Cyan's sudden silence and the tear rolling down his cheek caused the atmosphere in the room to immediately sink.
Lucian and Serafina stopped their argument at once, clear panic appearing on their faces.
Serafina was so worried that she abruptly rose from her chair.
-Cyan! What's wrong? Did something happen...?
But before she could even take a step toward him, a dark blur had already moved faster than she could.
Before anyone realized it, Sitri was already standing beside Cyan. One of her hands rested gently on his shoulder, while the other carefully steadied the trembling teacup in his hand so that it would not spill.
Her eyes remained fixed on Cyan, and her face held both careful observation and concern she could not hide.
Cyan lightly shook his head and took a deep breath, trying to drive away the heavy feeling that had suddenly seized him.
He quietly brushed away the remaining tear and spoke in a low voice.
-I'm fine... I just felt a little dizzy.
Seeing Cyan gradually regain his composure, everyone in the room let out a sigh of relief.
Lucian's brows were still slightly raised, guilt evident on his face as he quietly spoke.
-Was the taste of the tea not to your liking, Cyan? I thought this kind of premium tea would suit your tastes.
Cyan scratched the back of his head and waved his hand.
-Not at all, it's wonderful if anything. It's so good that it almost made me cry from happiness.
-Haha, you really startled me. I thought perhaps this flavor wasn't to your liking haha....is that so, then perhaps you're praising it too much.
At that moment, Serafina stared fixedly in one direction before speaking in a slightly sharper tone.
-But still, I think that's enough, Sitri. Cyan already said he's fine. You can let go now, can't you!
Seeing the dangerous expression on Serafina's face, Cyan hurriedly spoke up.
-Sitri is only doing her job, so don't get so tense.
But contrary to what Cyan expected, Sitri merely tilted her head slightly. Her amber-gold eyes looked directly into Serafina's, strangely calm as she answered in a gentle voice.
-That's right. It is simply my role.
The moment those words left her lips, an invisible pressure suddenly spread throughout the room.
Serafina did not back down. She let out a small huff, and her violet eyes began to glow brightly.
Without even realizing it, the two girls had begun releasing mana in order to "assert their place."
The green mana surrounding Serafina collided with Sitri's mysterious gray aura directly above Cyan's head, creating tiny sparks that crackled in the air.
Lucian, who was sitting across from them, could only cover his face with one hand and sigh with a helpless smile.
Cyan sat in the center of the storm, clearly feeling the two currents of power struggling against each other little by little.
Cold sweat rolled down his face as he thought to himself.
"My peaceful tea party..."
Cyan lightly cleared his throat, trying to break the tension.
-Sitri, saying it like that can cause misunderstandings. Serafina, don't misunderstand either, she didn't mean it that way.
Serafina let out a cold huff. The mana surrounding her did not disappear—instead, it became even more unstable.
She crossed her arms in front of her chest and turned her face away, while a clear look of resentment appeared in her violet eyes.
-Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?
She glanced at Cyan with a reproachful expression.
-Are you really going to keep using formal speech with your fiancée? Meanwhile, neither you nor her act the slightest bit formal with each other.
Looking at Serafina's sulking expression, Cyan himself did not understand why, but he responded purely on instinct.
-Alright then, Sera. From now on, allow me to call you that... my fiancée.
Those sudden words caused the atmosphere in the room to freeze for several seconds.
Serafina went completely still, her violet eyes widening in shock.
Her entire face quickly turned red like a ripe tomato, the color spreading from her cheeks all the way to the tips of her ears.
-Se Se Se...Sera?
Serafina stammered.
The hands that had been glowing with green mana just moments ago no longer knew where to go. In the end, she could only clutch the hem of her dress tightly.
-W-Who... who gave you permission to call me that so casually! And then... "my fiancée"....that hasn't even been decided yet... we've only known each other for a short time.
The fierce mana pressure from before disappeared completely, replaced instead by overwhelming embarrassment.
Serafina hurriedly sat back down in her chair and turned her face away to hide her flustered expression.
Meanwhile, the hands resting on Cyan's shoulders unconsciously tightened slightly.
Cyan could only think helplessly.
"Girls are really terrifying."
Serafina awkwardly spoke up.
-T-To make things fair then.... We should all call each other more casually....right, Luchi?
"..."
-W-What are you talking about!? Why are you dragging me into this too—Lucian frantically waved his hands.
-You know you don't hate this kind of thing, big brother.
Hearing that, Cyan also spoke up enthusiastically.
-Even if the engagement isn't certain, after this tea party the three of us can still think of each other as friends. We should speak more casually from now on.
-That's right! Luchi.
Serafina lightly pushed her teacup toward Lucian.
Lucian let out a resigned sigh before speaking.
-Alright then! If the young master of a great family says so, then I shall no longer hesitate. Right, Cyn?
-That's right... Cy...Cy....Cyn, you have to let me call you that too—Serafina said while avoiding Cyan's eyes.
Cyan thought to himself.
"That way of calling me isn't bad. It feels like it carries a rather positive sort of energy."
-Alright then! Let's raise our cups!
