CHAPTER 114.1 — NO PEACE LEFT IN THIS HOUSE

THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON III

CHAPTER 114.1 — NO PEACE LEFT IN THIS HOUSE

When Galahad sat down at the table, there were more than thirty unopened messages on his Shiri.

Three were from former students.

One was from the academy.

One had only congratulations in the subject line.

Another...

Dear Eighth Pillar.

Galahad hadn't opened that message yet.

As he looked at the screen, Holar sat across from him.

“Still not used to it?”

Galahad turned the Shiri toward him.

“When I see this, I feel like I should call someone else over.”

Holar read the heading.

“No one's coming. It's you.”

“I noticed.”

“Good. We've handled the first part.”

Eleanor smiled as she brought the tea.

“Don't put the boy to work before breakfast.”

“I'm not.”

Holar placed bread in front of Galahad.

“I'm just saying some things are going to change now.”

Galahad nodded.

“Like what?”

Just then, Percy and Clara came in.

They were holding hands.

That wasn't new.

Percy walking Clara to her chair didn't surprise anyone, either.

Not letting go of her hand while she sat down made things a little difficult.

Percy pulled out his own chair first.

Then Clara's.

Then he looked at the space between them.

He moved his chair a little closer.

Galahad was watching them.

Percy sat down.

Clara turned her head toward him.

“Good morning.”

Percy smiled.

“Good morning, my love.”

Clara kissed his cheek.

Percy kissed her forehead.

Galahad raised an eyebrow.

“Haven't you seen each other yet today?”

Percy looked at him.

“We have.”

“Upstairs?”

“Yes.”

“You came down together?”

Clara nodded.

“Yes, bro.”

Galahad waited a few seconds.

“Just checking.”

Holar lifted his tea.

“There's one of the things that's changed.”

A small sheet of paper lay in front of Galahad.

He'd written down the questions that had occurred to him that morning.

The Council.

Helen's tower.

His own training.

His former students.

Holar looked at the paper.

“You're not going to sort all of it out today.”

“I know. But I want to know where to start.”

“First, don't be afraid to ask about what you don't know.”

Galahad smiled faintly.

“I can do that.”

Holar nodded.

“And listen until people have finished speaking. Not everyone on the Council

sees things from your perspective. Sometimes someone who seems irrelevant at first—”

“Bro, could you pass the cheese?”

Clara was looking at Galahad.

Listening to the conversation, Galahad reached for the cheese plate.

Percy was faster.

He picked up the plate.

He set it in front of Clara.

“Here you go, darling.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

Clara smiled at him.

So did Percy.

Galahad's hand remained in the middle of the table.

First he looked at the empty space.

Then at the two of them.

“Why did you ask me?”

Clara turned her head.

“What?”

“You said bro.”

“Yes.”

“I'm the brother.”

Clara thought about it.

Then looked at Percy.

Percy pointed at the plate.

“She wanted cheese.”

Galahad nodded.

“I understood that.”

“I gave it to her.”

“I saw that, too.”

Clara started laughing.

So did Percy.

Galahad slowly withdrew his hand.

Holar finished his sentence.

“Sometimes someone who seems irrelevant at first really has nothing

to do with the subject.”

Percy lifted his head.

“Was that about me?”

“No. The cheese.”

Eleanor laughed as she poured tea.

Galahad leaned back in his chair.

“The world calls me a Pillar.”

He looked at the plate in front of Clara.

“Here, I can't even get to the cheese.”

A little later, Eleanor placed two glasses in front of Percy and Clara.

Percy was holding Clara's hand.

Clara was holding his.

Their free hands reached for the tea at the same time.

The same glass.

Their fingers touched.

Clara laughed.

Percy let her have the glass.

“You drink it.”

“You wanted it.”

“So did you.”

Eleanor lifted the second glass.

“Are you aware of this one?”

They both looked at her.

Eleanor set the glass between them.

“I brought two. It wasn't difficult math.”

Percy's lips curved.

