Correcting a Small Misunderstanding (1)

Outside the gate of the Duke's mansion...

Caelum and Lyra stood before a luxurious carriage that gleamed in gold and silver hues. It was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, guaranteed to stand out once it entered the city.

The carriage was drawn by four majestic magical beasts resembling horses. These creatures, known as Whitemanes, were famous for their shimmering snow-white manes.

Magical beasts like the Whitemanes could be tamed by cultivators specializing in Beast Taming. Whitemanes were known for their speed and gentle nature, but they could become aggressive if provoked.

For Lyra, today was special. She wore a stylish dress that tastefully revealed her smooth, radiant shoulders. Her silver hair sparkled under the morning sun, and her round black eyes gave her an adorable charm. Light traces of makeup enhanced her lovely features, completing her elegant look.

"Shall we go, big brother?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement.

Caelum, on the other hand, had put far less effort into his attire. Yet his natural, effortless handsomeness ensured he didn't look out of place standing beside his impeccably dressed sister.

"I see that you're very excited, and that's good! Today's going to be fun. Let's go," Caelum replied with a warm smile.

For the siblings, the highlight of the day wasn't exploring Wintram—a city they were already familiar with as the capital of their family's duchy—but rather the chance to spend quality time together.

As the carriage traveled through the bustling streets of the city, it naturally attracted a great deal of attention. Its opulence ensured that no one dared block its path.

Caelum gazed out of the window as they moved. The streets were lively, filled with cheerful faces, and the atmosphere was vibrant.

"It's a good thing that the formation of such a massive Rift hasn't disrupted the city's liveliness," Caelum remarked thoughtfully.

"How is it, big brother? Is it just like you remember? I don't think the city has changed much in the last four years," Lyra said, turning to him with curiosity.

"Our family has been working hard to maintain peace and order, after all. And yes, the city hasn't changed much from what I recall," Caelum replied, shifting his attention to Lyra.

Trailing behind their carriage was another, simpler one carrying Saya, Zayla, and several other servants. Their role was to handle any inconveniences that might arise during the siblings' outing.

As the carriage continued toward their destination, Caelum and Lyra chatted happily. The damage their relationship had suffered due to Caelum's four-year coma was gradually healing. The siblings were rediscovering their bond and growing comfortable with each other once more.

Occasionally, Caelum's witty remarks would elicit bursts of laughter from Lyra, filling the carriage with her pleasant and infectious mirth.

After some time, the carriage stopped in front of a high-end restaurant called Aldiers.

Caelum and Lyra were here for breakfast. Lyra was also eager to try out a new product the restaurant had recently launched.

Aldiers was renowned for its unique and innovative dishes, blending cooking and alchemy to create extraordinary flavors.

Once inside, a waiter guided the pair to their reserved seat.

From the window beside his seat, Caelum could see a towering structure. It was quite literally a tower-shaped building—the branch of the Alchemy Tower in Wintram City.

The main branch of the Alchemy Tower was located in the Imperial Capital, and it was the ultimate destination for aspiring alchemists across the Empire.

Soon, their food arrived, and they began eating.

"Oh, you eat the peas in your food now, do you?" Caelum teased. Lyra had absolutely hated peas as a child.

Lyra put on a proud expression after hearing his remark.

"Mmm… what can I say? A girl can change a lot over four years, you know?" she replied smugly.

"Haha, you sure can. Remember that time we came here with Mom? You ordered that complex-sounding dish just to gloat in front of me. And when the dish arr—"

"Ah! Ah! Aaah! Stop it!" Lyra exclaimed, raising both hands to playfully shove them in Caelum's face in an attempt to stop him.

The two chatted animatedly while enjoying their breakfast. The restaurant was relatively empty, as it mainly catered to extremely wealthy cultivators who typically visited for lunch or dinner.

'Just like in the Duke Mansion, this food uses ingredients rich in Qi,' Caelum noted.

However, the taste here was far superior due to the use of alchemical ingredients and techniques in cooking. Alchemy wasn't cheap, and neither was the food.

But for someone like Caelum, it didn't matter. Elara had given him 20 grade-2 spirit stones as pocket money—equivalent to 20,000 grade-1 spirit stones.

Not all young masters enjoyed such extravagant allowances. Many lacked parents wealthy enough to afford it, and others had parents unwilling to spoil their children to this extent.

After finishing their breakfast, the duo headed to the ground floor. Before leaving, they purchased the product Lyra had been so excited to try.

Called Flavian Pops, the treats were spherical in shape and wrapped in paper. They bought an entire box.

Lyra eagerly unwrapped one and popped it into her mouth. Her pupils widened, and a small smile formed on her face. "Mmmm!"

'Is it that good?' Caelum wondered. Curious, he tried one too.

As he chewed, a peculiar flavor exploded in his mouth. It had a cool, refreshing sensation and was quite enjoyable.

It was more 'fun' to eat than outright delicious.

'Overall, not bad,' Caelum concluded.

"Apparently, these were invented by a young genius of the Alchemy Tower…" Lyra remarked as they exited the building, chatting happily.

That was just the beginning of the day. The siblings visited several places and even enjoyed an interesting and dramatic play.

At one point, Caelum stopped by an information broker's office to inquire about some important matters.

Later, their carriage came to a stop in front of the Silverleaf restaurant.

"Big brother, this is the place you chose for lunch?" Lyra asked, her tone slightly skeptical.

The main building of the restaurant was shaped like a leaf, surrounded by a beautiful garden that provided a scenic view for customers. Two guards in silver armor stood at the entrance.

Silverleaf was a popular high-end restaurant. While its food wasn't as creative as Aldiers, it was less expensive, making it a favorite for well-off cultivators. The place was often crowded, especially on weekends.

Lyra thought there were better, more special places for an occasion like this. However, Caelum had his reasons for choosing Silverleaf.

"Yes. Why, do you not like it here?" Caelum asked.

After a brief pause, Lyra shook her head. "No… it's fine."

She had entrusted the day's planning to Caelum and didn't want to spoil the mood. Besides, the food here wasn't bad.

She started walking inside, but stopped when she realized Caelum wasn't following.

Caelum looked at the carriage driver and silently mouthed something to him. Then, he glanced upward, holding his gaze for a few seconds.

"What are you looking at, big brother?" Lyra asked curiously, noticing his delay.

The sky was clear, with nothing out of the ordinary.

"Nothing. Just appreciating the weather," Caelum replied with a small smile.

With that, he joined Lyra and they entered the restaurant together.

Some time after they entered, the carriage driver entered the restaurant as well and made his way to the staff area to handle an errand Caelum had assigned to him. The guards at the entrance didn't stop him; the Goldheart family owned this establishment, after all.

As Lyra and Caelum stepped into the seating area, many heads turned to look at them. Their striking appearances naturally drew attention.

Lyra's gaze wandered, and then she noticed Astarion. He was seated at a circular table with other young members from powerful families.

Her mood instantly soured. How much bad luck did she need to run into him today?

Astarion even had the gall to smirk at her before turning back to his companions.

Caelum, pretending not to notice the interaction, continued walking alongside the waiter leading them to their reserved seats. Lyra followed quietly, her mind still preoccupied with irritation.

It was time to get the party started...