章 107: Chapter 107 - The dance and the surprise
Ethan glanced at the small snowflakes fluttering down from the sky. He held out a hand, but it never reached his open palm rather, it touched the huge sphere around them and melted instantly. The outside was a cold but inside the sphere was warm and heated up.
Aiden sighed. "What do you want to talk about?" he looked up at the duke Lineti in his eyes.
Duke Parlov cleared his throat loudly. "I want to know what your decisions are."
Aiden glanced at Ethan, who shook his head. "We need more time,"
"I gave you both a long time to think. As bright as you both are, I know you both had come to a conclusion long back,"
"We don't want your family name," Ethan said bluntly.
Duke raised a brow with a small smile. "Why wouldn't that be? Many other children would be thrilled to get that honor,"
"That is our only condition. We... we can be your sons, but we won't inherit your name nor your titles." Aiden added.
Lineti Parlov narrowed his eyes, glancing up at the sky. "Hmm, that is a fair deal. But I won't agree with this. It will hurt my loving wife,"
Ethan frowned deeply, ready to walk away.
Aiden held his hand. "Listen, lady Perlin and lady Hiliana are related. If we take your name, we will be related to Feng in some way. I don't want that one bit,"
"So that was the problem. Easily solvable." Lineti stood up straight with a smile.
"How?"
"You both must know when a great warrior or a mage who portrays wonderful talents and has a kind, generous heart, the kingdom provides a new sir name. They are bound to lose their family name and given a handsome position of an earl or a warrior or a mage."
Aiden and Ethan both frowned deeply. "But...."
"Well, I have made it very easy for you both. Since you both are very accomplished gentlemen, I presume you both will be able to become great warriors or mages or accomplish something so spectacular to be given a new name. Isn't that the case? Or am I mistaken?" he raised a skeptical brow.
This stroked the ego of the two.
"We will be great mages!" Ethan said strongly.
"That's settled then. Let's go sign the family genealogy."
"Now?!" Aiden glanced at him in complete shock. "This is Feng's event."
"So?"
"We don't want to overshadow her," Ethan whispered, holding Aiden's hands.
Lineti Parlov glanced at the two determined boys with a small sigh. "I'm already feeling a wrinkle forming in progress." he opened the balcony door and gestured for them to get in.
Ethan and Aiden instantly ran towards Feng.
"Those two... they are very talented..." his eyes suddenly met his wife's anxious ones. He smiled, gesturing for her to calm down.
But her frantic wife ran to him. "Darling... what happened? How did the talk go? It looked tense. Did they... did they agree...."
"More or less,"
She froze. "R-really? You are telling the truth and truth alone?"
"Yes I am," he held his wife's trembling shoulder and gently hugged her. "We are inviting two young boys into our household. It's going to get rowdy for sure,"
"Oh, honey!" she hugged him tightly. "I love it. I love them already. Especially Aiden's smile. He is the sweetest. Even though it's fake, it was the sweetest smile I have ever seen, and Ethan... his skeptic look is so cute. I just want to bite his cheeks and kiss him everywhere,"
"You might want to tone it down a bit." Chuckling, Lineti kissed her forehead. "We have all the time in the world. Let them take their time to get to know us first,"
"Okay...." she leaned her head on his shoulders. "Have you checked their backgrounds...last time we did a big mistake... I never want to repeat that,"
"Rest assured I have." He caressed her pale cheeks. "That girl is long gone. They are not like that. These two are prideful lions."
"Prideful and cute,"
Duke Lineti gestured to the instrumentalists to speed up.
The music took an upbeat turn and everyone started to clear the canter of the ballroom.
"Shall we." He held out a hand.
"We shall..." his wife cheerfully held his hands. "I'm so excited!"
They walked gracefully over to the center, glancing at everyone with their heads held up high.
Lady Perlin started the welcome speech. "Today we had the pleasure of welcoming our lovely lady Hiliana Rofles. I hope they all stay here for a long, long time. Because I missed my dear sister so much."
Lady Hiliana stepped up with a broad smile. Feng, Elle, and Alvin walked behind her meekly. "it has always been a pleasure to meet you too, Perlin,"
"Ah, before I forget, she has a very important announcement to make on this happy event,"
Lady Hiliana glanced back and gesture for Feng to step up.
Hesitantly, Feng Mei walked beside her.
"I am happy to introduce my dear daughter Feng Mei Rofles,"
Those words were more than enough for the crows to give out loud applause and cheers. Most of them seem ecstatic at this announcement.
But Feng knew not to believe everything. She marinated a cordial smile and peered at everyone's expression keenly. A few in the corner seem to be completely upset.. a small group of younger teenagers looked at her with disdain.
'It's not all rainbows and sparkles. Well, I have already treaded this path. Might as well fight my way through.' Feng smiled widely at them and waved.
The girls had to give out a fake smiles.
"Without any delay, let the dance begin!"
Alvin walked up to her with a small smile. He bowed low and held out his hands. "Are you ready?"
"I might step on your toes a bit," she took his hand.
"I can handle that," he chuckled gently leading her to the dance floor.
Slowly he first held her left hand in his extended palm, keeping a small distance between them and another kept a hold on her shoulders. Because there was a height difference between them, Feng felt like a child dancing with a grownup.
'Technically, I am a child...'
Alvin did a good job at leading her in the dance steps, but she.... kind of ruined it. Every change of phase, she stepped on his foot. The poor guy did not even flinch.
Thankfully, her mistakes were all hidden by her long skirt.
The music went down a notch and everyone on the dance floor stopped and bowed to their partner.
Feng bowed with a guilty smile. "Sorry for your feet..."
"It's okay." Alvin smiled and kissed the back of her palm.
All of a sudden, a beeping sound was heard very close to her ear. Feng Mei froze. This was the sound she was very, very familiar with.
{System updated to 25%
Partial controls regained.
Task updated: none}
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