Family Tea

The glittering mountain of gifts stacked high in the hall was a sight I couldn't tear my eyes from. Each chest gleamed under the soft glow of the estate's chandeliers, their gilded edges catching the light like fireflies. Silks of impossible softness spilled over the edges of ornate boxes, and jewels—ruby, emerald, sapphire—twinkled like captured stars. Artifacts I couldn't even begin to name hummed faintly with latent energy, their craftsmanship far surpassing anything I'd seen before.

"Seriously," I muttered, swallowing hard. "This is the power of the Royal Family."

The Veylin family was no stranger to luxury. As a Marquisate, we stood at the pinnacle of the kingdom's noble hierarchy, only eclipsed by the royal family and the Dukes. With my mother as Chancellor and both my parents as Gold-grade summoners, our influence was vast—on par with Duke Greenward's family and just behind the illustrious Duke Kilt. But even so, this... this was beyond extravagant. 

I'd grown up surrounded by opulence, showered with gifts since I was old enough to toddle. Yet, this display was in another league entirely. 

"Elara," my mother's voice broke through my reverie like the snap of a whip, sharp but not unkind.

The four of us were seated in the living room, tea elegantly arranged on the marble table between us. My mother's composure was unshakable as ever, her every movement deliberate and refined. She brought the porcelain teacup to her lips, sipping lightly before setting it down with a soft clink. 

Her piercing blue eyes met mine. "Do enlighten me, dear, as to what this is about."

I gulped, the weight of her gaze heavier than any of the treasures surrounding us. My fingers twitched slightly as I reached for my own teacup, only to realize my hands were trembling too much to lift it without spilling. So I settled for clasping them tightly together in my lap.

"It's... reciprocity," I said, my voice embarrassingly small.

"Reciprocity," my mother echoed, her tone measured and cool, though I detected a flicker of intrigue in her expression.

I cleared my throat, straightening my posture in an attempt to regain some dignity. "Aria gave Prince Valkas a high-level sword manual. He said this is his... reciprocity."

For a moment, silence reigned, broken only by the faint clinking of Kael stirring his tea across from me. My father raised an eyebrow, his stoic expression betraying a hint of curiosity as he glanced between me and my mother.

"Ah," my mother said finally, leaning back slightly in her chair, her fingers steepled thoughtfully. "And here I thought this might be an elaborate courtship display."

I choked on my breath. "M-Mother!"

"Relax, Elara," she said with a rare smile, though it didn't reach her calculating eyes. "The third prince is... how shall I put this? Ambitious. If he's taken note of you, it's not solely due to your summon's generosity."

She glanced meaningfully at the Diamond Grimoire resting on the table beside me. It glimmered faintly, as if basking in its own significance.

"Do you think he's courting favor through me?" I asked, unable to keep the edge of uncertainty out of my voice.

My father finally spoke, his deep voice resonating in the room like distant thunder. "The Royal Family doesn't send token gestures. This display isn't just gratitude—it's a declaration. They're making it known that you've caught their attention. And in the political landscape of Thane, that carries both promise and peril."

Promise and peril. The words hung in the air like a warning bell. My stomach churned at the thought of what this could mean, not just for me but for my family. The Royal Family's favor was as much a burden as it was a blessing.

"Well," my mother said, her voice light but edged with the precision of a well-honed blade, "you've certainly made an impression, my dear. Let's hope it's the kind that works in our favor."

She picked up her teacup with practiced elegance, taking a measured sip that seemed to punctuate the conversation. Yet, the gleam in her sapphire eyes betrayed the calmness of her demeanor. Beneath the surface, her mind was a storm of calculations.

"Is it really that serious?" I asked, my voice tinged with disbelief.

My father, ever the stoic figure, set down his own cup with a quiet clink that seemed to echo with finality. "Of course, it is," he said, his deep voice steady and deliberate. "You are the sole Diamond-grade summoner this kingdom has ever produced. Your potential is not just personal—it is the hope of this entire kingdom. Should you mature to your full strength, we could rise to the ranks of a Tier 1 Kingdom. That sort of potential draws attention from every corner of the court."

I nodded, absorbing his words with a sinking feeling. It wasn't just about me, was it? It never had been.

"And the Royal Family?" I pressed, though I already suspected the answer.

"They'll be watching your every move," my father confirmed, his gaze sharp as he leaned forward. "More than that—they'll be maneuvering to ensure your allegiance. The King himself is invested in seeing you tied to the throne. That means both the second and third princes will feel the pressure to... involve themselves."

Involve themselves. A polite way of saying that I was now a prize in a political game far larger than myself.

I thought of the Royal Family—three siblings who stood at the pinnacle of the kingdom's hierarchy. There was the first princess, an enigmatic figure rarely seen outside the palace walls; the second prince, the current Crown Prince, celebrated for his military exploits despite his youth; and then, of course, the third prince—Valkas.

"Why is the second prince the heir?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"Because of his talent," my father said. "The second prince is a peak Gold-grade summoner, the finest talent this kingdom has produced before you. His abilities have not yet reached their zenith, but his early contributions in the field earned him the title of Crown Prince. The King rewarded him for his military genius even before he came of age."

My mother interjected, her tone light but firm. "But titles are never secure, my dear. The throne is not won by resting on laurels. If Prince Valkas secures a match with you—the only Diamond-grade summoner—his influence will surpass the Crown Prince's. He will have the Veylin name and your future power to bolster his claim. And then..."

"...the scales tip," I finished, the pieces falling into place.

My parents nodded in unison. It was all so clear now. Our family had always maintained neutrality in the political chessboard of the kingdom. Duke Kilt, the most powerful noble in the realm, stood steadfastly with the Crown Prince. Duke Greenward, another formidable force, aligned himself with Prince Valkas.

But us? The Veylins?

We were the swing vote. And now, with me in the equation, neutrality wasn't an option anymore. If I were to align with Valkas, the balance of power would shift dramatically. The Crown Prince's faction, already strong, would falter under the weight of Valkas's newfound influence. With me by his side, Valkas's talent—just a step behind the Crown Prince's—would no longer matter. He would have the winning hand.

The air in the room felt heavy, the weight of expectation pressing down on my shoulders. I wasn't just Elara Veylin anymore, daughter of the Marquis and Marchioness, newly minted Diamond-grade summoner. I was a keystone, the pivot upon which the kingdom's future rested.

And the realization was both exhilarating and terrifying.

My mother leaned back, her composure unbroken as she swirled the tea in her cup. "The question, my dear, is not whether the princes will pursue you. That is inevitable. The question is—what will you do?"

Her words lingered in the air, as heavy and sharp as the sword hanging above us all.