The doorbell's sudden chime shattered the moment.

  Pandora rose from her seat, casting an unreadable glance at Acacia as she approached the door. Reading her expression would have been like deciphering ancient hieroglyphics. When she pulled the door open, Sirius stood there with his characteristic bright smile, dressed in what could only be described as aggressively casual business attire.

  "Hey there, Dora! I'm here to collect the boy as agreed. Don't worry, it'll just be the two of us."

  Dora? What the hell?! Acacia internally recoiled at the casual nickname.

  Sirius laughed at his expression, his keen green eyes missing nothing. "We'll be back before you know it, okay? I’ll just be showing him around the lab." He turned to Pandora with an insufferably knowing smile. "We'll be fine, no need to worry about your little brother."

  "He's not my brother!" She snapped, but the two males had already slipped past her and out the door.

  Acacia blinked rapidly, trying to process the sudden shift in atmosphere. Words seemed to catch in his throat as overwhelming emotion crashed over him—relief at escaping the suffocating tension, confusion at being whisked away so suddenly, and lingering pain from the conversation's bitter end.

  "Mr. Trafalgar, it's nice to see you again." Despite his attempted politeness, Acacia's face betrayed his true feelings. The mere sight of the man brought back irritating memories of how thoroughly he'd been outmaneuvered the previous day.

  "Nice to see you too, kiddo. Ready for that lab tour?" Sirius smiled, completely unfazed by Acacia's barely concealed glare.

  "Are you sure it's okay for you to take me into your laboratory?"

  "Of course!" Sirius paused mischievously. "By the way, I hope you don't mind, but I may have sampled some of that breakfast you made earlier—the one you left out before your chat with Dora. Have to say, your cooking is absolutely divine! Maybe you should forget this whole refugee business and become my personal chef instead."

  Acacia's eyes widened. "You ate my—when did you even—"

  "A master inventor never reveals his secrets! Though I must say, whoever taught you to make crepes that perfectly fluffy deserves a medal." Sirius's grin widened. "And if that doesn't excite you enough, perhaps this will." He gestured toward the street where a pristine white limousine waited, its door held open in welcome.

  "...A-am I dreaming?" Acacia couldn't quite process the gleaming vehicle before him, all stainless steel and impossible elegance. Sirius's wry smile only grew as he grabbed the boy's collar and steered him forward.

  "I don't believe in such fantasies, Acacia Belmont."

  The drive proved surprisingly swift as they entered Windsor's opposite side, the limousine gliding toward a towering skyscraper that dominated the skyline alongside the city's ever-present windmills. Traffic seemed unusually dense though, forcing their vehicle to slow frequently. Acacia found himself drawn to the window, studying the unusual patterns of congestion.

  "So," Sirius started as his voice carried a sense of attempted neutrality, "I take it you and Dora had quite the argument."

  "What makes you say that?" Playing dumb to extract or confirm information had always been Acacia's favorite defensive move, but Sirius Trafalgar seemed to see through every deception with irritating ease.

  "Dora doesn't usually act so subdued, especially around me. You must have said something that affected her deeply. Is this about your case?"

  "Not really...it's about my safety."

  "Ah." Sirius's expression softened. "Well, don't be afraid to tell her your honest opinions about things. But you should know that everything she's been doing is for your sake. After all, she does care about you. I'd say you're quite the lucky boy."

  "Why?" The question came out sharper than Acacia intended, disbelief evident in every syllable.

  "Hmm? Why what?" Sirius tilted his head with exaggerated innocence.

  "You guys are just...weirdos."

  "Oh?" The man's wry smile returned, but Acacia's mind had already wandered elsewhere. He knew, logically, that Pandora must care about him on some level as why else go to such lengths to save him? Admitting that felt dangerous though, like acknowledging a debt he could never hope to repay. Maybe he should stop overthinking everything. Clearly both Pandora and Sirius had his best interests at heart, even if their methods were occasionally mystifying.

  But that was precisely the problem.

  People were worrying about him. He hated it. The very concept felt foreign and utterly unnatural.

  "Oi Acacia, look at this!" The tycoon’s voice broke through his brooding. Acacia turned to find Sirius holding a photograph, practically vibrating with excitement. As the image came into focus, Acacia felt his breath catch.

