As more and more guests began to filter through the city gates, the Aetherion couple, along with Chayrith and key members of their household, were welcoming important guests in the inner courtyard.
"ORA, ORAA!"
A violent explosion ripped through the calm peace of the courtyard. A plume of dust mushroomed into the air at the source of the commotion.
In a blur of motion, Kaelira appeared beside a nearby fountain lucky enough to have not been reduced to shards of ice.
Kaelira glanced fearfully at the new hole in her manor's courtyard, a bead of sweat dripping down her forehead as she gulped nervously.
"M-Master, is that any way to treat your dear, loving disciple? Didn't you m-miss me?"
Within the sizable crater, ice began to emerge, creeping across the ground like a writhing mass. A hand suddenly burst from the dust, gripping the edge of the hole.
"Hehhh!"
With a yelp, Kaelira's body blurred before appearing behind the large frame of her husband. She cautiously peeked her head over his shoulder, watching in terror as a figure crawled its way out of the hole.
"Hoo? Now you remember this master of yours? How curious. I had thought you dead for a while now. After all, what kind of unfilial disciple wouldn't come visit or even write to their master for decades?"
When the figure emerged from the cloud of dust, a veiled beauty came into view. Her snow-white robes were spotless, without even a speck of dirt or dust clinging to them.
The sparkling white veil adorning her face covered a large portion of her features, but her piercing pale-blue eyes shimmered like ten-thousand-year-old ice. Her delicate brows looked as if they had been carefully drawn upon her face, painting a picture of frozen beauty so vivid it could stop hearts.
Were it not for the overwhelming murderous intent locked between her brows, she would be the very definition of a cold, unfeeling ice queen.
As she stalked forward, she took step after slow step toward the fearful Kaelira, her eyes curved into a joyful, almost euphoric expression.
"Can you tell me, my dear disciple? What kind of lowly traitor would do such a thing to someone we practically raised from diapers?"
Hearing the accusation in her voice, Kaelira flinched back, unable to meet her gaze.
"W-Well, you see, t-things just got so h-hectic here. And I know that you are so busy, Master, so I didn't want to disturb you! So in the end, I was just doing you a favor—yeah, a favor!"
The peerless ice beauty stopped about ten feet away from them. Her eyes were still upturned and her expression loving, but the massive, bulging vein displayed prominently on her temple gave away the simmering rage hidden beneath the surface.
Her expression turned deadpan as her fierce, pointed gaze locked onto Vairon in a flash. The moment her eyes met his, the secret schadenfreude he felt at seeing Kaelira's predicament vanished without a trace. His spine instantly straightened as his soul shivered slightly.
Sensing the fear radiating off him, the slightly homicidal woman flashed what appeared to be a smile, its beauty—or horror—hidden from sight by her veil.
"My dear son-in-law~. You wouldn't be trying to excuse your wife's shameful behavior… right~?"
Seeing the dangerous glint in those icy eyes, Vairon did the one thing expected of a faithful, loyal husband like himself. Glancing behind him at his wife's tearful, pleading gaze, his earlier fear faded as his back straightened further.
With his spirits empowered by his wife's silent, desperate pleas for salvation, Vairon bravely took a step forward with overwhelming momentum, standing directly before his mother-in-law as he towered over her.
Meilan, carrying Chayrith in one arm, rolled her eyes at the dramatic scene before feeling a faint tremor from her other arm. Turning her head downward, she noticed the frightened little boy clinging to her tightly.
"M-Mama, are they g-gonna f-fight?"
The small child was Meilan's son, Marek, born a few years earlier than Chayrith. His raven-black hair was full of wild curls, his soft purple eyes brimming with unshed tears as his childish mind was overwhelmed by the escalating tension.
Meilan was momentarily speechless at her son's fearful expression. Shaking her head, she playfully poked his button-like nose before answering in a wry voice.
"No, my love. As a matter of fact, you are about to witness the highest level of shamefulness ever known to man."
Marek tilted his head up at her in confusion. But before he could question his mother, the standoff in the courtyard came to a sudden—though not shocking—conclusion.
"Of course not, Mother! Please, teach this unfilial disciple of yours some much-needed manners!"
Vairon's righteous voice sliced through the tense air of the courtyard.
The entire courtyard fell into dead silence. The captains and guards nearby turned their heads away, trying to hide their reddened faces and quivering lips as they struggled not to laugh.
