Chapter 1547: Every Son for Himself ( 1547 )

Aelius’s eyes widened as he felt an immense surge of power flow through his body, his mana spiraling out of control. He tried to pull his palm from the ground, snapping his head toward Javier, only to find him already standing at the grill, acting completely innocent. Marcellus and Cedric were at the table, casually reaching for food as if nothing had happened.

The moment the magic had been cast, all three of them had vanished, leaving Aelius alone with the glowing gold coin and the massive golden wave now crashing toward their father.

"Ah..."

Aelius slowly rose to his feet. He brushed the sand from his knee with practiced composure, adjusted his glasses, and turned away with a deliberately calm stride, as if he had nothing to do with the towering golden wave that was now sweeping across the sea.

Guhhh...

His knuckles clenched at his sides, his jaw tightening as he fought to keep his expression neutral.

Those three brothers!

I’m sure they planned this!

How dare they use me as a scapegoat! Their sacrificial lamb!

He kept walking, his face a mask of calm, thoughts churning as he mentally listed all the ways he would get back at them.

They didn’t even warn me. They just... vanished. Like cowards. Leaving me to face Father’s attention alone. I’m going to make them pay. Every single one of them. Javier. Marcellus. Cedric.

First they pranked Heres. Now they trick me into attacking Father. And who will face the consequences? Me!

Damn those three!

I swear I will get them back, with interest!

"Aelius."

Aelius froze mid-step. His entire body went rigid. Slowly, he turned his head toward the sea.

Garius crossed his arms, a calm smirk playing on his lips as the four massive golden waves crashed down on him from all sides. Giddie and Alf remained standing casually on the water’s surface, completely unbothered as the waves swallowed them whole.

Aelius swallowed hard, his throat dry.

Crap...

He glanced around in panic, searching for any escape route. He took a step back, ready to bolt, but before he could move, a familiar voice spoke from directly behind him.

"Where do you think you’re going~?"

He froze. Slowly, he turned his head and found his father, Alf, and Giddie standing behind him.

Garius stood with his arms crossed, his golden beach trunks clinging to his hips, his perfect, sculpted muscles gleaming under the sunlight. His body was lean and powerful, each contour defined with the kind of physique that made younger men envious. He looked down at Aelius with a calm, knowing smirk.

"Those magic spells were good."

Aelius swallowed hard, his voice coming out in a strained, nervous tone. He pointed toward where Javier was standing without turning his head.

"It was Javier’s idea, Father. He said... let’s see if Father can withstand our combined power. He wanted to see if you could withstand it! It was all his idea! All of it!"

"Oh~?" Garius’s smirk widened. He glanced toward Alf, his voice carrying a note of amusement. "You hear that, Alf? They can now use combined power."

Alf adjusted his glasses, his expression calm and composed. "Impressive. The young princes have grown stronger. Combining their mana into a single, unified attack is no small feat."

Garius nodded slowly, his smirk never fading. "Indeed. It seems my sons have been training harder than I thought. Combining their power into one strike... that takes coordination, trust, and synchronization. They’ve improved."

He paused, his gaze drifting toward where Javier, Marcellus, and Cedric were now standing near the grill, pretending to be completely absorbed in the food and conversation.

Aelius forced himself to remain calm, his expression neutral even as his mind raced.

I need to find a way out of this. An escape route. A distraction. Anything.

But before he could move, his father’s voice cut through his thoughts.

"You know, Aelius... I’m proud of you. All of you. You’ve all grown into fine men. Strong, capable, responsible. Each of you has found your own path, your own strengths, your own purpose. Some of you focus on magic, some on economy, some on politics, some on inventions. But all of you... you’ve become adults. Real adults. Men I can trust with the future of this family."

Aelius swallowed hard, his heart pounding.

Ah, shit...

I know where this is going...

He watched as Garius smirked and glanced toward Alf.

"Alf?"

Alf placed his palm on his left chest and bowed slightly, his expression calm and composed.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

Garius’s smirk widened. He tilted his head toward Marcellus and Cedric.

"Please help me fetch my eldest and second son. They seem to be enjoying themselves at the table, but I have something more... engaging in mind for them."

Alf nodded, adjusting his glasses. "As you command, Your Majesty."

Garius’s gaze shifted toward Javier, and his smirk deepened.

"I’ll handle my youngest son myself. He’s the cheekiest of all my children. I’m sure he’s already planning to use every trick in the book to escape. But this time..." His eyes glinted dangerously. "He won’t get away."

Giddie let out a low, rumbling squawk from beside Garius, his golden feathers gleaming as his beak curled into a smirk.

"Cuquawked~" (Don’t worry, Master. I’ll make sure Buddy ’behaves’~)

Javier narrowed his eyes toward the distance where Aelius, his father, Alf, and Giddie stood. He watched carefully, his gaze sharp and focused. Then, in the blink of an eye, Alf vanished from his spot.

Javier’s body tensed.

Liana tilted her head at him, tucking a strand of silver hair behind her ear.

"Young Master?"

Javier snatched the special roast meat sandwich from Liana’s hand and spun on his heel, bolting across the sand while shouting over his shoulder.

"Sorry, Liana! I’m going!"

Liana raised her palm to cover her lips, letting out a soft laugh as she watched him sprint away. Her eyes curved with amusement.

Young Master must already know what’s coming. Father-in-law is going to drag him into a practice duel. And judging by how fast he’s running, he knows exactly how that’s going to end.

She glanced toward where Marcellus and Cedric were. Both of them were already being held firmly by Alf, one brother under each arm, their legs kicking uselessly in the air.

"Eeeekkk!! Alf!!"

"I don’t want to go to Father’s practice duel!"

Liana shook her head slowly, a fond smile playing on her lips. Mimi, who had her mouth stuffed full of Liana’s new dish, tilted her head to the side, her tail swaying in lazy curiosity.

"Nya? Where did Husband go?"

Liana glanced at her, her voice calm and warm.

"Ah~ About that, Mimi. I’m sure Young Master is running as fast as he can. But knowing Father-in-law... he won’t get far."

( End Of Chapter )