"I didn't expect Mr. Oakley is a member of Night Clan. Fate is really mysterious, isn't it?" Estella had shed the graceful-looking image like other young girls and just stole the seat beside Azzy from another guest before turning into a chatterbox.
Azzy didn't know what to talk about. Their last meeting didn't end well. Azzy thrashed her nicely, showing the difference in the strength between them.
After that, this is where they were meeting but Estella didn't seem like she was bothered about her defeat. She appeared more enthusiastic.
Some of the guests around were staring at Estella and Azzy. Some felt that they look good together, some of the elders of the Crescent clan including Kylan felt that Azzy is too preposterous for chatting with the princess of the Moon clan because they think Azzy is just an outsider, the remaining didn't care because, in their eyes, both of them are just little kids.
Pandora didn't like it but for a different reason. In her view, the moon clan princess getting close to Azzy wouldn't be of any use to her or her Night clan.
Meanwhile, Estella's mother and her ancestor were curious. They heard of Azzy before but still wondered what's so special in him that their little girl is so fond of that she's behaving unladylike.
As Azzy continued to stay silent, Estella tried to guess what he is thinking, "you must be wondering what I'm doing here. Crescent Clan can be considered a branch of us, you know. Long ago, the Moon clan's heiress and Garcia clan's Patriarch who was then the Generals of Emperor Arthur married each other. Their kids founded the Crescent Clan.
Do you know what's funny here?"
Estella leaned her head and said almost said in a whisper, "Their names are also Azrael and Estella."
Azzy abruptly turned his head in surprise as something crazy theory appeared in his head.
It's not because he heard that Crescent Clan's origins are from another hidden clan. After all, hundred thousand years, the nine clans lived together under one Empire. It's quite possible that the Death Clan's founder married the Moon Clan's princess but what is surprising is the name.
It was then he remembered Princess Leah's explanation about the history of Camelot and its nine generals. "That's right, the founder had the Reaper, and General moon said to possess the leviathan. And what's more, Leah has Excalibur. It's too much coincidence that they return in the same era. Are we really perhaps the reincarnation of those legendary figures?"
When such a thought appeared, Azzy's eyes fell on the smiling Estella and he immediately threw it away, "no, there's no way this girl is the reincarnation of my past life's wife. You have to stop thinking about unnecessary issues, Azzy. Focus on the present and future."
Azzy convinced himself again and again before forcing himself to fill his mouth with a drumstick and look away.
Despite not having any expression on Azzy, Estella was sure that it surprised him. While the entire moon clan thinks that Estella is the reincarnation of their ancestor, she never thought that Azzy is some reincarnation of her past life husband. After all, there's a lack of death scythe and Azzy's commoner background is a bonus.
She can form some speculations like Azzy's second Arcana is a death scythe and he might have been born to Garcia family and doesn't know it yet. But, the facts are more important for her and she wasn't waiting for the Death clan founder's reincarnation either. She doesn't believe in that sh*t as there are no conclusive shreds of evidence either apart from similar Arcana.
What matters for Estella is that Azzy defeated her with ease and that's enough to plant a desire in her heart to grow stronger.
In the past few days, she trained rigorously under extreme conditions to improve her strength and she succeeded in breaking through to the next realm without the need of external help like the beast's core.
When she realized that Azzy is the key to her progress, she developed an interest in him. Coincidences about their names only made her think that they were destined to be together.
She no longer cared whether Azzy is claimed by Claire or not. She decided to snatch him away. This is the reason behind her sudden strange behavior.
After the dinner is finished, some of the guests continued to sit and have an after-dinner wine while the others left.
It led to Azzy wonder just how much these adults love the wine. They drink white wine before eating, they drink red wine while eating and they continue to drink again even after that.
Soon, only the most important guests left. Naturally, Azzy and Estella aren't a part of it. The young woman who tagged along with Estella also exited the room.
As soon as he left the dining room, Azzy wanted to return his room but Estella didn't let him do so. She introduced him to her mother, "Rael, this is my mother. Mom, this is Azrael."
