37. Parting ways..
Sunlight streamed through the palace windows, painting the breakfast hall in golden hues.
The table was overflowing with food: steaming croissants, fresh fruits, honey-glazed pastries, sizzling bacon, and giant platters of eggs cooked every way imaginable.
Marcelline, dressed casually in a soft oversized sweater, sipped her tea, still feeling the remnants of last night's nightmare, though the playful chaos of the morning helped her relax.
Amara, glowing as always, teased Mia while letting her little daughter spoon syrup on pancakes in overly dramatic fashion.
Marcelline (smiling, relaxed):
"I'm taking a break from college today… need to finish planning and sort through some documents."
Mia, almost bouncing in her chair, pouted.
Mia:
"Are you staying home all day, Aunt Elli? I want you to play with me!"
Marcelline ruffled her hair gently.
Marcelline:
"Of course, little cub. After I finish, we'll have our fun."
Amara leaned back in her chair, tail flicking lazily, smirking at her daughter.
Amara:
"Same for me, little one. Today, Mama and Aunt Elli are free. But we also have to meet your father—Vincent, my Supreme Beast King husband."
Mia clapped her hands in delight.
Mia:
"Yay! I want to see Papa Vincent..!!"
Victor, standing near the door with his usual charming smirk, stirred his coffee, one eyebrow raised.
Victor (mock-annoyed):
"Ah, breakfast… lovely chaos. But duty calls, my darling. The High Table summoned me for a discussion. Someone couldn't handle their own intrigue without me."
Marcelline rolled her eyes playfully.
Marcelline:
"Always busy, aren't you?"
Victor leaned closer, voice soft, teasing:
Victor:
"Someone has to keep the world interesting for you. And someone has to keep you out of trouble."
Amara, smirking, waved at him.
Amara:
"Try not to flirt too much in front of us while I'm gone. Mia might pick it up, you know."
Victor chuckled.
Victor:
"Noted. I'll behave… mostly."
He kissed Marcelline's hand lightly before heading toward the door, still giving her that signature smoldering grin.
---
Meanwhile, the Beast Brothers—Alpha, Leo, and Paradus—hovered nearby, tails swishing and ears twitching.
Alpha, puffing out his chest, nudged the breakfast table.
Alpha:
"Sister Florence, allow us to help you with the dishes. It would be… inefficient otherwise."
Leo grinned, leaning over a plate.
Leo:
"Efficiency? Pfft. Let me handle the heavier items. You needn't lift a finger, Florence."
Paradus, ever the panther, slinked closer to the pastries, mock-serious:
Paradus:
"And I shall protect all sweet things… and ensure no pancakes are wasted."
Florence, the ever-gentle matriarchal figure, laughed, her hand flying to her forehead.
Florence:
"Oh, my dear beasts… you've become more trouble than help, but I suppose I'll allow it. Just… try not to devour the entire table before I finish breakfast."
The brothers grinned, clearly enjoying themselves, and immediately began a hilarious, chaotic attempt to serve Florence while simultaneously "guarding" the pastries from Mia, who squealed and tried to swipe chocolate chips from their plates.
---
Mia shrieked as Paradus stealthily snatched a pancake, prompting a dramatic chase across the breakfast hall.
Mia:
"Hey! That's mine!"
Paradus (mock-serious, feline grace):
"Mine? Impossible. I am the pancake guardian."
Amara laughed so hard she nearly tipped over her chair.
Amara:
"Oh my little cub… this is exactly why breakfast is dangerous!"
Marcelline watched, smiling fondly, sipping her tea as the chaos unfolded around her: the playful teasing, the laughter, the familial warmth.
Even Victor, now at the door preparing to leave, turned around to watch the scene, shaking his head with an amused smirk.
Victor (muttering to himself):
"Unbeatable. Unstoppable. Absolutely terrifying in all the right ways."
---