Elira was stunned by the sudden arrival of Sylas's eldest sister. Her eyes met Silvia's, and she felt her cheeks flush as the woman approached, smiling warmly. Elira had thought Silvia had come for her, only to realize that her attention was elsewhere — on the mischievous Crown Prince Cassian, who was sitting just behind her, eager not to be left out by Silvia's antics.
"Hi there, you little brat!" Silvia exclaimed, immediately grabbing Cassian and ruffling his hair as she leaned close, much to Elira's continued confusion.
"Ugh! Come on, you old hag… don't mess with my hair," Cassian protested, shoving Silvia gently away.
Elira noticed Sylas rising from his seat, offering a polite handshake to a man with striking emerald green hair and piercing purple eyes, who had entered alongside Silvia into Mrs. Joana's home.
"Long time no see, brother-in-law," Sylas said with a faint smile.
The man said nothing aloud. Instead, he pulled out a small notebook, writing carefully. Sylas read the words, squinting slightly as he absorbed them. Elira's curiosity piqued — why was this man silent, responding only through writing while Sylas spoke?
"So, who is this girl, Mother?" Silvia asked, glancing over. Elira quickly rose and bowed respectfully, surprising Silvia with the sudden gesture.
"I… I am E-Elira," she stammered, overwhelmed to be speaking to Mrs. Joana's eldest child.
"She is Elira, my new daughter. Silvia, be nice to her," Mrs. Joana chuckled warmly.
"Ahaha… I didn't mean to startle you. So, you must be the one my mother saved?" Silvia said lightly, and Elira lifted her head, meeting her charming smile. Her heart fluttered; she had not expected Silvia to be so kind and gentle, especially given her younger brother Sylas's serious nature.
"Come, sit, my daughter. Have breakfast with us — you and your husband," Mrs. Joana invited. Silvia and Lucien took their seats at the table, with Mrs. Joana beside Silvia, and Sylas seated next to Lucien. Together, they began their meal.
"Sister, you didn't even bother to warn us when you'd be home," Sylas said coldly, continuing to eat, while Elira quietly observed, feeling shy as she delicately picked at her own plate.
"Yeah, right! You old hag," Cassian muttered, rolling his eyes in irritation. He had never gotten along with Silvia, and their childhood squabbles seemed only to have intensified over the years. Silvia, amused, found it far easier to tease Cassian than Sylas.
"Bleeeh!" Silvia exclaimed, sticking out her tongue at him, and Elira couldn't help but chuckle. She had not expected breakfast to be so lively.
Elira glanced at Silvia's husband, Lucien, who observed the playful exchange silently, a small smile tugging at his lips. When their eyes met, Elira's cheeks warmed; she did not know how to respond and quickly looked away, shy. Nearby, Mrs. Joana lifted and seated a six-year-old boy, Silvia and Lucien's son, adding to the cheerful chaos.
"So, your name is Elira, right?" Silvia suddenly asked, catching Elira off guard.
"Y-yes," Elira stammered.
"Oh, come on, don't be startled. I'm not going to eat you," Silvia teased.
"Oh really? You look more like a monkey than a person," Cassian interrupted, only to have Silvia fling a shoe at him, which landed squarely on his head.
"Ouch!" Cassian yelped, clutching his head.
"I'm Silvia. Nice to meet you," Silvia said, her daring, friendly gaze fixed on Elira.
"Nice to meet you, Ma'am," Elira replied, still flustered.
"Nah! Don't call me Ma'am —" Silvia began, only for Cassian to suddenly interrupt.
"Just call her a monkey, then! Ackck!" he exclaimed, but another shoe shot through the air from Silvia, landing squarely on his head. Elira couldn't help but giggle, pressing a hand to her mouth. She had never imagined breakfast could be this lively — brimming with teasing, playful chaos, and mischievous humour. Cassian rubbed his head in mock frustration, his lips pouting comically, while Silvia's triumphant grin revealed exactly how much she was enjoying every moment.
"I could punish you for that!" Cassian said, feigning anger.
"Well, I could poison you! Wahahaha!" Silvia countered with mock menace.
"Stop it, both of you! This is breakfast," Mrs. Joana scolded, though she smiled at the playful antics.
Elira watched the friendly bickering, little realising that Sylas stood silently beside her, watching her enjoy the morning with these kind, lively people. Sylas himself wondered why her happiness so easily touched him. It was as if he wished that only he could witness the sweetest smile Elira offered.
Sylas was drinking his tea when he felt a gentle tap on his back. He turned to see Lucien, who had scribbled a note in his small notebook.
"You like her?"
Sylas's eyes widened as he read the note. Lucien smirked slightly, teasing him silently, having noticed Sylas's lingering gaze on Elira earlier. Sylas flushed faintly, not from desire but from the thought of the feelings stirring within him — a deep care for Elira as part of his family.
"Sylas?" Elira's soft voice interrupted his thoughts, startling him.
At that moment, Sylas immediately ripped the note from Lucien's small notebook, quickly crumpling it before tucking it into his pocket. Composing himself instantly, he turned to face Elira as if nothing had happened.
"What is it?" Sylas asked, steadying his composure.
"Could you pass me the cookies, please… if that's alright?" Elira said softly. Without a word, Sylas reached across and handed them to her, offering a subtle nod.
"Thank you," she said, smiling warmly. Her attention then drifted back to the playful quarrel between Silvia and Cassian, while Sylas deliberately averted his gaze, careful not to attract Lucien's notice.
