I Became The Extra King With Seven Wives

Chapter 104: Family Dinner

Stifling a yawn, I made my way toward the grand dining hall. I had already sent word for a meal to be prepared and summoned my family to join me. I could only hope they would actually be there, even though the hour dictated it was more of a late afternoon repast than a proper dinner.

I needed to speak with them, at least briefly, since I had only just returned to the castle. After that, I fully intended to retreat to my chambers for some well-deserved and needed sleep. Brushing those exhausted thoughts aside, I approached the towering doors of the dining hall. The guards bowed respectfully as they pulled them open, allowing me to step inside.

Sweeping my gaze across the long table, I noted that my sister, Lenora, was already seated.

"Oh, brother," she said, rising to her feet.

"Are you quite sure you want to be here, sister?" I teased, taking my place at the head of the table. "I was certain you would still be traumatized by Vincent and weeping into your pillows."

"Very funny," she replied, rolling her eyes with a sigh. "I am, at the very least, far less traumatized than you were when Asthenia crushed that delicate flower you so earnestly offered her," she added, her lips curling into a grin.

"Mind your words in front of your King, Lenora," I warned, though the threat lacked any real heat.

"You are always playing the king card whenever you find yourself losing an argument. Is this truly going to become a permanent habit of yours?" She asked, sighing in exasperation.

"Definitely so. I am, after all, the King," I nodded shamelessly, leaning back in my ornate chair.

Lenora rolled her eyes once more, but a fond smile broke through her composure. A moment of comfortable silence passed before she spoke up, her tone turning uncharacteristically hesitant.

"What exactly are you planning to do with Vincent, brother?" She asked quietly.

"Well, my initial thought was to have him drawn and quartered, tearing him limb from limb," I said thoughtfully.

"Brother..."

I let out a sigh. "Naturally, that is my true desire. However, I know I cannot realistically do such a thing. Ravenna’s father is a highly capable and influential man, and I would much prefer to keep our political relations on good terms."

"A wise decision," she agreed, her smile returning at my display of restraint.

I glanced around the empty room, suddenly noticing an absence. "What about Regina?" I asked.

"Hm, I decided to give her some time to rest," she replied, taking a sip from her glass.

"And how has she been?" I asked.

"Well, her performance was quite remarkable, I must admit. I originally assumed you only took her on for her pretty looks, but I suppose I was wrong. She is capable, observant, and thoughtful. Honestly, she is completely wasted serving as a mere maid, much like Alice," she noted with a sigh.

"To be completely fair, I did initially take Regina in precisely because she was pretty and charming," I said with a casual shrug.

Truthfully, there was also the fact that I harbored some deep suspicions regarding her motives, but that did not change the reality that I was charmed by her presence.

"You are shameless, brother. You already have several breathtaking wives, among them the very one hailed across the realms as the most beautiful woman in the world, you know," she said lightly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"And yet, that is still not quite enough for me. As King, I simply want the best of the best," I replied with an unrepentant smirk.

"It seems your awakening has done nothing but increase your libido," she grumbled under her breath.

"Not by that much, truly. I have only bedded a woman once since my awakening, and that honor went to Regina, dear sister," I replied, raising a brow.

"A—And I do not want to hear about it! Have some decency, brother!" Lenora stammered, her cheeks burning with a blush.

"Well, you will understand such matters when you finally secure a worthy husband," I chuckled, enjoying her flustered state.

"Hmph," was her only response as she tightened her crossed arms and looked away.

I smiled fondly. Knowing my stubborn sister, finding a nobleman she might actually tolerate, let alone love, would be a monumental task indeed.

Just as that thought crossed my mind, the doors swung open, revealing our mother. She looked agitated, and panicked.

"Lenora!" She cried, rushing across the room toward my sister.

Lenora immediately stood up. "Mother—"

Before she could utter another word, our mother enveloped her in a strong embrace.

"Are you hurt, my sweet girl? Oh gods, Lenora, are you alright?" She asked, pulling back just enough to inspect Lenora from head to toe, searching for any hidden injuries.

She had evidently been briefed on the incident involving Vincent, so her overwhelming anxiety was justified. In fact, she looked to be on the very verge of tears.

"I am perfectly fine, Mother," Lenora reassured her with a gentle, calming smile.

Letting out a shuddering breath of relief, our mother smiled through her unshed tears and pulled Lenora into another tight hug.

"I suppose it is clear who the favorite child is, though I have always suspected as much," I said, letting out a loud sigh.

Mother snapped her gaze toward me. A choked chuckle escaped her lips as she finally released Lenora. Closing the distance to the head of the table, she wrapped her arms around me, pulling my head against her chest affectionately.

