CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 81: THE OTHER DRAVENHART

"Ugh, I hate lines," he muttered.

Then, a soft voice called out. "Brother."

They all turned. A woman in a long forest-green dress approached from the side path, followed by two little girls. Her red hair was loosely braided to the side, and her sharp yellow eyes held a kind calmness. Her face was mature and beautiful, even if faint shadows under her eyes hinted at weariness.

"Aunt Martha," Ellory greeted with a polite smile.

"Martha," the Duke nodded once.

Martha is the Duke’s younger sister. A widow for years now, she raised her 8 years old twin daughters alone without ever remarrying. The girls stood close to her side, identical except for their hairstyles—one had short bangs while the other’s forehead was bare. They both wore matching cream-colored dresses with little red ribbons, their yellow eyes wide with curiosity.

One of the twins waved shyly at Ellory. The other peeked from behind her mother.

"Oh my," Martha said, looking over the children. "They grow stronger each year. Ellory, you look just like your mother did at your age."

Ellory bowed her head slightly. "Thank you, Aunt Martha."

"Cyruz," she said, bowing slightly, her voice kind yet firm, "Cedric. You’ve grown much taller since the last gathering. You’ve both become such fine boys."

Cyruz gave a polite nod, saying with a smile, "Thank you, Aunt Martha. It’s good to see you again."

Cedric, who didn’t like formality, just gave a half-smile and a small bow,

Then Martha eyes landed at the child at the back - Axelius.

Unlike the others, Axelius didn’t straighten his back or offer a bow. He was still yawning, one eye closed as he rubbed the other with his palm. He looked like a boy who had been forced out of bed far earlier than he preferred.

And yet—Martha smiled, amused.

"And you must be the Brother’s youngest," she said, tilting her head slightly, examining him as if he were a rare type of bird. "The famous Axelius."

"Unfortunately," the Grand Duke muttered again without looking back.

Axelius gave a small wave. "Hey."

The twins stared at him, one whispering to the other. Axelius raised a brow. "You can talk louder, I’m not scary."

"You don’t look like the others," said the twin without bangs.

"You don’t act like them either," said the one with bangs.

Martha laughed softly. "They’re just curious. It’s their first time seeing so many relatives."

Duchess Eloween, who walked beside him, finally spoke for the first time, her voice gentle yet firm. "Be polite, Axelius. Lady Martha came from far to be here."

Axelius blinked, then gave a slow and dramatic bow. "Ah, yes. Welcome, Aunt Martha. I am honored to grace you with my presence."

The twin girls giggled, one whispering behind her hands, "He’s weird," and the other replying, "But kinda funny."

Martha laughed lightly, touching her fingers to her lips. "Ah, I see the stories were true. You really are... unique."

"Better than being boring," Axelius said with a shrug.

Martha turned to Duchess Eloween and dipped her head again in greeting. "Duchess Eloween. It’s been too long."

"Eloween will do," the Duchess replied, her voice reserved, but not cold. "It’s good to see you, Martha. I heard you’ve been in the Western this past year."

"I have," Martha replied as they resumed walking slowly. "A bit quieter there, but children must still grow, even if the world pauses."

They walked a little further toward the long tables set up for each family branch. Each table was draped in red and gold cloth, symbols stitched into them carefully by hand. Ellory, Cyruz, Cedric, and the others walked ahead as the nobles mingled, the forest air filled with the faint chatter of voices and the rustle of silk and boots against grass.

As they reached the Dravenhart main table, Martha looked around and said lightly, "The elders haven’t arrived yet. There’s still some time before the gathering begins."

Axelius, hearing that, let out a relieved sigh.

"Perfect," he said, turning away from the group, "That means I can sit down now."

Without waiting for permission, he headed straight to the nearest seat at their assigned table and flopped into the chair like a boy who had just completed the hardest task in his life. He leaned back, arms crossed, eyes half-lidded.

Millie came after him in a hurry, whispering, "Young master! You can’t just—"

But Martha raised a hand with a smile. "Let him be, Millie. I’d rather see children act their age than force themselves into things they are not."

Owen, the little slime curled on Axelius’s shoulder, whispered, "You’re lucky she’s nice. The others would have dragged you by the ear."

Then Martha’s gaze moved, resting on the boy at the back of the group—Axelius, still yawning with one eye open.

While the Grand Duke and Duchess walked gracefully through the clearing, greeting the arriving nobles one by one with composed nods and practiced small talk, Ellory, Cyruz, and Cedric naturally followed them. The twins walked with confident strides, standing close to their grandfather, while Ellory matched her mother’s pace with light steps and a pleasant smile. Their presence pulled most of the attention as they passed, the embodiment of the main family’s pride.

Left behind at the long table draped in red and gold, Axelius sat alone.

His black hair gleamed under the gentle sunlight peeking through the trees—such a rare sight among the sea of redheads that his presence stuck out immediately. He could feel the murmurs begin as nobles and guests whispered quietly while pretending to keep polite expressions.

"Is that...?"

"Black hair? In Dravenhart?"

"Must be him..."

"The one born without mana..."

Owen, lazily bouncing on his shoulder in his tiny slime form, shifted his shape slightly and nudged Axelius with a soft bounce.

Owen mumbled, then pointed across the clearing. "See that guy over there? That’s Sir Vallion, one of your uncles. A beast knight. He used to ride a forest wyrm into battle. Hair’s not fully red—kind of coppery—but he’s still part of the main family."

Axelius followed the direction and spotted the man standing near a different table, casually chatting with other nobles, a sword hanging from his side and a scar that ran from his jaw to the base of his neck. The man had a broad frame, sharp gaze, and a faint smile as he laughed with a fellow knight.

"You study this family more than I do," Axelius in an unimpressed tone. "Do you want to switch roles?"

"Seriously Axel?"

Axelius turned his head slightly, lips twitching into a grin. "Hey, I’m just trying to survive. You think I enjoy being in a nest of red peacocks?"

Owen bounced once in disapproval. "Listen, okay? You never pay attention when it comes to your family. But today’s different. The elders attending this trial? Not the type you mess with. So you better behave, at least until this thing ends."

Axelius leaned back in his chair, stretching with a smirk. "What do you think I am? Dumb? I already know everything."

Owen narrowed his tiny eyes. "Really now?"

"Really."

Owen crossed his tiny slimy-arms. "Fine. What’s the proper noble hierarchy in this kingdom?"

Axelius sat up proudly, fingers tapping the edge of the table. "Lowest are the slaves, commoners, then knights, baron/baroness, viscount/viscountees, marquesses and marchionesses, then Duke oh wait, It changed. It’s now Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses and finally, the King and Queen at the top."

Owen blinked once, then sneered, "Tch, lucky guess."

Axelius leaned closer with a smug smile. "Or maybe I’m not as clueless as you thought, Owen."