Chapter 972: All of You, Together ( 972 )

"Prince Javier~ Where do you think you’re going?" Gloria asked in her usual serene tone, her gaze lifting from her plate.

Liana joined in without missing a beat. "Yes, Prince Javier... what’s with the rush?"

At the end of the table, Felicia, Mimi, and Delya simply giggled softly and continued eating, clearly enjoying the light teasing.

Javier narrowed his eyes. Irritated.

"Oi. Don’t call me that. Just call me like usual."

"Ara~ Our husband is mad, First Wife," Gloria said with a calm smile, glancing at Liana.

"Indeed, Second Wife. How cute," Liana replied, her voice gentle and composed, returning the smile.

Javier let out a quiet sigh and stood up, brushing his fingers along the edge of the table as he pushed his chair back. His plate was already empty.

"Young Master?" Liana paused, her fork hovering midair. "Where are you going?"

The others turned to look at him with mild concern.

"I’m going to meet Athine. Why?"

"Oh... What for?" Liana tilted her head slightly.

"Huh? Obviously to discuss their upcoming wedding," Javier replied. "I told them to postpone it, remember? Three days after Marcellus, Cedric, and Heres’s group ceremony."

Liana exhaled lightly. "But why did you insist on Master Aelius and Lady Athine having a separate wedding? You could’ve just grouped them all together."

Javier raised a brow.

Why, huh...?

Even I’m not sure.

Maybe because they’re both my half-siblings. Or maybe... because they’re the first sibling couple I’ve ever seen who love each other that deeply. They’re not putting on a show. They’re not pretending. They don’t care what others think. They just want to be together.

He glanced out the window, eyes narrowing faintly at the sky.

Back when I was eleven, I thought they were just unusually close. Always together. Always talking. Everyone wondered why they didn’t entertain suitors. I never gave it much thought until Father gave them his blessing. That was when I realized... they never needed anyone else. Not even approval.

He scratched his neck awkwardly.

"I don’t know... maybe I’m just bored. Or maybe..." he paused, "I just want their moment to be something different. Something only for them."

Liana gave a small, knowing smile. Gloria looked at him with warmth. Felicia, Mimi, and Delya had all stopped eating now, listening intently.

"Will we have a beautiful wedding of our own too, Young Master?" Liana asked with a gentle smile, her eyes watching him carefully.

"Ara~ I want the best wedding too," Gloria added, her voice light as she leaned slightly toward him.

"Yes, Husband... I want a special one for us as well," Felicia chimed in, her tail swaying contentedly as she smiled at him.

"Nya!? Me too! Me too! Mimi wants a big wedding!" she exclaimed with both hands raised in excitement.

Meanwhile, Delya was already in a daze, her eyes sparkling. "Ah~ A wedding with Danna-sama~"

Javier let out a deep exhale, brushing a hand through his hair. "That... will have to wait. You all know it’s less than three years now."

He gave them a small smile.

"Besides, I’m going to marry everyone at the same time. I don’t want separate—"

He stopped mid-sentence.

His gaze had shifted to the window. Outside in the courtyard, his father was riding Giddie. The sight made his words catch in his throat.

Liana noticed the change in his expression.

She stood immediately and wrapped her arms around him without hesitation.

"Eh—Oi, Liana?" Javier blinked.

Gloria came in from the other side, hugging him softly. Then Felicia, Mimi, and Delya rushed forward as well, forming a full-circle embrace around him.

They didn’t say anything at first. Just held on, tightly.

"Wait... what’s going on with all of you?" Javier muttered, completely confused. "What’s this group hug for?"

"Young Master," Liana said softly, resting her head against his shoulder. "Don’t be sad. We’re all here."

"Mmm... I’ll always be by your side," Gloria whispered.

"I won’t leave you, Husband," Felicia added gently.

"Nya~ Mimi’s here too! So don’t be sad, I promise I’ll be a good wife," Mimi said, nuzzling into his arm.

Delya hugged him tightly from behind. "Danna-sama can trust me. I’ll be loyal. Forever."

Javier blinked.

"...Huh? What’s gotten into you all?" he muttered, genuinely confused.

Javier glanced at Liana, then at Gloria and the others.

All of them looked like they were about to cry.

"Oi, oi... don’t cry. What’s going on?" he asked, flustered. "Did I say something wrong?"

His gaze swept over them, panic creeping into his voice.

Liana’s eyes were already brimming with tears. That was enough to send Javier into a full spiral.

"H-Hey, come on now..." He quickly pulled out his handkerchief and gently dabbed her cheeks. "Don’t cry, Liana... Seriously. If I said something that upset you all, I’m sorry, okay?"

Liana sniffled softly. "Young master... please trust us... we won’t leave you."

"Huh? When did I ever say you were leaving me?"

"But... just now, you looked sad," she said. "We thought... maybe it was because of..."

Before she could finish, Javier cut in.

"Do you mean when I said I don’t want to have separate weddings?" he asked, frowning slightly. "I paused because Father was there. That’s all."

They turned to look. Garius, mounted on Giddie, was crossing the courtyard with majestic presence—golden cape fluttering behind him, perfectly matched with the gleam of the golden Pekko’s feathers.

"A king," Javier muttered, "riding the king of Pekko... dressed in full gold. Come on. That kind of sight deserves a pause."

"Seriously, I wasn’t feeling sad. And please... stop bringing up things that are already in the past."

He sighed, brushing his hair back with a hand.

"And I don’t want any of you to resent her," Javier said softly. "Just because she chose to leave me... doesn’t mean she did something wrong. She found her happiness. That’s all."

He exhaled quietly, then leaned in and kissed their foreheads.

"I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again," he continued, his voice steady. "I have all of you. One person leaving doesn’t change that. I still have five, don’t I?"

He gave them a small, tired smile. "So stop worrying about the past. Let’s move on. Alright?"

Everyone nodded, but their lips trembled, eyes glistening.

Javier’s gaze landed on Liana and lingered.

"Especially you," he said. "Don’t bring it up again."

His hand gently brushed her cheek. "I have you. Gloria. Felicia. Mimi. Delya. That’s more than enough for me."

( End Of Chapter )