Chapter 1616: Love, War, and a Bowl of Honeyed Fruit ( 1616 )

Her eyes darkened.

"Even if, somehow, Aunt Mylezra convinced my father-in-law to withhold his approval, which I doubt will happen, I could still use my own strength, my own magic, and my own power to ensure Lyzia would not leave Armand without my permission."

She crossed her arms.

"And knowing my Young Master, knowing how much he cares for me, I’m certain he would not simply stand by and watch me be hurt by others. Not by the Council. Not by my parents. Not by anyone. He would stand beside me. He would raise his hand against whatever stood in my way."

She paused, tilting her head slightly.

"In fact, I could contact him right now. Tell him to take Lyzia as his girl. And I am sure he would gladly accept it. With that fake resistance of his. He would make it look like he’s being dragged into it. But he would take her. He would. Because he is who he is. And because he would listen to me."

Azariah, Qamara, and Enania fell silent.

Liana let out a soft exhale.

"But I won’t."

She set her hands in her lap, her voice quiet but firm.

She looked at each of them.

"Because the training I set for her is for her own good. The world outside is filled with people far more cruel and dangerous than anything I could ever show her. The training I want Lyzia to pass is so she can defend herself when that time comes. So she won’t be helpless. So she won’t be at anyone’s mercy."

She crossed her legs.

"The three of you must have attended the important council meetings in the Elven Nation. The ones discussing the upcoming invasion from the other continent. Armand has been supplying intelligence, information, weapons, and defensive measures. We’ve been preparing for this war for months, and the alliance between our nations is strong because of it."

Azariah nodded slowly, her expression subdued.

Liana continued.

"I’m sure by now the Elven Nation, the Beastkin Nation, and the Demon Nation have all been preparing for it. Stockpiling supplies. Reinforcing borders. Training their soldiers. Waiting for the moment when the invasion finally comes."

She paused, her voice dropping, calm and serious.

"And I won’t interfere with the test. I won’t fake the results. I won’t bend the training to make it easier for her. I won’t make it pass for her just because she’s my sister. Because if I do, then when the invasion comes, Lyzia won’t be prepared. She’ll be weak. And weakness in a war means death. If she cannot even survive the training I set for her, how is she supposed to survive against people who want to hurt her?"

She leaned forward slightly.

"I won’t always be there to protect her. I won’t always be at her side. There will come a day when Lyzia stands alone. When there is no older sister to protect her. When there is no guard to shield her. When it’s just her, and the enemy, and no one else."

She looked at each of them, her eyes steady.

"Because her safety is my priority. My sister’s life is worth more to me than my pride. I would rather Mother hate me for a while than lose her forever."

Liana picked up the small bowl of fruit slices. She drizzled honey over them, slow and deliberate, the golden syrup pooling around the bright melon and berries. Then she leaned back in her chair, the bowl resting against her palm, and looked at her sisters.

"And the same goes for all of you."

She took a slice of melon and bit into it, chewing slowly before she continued.

"I worry about you too. About your safety. About your strength. About whether you’ll be able to protect yourselves when the invaders come. The Elven Nation is peaceful. The Elven Nation is safe. The Elven Nation is protected by natural barriers and ancient treaties and the might of its allies. But peace doesn’t last forever. Safety doesn’t last forever. And treaties only hold so long as the people who signed them are still alive to honor them."

She held her fork gracefully, the silver tines catching the chandelier light.

"And since all three of you have attended this gathering, and are enjoying this vacation on the Armand Private Island..."

Her smirk widened.

"...perhaps this would be a good opportunity to test you. To see if your magic, your power, and your strength are truly ready for what’s coming."

All three of them flinched.

Azariah let out a nervous smile, her hand waving slightly in front of her. "N... now, Liana, there’s no need for that... right~? We’re here for a vacation, not a training session."

Qamara averted her eyes, her gaze darting toward the sweets as if they were much more interesting than the conversation.

"Ah... but we only just arrived... you know. And we haven’t even had a chance to rest yet. The journey was so long. My arms are still sore from the carriage. And my feet, my feet are aching from all that walking on the ship. I’m exhausted, truly exhausted. I couldn’t possibly concentrate on anything right now. Not with my feet aching like this."

Enania rushed to pick up a piece of chocolate and bit into it quickly, chewing and swallowing, then coughed the moment she caught Liana’s eyes on her.

Liana tilted her head, her voice calm and sweet.

"Ara~ It’s just a simple test. It won’t take long. Since this vacation will last for several days, it’s best for all of you to make good use of the time. A little training wouldn’t hurt. In fact, it would be a wonderful way to spend some of your vacation. Fresh air, exercise, a chance to see how far you’ve come."

She tilted her head further, her sweetest smile spreading across her lips.

"You know, Enania~ The journey from the Elven Nation to Armand Nation doesn’t take that long, does it? I believe you traveled by Armand royal pekko-drawn carriage. A journey that would take eight or nine days by horse can be cut to just a few hours. You know how fast pekkos are~"

She picked one of the berries with her fork and raised it toward her lips.

"And the carriages are so comfortable, aren’t they? The ones built with speed and comfort in mind. They were designed specifically for pekko travel, after all. Then after you arrive at Gaze City, you’d be flown by mana helicopter or transport drone. Fast. Comfortable. No air sickness. Straight to the Armand naval base, where you’d board the Armand warship."

She bit into the berry slowly and smiled.

"There’s no way your hands could hurt, or your legs, or your feet. From what I heard after asking the Armand naval officer, you were given the most comfortable quarters. The maids served you drinks. You all enjoyed your rest on the Armand warship. I believe someone even arrived with a summer hat~"

Azariah, Qamara, and Enania swallowed hard.

Liana’s expression shifted into one of exaggerated worry, her brow furrowing, her voice dripping with playful concern.

"You know I do worry about you~ All three of you. So won’t you let your little sister see how strong you’ve become? Come on~ It will be fun~"

( End Of Chapter )