The breakfast table was anything but peaceful. Plates clattered, cups chimed, and the air was filled with cheerful chaos as everyone chatted — or, more accurately, argued — over freshly baked bread and tea.
Silvia and Cassian, as usual, were at it again.
"So, how long have you been staying here, Elira?" Silvia asked, elegantly sipping her tea but glancing mischievously at Cassian.
"It's been a couple of weeks now," Elira replied with a smile, munching on a cookie.
"I do hope these two haven't caused you too much trouble," Silvia teased, nodding toward Cassian and Sylas.
Elira chuckled softly. "Actually, I'm grateful to both of them. They've helped me a lot."
Her words caught both men off guard. Sylas's expression softened for a fleeting moment, and even Cassian's lips twitched into something that might have been a smile.
"Really?" Silvia tilted her head, a sly grin tugging at her lips. "I doubt Cassian made it easy for you, though. He's the most stubborn prince in the empire — even the Empress herself once said she'd need an entire army to fix that attitude of his."
"Oi!" Cassian shot her a glare, arms crossed. "I'm sitting right here, you know!"
Silvia chuckled, sipping her tea with mock elegance. "Good, then you can hear the truth for once."
Cassian groaned dramatically, leaning back in his chair. "Unbelievable! I can't even enjoy my breakfast in peace."
Elira giggled, her hand over her mouth. "I think Cassian is kind, though," she said softly, her eyes glinting playfully.
That single smile from Elira was enough to make Cassian freeze. His cheeks turned pink, and he awkwardly scratched his neck before looking away. "Well… not really though," he muttered.
Silvia smirked. "Oh, he's kind now, is he? That's a new one!"
Sylas, without even looking up, said dryly, "He's not."
"Hey!" Cassian barked again, glaring at his closest friend Sylas. "Do you all just gather here to ruin my reputation?"
That sent Silvia into another fit of laughter, while Elira nearly choked on her cookie. Even Mrs. Joana, who was quietly pouring more tea, couldn't help but smile behind her napkin.
When the laughter finally calmed, Silvia turned to her younger brother. "Anyway, how are you, dear brother?"
"I'm fine," Sylas replied shortly, his tone cool but polite.
"Is Father not coming home soon?" she asked, tilting her head.
"I doubt it," Sylas said with a faint sigh. "He's too busy meddling in every issue that doesn't concern him."
Elira glanced at him quietly, noticing the flicker of sadness and restrained anger in his eyes. She'd heard whispers before — that Sylas and his father were much alike, too alike perhaps, and that was why they often clashed. His father had always prioritized his duties over his family, rarely coming home to see Sylas's mother.
"Come now, son, cheer up," Mrs. Joana said with a gentle smile. "Your father has a great deal of responsibility on his shoulders."
"Responsibility, sure," Silvia cut in sarcastically. "But he could at least visit once in a while!"
Cassian snorted. "Oh, says the one who's planning to run off again."
"Hush, you," Silvia snapped playfully. "You're one to talk — why don't you go home to the mansion playing as a crown prince instead of lazing about here? Maybe then Father might actually return."
"Bleh!" Cassian stuck his tongue out at her, making a silly face.
Silvia gasped in offence. "Ugh! You brat!"
The two glared at each other like cats about to pounce, while Sylas just sipped his tea, unimpressed. Elira couldn't hold back her laughter anymore; she was nearly in tears watching the two bicker like children.
"Are you planning to stay here, daughter?" Mrs. Joana asked, trying to steer the topic elsewhere.
"Actually, yes, Mother," Silvia replied more seriously now. "Lucien and I will be leaving soon. We've both been reassigned as war medics, and we'll be leaving our son, Luke, in your care."
The room fell quiet. Even Cassian stopped mid-sip. Mrs. Joana's expression softened, pride and worry mingling in her eyes. Her husband was already a commander, her eldest daughter now a war medic, and her youngest son a front-line captain — soon to be commander himself. The thought of losing any of them to the battlefield made her heart ache.
"Well," Cassian finally said, trying to lighten the mood, "that's… good to hear, I suppose?"
Mrs. Joana turned to Silvia again. "And who will take over the pharmacy hall?"
"We're still looking for someone capable," Silvia replied, her tone firm. "I can't leave Lucien behind during battle."
Elira tilted her head, curious. Why can't they be separated? she wondered silently.
"Oh! I almost forgot." Silvia suddenly brightened. "Elira, this is my husband — Lucien. And Lucien, this is Elira."
"Nice to meet you," Elira greeted kindly with a warm smile.
Lucien smiled back, then quietly took out a small notebook and wrote something down before turning it around for her to read:
-Nice to meet you too.-
Elira blinked in surprise, a little confused. Before she could ask, Silvia gave a faint smile.
"My husband is deaf," she explained gently. "He can't speak, but he's excellent at reading lips."
"Oh…" Elira said softly, her hand to her chest. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."
Lucien quickly scribbled again and held it up with a grin.-No need to apologise.-
Elira smiled back warmly, touched by his kindness.
Silvia continued, pride in her tone. "Lucien may not hear much, but he's one of the best healers we have. He studied under Mother before I did — mastered poisons, antidotes, and even complex treatments most apothecaries could never reproduce."
Mrs. Joana smiled proudly. "Indeed. He's got quite the gift. Even I couldn't have asked for a better student — or son-in-law."
Elira nodded in admiration. "That's amazing."
And with that, the breakfast resumed — still noisy, still full of laughter, and full of the warmth that came with a family both chaotic and caring in equal measure.