"I believe you're a smart man, Mr. Voss. You wouldn't make things difficult for Emy… would you?" Damian's body trembled. It felt like someone had driven a knife straight into his chest. The pain hit so hard that a metallic taste rose in his throat. … Inside the manor, Emma showed Lucien the cake she'd baked that afternoon. "Lucien, this is a birthday cake I made today. Try it and tell me what you think." "Birthday cake?" Just from the name, Lucien already knew she had made it for his mother. The cake melted on his tongue—sweet, soft, and fragrant. He had never tasted anything so delicate, so utterly divine. Lucien pulled Emma into his arms, holding her so tightly it was as if he wanted to fuse her into his own blood. His voice trembled."Emma… thank you." Yesterday, she cooked his mother's favorite dishes. Today, she'd prepared gifts—and even taught herself how to bake this cake. She didn't have to go through all that trouble. But she did, just for him. How could Lucien not be moved? Emma wrapped her arms around his waist. "You're my mate, Lucien. We're one. Your family is my family too. Doing something for my mother-in-law makes me happy." Her words sent a rush of emotion through Lucien's heart. He cupped her face and kissed her deeply, wordlessly overwhelmed. To him, meeting Emma had been the greatest fortune of his life. Even if one day she found another mate, even if her warmth toward him faded with time—he would still remain by her side, her most loyal believer."Ms. Tibarn, dinner's ready…" Corvin came out of the kitchen wearing an apron, a spatula still in hand. The moment he saw the two kissing in the dining room, he froze—then quickly covered his face with the spatula like a shield. Emma laughed softly, pushing Lucien away. She whispered in his ear, "After I finish giving Marcus mental comfort, and after I'm done training, I'll come to your room. You can tell me about Aurelia's customs then." She was worried she'd embarrass herself once they arrived at Aurelia—especially since it was the Central Planet's most powerful clan, and the royal family to boot. She had to be careful. Lucien smiled tenderly. "Alright. I'll be waiting." He went to the kitchen to help Corvin bring out the dishes. But as soon as he stepped in, Corvin grabbed his wrist. "I saw you sneak a kiss from Ms. Tibarn just now," Corvin said, dead serious. Lucien's gaze turned sharp. He looked down at the hand holding him and asked lazily, "And what about it?"Corvin puffed up his chest. "So—tomorrow, when you go to Aurelia, you're taking me with you. I want to stay by Ms. Tibarn's side. If you don't, I'll tell Silas and the others what I saw." Lucien stared at him, half amused, half exasperated. This kid really thought he was being threatening. "Fine," he said at last, nodding. He'd already planned to bring them along anyway. Honestly, how did the Ravaryns manage to raise someone this pure? "Really?" Corvin's face lit up in delight. He hadn't expected Lucien to agree so easily. "Prince Lucien, you're the best! I knew you wouldn't hold a grudge just because of what happened before." Lucien fell silent. If Corvin weren't Emma's match, he might've kicked the kid straight into the outer battlefield. … That night, Edric didn't come down for dinner. He'd already messaged Emma, saying he wouldn't be going out for a while—he needed to focus on breaking through to Rank 10.Emma felt sorry for him, but she fully supported his determination. She herself needed to push forward too. After the queen of Aurelia's birthday celebration, she planned to do the same—to train hard and break through to Rank 6 as soon as possible. Dinner ended quietly. Lucien directed the house's cleaning bots to clear the kitchen, while Corvin sat with Emma on the couch, scrolling through the lightcore feed as they waited for Marcus and Silas to come home. They didn't have to wait long. Less than thirty minutes later, the two men walked in. Marcus immediately collapsed onto the couch, completely drained, looking half-dead. Silas followed behind, brushing a kiss against Emma's cheek. His voice was calm, reassuring. "It's taken care of. Damian won't be causing any more trouble." Emma trusted Silas completely. She didn't even ask for details. "There's food left in the kitchen," she told him. "Go eat first."Marcus shook his head. "I'm not hungry. I already had some nutrient fluid." Silas, on the other hand, enjoyed eating. "Emy, I'll grab a bite, then come keep you company." He went off to the kitchen, leaving Emma to glance back at Marcus, who still looked utterly lifeless. She sighed, then pulled him to his feet. "Come on, let's go to your room. I'll give you some mental comfort." Marcus lifted his eyes to her. "Ms. Tibarn, you don't have to push yourself. I'm fine." Lucien had told him what happened last time—that Emma's mental power had been completely drained when she helped him, and she'd passed out afterward. Marcus didn't want her to suffer the same way for his sake. Emma didn't argue. Her tone turned firm. "When you're with me, you listen to me." And with that, she took his hand and led him toward his room.