Home Sweet Home

Chloe's brow twitched. "Looks like someone isn't really that hungry after all," she shot back, clearly irritated by his remark.

Aron, seated right beside her, froze at her words. Panic flickered in his eyes.

Then, he did what he knew best.

Beg for forgiveness.

"I'm sorry!" he blurted out, clasping his hands together in a pleading gesture.

However, the annoyed look on Chloe's face didn't fade. Seeing this, he quickly tried again.

"I haven't had good food in a while…" he added, hoping to justify his actions.

Chloe's irritation seemed to wane slightly, but she still looked unimpressed. Deciding to go all in, Aron took a deep breath and made his final move.

Forgive me, honey. You know, you're so beautiful, I can't bear to see you angry."

A blush crept up Chloe's face at his words.

Aron, encouraged by her reaction, moved his hand to gently caress Chloe's cheek, his touch soft and full of love.

Chloe snapped out of her stupor and slapped Aron's hand away, clearly flustered. "Don't think I've forgiven you," she said, her voice a mix of embarrassment and lingering irritation.

Aron burst into laughter. "Hahahah, you look cute when you're all flustered."

Chloe's blush deepened, but the irritation in her eyes softened a little.

"Forgive me, honey. Can I eat now?" he asked, his voice dripping with exaggerated sweetness as he made a puppy-eyed expression.

"Foodie," Chloe huffed in mock annoyance, rolling her eyes.

Aron, undeterred, put on his most innocent expression, hoping to win her over.

Chloe sighed, but her lips curled into a small smile. "Whatever," she muttered, clearly giving in.

Before she could say anything else, Aron didn't waste a second. He grabbed a variety of dishes from the table, starting with those closest to him and stretching across the table to grab food further away.

Chloe watched him with an amused yet slightly exasperated look. She shook her head, unable to hold back a fond smile at her husband's antics.

He must have really been hungry, she thought, watching with a mix of affection and disbelief.

"Yum! Yum!" Aron mumbled through mouthfuls, stuffing various dishes into his mouth with no regard for manners.

Chloe rested her chin on her palm, watching him.

Aron mumbled through a mouthful of food, "Yum! This is so good!"

Chloe raised an eyebrow but said nothing as she observed him stuffing his face with little concern for his table manners.

Aron noticed her watching and paused mid-bite. With a mischievous grin, he asked, his words slightly garbled, "Wis sumsehjitng un me fass, honey?"

Chloe gave him a playfully reproachful look. "Nothing, I'm just still deciding on what to eat," she replied, though her smile couldn't quite hide her fondness.

"And stop asking questions while you're eating, you look like a squirrel," she teased, laughing lightly.

Aron blinked at her, then laughed too, his voice muffled by food. "Okay, whatever you say."

He continued devouring his meal, making exaggerated "yum" noises between bites. After a while, he rubbed his belly, a satisfied grin on his face. "That was really good food."

The maid standing by the side moved to clear the table, swiftly gathering the dirty plates and heading toward the kitchen.

Chloe noticed that Alex had finished eating too. She leaned closer to Aron, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I missed you, honey," she murmured softly.

Her voice wavered slightly as she added, "I didn't hear from you for so long… I was starting to fear the worst."

She lifted her head, her gaze locking onto his. "Don't you ever go to the battlefield without sending regular updates again. Do you hear me?" Her tone sharpened into a reprimand, her eyes hardening.

Aron swallowed hard. "Y-Yes, yes, I'm sorry, honey."

He sighed. "It wasn't my fault, really. The situation just didn't allow me to send letters. The battle was getting intense, and there was no time…"

Chloe didn't let up. "Well, you could have given me a notice beforehand. Don't you think?"

Aron scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah… I should have."

Chloe exhaled heavily but finally leaned back into him.

"Well, I'm back now," Aron said, pressing a light kiss on her forehead.

A brief silence settled between them before Chloe tilted her head curiously. "Why did you and the Sovera have that battle outside the estate when you arrived?"

Aron grinned. "I wanted to test my strength after my breakthrough. And Mom… well, she was just as eager to test me. So, we ended up sparring."

Chloe scoffed. "Sparring? You call that a spar? Every spectator felt like we were under attack!"

Aron waved her off. "Oh, come on. It was just a spar—no one got seriously injured."

His expression shifted slightly, turning thoughtful. "And, well… I learned not to mess with Mom. Even with my bloodline activated, I doubt I could do anything to her," he admitted, recalling their intense battle.

Chloe crossed her arms. "Well, now you won't be thinking of sparring anymore, will you?"

Aron remained silent.

She narrowed her eyes, her tone turning firm. "Right, Aron?"

Under her sharp gaze, Aron quickly nodded. "R-Right."

But Chloe could read him too well. She sighed, knowing full well he would still seek out another sparring match at some point.

While lost in her thoughts, another idea surfaced in her mind. "I wonder when the Sovereign will come out of seclusion…" she mused aloud, recalling the countless tales of the supreme ruler of the human domain.

Aron shrugged. "I don't know. He hasn't left his chambers since before I was born. I've never even seen him in person—only in portraits. Honestly?" He scoffed. "I wouldn't be surprised if he's dead."

Chloe sighed at his indifferent attitude toward his father but chose to say nothing.

Instead, she changed the subject. "Since we're done here, let's go see baby Alex."

Aron nodded, and together, they stood from the dining table, making their way down the hallway toward the bedroom where Alex was resting.