The sun had barely dipped below the horizon when the Vale family gathered for dinner.
The great hall — a place of ancient elegance softened by laughter and the smell of fresh bread — was filled tonight not with solemn duty, but the simple joy of a family reunited.
Aren sat at the head of the long table, Selene at his side, both of them relaxed and glowing from the day's quiet triumphs. Across from them, Darian and Lyra exchanged amused glances as they listened to Mira and Elara recount their adventures at school — with great energy and, in Mira's case, a fair amount of dramatic embellishment.
"And then Grandpa sat in class!" Mira said, standing on her chair, hands thrown wide like a bard at a festival. "And the teacher couldn't even talk! She just went, 'Buh-buh-buh!' like a fish!"
"Mira," Elara said, face serious but lips twitching, "you're exaggerating. The teacher was... startled. That's all."
Everyone laughed, even Darian, who rarely allowed himself more than a small chuckle these days.
Aren leaned back in his chair, one arm stretched lazily over Selene's seat, golden eyes shining as he watched his family.
Mira beamed up at him, basking in the glow of his approval, while Elara sat very straight and proper — but her small, proud smile was impossible to miss.
"Sounds like you two made quite an impression," Lyra said teasingly, nudging her daughter gently. "You're lucky they didn't try to build a shrine for your grandfather on the spot."
"They still might," Darian muttered under his breath, earning a swat from his wife.
As the plates were cleared away and a cozy dessert of honeyed tarts was served, the conversation naturally shifted.
"Tomorrow," Aren said, his voice calm but carrying easily over the laughter, "we'll need to start preparing for the imperial banquet."
The cheerful mood dipped slightly.
Not out of fear — no, never fear within these walls — but out of a shared understanding of the weight such events carried.
Selene placed her hand over Aren's on the table, a silent anchor. He squeezed her fingers gently.
"We'll all go together," Selene added with a soft smile. "The preparations can be... overwhelming, but we'll face it as a family."
"We're ready, Mother," Lyra said firmly, Darian nodding beside her.
"And we'll make it fun," Aren said, casting a mischievous glance at his granddaughters. "Secret missions. Code names. The works."
Mira gasped dramatically. "Like spies?!"
"Exactly like spies," Aren said solemnly, earning a round of delighted giggles.
They decided then: after breakfast tomorrow, the family would gather to prepare — clothing, etiquette reviews, any last-minute arrangements.
It wouldn't just be an obligation. It would be theirs.
A plan made, the evening wound down with small, contented conversations and the occasional sleepy yawn from Mira, who eventually crawled into Aren's lap and fell asleep with a happy sigh.
Selene rested her head lightly against his shoulder, and Aren closed his eyes for a moment, breathing in the scent of home, the soft crackle of the fireplace, the heartbeat of his family around him.
Tomorrow would be busy.
Tomorrow, the outside world would try again to weigh them down with titles, expectations, and cold measures of worth.
But tonight was theirs.
And it was perfect.