That morning, sunlight slipped warmly through the gaps in Al's room curtains. He was still staying in that room despite the wager.
Mostly because he didn't want too much interaction with Sarah and David, who could easily use any opportunity to slander him if he stayed in the main house.
Sunday. The only day he could sleep in, pull the blanket up until noon, and indulge in that rare moment known as 'sleeping for no reason.'
But this morning was different.
Knock knock knock…
A soft knock at the door made him grimace.
Before he could pretend not to hear it, a servant's voice followed.
"Young Master Al, you are requested to come to the dining room. Today… you're allowed to have breakfast with the family."
Those words sounded strange to his ears.
Allowed? Like a child just promoted to the next level, he murmured inwardly.
But he didn't reply, only muttering quietly to himself before slowly rising. His face remained as expressionless as always, but his mind busily asked:
What's happening today?
It was also a sign that, after a month, Al was still eating separately from them.
Has my father's trauma finally healed after all this time? Why is there someone so sensitive… hm. Or is there something else? I don't like this feeling, he complained inwardly.
And so he followed.
As he stepped into the main dining hall—a spacious room with a long table draped in white cloth and a crystal chandelier hanging above—everyone was already present.
People turned briefly toward him, but only offered light greetings and allowed him to do as he pleased.
He saw his father and mother seated at the ends of the table. David sat on the right side, smiling faintly as usual. Aurielle and Sarah were talking quietly to each other.
Sarah then shot him a sharp glance. The two locked eyes, as if silently declaring war. Yet there was no confrontation—perhaps the war had just not begun.
On the other side, two of his other sisters—ones he had only seen in photos—were also present.
Vianna, the third sister, usually away training or competing in martial arts tournaments, now sat calmly.
And Lysha, the sixth sister, wore casual yet neat attire.
Al could sense a strong surge of magical energy radiating from Vianna. His eyes glimmered faintly red, as if analyzing his sister. A denser, more vibrant golden aura could clearly be seen emanating from her.
Mid stage Practitioner Level Martial artist class, slightly stronger than Rina. Truly a gifted individual, he thought to himself.
But the most eye-catching figure was a young woman seated beside David. She smiled sweetly and occasionally gazed at him with admiration, like a sunflower turning toward the sun.
Al narrowed his eyes.
"Oh… who's that?" he asked, causing people to turn toward him again.
"Another switched child? Who were they switched with? I hope it's with that one," he said sarcastically, jokingly referring to Sarah. He had unwittingly stirred the flames of potential conflict.
Sarah looked slightly irritated but knew her name hadn't even been mentioned, even though she and the others understood Al was mocking her.
"Al. Don't be rude," Aurielle said.
Al merely nodded.
His mother, Sandra, also spoke up:
"Al, come here. Stand up first. We want to introduce this person to you."
"To me? Why me?" Al asked, confused.
"Al…" Sandra murmured.
He only sighed and nodded, as if he understood.
"All right, Mother."
He obeyed, standing by his chair, which after a month was still positioned at the end of the table, though it now seemed slightly integrated into the other chairs. He was no longer completely marginalized as before.
All eyes turned to him, though each with different expressions—some blank, some observant, others clearly waiting for something. A reaction, perhaps? Surprise? Interest?
Sandra began by introducing Lysha and Vianna as Al's sisters. There wasn't much interaction beyond greetings—probably because of the awkwardness.
Vianna appeared more arrogant, perhaps due to her masculine streak as a fighter.
Even though she thrived in a harsh world, her beauty was undeniable. Category A. Especially with the magical energy coursing through her body, her regeneration was far superior to others.
With her aura, Vianna tried to dominate and pressure Al. Unfortunately, Al merely yawned in front of her as if it had no effect at all. This left Vianna slightly confused, but she concluded that Al was probably just an idiot.
In contrast, Lysha seemed innocent when stationary. Yet when she moved and spoke, her girlish aura became apparent. Another Category A beauty. She was the youngest in the family, still full of fiery energy, but tactically minded, having chosen social studies and law as her major.
Sandra continued, introducing the figure least familiar to Al.
"And… this is Nayala, Al," his mother added. "The daughter of the Valendra family from Vali Island. You surely know her—she's a capital city celebrity, just like your sister."
