had spent the whole of yesterday trying to convince her mother not to say anything strange, yet she had succeeded in the end.

She knew her mother was keeping her promise; however, when she especially emphasized the word friend, it made her want to run away.

Liora could only glare at her mother and try not to pay heed to the way she was talking, hoping not to attract any attention.

After saying those words to see if she would get a reaction from the young white-haired boy or not, Crystalline continued.

"Hello, Leon, I am Crystalline Valewyn, or you could say Liora's mother." She pointed at her husband and introduced him to. "And this is my husband, Andrew Valewyn."

Andrew, hearing his wife's words, didn't show much reaction other than a smile that was clearly forced.

Leon was not oblivious to these cues, as he had already found Liora's father a bit strange from their earlier interaction, and now he was sure of it for some reason.

The man named Andrew Valewyn, the father of the girl he had saved inside the dungeon, didn't seem to like him that much, when Leon had expected the opposite reaction.

He paid no mind to his behavior and responded to Crystalline.

"As you know, I am Leon, and this is my wife Seraphine Vael," he said while looking at Seraphine.

W-Wife... me...

I- In front of everyone!

Seraphine's heart exploded with overwhelming love when she heard him introduce her as his wife in front of others.

She couldn't believe it for a few seconds and was in shock.

But the smile on Leon's face made her realize it was real. Seraphine got lost in her own fantasy for a while.

Crystalline, seeing them both, couldn't help but feel her daughter had tough competition, especially when she had failed to even get an A-rank class inside the dungeon like her.

Failing to even participate in the boss fight had cost her daughter. Still, she remembered clearly how her daughter had told her things about the dungeon and its monsters. She knew it was not her fault.

Crystalline was content that her daughter had come back alive.

She would have never forgiven herself if something had happened to her. Liora was so determined to make their house proud and achieve a higher rank in the kingdom.

Seeing that, Crystalline decided to play along with her daughter in hopes of not taking away her motivation.

I was worried for nothing. Even when she knew my full strength now, she was still my determined little girl. Her focus had only shifted a little, yet I knew she desperately wanted to get stronger.

As Liora had even asked her to train her, she had requested to be made as strong as Leon. However, Crystalline told her off, even before taking her as a student, that she was not confident she could do that. Still, she could very well make her as strong as herself if she did her best.

Crystalline hated to admit it, but the boy in front of her was stronger than her.

It was hard to believe, but it was reality.

After the introduction was done, Leon and Seraphine were about to take the bench next to them.

However, suddenly, two figures emerged from one of the pathways inside the Moonlight Garden and began walking toward them.

Leon and everyone else recognized them at first glance—it was the mysterious blonde-haired woman and Loriel.

Aurelia had detected the early arrival of Leon and Crystalline—both of whom she had invited—and decided to emerge from the garden's inner sanctum. Her golden hair caught the light as she approached, Loriel following silently behind.

"I am Aurelia," she announced, her voice carrying the weight of authority and respect. "The 36th Saintess of Light."

The title hung in the air like a physical presence. Crystalline, who rarely showed deference to anyone, inclined her head slightly in acknowledgment. The position of Saintess was not merely ceremonial—it represented one of the highest authorities.

Because she knew rather too clearly about these things.

Aurelia's golden eyes swept over the group, needing no introductions. She knew exactly who each person was— and their significance. That knowledge reflected in her gaze as it passed over each of them.

Leon, with his calm Aura, Seraphine still glowing from being called wife, Crystall, with her calculating maternal instincts, Andrew with his barely concealed displeasure, and Liora trying to disappear into the ground from embarrassment.

"Come," Aurelia said simply, turning toward the garden's center. "We have matters to discuss."

They followed her deeper into the Moonlight Garden, where a circular marble table sat beneath a canopy of crystalline vines. The table was ancient, its surface carved with murals that seemed to shift when viewed directly. Seven chairs surrounded it, as if the exact number of attendees had been known beforehand.

As they took their seats, a strange tension settled over the gathering. The marble was cool to the touch, and the air itself seemed heavier here, charged with expectation.

Aurelia sat first, her movements graceful and deliberate. Loriel remained standing behind her chair like a guardian. Leon took the seat directly across from the Saintess, with Seraphine beside him—still occasionally stealing glances at him with that dreamy expression. Crystalline chose the seat to Aurelia's right, while Andrew sat beside his wife with visible reluctance. Liora ended up between her father and Seraphine, the worst possible position from her perspective.

Silence stretched between them. No one spoke. Even Crystalline, usually quick with clever words, remained quiet. They all waited, knowing that Aurelia, the Saintess of light, had orchestrated this gathering, that she alone knew its true purpose.

The Saintess's golden eyes remained closed for a long moment, as if gathering her thoughts or perhaps communing with something that needed even her some time to think before speaking.

The night-blooming flowers around them began to open despite it being daylight, the effect of a magical flower.

The tension grew thicker. Andrew's fingers drummed silently against his thigh. Crystalline's eyes darted between Leon and Aurelia, trying to decipher the game being played. Liora kept her gaze firmly on the table's surface, afraid that looking at anyone would make her embarrassment worse.

Leon alone seemed unaffected, observing Aurelia with that same calm interest he showed toward everything. But even he was curious—what could the 36th Saintess of Light want from him?

Finally, Aurelia opened her eyes. The golden irises seemed to glow with inner light as she looked at each of them in turn.

"You're all here because—" she began, then paused, her expression shifting subtly as if she'd sensed something.

The tension ratcheted even higher. Everyone leaned forward slightly, waiting for her to continue, to finally reveal why she had invited them to this secret meeting in the royal garden.

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