-Come on now...it's not as though this is alcohol —the two siblings replied in unison.
Sitri, who had been quietly watching from the side, smiled faintly to herself.
She looked as though she were taking care of three children.
The atmosphere in the room immediately became peaceful again.
Lucian then spoke up with renewed enthusiasm.
-Oh, right. I heard from my little sister that you want to visit my family's territory, is that true?
-That's right. I want to contract a water spirit there.
Lucian crossed his arms and fell into thought.
-That will not be a problem. However, at the moment, reaching that place will not be easy.
-Not easy? Did something happen? —Cyan asked.
-You may already know this, but my family's territory lies in the southwest, where there are many forests....Between the area where people live and....Spirit Deer Wood lies Spirit Deer Forest....and that forest is currently extremely unstable.
-Unstable? —Cyan asked.
Lucian: That's right! Winter is approaching, so monsters usually migrate closer to the territory. On top of that, several high-ranking monsters have been appearing more frequently than before. Because of that, reaching Spirit Deer Wood has become quite difficult.
Serafina: There are a few spirits in the garden at my home as well, though not many....if possible, it would still be better to go into the forest.
Lucian: Don't be so naive. Cyan is, after all, the young master of a great family. He cannot simply walk into the forest....if something were to happen to him, our family might even be destroyed.
Cyan: Don't be so tense, Luchi. Didn't we just become friends? I won't let anything bad happen to the Borgia family.
A surge of blue mana burst from Cyan as he firmly declared.
-Or are you doubting my strength? I am not so weak that I would sacrifice myself before even seeing a dragon.
Seeing Cyan's determination and the pressure of his mana, Lucian unconsciously trembled slightly before answering.
-It's not that. It's simply that this matter is not so easy. Besides, how could a six-year-old child who knows nothing about forests or monsters recklessly go there.....I think learning water magic from a mage would be the better choice.
Cyan pointed at himself and answered without hesitation.
-It's fine. You don't need to worry that much. Besides, I have my own resolve. I cannot simply meet some random person and take them as my master before even trying to move forward through my own strength.
Lucian: I see....Perhaps I was worrying too much. Very well, if you've gone so far as to say that.
Serafina: Then that means Cyan is coming to my territory, right!
Cyan: Then it's settled!
Cyan and Serafina happily slapped their palms together like two close friends.
Lucian: In that case, in around three weeks, at the beginning of October, we will return to the territory.
Cyan: Alright. I'll make my preparations until then.
The tea party continued in a warm atmosphere filled with plans for the future.
The voices and laughter of the three children echoed throughout the room.
Lucian continued sharing details about the southwest, Spirit Deer Forest, and the streams where water spirits usually dwelled.
Cyan listened attentively, deep in thought whenever Lucian mentioned monsters or unexplored lands.
Cyan quietly thought to himself.
"In truth, I already know all of this. I even have more information and experience than he does. But I do not want to embarrass him right now, so I'll save that conversation for another time."
As the sun gradually began to set, the golden light of dusk streamed through the great hall's windows.
Sitri lightly bowed, every movement as flawless and proper as that of a perfect attendant.
She gently placed another small plate of sweets onto the table and poured one final round of tea.
-Young Master Cyn, Lady Sera, and Young Master Luchi, the sun has already long since set. Perhaps the tea party should end here so that everyone can return to their rooms in time.
Cyan: Is that so, what time is it already!?
Sitri answered in a tone that carried a faint trace of reproach.
-You know very well, it is already 12:30 at night.
Only then did everyone realize with shock that it had truly become very late.
Serafina let out a small sigh filled with regret.
She still did not want to leave this atmosphere behind.
Serafina: Alright then... I'll see you again tomorrow.... C...C..Cyn.
Serafina placed her hands on her hips, trying to regain her usual proud demeanor.
Cyan thought to himself.
"Has she already begun to develop in that cold direction? Still, it will probably take several more years before the cold companion I once knew truly appears."
Lucian stood up, straightened his clothes, and extended his hand toward Cyan.
-See you tomorrow. I'll speak with the family head and make sure everything is properly prepared for you, Cyn.
Cyan smiled and shook his hand.
He watched as the backs of the Borgia siblings gradually disappeared beyond the large doors.
When the room was finally left with only him and Sitri, Cyan collapsed back into his chair and spoke.
-Sitri... thank you for earlier. If you hadn't caught the teacup, I probably would have ruined the entire tea party.
Sitri did not answer immediately.
She silently gathered the empty teacups.
Then she stopped and looked at Cyan with deep eyes and a faint smile.
-That is my duty. But Young Master... next time, please be more careful with your health.
Cyan paused for a moment.
He lightly touched his chest, where the painful feeling from earlier still remained.
He quietly nodded.
-Now that you're by my side, I no longer need to worry about my health.
Then Sitri gave him a faint smile before quietly leaving the room.
Cyan watched her figure disappear beyond the door, then looked out the window, where the final rays of sunlight were slowly fading away.
October, winter was approaching, and the journey to obtain the water spirit within the Borgia territory was waiting for him ahead.
A true new beginning was finally about to begin.