Amon kept his arms wrapped around Seraphina, holding her close as she clung to him with surprising strength.

The world around them seemed to fade for a brief moment. Her body was warm from her earlier training, and the faint scent of sweat mixed with the light floral fragrance she always carried lingered in the air.

With a trembling voice filled with emotion, Seraphina whispered against his neck, "I was so worried. I thought I wouldn’t be seeing you again..."

Amon was genuinely surprised by the depth of her concern.

He questioned himself silently. Was he always this close to Seraphina? During the first few months at the Academy, he had spent countless hours training and sparring with her.

He was always the one teasing her, talking to her endlessly, and trying to draw her out of her shell. She had always been the calm, quiet girl who spoke very little. She was the complete opposite of Eliana.

Memories flooded back to him. A warm feeling bloomed inside his heart knowing she had been this worried about him. He chuckled softly.

With a gentle and sincere smile, Amon said, "Sorry that I came late. But now I am safe."

Seraphina slowly released him from her arms and pulled back just enough to look at his face. She remained close, her hands resting lightly on his sides.

Her usually emotionless face now held a small, genuine smile, with a few unshed tears glistening in her golden eyes. The sight made her look even more beautiful and vulnerable than usual.

Before Amon could say anything further, a loud voice boomed across the palace entrance.

With an angry expression and flushed face, Bertram demanded, "What’s the meaning of this?! Who are you to hug my daughter like that?!"

A powerful pressure suddenly erupted from Bertram’s body, heavy and oppressive like an invisible storm crashing down.

The air grew thick, making it hard to breathe. Seraphina reacted instantly. She shielded Amon by pulling him protectively into her arms once more and yelled, "Dad, don’t!"

At the same time, with effortless grace, Alistair Luminous raised one hand. The overwhelming pressure from Bertram vanished in an instant, suppressed as if it had never existed. Alistair’s expression remained calm and gentle as he looked at the scene.

In a firm yet kind tone, Alistair said, "What are you doing? Don’t cause trouble for our guests."

He then turned his golden eyes toward Amon and Selena, offering them a warm, reassuring smile.

"Forgive my son’s rudeness. Let’s go inside and talk."

Even the beautiful lady standing beside Bertram, his wife and Seraphina’s mother, Lady Lucia Luminous, looked surprised by the sudden actions of her daughter.

However, she remained composed and did not question her daughter aloud. Her emerald eyes held a mix of mild astonishment and quiet understanding as she placed a gentle hand on Bertram’s arm.

Bertram glared at Amon one last time, his golden eyes burning with disapproval, before turning around sharply.

With a gruff voice, he said, "Come inside."

Amon, who had felt a spike of fear from the sudden pressure, now breathed a sigh of relief.

His heart was still pounding, but the immediate danger had passed. Selena sighed softly beside him, giving Amon a meaningful look.

With a tone carrying dry amusement mixed with genuine concern, Selena said, "Let’s go inside. Hope you will be safe."

She walked forward gracefully, her high heels clicking against the ivory stones.

Seraphina looked at Amon with her usual emotionless expression returning, though a trace of that small smile still lingered.

In a calm voice, she assured him, "Don’t worry. You will be safe."

Even with her blank face, it looked incredibly cute to Amon. He smiled and nodded in response.

They both entered the palace, walking side by side behind Selena.

The grand halls stretched before them with high ceilings adorned with intricate chandeliers that sparkled like captured stars.

Ivory walls lined with golden accents reflected the morning light streaming through tall arched windows. Servants moved quietly and efficiently, maintaining the dignified atmosphere of the Luminous ducal household.

Bertram led the group with stiff shoulders.

Once inside the elegant dining hall, he took his seat at the head of the long polished table. It was fitting for the Duke.

Alistair sat across from him on the right side, while Lady Lucia gracefully took the seat to Bertram’s left. Seraphina sat beside her grandfather, Alistair. Amon took the chair right next to her. Selena settled comfortably beside Amon, completing the arrangement.

The table was soon adorned with a lavish breakfast spread.

Servants moved with practiced precision, serving plates of freshly baked bread, golden pastries, bowls of vibrant fruits, steaming eggs, and delicately seasoned meats.

The aroma filled the hall, rich and inviting. Yet the tension in the air made it difficult for Amon to fully appreciate the feast.

Throughout the serving, Bertram kept stealing sharp glances toward Amon.

Lucia occasionally leaned closer to her husband and whispered softly, "Calm down, dear," in a soothing voice.

Her touch on his arm helped ease some of the visible anger, though Bertram’s jaw remained tightly clenched.

