Chapter 316: Seraphina’s Little Tricks

Adrian swung the door open just enough to peer into the dimly lit hallway. Little Aria stood there in her rumpled nightgown, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks, her favorite stuffed dragon clutched tightly to her chest.

The moment she saw him, she launched forward with surprising speed, tiny arms wrapping around his legs with a desperate whimper.

"Papa! The m-monsters!" she sobbed, her small body trembling against him. "They had big teeth and... and fire eyes!"

Adrian's heart melted instantly. He scooped her up with one strong arm, cradling her against his chest as she buried her face in his neck.

"Shhh, little star," he murmured, pressing kisses to her silvery-red curls. "No monsters in Everhart Manor. You know why?" He gently wiped her tears with his thumb. "Because Papa ate them all for breakfast."

Aria giggled wetly at his ridiculous claim, her tiny fingers gripping his shirt. "Silly Papa! Monsters aren't tasty!"

Behind them, Sophia had just managed to fasten the last buckle of her corset when Aria's curious gaze landed on her.

The little girl blinked, her tear-stained face suddenly lighting up with innocent curiosity.

"Mother Sophia!" she exclaimed, wiggling in Adrian's arms until he set her down. "Were you scared too? Did you have a nightmare?"

Sophia froze mid-movement, her cheeks flushing as she met Adrian's amused gaze over Aria's head.

The resentment she'd felt moments earlier at being interrupted evaporated like morning mist as those big, trusting eyes stared up at her.

Moving towards Adrian, Sophia gently pinched Aria's round cheek. "Yes, sweetheart," she lied smoothly. "I had a very scary dream about... um... giant spiders. So I came to see Papa too."

Aria nodded sagely, as if this made perfect sense. "Mama says when we're scared, sleeping with Papa makes nightmares go poof!" She threw her hands up dramatically to demonstrate the vanishing act.

Sophia's fingers stilled on Aria's shoulder. "Did she now?" Her voice was deceptively calm, though Adrian noticed the dangerous glint in her red eyes. "When exactly did Mama tell you this, little one?"

Aria, blissfully unaware of the storm she'd unleashed, twirled a lock of hair around her finger. "Tonight! When I went to her room first!" She held up three fingers proudly.

"I knocked three times! Mama opened the door all sleepy and said..."

Here Aria did a surprisingly accurate imitation of Seraphina's voice, "'Go to your father, darling. His big strong arms make all bad dreams disappear.'" She giggled. "Then she kissed my head and closed her door really fast!"

Sophia's smile became dangerously sweet. Adrian recognized that expression—it was the same one she wore right before disarming opponents in the training yard.

"How... thoughtful of her," Sophia said through clenched teeth.

Aria, sensing none of the underlying tension, suddenly yawned widely, her tiny fists rubbing at her eyes.

"Papa? Can I sleep here? Pleaaase?" She tugged at his trousers with one hand while still clinging to her stuffed dragon with the other. "I'll be super good!"

Adrian chuckled, scooping her up again. "Of course, little star." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "But only if you promise to protect me from any stray monsters under the bed."

Aria nodded so vigorously her curls bounced. "I'll fight them for papa!" She waved her stuffed toy like a tiny sword, nearly smacking Adrian in the nose.

As Adrian carried her toward the bed, Sophia caught his arm. "I am not done with Aunt, always trying to deliberately disturb my time with you." she whispered dangerously low, her eyes promising retribution.

Then, loud enough for Aria to hear, she added, "I should go check on... the rest of the manor. Make sure there aren't any more... nightmare monsters wandering about for my little Aria. I hope monsters won't eat me."

Aria's lower lip immediately trembled. "No! Mama Sophia stay too!" She reached out with grabby hands. "Being with Papa is more safer than going alone. I don't want the monsters to eat you!"

Sophia pretended to hesitate, but the irresistible pull of those pleading eyes made her unable to even pretend.

Adrian smirked, recognizing the exact moment maternal instincts won out. With a defeated sigh, Sophia climbed onto the bed opposite Aria.

The little girl immediately snuggled between them, her tiny form barely making a dent in the massive bed.

She grabbed Sophia's hand and placed it on her stuffed dragon. "You can hold Dragon's tail," she announced magnanimously. "That's the second bravest part."

Sophia's stern expression softened as Aria's eyelids began to droop. "Such an honor," she murmured, her fingers gently stroking the worn fabric of the toy.

Adrian watched the interaction with quiet amusement, his large hand covering both of Aria's small ones where they clutched her dragon.

"Close your eyes, little star," he whispered. "Papa's here. Mama Sophia's here. Even Dragon's here. No monsters stand a chance against this team."

Aria yawned again, her head lolling against Adrian's chest. "Mama was right," she mumbled sleepily. "Papa makes nightmares go away..." Within moments, her breathing evened out, her tiny fingers relaxing their death grip on the stuffed animal.

The moment Aria was fully asleep, Sophia's head snapped up, her crimson eyes blazing. "That scheming, manipulative—"

"Shhh," Adrian interrupted, nodding toward the peacefully sleeping child between them. "Later," he mouthed.

Sophia took a deep breath, visibly forcing herself to calm down. But as she gazed at Aria's serene face, something unexpected happened.

Her expression softened, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. She reached out to gently brush a curl from the child's forehead.

"Fine," she whispered after a long moment. "But tomorrow, our dear aunt and I are going to have a very... thorough discussion about proper parenting techniques."

Adrian chuckled silently, imagining the showdown to come. He pressed a kiss to Aria's head, then leaned across to brush his lips against Sophia's. "I look forward to witnessing it," he murmured.

Sophia smirked, her fingers intertwining with his over Aria's sleeping form. "Oh, you won't witness it," she promised darkly. "Because while I'm... discussing things with Seraphina, you'll be watching Aria. All day."

Her smile turned positively wicked. "In fact, I think she'd love a tour of the stables. And the kennels. And maybe the duck pond..."

Adrian groaned quietly, but the twinkle in his eyes betrayed his amusement. As Sophia settled back against the pillows, her free hand resting protectively near Aria's shoulder, Adrian realized something wonderful—despite Seraphina's meddling, despite the interrupted intimacy, this moment felt perfect in its own way.

His fierce warrior sister, his precious daughter, and him—an unlikely but unshakable family.

Outside the door, unseen by either of them, a certain crimson-haired woman smiled to herself before silently retreating down the hallway. Mission accomplished.