"Ianthe is alive." A calm voice said.
It was a warm night in the middle of summer. Quiet and peaceful.
And in the ancient estate of the Devereaux family hidden deep within the most secluded district of Jibot, people gathered joyfully because tonight was the Devereaux family's annual reunion dinner, the only night each year when every branch of the greatly influential family gathered beneath one roof.
In the dining hall it was lively with crystal clinking softly against silverware while conversations rose and fell like music. Men and women whose names alone could shake governments sat comfortably with one another, laughing, drinking, and arguing.
Those words made silence crash over the dining hall, and every head turned toward the speaker.
The ninth young master of the family, Zion Devereaux, he sat lazily in his chair with one arm resting against the table, his expression unreadable.
His elder sister frowned.
"Have you been drinking, Zion?"
"I'm serious," he replied flatly.
Nobody believed him.
The second young mistress scoffed. "Ianthe died twenty-two years ago alongside your fourth uncle and his wife in a hotel fire. The deaths were confirmed. What exactly are you trying to do here?"
A few relatives exchanged irritated looks. Zion had a history of causing chaos during family gatherings. The last reunion had ended early because he intentionally started a scandal after the family kept pestering him about marriage and asking him whether he was gay.
At the head of the table, the old master of the Devereaux family, Edmund Devereaux, finally spoke.
"What proof do you have?" he asked calmly.
"A week ago, my team and I went on an expedition to Surbrind. While there, we spoke to an elderly janitor who worked at the hotel during the fire twenty-two years ago. He mentioned helping a little auburn-haired girl escape the flames before handing her over to Queen Meredith of Surbrind who had been in the hotel that day." Xion replied.
Several people now had slight frowns.
"I became suspicious," Zion continued. "So I returned and questioned him further. When I showed him Ianthe's childhood picture, he identified her immediately. So I had my team investigate."
Zion reached into his bag and dropped a thick file onto the table.
"And we discovered that Ianthe Devereaux did survive the fire."
Murmurs spread across the table.
"Queen Meredith secretly took her from Surbrind to Dilrik as part of a joint project between both nations. She's very alive… and currently regarded as a Dilrik's National treasure."
Edmund picked up the file and slowly opened it.
The old man read every page in absolute silence while the entire family stared at him with tensed nerves and restrained anxiety.
Then finally…
"It's real." He said, and his voice carrying a sudden chill.
Chaos erupted instantly.
"What?!"
"She's alive?!"
"How dare they take her from us!"
The Devereaux family had always been monstrous in influence and terrifying in unity. They are a combination of aristocrats, politicians, military officials, scientists, criminal masterminds, business tycoons, actors, and geniuses.
But above all else they protected their own.
Twenty-two years ago, the fourth young master had taken his wife and youngest daughter on vacation beyond the borders of Jibot to Surbrind, and an enemy had set the hotel they stayed in on fire, killing many. The culprit had been captured and executed years ago, yet the family had mourned, believing none of the three survived.
Until tonight.
"Destroy Surbrind."
The twelfth young grandmaster spoke in a murderous tone.
"Destroy Dilrik too and bring our princess home."
Several voices immediately agreed.
"They stole a Devereaux."
"How dare they hide her for twenty-two years?"
"Queen Meredith must pay."
Everyone began proposing different punishments, each more brutal than the last.
Then suddenly…
"Aren't you all violent?"
A lazy, amused voice drifted from the entrance.
The room instantly fell quiet.
Standing at the doorway was one of the most feared and dangerous men in the modern world.
Leon Devereaux.
Half his face was hidden beneath a black mask, but the visible part of his expression carried playful arrogance that made several family members roll their eyes immediately.
Leon casually slid his hands into his pocket as he walked into the hall.
"You guys are always quick to jump straight into destruction."
Nobody spoke, but they all knew he was a pot calling the kettle black.
"Charging in recklessly would attract unnecessary attention," he said. "Why don't I handle this personally?"
A few relatives visibly grimaced; they didn't trust him.
"I'll bring Ianthe back myself… and deal with Surbrind and its queen in the best way deserved."
"Leon," the first young master, his uncle warned coldly, "this isn't a game."
Leon ignored him completely.
He walked straight toward the head of the table, dragged out a chair beside Edmund, and sat down fearlessly.
"I'm Ianthe's brother," he said. "I want her back more than any of you."
Then, without permission, he reached over and stole a piece of steak directly from Edmund's plate.
Smack!
The old man slapped his hand instantly.
Some of the younger relatives nearly laughed.
"Grandpa," Leon said dramatically while rubbing his hand, "you understand me, right?"
Edmund said nothing for a long moment, only eating his food quietly.
"You already decided what you're going to do," the old man muttered. "Nothing I say will stop you."
Leon grinned.
"So just bring her home."
"Grandpa knows ball." Leon said, and several people sighed in annoyance.
"Don't worry," Leon continued while standing. "I'll bring our family's princess back."
And just like that, he turned and walked away. Leon never stayed for reunion dinners.
The fact that he had even appeared tonight at all was shocking enough.
"Grandpa," the second young grand master called, "isn't sending Leon too reckless? He doesn't care about anything."
The old man had no reaction to the question; he spoke quietly and with certainty.
"Leon cares about his sister. He misses her more than anyone."
Just like that, the matter was settled.
Edmund turned toward Zion.
"Well done." He said, with an expression finally surfacing on his blank face, pride.
"We all owe you."
Zion smiled faintly.
"Thank you, Grandpa."
And with that, the the reunion dinner finally began.