In the living room of the main family's manor which was bigger and more luxurious than the one Karl had met Cera, the one who made all his 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 his and her mother'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. Think think.' Karl calmly continued sipping his drink while furiously thinking back to the novel.
'I think I get it! In the novel, when Isurt had asked a high ranking elven noble for why they were hostile to humans.
He said something about an important person of the royal family dying to the humans and also in all of the novel there was no mention of there existing a princess if Luna is one.
So maybe Luna had died after going from here and then father's and uncle Derek's friendship broke and elves became hostile to humans. It fits though very far fetched.
But maybe they are not actually the elven royalty but 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 will be strange, a duke and a royalty of different species being friends is also unheard of.
But I need to find out more...'
Karl stopped drinking and turned towards Kevin as he thought of a plan to know the whole story.
"Father how do you know 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 was sharing the same smile.
'Figures, so they must be elven dukes or something.' Karl thought listening 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 said his smile now a grin as he looked at Derek.
"I had never trained seriously before then." Derek replied 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.... 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, your uncle and aunt are elven." 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.
Karl's mouth was open due to the shock of what he just learned.
Ercia misunderstanding his shock for not being able to understand the word royalty cleared up.
"Royalty are the highest people in a kingdom. Dukes are just below the royalty." Ercia told which Karl ignored.
His mind was racing 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?"
Ercia's question acted as a catalyst and Luna's face turned red like a tomato in an instant.
"It is very clear what she thinks." Aria grinned after seeing Luna's reaction.
"What about you Karl?" Aria turned towards Karl and asked.
"I love her." Karl blurted out without thinking as his eyes went wide after he realized what he had just said.
'FUCKKKKKK!!!!' Karl's mind just echoed with the curse 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 forwards.
"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 pushing her face at her mother's back again as soon as their eyes met.
"Yes." Karl replied with a 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.
Luna...
"Oh she fainted." Aria spoke still laughing as she put her hand at Luna's back which brought the same blue light Derek had.
Such banter continued till night when sitting at the dining table, Derek said some words.
"But Karl you will have to work very hard to keep up with Luna. Not bragging but she is a genius."
Derek's words made Kevin break into boisterous laughter and also made Karl smile.
"I am not joking." Derek said to Kevin with a serious face.
Kevin stopped laughing at Derek's serious look.
"You want to bet Karl beats Luna by a large margin." Kevin said with a smirk.
Hearing Kevin's words, it was Derek's turn to laugh out loud.
Luna not liking the direction of the conversation looked towards Karl.
Karl had already initiated some talks with Luna which made her not feel as shy around him.
Karl understanding Luna's intention smiled wryly.
"Dad we do not want to-" Karl was about to stop Kevin but Derek cut him.
"Let's do it. I will bet my staff on Luna's victory." Derek said staring at Kevin with a sharp gaze ignoring Karl's and Luna's words.
Kevin, surprised by Derek's confidence looked at Luna and frowned.
The next instant Derek was standing behind Luna as he put his hands on her head and then gasped in surprise.
What happened was too fast for either Karl or Luna to see, let alone react.
"This- How is this possible!?" Kevin asked loudly as if shouting, unable to control his shock.
"You are not going to get all scared and back down now are you?" Derek spoke in a mocking tone.
Kevin looked at Derek for a moment then asked in a cold tone "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 stopped due to Derek's cold gaze.
"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 will become the strongest."
The events transpired too fast but Karl was still able to understand what had happened.
'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 made a self depreciating 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 said smiling.
"I can." Karl replied in a serious tone.
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.
"I want a wish from both of you if I win." Karl said again with the most serious tone he could speak with.
Kevin and Derek laughed at Karl's words.
"And what do we get if you lose?" Derek asked jokingly.
"Anything." Karl replied in a serious tone. "I will even give my life."
Hearing Karl's words Derek's and Kevin's faces lost their smile.
"This is serious." Derek said to Kevin.
"..."
Kevin silently looked at Karl trying to find any trace of hesitation in his expression.
"Karl I never taught you to be overconfident." Kevin said to Karl in a threatening tone.
At this moment, Ercia and Aria entered the dining room and was shocked not understanding what happened for Kevin to get so serious.
Luna 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 go. It will not be something like being grounded." Kevin spoke in a cold tone.
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.
"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 who was making a face as if about to cry.
"Luna, this is not a joke. If you lose, you can forget about ever meeting Karl again."
Derek spoke loudly, making sure Luna does not get any second thoughts.
At Derek's words Luna's face turned pale as she bit her lips looking at Aria who gave her a wry smile.
"Let's go." Kevin said as he started walking out of the room while others followed after him.