Nayala Valendera—daughter of the famed Valendra family, known as the tourism heart of Vali Island, and especially known for its women with famously graceful figures. She was a year older than Al. A solid B in beauty.
Al glanced at her.
Long brown hair, smooth sun-kissed skin, curves like a painting. Her face… indeed beautiful. But too perfect to be interesting. Too… polished. And that made him uneasy.
"This is the one we talked about back then. The girl who was arranged to be your fiancée," Edward said as he took a slow sip of his coffee. "But considering the current situation... we think you should know that Nayala has, well... fallen deeply in love with David."
Nayala offered a polite smile, but her gaze made it abundantly clear—she had no interest in Al. In fact, it bordered on disrespectful.
"Nice to meet you, Al. I already know everything. But don't worry... I'll still choose David, no matter what. I... love him."
Al was amused, but he didn't bother to respond. Not even a smile surfaced at the childish declaration.
Or rather, he was holding back a laugh that would've exploded if nudged just a bit more. He kept his expression in check—lips twitching slightly—but managed to maintain a flat gaze and gave a slow, polite nod.
No surprise in his eyes.
No jealousy.
No attempt to defend himself.
Just calm silence—like none of it mattered in the slightest.
And that confused everyone at the table.
They probably thought Al would be struck by her beauty.
With her sensual, ideal figure typical of Vali women—part of why Vali Island was a top tourist destination in Indorosia—
Nayala was indeed a B-tier beauty. But that was just to normal eyes.
Al didn't measure beauty by looks or curves.
To him, Nayala was just another pawn on the family's chessboard.
He spoke briefly.
"Ah yes, nice to meet you too, Nala—uh, I mean... Nanala... mmm... Narala?"
Silence followed. Only the clinking of cutlery against plates was heard.
Then Vianna chuckled.
"Haha… her name is Nayala. Remember: Na-ya-la."
"What a weirdo. Seems like you're not into Nayala," Lysha added while chewing toast. "But maybe that's not such a bad thing."
David kept smiling. But in his eyes, a flicker of something unreadable appeared.
Nayala, on the other hand, looked slightly irritated that her entrance hadn't earned the reaction she expected. She flirted with David a bit, trying to show everyone that her heart was already spoken for.
But Al didn't really care. He sat down as requested, poured himself a glass of water, and observed them.
He was more focused on the delicious food in front of him and his mission, rather than being preoccupied with the women. In his mind;
So, eating here wasn't always about elegance—people could eat more casually. Meaning this family wasn't entirely strict about discipline. Good, good. Noted. he murmured inwardly.
It was a conclusion he drew after watching Lysha eat cheerfully, Vianna a bit rough and blunt, Aurielle more strict like their father, Sarah more elegant like their mother, and David more relaxed, yet always maintaining his posture while eating.
The conversation then continued among them—except Al, of course.
The dining table atmosphere felt warm, but the discussion wasn't exactly friendly toward Al.
Warm because small laughs and casual chatter floated in the air. Unfriendly because every direction of conversation seemed like arrows aimed at him—talking about him right in front of him without truly involving him.
"Oii. You're talking about me but not including me. I'm here, you know," Al protested, annoyed that his name kept coming up while they occasionally glanced at him but didn't involve him.
Sarah responded,
"What?! This is a girls' conversation. You don't need to join." She then glanced at David and Edward. "See? Even David and Dad have been quiet this whole time."
"Hm… fine. At least don't say nonsense in front of me," he said sharply.
"So, it's okay behind your back?" Sarah retorted.
"Of course. That's your business. In the end, I wouldn't know what's happening behind my back anyway. Cause I could just as easily say nonsense about you behind yours. So it's fair," Al replied.
"Hmph…" Sarah was slightly annoyed but too lazy to respond further.
She turned back to the others. "Forget him. Not important," she said.
But that moment slightly spoiled their fun.
Seeing the awkwardness, Sandra chose to address Nayala's presence more deeply and began explaining it to Al.
"Oh, right," said his mother, Sandra, with a thin smile.
"Al, Nayala will be staying with us for the next week."
