Chijen stared at his terrifying parents for a long, deeply defeated moment. He looked at the massive stacks of gold taels, the property deeds, and the terrifyingly illegal orders his new father had just handed him.
He let out a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of a dying star.
"Yes, Mother. Yes, Father," Chijen mumbled, slinging his yellow bunny satchel over his broad shoulder. He turned around and trudged out of the courtyard, fully prepared to go commit state-level tax fraud for his new family.
Samuel watched the thirty-year-old man's back disappear through the moon gate. As soon as Chijen was completely out of earshot, the playful, unhinged energy vanished from Samuel's face.
The genius scholar slowly turned his head to look at Heena, his golden eyes narrowing with sharp, calculating intelligence.
"Wife," Samuel started, tapping his elegant fingers against the stone table. "Do you not think you need to tell me something?"
