Chapter 887: Waylen’s Grandchildren

Inside the beautiful estate of Sky Krona, the Falkrona Family had gathered.

At least, most of the main family had.

Their trip to Edenis Raphiel had several purposes.

The most important reason was, of course, Erin.

Waylen’s wife and the Head Wife of the Falkrona Household had been bedridden for years, and now, with the awakening of the new Saintess, there was finally hope that her condition could improve.

A blessing and healing from the Saintess was something that couldn’t simply be requested whenever they wanted. The Holy Church guarded her powers carefully, and even a single treatment was considered an extremely valuable privilege.

But that wasn’t the only reason the Falkrona family had come to Edenis Raphiel.

There were political matters to discuss.

The relationship between Falkrona and Edenis Raphiel needed to be strengthened. Alliances, future cooperation, political arrangements, and several other matters required the attention of one of the world’s most influential families.

Perhaps not every member of the family was necessary for those discussions.

But Waylen had ordered everyone to come.

And considering his grandchildren, would soon be attending Holy Academy, their parents hadn’t exactly been given much of a choice.

While the adults were gathered around the dinner table, discussing matters that had quickly become tense and uncomfortable, the younger generation had obviously been kept away.

Even though some were full fledged adults, they were still too young compared to their parents.

Instead, they had been left in one of the spacious living halls of the estate.

Among them were two grandchildren of Waylen who, at first glance, hardly looked like Falkronas at all.

Christina Olphean and Amael Olphean.

Both had inherited far more of their mother’s appearance than anything associated with the Falkrona bloodline.

Their features, hair, and overall appearance carried the traits of the Olphean family.

Nothing about them immediately screamed Falkrona.

And perhaps that was one of the reasons they had always felt slightly separated from the main family.

They had come along with their parents, Kleines and Alea.

Alea had hesitated at first.

She hadn’t forgotten the complicated relationship between Kleines and the Falkrona Household, nor had she forgotten the hostility that had been directed toward her in the past.

But Kleines had insisted.

He didn’t want his children to grow up isolated from the Falkrona Household.

Whatever his personal feelings toward the family were, Kleines understood how much weight the Falkrona name carried throughout the world.

Being part of this family could provide his children with opportunities that Sancta Vedelia alone couldn’t.

More importantly, it gave them protection.

Especially Amael.

With everything that had happened to his son, Kleines couldn’t afford to ignore the possibility that Amael might need the protection of the Falkrona Household more than ever.

And if things truly became dangerous, having the Falkrona name behind them could make an enormous difference.

For that reason, Kleines had decided that his family should at least establish their place within the House.

They were Falkronas too.

Whether the main family liked it or not.

"We look out of place."

Amael’s quiet voice broke the silence.

He and Christina were sitting together on a large sofa in one of the spacious living halls of Sky Krona.

The room itself was beautiful.

Tall windows allowed the evening light to spill across the polished floor, while elegant lamps illuminated the walls and ceiling. Expensive furniture had been arranged throughout the room, and decorations bearing the emblem of the Falkrona Household could be seen in several places.

Everything about the estate silently reminded them whose territory they were standing in.

And yet, sitting there, Amael and Christina looked almost as if they had been placed into someone else’s home.

Every now and then, a servant would pass through the hall.

Whenever they noticed the two siblings, their eyes would linger for a brief moment.

Not openly rude but curious.

After all, neither Christina nor Amael possessed the obvious appearance of a Falkrona.

The servants would quickly lower their heads and continue on their way.

"We do."

Christina glanced around before looking back at her brother.

"But they’re still part of our family."

Amael leaned back against the sofa.

"We’ve never exactly been close to them."

There was some truth to that.

Christina had barely interacted with the main Falkrona Household throughout most of her life.

Amael’s situation was a little different.

He had grown up in Celesta as Thomen’s son, and through his memories, he had encountered the Falkrona family from time to time.

But even then, there had never been any real closeness.

Thomen himself had intentionally distanced himself from the Falkrona Household after leaving.

That distance had extended to his children as well.

"Well, maybe we should try," Christina smiled. "Grandmother Erin has been very kind to us."

"She has."

Amael smiled as well.

Their own Olphean grandparents had passed away when he was young, so he had never really gotten to experience what having grandparents was like.

But Erin had given him that feeling.

Even while bedridden, she had always treated them warmly.

She never made Christina or Amael feel like outsiders.

She spoke to them kindly, worried about them, and treated them as her grandchildren without hesitation.

Amael was grateful for that.

Waylen, however, was another matter entirely.

He was cold and distant.