“Thank you, Mom.”

“Drink.”

Clara picked up her glass.

Percy leaned toward her and said something.

Eleanor didn't hear.

But the smile on Clara's face grew.

Then Clara moved a little closer.

Percy gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

Galahad stopped before bringing the bread to his mouth.

Holar lowered his cup.

Eleanor looked at the two of them.

“Children.”

Percy turned his head.

“Yes?”

“We're here, too.”

Clara looked around the table.

Percy looked, too.

Holar saw that glance.

“He actually checked.”

Galahad put his bread down on his plate.

“I'm sitting right across from them.”

Clara's cheeks colored a little.

“We heard you, Mom.”

Eleanor sat down.

“Good.”

Percy rested his thumb on the back of Clara's hand.

Clara looked down.

Then at Percy.

They smiled again.

Holar returned to Galahad's paper.

“We were talking about listening.”

Galahad nodded.

“Good of you to give me an example.”

Galahad finally turned to Percy.

“Speaking of your big brother. I have a question for you.”

Percy lifted his head.

“Ask.”

“Has Helen told you anything about the first day? I'll talk to her about what I need

to prepare, too.”

Percy nodded.

There was a small crumb in Clara's hair.

Percy reached out.

He removed the crumb.

Clara paused.

“What was there?”

Percy showed her his finger.

Clara laughed.

“How did that get there?”

“I don't know.”

Percy tucked her hair behind her ear.

His hand didn't withdraw immediately.

Clara was looking at him.

Galahad waited.

Then waited a little longer.

Percy smoothed her hair.

Clara gave him a small kiss on the cheek.

Galahad held his paper out between them.

Percy looked at it.

Something new had been written on it in capital letters.

GALAHAD.

Readers finding this copy should know it came from the author's official page without approval; the posted chapter supports its creator.

Percy lifted his head.

“I know, bro.”

“I'm reminding you.”

Clara stifled a laugh.

Galahad didn't lower the paper.

“What did I just ask?”

Percy paused.

“The first day.”

“Good.”

“Helen.”

“Go on.”

Percy looked at Clara.

Clara gently shook her head.

Galahad saw it.

“Don't copy each other. Neither of you was listening.”

Holar laughed.

Percy straightened a little.

“Sorry, bro. Could you say it again?”

Galahad repeated his question.

This time, Percy listened.

He answered.

Clara listened, too.

When Galahad was finished, he leaned back comfortably.

“So it can be done.”

Percy grinned slightly.

Clara's hand squeezed his.

Galahad immediately raised a finger.

“No. I still have tea to drink.”

They both started laughing.

When the doorbell rang, Holar got up.

Arthur, William, Charlotte, and Marcus were outside.

Arthur had a package in his hand.

William had a book under his arm.

Charlotte pulled them both aside.

“Good morning, Grandpa.”

Holar opened the door.

“Come in.”

Arthur stepped inside.

“Where's Galahad?”

“At the table.”

Arthur turned back as he walked.

“Congratulations to you again, too.”

Holar smiled.

“Thank you.”

Arthur saw Galahad as soon as he entered the living room.

His face lit up.

“Eighth!”

Galahad closed his eyes.

“You too?”

Arthur set the package on the table.

Then bent down and hugged him.

The objection vanished from Galahad's face.

He patted Arthur's shoulder.

“Thanks.”

Charlotte came over and congratulated him, too.

William shook his hand.

Marcus listened to Galahad's new aura for a brief moment.

Then smiled.

“Suits you.”

Galahad looked at him.

“What does?”

Marcus nodded at the paper on the table.

GALAHAD.

William raised an eyebrow.

“Did they forget your name?”

Galahad pointed at Percy and Clara.

“A little.”

Four people turned at once.

Percy and Clara were sitting side by side.

Clara was telling him something.

Percy was smiling as he answered her.

A warm expression immediately appeared on Charlotte's face.

“How sweet.”

Galahad pulled out a chair for her.

“Sit.”

Charlotte sat.

