My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 1050 - 1052: Lunch

Their passage to Valtheron was remarkably uneventful. They departed early in the carriage, passed through the city's established teleportation gate, and arrived in Valtheron as part of a sizable knighted convoy.

Damon found the grand escort unnecessary, yet his grandfather's insistence on safeguarding his great-granddaughter left him with no alternative.

Thus, Damon conceded to the arrangement.

The journey proceeded without incident toward the Brightwater Estate in the capital, their designated residence.

Midway through their travels, Ranar, who had been slumbering throughout, abruptly awoke. Upon not immediately spotting her father, her face contorted, and she erupted into tears, under the misguided belief that he had abandoned her.

Damon cleared his throat with a resonant sound.

The sudden noise pierced her cries. The infant turned toward him, her tiny nose already flushed and damp as she took deep, shuddering breaths. The instant her gaze met his, she offered both arms without a moment's hesitation.

With a sigh, Damon leaned forward and gathered her into his embrace.

"You truly possess a volatile temper, don't you? Crying simply because you haven't seen me is rather unreasonable. From whom did you inherit such a disposition?"

Luna rolled her eyes. Her brother was being entirely disingenuous. If his daughter exhibited a difficult temperament, it was unequivocally inherited from him.

Soon, they passed through the estate gates. It was a place of immense scale, its white ramparts sprawling across a vast territory. Knights maintained vigilant patrols in perfectly synchronized formations. The estate resembled a sovereign region of the capital city, a veritable palace from which the distant silhouette of the imperial palace could even be discerned.

A distinct difference separated castles from palaces. Castles were primarily conceived as military strongholds rather than comfortable dwellings.

Palaces, conversely, served as ostentatious displays of affluence and authority, their practical military value being largely insignificant.

If that were the case, why then were so many soldiers garrisoned here, and why was each one armed to the very teeth?

Why were numerous mages actively channeling spells, and why were runemasters meticulously inscribing defensive and protective runes onto the very walls and earth?

Damon placed a hand upon his forehead.

"Grandfather, seriously, what is the meaning of all this?"

Baby Ranar observed him intently. She lifted her diminutive hand and placed it atop her own head, mirroring his expression and his gesture exactly. She even paused, ensuring her actions precisely matched his.

Damon gazed down at her and offered a roll of his eyes. While still an infant, rendering a genuine eye-roll beyond her capacity, she still made the attempt.

Her effort resulted in her entire head tilting instead.

A smile unexpectedly graced his features, finding her clumsy imitation utterly enchanting. He playfully pinched her cheek just as the carriage door swung open.

They alighted from the carriage to be greeted by an extensive line of maids and knights. At the forefront stood the head maid, who was unmistakably Jarvis in a convincing disguise, directing the welcome with impeccable posture.

Luna paused momentarily by the doorway before proceeding onward. Damon noticed this and turned to her, a slight crease forming on his brow.

"What troubles you? Has something occurred?"

She slowly shook her head, a faint smile fixed upon her countenance.

"It signifies nothing. I merely experienced an unusual sensation following our visit to the holy city."

Damon's eyes narrowed at the mention of that place. Approximately a year prior to his return, Luna had journeyed to the holy city at the invitation of his grandfather.

By his estimation, this coincided with the period when the temple's modus operandi began to shift.

Apparently, their purpose was to convene with a distinguished dignitary.

It was not challenging for Damon to connect the disparate threads, or at least to formulate a compelling hypothesis.

It was plausible that they had encountered Aetherus, the very deity of this world.

However, Luna was not the sole recipient of such an invitation. A number of young nobles, around her age and possessing exceptional talents, had also been summoned.

By the time they had settled into their accommodations, the afternoon had well surpassed midday. Luna and Damon commenced preparations for another excursion. By some means, Luna had managed to forge a close bond with Xander's wife.

Their destination was the Ravenscroft Estate, situated not far from their own, for a shared luncheon.

Damon donned attire crafted from understated yet luxurious fabrics, accentuating the inherent elegance of the handsome young nobleman he was.

Their arrival was met not with pomp, but with a serene luncheon amongst friends.

Before long, Damon found himself seated at a table arranged within a garden pavilion, sunlight dappling through the open latticework overhead.

Xander occupied the seat opposite Damon, while Emilia and Luna faced each other across the table. An additional guest, Lilith Astranova, a confidante of Emilia, was also present.

Damon observed Xander embodying the role of a doting and attentive husband, carefully placing portions of food onto his wife's plate.

His gaze then drifted downwards, settling on Emilia's visibly rounded belly.

A subtle scoff escaped him, and his expression clearly conveyed what his lips soon verbalized.

"So, you've been engaging in procreation, have you?"

"Pardon me?" Xander inquired, his tone sharp.

"Apologies. I seem to have vocalized that thought aloud. My error. In truth, I intended only to think it."

Damon had, in fact, spoken his observation audibly.

Emilia's cheeks flushed crimson. She instinctively placed a hand on her abdomen, averting her gaze. A flicker of embarrassment, but no real surprise, crossed her features. Having known Damon for a considerable time, such conduct was hardly unexpected.

Slap.

Simultaneously, Lilith and Luna delivered open-handed strikes to Damon, eliciting a noise of displeasure from him.

He lifted his goblet, taking a deliberate, slow sip.

"I wish to extend my congratulations. Shall I address you as Lady Highgon, or perhaps Duchess Hightower?"

Hightower stood as one of the four eminent noble houses. By wedding Xander, Emilia, the formerly unrecognized daughter of House Hightower, had attained legitimacy through her marriage to the future patriarch of one of the most powerful ducal families. This elevation alone significantly boosted her status. House Hightower now possessed leverage within a rival lineage.

It was a shrewd political maneuver. By acknowledging Emilia, they concurrently granted her the right to contend for authority within the Hightower Dukedom. This intricate web of political maneuvering held no appeal for Damon.

However, he found himself entangled, driven by his intent to claim her unborn child.

"I would prefer Lady Ravenscroft, if you please," she replied without a hint of hesitation.

Damon inclined his head slowly, his gaze once more drifting to her belly.

"So, how many months along are you? Having experienced a miraculous virgin birth myself, I can't quite fathom how normal conception works. Ouch."

He yelped out as both Lilith and Luna delivered kicks to his shin beneath the table.

A gentle smile graced Emilia's lips. She closed her eyes, counting carefully on her fingers.

"Six months and three weeks."

"I see, I see," Damon acknowledged with a nod.

Xander shot him a menacing glare.

"Whatever it is you intend to say, keep it to yourself."