Finally, after everyone had been served and a moment of heavy silence passed, Bertram fixed his intense gaze directly on Amon.

With a low but commanding voice, he asked, "Who are you, and what relation do you have with my daughter?!"

The question hung in the air like a challenge. All eyes turned toward Amon.

Seraphina sat calmly beside him, her hand subtly brushing against his under the table for reassurance.

Selena watched with quiet interest, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

Alistair observed everything with his usual gentle yet piercing expression, while Lucia maintained her elegant poise, waiting patiently for the young man’s response.

Amon felt the weight of the family’s scrutiny.

The dining hall, despite its beauty and warmth from the sunlight pouring in, suddenly felt smaller.

He took a steadying breath, meeting Bertram’s glare without flinching, though his heart raced.

’Damn! I haven’t done anything wrong here. She came first and hugged me. Also, why does it feel like I am here to ask for her hand in marriage from her father? Dammit. If Scarlett were to know this, she’s gonna beat me.’

Amon swallowed, preparing to answer carefully. This conversation was only just beginning.

With a respectful tone, Amon introduced himself. "Hello Sir, I’m Amon Vale, a first-year student at Arcadia Academy. I’m Seraphina’s classmate. I was kind of lost for the last few months, so she got emotional seeing me after so many months. That’s why she hugged me. There’s nothing else. We are just good friends, Sir. I swear."

Amon explained everything as shortly as possible.

Bertram’s eyes slightly lit up, as if realization had finally come to him.

With a thoughtful expression, Bertram said, "So, you are that boy, huh? Now that explains why she acted like this."

The coldness in his eyes subsided.

Surprised, Amon asked respectfully, "Sir, you know about me?"

With a calm expression, Bertram replied, "Of course we know. My daughter has been worried about you for months. She told us about you."

The reply came from beside Bertram. His wife and Seraphina’s mother, Lucia Luminous, looked at Amon gently as she spoke.

With curiosity in his golden eyes, Alistair leaned slightly forward and asked, "You are that boy who was stuck on that island, the Grave of the Celestial Tree?"

His gaze observed Amon keenly from the side. When he looked at Amon, the young man felt as if he was being seen through completely.

Respectfully, Amon nodded. "Yes, Sir Alistair."

Bertram nodded before speaking again.

In a stern tone, he said, "Seraphina, I understand that you were surprised and happy to see your friend safe after so many months. But suddenly hugging him in front of so many people is not the upbringing of a noble lady. You cannot hug a man who is not your family like that. It’s wrong." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

With her usual expressionless face, Seraphina slightly bowed her head from her seat.

In a calm voice, she apologized, "Sorry, Father... I was wrong. I shouldn’t have done that."

For some reason, the apology did not feel honest. It felt more like she was saying it only to calm down her father.

Trying to lighten the mood, Amon chuckled and said, "It seems that we solved all the misunderstandings. So now, shall we eat the food?"

Selena raised one eyebrow and looked at him sideways in amusement.

However, Bertram still did not calm down.

Folding his arms, he stared directly at Amon and said, "Wait! We are not done yet."

Then, narrowing his eyes suspiciously, he asked, "Tell me, boy. What were you trying to do with my daughter at the Academy? Were you trying to seduce her by becoming her friend?"

Amon’s eyes widened in shock after hearing such an accusation.

In disbelief, he exclaimed, "Wait! What? Sir, how can you come to such a conclusion?"

Even Seraphina seemed surprised by her father’s words.

It was true that Amon used to flirt with her, but it was more like teasing. And even Seraphina knew about that... at least that’s what Amon thought.

Seraphina was about to speak, but Amon continued first.

With a helpless expression, he said, "I never tried to seduce Seraphina. How could I do something like that? I’m just a friend."

Bertram gave him a suspicious look before speaking again.

"Oh? Then what about that doll-like soft toy she has, the one she sleeps with every night while holding it in her arms?"

Completely confused, Amon blinked.

"What? What does that have to do with me seducing her? Isn’t it normal for young ladies to sleep with soft toys?" Amon asked innocently.

At those words, Seraphina’s ears turned slightly red.

Even Selena became curious about what was going on.

Finally, unable to bear it anymore, Seraphina spoke up. With embarrassment evident in her voice, she said, "Fa-Father, you don’t need to tell them that!!"

Ignoring his daughter completely, Bertram continued talking.

With a displeased expression, he continued, "Haha! Don’t act like a fool! The soft toy my daughter sleeps with looks exactly like you!!"

Amon blinked several times.

Then a memory suddenly surfaced in his mind, and he finally realized what this man was talking about.