Galahad lifted his tea.

“I'll ask you again in a bit.”

Arthur opened the package.

Breakfast food came out.

Eleanor brought plates from the kitchen.

Marcus shifted the table a little to the side.

William put his book in the empty corner.

Suddenly, everyone had a small job to do.

Percy stood to carry a plate, too.

Clara didn't let go of his hand.

Percy looked at her.

Clara looked back.

Then they both stood up.

Arthur watched them.

“Does carrying a plate take two people?”

Percy lifted the plate.

“No.”

“Why did Clara get up?”

Clara answered perfectly calmly.

“I wanted to.”

Arthur was silent for a few seconds.

Galahad took a sip of tea.

“That's how the first ten minutes go.”

Percy put the plate at the other end of the table.

Before returning to her seat, Clara reached up and straightened Percy's collar.

Percy lowered his head.

Clara gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

Arthur forgot the fork suspended in his hand.

Charlotte smiled.

William looked up from his book.

Marcus set a plate in the empty space on the table.

Galahad looked at Charlotte.

“First.”

Charlotte raised an eyebrow.

“First what?”

“Since you arrived.”

Holar passed behind them.

“Don't start counting from this morning. Breakfast will get cold.”

Percy laughed as he sat down.

Arthur was still looking at him.

“I'm going to say something.”

Percy lifted his head.

“Say it.”

“I came to congratulate Galahad.”

“You did.”

“Now I'm going to talk to him.”

“Go ahead.”

Arthur turned to Galahad.

“Bro, when that last wave came—”

Clara whispered something in Percy's ear.

Percy smiled.

Arthur abandoned his sentence.

“What did you say?”

Clara looked surprised.

“I wasn't talking to you.”

“I know! That's the problem!”

Charlotte laughed.

Marcus leaned back in his chair.

“Don't look.”

Arthur turned to him.

“They're right in front of me.”

Marcus shifted a little to the side.

“Now I am.”

Arthur looked at him for a few seconds.

“Thank you.”

Marcus nodded.

Percy looked at Clara past Marcus's shoulder.

Clara laughed.

Arthur closed his eyes.

“Didn't work.”

The book William had brought lay open in the middle of the table.

The conversation had moved from Galahad's new level to Holar's.

Then to the names.

Then William asked the question that had been on his mind for a while.

“The way these are named is genuinely strange. When we say galaxy, we're not just

talking about a large star.”

Holar stopped in the kitchen doorway.

“Were you talking about me?”

William looked up.

“No.”

“You said Galaxy.”

“The one in the book.”

Holar approached.

“Am I in the book, too?”

Galahad struggled to swallow his tea.

Arthur burst out laughing.

Eleanor leaned against the counter and shook her head.

William pointed to the picture in the book.

“I'm talking about this.”

Holar looked at the picture.

Then at William.

“Not much of a resemblance.”

“Because it isn't you.”

“That's what I'm saying.”

Charlotte covered her face with her palm.

William looked at his book for a while.

Laughing, Galahad pointed at the chair.

“Sit down, Grandpa.”

Holar sat.

Then he looked at Percy.

Percy was smiling at something Clara had said.

Holar's smile stopped.

“Percy.”

Percy lifted his head.

“Hm?”

“Didn't you hear?”

“What?”

Holar looked at Eleanor.

“I said something good.”

Eleanor started laughing.

Percy turned to Clara.

“Did you hear?”

Clara shook her head.

Holar straightened in his chair.

“I'm not saying it again.”

William spoke immediately.

“Excellent. Then I can continue.”

Galahad bent his head toward the table.

This time, he couldn't hide his laughter.

William really did continue.

He pointed at the diagram in the book.

Galahad listened.

So did Arthur.

Charlotte asked questions now and then.

Marcus had bent his head toward the picture.

Percy's eyes were on Clara.

Clara's were on Percy.

William stopped mid-sentence.

He waited.

Neither noticed.

William closed the book.

They still didn't notice.