Al raised an eyebrow—not out of surprise, but out of… why even tell me this?
"Next week, her parents will visit. We'll discuss the official annulment of your engagement—something we've already agreed on. Don't tell me you're reconsidering after seeing her?" Edward said calmly, like he was discussing a business schedule.
Sarah leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. Her gaze was sharp.
"I'll roast you if you go back on your word. So Al, don't bother Nayala. Don't even think of anything funny. Got it?!"
Al, who was sipping his water, nearly choked hearing that.
"Huh? Me? You think I'm interested?" Al replied, slightly annoyed at the idea.
His words left them a bit shocked.
Especially Nayala, who could only gape—not just because this was the first time someone had been rude to her, but because the person speaking was a former orphan, whose status in the family was still unclear.
David noticed this and gently tapped Nayala's thigh.
"Don't think too much about it," he said, calming her down. It was a display of affection, yet it felt like David was the more mature one, while Nayala remained slightly innocent.
That was enough to ease Nayala.
However, David himself felt a bit irritated inwardly.
This orphan brat acts so cocky.
Al observed the closeness and interaction between Nayala and David, noting that no one else seemed bothered.
Showing that much affection is still acceptable in this family. Noted, he murmured to himself, thinking about his learning mission.
Meanwhile, Sarah finally responded.
"Don't be hypocritical, Al. You even harrass the maids, let alone a girl on Nayala's level," she said casually, turning her face with a sly smile.
"Sarah!" Sandra and Edward shouted almost simultaneously, though with slightly lighter tones.
"Yeah, yeah. I understand, Dad, Mom," Sarah replied nonchalantly.
Al stared at her sharply, then smiled slightly.
"Oh… you're bringing up the fabricated incident by that liar again," he said, referring to David.
David stiffened slightly at the nickname being mentioned again.
Nayala looked at him, puzzled, her voice soft,
"Who's the liar?"
David hesitated a little before replying,
"Ah, I don't know. Don't worry about it, okay."
Silence settled over the room again.
Despite Al's declaration of disinterest, Nayala's mood seemed good. She smiled warmly, as if she had been looking forward to this moment.
Her face glowed—not from makeup, but from how close she was to David, the man she gazed at like a never-ending high school love story.
Aurielle initiated a conversation among the girls again.
"You seem cheerful today, Nay. By the way, why didn't you come with the family entourage? Didn't they mind you coming early?"
"No, not at all," Nayala answered calmly. "Besides, I just felt I should come earlier. Because… I…" She turned her gaze toward David. "…miss David too much," she said innocently.
"Especially after everything that's happened. I just wanted to make sure he's okay."
Al's eyes widened slightly—another childish declaration had just dropped. That familiar tickle of amusement returned.
The breakfast he was chewing was left hanging, halfway forgotten, as his mouth focused more on suppressing laughter than swallowing. Thankfully, no one added fuel to the fire. He was this close to causing another scene.
Ahahaha. What's with this girl? With a body like that, but she's such a hopeless romantic. My laughter might break if I hold it in too long here. Al murmured to himself, choosing to laugh quietly in his mind.
Vianna leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. She smirked.
"Classic you, Nayala. But yeah… that's always been your thing."
Lysha, who went to the same university as Nayala, chimed in.
"Fortunately, I'm not in the same faculty as her. Over there, guys would be all over her too. Luckily, she always loudly mentions David's name, haha."
Everyone chuckled softly, including Nayala. She didn't feel offended; instead, she seemed at ease, as if she was already used to such teasing.
Sarah added with a mocking tone.
"Same thing when she was still in the agency. She used to tag along with me during photo shoots. Tons of guys hit on her, but she always said her heart belonged to David, hahaha. You're that obsessed, huh?"
"Mmm… Hope someone isn't getting the wrong idea," Sarah added, half-whispering but clearly directed at Al.
"Because Nayala belongs to David. Always will."
Al merely shook his head, unwilling to get too involved in the teasing this time. Though it didn't affect his emotions much, stopping early seemed wiser. His mind stayed focused on observation.
So this family is quite tolerant of narcissistic and silly behavior. Even though Nayala isn't part of the family, I suppose I should note this data too, he concluded inwardly.
