"An interesting place for a reunion, I must say, a pool of blood is a first for me," Lucien said as he noticed Blanc and his Blood approaching them.
"It is good to see you in good health, regardless of the location, Father-in-Law," Blanc bowed, as he walked near his wives, before turning towards the three women looking him up and down, "Mothers-in-Law, our meeting has long been overdue."
"Indeed so, Blanc," Lea nodded as she walked towards him and offered her hand.
Which he accepted gracefully as he lowered himself and kissed it.
"Your daughter has been one of the best things that has happened to me," Blanc said, placing his head on her hand.
"And from what I hear, you are one of hers," Lea replied, raising his head to look into his eyes, "Which is why I accept you as a son."
He then moved to Manon and Salina, greeting them too with the same respect he had for Celine's Birth Mother.
Luckily, none of them opposed accepting him as their son after all the praise Celine and Miyanna had to say about him.
"Though I must say," Lea spoke, looking towards the married couple, "A smart move to make contact with the Daughter, but one that will be expensive to pay."
Mera nodded along to her words, "Have you considered the price before acting on it?"
"The situation did not allow for such precaution," Celine replied, "But the Daughter allowed us the choice to refuse in case we are not in agreement."
"If everyone could refuse the Sanguinarch Order, it would die out in a century or two." Lucien shook his head, "They will make sure to press you over and over for it if you refuse."
"That is a worry for another day, my dear," Manon said, pushing the subject for another time, "I am more interested in what occurred since you left the Domain of Blood Denegis."
"Apologies, Mother-in-Law, but before that, though," Blanc interrupted, scratching at his neck, "Why isn't the woman in the hallway entering and just checking up on us from time to time? Her eyes make my skin itch."
Salina sighed, turning towards the doorway, "Let go of your anger and come greet everyone, Sophie. Stop acting like you do not want to."
The pair of golden eyes reappeared, narrowing them as she watched the gathering in front of her.
"Why speak of me like that, especially in front of guests, Mother?" Sophie asked, still from inside the hallway.
"Am I a guest now, little sister?" Celine asked, a surprised look on her face, "And here I thought you missed me."
"I did," Sophie asked, "Before I thought you dead. I grieved for you, sister."
"And now you act as if you've seen a ghost," Celine sighed, "But I assure you I am definitely alive. Why don't you come here so I can show you?"
"Will you slap me?" Sophie asked, her light blonde hair now visible from behind the darkness.
"Most definitely," Celine replied the next moment.
"Why, though? Is this how you greet your little sister?" Sophie argued.
"Not even greeting your Brother-in-Law and my Capesso is reason enough, don't you think so?" Celine asked.
"If I come there and greet all of them properly, will you still slap me?" Sophie asked, approaching ever so closely from the darkness and into the hall.
"Maybe," Celine thought for a bit before replying.
Sophie sighed audibly, "Where will you slap me?"
"If you linger there a second longer, over the face," Celine replied.
And just as if their conversation was the prelude, Sophie entered the hall and stopped near the entrance.
"Lords and Ladies, Patriarchs and Matriarchs, Noble Bloods of Denegis and Maroux, let me present to you, Sophie of Blood Maroux," Sophie said overdramatically, as she curtsied.
Sophie seemed slightly younger than Celine, though the confidence in her features betrayed the truth. She was unmistakably an adult, somewhere just past eighteen by Blanc's guess.
Her hair was a light blonde, and her eyes a sharp gold that dug ever so deeply into one's soul.
A magnificent tool at the disposal of the second wife of Blood Maroux and their previous work as advisors to the High Monarch.
Lucien looked towards the ground, shaking his head as the silence grew so loud that it hurt to witness it.
But as luck would have it, two people found it most hilarious as they started laughing out loud, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
The two laughing were Kael and Lune.
"Thank you, thank you," Sophie bowed over and over, as the laughter continued.
"Does she always do self-introductions?" Blanc asked the people around.
Lea giggled, hearing his question, "She acts like half a fool only when she is nervous, and doesn't know what to do."
