Volume 16 Chapter 10: I Accept Your Engagement.

While they spoke,

“Ah!”

“Eri?! What’s wrong?!” A sudden shout halted their conversation. Keith glanced down to see Eri flapping her hands like a bird. Tears welled in her eyes as she stuck out her tongue, “Hot!”

“It’s too spicy.” The soup they brought out had a light kick to it; this light spice was something adults could handle. For a child, on the other hand, it was on the spicier side. Her cheeks puffed red as if she were prepared to shoot fire from her ears.

How adorable. Keith paused, staring at how flustered she was.

Scarlet swooped in and scolded, “Keith! Why are you still staring?! Have some milk, baby.” She brought the milk to her lips. Eri gulped it down in a few seconds.  

“Do you feel better now?” Keith asked, stroking her back.

“Mmhmm.” Eri’s cheeks returned to normal as she puffed her cheeks.

Alastair suggested, “Eat this bread. It’s blander.” Eri nodded as she nibbled on the bread. But it was hard! Keith and Scarlet blinked as they swore they heard a loud clang, like two metals smashing together.

“Ngehh.” Eri’s eyes started to tear up once more.

“Dip it in some soup.” Keith assisted. Eri nibbled on it slowly like a chipmunk.

Lilith chuckled, “My, she reminds me so much of Alastair.”

“Huh?”

“When he was a child, he couldn’t handle spice at all. His face would flush red, and he would bobble around in his seat. It was always quite a sight.” Lilith chuckled as she reminisced.

“Mother,” Alastair’s expression dropped as he remembered. Eri then raised a spoon, “Same?”

“…Not anymore.”

“Oh.” Eri’s ears drooped down. Scarlet’s eyes instantly sharpened as she glared daggers at Alastair.

Alastair added, “I dislike spicy food.”

“Same!” Eri’s ears wiggled around as the smile returned.

Lilith focused on her ears, “I really want to touch those ears of yours. So adorable.” She was sure those ears were the fluffiest things ever.  

“Now, now. Let’s not scare my child.” Keith gently stroked her head, showing off.

Scarlet grinned, “Eri is the cutest.”

“?” Eri tilted her head, clearly not understanding why they were grinning at her.

This is good. The tense mood eased up, and it was a manageable atmosphere until,

“Keith, Scarlet, I have something I need to inform you,” Alastair spoke up again.

“What’s the matter?” Scarlet was full of wariness while Keith asked, “Is something wrong?”

“I accept your engagement.”

“Huh?” Keith’s eyes widened while Scarlet narrowed, “What are the catches?”

“There is no catch.” Alastair answered, “Since he won the tournament, he will be your fiancé.”

“Okay, then.” For once, she thought her father was pleasant as she scooted closer to Keith and Eri. Throughout her happiness, Keith was baffled as he could not speak: the words he wanted to come out of his mouth were not coming out.

“Haha, it seemed my granddaughter struck the first move.”

“First move?” Alastair questioned. Elyndra realized first, “Ah, is she not the only one going after Keith?” Someone like him probably had many people pursuing him.

“Oh, there’s a good number of people who have a crush on him.”

“Grandma Lilith!” Keith’s eyes widened.

Lilith chuckled, “What? It’s the truth. And my granddaughter got the approval first.” Scarlet indeed struck the first move; she was ahead of the others.

“…Who are the others?” Tharaziel’s eyes narrowed.

“Hmm,” Lilith thought about it for a moment, “To be honest, the people who are pursuing him are weird.”

“Weird?”

“Not in the negative sense, but more of a coincidence. The children who are interested in Keith are the children of people Alastair is friends with.” When she found out, she did not expect such confidences to happen.

“…They’re not my friends.” It was more like enemies/acquaintances.

“Either way, Scarlet wins.” Lilith was proud of her.  

“Yeah!” Scarlet cheered. Keith wanted to pinch her cheeks. But since they were in front of their family, he wasn’t able to.

“...” Alastair was silent as he stared at the two. After they finished their meal, Alastair returned to his office; he took out an orb and sent mana into it. Before long, images appeared.

“Hello.”

“Hah! The eternal loner has finally notified us?!” “Inconceivable!” The other four kings were taken aback by his appearance: Alastair would never use this to call them.

“…” I shouldn’t have called them. There were a few things that could enrage Alastair; they were the few. His hand balled into a fist, ready to crush them.

“So, is your daughter still not talking to you?!” Julius laughed wildly.

Alastair was teetering on ending this call, but there were matters to attend to. “I want to inform you that one of your noble families will be engaged to my family.”

“…” A moment of silence soon descended upon their conversation.

“Huh?! A human to marry into the royal family? Are you sure you want to do that?” Othniel cautiously questioned.

“Are you in the right state of mind?!” Finrandir was the second.

“Guys, come on.” Virel shook his head, but he did not hide his shock at his words. Another race marrying into royalty was big news. There had never been one in quite some time; plus, this was the royal line. Scarlet was in line to take the throne.

“Yes.” Alastair had already decided on it: this notice was more of a formality than anything.

“Wow, a human marrying into the demon royal family! That’s a rare sight.” Othniel muttered.

“Who is the one getting engaged?” Virel asked.

“My daughter.”

“...” Instantly, another silence plunged the conversation. Yet, Alastair felt this silence was even more deafening than a moment ago.

“...Who are you engaging your daughter to?” Julius cautiously questioned.

“Keith Freed. Is William here?” William was the second loner in their group.

There was a moment of silence among all of them for a third time. That was when Julius roared, “Why is Keith coming out of your mouth?!”

“Because he’s in my home at the moment?”

“Why?”

“Because he came home with my daughter.”

“Explain more, you jackass!”

“…Don’t want to.”

“Huh?”

“I only informed you because our two kingdoms are forming a relationship.” There was no need to explain further: “I need to speak with William.” The person he must speak with is Keith’s father. He and William didn’t converse much during their academy days. However, he would consider the other as an acquaintance rather than an enemy.

“No! We are speaking about this!” Julius raged, but Alastair ignored him.