Everyone was sitting in the living room of the main family's manor which was where Karl had met Cera, the one who made all his sets of clothes including the one he was currently wearing, for the first time.
At the center of the hall was a beautiful set of a sofa and table.
On the table were glasses filled with soft drinks and some biscuits and snacks were served in some bowls.
Karl sipped the soft drink in his glass as he silently heard the conversations happening around.
His father and Derek were talking about some political matters which was mostly useless to Karl.
His mother and Aria whereas were talking about him and the girl sitting in front of him.
The girl's name, which Karl came to know from Ercia and Aria's conversation, was Luna.
Luna was sitting between her parents while Karl was also sitting between his.
Karl still sipping the drink glanced at Luna and saw that she was still beet red.
'Well it must have been embarrassing for a little girl.' Karl thought, completely ignoring the embarrassment he also had felt after the stare down.
'What I really want to know right now is how the fuck is father friends with elven royalty!?
In the novel, Karl surely did not have a fiancée and there was also no mention of Hearth family having a connection with Elven royalty.
Rather, elven royalty was very hostile to humans. Only Isurt being the main character found that thing and was able to make connections even with the elven race.
But none of this was in the novel. There must be something I am missing. Think think.'
Karl calmly continued sipping his drink while fiercely racking his brains.
'I get it! In the novel, when Isurt had asked a high ranking elven noble for why they were hostile to humans he had said something about an important person of the royal family dying to the humans!
Also in all of the novel there was no mention of there existing a princess.
So maybe Luna had died on their way back to elven kingdom and thus elves became hostile to humans. Though very far fetched, it fits.
But maybe they are not actually the elven royalty and are just some high ranking elven nobles and just used the elven royalty's carriage. Maybe the enmity was because of another person's death.
Though that assumption leaves a lot of holes in the story, a duke and a royalty of different species being friends is also unheard of.
I need to find out more...'
Karl stopped drinking and turned towards Kevin as he made up a plan to know the whole story.
"Father how did you meet uncle Derek?" Karl asked in a cute voice.
Karl's words broke the chattering of both the groups as they all looked at Kevin.
"It was nothing much." Kevin said with a soft smile looking at Derek who had the same smile.
'Figures, so they must be elven dukes or something.'
Karl concluded after listening to Kevin's words.
But Kevin continued.
"Once I was sent to elven kingdom as the most talented arya among humans for a competition.
Derek and I met there for the first time.
I and Derek fought in the finals and I won."
Kevin's last words had a hint of laughter as if mocking Derek.
"I had never trained seriously before then." Derek retorted with a scoff.
Kevin and Derek continued to banter and Aria and Ercia just laughed, listening their words.
Luna was hearing the conversation very seriously as if it was a very important thing to know and Karl.... was thinking of a way to know more.
"Elven kingdom?" Karl asked trying to change the direction of the talk.
To Karl's question, it was Ercia who smiled and replied.
"It is just like our kingdom. Just like how we are humans, uncle Derek and aunt Aria are elves." Ercia answered.
"Are they also dukes?" Karl asked the question he had been meaning to ask since before.
At Karl's question everyone other than Luna, who was very seriously listening to everything, broke into laughter.
"No Karl, we are not dukes. We are elven royalty."
This time it was Aria who replied.
'Fuck! Fuck the 'nothing much'! You defeated the elven royalty in a competition and became friends and you say nothing much!' Karl cursed inwardly.
Karl's mind raced to understand how big of a situation this was.
'Wait so sitting in front of me are elven king and queen and I am supposed to marry the elven princess!'
As Karl reached to that conclusion he looked towards Luna who coincidentally also looked at him and as her eyes met with his her face which had regained its fair color again started turning red.
Karl had already controlled all his emotions and did not feel shy or anything again.
Just as Karl was about to think of how to know more information, Ercia asked Luna.
"So Luna, what do you think of Karl?"
At Ercia's quite direct question Luna's face turned red like a tomato in an instant.
"Oh yea, about our promise, Luna wanted to den-."
Aria stopped speaking as Luna strongly tugged her dress, her face bright red.
Aria grinned after seeing Luna's reaction.
"Well I guess what she thinks is very clear." Aria sighed, her face donning a proud smile.
"What about you Karl?" Aria turned towards Karl and asked.
"I love her." Karl blurted out without thinking.
It was only a second before his eyes widened as he realized what he had just said.
'FUCKKKKKK!!!!'
Karl's mind just echoed with that word as he looked around while thinking of how to turn back the situation but... it was already too late.
His father and Derek were grinning from ear to ear while his mother and Aria had their mouth wide open.
Luna...
'Wait is she... FAINTING!' Karl was about to shout when suddenly Derek put his hand on Luna's head, blue light emanated from his hand as he stopped her from falling headfirst towards the table.
"Calm down Luna." Derek softly said still grinning as Luna's falling figure became straight again but now she looked as if her skin was red in color.
Luna then lunged towards Aria and hugged her tightly.
'Why do I feel as if I did something wrong.' Karl smiled wryly as he came to understand what he had done to the little girl.
"Can you take responsibility for your words kid?" Derek asked in a stern voice as his face became serious as if the grin was never there.
