In the soft glow of the moonlight under the open sky, rustling leaves in the gentle night breeze, amid everyone’s confused gazes, Eleanor leaned in and hugged Sera.

Releasing Sera from her embrace, Eleanor spoke, “It’s been a while, sister. How have you been?”

“It has indeed been a while. I am doing well. And you?” Sera gently placed her palm on Eleanor's cheek with an affectionate smile.

Eleanor beamed with joy and replied, "I'm doing well."

"Vina, Tia, allow me to reintroduce her to you. She is my younger sister and your aunt," Sera presented Eleanor to her children.

"Hello, nice to meet you," Eleanor waved her hand with a mischievous smile.

Vina, Tia, Liora, and Rolland, who had their mouths agape in surprise, finally regained their senses.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Tia blurted out, "Mother, is she really your sister? The maids said..."

"Didn't I already tell you to ignore the gossip? She is indeed my own sister," Sera interrupted with a reassuring smile.

"Mother, we have an aunt?" inquired Vina.

"Yes, you have an aunt."

"Do we have other relatives too?" Vina asked with curiosity.

"Yes, you have many relatives," interjected Eleanor.

"Who are they? Where are they? When can we meet them?" Vina bombarded her questions excitedly.

"In time. But you must not tell anyone about this, okay?" Sera cautioned.

‘Why does she want to keep so many things hidden?’ Tia thought.

"Okay," Vina and Tia nodded.

"Then let me introduce your sister, Liora..." Just as Eleanor attempted to introduce her daughter, she noticed Liora approaching Tia and beginning to sniff his scent.

Sniff, sniff.

'What the hell, why is she smelling me? Do I smell bad?' Tia was taken aback.

Liora suddenly beamed excited.

"Mother, can we take sister Tia back home? She smells nice. Please, can we?" Liora started to pester Eleanor with a puppy face.

"She smells nice?" Eleanor was confused. Kneeling down, she took a moment to smell Tia.

Instantly, her eyes widened in surprise and shock. After a brief moment of trance, she smiled like a predator. 

Tia's body jolted as he felt her smile sending chills down his spine.

‘Why is she staring at me like that?’ Tia gulped internally.

"Sister, you've hidden her well. It's no wonder you stayed away from the family. Can I have her?" Eleanor asked, still grinning, without looking at Sera.

“What do you think?” Sera responded, her voice carrying a faint hint of killing intent.

Eleanor lifted her head to look at Sera, who was staring down at her with an ice-cold gaze. Fear gripped Eleanor's heart.

“No. Tia is my sister. You can't take her,” Vina yelled, pulling Tia behind her, as if shielding her, and glaring at Eleanor and Liora.

Eleanor exhaled a deep sigh as she stood up, “Alright, I understand. I will give up. I will not fight my sister over this.”

Tia heaved a sigh of relief internally.

“But mother….” Liora did not give up. She almost teared up.

Liora, with a helpless expression, raised her hands in a surrender-like gesture, "You have to ask your aunt. If she's okay with it, then we'll take her with us."

Liora approached and grabbed onto Sera’s gown, pulling her while pleading with almost teary eyes, “Aunt, can we take sister with us? You also come with us. Please.”

Sera retracted her cold gaze, exhaled, and then knelt down, smiling. While ruffling Liora’s hair, she said, “Not now dear. In the future, when Sister Tia and you become adults and if Tia is okay with it, then she can go with you. Okay?”

Liora couldn't say anything, so she nodded and said, “Okay, but it is a promise, okay?”

Eleanor, who was at the side, smiled in excitement with her eyes wide and taking a deep breath.

“Alright, it is a promise. So will you smile for me now?” asked Sera.

Convinced, “Okay,” Liora gave a bright smile and hugged Tia, earning a glare from Vina.

‘Why did she suddenly become so attached to me? Do I smell so good? But I've never heard anything like that from others.’ Tia's mind filled with questions as a tug of war started to take place between Vina and Liora. 

“Alright, Liora, come here.” Eleanor chuckled as she pulled Liora away from Tia, freeing Tia in the process.

Vina hugged Tia, determined to prevent others from taking her away, while Liora pouted in her mother’s embrace. 

Internally, Tia felt a mix of relief and fear, questioning, 'Am I a toy for which the children fight?'

While observing Liora, Sera smiled, "She has terrifying instincts."

"Yeah, I know, right? Sometimes even I can’t match up to her." Eleanor said with pride.

Looking at Vina, who is still on high alert, Eleanor said, “It's alright, Vina. We will not take your sister away from you.”

“Really?”

“Really. If she comes, you can also come with her,” Eleanor said, as if enticing a child with candy.

“No, we will not go anywhere without Mother,” Vina said seriously.

“Then let's take her with us too.”

"Hmm," Vina relaxed, feeling as if everything was okay in that scenario, and let go of Tia.

This caused Eleanor and Sera to smile. 

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