Galahad slid his name paper in front of Percy.

Percy looked at the paper.

Then lifted his head.

“What happened?”

William asked in a calm voice.

“What do you think about what I just explained?”

Percy paused.

Clara straightened, too.

Arthur leaned back in his chair.

“Here it comes.”

Percy looked at the book's cover.

“Galaxy.”

Holar lifted his head.

William extended a hand toward him.

“Not you.”

Holar lowered his head again.

Clara couldn't hold back her laughter.

Percy laughed, too.

William took off his glasses.

He cleaned the lenses.

Then put them back on.

Arthur looked at him.

“Why did you do that?”

William pointed at his two friends.

“I thought my eyes might be playing tricks on me.”

Marcus nodded.

“They're not.”

Charlotte giggled.

Clara placed Percy's hand on the table.

“Okay. We're listening.”

William opened the book again.

“Now, the stars—”

Percy leaned toward Clara.

“You're so beautiful.”

Clara blushed.

“So are you.”

William closed the book.

This time, the sound was a little louder.

They turned to him.

William pushed the book in front of Galahad.

“Here. Read it. I can't compete.”

A little later, Eleanor asked Clara for the small plate in the kitchen.

Clara stood.

Percy let go of her hand.

Seeing it, Arthur touched William's arm.

William lifted his head.

Clara went to the kitchen.

Percy watched her go.

Noticing this, Galahad spoke immediately.

“Percy. While you're alone.”

Percy turned to him.

“Bro, she's in another room.”

“I know. We don't have much time.”

Charlotte laughed.

Galahad straightened the paper in front of him.

“How are you feeling today?”

Percy thought for a moment before answering.

“Good.”

Galahad's face softened.

“Really?”

Percy nodded.

“Really.”

This time, no one interrupted.

Galahad looked at his little brother's face.

Then nodded.

“Good.”

Clara brought the plate and set it on the table.

Percy made room for her.

As Clara sat down, Percy kissed her cheek.

“I missed you.”

Arthur's fork fell onto his plate.

“SHE WENT TO THE KITCHEN!”

Clara's shoulders shook.

Percy looked at Arthur.

“I saw.”

“SO DID I! SHE WAS RIGHT THERE!”

Charlotte was laughing openly now.

Percy took Clara's hand again.

“Now she's here.”

Arthur turned to Galahad.

“Bro, use your gravity for me just once.”

Galahad raised an eyebrow.

“Why?”

“Put some distance between them.”

Clara rested her head on Percy's shoulder.

“No need.”

Percy nodded.

“We're perfectly fine.”

Holar lowered his tea.

“We're not.”

After watching them for a while, Charlotte smiled faintly.

Arthur saw it.

“Does it really not bother you?”

“It didn't.”

“Does it now?”

“A little, when William gave up on the book.”

William lifted his head.

“Thank you.”

Charlotte continued.

“But they're doing well.”

Arthur looked at his two friends.

Percy was sliding Clara's plate toward her.

Clara thanked him without even looking.

Arthur reached for the bread plate in front of him.

He put it in front of Charlotte.

Charlotte turned to him.

“Thank you.”

Arthur nodded.

Then he looked at the glasses.

“Tea?”

“I've got some.”

“Water?”

“Got that, too.”

Arthur's hand remained in the air.

Charlotte looked at him a little more closely.

“Arthur.”

“Hm?”

“You can talk to me even when I'm not asking you for something.”

Arthur's face turned red.

“I am talking.”

“You're listing drinks.”

Marcus turned his head.

“All out.”

Arthur looked at him.

“Out of what?”

Marcus pointed at the table.

“Drinks.”

William laughed.

Charlotte put a hand on Arthur's arm.

“You sitting here is enough.”

Arthur's objection disappeared.

“Okay.”

Percy had seen them.

He opened his mouth.

Charlotte turned to him.

“No.”

Percy stopped.

“I haven't said anything yet.”

“I know.”

A smile slowly formed on Arthur's face.

Clara squeezed Percy's hand.