"Cute, isn't it?" Celine grinned, looking at Blanc and Miyanna, who were staring at her sister, who kept on bowing.
"Unique," Blanc replied.
"Took the words right out of my mouth, Hubby," Miyanna nodded to his description.
And just as they were discussing the difference between Celine's definition of cute and their description of what unique meant, Sophie stopped, straightening herself as she started walking normally towards the gathering.
When she did so, she looked more… beautiful.
"Let me present to you my husband, Blanc of Blood Denegis, my sister, and Capesso, Miyanna, and Blanc's two youngest siblings, Kael and Lune of Blood Denegis," Celine said.
Blanc took a step forward, bowing lightly, "A pleasure to meet you, Sister-in-Law."
"Is it really a pleasure, as you say it is, Brother?" Sophie asked, her golden eyes locked onto his gray ones.
"It is," Blanc nodded.
Sophie stared for a moment before a smile formed on her lips.
"I wish to speak more with you, once possible," Sophie said, before whispering a swift 'He's hot' into Celine's ear as she kissed her cheek.
Then she turned towards Miyanna, who, despite her rigid attempts at acting like a Noble Blood, couldn't hide her lack of experience from Sophie's eyes.
"It's an honor to meet a new sister," Sophie said, doing another curtsy, "No need to strain yourself, act as you please in front of me, Miyanna."
Miyanna exhaled, relaxing her body and putting her hand forward, "I will take you up on your offer, if that is the case, Sophie."
She shook her hand with pleasure before finally greeting the twins.
As Sophie did so, Mera stepped closer and gently tapped Miyanna on the back of her shoulder.
A soft, deliberate gesture meant to call her over without drawing too much attention from Sophie's greeting.
Miyanna turned, curious, only to find Mera and Auren standing quietly a few steps away, their expressions unreadable despite the smile they wore on their faces, but one thing was clear.
Their intent on speaking with her.
Miyanna's gaze swiftly turned to Blanc for aid.
He met her eyes and gave a small, steady nod while smiling.
Nothing more than a flick of the chin, but enough to comfort and calm her mind.
With that quiet affirmation, Miyanna took a breath, composed herself, and walked toward the pair who waited, preparing herself for a conversation she knew one day would come.
She could only hope that they would accept her despite their last… meeting.
"G-good evening," Miyanna stuttered.
"Calm down, Miyanna," Mera giggled, seeing Miyanna's stiffness.
"You do not have to worry about us holding you accountable or judging you for what you were part of in the past," Auren added, "A commander has their own orders they have to follow."
"And we are not as severe in our judgment as our husband is," Mera concluded, "You are our son's second wife, and he felt like mentioning earlier how much he loved you."
At her words, Miyanna couldn't help but blush, embarrassed by Blanc and his loose mouth.
But Mera continued, "So take this as us wanting to deepen and strengthen our relationship with you, our new Daughter-in-Law."
"I'm not accustomed to the way Noble Bloods speak, so please forgive me if I sometimes sound rude," Miyanna replied, "But with that out of the way, I would be more than happy to get to know you all better."
Mera and Auren nodded lightly, both delighted by her attitude and wish.
"In that case," Mera smiled, "You can start off by telling us more about your life."
And so, multiple conversations took place around the misplaced gathering as slowly soldiers of Blood Maroux started pouring in and cleaning up the corpses of fallen soldiers or those of Noble Bloods.
An hour later, as casual conversation gradually faded and the soldiers completed their careful work of clearing the area, leaving behind as little trace of their presence as possible, the group was ready to depart, setting their course toward the Domain of Blood Maroux.
The place Blanc saw as the final goal, as well as the reason they left the Golden Forest in the first place.
The single place he knew would take them in and properly care for his wives during their pregnancy.
What followed for him, those he loved, and those he reunited with?
He wouldn't be able to guess even if it were in front of his eyes.
He only prayed to the Vita that She would be merciful to him.
For what else was left but pray?