  Two women sat facing each other in elegant chairs, their poses casual yet somehow regal. The older woman radiated a special type of aristocratic grace—porcelain skin and flowing black hair framing features that seemed carved from living marble. Her blazing chestnut eyes gave the photograph an almost supernatural vitality, almost as if she could step out of the frame at any moment. Everything about her spoke of high breeding, from her perfect posture to the subtle way she held herself just so.

  The younger woman—more girl than woman, really—had inherited her mother's striking looks, though she wore her black hair shorter, and emerald eyes replaced chestnut. Her face held perfect symmetry, yet her expression carried a hint of trouble, as if wrestling with thoughts too complex to voice.

  "Beautiful, aren't they?" Sirius's voice affectionately softened. "Those amazing ladies are my beautiful wife and daughter, Eleanor and Leila!"

  "What?" Acacia's head snapped toward Sirius in disbelief. "Wife? As in...you're actually married?"

  "Don't look so shocked! I'm turning forty-two this year, and it'll be our seventeenth anniversary. My wife is a remarkable woman who's blessed me with her presence for many years!”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Wait, no! That's not the problem here!

  Acacia's mind raced as he tried to reconcile the image with reality. Eleanor and Sirius were a case study in contrasts. Objectively speaking, she was a solid nine on any beauty scale. Sirius... well, being generous, maybe a six. Seven if you had a thing for gingers. The disparity became even more striking considering her obvious noble pedigree, but Acacia kept these thoughts carefully hidden behind a polite mask. Despite recent revelations, he still respected his former idol.

  I suppose personality really does triumph over appearances.

  "She's really pretty," he offered diplomatically, eyes drawn back to the elegant matriarch.

  "Isn't she incredible?" Sirius's voice took on the dreamy quality of a lovestruck schoolboy rather than a refined scientist. "She's absolute perfection, and my dear Leila inherited every wonderful trait!" He sighed blissfully, radiating pure paternal pride.

  "So, uh, you and Pandora are pretty close..." Acacia interjected, abandoning subtlety in his desperate bid to redirect the conversation. The last thing he needed was to spend the entire ride listening to Sirius gush about women he'd never met. He was feeling inadequate enough already since he had never kissed, touched, or even had a relationship with a girl beyond polite acquaintanceship.

  "Huh? Oh yes! I've told you before that Dora is practically a daughter to me! Wait—" Sirius's eyes widened in mock horror. "Did you think there was something romantic between us?! Shame on you, Acacia! I would never dream of such a thing! Do you think a devoted husband like me would ever dishonor my precious Ellie's trust?!"

  How come you didn’t mention the age gap first…?

  "Hey, it was just a question," Acacia raised his hands defensively, memories of Ocarina's shameless gossip haunting him. "But I'm glad you didn't even consider it. I can tell you're a good father and husband just from how you speak about your family." The smallest genuine smile touched his lips.

  Back in Ocarina, infidelity had been practically fashionable among the nobility. Marriages existed as political arrangements, love an afterthought at best. Such was life in Fiora's southwestern province. Whether other states operated by the same corrupt principles remained unclear—media and literature tended to reflect society's more palatable aspects. But Acacia's intuition told him everything he needed to know about Sirius Trafalgar: a man who would sooner die than betray his wife or forsake his daughter.

  Sirius blinked, then let out a soft laugh, shaking his head at the boy. Something in his expression suggested he was surprised—and perhaps touched—that someone so young could see through to the core of his being.

  "Thank you, Acacia."

  They lapsed into comfortable silence as the traffic finally cleared. The limousine turned into an exclusive neighborhood where mansion after mansion displayed the aristocracy's casual disregard for financial constraints. These were homes built on old money, their exquisite luxuries funded by generations of accumulated wealth. The common man might view such displays as blessings, but Acacia saw only curses. These people would never understand the vital skills needed to survive in a merciless world. Their paper-thin bubble of privilege would shatter sooner or later, and the Irregular would endlessly mock such pigs whenever that so happened.

  The vehicle finally stopped before a three-story masterpiece of architecture, positioned proudly at the neighborhood's entrance. However, what caught Acacia's attention was the smaller building adjacent to the main house.

  The laboratory?

  "Our journey ends here. Please enjoy your day, Lord Trafalgar and Mr. Belmont." The chauffeur stepped out gracefully, opening their door with a flourish.