“You lost.”

Percy turned to her.

“A little consolation?”

Clara leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

Arthur's smile vanished.

“THERE'S NO END TO THIS.”

Galahad nodded.

“Now you get it.”

When breakfast ended, not everyone left the table at once.

William had left his book with Galahad.

Charlotte was carrying plates to Eleanor.

Marcus moved the empty chairs aside.

Arthur sat across from Galahad.

This time, there was no one between them.

At last, he could ask his question.

“Bro, what did you feel when the last wave came?”

Galahad looked at his hands for a while.

Then at Percy.

Percy was standing by the door with Clara.

A small bread crumb remained in Clara's palm.

Percy took it.

Clara lifted her head, laughing.

A moment later, they kissed again.

Galahad turned to Arthur.

“I felt less helpless than I do right now.”

Arthur nodded slowly.

“I understand.”

Holar approached them to pass through the hallway.

Neither noticed him.

Holar stopped.

He cleared his throat.

Percy lifted his head.

Clara turned, too.

“May I get through?”

Percy immediately stepped aside.

So did Clara.

Holar walked between them.

Just before entering the kitchen, he looked back.

Percy and Clara were side by side again.

Holar spread his hands.

“There's no peace left in this house.”

Eleanor looked out from the kitchen.

“What happened?”

“I can't get through the door.”

Eleanor looked at the door.

“You got through.”

“I still feel like I'm trying.”

Eleanor turned her head to keep from laughing.

Clara was holding Percy's arm.

They both laughed again when they looked at Holar.

Holar entered the kitchen.

“I'm going to build another door.”

Percy spoke immediately.

“Where?”

Holar answered without turning around.

“Somewhere you aren't.”

Once the living room was a little tidier, William set his Shiri at the edge of the table.

Galahad looked at him.

“What are you doing?”

“A photo.”

Arthur lifted his head.

“Now?”

William pointed at Galahad.

“The whole world saw his image yesterday. We don't have a decent photo of our own.”

Galahad's expression changed slightly.

“There's a recording of the announcement.”

“That's not what I mean.”

William turned the device.

“Of us.”

Charlotte smiled.

“Let's take one.”

Eleanor joined them, too.

For a moment, Holar seemed about to object.

Then he saw Galahad's face and moved behind the sofa.

Arthur sat beside Galahad.

Charlotte on the other side.

Marcus stood behind them.

Percy and Clara came over, too.

William checked the image.

“Move a little closer.”

Percy moved closer to Clara.

William lifted his head.

“Not you two.”

Galahad started laughing.

Percy gave him an innocent look.

“You said it to everyone.”

“I said it to Holar.”

Holar took a step forward.

“You can call me by name.”

William adjusted the device's screen.

“Okay.”

Marcus looked at Holar for a moment.

“Galaxy.”

Holar turned his head.

William paused the image and looked at him.

Holar's expression changed.

Marcus's lips curved.

Arthur burst out laughing.

“HE TURNED!”

Holar looked at Marcus.

“You did that on purpose.”

Marcus nodded.

“Yes.”

This time, Eleanor didn't hide her laughter.

Holar looked at her for a few seconds.

Then he laughed, too.

William waited.

“Finished?”

Arthur wiped his eyes.

“Finished.”

William started the timer.

He joined them.

“Three.”

Everyone looked at the screen.

“Two.”

Clara took Percy's hand.

Percy turned his head toward her.

“One.”

Clara smiled.

Percy leaned down and kissed her briefly.

CLICK.

Silence.

William got up.

He looked at the screen.

Galahad came over, too.

In the photo, Eleanor was smiling.

Holar was looking straight at the camera.

Marcus was calm.

William wore an expression of belated realization.

Charlotte was about to laugh.

Arthur was staring directly at Percy and Clara.

Galahad looked at his own face.

He'd turned toward his brother, not the camera.

“The Eighth Pillar's family photo.”

William nodded.

“Yes.”

Galahad pointed at two people.

