Flower Festival

In the Cloudflaw residence, Seyric's mother combed his hair as Ikaria bent in close proximity to him as she dusted off the dirt from his dark blue suit that they had already rented a week before.

While Seyric's eyes fixed on his mother's face, scanned him around as she smiled from the sight of her son in tiny adult-like clothes.

Her heart thumped rhythmically as she fluttered her lashes in a trance of him.

As Seyric scanned himself, he asked, "Mother, why am I supposed to wear this?".

While Ikaria shook her head as she was brought back into reality, "We're coming to the banquet sweetie."

As Ikaria grabbed a rippled fabric and wrapped it around his neck, "It happens every year on Spring 25th. Nobles gather around the City of Goldenreign for this time of year."

It was incredibly beautiful before she brushed away the red gem attached to the cloth as it was luminous due to the sunlight that filtered through the curtain as it fluttered in the breeze.

Seyric raised his brows. "Why?"

"It's to celebrate the Flower Festival."

Ikaria stood up and pinned flower garments to his chest with a pin. "There. You're done now."

Ikaria smiled as she patted her son's hair and handed him a mirror. As Seyric lowered his gaze, a red-eyed boy stared back at him.

"I'll be back sweetie, in a bit. I have to get changed too." Ikaria said as she paced towards the door which made Seyric raise his head.

"Wait, mother. I wanna come too!" He said as he rushed towards her side and grabbed her hand.

While Ikaria turned towards her side and met his gaze, "Oh no, sweetie. You can't. You may stay with your father though, will that be alright with you?"

In a moment of silence, Seyric pouted his lips and nodded. Ikaria giggled as they left Seyric's room and headed towards the living room.

They arrived, where Euris sat on the couch. He wore a similar suit like his son, which was more majestic and elegant than Seyric's cute and small attire.

Euris turned his head over them as he smiled at his son's looks. "Wow, what a handsome man our boy is!"

Before he tapped the empty space beside him, Seyric reacted and pounced on the empty couch.

Euris laughed as he grabbed his son into his arms and hugged his back. "You even smell like a man."

He poked Seyric's stomach with his fingers, which made him giggle and tried to hold off his father's arms.

"Father! S... Stop!" He stuttered between the giggled that escaped each attempt Euris to poke him.

"Watch over Seyric for me, honey." Ikaria said, which made Euris stare at his wife.

"Sure, honey. Take your time as you please."

"No mother, hurry. I could die here!" Seyric snapped as Euris poked his side.

"Oh no, you won't."

Ikaria smiled as she watched them both from the couch until she finally strided towards the hallway again. She vanished from the scene.

*

As Seyric watched his father extend his hand to Ikaria, she stepped out of the carriage, her dress complimented her husband with a dark blue long gown, as both of her shoulders were exposed.

It is simple yet stylish, yet it fits her features perfectly ever. Her brown eyes were fixed on the stone castle in front of them before her heels touched the stone floor.

"It was still so beautiful," Ikaria said as she gazed at the brick stone wall from a distance, her eyes shining like a star before looking toward her family.

"Shall we...?" Euris offered his arm as Ikaria's hands were wrapped by it before they marched off.

Along their walk, they found themselves greeted by tall metal doors as the knights opened the door for them and entered the deeper parts of the castle. They finally reached the venue.

Everything buzzed as nobles stood around the wide walls and mingled with one another.

With garlands of flowers being arranged across the tables, a massive hoard of tables and chairs was set up in the other parts of the hall.

Seyric's eyes scanned the crowd, as all was busy with chatter and their own world. He followed his parents.

Until they halted in the middle of the hall. He watched both of them bow their heads to a man, which influenced him to follow his parents' reaction.

"Your grace, may the god and the spirit bless you during the flowers festival," Both said as Aureus laughed at them.

"Thanks to both of you Cloudflaw's, may you enjoy the banquet." His eyes smiled at both of them.

Meanwhile, his violet-memorizing eyes gazed at Seyric next to them, who bowed his head.

Aureus laughed as he placed his hands over his head—"Bless you too, young man. Your family taught you well,"-then nodded his head.

Seyric raise his head as Aureus and his parents converse with each other.

While Seyric yawned the longer he stared at them, his lips, his eyes became puffy and slightly closed as he looked away from them.

Another man marched towards them with his family. The red hair man's clothes were gray as a cross of swords embedded in his crest. A slender woman held on to his muscular arms.

She fluttered her cherry-blossom hair along her milky-white shoulders as she took each step. Her ethereal ashen-eyes from burnt-out firewood dust stared both of Seyric's parents.

Among them stood a young woman with the same hair as her mother, but yellowish gold eyes that stared at Seyric.

Their eyes met for a long time before Seyric turned away.

"Ah, Duke Shion, a pleasure to see you." Aureus smiled.

Shion stood in front of them. So Ikaria and Euris bowed their heads as Seyric joined them. "Your grace."

As Shion smiled across his face. "Meet my lovely daughter, Ehrin."

Ehrin welcomed them with a smile that filled her eyes. "Greetings, Lord and Lady. May you enjoy the banquet."

With that in mind, their hearts skip a beat at the sight that lies in front of them.

Seyric's heart raced faster, and his pupils couldn't help but stare at her roundish face as every moment passed, yet he couldn't explain why his heart could ever behave this way.

Yet one thing that only revolved around his world at the moment was Ehrin.