  Acacia managed a quick smile and muttered thanks before following Sirius into a world of riches and elegance that still felt alien to him. Though the mansion's exterior appeared relatively modest, its sophisticated modern design spoke volumes about the family's true status.

  Sirius gestured him forward. "Come on, this way!"

  They entered to find a beautiful woman seated on an elegant sofa across from the entrance. Her casual dress somehow managed to look more stylish than most formal wear, her entire presence suggesting she'd stepped straight from the pages of a high-fashion magazine. Seeing Eleanor Trafalgar in person made the photograph pale in comparison—she carried herself with such innate grace that even breathing seemed like an art form.

  ...I understand completely now, Mr. Trafalgar. But the question remains: how did you manage to win over someone like her?!

  This couldn't be explained by Thaumaturgy. This was pure magic. Sirius Trafalgar wasn't just a miracle worker—he was the miracle itself.

  "Ellie! I missed you!" Sirius called out, practically sprinting toward his wife with arms spread wide.

  The woman looked up, a radiant smile transforming her already beautiful features as she rose to meet him. Her eyes closed in contentment as she melted into his embrace, face pressed against his chest. "I missed you too," she murmured before tilting her head up to brush a soft kiss against his lips.

  Please, just let me die now. Acacia averted his gaze, desperately searching for something—anything—else to look at. The situation felt surreal, almost uncomfortable in its genuine display of affection. These weren't the calculated public displays he'd grown accustomed to in Ocarina; this was real love, raw and unashamed.

  Eleanor's attention shifted to him, her warm smile holding enough gentle power to melt glaciers. "And who is this handsome young man?"

  Handsome?! The description struck him like a baseball bat.

  "Ah, I nearly forgot!" Sirius beamed with characteristic enthusiasm. "This is the boy Dora saved during her operation in Ocarina. He's staying with her now—practically her adoptive little brother! This is Acacia Belmont!"

  Adoptive little brother?! The phrases hit him like successive punches.

  "I am Acacia Belmont. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Trafalgar." He bowed deeply, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity while steadfastly ignoring the casual bombs of extreme prejudice Sirius had just dropped.

  Eleanor's smile somehow managed to grow warmer.

  "Oh dear, please drop the honorifics. I'm not nearly as important as you might think. I'm just a simple housewife doing her best to manage the estate and economic affairs. Nothing special, really." She punctuated this absurd understatement with a light laugh. "It's wonderful to meet you, Acacia."

  That doesn't sound like something you can just wave off... Acacia pondered. Managing a household was challenging enough for any parent, but simultaneously handling the majority of the economic affairs of a technological empire? What kind of extraordinary person was Eleanor Trafalgar?

  "Now Ellie, don't be so modest." Sirius chided gently. "You're an incredible woman. You could run this entire operation single-handedly if you wanted. You should have more confidence in your abilities."

  Eleanor shot him a playful glare, reaching up to tap his nose. "Is that how I should act?"

  "Mhm! It's exactly how I want you to feel whenever I'm around."

  Please...God...grant me the sweet release of death. Acacia stared fixedly at his feet. It was inevitable—an immutable truth. If they continued this shameless flirting, he would surely perish from secondhand embarrassment.

  "Ah, where's Leila?" Sirius asked, just before leaning in for another kiss.

  "Still in the lab since this morning. I doubt she'll emerge anytime soon." Eleanor's sigh carried years of resigned experience. Attempting to separate Leila Trafalgar from her creative pursuits was like trying to redirect a river with bare hands. "I've been trying to convince her to eat lunch, but she simply won't listen. She's just like you were at that age, Sirius. Absolutely impossible to reason with!"

  "But I grew out of that! You're far too precious to ignore!"

  "Sweet talking won't get you anywhere~"

  Acacia immediately tuned out the couple's playful banter, turning his attention to the laboratory entrance. A latent curiosity had begun to stir in his mind, one that felt almost dangerous in its intensity.

  "Well then, as promised—the grand tour of my lab awaits! Shall we, Acacia?" Sirius finally extracted himself from his wife's embrace, clapping his hands enthusiastically.

  Acacia muttered something that might have been a curse in a foreign tongue.

  "If that's what you want, Mr. Trafalgar."