"Silly boy," she said fondly, gently stroking my hair before pressing a warm kiss to the crown of my head.

Stepping back, she cupped my cheeks in her soft hands, her eyes scanning my face with the same scrutiny she had given my sister. "And what of you, Lumiel? Are you truly alright? You haven’t suffered any injuries, have you?" She asked, her voice trembling with lingering fear.

I had sworn everyone to secrecy regarding the arrow that had pierced my shoulder. Thankfully, the silence had held. I had no desire to burden her with the knowledge of how close I had come to death; she had already worried enough for one day.

"I am perfectly fine, Mother. I merely require a good night’s rest, so let us hurry up and eat, shall we?" I replied with a reassuring smile.

She nodded, letting out a soft, relieved chuckle as she took the seat beside me. At her signal, the servants immediately stepped forward to begin serving our meal.

As they moved about the room, I stole a brief glance at Alice. I had definitely missed the comforting presence of my family, but my longing for Alice ran deep. My dear, beautiful, and kind Alice.

I must have stared at her for a moment too long, for she suddenly glanced up, caught my eye, and then swiftly averted her gaze, keeping her head respectfully bowed.

Gods, I truly hated seeing her so distant and sad. But I knew it had to be this way, just for a little while longer. I would never forgive myself if she were somehow dragged into my assassination attempt. It was far better for her to stay away from me until I was safely fortified within the walls of my own castle.

Once the sumptuous array of dishes was finally laid out before us, I immediately began to eat with the ravenous appetite of a weary traveler. The rustic meals prepared by Alan and Elrich and the hearty fare we had eaten in taverns during our journey had been delicious in their own right, but as expected, nothing compared to the exquisite culinary mastery of the royal kitchens.

Taking a sip of the rich vintage from my crystal glass, I let out a satisfied sigh. As expected, it felt exceptionally good to indulge in the luxuries of the castle after the hardships of travel.

"So, Mother, how has the capital fared in my absence? I have no doubt you managed the kingdom’s affairs perfectly, though I am truly sorry to burden you with such responsibilities," I said, setting my glass down.

"Whatever are you saying, silly boy? I am your mother. Of course, I will gladly shoulder your burdens," she chuckled.

"If you continue to do everything for him, Mother, Brother will never learn how to rule properly," Lenora pointed out, slicing into her roasted meat.

"He still has plenty of time to learn, Lenora," Mother replied with a gentle smile. "First, let him graduate with honors from Luminar. That is still what you want, isn’t it, Lumiel?"

"It is," I nodded.

I had already informed them of my decision. Though Mother naturally harbored worries, she could not argue against it. Luminar was simply too prestigious and held too much influence across the world; attending was an unparalleled opportunity for growth.

"Right... you are leaving for Luminar soon, aren’t you?" Lenora muttered, her tone dipping into a rare moment of melancholy.

"Are you going to miss me, Sister?" I asked, flashing her a teasing smile.

"I am going to miss Cynthia much more than you," she shot back, shrugging off my attempt to ruffle her feathers. "But honestly, everyone else is leaving too. Why must I stay behind, trapped in the castle, when all of you get to go?"

"It is still far too early for you, Lenora," Mother said, and rightfully so.

I inwardly agreed; she was much too young. In truth, if it were entirely up to me, I would prefer she never set foot in Luminar at all, given the hidden dangers lurking within its walls.

"Asthenia is going, and she is the same age as I am!" Lenora complained, crossing her arms defensively.

"Asthenia is much smarter and more mature than you are, Sister. Do not compare yourself to her," I replied dryly.

At that, Lenora shot me a withering glare and boldly threw a grape across the table at my face. I casually caught it with the tines of my fork.

"You dare attack your King?" I arched an eyebrow.

She simply stuck her tongue out at me.

"Alright, stop it, you two. We do not play with our food," Mother scolded, acting the peacemaker once again.

I wanted to point out that I had not been the one playing with it, but I wisely held my tongue. Despite the minor sibling squabble, the rest of the dinner proceeded quite pleasantly, even if Lenora spent the remainder of the course sulking over my words.

It truly was a wonderful evening, but throughout it all, I avoided bringing up the most pressing issue on my mind: the impending assassination attempt against me planned by the Black Sun.

I refused to drag my family into that bloody mess. This was the one secret I had to guard at all costs. I knew exactly how they would react if they discovered that; they would either stubbornly refuse to leave my side or beg me to flee the capital with them in the meantime, and I could not afford those complications since it would lose the purpose.

I intended to send them far away from the castle under fake pretenses. It was much safer for them to remain in blissful ignorance, especially since I needed to use myself as bait once again.