“I came out looking like the guest.”

Arthur took the Shiri.

“Why am I looking at them again?”

Marcus answered.

“I told you not to.”

For the second photo, Galahad rearranged the seating.

He left Percy and Clara beside each other.

But sat between them himself.

Percy looked at him.

Galahad amended his position.

“You still count as side by side. I'm not that big.”

Clara laughed.

Percy leaned against Galahad's arm.

“Bro.”

“What?”

“There's something in your hair.”

Galahad turned his head immediately.

“Not falling for it.”

Percy burst out laughing.

So did Clara.

William started the timer.

This time, no one changed places.

Just as the picture was taken, Galahad spread both arms and pulled them close.

Percy's laugh cut off halfway.

Clara ducked her head to avoid bumping Galahad's shoulder.

Arthur saw it and laughed.

Charlotte's hand was on Arthur's arm.

Eleanor was looking at Holar.

Holar was looking at her.

CLICK.

William checked the photo.

For a while, he said nothing.

Then he held it out to Galahad.

Galahad looked.

This time, he recognized himself on the screen immediately.

His title wasn't written there.

Percy was laughing beneath his arm.

Clara was on his other side.

Their family was behind them.

Galahad's thumb rested at the edge of the screen.

“Send me this one.”

William smiled.

“Already sent.”

After the photo, no one immediately returned to their old place.

Galahad sat on the edge of the sofa.

He opened the image on the screen again.

When Percy saw, he came over.

So did Clara.

This time, neither was talking.

Galahad lifted his head.

“I have a question.”

Percy turned to him immediately.

“Ask, bro.”

Galahad closed the photo.

The morning's message appeared beneath it.

Dear Eighth Pillar.

“When they write it like that, I start thinking about how I'm supposed to answer.”

Percy looked at the screen.

Clara moved a little closer, too.

Galahad smiled.

“They're congratulating me. I know. But it's like every answer I give now

has to be right.”

Holar sat in the armchair behind them.

“It doesn't.”

Galahad turned to him.

“I know.”

“No. You're not used to it yet.”

Holar set his glass on the table.

“Yesterday, we gave you a responsibility. We didn't ask you to learn everything you don't know

overnight.”

Galahad looked at his hands.

“Sometimes it still feels like I'm answering Percy's call. I came. We tried

to do something. Then...”

He trailed off.

Percy sat beside him.

“Then you endured it.”

Galahad lifted his head.

“We helped. But you took the last wave, bro.”

Clara nodded, too.

“They saw your power. They already knew you.”

Galahad looked at the two of them.

Clara's hand was in Percy's.

But his eyes were on his brother.

Clara, too, was listening with her full attention.

Galahad smiled a little.

“So you can listen.”

Percy's face softened.

“You talk, bro.”

Galahad was quiet for a while.

Then he looked at the screen.

“If I make a mistake...”

“You will,” Holar said.

Galahad lifted his head.

Holar shrugged.

“I did.”

Eleanor joined them.

“So did we.”

Galahad's gaze traveled around the room.

Arthur wasn't joking this time.

William was keeping his book closed.

Charlotte smiled faintly.

Marcus was listening, too.

Percy touched Galahad's shoulder.

“I'm not going to stop asking you things.”

Galahad's lips curved.

“I have no doubt about that.”

“But you should ask, too.”

Percy paused.

“Being our big brother didn't mean you had to know everything. You still don't.”

Galahad's eyes filled with tears.

Clara leaned against his arm.

“You're here. We're still together.”

Galahad lowered his head.

Then hugged them both.

Percy returned it immediately.

So did Clara.

This time, no one tried to separate them.

After a while, Galahad pulled back.

Percy straightened his hair.

Clara swept her own hair behind her shoulder, too.

Galahad laughed as he looked at them.

“I have something to tell you, too.”

Percy waited.

So did Clara.

Galahad pointed at both of them.

“It's good to see you like this.”

Clara's face colored slightly.

Percy smiled.

Galahad raised a finger.