Amael remembered meeting him even back in Celesta.

The man had always carried the same intimidating presence.

And despite everything that had happened since, Waylen had never been particularly fond of the fact that Thomen and Belle had left the Falkrona Household and chosen to build their own lives in Celesta.

Amael sighed.

"She might be the only one who actually accepts us."

"Don’t say that."

Christina frowned.

"Have you seen our uncles?"

Amael raised an eyebrow.

"And especially Aunt Rosalyn?"

Christina hesitated.

Amael wasn’t wrong.

Rosalyn hadn’t openly insulted them since they arrived, but her expression whenever she looked at them said enough.

That constant frown.

That cold gaze.

The way her eyes seemed to briefly scan their features whenever she saw them, as though trying to understand how two children carrying so many Sancta Vedelian traits could possibly belong to the Falkrona family.

It wasn’t hatred but there was certainly no warmth either.

"Well..."

Christina struggled to find an argument.

She knew that some of Rosalyn’s coldness probably came from the fact that Kleines had abandoned the family years ago and everything that followed and especially the scandal recently with his comeback.

And now his children had appeared in front of them carrying the consequences of that history.

"I’m sure our cousins will be good."

Christina smiled hopefully.

She hadn’t met most of them yet but they were family though distant.

And they were around the same age.

Maybe they could become close.

Maybe they could finally have something resembling a normal relationship with the Falkrona side of their family.

"I don’t think so."

Amael grimaced.

Christina looked at him.

Amael remembered some of them.

He had encountered them before during his days in Celesta.

And those had made sure to humiliate him whenever they had the opportunity.

It didn’t matter what the occasion was.

They always found something.

Especially after his condition became known.

Amael’s expression darkened at the memories.

He hadn’t forgotten.

"Well, well, well..."

A voice suddenly came from across the room.

"What do we have here?"

Amael’s expression immediately twisted.

"Gods be damned..."

He cursed under his breath.

His gaze slowly lifted.

Christina also looked up.

Standing a short distance away were two people around their age.

The two were looking directly at them.

And judging from the expressions on their faces, they clearly hadn’t come over to welcome their new cousins.

Amael’s eyes narrowed.

So much for getting along with the family.

The one standing at the very front, wearing a smile that was far too cold to be called welcoming, was a remarkably beautiful girl.

She had long grey hair, carefully tied back in an elegant style, with a rather eye-catching brooch shaped like a falcon nestled within it.

Her almond-shaped eyes were also grey and beneath her lips sat a small beauty mark. Unlike an ordinary dark beauty mark, however, hers was strangely grey, almost as though it had been drawn with a faint stroke of silver.

She wore a beautiful blouse paired with a matching skirt, both designed with an elegant, noble style. Silvery garters adorned her legs, adding another touch of refinement to her appearance.

Everything about her was graceful and elegant.

And yet, there was something unpleasant hidden beneath that beauty.

She was Erionne Falkrona, Silas Falkrona’s second child and only daughter.

Erionne looked over Christina and Amael from head to toe, her expression becoming increasingly displeased.

"God, look at their hair. So white. Are they dyed?"

Beside Erionne stood a young man who appeared slightly younger than her, looking no older than twenty.

He tilted his head slightly as he examined Christina and Amael with an openly curious expression.

He had grey hair as well, though his was cut somewhat shorter, and his eyes were the same distinctive grey shared by the Falkrona family.

He was Jordan Falkrona, Isaak Falkrona’s only son.

"Hm, I don’t think so."

Christina flinched when she heard another voice.

She turned her head and saw another young man standing behind them.

He appeared to be the eldest of the three, with slightly curly grey hair and grey eyes. His expression was calmer than the others, though there was still a definite arrogance in the way he carried himself as well.

He was Aiden Falkrona, Rosalyn’s son.

He had been touching and observing Christina’s white hair, but the moment Christina turned toward him, the hair slipped from his grasp.

"They look very much real," Aiden said.

He smiled.

Then, without the slightest hesitation, he walked toward Christina.

She barely had time to react before Aiden reached out and gently took hold of her chin, tilting her face upward so he could examine her more closely.

Christina froze.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"You certainly look very beautiful," Aiden said, his smile widening. "You may become my second wife. Or third. Perhaps even a concubine, if you wish."

For a moment, Christina simply stared at him.

She was so caught off guard by the shamelessness of his words that her mind almost failed to process what he had just said.

Then she snapped out of her stupor.

She knocked his hand away from her face.

"Please, don’t be so rude," she said, standing up.

Her voice remained polite, but there was a clear edge to it now.

