Aura's sharp gaze shifted toward Himitsu.
"And who is this boy?" she demanded. "And what is he doing here?"
Himitsu stepped forward without hesitation. His posture was calm, but his words were firm.
"I came here to fight," he said honestly. "Your husband sent an attack on our land, Lunaris. I'm here because of that."
The moment those words left his mouth, Aura's expression darkened.
She didn't look at Himitsu again.
Instead, she turned sharply toward Akitora and Aira, her anger suddenly exploding.
"Oh, so now I understand," she said coldly. "Instead of doing the job I assigned you, you two are busy doing all this nonsense—inside my castle?"
Her voice echoed through the hall.
"I sent you both to work," she continued. "And not only did you fail, you managed to make things worse."
Aira immediately shrank back, her voice trembling.
"I-I was going to do my job," she said quickly. "But Papa suddenly called me here! This is all Papa's fault!"
Akitora's eyes widened.
"Oh? So now you're blaming me?" he snapped.
He turned to Aura, forcing a nervous smile.
"Look, honey… calm down," he said carefully. "Listen to me first. I'll explain everything—"
"Enough."
Aura cut him off instantly.
"Both of you," she said, pointing at Akitora and Aira, "be quiet. I don't want to hear a single word from either of you."
The two froze.
Aura then turned back to Himitsu, her eyes sharp and unyielding.
"And you," she said. "Get out of my castle. This is not a place for fighting. If you want to fight, do it outside."
She crossed her arms.
"Didn't your parents teach you basic manners?" she added. "That you shouldn't fight inside someone else's home? I don't care what your problem is."
Her tone became final.
"Now leave my palace. Immediately."
Then she glanced back at Aira and Akitora and pointed at them.
"And as for you two," she said coolly, "no dinner tonight."
Instantly, both of them dropped their pride.
"We're sorry!" Aira cried.
"Please forgive us!" Akitora pleaded. "It won't happen again!"
Aura ignored them completely.
Meanwhile, Himitsu walked out of the palace gates.
His face looked… strange.
It wasn't anger.
It wasn't sadness.
It was a completely awkward.
Anyone who knew Himitsu would have been shocked. No one had ever seen him make that face before.
He stared ahead, thinking silently.
What a weird family…
I thought one thing… and got something completely different.
Utterly confused, Himitsu disappeared into the fog, leaving behind the most unusual family he had ever encountered.