"Reeeyyyy~~~!" Jasmine shouted from the kitchen, causing Rey, who was lost in thought, to snap out of his daze and slowly turn around with fear.

'Did she hear who I was talking about?' he wondered as he was about to look back but saw Jasmine approaching with something in her hands.

It wasn't a sandal or anything to hit him with, but a box he was quite familiar with.

Yes, it was the same box in which he brought the sweets from the store.

She stood in front of him and pointed at a certain label on the box, which was price tag showing 1396 DP.

Upon seeing the label, he realized his mistake—he had forgotten to remove the price tag.

"What is this?" she asked, looking at him with menacing eyes.

"Mom... I can explain, it's not what you think, I didn't..." Before he could say more to explain, she stopped him.

"Didn't I strictly tell you not to accept such expensive gifts from your friend? What will his parents think—that you are using their child to get expensive gifts for your birthday? Even though James isn't a bad kid, what might his parents think? Please refrain from doing it anymore," she said, expressing her own thoughts and concerns.

"Why you don't say something. You will tell him not to do this, right? And by the way, are they coming late to attend dinner or not?" she asked as Rey, who was shocked, snapped out of it and responded.

"Oh yes, I was just about to tell you that I told him to come home, but his mom asked him to come back while Evan is no longer in the city as I mentioned before."

"Oh yes, I remember about Evan, but why didn't James come? Didn't he tell her that he was going to attend the dinner here today?"

"Yes, he told her, but some urgent work came up which he and his family had to attend to, so he had to go back."

"Then it's okay, he can come back later someday for the dinner party."

Jasmine said as she started to walk back to the kitchen, and Rey breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ah! And yes, I also came to tell you to come to eat as the food is already ready."

She said just after realizing something she missed to say, which startled Rey a little, but he just nodded as he turned off the TV and walked back to the dining table where Emmy was present, looking at all the meals her mother made for Rey's birthday. As all of them sit on their seat as the dinner was ready to eat. As they started to eat the meal Jasmine created.

A few moments later~~~

Most of the dishes and side dishes were finished by the time the dinner came to end as most of them went into Rey's stomach due to his high consumption. His belly was starving after rushing home in such a short time, which would usually take more than twenty minutes to arrive.

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He took all the plates from the table and started to clean them after putting them into the sink. Jasmine tried to stop him from doing it, but he didn't listen to a single word she said.

He also knew that she may have worked hard today to prepare such a good and tasty meal, even helping Emmy in decorating the house and bringing other stuff from outside.

He could not allow her to do such heavy work all day which may get her to exhaust a lot and she may fell ill because of it.

Jasmine, who saw him doing it for her sake, was quite happy as her teachings on manners did not go to waste.

After everything was done, he returned to the drawing room where Emmy and Jasmine were watching a show on the TV. It was the kind of time and life he wished to have, but perhaps his luck was not good enough for it.

The three relics he found were surely going to destroy his life's happiness one way or another, but they were also the only things that could help him overcome the adversities to rise until no one could harm him and his family.

He joined them to watch the show, which ended half an hour later as Emmy was getting sleepy.

Jasmine sent her to sleep, but not before she brushed her teeth. Rey was not excluded from this routine either.

Rey and Emmy were about to go to sleep, Jasmine coughed a little.

"Rey, I told you to come and hear me out about what I wanted to say to you. So come quickly, as I am waiting for you in the room," she said as she started to walk towards her room.

"But mom, is it so important to talk right now, late at night?" Rey asked.

"Yes, it is, so hurry up," she replied. Rey looked at Emmy to ask what is happening, but she just shrugged and went to sleep as she had school the next day.

Rey, not understanding what was happening, followed Jasmine to her room.

"Close the door and come sit on the chair over there," she said, pointing at the chair.

Rey nodded, approached the chair, and sat on it while watching Jasmine make her hair into a bun.

"So, what's the matter, mom? Is something bothering you? You were not acting normal during dinner," he asked.

"Hmmm, you're correct. I am thinking about something to you and the story you like to hear so much in childhood, and you always asked me what happened in the end."

Rey was initially confused but then realized what she was referring to.

"Are you talking about the story of Myth of the Blood Emperor, the one people tell their children to make them sleep quickly at night?"

Jasmine giggled a little and nodded at his words.

"Yes, I am talking about that. Now your question be answered, as it was held back until you were old enough to take your father's position. Maybe now this won't become a curse for the big five families and the royal family.

The holder has already been decided for that man's legacy."

She said her last line with a voice that seemed internal, though her lips moved.

"What are you saying, Mom? I don't understand what you mean." Rey asked genuinely confused, as he couldn't grasp what she was implying.

"Rey, what I am going to tell you may sound like a blunt lie or something you won't believe to be true. But please listen to me carefully, as is deeply intertwined with you and the destiny that binds you without your knowledge. My child, you're not a member of our Dragonstorm family." Jasmine said, trying to muster the courage to convey this revelation.

"Huhh~~~~!" It was the only word that escaped Rey's mouth after hearing her words.

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What just happened? Is Rey not the son of Jasmine and the sole heir of the Dragonstorm family? Is that why his surname is Shadowthrone? If you want to uncover the secrets, join us by adding this to your library. Please support me with your precious P.S. so I can stay motivated and bring more thrilling and action-packed chapters for you all.