The maids stood with mouths agape, some casting Vairon's shameless, sycophantic face looks of pure disdain.
Kaelira's face turned deathly pale. Her expression was a mask of devastation as she stared at her traitorous husband with lifeless eyes.
Her master's face bloomed with a knowing smile as she nodded enthusiastically.
"Good, good! I knew I was right about you. What a filial son-in-law—this gorilla is wasted on you."
Kaelira's face was ashen; she didn't even process her master's insult as she gritted her teeth.
"H-Honey, you! You!"
Vairon looked back at his wife with a warm smile. "My love, you have made a mistake and must repent. Your master is like a mother to you. How could you do such a thing!"
Outwardly, his face was a perfect mask of righteous indignation, but inwardly, he was relishing her misery.
'Sorry, Lira. This is for your own good.'
'You fucking bastard! Sellout!'
'I'm not the one about to get cooked.'
'STONE-FACE!!'
'I love you too, dear.'
Just as Kaelira was about to commit a very bloody act of domestic violence, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up as the temperature behind her dropped below freezing.
Mechanically turning her head, she saw her master—the woman she saw as her own mother—holding a block of solid ice shaped like a cricket bat, winding up for a grand slam.
The corner of Kaelira's lip twitched as she made one last appeal to her irate master's humanity.
"M-Master… Mother! Is there r-really no way to resolve this peacefully?"
Her master, Aelshira Glacelion—the renowned Ice Tyrant of the Northern Realm—tightened her grip on her weapon of unholy discipline, a faint smile gracing her sharp features.
"What do you think?"
A single tear traced a desolate path down Kaelira's cheek as all hope within her died.
"You better grit those teeth, brat. ORA!"
With that, Kaelira went flying into the air, piercing holes through the clouds overhead with an agonizing scream.
"ARGH! YOU CRAZY OLD HAGGG!!"
Aelshira tossed her murder weapon aside and clapped her hands together with a satisfied expression.
"Ahh, I feel so much better now!"
Seeing her face glow with radiant light, everyone in the courtyard rubbed their eyes, wondering if this was truly the same bloodthirsty demoness who had descended moments ago to beat her disciple.
Noticing the strange looks she was receiving, Aelshira tilted her head in confusion.
"What? Is there something on my face?"
The guards wisely remained silent, while Meilan's and Vairon's lips twitched. Little Chayrith, nestled in Meilan's lithe arm, watched his maternal grandmother with stars shining in his eyes.
"GABA!"
Aelshira's head whipped toward the babyish cry and, locking onto her target, instantly melted.
"MY BABY BOY!!"
Before anyone could react, Chayrith vanished from Meilan's embrace and was smothered in his grandmother's cool arms. Pressed against her chest, Chayrith glanced at the modest mounds cushioning him and nodded to himself.
Suddenly, a dangerous sensation washed over him, causing him to sweat profusely. Looking up, he met his grandmother's smiling—yet not smiling—eyes.
"Little boy… were you thinking something rude about your dear grandma?"
Motivated by his supernatural will to live, Chayrith shook his head rapidly and plastered small, cute kisses across her cheek.
Drowning in her only grandchild's affection, Aelshira's dark expression cleared instantly, replaced by her doting smile.
"What am I thinking!? Of course you wouldn't—you love Grandma soooo much, don't you!?"
Chayrith wiped imaginary sweat from his brow, realizing his life—or more accurately, his ass—was safe for another day. Vairon chuckled at the sight of his mischievous son dodging a bullet.
He walked over to his mother-in-law and cupped his hands in deference.
"Palace Mistress Aelshira, welcome to Skydorn City. It is truly an honor to have you here."
Picking up on his professional tone, Aelshira curtsied elegantly.
"The pleasure is all mine, Lord Vairon. I thank you for the kind invitation and wish you and your family enduring fortune beneath Heaven's gaze."
Once the pleasantries were out of the way, she summoned a throne of ice and immediately returned to pampering the adorable birthday boy in her arms.
Seeing the situation resolved, Meilan and her son approached and bowed gracefully.
"Mistress Aelshira, it has been some time. I am elated to see you in good health."
Aelshira glanced at Meilan, her eyes softening.
"Meilan dear, it is so good to see you. You are still just as resplendent as I remember—and your son has grown so big!"
As they continued to catch up, a sonorous cry wove its way into their ears.
"KWAAA!"