Chapter 1010: (Un)Peaceful Dinner
Chapter 1010 – (Un)Peaceful Dinner
Aela watched them with quiet fascination.
The first elf had expected power to look solemn.
Royal courts, perhaps.
Ancient vows.
Bloodline councils.
Guardians standing in silence beneath sacred trees.
Instead, power in this mansion looked like a wounded demon in a robe being scolded by women who loved him while a Gluttony princess worshipped soup.
It made no sense.
And yet somehow, beneath the noise, the structure was clear.
They all watched Lux.
Not as servants watched a lord.
They watched him like they had chosen him, and would continue choosing him even when he made it difficult.
Lux, for all his jokes, noticed everything.
He noticed Gula smiling into every bite. He noticed Ely checking Aela’s plate to see if she understood modern utensils. He noticed Naomi quietly signaling Lyra for a lighter soup because Aela might not tolerate heavy food yet. He noticed Rava filling Aela’s cup before she realized it was empty. He noticed Fiera distracting Mira before she asked another virginity-related question. He noticed Lullaby nearly falling asleep against her pillow between bites.
He noticed Sira watching him.
She was seated close enough to kick him under the table if he tried to read a system window.
Her foot had already bumped his ankle twice.
Lux looked at her. "I’m eating. I’m not working."
Sira smiled. "Good."
"I feel oppressed."
Aela looked at Ely. "Is she always like this?"
Ely smiled softly. "Only when she is worried."
Sira sniffed. "I am not worried."
Lux lifted a hand.
Several women spoke at once.
"You are."
Sira clicked her tongue.
Lux smiled faintly and took another sip of broth.
Aela slowly picked up her spoon.
Ely had taught her how to hold it earlier, along with napkins, cups, the basic idea of chairs, and the terrifying fact that not every glowing object was magical. Some were simply electronics, which Aela still distrusted.
She tasted the soup.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Naomi noticed. "Is it okay?"
Aela looked at the spoon.
Then at the bowl.
"It is warm."
Gula paused mid-bite and stared.
Rava’s expression softened.
Ely’s eyes shimmered again.
Lux looked away first, pretending to inspect his wine.
Aela continued quietly, "I had forgotten this."
"What?" Fiera asked gently.
Aela touched the bowl with both hands. "Food that is not memory."
The table grew still.
For a moment, no one joked.
Then Gula pushed a small plate toward Aela. "Try this."
Aela looked at it.
"What is it?"
"Moonfruit pastry. Sweet. Soft. Not too heavy. If you like it, I have seven more but I will share one."
Lux stared at Gula. "That might be the kindest thing you’ve done all year."
Gula smiled proudly. "I know."
Aela took the pastry.
Bit into it.
Her face changed.
Not like Gula, who treated every meal like a religious conversion.
But something brightened in her eyes.
"Oh."
Gula grinned. "Right?"
Aela looked at the pastry again.
Then took another bite.
Lux smiled into his cup.
Sira saw it.
Under the table, her foot nudged his ankle again, gentler this time.
He glanced at her.
Her expression said, ’See? Let people care.’
His expression said, ’Don’t start.’
Her smile said, ’I already started it.’
Lux sighed.
Home really was dangerous.
At the far side of the table, Mira leaned closer to Aela again.
"So, if you never mated, does that mean the elven race came from nature splitting off more elves?"
Fiera covered her face. "Mira."
Aela nodded seriously. "In the beginning, yes."
Mira’s eyes shone. "Amazing."
Lux muttered, "At least she’s moved from virginity to botany."
Rava laughed softly.
Naomi smiled. "Progress."
Lullaby lifted her head from her pillow. "Elf babies from trees?"
Aela considered. "Not exactly babies."
Lullaby blinked. "Tree siblings."
Aela paused.
Then nodded.
"Yes. Tree siblings."
Lullaby smiled sleepily. "Cute."
Lux, who had been drinking his broth with the expression of a man trying very hard to convince everyone he was participating in dinner and not mentally opening twelve system windows at once, relaxed by exactly one percent.
Dangerous mistake.
Peace never stayed long near Lux Vaelthorn.
A black blur shot in from the open doors. "Caw!"
Lux didn’t even flinch.
Corvus landed on his shoulder with the confidence of someone who had never once asked permission and had no plans to start now. His glossy feathers ruffled once, eyes sharp and smug, little claws settling against Lux’s robe like he paid rent there.
Lux slowly turned his head. "I’m eating."
Corvus clicked his beak. "And I am working. The hierarchy is obvious."
Sira immediately narrowed her eyes. "No work tonight."
Corvus tilted his head toward her. "Wonderful. Then I will deliver classified chaos verbally and let everyone panic recreationally."
Lux sighed into his cup.
Then a small translucent jelly blob climbed up the side of the dining table.
Zehar.
The ancient jelly moved with horrifying determination for something that had no bones, no manners, and somehow the emotional entitlement of a retired god. He plopped onto the tablecloth, wobbled once, then slid directly toward Lux’s coffee.
Lux’s eyes sharpened. "Zehar."
The jelly wrapped one little tendril around the coffee cup and pulled it toward himself.
Everyone watched as Zehar absorbed the surface of the coffee with a satisfied wiggle.
Lux stared. "That is my coffee."
Zehar’s tiny voice sounded far too pleased. "Was."
Sira covered her mouth.
Gula gasped. "He stole from Greed."
Rava whispered, "That is bravery."
Naomi smiled politely, but her eyes laughed.
Lux looked at Zehar.
Zehar wobbled again. Then said, "Worth it."
Lux closed his eyes.
Corvus puffed his chest. "Good. You’re awake enough for news."
Lux opened one eye.
Sira’s foot immediately tapped his ankle under the table.
He looked at her.
She smiled dangerously.
He looked back at Corvus. "Speak carefully. I am not working."
Corvus cawed once. "Of course. This is not work. This is doom with garnish."
Aela looked at Ely. "Is the bird also part of the household?"
Ely smiled weakly. "Yes."
Aela looked at Zehar, who was still drinking stolen coffee. "And the jelly?"
Lux answered before anyone else could. "Unfortunately."
Corvus hopped once on Lux’s shoulder. "I have bad news and good news. Which one do you want first?"