The beautiful young woman put forth her hand with a smile, "nice to meet you, Azrael. My daughter kept talking about how you were during the past few days. If I didn't know that you were a student, I would have thought she was talking about her idol."
"C'mon, mom. Don't exaggerate too much." Estella puffed her cheeks that slightly became red.
Meanwhile, Izetta saw them from distance but didn't know how to barge into their conversation either as they were as good as strangers to her. She sighed and left the place without even saying hello to Azzy.
As the mother and daughter had fun with each other, with the former teasing her while the latter complained, Azzy just stared at them in a daze.
He doesn't even know what he was doing here, walking with them to the Royal Gardens. Until now, Azzy barely spoke a couple of sentences in the past ten minutes. But, one thing he did find was that Estella seemed to be a normal teenager when she was with her mother. He couldn't help but get envious of the relationship between this mother and daughter pair.
Being uncomfortable in their presence, Azzy tried to leave, giving a silly reason, "excuse me, Mrs. Moon, I need to get back. My family would be worried about my absence."
"Ah, c'mon, don't need to worry. That bodyguard of yours is keeping an eye on you." Scarlet Moon pointed her hands casually behind her in the 7 o'clock direction.
From the start, she never turned back, and neither did she meet Ethan but still managed to accurately point him with ease and further said as she looked into the sky where the moon is in waxing gibbous phase. "Do you know Azrael that our clan's origins said to come from there?"
"Moon?" Azzy looked at the sky. He felt like the lady is pulling his leg because it is impossible in his eyes.
"Please, mom. You said it many times." Estella appeared to be annoyed. "Think practically. How is it even possible that humans lived on the moon? Whether it is the atmosphere or the temperatures, that land isn't even possible for humans to live. Those texts must have been written by some fanatic who thought of linking our clan to the moon because of similar names."
Azzy couldn't but nod in agreement.
It was then, a voice was heard from behind. "Ms. Moon, that isn't true. In the past, humans did colonize the moon and other planets."
Azzy felt the voice is familiar and turned around only to see Ragron walking towards them while accompanied by Kylan.
As the mother and daughter pair also glanced behind, a frown appeared on Scarlet as Ragron further complimented, "It's been a while, Ms. Scarlet. You look beautiful as ever."
"What are you doing here, Brother Kylan? Is the meeting already over?" Scarlet ignored Ragron and asked the person standing beside him.
"No, Sister Scarlet... we were just kicked out by Venerable Moon," Kylan replied her with a helpless smile.
"This is why you should be careful when making acquaintances," Scarlet let out a comment, surprising both Estella and Azzy for a moment.
Azzy looked at Estella's mom and then, at Ragron, and wondered whether she dislikes him or something. It made him a little bit happier.
"Sister Scarlet…" Kylan tried to handle the situation but Ragron patted his shoulder, "it's alright, Brother Kylan. Ms. Scarlet doesn't seem to be in a mood to talk. Let's not disturb her."
As Ragron left the place like a gentleman, Estella asked her mother, "Mom, do you know King Ragron?"
In response, her mom snorted and expressed her disdain, "He's just a loser who tried to court me, long ago. His father tried to establish relations with our clan through our marriage but was taught a lesson.
A few years ago, when your father passed away, this guy's father once again shamelessly sent another marriage proposal to our clan. In return, I challenged Ragron to a battle. Obviously, I beat him to a pulp.
Now that he ascended the throne and recently made another breakthrough to the legendary realm, his intentions are obvious.
I don't understand how a guy with a mere gold grade Arcana thinks so high of himself when he couldn't evolve it to Platinum grade even after reaching Exalt realm."
Azzy went into a daze once again, "I knew it. An apple doesn't fall from a mango tree. Like mother, like daughter."
He realized that her mother isn't that different from Estella, very arrogant, and looks down on the people that have low-grade Arcana.
Still, at the same time, he felt that the guy deserved a beating.
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