Desmond

If Key had an aura of a younger sister around her, Poupee Auclair has an aura of a typical second-generation heiress.

With the restrained aura of confidence and the air of elegance, one look and even one unfamiliar with luxury brands can see that her set of clothes must be worth a fortune.

"Oh, why are we all standing out here? Come on in," Poupee invited them in with a smile

"These helpers will help you with your luggage," she motioned to the men in suits who bowed before approaching them to get their belongings

"Thank you for having us," Bright said as they walk inside the large double-doors

"Ah, the pleasure is all mine," Poupee replied with a smile as she led them to the living room

"Feel at home, it's not every day we get visitors." Poupee chuckled before giving Key a meaningful gaze

"Does your whole family live here?" Opal asked in a daze as he looked at the spacious interior of the manor

"I wish," Poupee chuckled while shaking her head

"Is this a vacation house?" Quant asked while looking around

"No, but no one has lived in this house for the past ten years," she added with a small smile, which made them look at her in surprise

"Thank you for letting us stay here," Dewy said and Poupee shook her head and smiled

"It's no big deal," Poupee looked at Key and chuckled

"I would've turned this place into a hotel if only my cousins agreed," Poupee added

"Huh, a place as big as this would seem like a good hotel." Rio nodded in approval

"You're… Rio Hisashimoto, right?" Poupee asked in surprise

"Yeah, that's me." Rio nodded then his eyes widened before standing up from cozily sitting on the couch

"Wow, what a coincidence," Key commented while shaking her head

"You know each other?" Alexei asked and Rio awkwardly nodded

"She's… uh, my ex." This revelation shocked them while Poupee merely chuckled

"It's been years, I don't really mind it anymore. I just thought he was familiar and recalled that he's Sasukiria's cousin, I once worked with her." Poupee said and they nodded

"Anyways, I hope you enjoy your stay in our house." Poupee changed the topic

"You can choose the room you'd like to have from the guestrooms on the second floor," Key told them

"We can tour you around too!" Poupee suggested with a smile

"I feel like we'd get lost in this place…" Opal said, to which Quant and El nodded

"Do you want to take a rest first?" Poupee asked as fatigue start to take over her system bit by bits

"You should head up to rest as well, Poupee, we can take it from here." Key quickly noticed the fatigue in her expression even as she tried to conceal it

"Are you sure?" Poupee asked them

"Yes, thank you for having us," Bright said and Poupee shook her head as if telling them not to thank her anymore

For Poupee, having Keychantel back in that house is more than enough.

They don't need to thank her because in reality, she had been feeling lonely and none of her cousins had come back to that house making it feel bigger than it already is that's why their presence somehow alleviated the feeling of loneliness lingering within the manor's walls.

"I'll see you all at mealtime, then. Enjoy your stay," Poupee said and smiled before leaving the room

"Your cousin's very excited to have visitors." Alexei couldn't help but comment

"This place had turned silent after we all left after all," Key said and her gaze landed on the wall where pictures of her and James from the E-Sport's news were hung in frames

There was also a photo of her with all the other Desmond heirs of this generation back when they were children and teens; from the legally oldest, Dawson Cuinneagan, to the legally youngest, Adere Ryder.

Adere was merely 2 years old and was seated on the lap of the fifteen-year-old Dawson then, surrounded by the two thirteen-year-old boys, a twelve-year-old girl, and a ten-year-old girl.

"That's you and Fox, right?" El asked and Key looked at him before nodding

"Hmm, James and I grew up here," Key said nonchalantly

"So, this is the manor you mentioned before?" Dewy asked while looking at the pictures as well

"Who are those kids?" Quant asked curiously

"That's you, right? The girl wearing a white shirt and blue pants," Rio asked in amusement

"You recognized me immediately," Key chuckled despite knowing how Rio could have known

Kami was, after all, their carbon copy.

It won't take a genius to recognize her younger version when she looks no different from their little cub as a child.

"That two-year-old baby is Adere, she's sixteen now."

Key pointed at the baby girl in the picture, she felt something grasp her heart when she recalled a certain two-year-old baby who she took a photo in that same position as well.

"That teenager is James, that's Drystan, then that's Poupee." Key introduced them one by one

"You didn't have any other cousins?" El asked and Key shook her head

"Papa's an only child so we didn't have any cousins on his side," Key replied

"You have a sister, right?" Opal couldn't help but ask while looking at the picture of the Desmond heirs

"Yes, she's Seachela," Key said and pointed at a picture where it's just the three of them

"They're not Desmonds so they weren't in that picture," Key said nonchalantly before they could ask

However, as nonchalant as she said it, the more surprising it was for the other members of JLNC.

They looked at her, with questions, but as the young Keychantel was the youngest of the three kids in the picture, they mostly speculated an assumption in their minds.

"Ah, Key, when are we going to eat?" Quant changed the subject

"We can go to the dining room," Key replied with a smile

"Alright, let's eat first then settle our things," Bright said

"That's right, I'm hungry too!" Opal said and they followed Key to the dining area

Key knew they must've misunderstood the situation and she doesn't really mind correcting them.

This was intentional because she wasn't related to neither her current Mama or her Papa, she didn't intend to inherit anything or be expected of anything from their families.

Being an illegitimate child was her only shot at achieving all her goals and having an inked identity, but neither side wanted to treat her as such and both sides still offered her a position in their respective companies, which caused her a lot of headaches through the years.

When they reached the dining area, the servants immediately prepared plates and cutleries for them.

They also served various French and European cuisines to give them various choices that would suit their palate.

"Wow, are we in a buffet?" Quant asked in amazement while looking at the dish-filled table before them

"Have a seat, let's eat." Key invited them and they all sat down

At first, even Quant couldn't get a single piece of food but after Key chuckled and told them to get food then their captain took a serving of the food, and they began to indulge the food to their hearts' content.

They enjoyed the food while El, Rio, and Alexei told Key about all the things they did while she was gone.

"You got a lot of fan gifts back at the base, but since you weren't there, we could only tell the fans that you're currently out of the base to spend time with your family for a vacation." Alexei said and Key smiled

"Thanks, I guess I'll stream later to thank the fans," Key said

"Do you want to borrow some of our equipment?" Rio asked and Key shook her head

"There's no need, but if the equipment we have no longer works, I'll tell you," Key replied

After eating, they headed to the second floor where Key led them to the guestrooms. Each member chose a room that was just next to the other, Dewy's room is across from Bright's room and is located between Alexei and Rasheed's room, while Bright's room is between Opal and Rio's rooms, and El and Quant's rooms.

Key, of course, still had her room in the other wing so it wasn't next to theirs.

They went to their respective rooms to rest and only met back in the dining area after resting.

They dined with Poupee then they had small talks, Poupee sat there with them and listened, from time to time Bright and Dewy would ask her questions to which she would reply with her insights.

Quant and Opal were mostly interested in how the servants maintained a large manor while having sufficient supplies to keep them going.