Chapter 224: Family Talks Part 2

Adrian sighed, looking down at both Sophia and Eve, who were clinging to him like overly affectionate cats. Their playful antics, while amusing, were also causing a stir among the others in the room.

He shook his head, a fond smile playing on his lips. "Alright, you two," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "As much as I enjoy your attention, we do have serious matters to discuss."

Sophia pouted, loosening her grip slightly but not entirely letting go. "But Adrian," she whined, her tone teasing, "you were the one who brought up such an interesting topic. Can't blame us for wanting to stay close and listen."

Eve nodded enthusiastically, her violet eyes sparkling with mischief. "Exactly! Besides, who wouldn't want to be near you? You're so warm," she added, leaning in a little closer.

Adrian raised an eyebrow, giving them both a pointed look. "Flattery will get you everywhere," he said dryly.

"But right now, we need to focus. This alliance with Mira and Blackthorn family will help us do a lot of things that we could not before."

Sophia reluctantly released his arm, stepping back with a small huff. "Fine," she muttered, crossing her arms. "But don't think this means I'm done."

Eve, however, held on a little longer, her cheeks puffed out in mock defiance. "You're no fun, Adrian," she grumbled before finally letting go, though not without giving his arm a quick squeeze.

Adrian gave them both an indulgent smile. "You two are impossible sometimes," he said, ruffling Eve's hair lightly. "But that's what makes me fall for you guys more."

Sophia's expression softened at his words, her earlier pout fading into a genuine smile. Eve beamed, tilting her head up to meet his gaze. "See? You love it," she said cheekily.

Adrian chuckled, stepping back to address everyone in the room. "Now that we've had our fun," he began, his tone shifting to something more serious, "let's get back to the matter at hand."

He turned his gaze to Seraphina. "This alliance will be very important for us. But you're right, Aunt Sera. We can't afford to reveal too much too soon."

Seraphina nodded, her demeanor calm and composed once more. "Exactly. We need to observe her actions carefully. If she truly seeks our alliance, she'll have to show it through her deeds, not just her words."

Isabella, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward. "And if she doesn't?" she asked, her tone sharp. "What if she's simply playing us for her own gain?"

Adrian's gaze darkened slightly, the weight of leadership settling on his shoulders.

"I don't think that will happen for now. But we do have something to lean back on. We can announce to world that she is a third class awakened. Since no else seem to know it, she had been hiding her true power level for some reason and announcing it may derail whatever she had planned.," he said firmly, his voice leaving no room for doubt.

Eve tilted her head, her violet eyes filled with curiosity. "But Adrian, even if we reveal the fact that Mira is a Third-Class Awakened, why would the other nobles trust our word? Surely they’d need more than just our declaration."

Adrian’s lips curved into a knowing smile as he reached into his coat pocket. Slowly, he retrieved a small, radiant token etched with an intricate design that shimmered faintly with divine energy. The air in the room grew heavier as everyone’s gaze fell on the artifact.

“This,” Adrian began, holding the token up, “is the Goddess of Fate’s Token.”

Gasps echoed around the room. Even Seraphina’s usually composed expression faltered for a moment, her eyes widening.

The significance of the token was clear—it was a direct connection to a Supreme Goddess, a symbol of divine authority that could not be questioned.

“If I were to invoke her name and use this token to reveal Mira’s true power level, no one would dare doubt its validity. Not even the most skeptical nobles would risk defying the will of a Supreme Goddess,” Adrian explained, his voice steady and confident.

The room was silent for a moment as everyone absorbed the weight of his words. Then, one by one, their expressions shifted to determination, the contingency plan solidifying their resolve.

Seraphina stepped forward, her striking blue eyes locked on Adrian. There was a rare warmth in her gaze, a blend of pride and admiration.

“You’ve thought this through brilliantly,” she said, her voice soft yet filled with emotion. “Not only are you pursuing this alliance wisely, but you’ve also ensured that we have a way to protect ourselves if things go awry.”

She placed her hands gently on Adrian’s cheeks, her touch warm and tender. “You’ve grown into an incredible leader, Adrian. I’m so proud of you,” she said, her words carrying the weight of genuine affection.

Before Adrian could respond, Seraphina leaned in, and to everyone’s shock, her lips met his in a deep, intimate kiss.

Her hands slid to the back of his neck, pulling him closer as her tongue teased his, her movements slow and deliberate.

The kiss was filled with a passion that Seraphina rarely displayed, her usual composed demeanor melting away in this moment of raw emotion.

Adrian froze for a moment, startled, but quickly relaxed into the kiss, his hands lightly resting on her waist.

The room erupted into chaos.

Sophia’s face turned as red as her hair. “Aunt Seraphina! How can you do this?! Even I haven’t kissed Adrian in front of everyone!” she exclaimed, her voice a mix of outrage and embarrassment.

Eve’s jaw dropped, her cheeks flushed as she struggled to find words. Meanwhile, Chris quickly stepped forward, covering Christine’s eyes. “You’re too young to see this,” Chris said firmly.

Christine squirmed, her muffled protests audible. “I’m not a child! I’m fifteen years old now! I’m practically an adult!”

As the kiss finally ended, Seraphina pulled back, a small, smug smile playing on her lips. She glanced at Sophia, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

“You had your chance earlier, dear,” she said, her tone light and teasing. “Too bad you didn’t take it.”

Sophia’s eyes widened, her fists clenching at her sides as she let out an exasperated huff. “That’s not the point!” she snapped, her voice filled with indignation.

“You can’t just swoop in and do something like that!”

Seraphina’s smug smile only grew. “Oh, I think I just did,” she replied, her tone laced with playful defiance.

Adrian, still recovering from the unexpected display, ran a hand through his hair, a mix of amusement and disbelief on his face.

“Alright, everyone, let’s calm down,” he said, his voice cutting through the commotion. “We’ve got an alliance to secure and a plan to finalize. Save the dramatics for later.”

Despite his words, the atmosphere remained unchanged in the room.

Sophia, however, wasn’t finished. She crossed her arms and glared at Adrian. “Kissing Aunt Seraphina only isn’t fair. You have to be fair to everyone,” she said, her tone equal parts demanding and playful.

Adrian raised an eyebrow. “Fair to everyone? Sophia, Seraphina kissed me,” he retorted.

Eve interjected with a dramatic “Hmph. Men.” Her single word carried so much disdain that Adrian sighed, momentarily defeated.