Chapter 92: The Family Dinner

The Rythundeir flagship had hosted high-level military councils, intricate diplomatic negotiations, and urgent war briefings across multiple star systems. None of those high-stakes encounters, however, had prepared Raevor for a formal dinner with Rhaevia’s family.

The dining hall was magnificent, stretching wide beneath a floating crystal chandelier that cast brilliant light across polished stone floors.

A long table of dark hardwood occupied the center of the room, surrounded by enough high-backed seats to accommodate the entire ducal household alongside several honored guests.

Servants moved silently between the chairs, placing steaming silver platters onto the tablecloth while lively chatter filled the ambient space.

Rhaevia sat directly beside Raevor at the center of the table. That proximity alone had already drawn an unnerving amount of focused attention from the rest of the family.

Her three brothers had noticed the seating arrangement the moment they crossed the threshold. The eldest brother leaned back in his leather chair, crossing his arms over his chest as a sly grin touched his lips.

"So," he said slowly, his sharp gaze shifting between the two of them. "You two went somewhere together."

Rhaevia continued eating her meal without breaking stride. "Yes."

"Somewhere private?"

"Yes."

"With no military escort?"

"Yes."

Her second brother narrowed his eyes, setting his silver fork down onto the table with a soft clink. "And you came back smiling."

Rhaevia’s spoon stopped halfway to her mouth. Across the decorated table, Raevor calmly continued eating his meal without missing a beat.

The youngest brother immediately leaned forward, resting his elbows against the table with a bright grin. "You’re blushing."

"I am not," Rhaevia replied instantly, her posture stiffening.

"You are."

"I am absolutely not."

Her youngest brother’s grin widened into a full smirk. "You definitely are."

Rhaevia promptly kicked him beneath the table. He yelped loudly, pulling back and rubbing his shin under his breath.

Their mother set her glass down and sighed softly. "Stop bothering your sister, boys."

"But Mother--" the youngest protested, gesturing toward Rhaevia.

"She is allowed to spend time with someone she likes," the Duchess stated calmly.

The entire table fell silent in an instant. Servants froze mid-step, and Rhaevia nearly choked on her soup.

"Mother!" Rhaevia gasped out, her cheeks burning.

The Duchess calmly lifted her delicate porcelain teacup, taking a slow sip. "What?"

Her second brother slowly turned his head toward Raevor, his expression turning intensely curious. "You heard that, General."

Raevor inclined his head slightly. "I did."

"And?" the second brother pressed, raising an eyebrow.

Raevor glanced sideways at Rhaevia, taking in her flushed face before looking back at her brothers. "She looked beautiful today."

Silence descended upon the room once more. Rhaevia’s entire face turned bright hot, and her brothers stared at the major general in absolute shock.

Their father, the Duke, paused mid-gesture, his wine glass hovering halfway to his lips. Then the youngest brother burst into ringing laughter that echoed off the vaulted ceiling.

"Oh, he’s brave!" the youngest wheezed out, pounding the table lightly.

The second brother shook his head, a mixture of disbelief and respect on his face. "Very brave."

The eldest brother narrowed his eyes in a playful threat. "Careful, General."

Raevor calmly took another bite of his dinner. "I usually am."

Rhaevia covered her face with one hand, letting out a quiet, hopeless sigh. Why did I bring him here?

Her mother looked delighted by the entire interaction. "So, Raevor," she said warmly, "what did you two end up doing?"

"We visited a civilian recreation station," Raevor answered straightforwardly.

Her youngest brother’s eyes widened instantly. "You took our sister on a date?"

Raevor turned his dark eyes toward the young man. "Yes."

Rhaevia nearly dropped her heavy metal fork onto the plate. The entire room erupted into a barrage of noise at his unhesitating answer.

Her brothers immediately began firing questions across the table in rapid succession.

"What did you eat?"

"Was there anyone else with you?"

"Did she cause trouble?"

"Did she insult the local food?"

Raevor answered every single question with surprising, unflappable patience.

"Yes."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

Rhaevia turned her head and glared at him fiercely. "You could have defended me."

"You did insult the food," Raevor reminded her mildly.

"It was terrible!" Rhaevia argued back defensively.

Her youngest brother laughed so hard he nearly slid off his chair, and even their father let out a deep rumble of a chuckle. Rhaevia looked around the lively dining table, a strange realization dawning over her.

Raevor wasn’t sitting there as the youngest major general in imperial history, nor as the 3S sentinel who commanded entire star fleets. He wasn’t acting like the formidable figure everyone in the galaxy feared.

He was simply sitting beside her, answering her brothers’ ridiculous questions and offering her dry looks whenever she became defensive. Somehow, despite the vast difference in their social and military burdens, he fit into her family effortlessly.

He listened attentively whenever her mother spoke, maintaining respect. He answered her father’s inquiries regarding ship logistics and territorial security with steady composure.

He endured her brothers’ relentless teasing without losing his patience for a single moment. When one of her brothers eventually challenged him to a heavy drinking contest, Raevor simply declined without pride.

"I need to remain capable of defending your sister," Raevor stated plainly.

The brother stared at him in surprise for two seconds before grinning broadly. "I like him."

Rhaevia blinked in disbelief. "You literally threatened him yesterday."

"I’ve changed my mind," her brother declared, waving a hand dismissively.

Her mother laughed softly at her sons’ antics. Rhaevia turned her head back toward Raevor, only to find that he was already watching her.

Their eyes met in the warm light of the chandelier, and a quiet, comforting warmth passed between them. A soft smile touched her lips as she looked back at her family.

For the first time since her awakening, she understood why ordinary families treasured moments like these. It wasn’t about the extravagant food or the grand hall. It was about the profound sense of belonging.

Later, as the evening wound down, the family members gradually began leaving the grand dining hall. Rhaevia lingered behind briefly to help her mother arrange several items.

Raevor stepped out into the marble corridor outside the doors. A moment later, Rhaevia’s father followed him out, the wooden doors closing behind them.

The Duke stood in silence for a moment, studying the young officer standing before him. Raevor stopped his stride and turned to face the older man respectfully.

"Duke Rythundeir," Raevor acknowledged.

Her father looked at him calmly, his expression deep and unreadable. "You care about my daughter."

It was a firm statement rather than a question. Raevor’s posture shifted slightly, his face turning solemn and earnest.

"Yes," Raevor replied directly.

"Not because of her sovereign power?" the Duke asked.

"No."

"Not because of the resonance between your cores?"

"No."

The Duke studied him in silence for several long seconds, assessing every detail of the young general’s demeanor. "And if she lost all of it?"

Raevor answered immediately, his voice steady without a single hint of hesitation. "I would still choose her."

The stern expression on the Duke’s face gradually softened. For the first time all evening, a faint, genuine smile appeared on the older man’s weathered features.

"Good," the Duke said.

He reached out and placed one heavy hand firmly on Raevor’s shoulder. "Then you have my approval."

Raevor’s dark eyes widened slightly in surprise. Just behind the dining hall doors, Rhaevia had stepped out into the corridor, her boots making no sound on the runner.

She froze in her tracks, having overheard the entire exchange. Her father’s final words echoed through the hallway.

"Take care of my daughter, General," the Duke added warmly before walking down the hall.

Raevor turned his head, sensing her presence, and met Rhaevia’s gaze. Rhaevia smiled at him, the quiet warmth in her chest spreading wide.

For once, her future didn’t feel like an unavoidable fate written by ancient prophecy or cosmic design. It felt like something real and enduring that she was building step-by-step with the people she loved.