Amael immediately followed her to his feet, his expression darkening as he stared at the three cousins standing before them.

He remembered them.

There was no mistaking it.

These were the exact same three people who had bullied him whenever they happened to cross paths with him during his childhood.

Erionne, Jordan, and Aiden.

Nothing about them had changed enough for him to forget.

If anything, seeing them again only brought back unpleasant memories he would have preferred to leave buried.

Erionne crossed her arms and looked at the two siblings with open displeasure.

"Olpheans," she said dismissively. "Very much Olpheans from head to toe."

Her eyes lingered on their white hair and distinctive features.

"You don’t have your place here. Leave."

Amael frowned.

"Our father is Kleines Falkrona."

"Kleines..." Erionne repeated, almost as if the name itself left a bad taste in her mouth. "You mean the coward uncle who left our house to form a life in Sancta Vedelia?"

Amael’s expression hardened.

Before he could respond, another voice suddenly rang through the hall.

"Don’t be so rude, Eri."

Everyone turned toward the footsteps approaching from behind them.

A young man appeared, though despite his youthful appearance, there was something more mature about him than the others. He looked to be in his twenties, with neatly brushed grey hair and the same grey eyes characteristic of the Falkrona family.

Unlike Erionne, Jordan, and Aiden, however, his expression was gentle.

"Dear brother."

Erionne’s cold expression softened when she saw him.

The young man approached and gently patted Erionne on the head as he passed her.

He was Edgar Falkrona.

The eldest among them.

Silas’s eldest son and, consequently, Erionne’s older brother.

Edgar continued walking until he reached Christina.

"Please, forgive my sister and my cousins," he said with an apologetic smile. "They are very much family people and prefer to remain that way."

Christina blinked.

She glanced briefly toward the others before looking back at Edgar.

"No, it’s fine..."

Edgar smiled.

Then, rather unexpectedly, he took Christina’s delicate hand gently in his own.

He lowered his head and pressed his lips lightly against the back of her hand before raising his gaze toward her.

"There is certainly nothing to wonder about regarding Uncle Kleines leaving our house," Edgar said, "if it was to be with a woman as exceptionally beautiful as you."

Christina’s eyes widened.

She had not expected that at all.

A faint blush immediately spread across her cheeks.

The compliment had caught her completely off guard, and despite everything that had happened only moments ago, she couldn’t deny that Edgar’s words were flattering.

"T—Thanks..." She said awkwardly.

It was hard for her to not react when he was the complete opposite of the other three.

Edgar smiled before gently releasing her hand.

His attention then shifted toward Amael.

"You must be Amael."

Amael raised an eyebrow.

"You look a lot like Connor, don’t you?"

Amael paused.

"You have seen my brother?"

"I did," Edgar replied. "He was quite a hard man to forget. A special one."

Amael remained silent for a moment.

Connor.

Even hearing his brother’s name from someone outside their immediate family felt strange.

"Yes, he was..." Christina said softly.

A small, sad smile appeared on her face.

The atmosphere became quiet for a brief moment.

Meanwhile, Amael continued staring at Edgar.

Then he glanced at the trio behind him.

They hadn’t recognized him.

Of course they hadn’t.

How could they?

Amael was no longer the boy they remembered.

The appearance they associated with him had been completely different. His hair, face, build, and even the way he carried himself had changed drastically.

To them, he was simply Kleines Falkrona’s youngest son.

Someone they might have encountered before but never considered important enough to remember.

And that realization brought Amael a strange sense of relief.

Because there was another reason they had failed to recognize him.

Edward Falkrona.

That was the person they associated with the name Edward.

The Edward Falkrona who had appeared before the world in Veyra.

The Edward Falkrona who possessed the Falkrona Bloodline.

The Edward Falkrona who looked far more like a true member of the household than Amael ever had.

And, perhaps most importantly, the same Edward they had probably believed was the boy they used to bully.

It wasn’t difficult to understand why.

Edward looked like a Falkrona.

He had even introduced himself to the world using the name Edward Falkrona.

From their perspective, there was no reason to suspect anything else.

Amael could have told them.

He could have pointed at himself and revealed the truth.

I’m Edward.

I’m the one you used to mock.

I’m the one you treated like trash.

But what would that accomplish?

Nothing good.

If anything, it would invite trouble directly into his lap and Amael had no intention of dealing with that kind of hassle. He had already endured enough problems within this family for one lifetime. There was no reason to willingly create another.

So he simply remained silent.

For now, they could continue believing whatever they wanted.

As far as Amael was concerned, being forgotten by them was probably the greatest blessing he could have received.