A calm voice suddenly spoke from behind them.
"You know..."
"It’s not exactly proper to poke fun at your father’s preferences by making jokes about your mother."
Florain immediately stiffened.
"...!"
She spun around so quickly that she nearly spilled the wine in her glass.
"F-Father!"
"It was only a harmless joke."
"Please don’t think too much of it."
Arthur turned as well.
Walking toward them was a man whose appearance could only be described as graceful.
Long silver hair, reaching the middle of his back, was neatly held together by an elegant silver hairpin. His black eyes carried a gentle warmth that contrasted with the composed dignity in his expression.
He wore flowing ceremonial robes of white and ivory with delicate silver embroidery that shimmered softly beneath the crystal chandeliers.
He was Master Ian Ashbourne.
The husband of Lord Elizabeth.
And the father of Arthur and Florain.
Despite being the father of two grown children...
He looked astonishingly young.
Arthur blinked.
"..."
Even after seeing Elizabeth’s youthful appearance...
He still found himself mildly surprised.
Back on Earth, a man of Ian’s age would almost certainly have grown a beard or, at the very least, a mustache.
But in this world...
Things were different.
This was a society where women stood at the pinnacle of military and political power.
And as a result...
The beauty standards for men had naturally evolved alongside it.
Rather than rugged masculinity...
The ideal was elegance.
Grace.
And refined, youthful beauty.
The so called "pretty boy" appearance was considered far more desirable than a rough or heavily manly one.
Looking at Ian...
Arthur had to admit...
He fit that standard perfectly.
No wonder Mother fell for him.
The thought flashed through Arthur’s mind almost instinctively.
Ian let out a helpless sigh before shaking his head with a small smile.
"You two..."
"I leave you alone for a few minutes..."
"...and you’re already conspiring against your poor parents."
Florain immediately pouted.
"We weren’t conspiring."
"We were merely having a perfectly innocent sibling conversation."
Ian raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"And somehow that innocent conversation ended with your mother’s figure becoming the topic?"
Florain’s lips twitched.
"...When you put it like that..."
"It does sound rather bad... But we were just having fun."
Arthur quietly took a step to the side.
"...Don’t drag me into this."
Florain immediately pointed an accusing finger at him.
"Tch! You traitor."
Ian let out a weary sigh before pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Please..."
"Don’t let your mother catch you filling your brother’s head with such nonsense."
"...She’d be absolutely heartbroken."
Almost instantly...
Arthur imagined Elizabeth bursting into tears.
"Y-Your mother may not be the most perfect woman..."
"...but at least she loves you with all her heart, okay?"
At the very same time...
Florain imagined an entirely different scene.
Elizabeth stood before her with an expression of utter disappointment.
"Florain..."
"How dare you try to corrupt my precious baby?"
The image alone was enough to make her shudder.
Arthur and Florain exchanged glances out of the corners of their eyes.
Then...
Both of them let out exasperated sighs.
"...We understand."
"...We’re sorry."
Ian looked at the pair for a moment before another helpless sigh escaped him.
"...It’s alright."
A gentle smile soon followed.
"Now then..."
He walked over to Arthur before casually draping an arm around his shoulders.
"I believe..."
"...it would be downright criminal not to involve your father in this little selection the two of you were having."
Arthur looked at him in surprise.
"...You too?"
Ian smiled innocently.
"Of course."
"I have excellent taste."
There was a moment of silence between them.
Arthur and Florain then looked at one another.
Then, without saying a word...
Both silently glanced toward Elizabeth in the distance again.
She was a dazzling beauty, sure, but her chest was as flat as a pancake.
"..."
"...Do you think Father married Mother for her money?"
Florain nodded without the slightest hesitation.
"Definitely."
"...!"
Ian visibly recoiled.
A hand instinctively clutched his chest.
"...That..."
"...actually hurt a little."
Ian feigned a look of offense.
"I’ll have you know..."
"...your mother happens to be an excellent example of my taste. She is easily one of the most beautiful women in the Empire."
Florain couldn’t help but snort.
"Father..."
"You’re probably the last person qualified to say that."
He looked at his two children with genuine disbelief.
"I raised both of you..."
"...and this is what you think of your father?"
Arthur shrugged innocently.
"...The evidence isn’t exactly in your favor, Father."
Ian’s lips twitched.
"I’ll also have you know..."
"I fell in love with your mother long before I ever cared about titles or wealth."
Florain smiled mischievously.
"Sure you did."
"...That’s exactly what a man who married into one of the richest noble houses in the Empire would say."
Ian opened his mouth to defend himself...
But before another word could leave his lips...
A calm, elegant voice spoke from beside them.
"Greetings, Young Master Arthur."
"I must say..."
"It isn’t exactly polite to ignore your guests when you happen to be the star of this evening’s celebration."
The three Ashbournes turned toward the voice.
Approaching them were two elegantly dressed young women.
The one leading the pair possessed long silver hair that flowed gracefully down her back, accompanied by a pair of sharp violet eyes that were beaming with confidence.
Walking beside her was a beautiful young woman with golden hair and bright emerald eyes.
Young Lord Celestia Valerius.
And Young Lord Miranda Solis.
Celestia offered Arthur a smile before giving a graceful bow.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Young Master Arthur."
"I am Celestia Valerius."
"Heir to House Valerius."
Miranda followed with a respectful bow.
"And I am Miranda Solis."
"Heir to House Solis."
"It is an honor to attend your coming of age ceremony."
Ian quietly withdrew his arm from Arthur’s shoulders before smiling.
"It seems we’ll have to continue this family discussion another time."
Florain leaned toward Arthur, her smile suddenly disappearing.
She leaned in just enough that only Arthur could hear her.
Her expression became more restrained.
"I know you may find her attractive, but don’t get carried away."
"Our family and House Valerius have not exactly been on good terms."
Arthur gave a small nod.
"I’m well aware."
The relationship between House Ashbourne and House Valerius had been strained for generations.
Political disagreements.
Military rivalries.
Competing influence within the Empire.
Neither family openly regarded the other as an enemy...
But neither could truly be called an ally.
Florain gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"Good."
"Then I’ll leave you to it."