“But notice us a little when we're talking, too.”

“Okay,” Clara said.

Percy nodded.

“Promise.”

Galahad looked at him suspiciously.

“I don't want an oath involving hair.”

Percy laughed.

“A normal promise.”

Holar stood.

“And the hallway.”

Eleanor started laughing.

Holar continued.

“That's for walking.”

Clara nodded.

“Okay, Grandpa.”

“The door, too.”

“Okay.”

“And the kitchen entrance.”

Percy raised an eyebrow.

“You're going to list the whole house.”

Holar looked at him.

“You're using the whole house.”

Arthur burst out laughing.

Charlotte could no longer speak for laughing.

William adjusted his glasses again.

“You should have said that at the start.”

Marcus looked at the door.

“It's clear right now.”

Holar immediately started walking.

“I'm going through.”

When Eleanor returned from the kitchen, Galahad was waiting beside the door.

“Can I help with anything?”

Eleanor held out the small plate.

“Take this.”

Galahad took the plate.

Then looked.

Cheese.

Eleanor smiled when she saw his face.

“This time, I gave it to you.”

Galahad held the plate in both hands.

“Thank you.”

When he entered the living room, Percy and Clara were side by side again.

But this time, they were listening to Arthur.

Arthur was describing how hard his father had tried to look serious

at Galahad's ceremony.

Charlotte corrected him now and then.

William was showing the photos.

Marcus had zoomed in on Arthur's face in the first picture.

Arthur saw it.

“Close that.”

Marcus didn't.

“You wanted to see, too.”

“I didn't know I looked like that before.”

Percy laughed.

So did Clara.

Galahad put the plate on the table.

Right in front of himself this time.

He sat.

He listened to the conversation for a while.

Then Clara turned her head toward him.

“Bro, could you pass the cheese?”

Galahad's hand immediately went to the plate.

Percy reached out, too.

Galahad stopped Percy's hand with a finger.

They looked at each other.

“I'm passing it this time.”

Percy grinned.

“You can.”

“I wasn't asking permission.”

Clara started laughing.

Galahad held the plate out to her.

Clara took it.

“Thank you, bro.”

Galahad leaned back.

“You're welcome.”

Holar lifted his head from his armchair.

“Completed?”

Galahad nodded.

“Successfully.”

William raised a finger.

“Percy tried to interfere.”

“He was stopped,” Galahad said.

Arthur clapped his hands together.

“EIGHTH!”

Galahad looked at him, laughing.

Clara took a piece of cheese.

Percy offered her the bread in front of him.

Clara smiled.

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

Then she leaned over and kissed him on the lips.

Galahad's smile slowly stopped.

First he looked at his own hand.

Then at the cheese plate.

Then at Percy.

“I passed the cheese.”

Percy tried not to laugh.

“And I passed the bread.”

Arthur let his head fall against the back of the sofa.

Charlotte dissolved into laughter.

William spread his hands.

“So the cheese wasn't the problem.”

Marcus looked at Percy and Clara.

“Never was.”

Holar stood up.

“I'm going out to the garden.”

Eleanor called after him.

“Your tea?”

“I'll drink it there.”

Percy lifted his head.

“The garden sounds nice, Clara. We could—”

Holar turned instantly.

“NO.”

The room erupted in laughter.

Percy raised his hands.

“I didn't say anything!”

“You were going to.”

Clara hid her face against Percy's shoulder.

Galahad leaned back.

The photo was still open on his Shiri.

The Eighth Pillar the world had seen was laughing in that photo, with two children tucked

under his arms.

Galahad looked at the screen once more.

Then lifted his head.

“Clara.”

Still laughing, Clara turned to him.

“Yes, bro?”

Galahad held out his hand.

“Could you pass me the cheese?”

Percy immediately reached for the plate.

Galahad closed his eyes.

“You and I are going to have a personal problem.”

Percy burst out laughing.

CHAPTER 114.1 — NO PEACE LEFT IN THIS HOUSE

END