Chapter 21
Elyra stared back at the small orange-haired boy.
He hadn't stopped looking at her ever since she came downstairs.
Not even once.
The little girl frowned slightly.
Is there something on my face?
The longer he stared, the more uncomfortable she felt.
Without thinking, she shifted closer against Damnern's shoulder.
Damnern immediately noticed.
His blue eyes slowly moved toward the orange-haired boy.
A cold, displeased gaze.
The small orange-haired boy instantly stiffened.
Before the atmosphere could become awkward, however—
Thud.
An elbow suddenly struck Damnern's side.
"Ouch."
Beside him, Elina was smiling sweetly.
A smile that clearly carried a warning.
Stop intimidating the child.
Damnern quietly looked away.
Meanwhile, Eldern remained unusually silent.
The cheerful boy who normally greeted everyone without hesitation simply stood beside his father, his expression somewhat subdued.
Derrick noticed something.
The way his son's kept stealing glances.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
He leaned down toward his son and whispered into his ear.
"You like her, don't you, Ryker?"
Immediately, The small orange-haired boy's entire face turned bright red.
"W-Wut(What)?!"
He nearly jumped.
"N-No, Fawther!"
His voice came out far louder than intended.
Embarrassed beyond belief, the little boy quickly hid behind his mother's legs again.
Only the top of his orange hair remained visible.
Derrick nearly laughed.
Definitely likes her.
Elina stepped forward and approached the white-haired woman beside Derrick.
A warm smile appeared on her face.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Berwyn. My name is Elina Solv."
The beautiful woman smiled back politely.
"Please, just call me Cecilia."
"Then please call me Elina as well."
The two women quickly exchanged friendly smiles.
Unlike their husbands, they seemed capable of holding a normal conversation.
Derrick suddenly clapped his hands together.
"Enough formalities!"
Everyone turned toward him.
Derrick pointed dramatically toward the inn's entrance.
"Let's get moving!"
His enthusiasm was so overwhelming that even Cecilia sighed.
A moment later, the group finally left the inn together.
The cool night air greeted them as they stepped onto the lantern-lit streets.
Elina and Cecilia naturally walked side by side, chatting as though they had known each other for years.
A few steps behind them walked Ryker.
Or rather—
Ryker walked beside his mother while secretly peeking at Elyra every few seconds.
Whenever their eyes met, he immediately looked away.
Then a few moments later, he would peek again.
And repeat the process.
Elyra, meanwhile, was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.
The blonde-haired girl remained in Damnern's arms, pretending not to notice.
Damnern noticed too.
His expression grew darker each time.
The protective father looked one suspicious glance away from declaring the three-year-old a potential threat.
Beside him, Eldern quietly walked while holding his father's hand.
The boy seemed unusually thoughtful.
Even Elina occasionally glanced back at him with concern.
The lantern light illuminated the group as they continued through the bustling evening streets.
After a short walk, two luxurious horse-drawn carriages came into view, waiting by the roadside.
Both carried the crest of the Berwyn family.
Derrick grinned proudly.
"Our ride is here."
Soon, everyone climbed aboard.
The journey through the city didn't take long.
As the carriages moved deeper into the heart of Valdwess, even Elyra found herself staring out the window.
The city at night was beautiful.
Countless lanterns illuminated the streets while elegant buildings lined the roads.
Eventually, the carriage came to a stop.
The moment Elyra stepped outside, her eyes widened.
A magnificent building stood before them.
Restaurant Neltan.
Its towering architecture seemed more like a royal palace than a restaurant.
Golden lights illuminated the white marble exterior.
Tall pillars stretched toward the night sky.
For the first time that evening, genuine wonder appeared on Elyra's face.
It's huge...
Instinctively, she moved closer to Elina.
Unfortunately, that only made things worse.
Because Ryker was still looking at her.
Every few seconds.
Feeling awkward under his constant gaze, Elyra quietly hid behind Elina's leg.
Only half her face remained visible.
Ryker's eyes immediately widened.
Cute.
The thought appeared in his head before he could stop it.
His face instantly turned red again.
Meanwhile, Eldern watched the entire exchange.
His expression somehow became even gloomier.
The restaurant itself was famous throughout the kingdom.
Only nobles, wealthy merchants, and influential figures could normally afford to dine here.
Yet strangely enough—
Tonight, there were no customers.
Only restaurant staff stood waiting respectfully.
It almost felt as though the entire establishment had been reserved for one group alone.
A long red carpet stretched from the entrance all the way toward a pair of enormous golden doors.
Elyra blinked.
What kind of restaurant needs doors that big?
Derrick casually walked forward.
Placing his hand against a smooth crystal panel beside the entrance, he closed his eyes.
A faint orange glow appeared around his palm.
Fue flowed from his body into the crystal.
A low mechanical rumble echoed through the building.
Then—
The massive doors slowly opened.
"After you," Derrick said with a grin.
Everyone stepped inside.
The room beyond was surprisingly spacious.
Roughly eighty-five feet wide and over a hundred feet long.
Before anyone could properly examine it, Derrick walked toward another crystal panel.
He placed his hand on it and released Fue once more.
The doors behind them slowly closed.
A moment later—
The entire room trembled.
"E-Eh?"
Elyra's eyes widened.
Unconsciously.
She immediately grabbed Damnern's sleeve.
The floor felt strange.
Almost as though it was moving.
Seeing her reaction, Derrick laughed.
"This is called a Fue Elevator."
Everyone looked at him.
"It allows people to travel between floors without using stairs."
Even Elina looked impressed.
"That's incredible."
Derrick puffed out his chest proudly.
"The technology came from the Kingdom of Casila."
The room continued moving for several moments.
Then—
Ding.
The doors opened once more.
The scenery outside was completely different.
They had arrived on one of the highest levels of the building.
Elina's eyes sparkled.
Even she couldn't hide her amazement.
"This is beautiful."
Another red carpet stretched ahead of them.
Following it, the group entered an enormous private dining hall.
The sight immediately stunned everyone.
An elegant dining table occupied the center of the room.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling.
Golden decorations lined the walls.
The large windows provided a breathtaking view of the city below.
And on the table—
An incredible feast awaited them.
Dozens of luxurious dishes filled every available space.
Everything had already been prepared before they arrived.
Derrick spread his arms dramatically.
"Welcome!"
His grin widened.
"Tonight's dinner!"
The meal that followed was surprisingly lively.
Or rather—
Derrick made sure it was lively.
He seemed physically incapable of staying quiet.
He talked constantly.
One story led to another.
Then another.
At some point, nobody even remembered what the original topic had been.
Across the table, Elyra's blue eyes narrowed as she stared sharply at Derrick, who was laughing boisterously while waving his fork around in the air.
The little girl's expression grew increasingly sour with every passing moment. Her enthusiasm for the luxurious feast spread across the table seemed to diminish each time the thunderous voice of that thirty-seven-year-old old man echoed throughout the private dining hall.
This is exactly why I don't like this person.
End of Chapter 21