Meanwhile, around him, it was as if an invisible wall was closing in on Al. Everyone was talking about Nayala as though she already belonged to David. And he—technically still her fiancé—didn't even have a voice in this discussion.
But that was fine. Al wasn't angry. He wasn't upset. He was just… observing. Watching everything unfold. Storing it in memory. Not as a hurt person, but as an irrelevant spectator in this social ring.
Vianna seemed more active in the conversation now. She grinned and leaned her head back against her chair.
"You're lucky. This week I'm home because my martial arts tournament is over. If anyone bothers you—especially this kid—I'll handle it," she said, guaranteeing Nayala's safety there.
Vianna glanced faintly at Al. She knew quite a bit about his harassment story, but she didn't dwell on it. Her mind was focused elsewhere.
This kid could hit that muscular servant with a single punch? Seems impossible. Look at that skinny frame, not a trace of internal energy. Huff… maybe the servant was just weak that day. Should I test him… if he's really strong, then I suppose there's no problem accepting him, she thought, analyzing Al.
Meanwhile, Sarah and Lysha were busy gossiping with Nayala, as if their conversation would never end.
Aurielle didn't speak much. She just stared at her phone, occasionally glancing at the clock. Her behavior mirrored Edward's, though faintly on Edward's face, his trauma hadn't completely vanished.
Sandra, on the other hand, looked pleased with the harmonious atmosphere. Although Al remained an anomaly, she was grateful to see him there, leaving only one more child, Elena, yet to arrive.
David was the most distinct, glancing at Al sharply several times.
This kid is tricky. I didn't expect him to be completely unmoved by Nayala. Or is he just acting? Hmm… let's see, orphan brat, he thought, plotting quietly.
Before long, Al finished his breakfast—before anyone else. He was a bit surprised by his own pace. Even trying to slow down to elite standards, he still finished quickly, even eating more than usual.
Wow… I need to manage my timing, he thought.
As if there was nothing left to do there, he decided to leave first.
"I'm done. And it seems I'm not needed here anymore. May I go?" he asked after finishing his drink.
Sandra and Edward looked at him, then nodded.
"Yes, Al," Aurielle replied.
Al stood up, pausing for a moment to look at his father. Edward's face looked a little pale.
Edward wanted to reply, but Al spoke first.
"Father, you don't have to say that... I guess that means I still can't fully join you for regular meals, right?" he asked suddenly.
Edward hesitated, feeling awkward. Sandra nudged him lightly, as if signaling him that it was time to let Al join. Finally, Edward shook his head.
"Sorry, Al. Forgive me. I didn't want to discuss this with Nayala here, but I think you understand. It's actually better than before. Still... Hmph. I hope I can be stronger in the future," he said softly, admitting this was his shortcoming.
Al didn't mind. Seeing his father's state, it was indeed better not to join for now.
"All right. Father, Mother, and everyone else. I'll return to my room then," he said.
He turned and left the dining table. His steps were calm, his back straight.
Yet, on the other side, people were still curious about Al's interest in Nayala. They waited to see what he would do when passing by David and Nayala.
But… nothing happened. Only sharp indifference.
Nayala stared at his back, slightly confused.
Why didn't he… look at me at all? It's like I don't exist to him.
David smiled, placing his hand gently over Nayala's.
"Don't mind him. Maybe he just doesn't feel confident standing next to someone as beautiful as you."
Nayala blushed at David's words.
But something still felt… off.
"Oh, by the way. Why is he not allowed to eat with you all?" Nayala asked.
David whispered to her Al's story, embellishing it to make Al seem even dirtier.
"Ewwww. Good thing our engagement was canceled," Nayala said, disgusted by David's tale.
The two of them then just laughed quietly, forgetting their previous annoyance.
Meanwhile, in silence, Lysha—seeing Al for the first time today—stared at the empty chair he had just occupied, thinking:
Al… that kid is unpredictable. Too mature for his age. Rebellious and hard to handle. Whether that's good or bad for this family… one thing's clear… he's gaudy.
And thus, breakfast in the seemingly harmonious family ended, with the appearance of the person who was supposed to be Al's fiancée.
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