'Responsibility? Me? Will I have to marry a kid?' Karl thought as he turned to look at the figure of the girl hugging his mother sneaking a peek at him and quickly burying her face in her mother's back again as soon as their eyes met.
"Yes."
After a moment Karl nodded with a determined smile.
'I had already decided to live as a 3 year old so no need to overthink.' Karl thought.
Everyone in the room broke into a laughter at Karl's reply whereas Luna...
"Oh she fainted." Aria spoke, still laughing as she put her hand at Luna's back, casting the same magic Derek had.
Such banter continued till night when sitting at the dining table, Derek spoke something interesting.
"But Karl you will have to work very hard to keep up with Luna. Not to brag but she is a genius."
Derek's words made Kevin break into boisterous laughter and also made Karl smile.
Derek squinted his eyes at Kevin's reaction.
"I am not joking." Derek replied sharply.
Kevin stopped laughing at Derek's demeanor.
"You want to bet Karl beats Luna by a large margin." Kevin said with a smirk.
At Kevin's words, it was Derek's turn to laugh out loud.
Luna not liking the direction of the conversation looked towards Karl.
Karl and Luna had already talked a bit so they were not as shy around each other anymore.
Karl understanding Luna's intention smiled bitterly.
"Dad we do not want to-" Karl was about to stop Kevin but Derek didn't let him.
"Let's do it. I will bet my staff on Luna's victory."
Derek said as he looked at Kevin with a sharp glare.
Kevin, surprised by Derek's confidence looked at Luna and frowned.
The next instant Kevin appeared behind Luna as he put his hands on her head.
What happened was too fast for either Karl or Luna to see, let alone react.
He injected his aura into her body as his face turned shocked.
"This- How is this possible!?" Kevin muttered, unable to believe what he was seeing.
"You are not going to get all scared and back down now are you?" Derek mocked.
Kevin looked at Derek for a moment before asking coldly.
"Did you make her form a mana before the ceremony?"
"Heh! You think I will harm my own daughter? She made it herself." Derek scoffed.
"But that has nev-" Kevin tried to speak but as Derek gave him a threatening glare.
"She is a 'bit' of a genius." Derek spoke in a low tone but still loud enough.
Kevin understanding the implication behind Derek's words shut his mouth and chuckled wryly.
"And here I thought that my son is a genius." Kevin spoke in a self depreciating tone.
'So she converted ether into mana by herself at the age of 3.
That is something even Karl and Isurt had not achieved in the novel, though it was probably because they focused on both mana and aura.
But this is a good situation. If I play the cards right I will be able to solve the problem that has been bugging me.' Karl thought.
"Heh I would rather not make a losing bet." Kevin gave a bitter laugh at which Derek just smirked.
"How about I bet?" Karl said loudly taking both Derek's and Kevin's attention.
"Karl you can not win." Kevin spoke bitterly.
"I can." Karl replied candidly.
Kevin opened his mouth to say speak something but closed it again looking at Karl with a smile.
"Sure. This will be a good experience for you." Kevin looked at Derek as if asking for permission.
Derek understanding Kevin's intention nodded back, none of the two expecting Karl's next words.
"I want a wish from both of you if I win." Karl spoke in a very serious tone.
Kevin and Derek laughed at Karl's seriousness and words.
"And what do we get if you lose?" Derek asked jokingly.
"My life." Karl replied. "I will bet my life."
At Karl's words Derek's and Kevin's faces quickly lost their smiles.
"Karl life is not a thing to bet. You should not joke around with such things."
Kevin warned but Karl's expression did not budge as he continued to stare at the two, waiting for their agreement.
"This is not ok for a kid to say." Derek said to Kevin.
"..."
Kevin nodded to Derek as he silently looked at Karl trying to find any trace of hesitation in his expression.
At this moment, Ercia and Aria entered the dining room and were confused, not understanding the reason for the serious atmosphere.
Luna, at seeing Aria and Ercia, ran to them and started explaining what was happening, hoping for them to stop the situation that kept getting worse.
"..."
Karl just looked back at Kevin without shying away from his eyes.
The stare down continued for a few seconds after which Kevin broke the silence.
"Let's do it. But if you lose, I will not let you off the hook." Kevin spoke, holding back immense rage.
Karl hearing Kevin's words, turned to look at Derek who was also giving him a cold look.
"I thought better of you Karl." Derek spoke.
Karl himself was confused by the two people's reaction.
'What is with them? Why are they so serious?
Is this again about using the words wisely crap father always nagged about?
They won't actually ask for my life, will they? Nah, no way.
Well doesn't matter, I will win either way.' Karl thought inwardly, showing no reaction on his face.
"Do you accept?" Karl spoke again ignoring Derek's words.
Derek's expression also turned threatening like Kevin's as he nodded.
Meanwhile Luna was pleading to Ercia and Aria to stop what was happening but they ignored her as they also agreed with Derek and Kevin.
"Let's do it right now."
Karl said as he turned to look at Luna whose face had gone pale.
"Luna, this is not a joke. If you lose, you can forget about meeting Karl ever again."
Derek spoke loud and cold, making sure Luna does not get any second thoughts.
At Derek's words Luna's face turned paler as she bit her lips looking at Aria who gave her a bitter smile.
"Let's go."
Kevin said as he started walking out of the room, others following behind him.