The sound of the door creaking open was long and winding. From behind it, the four figures came walking out.

The two in front cast a look toward the girl with the green hair.

"Tsk tsk tsk...Stupid lass...Have it your way! Don't let me find you come crawling back home, you ungrateful girl!" Spat the Duchess as soon as she saw her daughter.

"You have nothing to worry about, Mother. I will persist and fight for my love." Responded Giselle, seemingly unfazed in the slightest.

"Tch!" Helena clicked her tongue, glaring dagger at Giselle.

"I know what you are worried about, Seline. But I will treat her fairly...You have my word." Stated Mother with a stoic face.

The Duchess's eyes twitched as they went back and forth subtly between her daughter and my Mother.

"I'll hold on to your words...Maya..." Ceded the woman, weak toward the end.

Mother simply nodded elegantly in response.

"Then, Duke...I believe we've concluded our business here. It sure is amusing how the hands of fate work their way, don't you think? To think that House Heliard and Dawson would come to share a marriage of all things. Gahaha!" The bald man with a broad shoulder laughed merrily.

His whole body shook up and down as his laughter rang across the room.

Contrary to his towering and daunting build, the voice was calming and warm.

"Both of you are always welcome to see Giselle here in Germund. It's a shame that our views differ from each other because I also happen to enjoy your company, Duke Heliard." Returned Father, smiling.

'Hm...' I hummed inside, watching the scene play out.

Honestly, the adults were doing this just to show us, their children, that everything was going to be alright.

Despite their differences, the children wouldn't be caught in the crossfire of the adults' fight.

Well, obviously, it was naive to assume that both sides didn't have any designs regarding this situation, but at the very least, both Duke Heliard and Father were trying to be discreet about it.

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Hence the whole formality that ensued seconds prior.

"Gahaha...Sure, sure. I share the same thought, Duke..." Finished the man, turning to his daughter. "Will you forget your old man now that you've gone crazy over a boy, my Giselle?"

"Surely you jest, Papa. How can I forget one of my most important people in the whole world?" Quipped Giselle.

'Papa...?' Such a tender and childish nickname was surprising, all the more so because Giselle was saying it without her face breaking, as though saying it in front of everyone else didn't even bother her.

She stood up, walked to the bald Duke, and threw her arms around his huge belly.

"You have no qualms throwing the family name but still dare to act spoiled with me?" Huffed the Duke with an amused grin.

"Punish me if you must. Though I believe it's unlikely that you'll do that again, Papa." Replied Giselle, rubbing her face snuggly on his belly.

"Gahaha! See that, Duke? She is my daughter, indeed! Fine. You win this time, my little kitten. Remember what I told you. Set your priorities straight. Be steadfast and focused on the important things, but never rigid in the way you conduct things...You chose this yourself, so see it to the end yourself." Said the man.

"I always keep your teachings close at heart. And I will continue to do so, Papa. You have nothing to worry about." Answered Giselle, tightening her grip one last time before she broke free.

"Mother...Stay in good health. I'll write to you..." She then craned her neck sideways and gave a meticulous and perfect bow to her mother.

"Forget it. Who in the world doesn't know that you'll only get chummy with your father? Eat well...And don't get sick." Expressed the woman, knitting her brows.

The Duchess then bid us a short goodbye and walked away without even looking back once.

The Duke, following her, offered a similar farewell to my parents before taking his exit, close to his wife's tail.

Thus, there were only us there...

My family and Giselle...

"Ahem!" Father cleared his throat, drawing our attention. "Per the arrangement of the House Heliard and ours, Giselle will be officially engaged to Alexander. Like Helena, both will keep their family name until the wedding takes place. As she will become one of ours in the near future, I hope everyone will get their story straight and not rouse any unnecessary rumors. It is what Duke Heliard and I have decided for the benefit of the two House."

Father let his words sink in before finally concluding the matter at hand.

"Now, before we have dinner...Alyson, Helena," He called.

"Yes, Dad."

"Father..."

Returned the two, each with a different expression.

"Take Giselle and show her to her room."

Putting aside my Sister, who could only sigh, Helena looked like she had eaten a bug or something. Her face contorted and squirmed visibly as veins popped out here and there.

"Play nice girls..." And came Mother's warning.

I watched the three girls make their way out of the room with an anxious mind.

'They'll be fine, right...?'